Starting Chemo in July 2009

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  • stef58
    stef58 Member Posts: 288
    edited October 2009

    Hello triple J's. I had the mouth issues, but mine was thrush. They bad brown patches on my arm and I thought they were from the chemo. So did the oonc. nurse. Doctor was gone the last time, he told me this is a fungus infection like the thrush. Had chemo number #7 today, only 20 days till I am done. They backed it up a day so I could feel better by halloween so I can go trick or treating with the grandkids. Have a great week Hugs Dianne 

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  • pdaw
    pdaw Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    DiDi - I'm on same treatment as you.  I have my 2nd taxol on Thursday.  I was already on prilosec for indigestion with AC.  Did you ask your dr. for a prescription for it?  I know that you can purchase it over the counter, but I learned from the June group that if you ask, your dr. can give you a prescription and you only have to pay around $10 for it, rather than about $30 over the counter.  Is the Miralax for constipation?  I seem to be having more trouble the other way, but have had some "gut" issues since last AC.  Regarding mouth sore treatment - my dr. give me something called "magic mouthwash".  Also, learned and have used Beotine mouthwash and toothpaste.  My mouth got really sensitive with AC - my regular Crest toothpaste made my mouth feel like it was on fire.  Beotine toothpaste worked well for me.  And, I used the mouthwash along with the magic mouthwash.

     gillyone- my taste has not come back completely after AC.  I'm actually gaining weight - keep trying to find something that tastes really good!

     Pam

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited October 2009

    gillyone and Pam - thanks for the tips!  I'm using a modified magic mouthwash - I just mixed liquid benedryl with maalox (so, I don't have the lidocaine)  my chemo nurse said rubbing a little orajel topically will do the same thing - so far I only have one sore, we'll see.

    Taste with AC wasn't so much the problem as  it seems I really never knew what I wanted until I was hungry then needed it right away. Many things didn't sound good - I  ate grilled cheese, soup, mild pasta dishes- kinda weird stuff for me...

    Anyway, like you Pam, I'm gaining weight!  I'm eating too much of 'what I want'  I'm loving sweets, ice cream, dessert all the time - and soda  and I am (was) not a soda drinker!  I've been kinda celebrating about feeling like eating, but I think I better get serious about getting back to my healthy eating habits, I really don't want to be fat on top of all this!!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Hi Gang,

    I had my first Taxol yesterday. I slept most of the day then got up around 500pm watch some Tv. So far so good minimal side effects ( taste is off on but I had that will ac for about 3, 4 days) but its to  early to tell oh maybe some burping now that I put about 4 bites of a chicken sub in me. I knew I should of waited  but oh well. This first morning is nothing compared to AC just let me tell youuuuuuu hopefully it will stay that way or at least 1/2 as bad compared to the AC. Take care all hope you have no SE today! Cant wait to be done with Chemo and get radiation started ( end of Dec or first part Jan.) so that part will be over to. Hugs to all!!

    Oh I forgot to tell all of you. I was told I could not ride horses with my port in. So Friday I came across a large pony and cart and I bought it so I could at least drive one!  I dont know how to post pictures on this siite Or I would LOL

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited October 2009

    quarter405 - try the prilosec, I fought the indigestion for the first two weeks of Taxol, used otc xantac with little relief, started prilosec daily with third treatment and I've had no problems!!

    Can't ride a horse with port?  Wonder why, do you know why?  I'm wondering if that means I shouldn't have been on a roller coaster last week?! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Good question about the roller coaster I dont know.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Oh forgot to mention I woke up with thrush in my mouth again. So I rinsed with the magic mouth mouth. Then took my Diflucan for yeast (for the next 6 days).

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  • josybee
    josybee Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2009

    Hi Ladies,Did my last Taxol today!!! Unfortunatley, they told me my WBC was a little low so I have to have another Neulasta tomorrow(didn't think I was getting any more of those)  But at least the worst is over. Still have to do Herceptin for a year and starting radiation in November. Good luck to all that started Taxol & feel good!!!

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  • eliz46
    eliz46 Member Posts: 71
    edited October 2009

    Hi everyone,  is anyone from the july jedi going to start taking tomoxifen .....i would like to know your thoughts...

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  • pdaw
    pdaw Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    didi - did you get a prescription for the prilosec.  I bought my initial package myself and then learned from another discussion board about asking dr. for a prescription.  That way insurance pays for it - only costs me $10 for a prescription rather than about $30 for over the counter.

     Pam

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited October 2009

    Pam, thanks for the tip, I actually did buy it otc - I have a box left, but will ask for a script next appt!

    Di Di

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited October 2009

    Eliz, My onco wants me to be on Arimdex, Femara,or Aromasin after radiation, but said if push comes to shove & my insurance won't cover one of those then she'll have me do Tamoxifen.

    Joni2

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Ok Girls,

    I have not had a bowl movement in three days this is the fourth (morning of) I have taken stool softener but nothing? I am on my first taxol treatment. Nurse said try to avoid laxatives. So I guess I will go by colace today and see if its better than the equate brand of stool softener. Anyone else have bowel issues? I have not had any until now. Thanks

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  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 2,101
    edited October 2009

    Quarter - Try MiraLAX instead...that is what my onc recommended when the Colace failed to work.  Also try Activia Yogurt...I found it helped.

    Best wishes...

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  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 2,101
    edited October 2009

    Eliz46 - I am starting Tamoxifen in late November after my exchange surgery...I have struggled with starting Tamoxifen for my 10-20% ER positive dx but after reading through all the research information and lurking on the Tamoxifen Train thread, I am feeling better about the decision...and if the SE's are horrible I can always stop taking it and look at removing my ovaries and AI's as other options...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Ok I will go and get some! Thanks!

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  • pdaw
    pdaw Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    Edie - Yes, I had issues - dr. recommended Senacot-S which worked well for me.  I had this with AC for about a week after each treatment.

    Pam

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited October 2009

    Try SENNA-S, Milk of Magnesia, Prune Juice, Bran, Miralax - all of these help but sometimes it takes 3-4 days... It took me 4 days after my first chemo....

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  • PS73
    PS73 Member Posts: 469
    edited October 2009

    lots of water and colace c worked for me while on AC. feel better.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    HI,

    Senacot-s worked like charm this morning yeah!!

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  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited October 2009

    Did the damn burst? :)

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  • stef58
    stef58 Member Posts: 288
    edited October 2009

    Hey Triple J's, How is everyone doing this weekend. It is cold and snowny in Nebraska. No summer or fall here. I used miralax or senokot. They both work and if you can walk it gets the system moving. Seems like we are getting to the end of this stuff. Is anyone having problems with dealing with" What now." i am, today. I think it is the weather and it is very quiet today. Trying to stay healthly so I can get the last treatment done. Just wondering what everyone thinks? Hugs and strength Dianne

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  • Eph3_12
    Eph3_12 Member Posts: 4,781
    edited October 2009

    Hi Jedis,
    Had rad #8 on Friday; still dealing with horrific stress knot in neck/shoulder muscles.  Then yesterday AM, walking the dog, my shoe slips on some gravel & I'm down on my right knee, sweat pants chopped to bits from gravel, and my knee looks like hamburger.  I had knee surgery on that knee in 73, it hasn't bent like that since then.  I'm hobbling around like I'm 90!  To add the final insult, I wake up this AM with a sore throat. I can't catch a break!

    Joni2

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    No damn bursting just RELIEFFFFFFFFFFFFFF  if ya know what I mean LOL

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2009

    Hi ladies,

    2 days till what's supposed to be my last TAC treatment.  I can't believe this week is here!  My hair is starting to grow back also.  Someone told me it might, before my last Tx but I didn't believe them.  LOL.  It's peachfuzz that you can hardly see for now but it's there!  I was SO excited when I discovered it. 

    Joni I've been battling a sore throat too.  Hoping it's allergies and they'll let me have my treatment on Wednesday.  Claritin seems to help so I'm thinking that might be what it is. 

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  • PS73
    PS73 Member Posts: 469
    edited October 2009

    Joni, Im so sorry to hear about your fall.  What do you have to do?  More surgery? 

    Ive been suffering from a sore throat all thru taxol along w/ earaches.  My dr didn't do much just said, what can I do- here is a name for an ear/nose/throat dr.   I too had a litte drama here the other day. Got bit by a tic and I pulled it of, squeezed the tic juice out of my leg, swabbed w/ peroxide and now it appears to look like a red ring around th bite.  Im not sure if this is from sqeezing or the dreaded.. ld.  I have tx tomorrow and will ask - it's really the last thing I want to deal w/ on top of everything else. 

    Lauren, congrats on the peach fuzz!

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  • PauldingMom
    PauldingMom Member Posts: 927
    edited October 2009

    Joni, ouch! gosh, take it easy on that knee. Hope you are doing better.

    No hormone therapy here as I am triple neg. but Mom is starting soon. Prob. next month. Ya all keep her, SallyMay in your prayers. She's having a rough go of this last chemo treatment. Wish I could have taken it for her.

    We have the H1N1 in my little child care group. Trying really hard to avoid getting it myself.  

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited October 2009

    Joni....SOOO sorry to hear of your fall!!!! Please rest  yourself and take care.

    Starting first weekly taxol on Monday the 19th. Another 3 months of chemo. Looking forward to being on the downhill side of chemo.

    Hate hearing of Sally May's struggle. Last one though, that's great news.

    Joni1

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  • pdaw
    pdaw Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    Praying for all of you for continued strength.

    Speaking of sore throat - my throat does not hurt, but it feels like there's a sore place down lower - like in my esophagus.  Also, had a problem with something similar to arthritis in knee a couple years ago.  Rhumetologist put me on meds for it and I've been fine until the past few days.  Called nurse today and she says use magic mouthwash and swallow it _UGH!! and that the knee pain is from the taxol attacking a weak part of my body.

    take care everyone!

    Pam

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  • pdaw
    pdaw Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    I came across this website last week and have added this young mother to my prayers.  Amber has been battling IBC for 2 years and is now on hospice.  Please pray for Amber and her family

    http://amberchase.weebly.com/index.html

    Pam

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