Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

Nextyear

hi,

Boobsbegone- great drinking suggestions. Hadn't tried cranberry. Friend bringing over later.

Johok and others who are Am awake- I'm also awake every morning, between 2-4. Reading. Just can't remember book. Oh my!

ClarkBlue- thanks for update on alleve use with neulasta. Next time for sure.

Collapsing now. Walked, went to store, prepared dinner for crew. Man, feel like I put in 18 hours. Sooooooo verrrrrrrry frustrating

labscientistmom

just a quick flyby, waiting to be called back to chemo. Doing #7weekly taxol today!! For those wanting ideas for water tasting bad...Lipton has tea & honey packets & bottle of liquid additive. They have variety of flavors, caffeinated & not. Most don't have yucky dyes and such. I have found adding some juice helps. I make herbal fruit tea & drink that w/coconut water.

Heathet

it's official- day 11 and my hair is starting to fall out but I think it's starting from the bottom up! My scalp is super sensitive today too, so I guess it won't be long

NattyB

Flying by too - working stinks, it's official. I started the big shed this weekend which is after Taxol #3. Have an appointment for the buzz and wig shape up this Friday - I wonder if there will be any hair left by then. After the initial shock its kind of gross - I leave a trail.... Glad I will have the weekend to adjust before I'm back again on Monday. Bleh.

Coffee-lover

I might try rice milk. It's a grain but I'm starting to slowly add some back in (oatmeal was a success, next up quinoa) since I just can't get enough calories. Hanging tough on no dairy.

As for water and dehydration, there are some creative ideas out there. I definitely prefer glass over plastic or metal. Sometimes I drink plain carbonated water and that works better. Also, jolly ranchers seem to help me with dry mouth (except the blue ones-yuck).

For sleep, I'm taking melatonin, magnesium and Ativan. I secretly think the Ativan is what's helping. Since I started taking it before bed, I haven't had any sleep issues.

Everyone here is an inspiration and I love hearing the latest news! Thanks!!

Anonymous

I have had a fun day today. I made a lovely organic spaghetti bolognese. The organic spaghetti was a bit naff, but all in all good clean food. Cooked it with my niece and we had dinner together and then looked at History programmes as I am going to do some history tutoring with her over the school hols.

bbbb - I was so happy about my rice milk this morning. Most other milks I cannot suffer. But I am pretty much off coffee and tea just now. Anyone else know of any non soy and non-dairy milks that taste nice? The rice milk may have to be the one I use. God every wee bit of pleasure has been taken from me it seems, coffee, tea, milk, diet coke. This is hard.

Nextyear, have you finished all chemos yet? Are you returning to work during chemo? I was advised not to. I also teach in secondary. I think if you are returning you should get some powerful antiseptic hand wipes for your drawer and also some spirigel (on Amazon). It protects you from every known virus going including hepatituses, HIV, MRSA, common cold etc. I have been using it here at home.

I have been eating lots and lots of melon recently. Nice way to hydrate.

D

lilyp6

Dolly, I really enjoy your posts. "The organic spaghetti was a bit naff..." But still, you cooked, enjoyed your niece's company, and ate well. Still living your life. Cheers, love.

I am struggling without my wine. It's such a small price to pay to kick cancer, but it is hard. Have you noticed that everyone is boozing it up on TV? Sigh...at least my blood pressure is down.

I work in at a university, which can be very filthy. At least there aren't many kids around right now. I'm already sanitizing everything, but Fall semester may change things for me.

lilyp6

Acie, thanks for your reply. I hear ya - I won't be taking anything that my team doesn't bless. And it doesn't seem like they're in a hurry to bless, either. I know I asked about the Milk Thistle during orientation, and the nurse didn't seem to be familiar with it. I haven't taken it, but I am wanting to keep my liver happy through this. I got my 5th treatment down (in?) today. 11 more to go!

boobsBgone

Long and busy day. I kept my promise to keep active. So, had an exercise class this morning. had lunch with the hubby and mom, then had a massage. I have a BC support group class tonight and I figure I would try it.

My mohawk lost the battle - i lost too much hair and it looked like a plucked chicken, sorry no pic to laugh at - just imagine! She shaved my cute little head to peach fuzz to match the rest! however, i have head wraps (biker style) to keep me warm and protected. I will post my shaved head later.

hoping everyone has a pain free day with a good night's sleep!

Anonymous

Lilyp,

I used to enjoy a glass of red wine, but like you have just decided it is not worth the worry. Maybe when I am 70 or 80, I might start to have a wee glass again, but not before that. I have now taken to drinking fresh orange, water, pomegranate juice, and coffee with no milk. It is dull...and even a wee diet coke might just help. However my supermarket shop today involved no rubbish of any sort and mostly fruit and veg.

University will be as dirty as schools. Are you back at work just now? How are you finding that?

I am on official school hols at the moment but will go back around November. I hope my hair is OK by then? I am looking to finish chemo mid September and so will be getting a short haircut then and hopefully in 3 months I will have a good amount of good hair to go back to work and not have people stare. I am wearing my glasses on my head just now and that pulls hair back off face and so hides my balding parting. I have 10 weeks left on treatment so maybe I will get away with this hair thing??? Oh please God make me! Otherwise the cold cap will have been a waste of time and tears.

What else are you giving up to kick cancer? I am amazed at one pal I have who is doing chemo just now and seems o live the high life quite a bit with lots of bubbly and glasses of wine, and I am just like...'why'? You know it is linked to breast cancer, so WHY? WHY? WHY? Each to their own I guess, but I will give up anything that might help my chances.

D

lilyp6

Dolly, Still flying on steriods tonight, gonna make the most of it...I've been working the whole time. Sometimes I go in late, sometimes I stay home, sometimes I work from home. I'm off for every chemo date. I'm lucky that I can, but I have a vacation week on my next Carbo/Taxol dose. That will be so much easier than clearing all of these adjusted hours and compressed work weeks. I normally work my wee (ha!) butt off during a 40 hour week, so this is a real challenge. Plus when I'm there I can't hold a thought in my head half the time. I love my peeps at work for the most part, though. They give me a laugh on the days that I go in.

Are you glad that you cold-capped? I could not imagine toughing that out as well, so I didn't consider it. I hope your poor hair holds out. I don't remember if you are into wigs or not, but there are smaller pieces that go on only on top. Maybe that would work.

I'm drinking prune juice tonight, (YUCK! Had to add cranberry as well). I love a concert or a show, (Jersey Boys, Le Miz, want to see the LOVE production in Las Vegas and Beautiful, at the gorgeous Pantages theater). Saw The Beat (English Beat here) with the B52's last year - great show filled with people my age (47). There was NO pressure to look good. Those are all out for now, unless they are outside and I'm feeling good. I'm planning a nice morning at Seal Beach to walk the pier and feel some Summertime on my vacation week.

Nextyear

evening,

Dolly- supposed to be done chemo in mid August- if I don't get sick again. Then return to teach. Thx for the heads up about the wipes. Will order some.

Boobsbegone- good for you to be active. I definitely find it helps, at least a bit.

Organic food- everyone seems to be going this route? Does it help? I haven't switched to all this yet- just a little. Suggestions for someone starting this? I have incorporated unsweetened coconut milk into smoothies. I feel good about that!

What should I try to sleep? I read about the melatonin you guys take. Anything else and where do I get this? Have your Drs okayed?

Hope everyone sleeps well and long tonight!!!

spb1954

I stumbled across this forum in looking for why I am having indigestion.

I was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in April 2016. By the end of the month, I was scheduled for a partial radical mastectomy due the 11cm lump in my right breast and I had 35 lymph nodes removed with 33 of them having cancer. I have felt betrayed by the yearly mammograms that I have had since I was a teenager and my Mom got breast cancer. At age 62, I thought I was immune. My kind of cancer is only found on MRI's.

After many tests, there is no other cancer in my body.

I started chemo a week ago today. For the most part, it's the headaches that are plaguing me. I am prone to daily ones anyway, but now, they are worse. When I go back, they will have to adjust the meds. The first week, I had tingling, facial flushing and was tired and had chemo brain. Now, this week, I have indigestion. All of these are minor except for the headaches so I am hoping that the next treatment will be more of the same. They gave me four different kinds of anti-nausea pills and I learned that I needed to keep my tummy full.

I think that I am allergic to the cleansing solution that they use to clean the PICC line. I am breaking out in blisters outside the bandage. That will be dealt with tomorrow!

I am getting my hair off this Friday. My 90 year old Mommy, my 25 year old daughter and my BFF and I are making it a celebration.

I am glad that I found this forum. I have been reading the posts and I have to say that you have to released a lot of angst about the next treatments.

Moderators

Spb1954-

Welcome to BCO! We're glad you've found us as well, and hope you continue to find these boards to be a source of support during your treatment.

The Mods

ClarkBlue

Spb1954 glad you're here... We've all gotten comfort reading about what others have been through before us. What we've all found out is that it's not fun but it's doable especially with these ladies here.

-Keely

Coffee-lover

spb1954 - welcome from another lobular victim. Mine never showed on ultrasound, mammogram or MRI. The docs found it by chance while looking at something else ("we just want to check this shadow"). Even then, they said it was 2cm and turned out to be over 8cm. The whole journey has been a shock, now they say it's probably been there 10 years or so. I also had annual mammograms.

I'm sorry about your headaches and hope you get them cleared up.

This is a great group of supportive women!

Daczahow

Okay so the Nuelasta kicked in I had my 1st AC last Tuesday and the 1st shot of Nuelasta on Wednesday. My lower back started throbbing after lunch today !! I was afraid maybe I had a kidney inflection so I called my MO she explain that it was very common for the pain to start in the lower back and to be on the 5th or 6 th day ! WTH I though I was pretty tough!! I have been through a lot over the past year and a half but I was curled in a ball crying like a baby ! The MO called in some pain meds which have made the pain tolerable but it still hurts ! ...was not expecting this at all! Thanks for listening ...hugs to all

Christina

lilyp6

Nextyear: The Melatonin is available at most drug stores, and probably online. I took one after most of my chemo cleared, but I am also waiting to hear what my team thinks about it.

spb1954 and Coffee Lover:

spb, I'm glad you're here. Welcome! My chemo itself gives me terrible constipation and indigestion. I stay on top of the laxatives and the anti-nausea meds, and that helps a lot. I'm not sure if that would work for you.

Coffee Lover: I was getting mammograms and ultrasounds on both breasts, every six months for a year and a half -looking for something in my other breast. I have been closely monitored since I was in my 20's, and yet here we are. I do try to focus on getting cancer free.

Daczahow: Love your picture and hair! I hope those pain meds kick in better for you soon.

Little-Red-Corvette1

labscientistsmom - I recently found this group. I am going for Chemo class tomorrow.... I also was left lumpectomy, but lobular 3.5. I will have 12 weeks Taxol but first 4 every other weeks of AC. How are you doing on the taxol? I'm hearing the AC can be pretty brutal

revnet

re: sleeping --- I take two 25mg benedryl before bed. This works for me.

Joeychen

Hi All!

Good to hear everyone's SE's are doing pretty good!

I'm on day 6 after my first taxotere cytoxan infusion. SE's from that has been surprisingly minimal. Day 3 I felt a bit nauseous and took a zofran, but that's the only one I've had to take. My tummy has been grizzly every day with some dashes off to the loo, but as some of you have said, rather that then the opposite. I've tended to get a bit of a temperature at the end of each day, in the high 99's but Tylenol knocks that down.

Day 3 I had to start my injections, they gave me Zarxio/filgrastim (I guess it's similar to neupogen). The first one I just melted down and couldn't do it myself and had to have hubby do it. No melt down the next day, but still had him do it. Monday, I'd planned to have me hold the syringe and him push my hand in, but I did it myself! Today he's back at work, and I just jabbed away (and sent him a text of course!). Haven't noticed any muscle pain but I did change my daily Zyrtec to a Claritin to cover that base.

My biggest problem is that I seemed to have tweaked my neck really badly, I tried to deal with just Tylenol but it did bugger all, so on Monday I took some Norco and Flexeril, which has been helping, but it's still not great. Whenever I take a deep breath I'm just hit with pain all around the base of my skull. Been affecting my sleep too. Last night I go to bed at 10, then woke up at 12:30 and was like really? Haha. But I was able to get back to sleep. I thinks it's starting to loosen up tho.

We went out to see friends for a few hours on Saturday, but otherwise I've been a real slug I did get out today to pick up my friend at the airport, and over the weekend, the hubs and I did a few short walks. This afternoon I cleaned the bathrooms! Ok, so just the sinks, mirrors, loos and a vacuum, but they needed it.

Hmm, I guess I should be better with my diet. I'm not drinking alcohol, but I haven't given up dairy or gone organic. My tastes seem to be affected cos I have this opened bag of chocolate covered mangos that normally I can't get enough of and right now I'm just like nope. Me not wanting chocolate is weird! Haha. My tummy and light nausea have demanded smaller meals, and I need to lose weight, so I hope that will help. We got a watermelon the other day and I'm totally enjoying that.

Cheers,

--Jo

Moondust

It is so hard to catch up if I don't get a chance to check in during the day! My little cat Patrick will be okay, says the vet. He does not need plastic surgery, only a course of antibiotics. The split in his lip will scar over. That's a relief! He was a good boy in the car, in his carrier, and didn't make any noise even though the drive was 50 minutes each way. I'll take a photo of him when I get a chance. He's not such a beautiful cat, especially now that his face is messed up a bit, but he is very smart and sweet!

Jo, very annoying about your tweaked neck! I've had that sort of thing before and it's impossible to get comfortable! I hope it improves soon. Giving up dairy and going organic will not keep cancer away. Eating a sensible diet with an emphasis on whole foods and especially vegetables will help somewhat, because it helps our general health. But the most important thing is to maintain a healthy weight and keep active.

SPB1954, I am a 1954 baby too. I think indigestion is just par for the course with these chemo drugs.

Dolly, I'm sorry you didn't have your date, but I think you were wise to skip the public transportation! Is there someplace closer your friend could meet you, so that you don't have to go far? Do you have almond milk there? That is my favorite non-dairy milk. I use the unsweetened kind. Did you make your two miles? It is tough to walk in wet weather!

Some new hats and things arrived today! In my avatar I'm wearing one with a blonde halo with short hair that just peeks under the hat in the front and back. I think I'll wear it to my useless and time wasting MO appointment tomorrow. I have been feeling okay but a little on the tired side sometimes. Guess I shouldn't complain, considering what some of this group are putting up with.

Hello to all the new people. I'll go back and read more about you when I have time tomorrow. Right now I'm going to try to get to bed at a sensible time for a change.

For exercise today I walked at a mall. Don't worry, it is a "ghost mall". All of the big stores moved away several years ago. Now there are only a couple of little places in there, and most of them are closed in the morning. There are very few people, so it is a good low-risk place to beat the heat while I walk. I don't even know how the management can pay the air conditioning bill with as few stores and customers as there are. But I'll take advantage of it while it lasts.

labscientistmom

Joeychen: glad you are powering through it! whoot whoot!! For the burning indigestion /reflux I take Zantac in the morning and evening, and mostly stays on top of it. I got AlkaSeltzer chews for a really bad spasm, and I have found that a swig or two of aloe vera juice helps that too! I found some good protein shakes with pea protein. Look on my previous couple 3 pages of posts I list what kind. Hang in there gal!!

Daczahow: I love your picture! Claritin supposed to help the bone pain too!

LittleRedCorvette: welcome! So sorry you have to be here in this crazy hijacking of life that is cancer! I am NOT looking forward to A/C, there are a bunch of other folks taking it now, just read thru these posts maybe from the beginning to get a jist of it. The first week sounds bad, then you get a week off to feel better. the weekly taxol is cumulative, there's no week off. Each week has gotten more challenging during the infusion, my body is like, "what?? more of this stuff? YUCK!" Had breathing problems last week #6 so they slowed it WAY down, and this week to it ran for 2 hours instead of 1. the premeds take about an hour for me. Zofran antinausea, Zantac for reflux, Benedryl, steroid, and saline then the taxol after that. I definitely recommend icing your hands and feet, can find info on that here too, and talk to oncologist about taking L-glutamine as a supplement, mine ok'd it, it has helped a LOT this past week to minimize the pain and numbness in my fingers and nails. I still have numbness under my toes and ball of my foot, but it's doable. My hair started falling out after week 5.

RE: sleeping, I take Ambien that was prescribed by the MO (oncologist) this works for me on steroid days. on other days I take melatonin, I get mine @Trader Joe's.

Dolly: sounds like you had a lovely day with your neice. Family time is good. I did ok today with infusion #7 of weekly taxol. I am creeping closer to being done. YAY! Hope you can have your lovely wee date soon! No pressure, but we are all rooting for you. My girl-friend came and hung out with me @chemo today, as my husband is doing a 4 day AP US history boot camp for his new fall students, mostly to concentrate on writing skills. He says about 1/2 of the registered kids showed up. It was fun chatting with my friends, she says if you come visit, she will go and do the Hollywood crawl with us. I had a headache during my infusion today, in my sinuses and around my eyes, then my nose started bleeding (like it does every day now). It was good cause the oncologist got to actually see it happening. He said it was a new one on him. Saline spray seems to be helping a bit.

boobsBgone: sorry about the demise of the mohawk! bummer! glad you got your bandana's in time to cover. I bet they look great on you! I was covered with 1 inch hairs this morning when I got up. I am not rushing to buzz it tho, hoping to avoid the breakouts. My friend offered to clip it a little shorter even. I will wait another week and see I think. maybe if it gets mangy looking (without the actual mange mites thank you very much!)

spb1954: Welcome to you too! glad you can join our little cancer hijacking party - even if it's a lame party, we are rocking it.!!! Glad to have another intrepid fighter to join us! Its great that we can share our experiences and get through it together.

gotta get headed to sleep, didn't sleep well last night much at all. Oh, and surprise, I got my period for 4th of JUly, Not a fan chemo, not a fan. blessings to all of you, didn't mean to leave anyone out, glad to hear that we are all getting through it and have good days with the bad. ((hugs)) -A

labscientistmom

Alice/MOondust: Love the hat! I especially LOVE your smile, it lights up the picture! I got some pretty braid things to wear over scarves. I will try to post tomorrow. Doodled around in the yard when I took my cats out this evening, trimmed some plants and tidied up. goodnight!

Heathet, Nextyear, lilyp6, Clarkblue: hope that tomorrow is better than today. blessings to all of you, A

Nextyear

spd1954- welcome! Indigestion is the pits but I found crackers again-like when I waspregnant! I can only tolerate a few, salt free, but it does the trick!

Labscientistmom - Hope ur hanging in. Used to reading longer posts from u. Maybe today will be better for u.

Boobsbegone- bye Mohawk. So sorry. I'm sure you will rock the buzz. My buzz is half buzz half totally smooth now. The buzz part itches so perhaps all smooth soon!

Dolly- I'm hoping you get out on date soon. Glad niece visit went well. My niece came before the hair loss and we had such a nice time. Family is always great.

Joeychen- like I said above, salt free crackers help a bit with nausea. Maybe for u too?

Moondust- so glad your cat is doing better. I have two who had to have teeth pulled. It was so sad. They have been slinking and acting so sad. Getting older is hard on them too!

Lilyp6- thx for info on melatonin.

Daczahow- wow. So sorry about pain. I went for a massage and it helped but I didn't have it as bad as you. My thoughts are with you.

Hi to everyone else- ClarkBlue, rev, heathet, little red. If I missed anyone please forgive me. It's my chemo brain, which is kicking in!

Hope today is better than yesterday, everyone gets a walk, gets to eat and drink something that tastes good, and enjoys the day!

Jemever

I started chemotherapy three weeks ago. My fourth week to-morrow. My reactions so far have not been as difficult as I was prepared for, from the reading of the packletaxol information. I have had no nausea or diarrhoea. I do not feel my usual 100%, but still able to function ok. I feel limited by the picc line in my arm, but manage. I have had some sleeplessness, and I am just beginning to suffer some hair loss. So far. So good.

Acie

Spb1954 – welcome!I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but am glad you found us.I am on the same chemo as you it seems.I also had indigestion and was very burpy… bubbly for days, really. Its gotten better in week 2 following the infusion.I take omeprazole daily for acid reflux so I have continued that.I think that helps, but I also needed tums while the indigestion was bad.Not sure anything but time made it improve.I also have the headaches and am taking lots of Tylenol.I even had a migraine over the weekend.Hopefully that won't happen with every treatment.On your potential allergy, I have learned that I am allergic to steri strips and very sensitive to some adhesives.When steri strips were used I broke out into big red itchy blisters at the site.Hopefully, they can identify your problem.I am learning that chemo is all about managing the side effects.Good luck!

Daczahow – the pain from neulasta was really bad for me too.I am still achy in my hip and leg on this morning, day 9.I took my walk yesterday with a limp due to this problem. The MO recommended Tylenol did not work well enough.I had some tramadol from a previous injury and my MO said I could take that.It helped but did not relieve it entirely.I tend to have an achy body so maybe chemo amplifies what we already have.Who knows?But I would definitely list this pain/achiness among my top three SEs, along with sleep disruption and constipation.Good luck, hopefully it improves soon and is better next time.

LittleRedCorvette1 – welcome!Sounds like we also have the same treatment plan.I started my AC last week.I will do 4 of those then 12 taxol.Let's compare notes as we go.

Moondust - I really like your new hat! I am a hat lover and also purchased a halo. Will be trying it out soon!

Acie

As for me, my appetite came back big 2 days ago and I have been craving meat.My husband has made me some nice lean meats to enjoy (pork chops, pulled pork, smoked brisket... mmmm brisket, sandwich, brisket tacos, brisket by itself... nom nom nom) so I have been killing those.Not sure what that's about, but its happening so there it is.

I plan to shave my head Saturday instead of waiting for the inevitable.I have some apprehension about doing it a little early, but I am also tired of the anticipation and I want to control when it happens.Perhaps I will post a photo.

I have been having a small crisis of the mind and am wondering if anyone is experiencing the same.I have this strong desire to quit everything… not now but when treatment is done.I want to retire from work and do what I want… travel, move to the country, take up residence on a Mexican beach, etc. Sounds nice and these are my actual retirement fantasies, but this has come in an almost panicky way.I am taking the feeling seriously as it may be the right thing for me later but want to be reasonable too.Triple-neg has a higher recurrence rate than other types so I think that has me panicking some. I feel the need to hurry up and live my life. Anyone else feeling like they want to quit everything and run away when this is done?

KNardo88

Morning ladies!

Spb- welcome! And also, welcome to quite a few others, it seems! Can't keep up-- but welcome to all and I know you will find great sources of comfort and a wealth of knowledge on these forums. We are here for you!

Lily, make the most of the steroid days! I never had the boost of energy from them, or the extra day or two without SE's. I was flattened pretty well right away! Maybe this time I'll get the steroid "buzz" lol

Moondust, glad to hear Patrick is okay :-)

Acie, cravings are wild! I can so relate. And also, to the strong semi-panicky desire to quit working and go live life. If only I weren't 27... Trying to use these feelings to propel myself into making a career change. Take a nice vacation after all this is over! I know I plan on it.

Everyone else, hi! Wishing you all a fantastic day

Heathet

Acie - I told my husband I would love to quit my job and find something I'm passionate about. This is something I've been going over in my mind. I'm not sure what I would do but I would love to work with animals. Realistically I can't quit my job at this pointand I do love teaching but I think I would like to transfer to a low stress building. I am going to have my hubbie buy some mega-million tickets for Friday ! You never know 😉!