Chemo in June 2015

lizannee

I have had one treatment of 4 TC treatments on June 22.  Mostly the meds took care of the symptoms but I had bad muscle or bone pain days 4 5 6 with still a little in one leg today. My blood work came back and it was pretty good but my liver enzymes were a little elevated with bilirubin fine. WBC was up but that was from the Neulasta. Did you have elevated liver enzymes?

lizannee

Hey I had my first TC on the 22nd of June so we will be going through this together. No pet scan- I am Stage 1 B but Grade 3 with some not many hormone receptors. Today I feel better but bone pain and nausea yes. Are you using Biotene toothpaste and mouth spray. It helps adjust the PH in your mouth.

mysunshine48

Yes, Biotine toothpaste, mouthwash and asl ringing with soda and salt water. I have found you need both.

AGerl

Thank you for the sharing the hair knowledge (and loved the selfie!). I learned that it is possible that the eyebrows and eyelashes can continue to fall out in 3 month cycles for the first year post-chemo. I am ready to go with false lashes and eyebrow pencils/stencils. As for the hair on my head, I figure it will be nice to see what my natural color will be (although I am hoping it comes in white), as well as some new hairstyles, since I have dyed my hair for 30 years and kept it at least shoulder length. Change is good!

As for bone pain/Neulasta, for round #1 I had terrible bone pain and Tylenol did not ease the discomfort. For round #2, I took a Claritin when I got home from the hospital after the shot and another one the next day. No pain this time.

I am almost 39 and done having kids, so I did not have much of a discussion on the ovaries/menopause other than you will go thru menopause. Once I found out I was BRCA 2 positive, the conversation turned to a double mast and BSO, but nothing about hormones. Somehow I managed to schedule my first chemo for the first day of my monthly cycle, so it makes it easier to track my periods. I had the hot flashes and night sweats after round #1. Round #2 began with a light period. I will add the hormone topic on the list of things to talk about with my dr/nurse.

Overall levels are ok - some are low, but not low enough to pause treatment. I get them checked every week.

Well wishes to all you Warriors!

- Alex

Proverbs35678

Lizannee, my liver enzymes were also elevated after just one round. I am on tchp. They went ahead with the 2nd round but said they would have to watch them very closely. I was so discouraged to see that just one treatment could effect my liver that much. I also feel like all the other medicines they have me on played a role in that, so from this point forward I am not taking them just to be preventative. I'm going to wait until I have a SE and then address it. Pretty sure my body is in total shock...

tamkay123

I had my second round of A/C yesterday. It was a really long day (in addition to chemo got an IUD and had genetic counseling). We were away from home for over 12 hours. I was tired last night but I figure that's not too surprising based on our busy day.

Day 15 and my hair is starting to go. It's felt different for a few days and today I had a lot more than usual in my hands while washing and styling my hair. My neighbor across the street is a hair dresser and I will probably have her cut it this week.

lulu2533

Hey ladies...hope everyone is doing good. Had my second A/C treatment this past Wed. I woke up this morning with a lot of numbness in my right arm. I have been experiencing a bit of numbness but it feels like it is getting worse. Anybody else having problems with this?

Espanola

December- I'm sorry that you are having such bad side effects. I started AC last Thursday. I am having migraines daily, ongoing nausea, heartburn and constipation/diarrhea. You are not alone. I have found that eating crackers or some carb every 2 hours or so keeps my stomach settled, even when I don't feel like it. We will get through this! Hope you have a better day.

EnigmaticFox

Hey there Lulu -- I had some mild tingling in my fingers the day after my second round of AC, but it went away after a day. I would definitely call your oncologist to ask about it. Way better safe than sorry, when it comes to a side effect that could affect the use of your hands!

Hope you feel better soon, keep us posted!

DayLily15

Hello Ladies. glad to hear all your news.

Im feeling pretty good ..had 2 treatments so far. acid reflux is a bit of a problem but eating little and often really helps. and yes i still surprise myself in the mirror, 'who is that ?'

italychick thank you for the hair progress report.. weirdly only my good armpit hair fell out,but the side with the lymph removal is still long ?? [ i stopped shaving that side before surgery, i was worried razor rash would delay things, now i havent shaved cause its numb and has a new topography]

great picture of you justmaximom, you look neat and tidy. must say i look way scruffier.

hugs to all

justmaximom15

Thanks DayLily15, but I must admit that picture was taken Sunday morning right after I got it buzzed and as of this morning it's quite a bit scruffier. I'll be kind to y'all and NOT share a photo of that LOL

LostLittle1

Hello fellow warriors, I enjoy reading all your posts, the good, bad, and ugly so I know I'm not alone and what to expect. I had AC #1 on June 18. #2 is tomorrow, a day early due to the holiday, they are closed Friday. The SE's have not been so rough as I built it up in my head... mostly fatigue, bone pain, and mild nausea, usually in the mornings. I was able to work all last week. I notice I have a headache when I take Zofran so I asked MO and he gave me a script for Phenergan today. My mom gave me Ginger Root capsules and they helped the nausea yesterday so I'm going to stick to that when I can. I've written in a journal daily just quick notes of how I feel, what SE is, and what I took to help. My MO said the next rounds (4 total A/C every 2 weeks, then Taxol for another 8 weeks) will be the same dose, so I'm hoping same side effects and not cumulative. Does anyone know?

My hair is hanging on upstairs but starting to go "down there". Just a little shedding on my brush, from my head -- thought I should clarify lol. MO said I should cut it shorter (already have had the pixie for over a year) because it will go in the next week. It is a little tingly around the edges. I think I will have DH to cut it down to 1" tonight as I'm tired of waiting and watching to see when it goes. This will be ONE thing I can control.

I want to add my info to the SE log that a member started on the site but I can't find it. If anybody knows where it is, please put a link on here.

Thanks and have a great week, we CAN do this!!

mircann

Hi Ladies-

So every few days I experience something new.....hands and feet were burning over the weekend..had to put them on ice...

My second Zapping (chemo) hit me harder..I am so fatigued and weak I cant do much of anything..last time I did chemo (chemo#1) I didn't get tired until after 4 days post chemo...So does it just hit us harder as time goes on? maybe I will start feeling better sooner..if I hit the fatigue faster...lol? ugh....

 

EnigmaticFox

Mircann and LittleTatas, I hear you on the fatigue. I've been in for two sessions of AC thus far, and it's hit me pretty hard for most of the first week each time (I'm on a dose-dense every-other-week regimen). My oncologist had said that the chemo's effects will be cumulative over time, so that each one may hit a bit harder -- ugh, not what I wanted to hear! But it seems pretty accurate thus far...I was more tired for #2 last week than I was for #1. So I just try not to overdo it, I take naps (which is completely unheard of, for me!), short walks, and keep drinking as much fluids as I can manage.

Now, if only my taste buds would let me enjoy drinking anything aside from water and hot tea with milk... *sigh*

Hope everyone is hanging in there today!

cloudynight

mircann: So every few days I experience something new.....hands and feet were burning over the weekend..had to put them on ice...

mircann, I think that warrants a call to the MO (or at least definitely mention it before your next infusion!), because it sounds like it could be neuropathy.

justmaximom15

It's amazing the difference in my hair since the buzz cut on Sunday. Yesterday, was terrible. My head was itchy and tiny little hairs were flying everywhere which made the rest of my body itchy. I showered when I got home and after the towel dry, it's pretty patchy looking up there.

I have family coming to visit this weekend and I have chemo #2 tomorrow so I'm hoping that it goes as well as last treatment. I have forewarned my family that even though they are coming to see me, I might not leave my room much and they're okay with that.

December

hello all lve been mia ....hope all is well....wondering. ....any on else been deathly ill......out of the last 8 days ive been sick (both ends) fever. .... eating as best i can.....unproductive cramps really hurt.....i think im stopping chemo...i understand it gets worse with each treatment and i have 5 more left!!! Anyone else consider backing out?

tamkay123

December - So sorry to hear you are having troubles. Have you spoken with your doctor to see what they can do to help?

EnigmaticFox

Hi December,

I agree with tamkay -- definitely call your oncologist if you haven't already. That doesn't sound like the normal chemo experience (insofar as there is a "normal"). My oncologist was adamant that if I developed any signs of a bacterial infection (especially fever) that I wasn't just to call, I was to have her paged right away!

I hope you feel better soon!

gargengirl09

Survived my first AC treatment yesterday.. I felt ok when I left, but quickly developed a terrible headache. Finally fell asleep around 2:00 a.m. Luckily, I woke up headache free!!! My face and chest are all red, from the steroid? Nausea at bay so far. Just really tired. Going for the neulasta shot this afternoon.

Happy Wednesday ladies! We can do this!!!

rosesrx

just maximom, try and use a sticky lint roller on your head. During the worst of it I was using 3 sheets twice daily and now down to once sheet twice daily. It saves on shedding on pillows and wigs. I was shedding worse than the fur babies.

justmaximom15

Thanks rosesrx, I'll try that. Sounds like a good idea.

ellenmc

Hi! This is my first post. I had my first chemo on June 5, and based on the aftermath (sleep, sleep, sleep, and an exhaustion like I've never felt before, GI side effects, etc.), I was dreading the second. I was able to talk about it with my social worker and others, which helped. I had the 2nd one last Friday, and this one threw me for a loop. I believe that, in the course of the 4 days following, I ate one banana. I did drink water, when I wasn't sleeping. I had to go back to the hospital for more fluids. It's rare that I have had an appetite since Friday, and in the brief time that I did, I ate and immediately threw up. But it's not nausea; we're sure it's GERD. And then there's diarrhea, every day. So now, I'm taking Prilosec, Zantac, Immodium... It's such an effort to eat, but I feel so weak from lack of intake. I just tried a chocolate Ensure shake and it wasn't horrible. I'm proud of myself for drinking half of the bottle! I have to eat/drink so slowly. Today, my oncology nurse told me, among other things, to stick to white bread vs. wheat and to avoid fiber. Then she told me to drink smoothies with blueberries because they have fiber (!!!). At any rate, thanks for the opportunity to vent.

Esmerelda50

Hi all! I think this is my first post in this group. Have been hanging out a bit in the April surgery group. Had surgery April 30. Bilateral masectomy with immediate recon. Had my first chemo (TC) June 19. The surgery recovery went amazingly smooth. The worst SE so far from the chemo was the bone pain and headaches but that only lasted a few days. This isn't my first rodeo. Had lumpectomy, chemo and rads. 10 years ago. Oncologist says it is new case but it was same side. Sorry to hear so many are having such a hard time with SE. Great that we have each other for support.

Moderators

Dear ellenmc, Welcome to the BCO community. We will look forward to your continued posts and we hope that you will stay connected here. The Mods

kh04

ellenmc: I think we just can not spoil ourselves too much(just kidding)-by sleep too much.

I had my 2nd tchp 1 week ago and do feel fatigue in general than the 1 round. I feel very tired on Friday night so I slept from 8pm to 8am Saturday morning, then the whole Saturday I felt weak and do not want to do anything. I realized that I overslept and weakened my body circulation and function. So started sunday I only take around 1 hour nap(as usual days), as long finished house work and taking care of my kids, I will go out enjoying my walk, my heels to upper legs are feel more tired than round 1, but after walk(at least 30minutes), I felt so good. I try to walk 2 times a day for total of 1 hour. I told my self if I can get up take care my self, and I have to go out walk.

For energy wise, I took liquid based vitamin and minerals to boost my energy and support my immune system. My mo said it's ok to take supplements so I did double doze everyday. I took enzymes and aloe juice(no sugar added) to help my digestive system(so far I do not have any heart burns, hope never happens). I took high quality co q10 to support my heart since I have herceptin in the regimen. So far the big issue for me is the diarrhea thing(but it's manageable), besides the steroid pill my mo prescribed Before and after chemo and clariton I didnt take any other pills. I do have more nausea feelings than the round 1 but I try to eat every couple hours even I dont feel like it and trying to keep the normal life routine to distract any se.

Hope everyone feel better each day!

mysunshine48

December, Please see your MO immediately. I agree, chemo is not easy, but think of it as your friend.......I know, sounds crazy, but it is getting rid of Cancer cells that could kill you. If you look back on previous months chemo boards, you will read about many side effects and awful days everyone has had. I am recovering from T/C number 3 and I can tell you it is much harder than 1 or 2. But, I will push on and do number 4, knowing that it may even be more difficult. Make sure you know how to take care of a lot of the side effects. Read the Starting Chemo in May posts.....all of them. I know I posted information there. Please don't stop! You can get through this one hour at a time.

lizannee

I stopped taking my Tylenol but am not on anything else that might effect my liver. Hopeful that my next blood test it is back to normal.

MariaTeresaG

Thank you, Sunshine. On Friday, exactly 2 weeks after first chemo, my hair began to fall out. Was really bad on Saturday while showering. So off I went to salon. All buzzed now.

Cheesequake

I was supposed to start chemo on June 30 but I had complications with my port that made it a no-go. Waiting to reschedule, so I guess I'll be on the July board! Daily, I am ever more sorry for all of us having to deal with this. Good luck everyone.