Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

Little-Red-Corvette1

My goodness all of my lovely ladies! Please pardon my chemo brain but i want to catch up quick but may be slow. 3 days after 1rst AC and today was icky.

Acie: You guys look Great !!!My diagnosis/surgery went quick. I felt a lump, Got a mammo, They told me to see a breast surgeon at the radiology site. They mentioned a Breast DR i knew the name and reputation very well. Called the next day skipped my primary. The Care Center called me and had my discs in about an hour. I had an appt 5 days later when she pulled fluid but told me I had breast cancer based on spiculations 2.7 cm stage 2 the test would confirm it did it was 5/17/16

There was something on the right so I had a core biopsy which was a benign calcification 5/30/16

The surgery was 6/6/16 where the lump was actually 3.5 cm still within the stage 2 range

I was only to have the one node removed but she thought it looked funky so she removed 3. I still have the stitches. It's been almost 6 weeks

Then off to MO where he reviewed the labs. I had clean margins but based on size, lobular features, and high proliferation rate. It's AC then Taxol then Rad/ hormone

LabScientistmom: I hope you have a safe trip. Sorry for those nosebleeds. I too enjoy church activities. There is another lady who is going through chemo for lung cancer and she wore a purple wig her daughter gave her. So cute! I'm curious about the taxol? Why the ice? Your son is great. I have 10 great nephews/nieces and Jack who is 9 asked my niece if cancer is contagious. I reminded them they should probably have a talk with their kids?

Coffeelove: Yea #3 done sleep well!

Lillyp6: I keep hearing I'm professional makeup Artist! In my head! In the accent of course! You look great! It's so inspiring.

DollyDimples:I must tell you my guilty pleasure! I'm a hair curler. I twist it when sleep, watch tv! Oh what to do! I've been trying to stop! Especially because I do it in the front where it is longest! I just know that's how my first clump will come out! I have a degree in fashion merchandising! I know I will pull it off but.... I usually wash my hair daily with wen. What now? Mascara.... Will that make my eyelashes fall out. I usually curl them. I work for TJ Maxx and am just a little lucky to be the manager over women's clothing handbags shoes jewelry accessories it's like Nirvana! My hair roots are grey.

I'm not sure who said they brought their stylist a bottle of scotch but that was me every 6 weeks color and cut.

Bbbb: Victory glad you felt good

Healthet: Glad you can appreciate your moms humor! That's how we get on. I like that so much better than the ones that avoid me and I still have hair!

Revnet and Moondust: Sorry to hear about the insurance companies. Here in NewJersey we have to go on State Disability and I'm still trying to get paid. Like we don't have going on! I had an inverted nipple/shelf before surgery which went away after but came back with the scar tissue. I call them fraternal twins

lilyp6

Acie: Yes, we'll see how everything works out, but here's hoping ours will be as spectacular as your friend's! That made me smile. Also, I only have so much sick time, and I don't want to keep going back for surgery over and over. They never found the cancer in my dense breasts with mammos and ultrasounds, so I don't see how I could ever trust that everything is OK.

And yes, I think youtube might be the best place to get our tips. Actually, now I am CERTAIN! Haha...

lilyp6

Littlered, You should go to a LGFB if you haven't, and hear it in your head (or for real) there. It's pretty hysterical.

labscientistmom

Acie and lilyp6 : Dollydimple posted an amazing utube video of a lovely young lady, who has no more hair due to alopecia, and she shows how to make amazing eyebrows. check page 26 or so.

Little- Red and Acie: (and whoever else asked): Re: taxol and icing. Taxol kills the cancer cells by causeing microtubule formation in dividing cells. These disrupt the division and take up space so the cell can't make food, and dies. YAY, sadly it also get in the peripheral nerves (hands & feet mostly) and gets in the nerves. Nerves use microtubules to communicate, so the taxol makes microtubes that short circuit the nerves. The theory is that icing your feet and hands during the taxol infusion will block the drug from getting to your nerves as the ice clamps down the capillaries. I forgot to do this the first week, and had very sore feet, and my fingers felt like I had been hit in the joint by a hammer, and slammed my fingernails in a door. very unpleasant!! I started icing the second week, if you can get big icepacks that will stay cold for an hour or more, put each in a ziplock bag so no leaking, then I put my feet inside boxy coolers on the ice, and have ice packs on lap on a pillow that I put my hands on. I have some squishy ones I cover my fingers with, but they don't stay cold the entire time. It does minimize the numbness and pain in my fingers. I have been taking l-glutamine powder 2x per day for two weeks now, and I would recommend it highly. Much improvement since I have started taking it. It was recommended on this board and my oncologist said it was ok. I read the studies and they looked promising as a protectant for chemo damage. I ordered it from CVS online or maybe Target.com. My toes and ball of foot is still numb, but only my big toenails hurt. My fingers are not as achy and tingly. some people have permanent nerve damage, so this seems a good trade for me to minimize the problem. (you can also order fancy hand mits and foot wraps from Amazon, but I couldn't afford them). Hope this was helpful. Gotta get to bed now, up early in the am to travel! Blessings to all!!

Here is our take on the cold ice on feet and hands:

Anonymous

Lilyp

Anonymous

Lilyp...

Sorry to hear about your makeup session with LGFB not being quite what it should have been. I personally have chosen to never ever attend such an event!! Haha. For me I don't think I could cope with some pretty little healthy fully-haired 32 year old tell me how to put on my eyebrows or my wig. I'd want to scream!!! It's going back to that idea of people feeling sorry for you! And my attitude to that is a huge and very massive 'bugger off'! If I need to know how to do my brows or wig I will learn the very same way they most likely did and that is by book or YouTube...I know...I'm ungrateful!!! But still I'm doing this thing alone...so I'll do the makeup the same way!

Go watch the gorgeous girl on YouTube she does lots of things online for chemo and alopecis people. She is fab

ClarkBlue

Dammit...

http://chemodiva.com

If I only knew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CarolAG

Clarkblue:

Yes maybe the wrong tumor going out for oncotype was a blessing in disguise. I know that my tumor was very small but I am glad that I made the decision to go ahead with the chemo. I would not feel good knowing that I didn't do everything I could.

Side effects I've had are folliculitis which I'm treating with Clindamycin gel (it's getting much better), sore foot after second treatment which made it painful to walk (MO said it was hand foot syndrome - just using Udderly Smooth on it and it's much better one week later). I've also had low grade fever on day 4 thru 6 but counts were good. Other than that just some minor constipation and abdominal cramping. And of course the fatigue

The hair loss has been difficult for me and I will be on pins and needles until I see regrowth after treatments are done

I had ovaries removed in 2010 after my first breast cancer in 2006. I had a persistent cyst on one ovary that was not resolving and since my cancer was estrogen positive I decided to go ahead with the surgery. It was laparoscopic and the recovery time was about 6 weeks as I recall. I was glad I did it but very disappointed when cancer showed up in the other breast 9 years later. My MO was even very surprised.

How are you doing with the TC?

revnet

Picking up my 70lbs of dry ice today to start freezing my cold caps. Round 2 in the morning. Hair holding on strong so far. Just popped my first dose of steroids for this cycle. Going to enjoy the extra energy boost while I've got it.

Hoping round 2 goes similarly to round 1.

And good luck to the others who are having their next treatment tomorrow as well. I know there are a few of us.

ClarkBlue

CarolAG: Ovary removal... were the side effects bad? What about bone density on the AI? Are they monitoring that or do you take something for it? Were you premenopausal prior to the ovary removal?

-Keely

CarolAG

Clarkblue:

I don't remember any side effects. I was 52 and was premenopausal. I have had some bone density issues since taking the AIs and have osteopenia. Have been on Reclast yearly infusions for about 3 years now. My last bone density scan did show some improvement from previous test.

Since my recent new diagnosis I've stopped taking the Aromasin and will discuss with my doctor what is next after chemo is done. He mentioned tamoxifen but I took that for 3 years prior to ovary removal and had issues with endometrial hyperplasia so pretty sure I want to take that again.

CarolAG

Clarkblue:

I meant I'm pretty sure I DONT want to take tamoxifen again! Sorry

pepper43

In case you're not on FB group, I had some pretty sh$tty news yesterday- I likely have renal cell carcinoma along with the breast cancer. I'll be seeing a urologist at some point, but oncologist is guessing he'll recommend removal of right kidney once we wrap up breast cancer treatment next year. Had some major depression/whining/pity party yesterday over it but doing better today. Distracted myself by writing another blog post- you can check it out here if you like: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/7-shocking-fac...

Will need to read through thread and say my hellos, good wishes to all! For now, I'm off for a little walk with my baby bird head exposed (it's hot and I don't care) and then time for vegging along with Big Brother - love that show. Such a guilty pleasure.

lilyp6

Dolly, Re, workshop: WORD. And oh my, that gorgeous girl IS fab. Thanks for that! I tried it this morning, and it is so spot-on.

Pepper, you enjoy your evening, amazing one. I'm doing the 22 pushups every week to see if I can to keep some muscle tone. But you're still wearing me out!

Labscientist: I love your new picture!

lilyp6

Coffee Lover: Hope it went well, and you have very few SE's!

bbbb: This bears repeating: "NO, I AM NOT MISSING LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS STUPID CANCER!" You got that right, girl. Good for you.

revnet

pepper43 I am holding space for you right now. I am so so sorry to read that. My boss had his kidney removed for that as well. He seems to be doing just good at the moment, over a year later. That doesn't take away your pain I know, but it's intended as a message of hope. Sending you hugs tonight.

Moondust

Today disappeared on me! To those who had infusions today, I hope you are doing okay tonight. For those who are having them tomorrow, you will be in my thoughts all day. I'll be gone most of the day but will touch base with everyone when I get back!

CarolAG

Pepper43:
I am so sorry about your bad news. Did they just find that incidentally or were you having symptoms? Seems so unfair.

I had a craniotomy on February 1st of this year for a meningioma tumor that was found in brain in early January. I had a partial seizure sitting in a meeting with my boss! It was benign and surgeon felt like he got it all although it will need to be watched for regrowth. As soon as I get this tissue expander out I will need to have an MRI. I was just recuperating from that and had been back to work for about five weeks when I was hit with the breast cancer. So out on leave again.

Here I thought I was having a bad year. You have a bit of treatments ahead of you too but it sounds like you have a positive attitude and the strength to get through them.

I wish you the very best and again so sorry you have another obstacle ahead of you.

boobsBgone

I really don't know what to say. You guys had a lot happen the 2 days I was not posting. And your encouragement is enlightening!

Pepper: so sorry you got more bad news. you are better than the disease and will overcome victoriously!

everyone's shaved heads look great, it really shows your gorgeous smiles! (now I see what everyone was saying when I shaved)

happily my brows/lashes are still hanging around, at least for now.

hubby went out of town for a couple days, and I said, "I'll be fine". well, overall I was right. til one of my dogs had the runs yesterday 3x in the morning. I was already fighting nausea, pain and major fatigue that I could not get under control. I had a friend come get my 2 dogs and bring them to boarding for the night. I felt so guilty but did not want to risk getting worse and I have been super sensitive to smells lately. I am trying to get better. yesterday I could not be upright for more then 30 minutes without being exhausted again. so, spent a lot of time resting and on the couch. I made myself a promise to listen to my body - but at the same time, I am very stubborn and argumentative and do not want to feel like that all the time. Thank goodness today is a bit better, little nausea and cramping today. but doing my best to ignore it. I want to function today.

on a happy note...one of my foster kitties was adopted the other day into her forever home! YEAH. now if the kitten would just get adopted that would help too! She is cute but needy LOL

Wish you all an exceptionally great day with good appetite, naps as needed and no bad SEs. Keep smiling! I will have to take a pic soon to post, maybe with my dogs (the girls)! hugs and purrs to all of you for being such an amazing you!

Llroseworld

Treatment #3 was yesterday. Today general fatigue and tummy ache. Does anyone know of $ assistance resources for co-pays? This stuff is getting expensive!!!

Anonymous

Ladies,

My new discovery is 'Cover Your Gray Fill In Powder. It is a palette of hair powder with a big brush and you dab it on to cover up all gray hair during chemo....it even works by covering up any thinning bits. This stuff is sooooooooooooooooo fab.

Anyone doing CC...do buy this.

D

revnet

Question for those on TC regiment.

If you experience nausea as part of your treatment effects, when does that typically start for you and when does it end? Also are you getting headaches? Is anything helping with those?

ClarkBlue

Hey rev... I haven't experienced any nausea, although I do take Pepcid AC along with everything else. Maybe that helps

boobsBgone

Rev: my first tx I had nausea for a couple days and constant headache. i went back for meds/IV a couple days later, big help! This time, my tx was last Wednesday, I still have major nausea and mind headaches, which excedrin handles well, I am taking 2 different meds to keep me from vomitting. so far it works, but knocks me out - I sleep more now than I did when i was a baby. (so I am guessing).

I have a question I can use advice with: I am a vegetarian, with food allergies (nuts) and hate beans. not much into smoothies and drinks (never have been) and should not have soy (for the obvious reason here). so i do have a Quorn product (fake meat/protein) i like - here is my problem. the things i can eat and like to eat all make me nauseous when I smell it. I am loosing too much weight too fast and it is not helping my recovery - does anyone have any tricks to help me get back to eating properly. hubby and I are struggling to get enough calories in. I still eat a lot of rice and bread, but really, I have to do better and this is the 2nd week I am losing. It is making me so nervous that I cannot figure out how to get back to eating what I am supposed to. any suggestions? we cook the food and i take a bite or two before my tummy starts giving me pains. i appreciate any suggestions.

when i feel better on my up week (in a few more day I hope) - i am going to try the protein drinks with hopes I like them enough to handle them when I need them the most. this tx has been harder with the drawn out SEs of nausea, tired, cramping and loss of appetite. not to mention the D word we all hate.

thanks - any may you all smile big today, make others wonder what we are up to!

labscientistmom

bbg: what a bummer gal. I am thinking hat my son likes flatbread ..Trader joes has a middle eastern flatbread w/lots of protein. also hummus maybe. greek Yogurt has lots of proteinyu can mix the orgainIc pea protein into the yogurt. Costco has protein bars w no soy that are pretty good too. Not sure if I am being helpful...getting more protein is my struggles too.

CarolAG

Anyone had any cording issues after node biopsy?

ClarkBlue

CarolAG - yep... and I've started to get some swelling in that arm as well... but unfortunately no one told me that I shouldn't have had 2 infusions in that arm...UGH. I had no idea that I shouldn't be getting any more blood drawn from that arm, or blood pressure taken. None of the nurses even asked!! But yes, cording... I have just been stretching and stretching and it seems to have gotten much better. You and I had surgery a few days apart too. I'll be interested to see if anyone also on TC starts to have fluid retention after the second dose...That's when mine started.

-Keely

ClarkBlue

Boobs - you've probably been asked this already, but are you taking a Probiotic? It may really help get your digestive issues under control - I know it has mine. I guess I would just eat what you can... lot's of bread and pasta with some sort of calorie-laden sauce? Butter? (If you can tolerate it...). When my tummy feels yucky I crave carbs. Are you taking a Prilosec or Pepto or anything? I take Prilosec the entire week of and after infusion, and Pepto when I feel nauseous. I'm so sorry you are struggling with this... thank God it will end eventually.

CarolAG

Clarkblue: how many nodes did you have removed? Are you seeing a physical therapist for the cording and swelling? Swelling could indicate lymphedema I think.

I don't have swelling yet and noticed the cording right after my surgery but it seemed to resolve from doing some stretching exercises but since I've started chemo it seems to have come back a little. I'm going to make an appointment with a PT and see what she thinks.

revnet

boobsBgone I eat a vegan diet. If you'e not opposed to eating starches that would be a great source of easily digested energy and calories.

I'm pretty much living on rice on rice and veggie bowls. I love asian flavors so I'm dressing up my veg with lots of asian style condiments. Another trick I use is to make a very hearty, thick veggie soup, then eat that with a bowl of rice.

Potatoes, make mashed potatoes and veggie sides and make a great quick gravy. Starches are easy to digest, will give you energy and are GOOD FOR YOU.

Also, for some dense calories, if you enjoy them, try to eat plenty of avocados. They are high in fat but if you want to retain some weight this might be a good option. They are so good on toast, rice, and potatoes too.

Good luck