May 2010 Chemo

Suzie56 -- keep reading here and then keep checking the Forum Index for a "Starting Chemo in June" group.  I have no doubt that someone will start one.  You can get good info on what to expect from this board, but you will find that having the support of women who are going through what you are going through at the exact same time will be extremely helpful.

Jen

JennyB - I feel your (bloating) pain!   I've been sitting at work all day feeling totally uncomfortable in my too tight pants.   They fit a week ago, I swear!   I wish I could blame it just on the water but in addition to the water, I've had a huge appetite the last few days.  And I haven't even started the steroids for treatement #2 yet!   My onc warned me about gaining 5-15 lbs during treatment, but I didn't believe him.    Now I am starting to worry about it.

The good news is that the cold caps seem to be working and so far (Day 18 post first treatment) I have all my hair.   Well, at least on my head.  Unfortunately, that also includes the whisker I keep hoping to lose.  

paxton- I was anemic last year and my doc gave me iron pills.   Not sure if you can take those during treatment, but might be worth asking about.

Wishing all a SE- free week!

JennyB, I too have gained a few pounds.  We can both worry about losing it later.  Water weight tends to go up and down anyway....

Paxton, wow having a baby and dealing with this.  I am having trouble enough trying to see my ew born grandson as often as I want to.  I am thinking of you.......

Well, like most everyone, I am losing my hair very quickly now. Day 15 and it is in handfuls.  I have very thick hair, but it is rapidly thinning, it is so amazing.  I find it so hard to believe.   I am wearing a scarf with my hair for the next few days then getting a buzz on Friday.  It will give me the weekend to emotionally recuperate. 

Stay well everyone!

understanding is that the blood tests the onc is watching – called tumor markers – are more significant if you have a more advanced case of cancer. In some cases, a patient may have levels of over 2000, for example, and the onc can easily see the chemo knocking them down. In early stage cancers, though, it’s harder to tell – if your value is around 200 or under, it may not move a lot, and even people who don’t have cancer may have a similar number. It would be so nice if the blood test really told the whole story.

Redbarb, for me the hair loss started on day 15 after the first chemo, and by day 18 it was no longer presentable, had to start in on the scarves and hats. It goes pretty quick once it starts to fall.

There is a web site called France Luxe that has some great scarves, and they have a program called Good Wishes that provides a free scarf to anyone suffering hair loss for medical reasons. Look up www.franceluxe.com and look for the Good Wishes logo in the upper right hand corner. The owner’s name is Laurie Erickson, and if you call you’ll probably talk to her personally. She is such a lovely person for doing this. I love my France Luxe scarf, and it came with a card signed by all the staff members. Can’t tell you how touched I was.

Paxton, I ate a lot of high-iron cereal when I became anemic.  Grape Nuts and Total are good.  Iron pills can cause constipation, which is also a problem with the anti-nausea meds, but I didn't have constipation from the cereal.  If you do go with pills, ferrous fumarate is supposed to be easier to digest.

Don't worry too much about the weight - I finished the chemo in January, and I'm now down around 17 pounds from peak weight, without any particular effort.  I dropped about eight pounds in the first three weeks after getting off the steroids.  That much was probably just water weight.

paxtin18064:  I found mixing liquid benydrl and malox (50/50) and rubbing it on your sores helps.  Mine aren't real bad, but that is also what I used when my kids had hand, foot and mouth disease.  Good luck!!

Hello everyone!

 JavaMom had an update for those still wondering (or just starting) about hair issues: it has started coming out today, day 13 after treatment #1, and the scalp doesn't tingle, it hurts. The Neupogen pain has been pretty bad, but the nurse says, good, that means its working for sure. Mouth sores on day 10. Other than that, no SE's other than a surface thrombosis (blood clot) They made her come into the ER for an U/S, but are now not concerned since it was surface. Treatment #2 is tomorrow. She can already tell there is an effect from treatment #1: no more swelling on lymph nodes and her breast is down to "normal".

 Good luck and all the best to you all. It will all be worth it! I'm sure sorry so many have had to go to the hospital, and certainly being mistreated (Day!). That's so frustrating!

Javahog 

Hi everyone,

Welcome to all newcomers. 

Sorry to read about so many of you with hostital stays.  Day: keep us posted on how things go when you talk to some of the big guns.  I can't believe what you have been through.  this disease is hard enough to deal with without having to deal with idiots when we are sick. 

Side effects are still pretty much nonexistent, except the hair thing.   I am just so happy I made it to this point without losing it.  I can go to my end of the year concert (4 year olds) without worry.  I think by the weekend it will need to be shaved.  I think I will have a head shaving party to celebrate the "new me"  Both physically and mentally!!!   Day 13 some strands are starting to fall out.  Curious to see how quickly it is gone. 

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.  Chat with you tomorrow!

ahhhhh! My hair has started to fall out! 

In the back of my mind, as I read other women's accounts of hair falling out, I thought I would be a Chosen One - an Exception!  After all, I need my hair - I am a Leo! Hair is important to lions!  Further, I am a red head (or at least I was in my youth) and there aren't too many of us so we need to maintain!  Finally, just because. I was going to keep my hair because I'm Special and Different.

Alas, Ladies, it is not to be. My scalp is proving itself (and me) to be just like yours (and you)! I will soon be bald as a baby's butt ! Holy Moly!  What do to?   I will stick my tongue out at real hair and hold a Big Wig Party where all guests must wear wigs.    Hair be gone!!!

I agree with MNLinda, once the hair starts to fall out, it is quite simply amazing.  Mine started on the 14^th day and I have worn a scarf with my hair for two days.  Will do the same for Thursday and Friday, then Friday night the buzz....thanks for the website MNLinda, they are beautiful scarves.

Thanks Redbard, I will try the mix on my sores.  I have two now.  Hang in there with the hair thing. My night is Friday, with my sons.  They are shaving their hair too! (They are 33 and 35 years old - both married with sons of their own.) My DH so far is not joining in with the shaving, but he has been the most incredible man, so that doesn't matter - I actually don't want the boys to do it either....

Welcome Kim, hope you get as much from this site as I do.  If you have a join, these are fabulous women.

Javahog, glad to hear things are going well.

Cleob, you are right, we are survivors and this is just a big bump in the road, nothing we cannot do.

CTherese - you have a wonderful attitude. I'm a Leo too.  Hair is just so important to all of us, silly, but very true.  To me, I am trying so hard to put on a ‘good, healthy face' and losing the hair just kinda blows that.

Hi.  I started my chemo on May 21st. My protocol is  AC x 4 every other week and then Taxol every week for 12 wks.   I just found your group today.  After my first chemo I had severe nausea for 8 hours, pretty bad, but  I had a good second day. Next came the neulasta, and joint pain.  I also have a heartburn knot in the back of my throat, have tried Zantac, with little relief.  On the up side, I do yoga every day that I can, restorative poses, and walk about 30 minutes.  I also do deep relaxation, with cd about healing.  All this helps, but the journey is just beginning. 

I finally had a good day today.  My book club had our potluck to end for the summer.  I had such a good time.  I was able to eat the food.  The baby had a lot of fun with the other kids.  He's just about walking on his own now.  I can't believe it.  I think he'll sleep good tonight.

My onc ordered that "magic mouthwash" for my mouth sores.  I also am taking a 3 day dose of diflucan.  I had a vaginal yeast infection.  It didn't seem like I had mouth thrush but they suspect I had it from my esophogus into the stomach.  Anyway, things have improved a lot between the mouthwash and the diflucan.  Chloroseptic cough drops and popsicles helped some when it was bad without other options. 

Paxton - hope the mouthwash works quickly!! 

Welcome TUCK and PATRICIA and KIM!!!  (sorry, but welcome!)

Cleob - no SE?  I am, but I'll get on that later. 

When my hair goes - my husband offered to shave.. but he already has a receding hair line, so I'm afraid it won't grow back, and told him no, that's ok!!!  3rd treatment of Taxol is in about 8 hours... SE so far... nausea, taste changes, constipation, runny nose, and fatigue.  Usually feel better around day 4 after treatment- but I am still working, so probably more rest would help with some of the SE.  Just one more week of work, then the family is off for vacation!! 

CTherese - made me LOL.  Sounds like you are handling it well - can I come cry on your shoulder when mine falls out?? 

Fotopet... ugh!!! 

Sacphotomom - I am going also - but I can't get into the class until July... I'll REALLY need it by then too!!  We'll be on vacation for the one in June, so hope I can wait! 

RedBarb - hope your concert was fun today (yesterday)!! 

Thanks for the warm welcome to your group.  What a journey.  In Kentucky, the sun is shining this morning and  I have no nausea or acid reflux!   I can't believe what has become the topics of my conversation since my diagnosis!  Ha.  I hope everyone has a good day, and that you  find the support you need to take today's step on the healing path. Take one day, one moment, one challenge at a time.    

Day - so great to hear that you are feeling good. That was just awful what happened to you.

Welcome Tuck - we are on the exact same schedule. I hope you're tolerating it well. I don't have a rads date yet but I'll probably start just around the time you are.

Welcome to all the newcomers. Glad you found us.