Starting Chemo May 2016

ClarkBlue

JustAgirl33 - have you been diligently taking your antinausea? Diarrea or vomiting? I'm so sorry... Make sure you call your MO, I know they are very adamant about managing symptoms and making sure we are comfortable... No need to suffer these days.

Much love,

-Keely

JustAgirl33

ClarkBlue- My doctor said to stop taking the anit-nausea after three days... Both Diarrea and vomit. Oh man my abs feel like I worked out for hours. I'm going to call my MO this morning; I don't think I can handle another day like that. Finally last night I ended up mixing baking soda and water together and drinking it. It seemed to help. Although I would prefer to not get to that level again. We'll see what my doctor says.

ClarkBlue

JustAgirl33 - God Bless you - I hate hearing that you've had such a hard time of this. I am praying that there will be a solution for you today. My Compazine, prescription for antinausea just says, "every 4-6 hours as needed for nausea". I take those suckers for about 3-4 days - plus I have another prescription (Zofran?) as a back up if my first script doesn't work.

-Keely

labscientistmom

JustAgirl33: I agree with ClarkBlue, blessings to you. - I was told to take Zofran as needed for nausea and every 6 hours on the dot starting the second morning after chemo (because I got it as premed infusion before the taxol) if I never wanted to feel nauseous. why, Why WHY would they every tell you to stop taking it???? that is just so weird!! I had terrible bout of diarrha and cramps and when I called the DR. to be sure I was ok, she said as long as I wasn't vomiting or feverish and could keep fluids going in I should be ok. Dehydration is no joke, it can make you super sick, damage organs or even kill you quick if you don't stay on top of it. You are a stong, brave courageous soldier, but you gotta keep your weapons girl! This is a war of attrition, and we have to be the survivors, while the cancer cells DIE! Ok, sorry, off my soapbox. YOu take gooood care of yourself now, ya'hear? Got people that love you and need you. Will pray for blessed peaceful sleep and happier gut. blessings,A

laura_ingalls

I got a bad case cold and cough. Thermometer said 92 was my temperature. This is the worst I ever felt. Feeling chilly. Parched. Can't think or write straight.

salve777

My second infusion of TCHP was a better experience compared to the initial one. Days 3 and 4 are usually considered to be the worse days, but I had minimal pain overall. My main complaint was the absence of appetite so I subsisted on fluids and liquids on days 2-6. I have lost a lot of weight. Fatigue during this round is more pronounced but tolerable. I continue to drink lots and lots of water and eat whatever I can. I have noticed too that three of my fingernails are turning into purple. I have also discovered today that my left knee cap is swollen. I already sent a question to my oncologist's office asking whether it is a sign of fluid retention. June 30th is my third and I dread the aftermath of the infusion!!! I hope everyone is doing well.

ClarkBlue

salve777 - My third infusion is on the same day as yours... we shall both have a shitty 4th of July weekend lol... I too have some swelling in the days following infusion - legs and the arm the IV is in. I had another nosebleed last night - which I know is a known SE. I lose about 6lbs with every treatment from day 1 to day 5 - but always seem to find a way to put it back on... although it may be the fluid?? Yeah, that's what I'll keep telling myself hahaha...

-Keely

Dawn66

Hi all. I started my first dose dense actually on May 27th . Just did the 3rd round yesterday . First 2 were a breeze #3 seems to be a little bit more draining. Just the exhaustion is overwhelming . I'm not used to not being able to do things . Mentally it takes a toll but keep my chin up.

OAJ2013

Hey Dawn, I was the same way. The 4th one really kicked my butt. I was super tired! Took me a lot longer to bounce back. Thankfully, that's over and I'm onto taxol Monday! Good luck! Get all the rest you can

labscientistmom

OAJ2013: Yay, huzzah, you got done with A/C!! did you get a refresher on taxol? Are you gonna ice your hands and feet? Check out the June chemo thread, we got a bunch of suggestions for how to do it. Watch out for body aches, burning insides reflux and sore fingers & toes too. I will be thinking of you MOnday, my weekly taxol #6 is on Tuesday ! blessings, A

OAJ2013

Thanks Labscientist! Haven't decided if I'm going to ice. My MO and nurses say there's no real proof behind it and I'm not sure if I want to suffer the whole time. Hahahaha. If after the first round I have any numbing/pain, then I might try it. Thanks for the suggestion to look at the June board

Edu

hello ladies I'm 2 weeks post my third TCH... I feel like a have a lump inmy throat constantly and when I eat I get a sore throat, I'm super bummed because I had had very fe side effects before except for some aches and pains. Anyone else having similar SEs? Happy 4th to everyone!!!!

ClarkBlue

Edu join us at the June thread here https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...

labscientistmom

OAJ2013: I started taking L glutamine supplement last week, and it has helped the finger /nail pain A LOT! The first week I forgot to ixe and I was shocked how mu my fingers hurt the firat night. My #7 taxol is tomorrow. Hope u had a happy 4th. Blessings, A

crzyldyamy

2pyrenees, we have the same diagnosis, except my tumor was 1.9 cm. I am doing Taxotere and Cytoxan 4 rounds at 3 week intervals

cris8325

Had my last A/C today. Feeling nautios and tired. On to weekly Taxol/Herceptin on July 27.

OAJ2013

Congrats Cris8325! I just had my 2nd taxol. Way less nauseating than AC. I didn't have a lot of nausea with AC except on infusion day. I still get nauseous thinking about the red devil! Ugh! So far taxol has been good to me. More energy!!! Good luck

cris8325

OAJ2013 that is so good to hear. Just the thought of AC makes me nauseous too. Or the smell of medicine or dish soaps. I don't know why, hopefully all that will go away in time. They said on the taxol they have the freezer blocks like you put in lunchboxes. The nurse said they let you hold one and put your toes on another. She said they have made a lot of difference in the neuropathy. We shall see...

salve777

ClarkBlue: I still have lesions in my left knee and right thigh. I am hoping that they're side effects. Still getting that MRI scheduled though I have a stress test on the 15th. I have some breathing problem though all tests say that my heart is fine. My recovery period this time is longer than the first and second infusions. In fact, I still feel fatigued even though it had been a week and three days. My appetite is so-so. Everything tastes salty and a day after infusion, I sensed a burnt taste in my mouth that lingered for days. My on-body Neulasta went awry so I had to go to the hospital to get the shot. However, joint aches were minimal this time. I just feel lazy to do something!

salve777

Dawn66: We have the same experience. I haven't really moved a lot since my third infusion. I went to the grocery on the third day and I thought I am going to pass out.

salve777

Hello May Warriors,

Just checking in to give you an update about my journey. I had my 4th infusion today. It was the same from the previous ones. I couldn't sleep right now maybe due to the steroids though I had been given an Ativan as pre-med and took one when I got home and some Ambien. It's 12:48 and I still couldn't go to sleep!!!

I had the longest recovery during the third infusion. I don't know if I felt lazy or simply didn't have the energy. My diarrhea was worse this time because I had them for about a week. They wanted me to continue taking Immodium.

I have been eating what I can eat since my taste buds have changed dramatically. I usually eat rice, bread, fish, eggs, cereal, yogurt, banana with peanut butter and lots of water.

Worries: I am a teacher and we report starting next week. I am worried about fatigue issues especially that I am changing classroom. There's no way I will be able to life all those heavy furniture into the new room. I have requested for help already.

I have two infusions to go - August 11 and September 1. I am praying so hard that I will be able to cross the finish line without any significant interruptions. If there will be, then I'll just have to deal with them. As long as I am gifted by God with a new morning, there is hope and a purpose to get out of bed.

I hope your infusions are going great and if the side effects are bad, please know that I pray for you everyday.

Whenever I feel down, I think about our sisterhood. Then suddenly I don't feel so alone and don't indulge in self-pity which is negative and counter-productive. You give me hope! Take care.

cris8325

Has anybody had the exchange surgery after chemo, before starting radiation?

ClarkBlue

cris8325 I too am interested in this... I just finished chemo and am scheduled for exchange surgery on 8/23 then head to radiation a month later...

-keely

OAJ2013

What is exchange surgery

cris8325

It is where they exchange your expanders to implants. My plastic surgeon is wanting to do the exchange before radiation. I had my appointment to go over radiation yesterday and he said that he thinks that will work out well. It would give them more time to do the cat scan and plan the radiation. So they are wanting to do the exchange surgery four weeks after chemo and then he said he could start radiation two weeks after the surgery. He said the exchange surgery is a fairly minor surgery and most people feel a lot better afterwards. I was concerned that it could cause damage to the implants, but the plastic surgeon said if there was any damage they could correct it. We shall see what my oncologist thinks about it. I would think she would have the final say.

cris8325

Had taxol #2 yesterday. So far seems to be way better than AC. Feel like myself today. Seem to be gaining energy back. But I'm sure it is accumulative. Hopefully the next 10 will go by as quickly. Just trying to stay busy.

OAJ2013

Chris8325, my surgeons won't let me do implants bc I'm having radiation. They said the skin won't do well... I really want them rather than having my stomach cut up. Did they say anything about complications with the implants and radiation to you?

cris8325

OAJ2013: I had an appointment with my plastic surgeon. She said that there is a 50% chance that the implants could fail during radiation, but if they waited until after radiation I may have the expanders for up to a year. They are going to bring my case up at the next meeting and decide what is best.

salve777

I was scheduled for my 5th infusion today, but my red blood cell count and platelets are way too low that I have been re-scheduled for next week. I will have blood transfusion tomorrow. My body is covered with bruises and fatigue has worsened.

salve777

Just a quick update. I finally had my 5th infusion yesterday and blood work was great in all aspects. My oncologist decided not to give me Carboplatin because it made me anemic. Her rationale was that she wanted me to finish standard chemotherapy without delay. She said the most important treatments I need to have are Herceptin, Perjeta, and Taxotere. I will have my last THP treatment on the 8th, granting my blood work is going to be alright. I will also be meeting with my plastic surgeon in October. I had been working full time and studying for graduate school this whole time though I filed for intermittent leave. The whole process is doable but you have to listen to your body.