Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Hi all,

 Had tx #2 yesterday and so it's 4:30am here and can't sleep.  Quite yucky nausea and burping too.

 Deirdre and Deanna:  Thanks for the advice on the headache treatments.  I shaved my head on Friday and since Sunday the headache is pretty much gone!  It must have been the hair falling out.  Such a relief as it was so painful.

Deanna:  Here in Halifax we are not offered Neulasta routinely as part of the chemo for breast cancer.  My brother-in-law is a blood cancer doctor and he says he does use it rountinely with his patients (bone marrow transplants), as these patients have aggressive chemo that knocks their total immune system out...but they don't look at the total WBC count as the determining factor.  They look at your Neutrophils.  Each white blood cell is made up of different types of cells, neutrophils being only one of them.  They want your neutrophils to be a certain percentage of the white cells or you need the Neulasta.  For example, last week my WBC's were 2.6 (here our scale for normal is 4.5 -11) and my Neutrophil count was 0.6 (normal here is over 2, but they are happy for chemo if it is over 1).  Anyway, even if your WBC total count is high, your Neutrophil count could still be low if your white cells are currently being made up of some other types of cells (not neutrophils....but instead leukocytes, eosinophils or basophils).  The neutrophils are fast replicating cells whereas some of the others are not, so they tend to get destroyed easily with chemo.  Here is a link explaining this probably much better than me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_blood_cell

Anyway, maybe you already know this, but if not you'll want to find out your neutrophil count from the doctor in comparison to the wbc's.  My counts came up by Monday and were high enough for chemo so I don't need the shot.  They say greatest side effect is bone pain, and looking in my CPS (Pharmaceutical health professional drug reference), I don't see anything about damage to the spleen.  The other side effects they have listed are:  myalgia (muscle pain), arthralgia (joint pain), headache, back pain, injection site pain, limb pain, pain in general, musculoskeletal pain, neck pain, chest pain (non-cardiac) periorbital edema (eye swelling) and fever.  Keep in mind the side effect of splenic rupture was identified online post-approval of the drug, which means random people had this side-effect, but no-one in a trial did.  Hard to say then how frequent this would happen? 

 This was a long-winded post, but hope it helps.  You should find out your neutrophil count so if you don't need this drug, you could stop it.  Always better to take less stuff!  Your oncologist will be the best judge of that.  If you do need it, then better off on it so you don't pick up an infection when your counts are low and/or delay the rest of your rounds of chemo.

Will go try to sleep now before my little ones are up for school.

Talk soon,

 Dawn

Good Morning,

Well I spoke too soon...TX#2 hit me on Sunday and yesterday. Whew... felt like a bus ran me over. Took the Zofran but I felt tranquilized so I'm only going to try and take that at night. The constipation also was bad. Miralax works well? The softeners I took did little. Ugh..Our waterheater went out so we had no running water & that was a double whammy. Plumber fixed it yesterday.

Thx Deidre for the T-shirt info. Will check on that

Sheree- Hang in there girlie! You're doing fantastic. We can't do more than our bodies tell us. I was a couch potato yesterday but still had to help my son w/homework.

Congrats June on our last TX being this Friday! You've almost won the war. You sound great. I'm looking for a support group myself.

One good note my onc. mentioned during my last visit: both my tumor and lymph gland had shrunk dramatically. Amen!

Wishing everyone well.

Jeannine

CONGRATULATIONS Stacy and Jeannine on the tumor shrinkage.  That is awesome.  I am so happy that you all can tell your chemo is working.  I am sure that definitely makes everything worth it.

Dawn I hope you are feeling better today.  That nausea and indigestion is horrible.  I found that if I take phazyme regularly it helps with the indigestion but I normally can't start it until day 2 because of the nausea.  Its a cycle but we learn how to cope I guess. 

Bette I am glad you enjoyed your LGFB class.  I am going to have to call and see if we have one in this area soon.  It sounds like fun. 

I hope all those having tx this week have NO S/Es.  Or at least as few as possible.  I got my iron infusion today and my blood taken.  For once my blood was good.  I was shocked to say the least.  My wbc were actually 17,000 when in the past they were 1000 by this time in the schedule.  The wonderful little onc nurse told me that they may drop some yet but hopefully not bottom out.  She thinks my body is getting used to the Neulasta and knows how to work now.  I hope that is a good thing.  At least it means I can work some this week and not be shut up in the house like my first 2 tx.  One more of this EC regimen next Wed. and then I am on to Taxol x12.  I hope Taxol is easier like so many have said.  Onc seems to think it will not be as bad on my bone marrow nor my gi tract.  He says it has its own set of se's though (neuropathy and fatigue).  This 3rd tx I actually felt guilty for feeling so good on days 2-4 and then it hit.  Sunday a little thrush started and then yesterday morning I couldn't hardly swallow for the knot in my throat.  Mouth is disgusting.  Miracle mouthwash was doing nothing so got 5 days of diflucan.  Its some better today but still yucky.  The worst part was that the exhaustion set in yesterday and I hardly left the recliner.  Today I am still very tired but some better.  I can get up and move around but feel kind of "out there" in my head.  Oh well, tomorrow should be better. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.  I think of you all often. 

God Bless,

Tonya

Hi Jeannine,

 Try taking "Senokot S" for the constipation...Zofran is VERY constipating.  My onc nurse recommends taking it in the morning and at night starting the first day after chemo (take two tablets) until Zofran is done.  It really helps and this will decrease nausea too as then you're not constipated.  This med has a laxative and a stool softner in it so works well.

Thanks Tonya for the words of encouragement.  The nausea and indigestion is a bit better today...I'm taking everything possible to get rid of it.

For those of you that are battling mouth sores and thrush, when did they start?  After a certain number of treatments?  My onc nurse gave me popcicles during my tx yesterday and says that's supposed to help decrease the chance of sores.  Let me know what you all think.

Take care, Dawn  PS....a double WOOHOO on the tumour shrinkage!!!

Hi Ladies,

June, Congrats on having your last treatment!!!! I must say I can't wait to get to the end of this!

SheeRee, I can truly empathize with the nausea. It is the one side effect that only seems to subside a few days before I have to go for another treatment and then it starts all over again.  I can tolerate mashed potatoes, watermelon, unsweetened yogurt and a few other things.  This may sound strange, but now I am actually starting to feel physically ill just from thinking about getting the chemo.  Last time, I got nauseated just from the thought of getting all those chemicals. Then I was sick after getting them!

Denise, I had cut my hair short before losing it but I never shaved it so I have a few wisps left here and there.  I look a bit like a might have the mange  but just having that little bit.........  I will probably end up shaving it all so that all my new hair can grow in at the same time.  How can it be this hard to let go of the last remaining strands?

Stacy, Bette, & Jeanine, shrinking tumors!!!!Best news ever!!! Congrats!!!

Mamashift, I totally agree with you on sending your daughter to daycare.  My little daughter (4)  goes to daycare everyday now.  I just could not keep her entertained like I used to and I had to sleep too much to watch her like I should.  I was just totally unable. 

Chemo has just wiped me out.  I am getting ready to ask DH to take me away for a long weekend to anywhere.

Blessings,

Roya

Hi everyone, Can't sleep with this heartburn it's really bad! I have tried everything and nothing seems to work, I am so happy that everyone has great news. I have been feeling very very worn out this chemo has really done a number on me, my last chemo is the 24th of this month and I feel excited but than again I still have a ways to go. These last chemos have hit me hard, I get very very weak with anything that I do. If anyone has any suggestions on the heartburn let me know. Lots of Love

WHEN WE FACE WHAT WE FEAR.... WE BECOME FEARLESS!

Well guys I have been pretty se free this week!!! YIPPPEEE!!!!   Sorry to the ones of you having them - I know how that is and it is pretty sucky!!!  I don't go again till September 19th and then I only have 1 more to go after that one!!!  YIPPEEE - Misty1 good luck Thursday - Stacy and Jeannine - YEAH make those tumors shrink that is what I want to hear!!!!!  dlb I too have to go for radiation after this chemo business is done - though I am not looking forward to it - I too want rid of my UNWANTED visitor!!!!!!  Good luck to all those who go this week and next - and hang in there to all those who are still dealing with side effects!!! Loves to all!!!!

I like Bette had Tx #2 yesterday and just got back from getting the Neulasta shot so I will be done for a few days I'm sure. 

I just wanted to check in with everyone and send my prayers for a good week with little SE's for all.

Cograts on all the shrinking tumors - we are winning ladies!

Monique

Hi Ladies,

 Sounds like we are all plugging along...past three days I found rough, post tx #2 but bit better today.  My four year old needed some real mommy attention today after 3 days of me being so tired, so after a long ride on his bike and a trip to a gymnastics class I'm hoping for a quick nap after the kids go back to school after lunch while he has a little video time.  Whew....I'm tired.

Mamakaren:  For heartburn (which I have suffered too) my onc put me on Motilium which helps mobilize the food to your stomach and keep it there.  I take 10mg about 30min before my three meals and then before I go to bed.  Along with that I'm also on Nexium which is for heartburn, prescription strength.  As of yesterday heartburn is pretty much gone, though some nausea remains but I'm coping and it's not waking me up anymore, so must be working!

Deanna:  I too will have rads in January, then Tamoxifen and like Deirdre can't wait as it means chemo done!

Bette:  Platelets are how well your blood is clotting so if they are low then you just have to be careful about cutting yourself as you may bleed a little longer than normal.  Mild anemia just means your red cells are low which will cause you to feel tired.  Just rest as much as you can and take care of you!  Don't worry about the hair...it will fall when it's ready.  Frustrating I'm sure.

Sending lots of hugs out to everyone.

Dawn

Mamakaren...You are not invisible!  I think you may have joined around the time some of us got hit with our 2nd tx, with SE's coming on sooner and lasting longer than tx #1, especially the tiredness.  But I've enjoyed reading your posts and appreciate your insight on things.  Also, as many women as we have in this group now, it's hard to keep up with everyone individually without posts getting too long.  So, please don't feel invisible!  You're not!    Deanna  

Mamakaren,  I'm with you!  I have been so emotional since starting chemo!  I'm sure our hormones (if they are any left) are going crazy and making us all more sensitive.  I hang out & read the boards a lot but don't post that much a) because I always seem soooo exhausted or nauseated or b) I feel like you and nobody wants to hear what I have to say.  If you ever want to talk person to person, please PM me and we can talk on the phone!

CANCER SUCKS!  CHEMO SUCKS!  I am effen tired of being SICK!  I was not ever sick until CHEMO!  I'm too young to die!  My family deserves better than this!  SOB! SOB!  I'm sorry everyone!  Not a good day!

Hello my sisters,

Deanna, I agree with you.  Even though this BC is awful we are all at least in it together and we all can make it by being positive and giving one another positive support amidst the tears.  We  laugh, cry and share together. This is how we help each other.

Of course it is normal and ok to feel bad and to cry  We all do because all these changes hurt so much.  BC does  SUCK!!!!!

Remember that after this is over, when we finally get through it all, we will be made better in sooooooo many ways!  I too believe that there are gifts to be discovered through this journey.  You are sooo right!

We can be like the Phoenix rising out of the fire........except that we are rising from the flames of what we are going through now.  This awful disease could have the potential of destroying our minds, bodies, and attitudes only if we let it!  We can rise above the flames of this potential destruction.  Let our children watch us fight and let them learn and grow stronger with us!!!!!  Our husbands and families too!  We can all win through this experience.

 Together we can do this!!!!!! Each and every one of us!

Blessings,

Roya

Two down and six to go! Had my Neulasta shot today, and feeling tired, but still human. My inflamed breast is shrinking up like a prune. Looks gross, but this means that cancer is biting the dust! 

Day 16 since  1st treatment, and I still have my hair. It may be gone tomorrow, but I have decided to stop stressing about it at this point. My super short chemo cut has started to regrow, and I am getting compliments on my hair. Well the wig awaits when needed.

I am just so excited that the tumor is getting smaller. No matter how I feel or look tomorrow. Go chemo, go.