One down........5 to go!!!

Hi Genia,

 Congratulations on having the first one finished.  What are you getting?  Probably in a couple of days, you will feel tired

Genia, 

Congrats with getting through your first treatment!!!!!  My first treatment was the longest and hardest to get through (I have treatment 6 of 6 on Monday).

I am on different chemo drugs, but on the same regimen.  Take chemo, next day get Neulasta, the next week get blood drawn and doctor appointment. 

The hardest time for me was chemo week (especially day two and three after treatment but things get better).   

Are you on Claritin?  One of the side effects of taking Neulasta is soreness the in large joints (I would get it in the hips and knees...I felt like an old woman).  I was put on Claritin to take every day.  According to the nurses they don't know why but it helps with the soreness.   It really helped with me.

Decadron is given so you don't get major swelling in the legs.....unfortunately it makes you go pee all the time.  How often do you take it?

The best advice a friend (cancer survivor) told me is to drink lots of fluids (Crystal light has been a life savor....I use a half a packet) to flush out your system.  For me colder the better.  Also for what I call the hairy tongue (I would get a bad taste in my mouth) I was told to use Biotene mouthwash.

Hope this helps......just remember we are here for you!!!!!

 kim

Remember to laugh at least once a day( or at least do something silly)!!!!! 

Hey Genia!

I too am on a different regime then you, but I did get the Decadron on my IV prior to starting the first chemo drug.   The nurse told me it was going to "disrupt my sleep", but what she should have said is that it would ELIMINATE it!  I finally starting sleeping better last nite and it has been 7 days already!   For me the hardest thing was first thing in the mornings... I just had no energy to get out of bed and drink water or eat. But once I did I felt so much better.  I was also taking extra strength Tylenol for 3 days after the Neulasta shot by recommendation of my onc. in case I had some aches and pains.  I really had no side effects from this shot anyway.. but it might not hit me until the 2nd shot.  Try to get up and do a little even if it's going outside in your back yard and walking a few steps!  Keep your mind off of what is going on and don't let it rule your day!  I was back to work for full days on Day 5, I probably could have come in for half a day on Day 4, but I wanted to play it safe.  For the metal taste in your mouth brush your teeth a few times a day especially after eating and I would highly recommend the Biotene mouth wash, there's no alcohol in it so if you unfortunately get mouth sores it will help with that.  Exhaustion can get pretty bad so do take it easy if your body is telling you to.

Happy thoughts to you!

Sue

I wish I remembered the mouth rinse I was prescribed for mouth sores.  I only got them once but they came on fast and hurrt bad.  I had the rx and DH  had it filled.  It was red, really nasty tasting and had something floating in it, but it worked immediately and I had no other problems.  I'm almost a year out from my last treatment and threw it away a few weeks ago.  I've had one haircut and feel good.  Sometimes my bones ache but friends say that will go away too.  Keep the faith!! It will be over before you know it.

mary

Hi to all of you,

I was recently diagnosed with multiple areas of IDC, each 1 mm X 2 mm or less, positive for vascular space invasion. My doctor offerred Taxotere and Cytoxan.

Dumb question, but does everyone get diarrhea or hair loss?

Thanks,

Liz