Starting Chemo in July 2009

OK Js, Question.  After my 1st treatment on the 9th, I went in the next day for the Neulasta shot, which hadn't been previously scheduled till the nurse asked about when I would be in for it & I said I didn't have it on the books, so it got scheduled & I had it.  When I went in today the onc (who said just to keep an eye on the blotches by the way & if they get worse in any way, let her know) said when I have my injection tomorrow after my steroid pills like last time...I said wait a minute, the only pills I had last time were the compazine, she said oh no, you have to have the steroids & I said, well I didn't, so she immediately wrote out rx for this time.  My question is---since I didn't have it last time, why should I take it this time?  She's adamant that I take it.  What do the Js have to say?

Joni2 

I have a question which I hope does not sound too stupid...My hair started falling out a few days ago so I went to my beautician today. She used the buzzer on it, number 1. I came home with stubbles all over my head. So I need to shave it. I used my husbands shaver and after about 30 minutes I still have little stubblies all over. Is this what we are supposed to have? I had thought my head would be smooth. What am I doing wrong? Thanks

tougherthanithought & eph3_12:   I had my 3rd AC treatment yesterday and today the Neulasta shot. I take EMEND right before AC treatment along with the steroids, I have not been sick once, after the 1st treatment stomach was a little queasy once or twice but took the pill for mild nausea that was prescribed. I have had a good appetite, but I do get a lot of heartburn for about a week after the treatment so I usually have to take pepcid after I eat. I have been getting the most problems from the Neulasta shot which I have to have after the first 4 treatments. It seems to really affect my reconstruction sight the most. Can't wait till I am finished with that shot.

Hey everybody, Had my neualsta shot today.  Feeling way better this time than #2. The A/C only one more dose than I am half through. I meet two cqncer survivors  today. One had BC and the other a man had liver cancer. They were both 5 year surviors. Bothup beat. Both say to stay positive. The guy did give some good advice from when he went through chemo. Eat when nothing tastes good or your not hungrey. Put stuff on your mouth. If you do not you can't keep the strength to fight this thing and it will put your  counts down and delay chemo. he had 18 treatments. Sounds like good advice. Strength and hugs for everyone. Dianne

Lovinglifetoday, my mom's hair stared falling out on day 13 after 1st treatment, and she is now "shedding like a cat" on day 2 after treatment 2. She cut it short on day 14 and still has a good amount of hair (no bald spots) but it is steadily coming out. She is on A/C- I am not sure what drug(s) you are on and if the time table for hair loss is different. Hope that helps.

Eph, I would trust the advice of your onc and take the steroids just to be sure you don't get sick. In my mom's case, the steroid made her crazy (very restless and jittery, she was unable to sit still or relax or feel comfortable doing anything) so she asked them if she could be taken off it and they said no, they almost garunteed she would get sick without it but reduced her dose. The steriod she is on is Decadron- is that the one your doc prescribed? I would take the minimal dose your doc tells you to take but it is probably a good idea to take it with any other anti-nausea meds you might be on (my mom is on an array of them- Emend, Compazine, Zofran in addition to the Decadron- not sure about everyone else) because I think it's better to be jittery than vomiting. Just my two cents based on my mom's experience... does that help? I'm curious as to how others feel about this..

Hi ladies.  Hope everyone is doing ok w the SEs.  By now, the last rounds are on their second week (I think) and you should start feeling better however if not, sorry and hang in there.  With my experience, I think by day seven the SEs are lessened.  By day six,TX2, a new side effect emerged for me.  I had issues with my legs from the neulasta shot. Odd pains like I had been standing all day with knees locked.  No fun and weird that it would wait so long to appear post neulasta.

I am also curious about the Vitamin D situation.  Mine was low when I was initally diagnosed.  I was 12 and normal was 35.  I have been taking 2000IUs daily and last week I was still low. My dr. rec'd another 1000IUs, so now I am taking 3000IUs and on average you need around 600-1000IUs. Sunbllock can hinder Vitamin D absorption - great.  ..also areas where there is a lot of smog lessen vitamin D intake.  feeling kinda screwed right now.  ...gotta love NJ. 

Hi fellow triple J's:

Day 6 post 1st tx.  Yesterday and today I did not feel quite as well as the previous days -- mainly body aches, fatigue and general maliase.  I have no appetite or hunger at all so don't even notice when I don't eat.  My mood is also a bit more depressed.  Yesterday evening I realized I hadn't eaten much all day and then ate too much for so late in the day.  Today is kind of the same thing -- I didn't eat anything at all until mid afternoon.  There is no pleasure in food right now as I can barely taste anything and the empty belly "feed me" sensation that I used to get if I skipped a meal seems on the fritz. 

I believe we all have to eat sufficiently to keep our blood counts up so I'm going to try to look at food in the same way I look at the meds I have to take.

Although we all react differently, it seems this taste malfunction thing is pretty common.  I'd like to ask what foods some of you are finding most palatable.  There's also probably a specific thread for eating while undergoing chemo.  I'll look for it.

Very best wishes to all my BC sisters!

Oh I love the duct tape idea!  Might give that a try!

Thanks for the responses.  I will do what the onc says but if I have different (worse) reactions this time around with the steroid I will definitely let her know!

Sleep well.  Joni2 

Here I sit, all broken-hearted,

Tried to sleep-can't- nor

have I farted!!

I HATE not being able to sleep.  Not too mention that it's hotter than hot here!

Joni2 

Joni2...crack me up !!! Sleep only comes in the form of naps for me as well. It is hardly ever more than 4 hours at a time. Don't have sleep meds and not sure I want them.

Is everyone on AC taking steroids?   I've been reading all the posts about steroid issues. I'm not on a steroid...just had the decadron IV the day of treatment. Can't remember everyone's regimen, so maybe it's those on another drug than AC..just curious why some might have steroids and some not.

Joni1

Joni and Lovinglife...

I am also on AC and I get the steroid in my IV but they also have me take 2 decadron for two days after each chemo trmt.  My nausea is very bad the day of my trmt, but lessens the next day.  Hope you are both feeling much better!!!!

Hugs,

Linda

GOOD MORNING TRIPLE J's!!!!!!

PauldingMom:  The same thing happened to me when I had completed a whole post....Woosh...gone!  I really want one of those tshirts, but my 3 year old grandson would be asking way too many questions!!!!

Eph3_12:  I would definately take your steriods.  I have bee on TC and they give me bendryl and nausea meds before starting the TC.  I also take a steriod for 3 days after chemo as well as Emend the day of tx followed by two days.  I have had no sickness at all.  A little heartburn here and there for 2-3 days after tx cured by Tums.  Also senecot automatically tx day followed by 4 evenings before bed...no bowel probs at all either.  Sorry you can't sleep

Vitamin D....best way is the sun...but we aren't supposed to be in the sun...so how does that work?  What foods can we get this from?

joni:  I too have the stubble problem but was hesitant about using a razor.  Love balsie's idea of duct tape....I'm trying that tonight!!!

NewportLori:  I too have the same SEs with no hunger pains and the tongue that feels like fur.  You should be trying to put something in your mouth at least three times a day.  We forget that food is fuel for our bodies.  We are so used to things tasting good and that is why we are eating instead of the real reason we are eating!  Does that make any sense?

SallyMae:  That was wonderful for you!  We need those positive things to keep our smiles and spirits up!

TCGGal:  I'm really not looking forward to tx #3 on the 13th!  Two down went pretty well...hoping #3 does as well....good luck to you!

Forge on Triple J's....we can do this!!!!!  Have a non-SE day everyone!

Joni2 - that is too funny. I have had the burps since tx. When out in public I try to burp quietly and without attention. But at home I open my mouth and do the loudest burps imaginable. I can beat any beer-guzzling drinker! Last night I woke around 4:30 and felt the need to burp. It just would not come. So i got up, walked around and was finally able to burp. Such relief. Scared the cat!

The difference in peopl'e meds is interesting. I am DD A/C right now. On chemo day I got emend, (also day 2 and 3), decadron (also days 2,3and 4.) Then compazine and zofran and ambien on an as needed basis. I take one zofran each day as the only day i didn't was not a good day, and that's all. I got a neulasta shot and have had no SEs from that.

joni1 - My meds cribsheet says the steroid is for nausea. All my meds on chemo day were pills, not via my port.

Hello Triple Js!  I always feel like I'm back in the land of the living on Day 8 after my treatments - I think someone posted that the worst of the SEs last about a week and that's how I feel on the T/C.  I notice mild SEs throughout the period in between, but not like the week of chemo.  So hope everyone in midst is hanging in and everyone in between is feeling better!  And God bless to Sallymae - hoping this cycle is as easy as possible - we are all pulling for you.

I just saw Fran Drescher on TV (which I'm watching way too much of lately) who had uterine cancer and now has a website about gynecological cancers - www.cancerschmancer.org.  She has an interesting story if anyone is surfing and has time on their hands.  The site also has prevention and research articles about different cancers.

Also - just in case this helps anyone - from the beginning, my onc prescribed the Emend and Zofran.  I think if people are having a lot of nausea and vomiting, it's worth asking for the Emend and if that doesn't work there is a patch called Sancuso.  My other big issue last time was the steroids and sleep - I slept an average of 1-2 hours per night despite Ambien and even Valium.  This time they gave me Ativan pills and for me that really seemed to counteract the effects of the steroids where you're awake staring and jittery for 22 hours a day. Hope everyone has a good weekend & feels as good as possible.  Take care.