Starting Chemo March 2015

Jackbirdie

Theresa- such a great thing to be doing the lemon water. It is a great liver cleanse and will help support your already very healthy body during this time.

And interestingly, my neice is part of my chosen family, my 30 yr bestie's daughter. No blood in common but we are like two peas in a pod. Feeling very loved. Overwhelmed. In a very good way.

Jackbirdie

great update Joanna. Relieved to hear you wanting to go home and complaining about the food. Must mean you are READY! Try not to worry about the delays and efficacy. Your MO will do the right thing via the big picture. I have confidence. You've been through such a disappointing time. Now we'll pick you up and put you back on top. Thanks so much for posting. I know we all were awaiting anxiously for this improved outlook.

mysunshine48

Just letting you all know I think you are amazing. I will be starting chemo in about a month and you are letting me know that, even with all the possible SE, I will get through it....because you are...and still have a smile on your faces. God bless you all and you are in my prayers.

rleepac

No nosebleeds or problems with urination here. But I do have the constant runny nose...I think it's because the nose hairs aren't there to 'catch' the drips anymore!

Headaches...ughhhhh!

Bekah

Trvler

Welcome to the group, Neverthought.

Jackbirdie

Trvler- sorry the port still hurts. I swear mine took forever to stop hurting and I read so much saying people had no problem. Well I did. It is better. I feel pretty certain you won't hate it still in a couple of weeks. I know that's too long to wait. But Pauline and I are finally friends.

And yes, I have in the last couple of days experienced a lot of drippy nose annoyance. No sneezing. Just constant snot rags in my hands, blowing and wiping. Didn't have that as I remember the last time. My worst SEs are the very ugly and painful rash in my "nether regions" and the fatigue. A little nausea, but the zofran alternated with compazine helps a lot.

Jackbirdie

Jem- please don't apologize for the length of your post. We are just getting to know you and have some catching up to do. I'm not getting a warm and fuzzy from your MO and that's an important relationship. I'm glad most of the immediate problem is dealt with and wish you more positive experiences going forward.

Jackbirdie

Went commando in public today! Wanted to show off my new peridot butterfly earrings and my hat didn't match. horrors! So I whipped it off! My neice has me running. I'm exhausted after a day of sight seeing and driving aimlessly, pursuing all interesting roads. She is helping so much and I managed to eat, hydrate and exercise. I am tired, rash may be a little better, but mostly feeling loved. Life is good.

slothabouttown

Seems like the nose issues are kicking in for everyone about now. Mine's constantly runny and the inside always feels dry and irritated. It's a weird combination. My MO also seems to be less than interested in my concerns. Another common thread here. Last visit I had three short questions written on the side of my Starbucks cup and I felt like I was burdening her and being high maintenance. And any time Ive asked her about nutrition or a supplement for a SE she tells me I should get an appt with the integrative medicine department-and it's not like I'm asking about some strange herbal concoction, more like is it okay to take a pro biotic while I'm on chemo? Sheez you'd think I was asking about shrunken heads or voodoo dolls! I realize MOs are probably very clinical types but it's like they forget that were sitting at home for 21 days between treatments feeling all kinds of crazy shit happening from our tongues to our toenails and we need to be able to talk about it! All I can say is thank heaven for this group of smart, strong badass women. Ive learned more here to help make this livable than I've learned from the folks at the hospital!

DavisD

Just checking in. Nosebleeds for several days and then constant dripping in between. Called MO office this am and they called back sending me to ER on the way to work for STAT labs said I might need a transfusion! I didn't but got started two hours late for work, more behind with more projects. I'm so sick of people saying "Wow you cut your hair!" and then not being satisfied with "yes" they feel the need to know my reasoning behind such a profound f****ng decision!!!  I'm sad and tired and I'm really trying to "handle it so well."  Most negative post ever. Sorry

I'll read up on everyone soon. I'm sure it will cheer me.

molly1976

DavisD, I got a lot of those questions too when I cut my hair. "Oh, did you just feel like a change?" and I finally just started saying, "No, I have breast cancer." I have to admit I did some internal chuckling at how quickly that changed the tone of the conversation in a few instances! It turned out to be kind of an easy way to tell people what was going on without just bringing it up out of the blue.

I got my port put in today and it is stinging but not too bad. I am normally a stomach sleeper so I hope I'm able to figure out how to get some sleep tonight. Do you guys use the emla cream beforehand or just have them stick it with no numbing?

DavisD

K42720-Welcome to another fellow horse person. I would love to hear more about the eventing you did and possible paths we may have crossed, ha! I'm having a hard time today but did want you to know I'd love to communicate more.

Italychick

Molly I piled a bunch of pillows up on the bed where I slept on my port. I am a side and stomach sleeper, and that seemed to help me.

Diane, so sorry about the nosebleeds, but glad you didn't need a transfusion.

Katy, I put coconut oil anywhere I am concerned about, so if you aren't allergic, it might be worth trying. My husband had me rub it in my head, and I am going to start rinsing my mouth with it too.

What are people doing with their nails? So far I haven't had any issues, but my cuticles are terrible, but I'm afraid to cut them.

Jackbirdie

Molly- I'd love to be a fly on the wall for some of those conversations!

I use the EMLA cream an hour before I go for both blood draws and infusions. Cover it with Press n Seal. Plus when I get there the freezing spray. I am a wuss and take absolutely every opportunity that exists to mitigate pain and discomfort!

Jackbirdie

Theresa, thanks for the coconut oil suggestion. I'll try it. If it's not too much tmi, I'm posting a pic of my "improved" rash..sux.

For my nails, the nurses give me flat ice packs to ice my nails during the taxotere.

I have read and been told to not trim or cut your cuticles right now. Will make it worse

At home, every other day, I apply tea tree oil to my nail beds and also are sure it gets under the underside of the nail. Makes a big mess but the onc nurses recommendeded it highly.

mysunshine48

Katy,

Feeling loved is so Important!

Lynn

DavisD

I'm so sorry for that rash Katy! It looks really painful. You will be in my positive thoughts tonight. You are loved.

BBwithBC45

I have some nosebleeds too, but not much. A little runny nose, while the inside feels dry.

I got the port, because my veins have been misbehaving lately and I did not want to experience chemical burn and tissue damage from Taxol.

I had my 5th Taxol/Herceptin today and I saw my MO's PA today and asked her about the vaginal bleeding. She says that chemo will push me into menopause and this bleeding is one of the signs. I'm supposed to call if it gets heavy or lasts longer than three days. They do check my blood every week. I started to take iron for my anemia a few days ago and my red cells and hemoglobin improved. Platelets are perfect.

Nevertheless, I'll make an appointment with my gynecologist; I'm due for the pelvic ultrasound anyway.

I also asked about the revision surgery of my TE, and not only it is out of question, they most likely will want me to wait 4 weeks after chemo. She told me to ask the MO next week.

They also gave me more Zofran in the IV premeds, since I complained of almost daily nausea. Hopefully this helps

Italychick

Katy the other natural antibiotic I use is ionic silver. I'm not sure if it would help, but I don't think it could hurt. Not colloidal silver, you want ionic silver.

Any chance it is fungal? The coconut oil should help if it is

Italychick

if you get silver, keep it in a dark place. You don't need much, just a tiny amount.

http://www.wateroz.com/product/silp/Silver-16oz-Pi...

The technology comes from NASA.

Jackbirdie

Theresa, I have no earthly idea what it is or how to tell. I assumed since a lot of people reported in with acne and rashes, it was just a fairly common SE. But it did get very very bad. As I say, it is better now. Huge area, but the cortisone cream with chamomile has at least calmed the intense pain down. I called onc office and they are going to look at it Thursday when I go for blood work. If it gets worse I'm to call in again.

Jackbirdie

where do you buy it? Health food store

Oh duh. Just saw the link. I can buy there. Thx. Chemo brain

Italychick

coconut oil is carried about everywhere now, and I sent a link for the ionic silver. Google wateroz.

rleepac

Love coconut oil and use it for just about everything!

A little tip since we are among friends here...it can also be used as a vaginal lubricant before sex. Perfectly safe for the delicate parts, not sticky, safe if ingested by your partner, and smells good. It will leave an oily looking stain on the sheets but it's way better than anything on the market for the same purpose.

Of course, now everytime I put a dollop in the frying pan to cook something DH thinks he's 'gettin' some' LoL...men are like Pavlov's dogs I tell ya!

Bekah

shaz101

lmfao bekah. If I ever have sex again I'll ggive it a try.

While we're talking about down there. I'm really dry. Is anyone else? I also haven't had my period. Has anyone else? I know chemo can put you into en a pause but I was told that it wasn't always the case.

Katy on I'd hate to see it when it was bad! Please go to the Dr sooner. Xxx

eheinrich

I was just at a friend's place for his b'day dinner. He has been a huge supporter - checking on me, helping, etc. Tonight he said the thing that pisses me off the most. Are you sure you really need chemo? As though I flew into this blindly. I've had a few people tell me all about their friend/sister/mother/etc who had "the same cancer" and didn't need chemo but didn't expect this from this friend. I tried to express my dismay at his comment w/o starting an issue but it was hard. I decided when discussing tx that a few months of chemo was the least i could do to hopefully prevent recurrence. It really bugs me when people assume to know more than you and your oncologist.

blech

Kazza2108

Hi I'm due to get a PICC line in and first treatment tomorrow. Hope all goes well for you xxx

Carrie37

Welcome Kazza! I think you will find this group very supportive and informative.

Sharon, same issues here; dryness and have not gotten a period since before all this started. Must be a side effect. And another one they really don't warm about is the lack of libido. Or maybe that is just me.

I have really started to notice the chemo brain in the last few days and it SUCKS!! It is very frustrating and sad at work for me right now. I feel very "out of it."

Round 3 of AC tomorrow just in time for Easter weekend. Make me sad knowing I will most likely be very out of it this holiday.

Hugs to all!

PrincessOfMeh

Sharon, I haven't had a period since I started, but I'm perimenopausal so skipping 1-2 months isn't unusual for me. As Bekah said, coconut oil makes a great personal lubricant for frisky times and as Katy's said, chamomile is good for irritation down there.

Eheinrich, more than one friend has approached me about trying this alternative treatment or that one rather than horrible, horrible chemo and oh, is it ever infuriating. I mean, seriously. I'm an aromatherapist. I make my own HBA products and green/all-natural cleaners as much as practicable so, yes, I'm open to other approaches, but I have always considered aromatherapy a supportive care option, NOT a replacement for modern medicine. I've been very clear about that -- doctors are NOT the enemy! More to the point, I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn last night. My DOCTORS know what is best for me and my BC, not some Internet guru with a blog or a Facebook page. I don't knock anybody's choices, mind you. If they want to go all-in with the Internet gurus, fine and dandy. Pushing that on me, though, as if anyone else knows more about my cancer than I or my doctors do, will earn a b*tch slap.Maybe a tactful b*tch slap if the pusher is a good friend, but a slap nevertheless. Friends don't get to vote on MY treatment, no sir, no ma'am. My cancer isn't a democracy; it's a dictatorship. And just to be totally upfront about it, I'm the despot.

BBwithBC45

A lot of us on this board live in the country where the medicine is on one of the highest levels in the world, if not the highest. I personally know a couple of people, who instead of going to see a real doctor and follow a real doctor's orders, seek out alternatives only. I just don't get it.

My family lives in a country where you have to wait for months to see a specialist (my Mom had to wait for over 6 months to see a cardiologist), months to have a test done, years to have a hip replacement surgery, etc. My aunt found a lump in her breast in December, waited few weeks for a mammogram, another few weeks for the results. Weeks for an ultrasound, weeks for the result. She just now had a biopsy, a few days ago. Of course still waiting for the results. In the same time frame, I already had mammograms, ultrasound, MRI, two surgeries, and have been on chemo for a month.

My Dad died of cancer, before he even had a diagnosis. We found out 3 weeks after his death. He didn't even have a chance to fight it.

I'm sure a lot of people in my country of origin would love to have the same access to doctors and treatments as we are here, and I just get angry when I see people in this country dissing the modern medicine and not taking advantage of all its progress.