Starting Chemo October 2009
Comments
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Does anyone get horrible depression along with their treatments? I don't remember this happening last time during my A/C and T, but now I'm getting TC and I don't know...maybe that has something to do with it?
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Enjoyful: I had my third AC treatment today. On both the previous ones, I became extremely depressed on Days 4 and 5. I attributed it to the crash after taking the steroid Decadron on Days 1-3. Last cycle, the onc prescribed Ativan to take on an as-needed basis. The nurse said this would help with the sleeplessness on Days 1-3 as well as with the nausea. I didn't take a lot and with depression, I figured it would lift in two days. I tried to walk as I know being outdoors in the fresh air always lifts my spirits but it was hard to push myself to go out. What compounded the issue is that my hair started to fall out at the same time and I only needed to see my face in the mirror to have a gusher.
Are you on steroids? If so, what dose? Maybe there is too much of a drop when you come off them. Have you mentioned the depression to the doctor?
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Mary - thanks for the response. I take steroids the day before chemo and then for two days after (today is day 5). I don't know what dosage I'm on and I haven't mentioned it to the dr because I guess I just don't want to seem like too much of a whiner. (So I come here and whine to you guys instead!)
I should talk to the dr. I'll write it down so I remember otherwise I'll forget. Chemo has made swiss cheese out of my brain.
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My suggested Decadron dosage was 12 mg each on days 1-3. I asked the onc if I could take less on Day 2 and 3. She agreed. So now I take Day 1—12mg, Day 2—8mg, Day 3—8mg. Even with that I feel the crash on Day 4. It's worth checking to see if reducing the dose a little could help with the depresssion. But the dose does need to balanced with the anti-emetic effect too, which is also important.
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Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been doing ok since my treatment. I did have trouble with my first treatment in the nurses being able to find a vein, so I am having a port put in next week. That is delaying my 2nd treatment by a week. So next treatment scheduled for Dec,4, I'm hoping that doesn't mean a Christmas Eve treatment for the next one????? Other then that things have been much better then I thought they would be. I have a lot to read to catch up on how you have all been, hope your all doing as well as you can be. And I will be back more often to catch up!!!!
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Enjoyful - on AC I had issues of depression. I think like Mary said it can be caused by the drop in steroids. As long as it is not lingering for more than a couple of days. You should hnot be staying in a depressed state. Let us know what the Dr. says.
Mary- Glad to hear you got through another tx. Just think...one more to go and you are done with AC for good! I really hope your SEs are minimal. For me 3 and 4 were the hardest. Some people find that those txs were the easiest. I always have to take the most difficult route. Sorry to hear about your aunt passing. If you decide to go to the funeral just be prepared with your meds. If it is during your nomrally difficult days just be really careful.
Onty- Wow I am so glad you are okay. That must have been frightening. I also heard that Abraxane is an easier drug to take because of the minimal SEs. Sorry to hear about the tiral though, I know you were looking forward to participating in that.
Marie - Your trip sounds wonderful. DH and I are planning a second honeymoon once I am done with rads and I grow a little bit of hair back. Enjoy your trip.
1L- I also am hoping your WBC count has rebounded. Sorry to hear about your gum infection. Last week I went to the dr because I had all the symptons of a urinary tract infection. Well I took a urine test and it came back negative from UTI. My dr prescribed the antibiotic for me anyway. The weird thing is all the symptons dissappeared after taking the antibiotic. When do you go for your bloodwork to see if neupogen has worked?
Well I am up again at a crazy hour in the morning. Feeling wonderful though. I cant believe that it was last week when I was having severe leg pain from taxol. It seems like a distant memory. I have my 2nd tx on Friday. I am not looking forward to that pain again. This time I will take claritin starting on Friday. I heard that might help me to stop some of the pain from occuring.
Anita
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mary, I am so sorry for your loss. If your WBC is up then I would go. I am also Irish and funerals are just family reunions for us. I know how hard it is to miss something that you really feel that you should go to, just be careful.
onty,I am so sorry you had a reaction to the tx. The tx for breast cancer is like the Texas weather, if you wait a minute, then it will change.
anita, I go this afternoon for the blood test. That WBC better be up. If it is not, then I will have to cancel Thanksgiving. That would not make me happy.
Hope everyone has a good day.
Juannelle
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Mary, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Just like we told Meredith, I would go to the funeral, use good hygiene (handwashing, sanitizer), and only do as much as you're able - don't push yourself.
Onty, what an experience! I'm sorry you had to go through that, and the repurcussions with the study you were going to be in.
Enjoyful, you are not whining when you tell your doc about side effects! Steroids can really mess with your emotions. My doc has me on a low dose, just 4 mg, because I already have issues (I'm bipolar) and don't want to exacerbate it. I think getting out and taking a walk is a great idea, it's proven that exercise can improve mood.
It sounds like some of y'all get interim blood tests to check their WBC. My doc doesn't do this, I wonder why? Not that I want more blood tests or any excuses from the doc to limit me, it's just curious how docs approach things differently.
So, I have homework to do today - yes, during Thanksgiving break! Well, I could put it off, but I find that it's very difficult to focus when I'm feeling icky after tx, so I've got to get it done today since tx is tomorrow. I'm glad I didn't quit last month when I was considering it. This degree has been a goal of mine for many years, and I refuse to allow BC to take that away from me!
Peace to all...
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Hi TX,
I was on the clinical trial for Avastin and got 4 infusions of it already. Kicked off that trial. Still on the bisphosphonates trial and got my first zomta yesterday. -
Hi Everyone!
You have all been really prolific in the last day. It took me awhile to get caught up!
After the weekend crash, I have had to be "on". My friend's father died on Saturday. The viewing is today and the funeral tomorrow, so I have been trying to help with that AND get ready to leave Wednesday for the dunes. I know I may be taking on too much, but I missed the last trip, and I really want to do this for my kids. Especially my son, who has now given up baseball.
I am really looking forward to getting away with friends and family. I am NOT looking forward to driving the motorhome. DH is driving the trailer with equipment, so I get the fun job! HA! One of these days I want to snuggle in the back with the kids and watch a movie!
Getting blood work today. From the hip pain that broke through, I do believe Neulasta is working!
Onty - I am sorry about the Avastin trial. Is there any way you can be put back on it? I agree about the Abraxane and wouldn't think it would matter. Let us know about your experience with Zometa. I met a woman on it last night and she told me she has not had ONE s/e from it. Did I tell you all that when I was in Mexico I went to a pharmacy to look for Boniva? Guess what? No Boniva in Mexico. I guess they use clondronate. I have done some internet searches of Canadian pharmacies, but a lot of those look like scams. I may just bite the bullet and see what gets sent to me, but how would I know? HA! Lots of talk here, but in the end I generally listen to my Onc. Except about the wine thing, but I am getting better at that!
Interesting, and not that ANY of us will be in this situation, the woman I met last night was diagnosed Stage 4 after celebrating her 5 year cancerversary (we did discuss the uptick in recurrence after coming off tamoxifen). Her doctor told her that they now consider it a chronic, and not terminal, condition. She did run through another course of chemo (with Avastin) after initial recurrence, but is now on Xeloda and Zometa. And is doing GREAT. She looked great, and had more energy than me. I guess my point is that they are coming up with new/different treatments everyday and that none of us should get discouraged. I have found myself very anxious these last few weeks. Maybe it is the chemopause, maybe it is just that everything is catching up to me now. Regardless, in some weird, small way, it just gave me hope.
SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR! But I want to give a special shout out to you, Dear Ladies! Thank you for listening to my silly rants and giving me advice, or a kick in the pants, when needed. Have a great day!
Love ya!
Laura
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Txstar, I am like you I only get my blood checked two days before chemo...I can only guess when my wbc is lowest..
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Laura, I've talked to quite a few Stage IV people during my infusions (I know, but I am in the area where they do clinical trials and a lot of those involve Stage IV people). I had the same reflections..I certainly don't want to join the ranks, but it is encouraging to see them still around after years sometimes and still living and enjoying their lives.
Hey everyone...I like the others am thankful I have a place (these boards) where I can compare experiences that I just don't share with enough people in my everyday life. There just aren't enough people out there that appreciate the term chemopause!
And I have't had Hemi issues, but you can bet that would also be something most of my everyday friends wouldn't be able to help me with...Mary, regarding the funeral, I would do what YOU want to do. If you feel you really want to be at the funeral, then you should go. Just use your prevention strategies that others have mentioned. If you do not feel up to it but feel obligated, listen to your body. Nobody will blame you if you miss under the circumstances.
I had Navelbine # 2 yesterday. That means I'm halfway done......which doesn't feel all that exciting because I feel like I've been doing this forever. We plan to spend Thanksgiving with another family. I will cook and bring some dishes, she is doing the rest...and cleaning her house! I hope everyone has a wonderful, SE free holiday!
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Laura,
Regarding funeral if you decide to go, try and go at a time when there are not many people around.
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Onty,
What is the biophosphonates trial for? I should have asked before, I guess. If my understanding is correct, it is something for osteoporosis? the reason I ask is that my mother has been dx with osteoporosis, and anything I can do to help stave that off is something I'm interested in.
Thanks,
Shelby
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onty - I am so sorry you had a bad reaction. Sometimes I forget things may not go as planned as I get infused. Best wishes for some better days ahead.
I am confused about the steroid. I take 16 mg the day before, off and after infusion. I crashed liked a truck on day 4 + 5. I slept so much and felt so down. Do they give the amount per persons weight or by meds (I am on TC). I wonder if I should ask if taking less would affect how I feel those day. I also wouldn't want to make a bigger problem by taking less.
Jean
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Dear Shelby,
The bisphosphonates trial is to see if bisphosphonates help prevent bone mets also in addition to osteoporeosis.
Dear Jean,
Doctors follow different protocols on how and when to give steroids. Mine did tell me before I signed up with her that she believes in studies that have shown that it is equally effective given just on the day of chemo. Apparently, this is a controversial topic so best if you ask your doctor and take whatever advice he/she gives.
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Mary ~ here I think it is all about you. While I am sure you feel obligated to be there, I think being day 4-5 and it being Thanksgiving travelling. NO way. BUT that is me, I know I would not be up to being in the car for that ride. But I agree sanitize away if you go and bring saltines for the car ride. I am sorry for your loss.
ONTY ~ Holy crap... I am so afraid of that damn Taxol.. I dread when that starts for me. UGH. Hugs and I am so glad you are ok, and grrrr you got kicked off the trial.
Valerie ~ I know that pre-chemo jitter. I'm sorry. That is when I am thankful for ambien. I hope all went smoothly and you are feeling ok.
Michelle ~ you crack me up with "mass in the woods" ... you are so funny.
Juanelle ~ I hope your gum sore is better, and you are feeling good for Thanksgiving.
Hugs girls !
Alicia
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Boy did I have a huge melt down today! coming off steroids, day 6 and husband was home from work sick. Needless to say it was a doozy of a melt down and husband was not a darling. He did not understand the effects the steroids tend to have and was just not nice all day which got me going. He was actually rather rude. Granted he is not feeling well but no excuse. I stayed home from work again because SE's were still around, especially light headed and tired. I was looking forward to a chill day and building up energy for Thanksgiving. Having a sick husband home was not part of the game plan.MY DD is coming in tonight as well. I am usually so calm and flexible but boy I totally wigged out. I hope he is starting to understand that there are times that I might get out of control , loose it and that I just need to do that. I am usually so positive so this is a side of me he does not know.
Things are ok now. Everyone has calmed down. I pulled up some literature for him to read to help him understand better. 75% of the time he is good, but 25% he can be such a pain.
Well after we calmed down he pointed out to me that he had left me a card on the couch that I had not seen earlier in the day. It was a funny card about menopause and hot flashes. It was cute.
Well it felt good to vent.
My good wishes to anyone not feelling good or having issues. Just keep thinking that this is not forever and at this time next year this will hopefully be beyond us. I look forward to those days.
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Hello to all; Had my first round of taxotare and so far so good. I am afraid to jinx myself but I am really feeling Ok....no se's at all. It seems that most others start feeling draggy tomorrow so I am keeping my toes and fingers crossed.
Mary: It seems I messed up by tx's. I had 3 rounds of FEC and now three rounds of D for a total of 6 chemo treatments. Sorry for the confusion and not noticing it before. I found the FEC very difficult and am hoping the D (taxotare) will be much easier. I think I agree with ALicia and would not be heading to the funeral. The timing is just not great for you and while I understand your wanting to go I really do believe you would be putting undo stress on yourself all things being considered. If you explained that is just way to close to chemo time and how sick you can feel I have absolutely no doubt that everyone would understand. If you want to go than go but please don't do it if out of guilt. You need to take care of yourself right now.
Michele: found the cereal Sunday....nice to know we can now get most things here in Canada...there use to be day when that didn't always happen....crazy eh :-)
I have no idea of Neupogen or what it is for? But it seems to cause some aches and pains in most people. It is suppose to help? As mentioned by Michele and others....I just go for my blood work the day before I am scheduled for chemo and that is when I learn about my blood count. I had one chemo postponed but had the flu so expected it would happen.
I did not know that the steroids bring you down when you come off them. So that might explain a lot! I am usually so depressed for days 4-8 that I cannot get out of my own way. Decradon is the only thing I am on with this tx so I will try to break it off slowly and see how it goes. Thanks so much for the info. I am so hopeful that I will be better off with the taxotare yet so afraid that I am wrong and it is going to kick in.
My new pic is of myself and the bf heading out for a nite. It was the nite I decided to say "to hell with it all...bald is beautiful" so I bared the head and went for it. I was so nervous but we had a wonderful evening and while people did do a 'double take" over all I was very happy and felt proud for doing it. Now I shop, go to the movies, etc. and if I am warm just take of my hat and say to hell with it! I have even had strangers comment that it looks good and I should be proud! So go for it sisters!!!
I hope all of you celebrating Thanksgiving do so in peace and contentment with close family and friends.
Be well and happy over the holidays.
Hugs to all, Marilou
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Thankall for the sympathy regarding my aunt's death. She was 99 and had a long and very fulfilling life. She was the oldest of my father's family, he was the youngest of seven and she outlived all the others, so she was first and last. She emigrated from Ireland to the US when she was 16 and only made a couple of trips back so I didn't actually know her that well or my cousins on that side until I came to live her myself. Thanks for all the advice on whether to go to the funeral. I'll see how I feel on Thursday. But usuallly Day 4 and Day 5 are the worst days for me between nausea and depression (post steroid). They might think I was the chief mourner at the funeral if I was breaking into tears all the time.
Marilou, good for you heading out with the bald head. I went to the cinema tonight and saw "An Education" which I would highly recommend. Anyway, the wig felt scratchy and I was seriously tempted to just throw it in my bag. Another scenario I was running through was when it might be an effective conversation topper to just throw off the wig. What about if I was pulled over for speeding and presented my driver's licence with my hairy-photo. What cop with a heart would continue to give me a ticket.
Neupogen (and Neulasta) stimulates the growth of white blood cells in your body. This helps compensate for the white cells killed by the chemo drugs.
lainieo, I think we all have those meltdowns. At least we know that it's a SE and this stage passes too.
Jean, 16mg/day of Decadron sounds like a lot. I have the crash when coming off 8mg. But the docs are trying to maximize it's anti-nausea effect with the other effects. But might be worth discussing with the doctor to see if the dose could be reduced or at least tapered off from the initial 16mg.
Juanelle, I hope you got a good blood test result.
Any advice on scalp care? I still have a bit of stubble left and have been shampooing with a mild shampoo, but probably should switch to something like Johnson's baby shampoo. Do you massage any kind of moisturizer or oil into your scalp?
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Just a quick note, it is time for bed and I have to get up at 4:30 to go to work tomorrow.
My WBC is up to 50,000, so I have been set free to terrorize the world. That means I have to go back to work. Anyway, I am feeling great, but tired and I only have to work 1 day then it is a 4 day weekend. What a deal. Life is good.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
Juannelle
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Happy Turkey day dear 1L.
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Hi Everyone! I wrote yesterday but this is such a full board - it is so great!
Onty- that sounds f-ing awful and so disappointing - almost like being punished for something you could not control.
Jean - dr e has me on 16 mgs also but if u dont have a reaction to the Taxotere after 2 enfusions then he will probably lower it or taper it down but I missed one dose in the beginning and felt awful but I would definitely call him or his nurse,
Congrats Juanelle !
Thanks for the encouragement and support everyone!
Mary Got thru #3 today w/ 3 more to go! Feel pretty good!
Love to you all -I so enjoyed reading all the posts-Good cooking to all who attempt!
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Dear Valerie,
You are so right. I feel like punching a few bean bags.
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Hi ladies
WOW its been busy here, hard to have a chat to everyone, but all seems well with everyone exept for a few hiccups that thankfully they sort them selves out .
The depression gets me as well my onco said the more fatigue you get the more likely depression will follow they go hand in hand sometimes walking and some physical exercise helps .
Some times its good to have a big husband blow out as well ,it clears the air as long as it doesn't get carried away and it has an end to it
SEX WHAT IS THAT ???????
Keep smiling girl our roller coaster ride will end soon and we will hop of and go AHHHHHHH
THE END
LOVE JO JO
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Congrats 1L!!!! Yay. I am so glad to hear that your count is back up. I go today for my bloodwork to see my WBC count. I sure hope it is in the normal range or I will have to start giving myself those neupogen shots again adn I do NOT want to do that.
Getting ready to cook a huge thanksgiving meal and I am feeling really good. I am energetic and clear minded. No SEs right now so that is also fantastic. Friday is my 2nd tx with taxol so while I am pain free and feeling good I am going to enjoy myself. I will need to remember this time when those SEs kick in again.
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Mary what ever you decide will be fine. Remember to take care of yourself.Cong rats on # 3.Moving right along
Great news One-L
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy your families and take good care.
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Hi everyone! Today is treatment #3 for me - how does it feel to be halfway done, Valerie? I'm looking forward to being at a halfway point.
Juanelle, glad to know that the medication worked for you. Enjoy your day with family!
I'm venturing out to the grocery store today - I know, crazy, but I need just a few things. I'm going early (like, in about 10 minutes) so I hope to avoid any major crowds. I need tissues desperately! My nose is constantly running - is anyone else having this problem? I look kinda like Rudolf with my red nose!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Peace to all...
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Yes TXstardust my nose is running constantly too. Today I am sporting a slight cold and now my eyes are running tears as well. Good luck with treatment #3 today, 1/2 way WOO HOO.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving everyone.
Alicia
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Sitting in the infusion room, with Cytoxin going in. Uneventful so far - except I got started an hour late! I'm hoping this time around is as good as last time.
Good day wishes to all!
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