Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016
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Krekre, I will continue the icing. In fact this time I will ice my feet also. last time I did not have a foot bath. I didn't let my hands get numb, I just kept them in the ice as much as I could stand. then I would take them out for a break. I chewed on Ice the whole time. it wasn't too bad.
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Hey Everyone,
I am BACK and with a vengeance ladies!!!! I had a wee wimpy day yesterday feeling all sorry for myself and worrying about the future. But enough of that....as my future was pretty grim to begin with haha. I suppose I have now recognized that my down days will be a few days just before next chemo. I think it is just that I hate those days soooo much. What an utter waste of 6 hours, except for the fact that I am getting treatment for something I need treatment for, I just hate to be sitting around in a seat for 6 hours with a fridge freezer attached to my head!. I also hate the lack of freedom this thing has done to me. I want to be back at work and I want to be able to go out to lunch, have my hair dyed, and drink red wine! Grrrrr.
Labscientist, Thanks for all that info on Zulilly, I have found their site and will have a good scan through it today and see what they have. Have actually found a few t-shirts that I liked haha...but not sure if I can justify buying them for chemo...unless I call them my chemo t-shirts! I am with you on the hair thing too. Every single day seems an extra treat to have as much hair as possible. I had a bath today, and scrubbed head, thinking 'right you wee horrors, come out now and let's be done with you, stop all this teasing and just fall now'. Got out bath and only 3 or 4 hairs! Then brushed hair vigorously again saying, 'Come on then drop....fall at my feet'. Again only a couple of hairs. So I am thinking maybe cold cap is also working. I did have a bit of a clump of hair last night but no more since. So I will see what happens and report back. Love the cat. You mental cat lady!!! My sister has a gorgeous cat and he does competitions and wins lots of awards. It's like MIss World for cats. My mum is not really a problem. I think at times she just feels so helpless and wants to throw herself at me!! She attends every single hospital appointment with me, stays for few days after chemo and calls every day! I think she is very worried about my diabetes on top of all of this too. Poor wee thing, she is too old for all of this. I should be a better child and be more appreciative really!
Moondust, thanks for your kindness and for reminding me that we are all feeling low at times. I do hope you will be fine in the absence of your DH (does that stand for darling husband?). I love you Americans and your quirky wee ways haha... I laughed at your mouth sore comment. I think that is what we are all going to be like over the next few months and blame chemo for EVERYTHING. I was exhausted the other day and immediately researched and found out that maybe my red platelets were low and what I should do to sort this. It wasn't til I realized that I had stayed awake until very late reading a fabby book about Princess Diana! NOW THAT was surely the reason for feeling tired the following day. But no, poor wee chemo got the blame again! I am starting to feel sorry for her!
Krekre, my breast cancer nurse had also never heard of the black nail polish. However there are lots of people doing it and it's something to do with light and the chemo. I am not sure if it is necessary for my type of chemo, but I polish with black nail polish anyways just to be on safe side.
KNardo, my onclologist mentioned to me that there is a slight chance of cold capping preventing the chemo from getting to the scalp. However he then added, that he'd have his own daughter cold cap and that he has rarely heard of people getting cancer of the scalp!!! I am guessing this is the same for feet and hands. I am not sure if I have heard of cancer of the foot? I am sure it happens but it must be extremely rare. So I'd say the benefits probably outweigh the possible and very rare risk factors.
Pepper, I am glad to hear that this aspirin thing might be of some use to us all. I am definitely going to ask at hospital this Friday. I will let you know what they tell me. But I want to be on ASPIRIN....Ask hubby about Flaxseed. I take this in my yogurt as it is meant to also help prevent BC recurrence. It's to do with Omega 3.
On a cheerier note, I got a new iphone yesterday. My niece set it all up for me. It is making me veryyyyy happy.
So will be able to take better eyebrow pics for y'all!!!!
Dolly
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Moondust
Hi! Yes I went to the Cancer shop at the hospital where I will be receiving chemo and tried one wig. It was not for me and there was only one the sweet lady thought would work for me. I have found a resource online and hopefully that will produce a wig I am comfortable with. I have found some cute beanies that I am ordering too!
I begin chemo Thursday (at least that is the plan but it may change to due my botched MRI because I am EXTREMELY claustrophobic and I absolutely could not do the breast MRI even with a sedative! Doctor (a woman with awesome compassion) says to just wait on MRI, do 3D mammogram (which I have not had before) and move on to chemo. MRI was scheduled just to check right breast to make sure there is nothing there before chemo begins. I am a bit uncomfortable about not having it done because I don't want to get 6 months down the road and then find something in the right breast but at the same time I couldn't even be put halfway into the MRI machine before I started freaking out - stupid but very real!
Anyone else have issues with breast MRI or had a 3D mammogram?
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Dolly! Just wanted to let you know what blessing you are! I love reading your posts - they are so full of good info and a bit of humor! This whole forum inspires me to be positive and fight this with everything I have!
A funny thing happened yesterday, I finally told my 10 year old son that I was going to loose my hair and asked him if he had any questions and he said "is it going to grow back?" I said "eventually" he replied ok like as long as it is coming back sometime it's all good! He is so right!
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bbbb - I had a 3D mammogram - I'd never had a mammogram before when I started this whole process, so I figured I'd start out with as much information and detail as possible. I'm also small with dense breast tissue, so figured it would be better for me anyway. It cost $50 more and that extra part wasn't covered by insurance, but they advised me that I can count it as a receipt for tax purposes and that it would count toward my Health Spending Account. I figure if one can afford that extra cost, it's worth it to get as much detail as possible when we're in this situation!
Have you had a CT scan? I'm no doctor but that could be a way to check the right breast in a way that isn't as claustrophobic as the MRI. CT scan is just a giant donut looking thing that you slide through for about 10 seconds while holding your breath. It's very open and I had no problems with it. I think they found some extra lymph node involvement in the CT scan that I don't think they saw in the mammogram or MRI, and were able to confirm that it was NOT in my right breast from that test. Maybe worth exploring?
I am not claustrophobic and even I was freaking out a bit in the breast MRI. I'm not sure why! Maybe something about lying face down and not being comfortable, and not feeling in control. But I totally understand your anxiety about it.
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Yikes just realized I will be in my first infusion exactly one week from today!! A tiny bit anxious but also just ready to get this chemo in my body to "melt away" the cancer, as my MO says. I've officially decided to cold cap and am collecting all the gear for that this week. Dolly - thanks for sharing your experience with that!!
Getting my port in tomorrow. How was everyone's recovery from that? Did you need pain meds after? Hate pain meds, would love to avoid if possible. But my husband and I are moving this week so I'd like to be a somewhat functional human being. Don't worry, I won't be physically moving or lifting anything - just directing traffic
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District Girl
Yes CT scan is tomorrow and thanks so much for the information about what it will be like as I have never had one of those and I was a bit nervous! Thanks for the kind words - I did feel SO stupid that I couldn't do it but I REALLY couldn't do it!
I am getting a picc line Wednesday so I have no experience on a port but I am sure you will do fine - have been told it is the better way to go!
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I started chemo (TCHP) a week ago today on the 13th of June. Let me just say it has been one of the hardest weeks I've ever faced. So many GI problems. I had my port placed on the 9th of June so I was on pain meds for a few days when I received my 1st TX. Initially I was very constipated and hadn't had a BM in about 3 days. My stomach was bloated and painful. I took the Colace my Onc suggested but no relief. I ended up trying a laxative, prune juice, coffee, and finally got desperate and used Magnesium Citrate. After 4 days it finally worked! But of course backfired on me. I now have had diarrhea ever since! Started taking Immodium AD 2 days ago and broke out in a rash all over my face, neck, and chest. And had horrible stomach pains. Today is probably the best I've felt in the last 5 days. Still weak and alot of fatigue. I have a follow up today with Onc to check in so I have a feeling they'll give me fluids while I'm there. Hopefully they can give me something else for the diarrhea as well!! Just stay hydrated like they stress and take your meds! Hopefully this doesnt happen after every TX!
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bbbb,
Sorry to hear about MRI and the freaking out during it. I have heard about this though. I have not had any of the scans you ladies have had as over here their attitude is that they can cause much more anxiety than good. But maybe that is just for early stage BC? I am not sure. I assume a 3D mammo will be far more accurate than normal mammo. And that any problems in breast would be picked up on this. What did they tell you about it's accuracy?
I will be thinking of you on Thursday. You will be fine. Chemo schmeemo...it's not as hard as you might think it will be. It is a nuisance for sure and it certainly messes up the hair for a few months, but you will do well and you will be surprised at how well you will manage to get through things as they come up.
I am glad you have enjoyed my posts. I have plenty of time to research stuff as I am off work just now owing to the fact that despite friends trying to get me out of the house I have decided to live like a hermit. So internet has become my friend. I come from a family where humour is used even at times of severe stress and sadness. We are all a little sick in the head that way! But I guess we think that laughter heals almost everything.
I am glad your son has been so positive. I think a child's take on things is very often the more intelligent way of seeing stuff. He has made it clear that he is not that bothered about your hair...as it's going to grow back. So there you have it. We need to all be seeing it this same way.
Dolly
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DistrictGirl,
Glad you are cold capping. It is said to at the very least make the hair grow back even faster. So please keep going with it. It is verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry cold but as I have said before if you stick out the first 10 mins by chatting to people or reading or Facebooking....then you will get used to it. Make sure to take a warm woolly hat with you as your head will be icy and wet after you leave the chemo centre. Your body will also be cold, so take big warm blanket too. And hot drinks.
Dolly
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Jojok, we sincerely welcome you to Breastcancer.org, and to this amazing group of people. So glad you found us, and we are all here to support you on your path.
from the Mods
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adotson79, I had a similar experience with laxatives. On day 5 got impatient for the natural stuff to work better, so I took dulcolax. That REALLY worked and I had a day of diarrhea. I decided to skip the imodium and see if it would resolve, and it did by the next day. Now I am just taking two gentle fiber con pills and that is keeping me regular. I also eat a ton of fiber in my food - veggies, beans, oatmeal and the like.
DistrictGirl, I did not need pain meds after my port insertion. It was sore, yes, for about a week,but I will not take pain meds unless it is as bad as a toothache or a bad headache, and it wasn't. It didn't keep me awake. But your experience might be different. Probably tylenol would take the edge off. Good luck!
Regarding the icing, I am not worried about mets in my fingers or feet. Yes, the icing benefit is anecdotal only, but cold capping seems to work much of the time, and it is based on the same principle of reducing circulation to certain parts of the body, to prevent so much of the chemo drugs from passing through.
Another detail - I did not ice during the first part of the drip where I am only getting saline, steroids and anti-nausea. I waited until they hooked up the taxotere and cytoxan.
Labmom, love your beautiful cats! We have seven. They are a lot of work since they are indoor-outdoor cats. Due to marking issues (they are all fixed), we purchased a large cat condo for them to stay in when they are indoors. It has six berths, each one with bed, food, water and litter box. (The seventh cat has been trustworthy in the house so far.) So every day there is a lot of cat maintenance to be done, along with letting them in and out several times a day. Usually my DH does it but he's gone at the moment.
Dolly, you were correct that DH means darling husband (or dear husband). Mine is great! He does laundry and sometimes dishes. I am very happy to have just the two of us at home the great majority of the time. We live out in the country and rarely have visitors. A lot of animals, though - dogs, cats, chickens and sheep!
Pepper, good luck with the port insertion tomorrow.
Keely, I have heard about the black nail polish but currently I'm sticking with a very opaque pink color. If I showed up at work with black nails there would be many comments! Tuesday is my last day at work (hooray yippee jumping up and down!!) and then I might try the black.
krekre, I hope everything is going okay!
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Many of you know that I have been waiting to get the all clear from my PS to start chemo. I went to see him today to have the PICO device removed and to check the suture. Last night I was joking with my husband that I'll probably get bumped back one more week ( I was getting kinda comfortable in this waiting mode). My PS looked at my incision and the stitches and said it looks great ( and it does - no swelling or redness!) but he wanted to reattach the PICO for one more week. I thought he'd say wait on the chemo but he instead he said I was ready - I could start this week! I had to ask twice "I can start?" I'm glad I finally got the news that I can start chemo but it's still such a shock that I have to go through this cancer crap! Since I'm triple positive I get Herceptin on Thursday and carbo and taxotere Friday . The rest of my treatments will be one day. I go every 3 weeks. In all I will have 6 treatments . So it begins
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HEATHET - YAY!!!!! Keep us posted... I'm so glad this is FINALLY moving forward for you!!
MOONDUST - I believe any dark polish will do - so maybe a nice maroon/burgundy? :-)
ADOTSON7 - why is it always digestive stuff??? I had the WORST constipation... we've had some interesting BM conversations so far... hahahaha
I got my "final" wig in on Friday - not what I had envisioned, but maybe it will look better after the cut and color...
Had a little bit of swelling in my ankles over the weekend - also my right arm is puffy (same arm as infusion). I'm 11 days post last fusion and I vaguely remember being puffy last time too.
-Keely -
Heathet - Congrats!! I know this has been a long time coming for you!!! I will be starting the same regimen on Monday - except with Perjeta added in there too. Six cycles as well. Let me know how you're doing with everything!!
Dolly - thanks so much for the capping tips - super helpful! I was also introduced to a girl here in DC who did the cold capping last year, so she's lending me her coolers and supplies and is going to come to our new place on Sunday to "train" my husband, parents, and friends on how to be good cold cap helpers - she's so sweet! I love how helpful and kind everyone who's in this community of survivors is. And yes we are survivors even though we're at the beginning of our journey
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Keely,
How many infusions have you had so far?
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Yes Heathet....well done for now being able to get cracking on with your treatment. One step closer now. I hope it all goes well for you this week. Let us all know!
Dolly
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Dolly - what is the name of the eyebrow kit you bought? I'm going to do some ordering - I need to order some pressed powder too - any suggestions?
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Hi everyone,
Been away for awhile as my wbc plummeted. Infections. Hospital. Bad for a bit. Better now. Home and trying to regain some sense of normal! Need to find some recipes that taste ok. Chemo seems to have killed my taste buds. Anyone have any suggestions
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DOLLY - I've had 2 infusions so far. SEs have been pretty similar thankfully!!
-Keely
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NEXTYEAR- so glad you're back!! 😊
Wtf, you've had quite a rough time!! What happened?? Damn this treatment...
-Keelt
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HEATHET - Dolly posted the links on page 12... They are videos!! It reminded me that I hadn't watched them yet so I just did and they are great!!
The gal in the videos has the same hats as I do lol..
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Heathet, I did go on Amazon and type in eyebrow kits and they arrived a few days ago. They were creams with brushes. However, I have found that I get a better eyebrow when I use a mixture of black and brown eyeshadows (that's what the girl uses in her videos). Coz remember the initial line you brush on is really just a light dusting and to use as a guide. I pretty much followed the girl on video. I also went over with translucent powder and then touched up brows again. ANASTACIA is meant to be a good make of the cream brow kit. But before you go ordering expensive eyebrow kits, see if you have a light brown and black eye shadow powder first as I think that gets best result. Mix the two and play around with it. Also make sure you store eyebrow pencils in the fridge as they are easier to use on brow and to sharpen and the trick is to always make sure the pencil is SHARP when drawing in fake hairs. I have done it several times now and getting close to some lovely brows. Even my mum today said they looked great...although the having 4 eyebrows on my face at one time kinda freaked her out as I answered the front door to her!!!!
Post pics if you get a good eyebrow done.
Dolly
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Keely,
Great to hear that SEs are same as last time. That means I know what's coming my way on Friday again!
D
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thanks Dolly
NextYear- so glad you are feeling better ! Stay hydrated and rest!What is your chemo regime ?
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Nextyear: glad you are home and better. Maybe some soup cooking in a crockpot all day? With chicken and veggies and pasta? Don't have recipe, but sounds good. I got some turkey breast from Costco, and can add it to almost anything. Its good for adding protein, sometimes I heat it up , slice it, and eat dipped in applesauce. you can get little cups with strawberries or peach.
Heathet: Huzzah, starting chemo so you can be done with this long row to how! getout the weeds and go on with your veggies and flowers.
Moondust< I promised my DH that I would only have 2 (let the number never get to 3) cats. If it were up to me and my son, we might have more. Sophia has been very attentive during my surgery recovery and tired times on couch after chemo. she walks back & forth on my lap over and over, which she never used to do. MY aunt has a cat run for her two cats. My grandfather & mother had a big run in San Marino canyon when my dad was in college. here's a closer pic of Sophia:
Dollydimple: glad your mom is helpful and not smothering! i think people want to help but don't know how.
bbbb: My son was a bit freaked out when I told him my hair would fall out. He said, wow, Mom that's just disturbing. I asked if he would shave his head along with me, and he says, "no way, I like my hair!!"
I shave my husband's head every couple weeks, so he was teasing our son that he wouldn't do it too. -
labscientistmom - love the cat picture! Here's my cutie
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And one in the background spraw.ll...ed across the cat tree I see!
We had an orange tabby and white main coon when we were first married a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Are you gonna get a port? forgot what you said, they are poisoning my brain weekly.... -
Hi all - been trying to catch up and reading everyone's updates and antics:). Had my first TH last Wednesday and it was pretty much a non- event. Had a little D but only in the morning the 2 mornings after and some mouth sensitivity. Iced my hands and feet - feet were easy, but the hands were a little harder. I will chew on ice this week since the thought of mouth sores scares me. Mother Nature decided to give me my monthly gift (tmi -sorry). I'm not sure if it's the chemo or PMS but I had 2 days of teary-ness and I was on my own nerves with it, couldn't stop blubbering. Have any of you experienced that? Love the pics of the kitties and the selfies - I need to get brave and do the same.
Congrats Heathet - glad your wound is cooperating!!
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Thx ClarkBlue- Yes, treatment kicking my butt. However, new pills plus will use neulasta with next treatment so should avoid the low wbc next time. Yea.
Hi labscientistmom - will try that chicken soup. It actually sounds good. Have to build up to more protein. Been unable to eat much, but am definitely hungry so good sign.
Hi Heathet- pretty standard chemo - taxotere and cytoxan. I just was unlucky enough to get multiple SE. I have been sick with other cancers since last August. I think my body just finally yelled enough already. Heading in right direction now. Hope your "ride" is easier and going quickly.
Love all the cat pics. I have two sister cats who have been keeping me company also. Not sure how to load the pics but they also roll around looking content to be with someone as well.
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