Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

Heathet

I've got 3 large red acne bumps on my face plus some little ones! I'm so pale right now they seem to really stand out! My face seems more oily than normal too so I need to change things up! It's crazy because the rest of my skin seems dry!

ClarkBlue - I'm glad to hear you are sleeping better! Ativan is great for that, it really gives me a good night's sleep. I don't have bad dreams when I take it,just really vivid and colorful dreams.

Moondust

krekre, it's great to hear from you. I was starting to wonder where you had gone to. Glad you are feeling better. The video is great! Do you make videos as part of your job? I want to make a comment about the advice your naturopath gave you. Most of us have been told NOT to take any high doses of antioxidants while doing chemo. This would include Vitamin C. It interferes with the chemo drugs' ability to kill the cancer cells. So I wonder why he has recommended the Vitamin C infusions. You might want to get a second opinion on his advice!

Nextyear, so glad you stayed healthy this weekend! Maybe it will get better from here.

Keely, I'm glad you figured it out with the anti-nausea stuff and the Neulasta pain. I get the "yuckies" every once in a while but I just ignore them and keep going. I didn't go out to any festivities this weekend either.

Tomorrow will be an early and busy day for me. One of my cats has a ripped up face and needs to go to the vet. I think he tangled with a ground squirrel that was a little too large for him to kill. But he's still drinking and eating canned food, even though I can tell he does not feel well. I had some leftover cat antibiotics I've been giving him through the weekend. Poor little guy. His name is Patrick.

I did a 30 minute weight workout this morning and I'm aiming for at least 10K steps. I'll probably have to walk in the dark again to beat the heat, but that's normal MO for me. I live way out in the country and walk on the dirt roads close to me.

ClarkBlue

Moondust, thanks for the PM.... I like your plan!! I may adopt it myself

Acie

Hair question... This is day 7 following my first AC infusion. I am wondering when I can expect my hair to start to fall out. I definitely am going to shave it as soon as it starts but I am very curious as to when to expect it.

pepper-on sleeping, my sleep went to crap immediately after my first infusion. I called and my MO was reluctant to prescribe sleep aids. They told me to take 1/2 a 25mg of benedryl. So I was waking up at 3:00am and not able to go back to sleep at all, so I just got up and started working (I work from home so I can actually be productive at that hour.). Anyway, definitely made me tired early and a little grumpy. It got better it's time, and now I sleep longer, but its still usually disturbed. I expect the same to happen on the next infusion. Did yours ever improve?

migraine?? Also, I had a migraine on day 5. Very typical, started with the visual distortions. Anyone else have this issue? Hopefully, it was just the periodic one I get and not something unique to chemo.

I am glad to,see some of you enjoying the 4th. I had some pool time and visiting, but mostly took it easy. Not what we would normally do, but good enough.

Acie

has anyone heard from Dolly since the injury? Did she make it? ;-)

boobsBgone

Krekre - what a great video. you had me smiling and dancing with you! your bravery shines through!

boobsBgone

Acie - my hair started dropping out in the middle of week 2 after my first tx. Sleep in on and off for me as well. most of the time i can sleep in a few hour increments then wake up for a bit, then I try to go back to bed. our bodies do not know what to do with all the drugs in our system.

Moondust - may Patrick feel better soon and the squirrel leave him alone. my kitties stay inside, I don't trust people and the coyotes around town.

Heathet - i see an aesthetician and get a facial/healing touch session between txs. she uses all natural products and I was cleared to continue with her. perhaps pamper yourself between sessions to help your skin. I had small break outs as well and some sores that popped up.

Sweet dreams my friends.

boobsBgone

here is a basket of kittens to enjoy!!

(all already adopted) yeah.

boobsBgone

you know. sitting hear reading your entries, hearing fireworks outside, knowing how much this journey has interrupted my life completely and hoping i make a difference for at least one person like so many have already done for me. part of me has let this journey interrupt my life too much. I too will make a daily goal for myself and do what I was doing before to keep myself as me. I will figure out how to make the adjustments and move forward with me for me because of me.

i cannot thank you enough for all your energy and encouragement on this discussion board. I am glad I found this group, for sure. I too am done waiting for the next day I feel good. Tomorrow I take charge of my day, good or bad, and make it mine. my life belongs to me not BC. I want 'ME" back.

and can i say, i really hate my hair this short! my ears are alwasy cold! LOL

keep smiling as I will be next to you smiling as well!

lilyp6

Krekre: Your video, WOW. That put a smile on my face.

ClarkBlue: So glad for your low-key, "normal" weekend. Will keep the Tylenol advice in mind. I just don't like to take it, but it definitely could alleviate some of my leg discomfort.

Calling on the triple-neg ladies: I have not heard back from my nurse coordinator about taking these supplements, and I don't recall seeing them here. I took Melatonin last night, and I think that's probably fine, though not sure I'll need it. I have not taken these yet. Just curious, Is anyone taking: NAC n-Acetylcysteine, L-theanine, or Milk Thistle?

Anonymous

Haha, Acie,

I am still alive and kicking. It was a teeny wee cut with scissors. I was busy wrapping up a parcel to return to Amazon and was just trying to be wayyy too quick and efficient and woops wee ring finger got snipped. I will learn my lesson from it and go slower next time.

Finger is wrapped up in a fancy 'wound healing' gel-packed plaster. I bought them in advance of breast op and they are marvellous and defo heal wounds fast. No more blood and certainly no bleeding to death. Well NOT this week!

On a more serious note, I cancelled my lunch date. I didn't feel able to go. It was too much for me and to be honest in Edinburgh City travelling there by bus and on my own, was probably not a wise move. I do need to remember that I am a patient just now hahaha....no number of fake tans, hair appointments or glamourous outfits will change that at present. Mind you my fake tan is RATHER outstanding. Will post a pic later on. And I certainly would never have got lost in town, I could easily be picked out from the crowd haha!

On a more positive note and something that has really made me ever so excited is that I have discovered RICE MILK. Oh my, ladies, I cannot tell you the joy this brings to my life. A simple wee organic carton has made me the happiest woman on earth. It looks like milk, it tastes like milk, it contains no dairy or soy (which is bad for ER+ as we all know) and it is ORGANIC...It's weird, how two years ago the thought of meeting my lovely handsome chap would have filled me with utter joy and excitement and yet here I am today having cancelled my lunch with him and getting more pleasure from a healthy carton of milk substitute. How our priorities change eh? And maybe this is no bad thing!

I am sorry Coffeelover, for disappointing you in particular re lunch date, but I will surely make up for this. I will promise to find a new date by end of treatment. Oh gosh the pressure...

Hope everyone is having few or no SEs and even if you are that you always remember that:

1. It is part of reaching the final goal.

2. You will get there.

3. It will be over very soon.

4. Life WILL go back to normal (I know examples of this)

5. There is always RICE MILK

6. At least you don't look like a tangerine!

Dolly

Nextyear

hi early morning people-

Labscientistmom and dolly and pepper43- thx! Glad to be here. Dolly- I stayed in- so much better than rain.

ClarkBlue and other neulasta users- been doing Claritan and tried Tylenol like u. Worked till day three. Oh well. Knees painful but I am walking around to help. I keep reminding myself this will stop infections.

Heathet- glad your infections are improving. It's just horrible to add that to everything else!

Boobsbegone- I use unsweetened coconut milk with frozen berries and a banana in blender for lunch smoothie. Yummy- try it!

Hope everyone gets a walk, avoids fatigue, and can eat today.

Anonymous

Acie,

My hair started to shed,( had two brushes full of hair) on Day 16 or 17. Since then not much more but just general thinning. I am cold capping though. I am now on Day 33 since first chemo and have still got a sort of head of hair! Shall post pics later on to let you all see cold capping at 33 days. Also so Districtgirl can see. To be honest though, I am so done with this hair garbage now and cannot be bothered fussing around it any longer. It is getting no more of my attention.

Moondust, sorry to hear about Patrick's run in with a squirrel. Poor wee sausage. I hope you are spoiling him and get him to the vet for a check up. Cats are rascals and will always try it on with any animal. No matter what the size. Cats are tough nuts! I am amazed at you levels of fitness and all the exercise you are doing. I cannot get over it. I am really being pretty lazy. You have inspired me today to get waterproofs on (it has rained for last 4 or 5 days) and go out walking. I am aiming for 2 miles.

bbbb, How are you? I hope you are doing well. Coyotes??? Oh my goodness me. I would never go out the door. Are you going back to work during chemo? I am aiming to go back as soon as treatment is finished. I am thinking about NOvember as that will be end of chemo and RADS. But it will be a long long time off work and it will be difficult to return to it and pupils after so long away. Mu pupils will no doubt already think I am dead! In secondary school, if you are off more than a month, they assume you are dead. Haha. That always makes me laugh!

Dolly

Acie

lilyp6 - I am also triple-neg. My MO said stay away from everything (don't take advice from well-meaning individuals and don't believe in these natural remedies.... they could interfere or cause issues). They were adamant that I not do anything that was not in their treatment plan, so that's what I am doing and I fell pretty good for a cancer patient doing chemo.

Nextyear and Clarkblue - neulasta pain was really bad for me. The recommended tylenol did not work, so they let me take some tramadol. That helped a lot but did not fully relieve it. To be fair I am prone to achy hips and legs anyway, so this was like a really bad case of the usual.

I plan to get a walk and some exercise in today but its getting so hot here I don't want to be outside (typical Texas summer). It's 6:45am and 83 degrees today. So I plan to go tot he gym but am concerned a about germs. I will be careful and use wipes, but I am curious if anyone else is still using a gym. Your input is appreciated.

Nextyear

Hi everyone, again

Acie- don't use a gym. Sorry, can't help.

Dolly- I was off most of last year bec of cancers ( yes have been struggling with more than breast). I keep going back and you r right my high school students think I'm a zombie! I will have my last chemo, I think, the Friday before I go back. Planning on trying To go back and stay.

Anyone have advice of going back to germ filled school? I hate starting the year and not being there!

Bbbb- we have coyotes in neighborhood too. They aren't interested in me! It's kinda neat to see them, but they are so skittish.

Boobsbegone- hang in. Energy will come back. Mine ebbs and flows too.

Anyone have advice for what to drink? Water is finally tasting bad. I'm so sad since this is all I usually drink. Need advice badly!

Collapsing after my walk. It was slow, no jogging, but I did it. Yea.

Cody3110

Good morning. I have been off the discussion board "grid" for afew days and now to catch up. Hope everyone is feeling good today.

This week I will have my 5^th weekly treatment of Taxol and so far I continue to have minimal side effect, slight headache, flushed face the day after treatment and a bloody nose. This morning I felt a strange feeling in my left foot and rushed to take my glutamine, almond milk and blueberry shake. I hope its not the beginning of neuropathy.

Acie: I stopped going to the gym, but I have a home Bowflex and free weights. I used my gym mainly for aerobics and yoga. (I avoid crowds and too many people don't wipe the equipment after they use it and I didn't want to slip up and forget to wipe down before I use it.) So I started walking, but I know what you mean about the summer heat since I am in Florida. So if I don't get out of the house by 7:30am I can't walk.

Dolly: take care of that finger. Sorry to hear you had to cancel your lunch but your health and comfort is what is important. I haven't tried rice milk, usually my go to is almond milk.

Boobsbgone and Acie - I also have a terrible time sleeping. It like an internal alarm, up at 3am every morning. Sometime I can get back to sleep and other times I toss and turn for an hour or so then get up after deciding it is useless to try to get back to sleep. I did not start losing hair until 16 days after first treatment, and it stated very slowly. Now its day 26 and I am losing hair in large clumps. My hair was very thick to start with and now it is getting thin, especially on the top near my part. I did not cut my hair and I have not shaved it yet, just putting up with the lose stands.

Krekre - what a great video.

Little-Red-Corvette1

I start chemo July 11, I too will have neulasta and already suffer from arthritis in the kness! Thanks for the info

Little-Red-Corvette1

Hi! I am new! Your posts are inspiring and informational! I start Chemo on 7/11. I had my 1rst oncology appt. on 6/28. First available for the port is 7/8! So much down time! I have Chemo class on 7/6.

Acie

Cody3110 - so funny that we share the 3:00AM alarm! The farther I get from the infusion the better the chance that I can go back to sleep, but I expect it to come back with the next infusion. They told me its because of the steroids. I would way rather have the steroids and not sleep than not have them.

On the hair I may shave it off this weekend rather than waiting. I want to control when it happens (there is so little else I control right now).

Little-Red-Corvette1

Did you have something other than taxol? I have 12 weeks of it at the end. The first 4 treatments are 2 other drugs every other week

Little-Red-Corvette1

Please forgive my errors. I am figuring this out on my own. Hope I find this group again

Heathet

Moondust- you're poor kitty! We have a coyotes here too, so we keep them indoors. My husband did build them an outside pen on the deck so every now and then they go out.

Nextyear- great on the walking! It's good to exercise. I'm on the bike right now and I'm sure I'll collapse after !

Dolly - I'm glad you're putting your health first. You know your body and listening to it is important. It's hard to put off the fun normal stuff but if our gut is saying take it easy, we must take it easy. I'm going to have to try the rice milk!

Acie - I would worry about the gym because not everyone cleans the machines and just in general poeple spreading germs. Maybe try walking or some exercise videos from home.

Cody3110

Little Red: I just have 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin, followed by Herceptin alone to 40 more weeks. I will have no other chemo drug. This is because I am a tripple positivce, stage 1a with no node involvement. What is your diagnosis? After the Taxol I will have 5 to 10 years of a hormone suppressant. Don't know what I will have yet.

Little-Red-Corvette1

I'm stage 2. It was originally diagnosed with a 2.7 but the lumpectomy removed a 3.5. It was tubular. They were only going to remove one mode but removed 3. I had clean margins and only 1 mode involved. But the size and tubular....triple negativ

Little-Red-Corvette1

Cody3110 thanks for sharing! The oncologist said side effects were mild. I would be able to work ect... I will also have Hormone therapy. Not sure what either. I work as a retail Manager with the public....

ClarkBlue

Acie, Little Red and Nextyear... Tylenol did NOT work for me either... What I was getting at was taking the Alleve before the shot versus waiting for the pain to begin. Man I blew that communication lol

I too am part of the 3am club...it's like clockwork!! Thankfully I usually can fall asleep fairly quickly but every once and a while...

I'm so thirsty... Water is especially awful now... Nothing helps. Lemon...drops...powders...YUCK. Coffee is barely palatable now. I think I just need to wait this one out. I'd love an IV!!!

-Keely

SBB

Hi, I start chemo in 2 days. TC. Not sure what you mean by dose dense?

Acie

Welcome SBB! So glad you found us. Dense dose is basically doing certain chemos every 2 weeks instead of every 3 weeks. Here is an article that explains more http://www.oncolink.org/resources/article.cfm?id=923 There is lots of information on the web so you can read more if you want.

I am doing dense dose as I have an aggressive triple negative cancer. I do AC chemo every 2 weeks instead of every 3 weeks. After that I will do taxol for 12 weeks.

What is your treatment plan? If you want to share your diagnosis and treatment you can set those up My Profile area of this site.

Don't be a stranger here. You are not alone.

Jojok

I too have little pimples all over my neck and cheeks. I'm so bad at wanting to pop them but know I shouldn't. My piercing in my ear also got infected. So weird since I never do anything with them. Other than that and a little diarrhea I'm doing ok. I fall asleep great with my melatonin but I have trouble staying asleep:(

boobsBgone

when water does now work. i try a few other things: ginger ale, but let the bubbles subside first. I also drink ocean spray sparkling diet cranberry - again let the bubbles subside first. I do not drink coffee/tea and cannot stand lemon. sometimes i put real fruit into my water, I like orange. this may sound silly, but change up the cup or container you drink from and get a fun straw. i seem to be doing better with a new water bottle a friend gave me - has a built in straw. sometimes eating watermelon or a melon higher in water content helps break the bleh of regular water.

as far as the replacement milk. I also found Rice Milk a couple days ago, so excited. no bad reaction from it. i cannot do almond milk as i have a nut allergy. coconut milk just sounds gross (sorry to those that like it). i really like the rice milk with corn flakes - yum.

I am taking control today. doing a small exercise class this morning and have a massage scheduled. that might be enough for me for one day. my mohawk looks kinda ragged, so i am thinking of having her shave it down. looks like a bald guy holding onto his hair LOL - and that is not cute enough for me. started wearing my skull caps i got the other day. so i will maintain my biker chick look for the next several months.

my husband and I was independence day at the movies yesterday and walked around the outside mall area. had a good time, but wiped me out. was sad that the shopping was unsuccessful. next time, for sure.

keep smiling.