Starting Chemo in October 2015

Jclc83

Thanks for the welcome Andraxo. It sounds like we have a lot in common.

homeschool4us

Jclc83, I had weird headaches as well. Unlike any headache I've ever had. The bones in my face and skull hurt. Was tat was yours felt like? Then it moves down to my shoulders, back and hips, but it felt more like my muscles and skin hurt in those areas.

My worst side effect by far has been the mouth sores. I'm on day 6 of excruciating pain in my mouth and also my neck from the swollen lymph nodes. Today it finally got so bad I've all but given up on eating. I go in for port placement and round 2 tomorrow and am really hoping they can fix this.

biscuits

Kimmer33: if you have a Great Clips close by, give them a call. They offer "clips of kindness" for gals facing hair loss from chemo. They provide free hair buzzing and will even put you in a private area, if you wish, to do it. It's a cool program that was started by their CEO! who had cancer herself. Go online and read about it, if you are interested and want to do something a little quicker than just waiting it out. Hope this helps

biscuits

homeschool4us: Did you get something from your MO for the mouth sores? I went to my dentist and he prescribed Magic Mouthwash. MO concurred, when I called. You swish 2 tsps in your mouth and spit out. It is lidocaine based and numbs everything up and it helps heal the sores. I can now eat again and it works very quickly!

Kimmer33

thanks biscuits, borrowed my son in law's buzzer and hubby did it tonight - feels good to have the hair gone.

Sorry about the mouthsores homeschool, hope they can fix you tomorrow! Hugs!

Kim

PatRN10

jclc83 welcome. I am on your exact schedule. Started 10/8. #2 today after post radiation mammogram. Yes I did radiation first since I am a school nurse and did not work per diem this summer. I am going back on Tuesday to work .

Buzzed hair last ftiday. Couldn't stand it half gone.

Homeschooling so sorry about the moth dores.

LoriAlone

I'm starting November 9th. I've had my surgery (lumpectomy and sentinel node removal). Chemo is next then radiation then hormone therapy. I live alone have only my daughter who lives about 40 mins away (and works even further) so, I'll be doing 99% of this on my own.

homeschool4us

My dentist called in some magic mouthwash for me, but it didn't really do anything. At first I thought they were getting better and going away, but then they started getting worse again. And, it never felt.lioe it numbed my mouth. I have read there are 2 medicines that are supposed to heal them, Mugard and something else that I will ask about today. They are really expensive though.

Jclc83

homeschool4us my headaches were so bad. Advil did help some. But Ialso had spasming pain that went from the base of my skull to the top of my pelvis along my spine. Not sure if that is bone or muscle pain

Thanks for the welcome PatRN10 ! I am sitting here getting my second chemo treatment I was supposed to go back to work Monday but my doc doesn't want me to return until Feb 1. Worried about finances but happy I won't be working. Just dread telling them.

Glad I have some friends to talk to. Thanks

Kimmer33

welcome Lorialone hopefully you can find all the support you need on these boards! All the best and keep us posted!

Kim

AmyBeader

I got that magic mouthwash but my directions said to swallow! Maybe because my sores were down in my throat? Either way, it was so nasty that I had to spit it out anyway! It did numb my tongue and the inside of my mouth for a while.

I just got back from getting my wig! She buzzed the rest of my hair off and cut and styled the wig for me. Here's the before and after:

Kimmer33

that wig is gorgeous!!

Skittlegirl

Mine also instructs to swallow.

Infojunkie

I went to my first chemo today, so I'm sneaking into the October group. I was officially diagnosed last week--it's been a game of hurry up and wait. I had the port put in and sentinel node biopsy last Friday. I found out yesterday my nodes are clear, and I'm estrogen and progesterone positive, so good news.

I'm doing chemo first because of the tumor size. I'll be doing 4 rounds of AC every three weeks, and then 12 weekly of Taxol.

I'm worried about working through chemo. My work is super supportive, but as a single mom of three, I can't afford to go on STD unless I have to.

I have three wonderful ADHD teens/tween. I'm expecting them to be both helpful and frustrating!

Andraxo

Looking fabulous AmyBeader!

I'm rockin' the buzz/bald at work right now, will try to post a pic when I get home.

- A xo

Kimmer33

Welcome infojunkie!

I buzzed my head yesterday, not quite daring as Andra to post a pic though - I look like my brother, yikes!

ncsue927

Welcome, LoriAlone! I am like you and facing most of this alone. I have lots of family support, but they don't live near me. I have some dear friends and co-workers I can count on to help when needed. There is tons of great support here and lots of experience, strenght and hope.

PatRN10

Amy you are adorable!

Welcome Lori. Please stop by often for support.

Jclc83 hope treatment went well today. Mine was uneventful except I don't get out of neulasta this time. Not looking forward to this! But if it will keep me working and out of hospital guess it's worth it. Why did the doc pick Feb. rob ably not a bad idea.i see 30 sick kids a day.

Jclc83

PatRn10 Doc picked February 1 because it's the end of chemo. Maybe it's my age or the chemo and Neulasta but it's kicking my butt. I am so easily fatigued. Plus I work with diseases and toxic chemicals and he said my immune system is suppressed. Round 2 went great......so far. Neulasta tomorrow ! It's a full time job being a patient. Phew

Welcome Lorialone. I only have one person that I helps me sometimes. So I know how you feel. Remember we're here 😀

AmyBeader

welcome Infojunkie! Sounds like it's been a whirlwind for you. My oldest (sophomore) is ADHD and an aspie. Both kids have been great so far.

Andraxo- looking forward to your pic

My scalp is really tender in places- mut be those hair follicles releasing

Andraxo

some pics (4) ...

what I usually look like every day at work (taken last year)

outside of work (hair in braids a lot for sports) - Peru, April 2015

with my 80 y.o. mom, day 1 post bilateral mastectomy in Sept (she flew over 2000 miles to be with me for my surgery!) A rare pic with my hair down.

today at work.... complete with bat on my head for halloween! I don't think I look much different at work without hair since my hair had to be up and off my collar.

Jclc83

you look awesome Andraxo

AmyBeader

great pics Andraxo! I kind of wish my stylist had taken my hair a little closer to the scalp- I think it would look better. Oh well, I guess it will fall out soon enough

Kimmer33

gorgeous andra

PatRN10

You look beautiful Andraxo. Thank you for your service! Your mom looks great too.

jclc, are you getting more than 4 rounds of TC to go to Feb 1? We are on the same schedule and I figure #4 will be Dec 10 or is he adding in plenty of time to recover?

Jclc83

PatRn10 I'm getting six rounds of TC, followed by Arimidex and radiation.And a body scan sometime. 2 down 4 to go

homeschool4us

Amybeader, the wig looks identical to your hair! Looks great!

homeschool4us

Infojunkie, welcome, and I think you'll be able to work pretty much through the chemo, especially on the 3 weeks schedule. My worst days were 4 and (counting chemo as day 1), so hopefully they'll mostly fall.on the weekends.

homeschool4us

You look great bald, Andraxo! Really! I need.to get myself some fake glasses, I've noticed glasses seem to make bald look even cuter. 😉

homeschool4us

Well, yesterday I had bloodwork (all in normal ranges), then port placement (actual placement was so easy, but when the local anesthesia wore off not so good), then oncologist visit (she almost decided to delay this treatment a week because of the mouth sores), and then round 2 of AC.

My MO let me decide about going ahead with yesterday's treatment or not. I decided to go ahead, let's get it over with even if I'm miserable. She said take 600mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours for mouth pian, bone pain, any pain. I was excited about that. She also found me a sample of Mugard for my mouth, so that was great too. e said I have some cording in my arm from the mastectomy and may need physical therapy later. She also said I'll get 3-6 weeks of a break between chemo and rads which was wonderful to hear. A break!! And best of all set didn't even mention doing any scans yet. For those if you that don't know, I was pregnant so never got more than the mammograms, chest xray and liver ultrasound (on which they saw something, but think it's a hemangioma). We list the baby 2 weeks ago, so techincally O can do the scans now. I know some of them there are itching to see the rest of my body, but I'm not sure I can handle any more bad news for a bit. I'm hoping to stretch it until after the holidays.

My actual infusion yesterday went really well, I was nervous, but I had a chatty nurse and that helped a lot. About an hour after, I started feeling very tired and a little nauseous. Sleeping did not go well. The port area doesn't let me move around without pain yet and the neulasta injector is also on that side. Combine that with awful night sweats and it was not a good night. Steroids probably helped too.

Thanks for listening to my ramblimg. I hope everyone has a good day today. Keep sharing everything please! It helps so much to hear what you are all going through as well.