Starting Chemo February 2015

Darumama

just saw this on the news this morning regarding fish oil and chemo:

http://time.com/3768842/fish-oil-chemo/

Nina2015 - I take steroids for four days. The chemo nurse tells me it can help with nausea, but also cause heartburn (to which I can attest). I am always glad to take my last one. They makes me feel bloated. On the other hand, I am a very allergic person and without them I would probably have all sorts of strange reactions.

Chloesmom

Had the finger tips raw and peeling like a sunburn after 1st and 3rd TC infusion. My nails ache and it hurts hands to pull up my socks or have shoes press down on toes. Not as tired this time. Round 4 is Tursdsy

Jerseygirl927

so far this I have had 6 hercepton with no reaction to that, I can say the urine smells awful and foamy but that rash is at least fading a bit, I have used an old cortisone cream that takes the redness away. I do have a slight slight numbing of my 3 last toes on my right foot. Supposedly that's from the chemo, it should clear when I am done. Keep hydrating girls, I am going to swear by it now, feel much better these days. Next chemo April 9 for me

Nina2015

Hang in there ladies! Enjoy your weekend!

HopeInTheStars

I was really sick this week with a trip to the ER for fluids and monitoring. I don't think it was chemo related as I seemed to rebound really well last weekend. Tuesday night the nausea hit me like a ton of bricks and I couldn't keep Zofran down. 1st round of Taxol delayed a week because of it. I'm a little happy to get a "break" but hoping this isn't a sign of what's to come over 12 rounds. Also finally had BRCA testing done. Looking forward to getting the results and moving to surgery consults.

Chloesmom

Exhaustion has hit me like running into a brick wall the last 2 days. Had been walking the dog, going to the gym, busy around the house my 3rd week of each cycle. Now it's hard to walk a block and I fall asleep at the drop of a hat. One more round to go Tues. Hope everything is ok with blood work as I so want to be done

vr423

hey ladies,

I noticed about 10 days ago that my arm was swollen and painful so at the recommendation of my chemo nurse I went to have it checked. They started treating me for an infection called cellulitis, and ordered an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed a blood clot, called deep vein thrombosis, caused by the chemo. So now I'm on blood thinner injections for 3 months.

I was a little hesitant about going to the doctor about what seemed minor, but thankfully I did.

MaryJC

ChloesMom- wow! You're almost finished already! I'm happy for you. Ugh I have 3 more to go (( I'm soooo hating this. I want my hair back. I hope through the exhaustion you were able to get so good sleep and rest.

VR423- OMG! I've read on chemocare how that can happen. Are u in any pain? I hope it resolves for u asap!

jojo2373

Hi ladies, what a great support to each other you are! If you haven't visited curediva.com featured on the bco front page I encourage you. Lots of stories, products, and guardians to help as well. Best wishes to all!

Bikerbabe17

My arm is all swollen this morning, I can barely use it.  I have a call in to my dr but haven't heard back.  it's making me very nervous, luckily I have an apt scheduled with the dr later today.

Bikerbabe17

I'm here in oncology, waiting for my 1st shot of a blood thinner. Vr423, I had read your post earlier, and when the swelling didn't o down soon after, I wondered if it might be the same as you, sure enough it is

Jerseygirl927

did they say what caused the blood clot? I already have a history of blood clots, about 20 years ago had a pulmonary embolism from surgery, now on chemo it makes me nervous that this is a possibility, my platelets were real low last week, and I thought that had something to do with the clotting factor.

Another question, I had double mastectomy, anyone have any idea how long this numbness will last? I have a touch of numbness in my right 3 toes that is slight, but a bit worried that this could progress and get worse. I fear this is a permanent side effect that could get worse... Anyone know?

live_deliciously

i too had a dbl masectomy. I keep getting tingling in my lower legs and feet. Have told all the doctors about it and none seem to know what would be causing it. So jerseygirl you peaked my interest with your symptons .

On another note its chemo #4 with a/c for me today. So as soon as i feel better in a few days I'm gonna celebrate. Then 4 taxol CT but hoping that will be easier.

Chloesmom

Just rang the bell! Doing the happy dance! Close to tears to be done. Looking forward to cheering you all over the finish line!

MaryJC

yay you!!!! Congrats!!!!

Damselfly

Hooray Chloesmom!! I hope the SEs aren't too bad for you this time and at any rate it will be the end!!

And live_deliciously you too -- hope today went well and you are celebrating soon.

I am confused as to what the heck tingling feet or hands could have to do with a mastectomy. A numb breast, sure, but it seems to me to be a serious issue if surgery on your chest in some way results in numbness in your feet. I expect that from chemo, but not the MX. I would be curious to hear what your doctors have to say.

The blood clots are scary. It seems like the SEs are getting more serious for everyone as we progress. Hang in there everybody!

Bikerbabe17

yeah chloesmom🎉 you're all done. I hope you feel better very soon.

Dr explained the blood clot was a combo of the port and the chemo drugs. My arm feels much better today, and I can use my fingers, but my arm tires pretty quickly after mild use. I accidentally put a bag on my shoulder, and quickly had to take it off. Hopefully it just continues to improve, but I worry about the infusion on Thursday, I hope it doesnt cause a problem.

wrmbrownie

Yay Chloesmom! I'm glad you're done! I'm so happy there are others nearing the finish too!

I've finished #10 Taxol and have two more before I start A/C. So, I have 14 more weeks to go. Ugh!

I come here and read daily. I love the camaraderie and don't feel so alone.   

Chloesmom

I read here several times a day. Don't comment much to individuals but will continue to check in and celebrate your progress. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. We are a sisterhood of survivors. All for one and one for all!

SugarCakes

Happy for you, Chloesmom!

Chloesmom

Breaking out the Compazine, Zofran and Ativan and bland white foods The tummy has started to protest the infusion. Back to zombie mode for the next 5-6 days

BTW I found a jar ofointment called Tea tree therapy at the health food store. It has tea tree oil and lavender in a cream. Has healed up my finger tips in 3 days. Also rubbed into the ends of the nails and cuticles the nails don't hurt. I think it's anitfungal and hopefully will save my nails. Thought I'd pass this along

Jerseygirl927

live the tingling was mentioned on a thread here about hercepton or side effects. It is definitely from the chemo or hercepton, can't remember but some of the effects are lingering and possibly permanent. As for the clots, I will. Be sure to mention if this is definite or a possibility.? Cause thinning the blood now might be dangerous. I think.

live_deliciously

so interesting Is that tingling/numbness in my lower legs and feet started after surgery and before chemo. So yes it has the doctors baffled. I had nodes out from under the arm and a double mastectomy also had several weeks of dizziness even after finished wirh pain meds. I think it is a nerve or circulation issue I'm also slightly anemic so I'm just as confused as the doctors..

Had the last a/c CT yesterday. Had issues with the veins.. They kept rolling so they tried the back of my arm and after all the pre meds the red devil push started burnng. So had to pull the iv. They ended up going thru the vein in my hand. Had to watch it carefully because there is no muscle to absorb the chenical if it leaks. She said if it did leak i could need skin graphs. yikes! Glad that phase is over. Now on to taxol which is supposed to be easier .

vr423

bikerbabe: glad you went and got it checked out! I have switched to a once a day blood thinner injection now, I am lucky to have a very good friend who is a nurse at the local hospital, and she has been giving me the shots. I have to go out of town for a week for appointments at the provincial cancer clinic this coming weekend though, so she is teaching me to do them on my own. I am nervous about that, but i guess its another one of those things that when you have to do it, you find a way.

The first nurse that I saw in the emergency department made me feel like I shouldnt' be there, she didnt seem concerned at all about my arm, even though I explained to her that my chemo nurse told me to go there to get it checked. The doctor even said she didn't think it was a blood clot but would do an ultrasound to ease my worry! Goes to show the importance of fighting for ourselves and our health I guess.

Bikerbabe17

Vr423 luckily, there was never any doubt by my oncologist, good thing you held strong about what you needed. I am tired of feeling like a pin cushion. #3 tommorow, same as you I think. Not sure home many more injections I have to have, have started on pills as well

SugarCakes

the hot/cold sweats that come a couple days after my infusion are irritating as heck, especially at night. I found myself looking at moisture wicking pillowcases online which lead me to looking at sheet sets and pajamas too. Kinda expensive. Anyone get relief from such things? Better night's sleep?

Chloesmom

alternating freezing and sweating. Just keep changing layers, throwing blankets on the floor doing lots of laundry

Jerseygirl927

only into this for a few months, but the night sweats wake me up because I am drenched, so I am down to sleeping in underwear and tee shirt, pillow case is wet, and so do change off pillows till morning, have extra cases for pillows but they have to be washed more now.

Why is no one trying prune juice for their laxative, mine works great, it's nayural, it can be drunk warm, hint of lemon, or cold, never need more than once a day, I take it late afternoon. Works for morning, sometimes faster. I am not sure what causes what, cause I am not into any pills but the hercepton meds,, but do feel the joint pain after the neulista shot, so the clariton helps for just about 3 days, then the pain, but tryin some over the counter blue emu oil, seems to help a bit

Damselfly

*ick alert*

OK I have been having some bleeding, sort of like a period but more like just plain blood, for the last 8 days, and it has been fairly heavy the whole time. I think I will call the MO today and just check because I don't know at what point it is just too much. Yesterday and today it has seemed like it may be tapering off, and then bang it's back again... Anyone else have issues with this?

Darumama

I had my last AC today!!! On to Taxol in 2 weeks. It's got to be easier than AC. I went in with a cold and wasn't sure if they were even going to give it to me. I had a temp of 99.3 but my blood counts were good so we went for it. As the nurse put it, "either way you're going to feel terrible." So I'm back to feeling nauseous tonight but hoping for slightly brighter days ahead.

Damselfly, what did the doc say about the bleeding? I've had two periods since my chemo started. One was on time and extremely crampy with normal flow. The other was late and a lot less bleeding over a longer time than usual. It seems like it going to become unpredictable