Starting Chemo April 2009

Oh wait I did forget to mention that with cutting out sugars like ice cream, choc etc. I have lost 13 lbs since I had my 1st treatment (no steroids either) but this is all good weight loss not bad.... that has helped the spirits also!

Sorry to all you gals that still get periods.  I know that is just one more thing you have to deal with and Chemo is enough in my opinion.  I had my second Taxoteer/Cytoxin/Herceptin last Thursday and I've been totally wiped out.   I laid down on Friday night and other than have to's I haven't been up at all.  I feel totally drained, no energy, but until today no pain...now I think the Neulasta shot is kicking in and the pain is starting.  Hopefully, my symptoms will subside by Wednesday like last time.  I been totally useless for four days...anybody have any suggestions for energy?

Jeezy~~ 

Hello Everyone, 

This is all new to me and I'm so thankful I found this website that can give so much hope, inspiration and advice while on this journey.  I was diagnosed in April and started chemo on May 5th.  I am receiving TC.  So far, side effects have been fatigue and bone/muscle aches and stomach cramps when I go to the bathroom.  I dont have a problem with constipation, just these darn cramps, is this normal?   Reading through some of the postings, I noticed alot of women work while going through this, my onc currently has me on disability until October, 2009.  Is anyone else out there on disability while going through this?  I would not be able to function work wise while going through this so hats off to those who are working!! 

I'm totally wiped out too. I had my third dd a/c last Weds and it was by far the most grueling. I am just so so tired. I'm hopeful to start feeling better by later this week (that's what happened last time), but for now, I'm just doing what is absolutely necessary and then resting the rest of the time. I do take the dog for a walk in the morning, thank goodness for her, because she really does get me out of the house and I think a walk is a good thing. 

I'm not working, but I didn't work before my diagnosis. I'm home with my kids, so I rest while they are in school so I can be "up" when they are home.  Today I'm hosting a playdate for them and about 5 of their friends (7 year olds). I just couldn't cancel it, they are so excited. I know I'll be down after that!!!

 I've been getting terrible headaches, anyone else? I'm pretty well hydrated, so that's not it, but they are just awful. 

 Peace to all who are struggling. We will get to the other side of this!

 Pam

Hello everyone - been catching up with all the posts over the last week or so.  Hope you are all managing OK from your recent treatments. Tx 3 is tomorrow for me.

I'm working through treatment, using my company's intermittent short term disability benefit to get paid leave for 3 or more days after each treatment.  I get chemo on Wednesday. After the second tx I felt OK Thursday apart from dizziness so not able to drive, and pretty much wiped out Friday and Saturday, OK Sunday and back to work on Monday, though only working 6 hours or so the first week back.  I took longer off for the first treatment as the neulasta pain and digestive issues were much worse.  The main issues I've had are tiredness, bad memory - I have to write down everything I need to do! - and poor concentration.  Fortunately my supervisor (and company mangement generally) are very supportive and I haven't had any problems with not being able to keep up my previous work load.

As for fatigue side effects, I found I can't manage to do much other than drag myself from the bed to the couch, turn on the TV and eat 'instant' food (e.g. yoghurt, ice cream) on the Friday after TX. A bit better on Saturday, can manage a walk or small jobs around the house, then OK the next few days but needing more rest/naps. Even in the third week between treatments I'm still finding I have less energy than usual, but I am also slightly anemic - onc told me to take an iron supplement and I'm hoping that helps.

Hi BC Friends,

Bombus, I'll keep you in my prayers that things go well for you on round three, hang in there.  DBOak - I have a rash also but mine are tiny bumps that itch like crazy.  I went in for a blood draw yesterday and they said to put benadryl on them to relieve the itch.  I hope this works and it doesnt get worse.  My WBC's are critical low and I have to stay indoors, no access to public.  I am going to go stir crazy, luckily I found this site and all of you ladies!  Has anyone else been told by their onc that the treatment will cure you of the cancer? 

Annabelle's Guardian Angels & Morale Boosters

We live in a suburban subdivision near Atlanta, but our lot is a little over an acre, heavily wooded and has a creek running through it.  Just about the time that Annabelle was diagnosed in January, we noticed a group of feral cats had started to visit and root through our mulch pile for household garbage.  Annabelle grew attached to them and insisted on putting out real cat food for them.  As a result they started coming up to the house, and gradually allowed us to get closer to them; and finally to start petting most of them.

Here they are at feeding time:

There were 9 of them, but now only 6 or 7; and they have become quite tame.  She has named them all: "Preggie, Buddy, Funny Face, Fluffy, Boyfriend, Cockeye, etc."  During the hardest part of  the after chemo SE's, she was more concerned with where these "Guardian Angels" were and that I was feeding them.  When they would show up from all corners of our yard, Annabelle's whole demeanor would brighten up; so we have decided that these are her "Guardian Angels and Morale Boosters" sent by a Power Greater than Ourselves to help her get through this current stretch of bumps along her path of life.

I hope it's OK that I posted this.  On these dark days, we all need a little bit of  sunshine; so I hope this post will brighten your day!

Just got back from the genetic counselor. My BRCA results were negative. I am still in shock (I thought they would be positive for sure) and am very relieved. Am feeling much better post TX#2 than the first one. I really think the probiotics and aloe juice I am taking helped with the stomach cramps and general GI  SE's I had the first time.

HOWEVER - my scalp is down to stubble but is ITCHING like crazy! There are a lot of red bumps and my husband is afraid to shave it with a razor because he said it will nick the bumps. But I have also read that shaving it makes it feel better. It almost seems like the stubble is GROWING since we buzzed it on Saturday. Is this possible?  Help anyone???
THANKS!
Amy

Amy don't shave with a razor will cause ingrown hair.....

ikat - They sure do a lot to keep Annabelle's spirits up when she's feeling down.  A couple of them now love being picked up and having their bellies and ears scratched.  They purr like buzz saws; and these were completely wild ferals a few months ago!

 We also have two inside the house dogs.  One of them sleeps on the floor next to Annabelle's side of the bed; and will not move when she is not feeling well and lieing in bed.  Another furry guardian.

Well, today my hair is officially gone. I went to get a custom wig fitted & the stylist said it would be better if my head was shaved. I said I wanted to hang on until it fell out. With that, she ran her hands through my hair & lo and behold....she had a handful. So she buzzed me.

But I did get a beautiful wig, curtesy of an organization called Crickett's Answer for Cancer. I thank them so much!

tulipbebe,

Sorry to hear you are plagued with headaches too. Coffee has helped, but I'm trying not to get addicted to caffeine.  I may try acupuncture this go around, don't know if it will help, but a friend mentioned it might help with the fatigue.

 I'm also sorry to hear about the diarrhea. I had constipation the first go around and now just use colace and that seems to help.  I think the constipation is caused by all the anti nausea meds, or at least that's what they tell me (I'm on emend, decadron and zofran around the treatment).  Oh and I'm eating everygthing I can find, it's awful how hungry I am, and eating a little bit help with the nausea too. I just wish I wasn't continuing to gain weight.

Hope your week goes okay. I'm on an off week, so I'm just starting to feel better - thank goodness.

Pam

I'm just ending up week #2 post Chemo #2 and the week would have been fine without the coughing and sneezing I've been experiencing since Monday.  At first I thought it was my allergies and was taking my normal allergy meds at night, but it was not improving, so I finally called the nurse today.  I don't have a fever, but I'm sneezing yellow and coughing up yellow, so she is giving me a ZPack just to be sure I don't have a sinus infection or bronchial infection of some sort.  She said I should be fine to do Chemo #3 next Friday.  I really don't want to get off schedule.

Hopefully I'll feel better by the weekend.  Right now I just feel *blah*

Hi Ladies and Dutch,

Just had my third treatment today. Hope it goes better than the second. I felt so bad after #2 that at one point I wanted to stop the treatments. I've reconcidered. And know to prevent or hopefully prevent reoccurence I need to continue. Just have to keep reminding myself that it's the treatments that are helping to save our lives, and are also making us feel so bad. If we didn't feel bad it wouldn't be working. So lets keep supporting one another.

Bombus- hope round three also goes better for you.

Dutch- loved the pic of your wifes guardian angels. Hope she is doing well.