Starting Chemo December 2015

proctor1725

Great kid participation! I am hoping my daughter will at least go with me so we can make it fun. She is only 5 and wouldn't go with me to get it cut short....so I am not so hopeful. Great you have the support and great attitude. My attitude has been great. Excercising, staying positive. Just got back from my herceptin appointment (1 week after my first Taxotere) and white blood cells were .1. Yikes! They immediately seeked approval for a nuestela shot and wouldn't let me leave. I really don't want to be around my extended family wearing a mask on Christmas. Feeling a little defeated. Stay strong everyone!

mvspaulding

I am at day 12 and really expected it to be falling out by now. You all are giving me hope that I will at least get through Christmas with my own hair. I wasn't looking forward to taking Christmas pictures in a wig or hat. My hair looks bad, I can tell it has lost all it's life, dull and limp but it is still here, for however long that lasts. I totally get the way both of you are feeling because I will probably have a meltdown when the day comes to shave it.

Twirp26

that's is so cool you will have yours for Xmas;) I guess there will never be a good time;) lol I hope I am not sounding too discouraging;) just didn't think it would bother me as much as it is. It's like one of those dreams that all your teeth fall out at once but it is happening for real with my hair. Just another ducky hurdle we will all get through. The eyebrows and lashes will be my next gripe😉 Good luck, stay strong and if you need to bitch, I'll be here to listen!! Lo

chinacat

made it through infusion #2.

Pez and twirp, I'm right here with you. Cut my hair short last week to prepare. This week it's really coming out...I'm angry at the SE of being bald! We are allowed to be angry and feel bad for ourselves. Good that we have each other as no one else really gets it. It's easy to say 'it's just hair until it is your own. You are both beautiful women and that will not change💕 We need to look at ourselves in a different way in order to feel good. Let your light shine on, sisters

chinacat

my new short hair, won't be with me for long..,

Smurfette26

Had my 3rd TC yesterday so my hair is well and truly gone. Hubby buzzed it to the shortest blade just before treatment 2. I had extremely thick hair and couldn't stand it all over my face, clothes, furniture, floors and worst in my food. But I do hate now that I am so easily identified as a cancer patient. I have a wig but it's the middle of summer here in Australia. I live in a very, very hot place and the wig is just unbearably hot. I have been wearing cotton bandannas when I go out. Did some shopping yesterday after chemo and every store I went to the shop assistant gave their usual conditioned but thoughtless spiel, "How are you today?". I politely said, "Fine Thanks" when I really wanted to say well obviously I have cancer. I have one boob, no hair, sporting bruises and band aids on my arm and hand from chemo this morning, I can't taste anything and know I will feel like crap in a few days. Did they really want to hear that? No. Well why ask? I really want to say it just one time just to see what response I get. LOL. We had lunch at a cafe and a young boy at the table beside us asked his Mum, "Why is that lady wearing a funny hat?". His Mum's reply, "Because she has been sick". His response, "Oh ok". I love the brutal honesty and acceptance of children. Why can't adults be like that? Sigh.

proctor1725

You look beautiful! Heading towards bald too! We got this!

Angtee15

Chinacat the new style is very cute.

Is anyone else noticing the irony of the hair on their head thinning/falling out, but their moustaches getting as robust as ever? Ugh...steroids I guess.

Speaking of steroids I'm entertaining the idea of asking the MO to dial those down a bit. I'm not having much in the way of side effects besides insomnia and elevated bp which I think the steroids are contributing to.

Has anyone asked for less steroids? Did you regret it?

chinacat

thanks proctor and angtee! We've definitely got this!

I have not noticedincreased facial hair and I have not asked for less steroids. Hope you find the right cocktail!

rbylake

I had a pretty bad week after Round 1 on Dec 10th and then I suddenly turned the corner and felt more like myself again. But my wbc was really low and I spiked a fever on Sunday and ended up in the hospital for 2 days. My fever quickly went away after they gave me medicine, but they kept me for 48 hours for observation. It felt so weird to be stuck in the hospital when I didn't feel that bad. I ended up on a floor where many patients stayed for long periods at a time, so I left feeling thankful that I don't have to do that. This time I will definitely need a Neulasta shot.

Round 2 is next week and my MO mentioned they may change my chemo because of the neuropathy I experienced. While it is a SE of Taxotere, they aren't used to seeing it after the first round. So I am a little anxious to see what happens with that.

I think I have another week with my hair--I feel mentally prepared to lose it but nothing is going as I envisioned, so I'll probably be a bit of a basket case when it actually happens. I have fears that my wig will slide around and look all crazy as the day goes on without me realizing it.

Twirp26

Hi all my fellow hair losing sisters!!!!! We should all join up paint ourselves blue and call ourselves the "bluewomen group" LOL just trying to make light. BLAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! ChinaCat you look adorable!!!! Love that style. The one thing that is giving me a little hope is that I kinda liked my hair short. I don't think the transition when it comes back in will bother me too bad. I have always been a shoulder length girl. I got a lot of compliments too but that could have been "CANCER PITY" I will just have to suck it up. As soon as I put on my scarves, it will be out in the open. You know, this experience is a blessing in a way. It makes us so much more sensitive to how other people feel. I can not say that I wouldn't do the same thing if I saw a young women who clearly had cancer and lost her hair. I guess when it is all said and done, people just naturally feel bad or sorry for someone going through a trial like we are. I am trying to think like that anyway. Smurfette, I sooooo agree with you on that "how are you doing" comment. I have been hearing that everyday since diagnosis and have felt like saying all those things. "SO, I HAVE CANCER AND AM LOSING MY HAIR, THERE'S THAT......" LOL My husband has been losing his hair slowly for years. He is so self conscience of it and I have always kind of made light of it. The difference here is I am in fast forward but he will not ever get his back. AGAIN, more sensitive to someone's feelings. Just a thought. Thinking of you all!!!! Rbylake, The Neulasta shot worked like a charm for me round one. I go tomorrow for round 2 I will let you know. Remember to take Claritin the day before and days after the shot. It may make your legs and hips ache. Mine hurt for a few days but it wasn't horrible, just sore. I took Tylenol and put heating pads on my legs and hips. It helped. Good luck to you all!!!!

LOL

Noni

Angtree15, I asked my MO to cut back on steroids. He initially put me on steroids twice a day to help me breathe. It didn't do anything for my cough or breathing but kept me awake all night and messed with my blood sugar. He agreed to stop the daily steroids and only give them on infusion day. It works out much better for me.

Twirp26

Noni, That should help with the stash. LOL, I think that might be one of the things to celebrate. Losing ALL other annoying hair. Mustache, leg hair, the pits and the dreaded couple of chin whiskers I pluck while in the car in my driveway, LMAO. YUCK! Throw away your razors ladies. we will be smooth as babies bottoms. LOL Good luck Noni. I take steroid day before, day of and day after. I take a Benadryl at night to help me sleep. It helped last time anyway.

Smurfette26

I had treatment 3 (TC) yesterday and my head is still spiky, not smooth. I still have leg hair too but those pesky chin hairs and the moustache are gone. Armpits are pretty smooth too. Have to be some positives.

My hubby has shaved his head for years so now we are both bald. He said if he was losing it; it was going on his terms. He didn't want bald spots or a ring around the back of his head. Can't imagine him with hair now.

mvspaulding

I do not have problem with facial hair. However, I only get steroids the day of my treatment. I didn't get the shot my first round and my counts dropped. Rbylake, so sorry you ended up in the hospital with it. I didn't feel well for a few days. But nothing that serious. So I will get the shot this time. You all say take Claritin the day of treatment since the sho will be the day after?

Twirp26

mvspauling, yeah, my doc told me to get it going in my system. I'm going to take it 2 days before this time to experiment. I'm not exactly sure what it does to help but I wasn't too bad last time. Good luck!

demarie

myspaulding, the Claritin is a must. I took mine 2 days before treatment and a few days after and still had terrible bone pain. I am quite active, work an active job full time, and by day 4 post treatment just could go no more. My blood counts were better than they had been prior to chemo so my mo believes the I just am one who responds quite well to the medicine. YaY for being special I guess. We will be cutting the mg of neulasta back a bit next time and I have some narcotics on hand just in case. Good luck with yours, again I was told I am not the normal case but some of us do react too well, guess here's hoping the chemo is also working really well •*•smile

chinacat

myspaulding, I got the shot the day after my first infusion but I was not advised to take Claritin so I didn't. I had pain in my spine and sternum one week after the shot. I took ibuprofen (600mg) and laid down. It was gone the next day. I get the shot this morning so I'll ask about the Claritin and I'll try it. I'll let you if I notice a difference but it will be in a week

demarie and twirp, not Claritin D, correct?

Twirp26

Chinagirl, no, just Claratin. I got the 5 pack. They also mentioned another allergy drug too. I'll find out. I may experiment with that next round. Good luck!!

mvspaulding

Thanks everyone for responding, I will get some even though they have not said anything to me about it. I don't want to have bone pain on top of feeling crummy from the chemo treatment!

Anonymous

PezGal, bless your heart. But thank you for honestly sharing your feelings. I'm close behind you and need to know the truths. Hope you do enjoy Christmas. Hugs, Heidy

Queen_Celeste

My sister sent me this while I was going through chemo (May-September 2015).  Hope it gives you a laugh!

You all have such great attitudes!  Hope you get through treatment without too much difficulty.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.

My hair started falling out on day 12 after the first chemo session.  It happened so quickly that I was glad to shave it and get rid of the discomfort and mess.  I've got 2 wigs (3 counting the blue one) and a pile of Buff scarves.

Smurfette26, you look great!  Keep cool!  I love the little boy's remark about your "funny hat."  His mum's answer was very sensible.

Lou53

Hi Ladies, I had my first chemo last Thursday. Starting Saturday, I started feeling bad and continued to go downhill. I went back to my oncologist yesterday and he did not seem concerned. I have had so many side effects I can barely function. It seems like everyone else on here is managing without much difficulty. I am getting very worried! Today I have severe abdominal cramps and a headache and my belly button continues to ooze. (he wasn't concered about that either) I am afraid I won't be able to continue treatment if I am going to be this ill. What do I do?? I am so sad and down.

proctor1725

Lou53 - sorry you are having so much trouble. Stay positive and focus on those good moments. Not sure of what SE's you are having but I suggest to be persistent with the doctor and ask for somethng to help minimize the ones that are giving the biggest trouble. If it is nausea, get specific meds for that. If it is cramping (which I am having too), for me, it is constipation. So I am taking metamucil and mirilax - each day it eases up a bit. Stay persistent and be specific with your doctor and ask what can be done about x....? They can certainly change the treatment but you could have more severe side effects with something else. Try to get some fresh air each day - I force myself to walk each day - somedays I can only do 15 minutes but it is something to rebuild my energy and my mind. Hang in there! This is temporary and you will be yourself again soon!

Twirp26

Here we go number 2!!!!

proctor1725

I love that shirt! Good luck! Thinking of you!

Twirp26

thanks proctor!!! I am thinking of you too!! Hang in there! Praying your SE's will minimize and you can feel better soon!!! I got this shirt online. I ordered a few different funny shirts to wear on chemo days. Trying to make the best of it;

NewDay123

Twirp26, love the blue heads! Very funny! And love the Finding Chemo shirt!

Sammy3

the shirt is awesome!!! You look super cute!

Sammy3

I also wanted to mention that someone here had mentioned the Lindi skin care products. I had a sample pack sent to me from a friend & wow it is really good. I think I am going to check their website because I did have major skin issues right away. Not to mention it is winter. But I just thought I would add my 2 cents.