Chemo in July 2015

Cheesequake

HeatBrin, I'm the exact same chemo as you (assuming your T is Taxotere and not Taxol), starting the same day as you. My work is being very accommodating and letting me work from home, so I'm taking advantage of it. I plan to work from home throughout chemo so I'm not exposed to all my coworkers who constantly go to the office sick!! Good luck to us both - let's keep each other posted!

Batesburg

Hi! I have started my chemo- first carbo/taxol on June 30, then just taxol on July 7, plan was to have taxol again a few days ago (my cycle is every Tuesday) and then carbo/taxol the following week (with total of 4 cycles of this) for total of 12 weeks. I became neutropenic this week- too low to get the taxol- but plan for carbo/taxol is ON for next week! Positive energy for neutrophils to raise high enough and then neupogen 3 days post carbo/taxol so I don't run into this again.

Anyone else have similar experience??? Good news is I don't feel like I'm neutropenic at all.

Best to you all- I've got you ALL in my prayers.

madrew

Thank you mdoc524! I am on my 3rd day since my first chemo. So far....I am feeling pretty good. I am now coming down from the energy from the steroids and assume things may change a bit. Yesterday, I had all my laundry and dishes done by 5am. Today, I took a nap from 8-9am. Right now, it's lots of walking, lots of water, and lots of fiber! For good or for bad, I do feel grateful to have finally "started".

JillyB

Heatbrin and Cheesequake- I'm having the same treatment. I had my first on July 1st. Treatment wasn't so bad. I didn't feel well for 3 days afterwards. 4th day pretty good. I was on a roller coaster for 2 weeks because of my low white blood cell count. I finally felt really good on day 14. Went to doctor today and my blood count was back in sync.

I had my haircut lady night as it has started falling out. I was going to try and keep as long as I could but taking a shower each day is very emotional with all of the hair going down the drain. I may be shaving my head this weekend. I'm not looking forward to that. It makes me sick to my stomach. But as they say...this too shall pass. I have bought a few scarves for the inevitable so I am ready. Not going with the wig. I'm gonna rock the baldness

Thanks for everyone on this page. It makes it a little easier to cope as everyone is going through the same thing. Good luck to all of you on your journeys.

JillyB

Melinda531 - my taste buds were wacky for only a couple days about a week after my first treatment. Food had no taste and liquids tasted like metal. It only lasted about 3 days and everything came back normal. Hope yours doesn't last any longer.

RuthElizabeth

hi everyone. This chemo is kicking my butt. I can't seem to get a grip past the nausea. Even with the meds, zofram and composine. I'm struggling with trying to keep hydrated. Every time I try to drink, I feel nausea. I had a little diahrea, but that stopped. It's only the fourth day. All I seem to be able to eat is crackers.

Please, any advice is appreciated. I can't seem to get off the couch...

Thanks, Ruth

michele123

Hi Ruth....so sorry to hear you're having such a hard time ...my only advice would be that my nurses suggested taking zofran about an hour before getting out of bed then eating a cracker or two before getting up. Another nurse said that treating the nausea like morning sickness helps too....so as soon as you're feeling queasy try eating something small like toast or banana or something light. I had my second infusion yesterday and today I skipped the meds and just tried eating when I felt queasy and I had a much better day one than last time with the meds...hope this helps but if it doesn't I strongly suggest you call your doc or chemo nurses and let them know what's going on. Good luck and hang in there....I'll be praying for a better tomorrow for you!! Michele.

FreeandFlying

RuthElizabeth- I had AC a week ago and still feel crappy. Now it's mostly fatigue and dizziness stuff now but it was different things throughout the week. I've already lost 5 pounds and I don't need to lose weight. I called my nurses and saw oncologist twice since treatment but in terms of feeling better it simply took time for me. I hope you can relax and try to minimize worry. have someone around all the time that can remind you to eat and drink even if you don't feel like it. Eating regularly was very helpful for me and eating immediately upon waking in the morning.

kdcjjc

Hi Heatbrin-

I was just in Michigan (Kalamazoo) for a few days to watch my son play summer college baseball for the Growlers!

Had my first TCH yesterday with no problems yet. After Benadryl, steroids and nausea meds infused the Herceptin was a loading dose for 90 minutes followed by the Taxotere and Carboplatin last. My port worked great and never felt a thing. (I just had it placed the day before.) I was there about 5 hours.

I started nausea meds as soon as I got home - every 8 hours. My nurse told me I might be ok because I never had a minute of morning sickness, nausea or vomiting with my 2 pregnancies over 20 years ago. Hopefully my stomach is still as strong today.

I did have a little dry mouth so I drank vitamin water the whole time and it really helped. My other son brought me my favorite sandwich for lunch and I munched on some cookies later on.

I have the Nuelasta shot today. Then the weekend and I will work Tuesday through Friday and see how it goes.

Good luck today and let me know how it went.

kdcjjc

Hi Cheesequake -

I am on the same TCH as you. I can set my schedule and I only work Tuesdays through Fridays. ^{I set my chemo for Thursdays every 3 weeks so I can get through the 3-5 day slump.}

^{We even had surgery 5 days apart. I was HER2 negative on biopsy which then flipped to positive on path report after surgery - threw the doctors for a loop so re-tested with oncotype which was negative again and right on the border of chemo recommendation. FISH re-test was postive so we elected to go with chemo.}

^{I'd like to keep in touch with you during chemo as well as with JillyB and Heatbrin.}

dchavy

RuthElizabeth - I am 9 days out from my fist AC treatment and am just now feeling like my nausea is getting somewhat under control. Hang in there and keep touching base with your onc team. They kept me on dexamethasone as long as they could (just stopped taking it two days ago). Maybe that would help you?

Anyone else dealing with mouth/throat sores? They started 3 days ago for me and are miserable. I am hoping that I don't have them all throughout chemo as I have 3 treatments left over the next 6 weeks.

hartrish

summary of first chemo: I had my first chemo (TC) session on July 9th (Thursday). My 2 rough days ended up being Sunday and Monday. Overall my side effects were minimal from what I was expecting. Sore back muscles, a little nausea on Sunday and Monday (only took 2 doses of zofran), and constipation. Constipation was the biggest issue for me. I did develop a vagina and mouth yeast infection from all the steroids so onc has me on diflucan for a week. My wbc count this Thursday was 12.7 so onc said either I have already had my nadir period and neulasta brought it back up or I may drop during the second week after chemo. She said it would take one complete cycle before we know when my nadir period will occur.

I am fatigued and my energy level is not what it use to be. I continue to walk 30-40 mins each day. Doing well with that other than being winded at the end.

No changes in taste buds yet. No mouth sores. My appetite is low but continue to each well since I am nursing two wounds from my reconstruction. Wounds look great. Pink and healthy. Using dial gold soap in shower to clean wounds and then irrigating with dakin's solution to decrease chance for infection.

I think the Claritin worked for the neulasta shot. No joint or pain pain. Took Claritin day of chemo and continued for 5 days.

No signs of neuropathy so I guess icing hands and feet, taking 10mg of l-glutamine 3 x day, and b6 50mg dailyis helping.

I have a hair appt on July 22 to buzz my hair and get my wig bangs trimmed. I also have some buffs, do rags and hats. I am sure this will be an emotional day but wanted to have some control of losing my hair.

I wish everyone a great weekend with no or minimal side effects. Thanks for all the support and information from everyone.

hartrish

dchavy: are you using the salt and soda solution to rinse your mouth? I rinse each time I go to the bathroom. Also I am taking l-glutamine 10mg x 3 and lysine 500mg x 2. I chewed on ice the whole time to decrease blood flow to my mouth area during my chemo infusion. So far I have no mouth sores. I only developed yeast infection from all the steroids on diflucan for that.

Hope your mouth sore get better. You might ask onc for magic mouth wash to help with mouth sores while they are healing.

Check with your once about using the supplements, some allow and others don't.

alice12

Hartrish: what is the composition to make baking soda and salt solution, to prevent mouthsore?

thank you

Queen_Celeste

"Recipe" for mouth sore relief:  1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/8 teaspoon salt (1/4 if you like), 8 ounces warm water.  Stir, then swish around your mouth and spit out.  I have had tongue and mouth sores, and this made it more comfortable.  I don't know that this will prevent mouth sores.  Good luck!

Queen_Celeste

HeatBrin and Sher0402:  I think your work plans are very sensible.  I have been able to work full time throughout my chemo.  The first and second sessions were on Fridays and the third on a Thursday (due to Independence Day holiday).  I had no problem going back to work on Mondays.  That being said, each of us could have different side effects so you will have to see how it goes for you.  Good, I hope!  I have had a lot of side effects but they have all been manageable.  Best of luck to you all.

alice12

Queen celeste: thank you for the tip. Does the mouth sore occur all the time or only the few days after chemo?

I am starting Chemo in 2 weeks and anxious about the side effect.

Italychick

to those with mouth sores, not sure if it helped or just made a difference because I was diligent, but I did the baking soda and salt rinse, scraped my tongue with a tongue scraper, and used coconut oil in my mouth. I never really got mouth sores.

Also, for nausea, I never had to use any medication other than steroids and what they gave me on infusion days, but I treated chemo like being pregnant. Kept pretzels and saltines and water by the bed, ate a few first thing in the morning, and also kept little bites of food in my stomach throughout the day. For me my stomach felt worse if it was completely empty. It would get this shaky kind of feeling, which was a signal to me to eat something.

I am now 7 weeks post chemo, and feel mostly normal except for continuing brow and eyelash hair loss. But I do see little tiny hairs growing back in!

Hang in there, you can get through chemo!

hartrish

alice12: I bought 2 quart Tupperware containers and put one in each bathroom. 1 teaspoon baking soda plus 3/4 teaspoon salt in 1 quart of water. This way I can rinse my mouth several times during the day without having to mix it each time

alice12

For those with TCH regimen, may I know how long it takes for the actual infusion of Taxotere Carboplatin Herceptin (TCH)? My nurse said I have to be prepared to spend 6 hours in the hospital on 1st chemo day. It may be 5 hours for following chemos.

Thank you

Queen_Celeste

alice12:  For me the mouth/tongue sores lasted maybe a week or a week and a half.  Not too bad, really.  I could still eat normally.

Batesburg

Hi JillyB,

I'm having the same thing - hair falling out in the shower especially. Thinking this is the weekend to do it. How to shave it?? What to use?

anyone have advice on the "hot-to's" , etc?

rosesrx

Alice12,

The first TCH is longer by at least an hour due to the H being a loading dose over 90 minutes. Thereafter it will be over 30 min. unless you have issues an they have to slow it down. Once the 6 TCH combo is done and you go to H every 3 weeks the dose gets uped and the infusion time as well.

Premed . 3 x 20 min or 1 hr

Taxotere - 1 hr

Carboplatin. 1- hr

Herceptin 1 hr

Flush and lock port 10-15 min

You have to allow time for them to mix chemo. Also labs before and accessing port. It seems to go by faster than you think especially if you are dozing with the benadryl.

RuthElizabeth

hi everyone. Ruth here. I called onc nurse this morning and wound up back in the hospital for the best four hours after my chemo. I was dehydrated. I was taking nausea meds, but had herendous stomach pain. I got two huge bags of fluids today, steroids, and zofran IV. Made a huge difference. I actually feel normal.

I got to talk to my onc doctor and explain what has been happening. He said I have a super sensitive system and he will be making a few changes in my next chemo. I will be anxious to see what he does and if it helps. He also told me if I ever feel I am dehydrated, to just call and come in. It's not a problem. I feel much better with everything now. I was soon scared.

My husband works weird hours and is home during the day but sleeping. I spent three days all but alone, and that wasn't good. I know that now. I need some company and distractions.

I hope everyone else can hang in too. I'm praying we can all tolerate these chemical and all get our lives back. They will never be the same, but it gives a new understanding to living each day to the fullest. Bless you all...

djatsw47

starting chemo week of July 20th

inkster

Hey ya, Batesburg!

I'm about a week after you, so I haven't had much hair fall out. Yet. However, one of the survivors I talked to said that at day 17 hers was coming out in handfuls, so her hairdresser took clippers and shaved her head (no nicks). She also said that coconut oil on the bare noggin rocks. Bonus: it smells like summer.

ingersollnic

thanks, that would be great

Sher0402

djatsw47, what day are you starting and what are you having? I start the 23rd and I'm having 6 rounds of TCHP.

Batesburg

Thanks so much, Inkster! I hope your treatment goes smoothly! Rooting for you!

HeatBrin

Hi kdcjjc-

I hope you enjoyed Kalamazoo! I'm glad to hear that that everything went smoothly for you yesterday! My day was pretty much the same. My port took 3 attempts but after that it was smooth sailing. I feel really good today, and will take the anti nausea drugs as prescribed to remain that way! I have an on body injector filled with Neulasta set infuse at 6:20 this eve so I'm taking Claratin to avoid the joint pain.

Good luck to you, go Growlers!