Chemo in July 2015

Bliss58

Flaime,

Thinking of you today as you go through your first chemo. Hope all goes well and may you have few, or at least manageable, SEs!

Bliss58

Steph99,

So sorry to hear you're having such a tough go with SEs. Best wishes to you and hope you feel better quickly.

Bliss58

Ruth,

So sorry you were in the hospital again and that you're having such a hard time. You sure are in my thoughts. Best wishes that you'll feel much better soon.

Bliss58

Madrew,

Glad to hear you're doing well. I started to get mouth soreness about 9 days out from my 1st chemo, but the salt + soda rinse really does work wonders. My lips are still very chapped, but my mouth feels fine now 12 days out.

dchavy

Free and flying: my Onc said if my nodes were clear then no Taxol. I'm going to ask for it I think, because they didn't actually get any nodes during my procedure, just fatty tissue. The dye didn't work as intended and the BS made her best guess. The tissue they pulled was negative for cancer cells but I don't trust that there isn't any cancer in there. I'm actually on the fence about what I want to happen because chemo has not treated me well this far. I would feel better in the long run if I got it though.

Inkster: I'm day 13 and the same thing is going on with my hair and my feelings about my hair. Last few days itchy and tingly scalp and this morning I awoke to a hair covered pillow case. I'm trying to decide when to have my brother shave it off. I'm not sure I can handle pulling out clumps of hair. The reality is much harder than I thought it was going to be. I think I'm in mourning today.

Mouth/throat sores are finally gone - magic mouthwash is aptly named. The new thing is swelling/irritation in my neck/throat only on the side where my port is. It feels so weird. They will check it tomorrow at chemo #2.

Peabrain: love the blog!

ThePrincess

Hey there - I'm only asking because I didn't see anyone mention it - I'm from the April board and did AC chemo - are you eating ice before/during/after (10 mins before and 10mins after) the red A? I did and only got one tiny tiny tiny mouth sore that lasted maybe a day? I'm only asking as I don't see anyone mentioning it.

GOOD LUCK!

hartrish

Ruth: my onc gave me Bentyl for Abd cramping. Maybe this is a med you can discuss with your onc.

Inkster and want2bcamping: on day 9 I started to shed my hair. Tomorrow is the big day to buzz it off. Not looking forward to it but know it will be easier to deal with. I have bought a wig, do rags, buffs and hats. Not sure what I will be wearing. On a positive note: I have had the same hairstyle for about 20 years. This will force me to maybe end up with a new style. 😀

Hoping everyone has a wonderful week with no side effects.

hartrish

the princess: I am eating ice like you described on TC chemo. I also take 500mg of lysine twice a day and 10mgs of l-glutamine powder three times a day. I have not had any mouth sores.

My dentist also switched me to arm and hammer toothpaste. Provides an alkaline environment in mouth to reduce bacteria. Also rinse with the baking soda and salt solution frequently for 2 weeks after chemo.

Not sure which is working but afraid to stop any of it for fear of mouth sores.

FreeandFlying

I'm starting to get somewhat emotional about my hair as well. Always had long dark hair and have had lots of fun with short and super short styles, even fo hawk for the past few weeks. It felt like a new me to for the first time in my life not hide behind my hair and be comfortable in my own skin looking different. I get sad when I think about what it will be like to see myself bald, everyday another reminder of this cancer and the painful journey. I too don't want to wear a wig or head coverings although I have both ready. Whatever we will all figure it out. Maybe I just don't have the right wig ue

hartrish

free and flying: I think I tried on 50 wigs and really none of them looked good. I did settle on one. My hairdresser will cut some bangs in them. Losing my hair has been one of the hardest things. With the scarred up body from reconstruction and hair loss, hard to get my head around it all emotionally.

Want2Bcamping

I have decided not to do any wigs. I did purchase some hats scarves and beanies in preparation for the "big" day. We can all get Through this together! Appreciate everyone's support and input.

Cheesequake

Hope everyone is feeling well (or as well as can be expected) today. I started feeling a little nauseated last night so had a small meal, some medical marijuana AND an Ondansetron and that took care of it very quickly. I'm noticing that even though I don't feel sick all the time, my stomach just doesn't seem to want much food, so I've been eating much smaller meals than normal. Still trying to get into the habit of doing that every couple hours though to avoid nausea!

I was starting to wonder yesterday if the acne that was cropping up was chemo-related or weather/greasy hair related. (I'm trying not to do anything at all to my hair unless absolutely necessary, so it's pretty oily.) Oh yeah, it's the drugs (Dexamethasone and/or chemo.) Little whiteheads and red dots everywhere on my head, face and chest this morning. When I was in my teens and twenties I had very severe, deep acne - this is almost cute in how superficial it is. I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that

So grateful for mild side effects. "Enjoying" them while I can, assuming they'll get much worse.

courtleboo

Heading in for my second infusion tomorrow.

Last Wednesday my hair started coming out in clumps, so Thursday Hubs shaved my head. It was pretty emotional for me but I felt better once it was done. I've got plenty of caps to wear. I can say my scalp is still pretty sensitive waiting on the stubble to come out.

Hoping for minimal side effects this time. First time around I had no nausea, fingers crossed I have the same luck this time. Fatigue was strong. And days 8-10 I felt my worst with fatigue, nurse said that was when my immune system was at it's lowest.

The last week I have felt pretty good. Even got my sense of taste back a little bit.

Good luck to everyone starting treatments.

Well wishes to all who are enduring treatments now.

Batesburg

Hey everyone! I get on and read your posts nearly twice a day and it has been a blessing. I can understand the fears of the unknown, challenges with side effects, and focus on positivity!

My body is struggling with low neutrophils and platelets. I guess this carboplatin is notorious for causing both. I was able to take Taxol today and with the neupogen and another week break from Carboplatin, I hope to have dose of both next week. My MO said I will be having this "challenge" throughout and to focus on the shrinking of my breast tumor and lymph node - we each respond differently and in positive and negative ways- and our clinical/path response is the key, of course.

I am with all of you even though I don't post much- just know each night I send up healing love for us all to make it past this chemo and thrive for many years to come!!!

melinda531

Hi All,

I've been MIA for a bit dealing with some side effects that actually landed me in the hospital. Had TCH on 7/10 and got the Neulasta shot on 7/13 and thought I was doing pretty good on side effects, just a little sore from steroids wearing off and tired but started with severe stomach cramps on 7/14. Thought this was the beginning of the dreaded constipation side effect and let it go too long. By 7/16, I had developed a fever and ended up being admitted to the hospital with a dangerously low white blood cell count and colitis! Doctors said this is a (rare) side effect from the taxotere so they are adjusting my dosage for my next cycle (7/30) and be more diligent in getting my bloodwork done on day 5 to check white blood count and be proactive if they're dropping by starting an antibiotic to fight off any issues that could arise like the colitis.

Like everyone else, I've been dreading the inevitable hair loss. I'm at day 12 after my first treatment and it's just so hard to believe that my hair feels so normal right now and will be gone in a few days! I was going to get it cut before I landed in the hospital and now I'm just hanging onto until that first sign that it's starting to go then I'm going to get it shaved off. I can't believe how sad I am about it but see from everyone else's posts here that I'm certainly not alone. I think once I get through this emotional hurdle I'll be better for the rest of my treatment as this is the part I've been dreading since hearing the word "chemo".

On a brighter note, the hospital stay delayed me but I managed to make it to the beach for my family vacation so at least I am getting to dread losing my hair in a beautiful place! :-)

Hope everyone is doing well! Hang in there!

kdcjjc

JillyB -

I'm day 6 out from first TCH and finally feeling better. Day 1 was fine and so was next day, but 3-4 were unbelievable fatigue all weekend. Basically slept both days. No appetite, feels like I burned my tongue so no real taste. Today is much better. Much more strength and no more pain from NUELASTA shot. Hope I can keep recovering until next infusion in 2 weeks. No other side effects.

Hope your next goes well.

kdcjjc

Cheesequake -

Glad your side effects are minimal. No nausea for me either, but I take the drugs regularly. Feeling much better after the 4th day and going to work the next 3 days.

Fatigue was really bad but I think I'm past that for now. NUELASTA pain seem to be gone as well.

Just taking it day by day and glad to be feeling so much better.

kdcjjc

Hi HeatBrin -

I was really knocked out over the weekend (days 3-4) with fatigue but much better now. Taste buds coming back and ready for work the next 3 days.

How are you doing? Did the Claritin help with the joint pain? I had some pain over the weekend but pretty much gone now. My NUELASTA was the day after infusion back at the doctor's office with no problems until later.

No nausea but I take the meds.

Just taking it day to day.

Flaime

My first chemo today went better than I expected, although from what everyone says, the SE's don't really kick in until the next day. I just had a slight headache begin during the second infusion, then it got a little worse by the time I got home. Managing fine with some Tylenol. That's it! No really bad tastes in my mouth during the infusions. And the steroid gave me more energy than I've had for quite some time. I will be taking some Benadryl before bedtime to help me fall asleep. Then tomorrow I'll watch the auto-injector they placed on my abdomen give me my dose of Neulasta at home. Should be interesting. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

The oncology nurse navigator asked if anyone had talked to me about wigs. I told her I was thinking of just using scarves and other headcovers. She told me I get a free wig with my chemo and handed me a catalog to choose from. LOL "Yes, please... I'll take a wig." So my friend and I spent the rest of the time wig shopping.

I can't say enough about what a help it is to read about everyone else. There's nothing more comforting than to know you're not alone. Good luck to everyone, and may the SE's be minimal, or at least get better ASAP.

Peabrain

does the Claritin make anyone else's scars feel weird? Sort of tingly

FreeandFlying

Peabrain my scars hurt really badly somewhere after treatment up to day 10 or so post infusion. Just when I was able to sleep on my sides I couldn't anymore after chemo. Enough tissue was removed from my lumpectomy so that I had a reduction in the other side then lift of both sides in a second surgery. I was told my breast tissue would never heal the same after radiation so all that was all done now.

Hartrish I think I'm going to bring my lovely wig to my stylist as well and as her to cut it more to suit my style. Good idea.

I hope my kids adjust quickly to seeing me bald. I always thought as long as I'm comfortable with it they will be comfortable as well.

I saw a physical therapist for lymphodema prevention yesterday- learned that although only 3 nodes were removed the radiation treatment will result in loss of function of all the irradiated nodes. Makes sense. Another interesting learning! I was confused about why my oncologist wanted me to see the physical therapist and now I know!

Thanks everyone for your input and sharing. It really is great to connect with you all.

tonia52

hi flame, I am on my events taxol treatment next week. I had a taxol herceptin treatment today so I'm up and very energetic tonight her in lexington, NC. lol! I'm getting ready to take 12 mg of ambien. It has helped me to get a great nights sleep so far. I started it about a week and a half ago. The chemo constipated me too. I read where some of the survivors get diarrhea but I'm seem to have the opposite. Other than those two things I am feeling much better than I did on ADR . I also had the neulasta injection with the ADR and it worked just like they said it would. I also do the sublingual Claritin for bone pain and praise God I haven't experienced thru 4 ADR treatments and now on sixth Taxol herceptin treatment. I will be praying for you. Sleep well my friend!

Flaime

Thanks, tonia52. The Benadryl did help me get to sleep. I feel a lot less energetic today. Food tastes a little metalic, and I just feel slightly crappy overall, but nothing too bad. My onc nurse was more worried about diarrhea than constipation, so I'm prepared for either. I'll be taking Claritin today, and was told to take for 5 days with the neulasta injection. I see everyone talk about Claritin, and I was specifically told it had to be Claritin D, which they gave me a prescription for. Just wondering if this is what others are using since they don't say which Claritin.

Good luck with the rest of your treatments, hope things continue to feel better!

FreeandFlying

Anyone having chemotherapy infusion tomorrow? It will be receiving my second treatment of AC.Right now I feel indifferent about it. I had a million emotions about it a week ago so I think by brain is placing me in protection mode to get me through.

Peabrain

thanks, Free, for the info. It's always good to know I'm not imagining a symptom!

Flaime

Free and Flying, looks like you're about a week ahead of me - good luck with your 2nd treatment. Looks like we have a similar treatment plan. I just had my first yesterday, and I think a lot of my anxiety was not knowing what to expect or feel like. So far, my SE's haven't been too bad, but I know they can get worse over the next few days. I know that getting my 2nd infusion will be better just because I'll know what to expect. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, and looking forward to hearing how it goes.

FreeandFlying

Flaime I hope you are drinking a lot of water, eating regularly and relaxing.

tonia52

I'm so glad you are doing well today. I lifted you up in prayer this morning. My oncologist advised just regular Claritin and I've stayed on it daily to prevent bone pain the entire treatment. Praise God no bone pain and I plan to stay on the Claritin until a week after my last treatment. I tried the tablets once and bone pain happened that week so I always get the box that melts and have not had any bone pain. Keep me posted on your treatments and keep believing how good your treatments are going to go. Also my hair came out on day 17. I was on adriamycin for the first four treatments now I'm on taxol and my hair started growing back three weeks ago.

6feetover

Tonya-

Hey, there! Actually, I'm doing 4 dose-dense rounds of the AC combo (just finished Round 2 today, with my Neulasta shot), then doing 12 weeks of Taxol (plus probably Carboplatin), as well. Just wanted to clarify.

inkster

Hair is coming out in handfuls today (day 16). I just stood in the shower, bent at the waist, and ran my fingers through my hair for a few minutes and I had a big pile of it on the tub floor. My scalp actually feels better, but I'm kinda grossed out. :P

I'm a bit torn about buzzing it off, but that may be coming next. Of course, at this rate there won't be anything to buzz by morning.

Hope everyone's day is going well. Stay hydrated, my friends!