January 2016 Chemo!

Cathytoo

DFWFLYGIRL....no hair coming in yet. This morning no pain. One of my friends said she had pain at times and her MO said it can happen at various times during chemo. Who knows? Tomorrow is my last infusion. Can't wait to move on and finally be done. Is your hair growing back

fightergirl711

Good morning! Has anyone had armpit pain on their cancer side during or after chemo? Earlier on I asked my onc about it, the pain was chalked up to nerve pain during taxol, and it was further down under my arm / torso, so didn't think more about it. But this pain - definitely not excruciating, more bothersome - is right in the armpit. I am node-positive, and I've read other threads that this is the chemo doing what it's supposed to do, but thought I'd post here anyway.

LifeAloft

Smurfette, your hair looks great! Mine was fine and thin to begin with, so I'm a little worried about what I'm going to end up with.

Cathytoo, congrats on your last infusion!!! Tomorrow is my 9th of 12, I finally feel like I'm getting there.

Fightergirl, I sometimes get that too, it's more of an ache (I'm node positive too) I also get a similar feeling in my breast where my tumor is. I had an ultrasound last week and everything is smaller, so I hope it's correct that it's the chemo working.

fightergirl711

Thanks so much LifeAloft. I technically already had the tumor removed, as well as the sentinel node biopsy, but going in for surgery in a few weeks for better margins and an ALND. So hoping it's the remnant cells, not anything major!

Veronica31

Fightergirl: I also had armpit pain. It's not terrible, but I notice it. I had a SLB, isolated tumor cells, but considered node-negative. I think what you're feeling is cording. Initially I also had it go down to my ribs too, but now it's just in my armpit. I even have a small lump, but the doctor assured me that it was is just residual cording. You can look up some exercises to try to stretch it out.

Valstim52

mltdd, I am exactly one month PFC, and both of my baby toes have lifted off. Just suddenly.

DFWFLYGIRL

Smurfette-Look at your pretty hair!

Cathytoo-I am on weekly Taxol and have #11 this week of 12 and my hair is growing back yes slowly on head and legs. I looked like a baby chick and now I look like an older baby chick ..lol. Congratulations on your last infusion..that is AWESOME!!!!!

Fightergirl/Veronica/LifeAloft-I have had pain in armpit, down arm, under arm once Taxol started but not during AC. My MO said Taxol it can cause edema so I go to PT each week to have MLD done and also been wearing a compression sleeve during Taxol to ensure pain and swelling stay at a minimimum and was also told about residual cording/fibrosis/scar tissue so they recommend massage and stretching which I gladly partake in both

Valstim-I have been reading on this thread that losing toenails and fingernails is happening to folks after chemo is over. Did you ice during chemo and did it help at all or no? That is no fun:(

fightergirl711

Thanks Veronica31 - I actually had cording super early on and had PT for it this winter, and the cording "threads" under my arm have been long gone. Maybe, like you say it's just residual cording coming and going, but it feels more like an ache. I'm not that worried about it, but though I'd ask the board!

Valstim52

Yes I iced the entire time. I hate to think of how it would be if I had not.

DFWFLYGIRL

Valstim......good to know. I am icing too and boy I hope its worth helping some of the effects!

Smurfette26

Thanks LifeAloft and DFWFLYGIRL. I have always had very thick hair and it seems to be coming in well. I only had the tiniest amount of grey before but now it is really grey.

Valstim52 I iced my fingers and toes right through chemo too but having problems now. They are sore and yucky. The Oncologist looked at them last time I saw him but he didn't seem concerned or offer any advice on caring for them.

My arm aches too. Think I do too much.

LovesToFly

you guys are scaring me. I am almost a month past chemo and so far my fingernails and toenails seem fine, I hope they don't suddenly start falling off! If so I'm pretty sure there's not much to do about it. Does it hurt???

Myraknits

Well, I still have 1 more round to go next week and my big toe toenails are in agony already. Both inside corners are getting fungusy and funky. I've been soaking them and using hydrogen peroxide but it's not easing up. It's been going on over a week. I did ice both hands and feet during Taxotere every infusion and used a clear nail protector by OPI but I guess there's no way around it.

LovesToFly

I iced and used dark polish. I was told very dark polish helps avoid damage, however I'm not sure exactly how that works. But I did it and so far I have no damage.

Cathytoo

LIFTING NAILS.....been reading about nails turning color and then lifting. OMG‼️ Another worry. Tomorrow is my last TC infusion (6). So far, not one problem with my nails. In fact, they are stronger and look better than ever. I have very mild psoriasis in my nails and they don't always look so great. But, while on chemo they have been totally improved. Hope I don't get a surprise in a few weeks. That chemo plays some funny games with us. NOT‼️ Forgot to mention...my upper lashes are half gone...brows very thin but still some hair. Not a strand on hair on head or legs

Maya15

Smurfette your hair looks great! Very jealous.

This nail stuff is scary. There I was thinking I was home free because I just finished Taxol and nails show no sign of detaching (I iced). I keep them really short so they won't catch on anything.

Valstim52

Yes it's strange, because I did not lose the toenails until last week, and i'm almost 1 month pfc. If I'd not done dark polish and iced on both hands and feet, I think I would have lost more than the two baby toes. My hand nails are fine and strong as are the rest of the toe nails.

LoveMyVizsla

I wonder what your nails look like when they grow back? Do they look normal?

JCS28

I am wondering about my nails too. I did ice my fingernails but not my toenails. And I used OPI Nail Envy religiously and it helped them stay strong. However, I am going to lose one toenail. It just happened right around my last chemo. I wasn't sure if it was chemo damage or fungus. I asked my MO and she said it was probably both. ARGH.

Lolliipop

I finished chemo 4/21 and last week my toes started tingling and toenails became very sensitive, now they are really sore and lifting on both of my big toes. I can't wear socks or regular shoes and wear bandaids so I don't bump and lose them. So far I haven't had any problems with my finger nails. I had my nails painted black during chemo but did not ice, I am regretting that now. 😩

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Myraknits

so is the sharp stabbing pain I'm feeling in both big toes neuropathy? Or is it associated with the nails coming up? The pain has now traveled from the insides of each toe to the entire big toe on both feet. Can't wear shoes and it's making it hard to walk.

Valstim52

Myraknits, not sure if it's the nails, but both of my baby toes had that type of pain before lifting.

MissBee123

Congratulations Cathytoo!!! I'm so glad you are finished and here's to a fast and full recovery.

I did not ice during Taxol and my finger and toenails have been fine, so far. I am having a minor problem with my big toe on my left foot, but it seems to be some sort of infection on the skin, not the nail, that won't fully heal. I had a round of antibiotics for it a month ago and while it got much better (it was so bad at one point I couldn't sleep and was taking Tramadol for pain) it still hasn't fully healed. I'm thinking I need to bring it up to my MO next time I see her and ask what she thinks. For those that have lost nails, I've lost them being a marathon runner and while it's a slow process they grow back just fine and perfectly normal.

ONE more chemo to go! My hair is doing the same as everyone else's, slowly growing back and looking sparse. I completely agree that I'd rather be bald than have this fuzzy sad cropping of hair on my head!

This is 2.5 months of growth. Ignore the acne rash, as that's a result of my best friend Perjeta.

Oh, I also was included in the BCO picture ad! (I'm holding the pizza box)

LoveMyVizsla

That's great, MissBee!

You guys are going to think I'm nuts. I went to the Billy Joel concert last night at our baseball stadium. Gavin Degraw was the warm up act. His bass drum was so loud, you could feel it reverberate in your chest. A short time later while Billy was playing, my lumpectomy breast started hurting. My surgery was 5 months ago, but I think the sound caused it. It has hurt off and on again today. Weird, or what?

Veronica31

MissBee123: I love seeing you in the add! And I'm SO EXCITED that you are only one away from being done after all the chemo you've been through. Thank you so much for starting this thread : )

DFWFLYGIRL

MissBee123: I LOVE that you are in the ad on the site........such a positive leader for our January gals even though you have been at this longer. I am on same schedule as you and finishing my last Taxol also this week....lets have a virtual celebration!!! I also have "baby chick" hair but grateful its coming back. Best of luck this week to you and others who are marching to the finish line

fightergirl711

So I went in to get my first Herceptin-only treatment today, however learned that my WBC and neutrophils were too low, and now have to wait a few days to try again. I didn't get Neulasta with my last treatment, and as a result dealing with that now. It also explains why I've been feeling pretty crummy these last few days. Anyway, unfortunately the insurance company won't cover Neulasta at this time (I'm 14 days PFC) but I did get Neupogen as well as Ciprofloxacin. My questions for the board:

- How were the Neupogen side effects? I was pretty lucky with Neulasta overall. But I had my first shot earlier this afternoon and now feeling achy. I forgot to ask, does Claritin work for Neupogen too?

- Anyone know the reasons behind Cipro? I've read some pretty damaging things about it online. I assumed it was just another antibiotic. BTW, I'm not sick, have no fever, pretty sure it's preventative. But what I read about it is pretty nasty!

Thanks in advance!

Paxton29

I took Cipro during chemo when I had fevers and they were worried the hole in my skin from the port being too big might have caused an infection. I had taken it years before for a kidney infection so I knew it was strong--isn't it used for Anthrax? Anyway, I had no problems with it but I don't know why they're giving it to you, unfortunately.

fightergirl711

Thanks Paxton. Just read this:

"A guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends that physicians attempt to prevent infection in outpatients with "profound" neutropenia but no fever. It advises using antibacterial and antifungal prophylaxis if neutrophils are expected to remain below 100/µL for more than 7 days. The guideline states that the preferable agent for antibacterial prophylaxis is an oral fluoroquinolone, while that for antifungal prophylaxis is an oral triazole."

So there's that. The Neupogen however is doing a number on my lower back!

MissBee123

D.O.N.E.!!!!!!!!!!

After over a year of treatment I am finally done with this blasted chemotherapy and cancer treatment! I still have Herceptin but compared to everything else I know that's nothing. I am so glad to be finished! Apparently my chemo wanted to go out with a bang, though, and I have had nausea and terrible Big D side effects (to the point that my husband looked at me wide-eyed and said, "I can hear your insides gurgling, it just woke me up!" Regardless, every day is one day further out from chemo so I continue to celebrate. I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend. My best friend and his boyfriend flew into town to visit and it's been so good to see them. We did a beautiful hike yesterday to Forsythe Canyon and today we are off to explore the 16th St. Mall in downtown Denver. Anyone else have fun plans?

DWFLYGIRL, I'm assuming you finished on the same day as me? Is it time for a congratulations?

fightergirl I haven't had either of those things but I hope that they do the trick for you and up those WBC counts. Glad you are feeling okay otherwise. My nurses said Herceptin is in and out in 45 minutes, no-muss-no-fuss, I can hardly wait!