Starting chemo Sept 05

Hello everybody, I notice that a lot of you take tylenol or advil, I was told by my onc not to take anything that could mask a temperature. They RX a pain med for me instead. Just an observation. I am on day 10 after 1st tx, still have all my hair except for the few strands the other day. I have been reading a great book. It is called Grace for each hour by Mary J Nelson. A woman that is a breast cancer survivor incorporates bible verses and her experiences. This book is great I highly recommend it.
Hey Peggy I got my period the day I got my first chemo tx. What is up with that? I feel your pain. Well at least we got that sh-- over and done with along with all the other stuff.

Prayer, I am right behind you on the chemo (day 10) I will race to baldness!!!!!

Lot of love ladies --- Marg

Good morning (or evening) ladies! Boy think your feeling pretty good then....My 1st treatment was Thurs 9/15 felt OK, Friday was horrible, Sat pretty good, Sunday was so strung out from my decatron could have run 10 miles then the fatigue hit!!! I guess those steroids really give you a boost!!! Yesterday was my 1st day back to work (still on my steroid high) worked like crazy in the morning then crashed again! I was in bed at 6:30pm. Did all my "cat duties" ate a bowl of oatmeal then slowly wandered into the bedroom. I guess this is the fatigue everyone talks about? Well I've been wide awake since 1:30am & thought to myself I'd have my coffee (which I can't taste) take my shower & head off to Walmart to get my ensure & boost (my main diet) and now because of that hurricane down here it's raining!!! I'm going to the American Cancer Society Look Good Feel Better program tonight & sure hope I can stay awake for that! I'm so excited they have something like that in this dinky town!! After I get through these treatments I'm probably going to volunteer because we really need it here!!

Has anyone tried good old fashion "prunes" for constipation? Since I started eating more the past few days (guess thats the steriods too) I figured I'd eat a couple last night with my oatmeal and they did work (not that I felt as though I was having a problem yet but I don't want to have that problem!)

Well hope everyone has a great day & I'll let you know how my ACS meeting goes tonight. I may look good & feel better after that!!!

Cheryl

Day 13 - and it's starting to go! My hair is starting to come out - not in clumps - just much more than usual when I brushed my hair this morning. This is hitting me much harder than I thought it would - this is one of the few times that I have actually cried. I plan to get it shaved off - i'm just trying to figure out when. Does anyone have a feel for how fast it falls out? Should I go tonight - or do I have a few days? I am working today - and I am thinking that because of my emotional state - perhaps this would be a good day to take off. I'm sure my boss has never heard this one: "I can't work today - my hair is falling out".

I go for my second round of A/C tomorrow. My best thoughts to everyone else having treatments this week!

Cheryl - I hope you enjoy the Look Good / Feel Better program tonight! I had a great experience at mine and I hope you do the same! There are a few threads about this that might be a good read for you.

Hi all,

Had my first A/C Dose Dense treatment yesterday. The anticipation was the worse part. I did get pretty loopy prior to the infusion - don't know if it was from the decadron or zofran IV. Wore off enough that I should be able to drive the 2 miles home after treatments. I am feeling good today. I took compazine and zofran last night before bed and started this am with dexamethasone. Took the zofran and compazine with a couple of stool softeners about an hour later.

I feel pretty productive. Got an ok for my neulasta at home ( mail order) will be able to cut out at least a few trips to md.


I did have to scheudule a liver ct with iv contrast for some slightly elevated liver enzymes . Onc is pretty sure it is nothing but you know how it feels.

I have an appointment for a wig on Thursday and will probably cut my hair by the end of the month.

I have a port and the chemo infusion was a breeze. The nurse said that they try and encourage patients to not use any topicals for injections after a while. Has anyone else heard or is doing this?


Sounds like everyone's experiences have some similarities but not every feels the same.

My biggest issues right now is finding someone to watch my 3 year old so I can do all these treatments.

Here's to a speedy treatment cycle...

Kris s
44 year old
lumpectomy 8/24/05
3 cm er neg/pr neg /her2 neg
grade 3
sentinel node bx - neg
clean margins !
ac x4 taxolx4 dd
rad x 33-36 later
port for chemo

I find it kind of ironic...I am getting my emend through a donation from the drug company. Normally the woman at the hospital gets the meds then distributes them to you. I did not know this and the woman from the drug company was going to send them to me via fed ex (not a big issue as far as I was concerned). The woman at the hospital called me and insited I call them back and let her get my medicine. Like I could not handle getting my own! I guess this is just another sign that the most of the patients at the "free/low income" clinic do what they are told! I want MY control and my pills to take before treatment instead of a few minutes before!

Oh well she will just have to get over herself!

Susan
sorry to hear your feeling miserable. I went and got some head coverings yesterday just in case the hair starts to go soon! (day 6 for me)

Tina

Constance Diane, I am drinking coffee. Early on I only drank about 1/8, and now I am back up to my full cups. I am taking 3 stool softeners a day to stay 'on track.' My Nurse was very clear about this side effect. She doesn't want any of her patients getting constipated.

Carol, I am so sorry that Jason is unable to go with you. I know exactly how you feel. Others have offered to accompany me, but I want my husband! Hope it went well for you today.

Peg, it is indeed a cosmic joke. I on the other hand haven't bled for over two years, start chemo and start bleeding. There is NO justice here.

Tina, bravo on working! So glad you felt strong enough to give it a try.

prayer, I don't even know where to start! Clearly you must trust your oncologist. How are you searching for a new one? I am node-negative and am on dose dense, never heard of that logic. The numbers are better. Please continue to vent here. There is no group of people in the world who get this more than us!

Anne Marie, fabulous that you are getting some physical therapy. Being pro-active is so important to getting the best care. When is your next chemo?

Marg, I lost the hair at Day 13, though I could have held onto it for a day or two most likely. How are your children doing? I am sitting back to watch this race. :-)

Cheryl, cat duties for 9 cats is a lot of cat duty! When does your daughter arrive to help? Do hope that your Look Good, etc meeting is inspiring.

Barb, are these sweats hot flashes? 4am is not a good time to be awake, we all need our sleep to stay healthy. Yea, sounds like you are having some of the neulasta pain. So sorry to hear about this. Is the doctor recommending pain meds?

Hopeful, you have a few days most likely, but I didn't want to go if I felt lousy after the second round. We are on the same schedule here. I will think of you often during my treatment.

Kris, a three-year old. Oh my! They are so energetic at that age, I am tired just thinking about it. You might find that your hospital has a list of people who can help with child care, or try the American Cancer Society. Glad to hear you are doing well after your first.

Did I miss someone? Our group is getting so big I need notes to keep everyone's treatments and issues.

Closing with the hope that everyone is doing well and feeling strong.

*susan*

Hi ya'all,



I finally broke down and asked for something stronger than Vicoden to help my pain. It is due to the growth factor causing my WBC to go up too much, and it is bad pain.



They are going to give me oxy or something. never took that before. Hopefully it will help me get rid of enough pain to sleep.



I have learned several things in this 6 day period since recieving my first AC.



1. Ask for what you need

2. Cut down on activitites and delegate

3. Try and get lots of sleep at night.

4. Get out and get dressed each day

5. Give up management of my Dad's health issues to the RCF nurses.



My Dad has multiple myeloma and today i was too tired to drive so i can no longer take him to drs appts, get his RX ordered, etc. At least not today. He lives in a RCF now.



I realized the RCF was getting paid to make his Dr appts, bring him to appts, get his meds ordered, take care of his health, etc. So i called the nurse over there at his RCF and laid his care on her. Whew.



Hope you all are doing OK with your responsibilities. We need to care for OURSELVES now above anything. I realized this today.



Good going all! We will get thru this!



Another thing i learned is they give everybody the same amount of growth factor the first time. Then, they will reduce it according to my blood levels. Maybe the pain will not be so bad next time.'



Susan, maybe i am going thru menopause,,,or maybe just toxins are trying to sweat themselves out of my system. Who knows.......

Barb,

This is a signifigant posting. Congratulations of making sure that you can take care of yourself. Your strength is inspiring.

*susan*

Welcome Glenda to our group....well...welcome is not quite the right word is it?!

Yes, I got the fuzzy head stuff they give you so many meds at first to ease the AC into you that they fuzz you all up. Wait a few days and your head should clear. I had a abrubt awakening when the meds wore off though they did try and taper me off them, emotionally i was kind of off.

Now, the 6th day i can start thinking clearly. It is faster for most.

Tinkermax, don't worry about every one being ahead of you. I am having my first A/C treatment this Friday and like you will be still at it long into the new year. Then I am off for Radiotherapy. So looks like we are both in for the long haul.

As for the hair thing, I had my very long hair cut very short recently and I hate it, so should it decide not to fall out and I cut it for nothing I will be very P***ed off indeed. I can't wait for it to go.

having said that it will probably fall all out overnight, I will find out that, rather than looking cool like Vin Diesel I look much more like the movie Coneheads and will be totaly sad about it. Oh well thems the breaks...

Like everyone on this journey, very quickly we learn to roll with the punches.

Hoping for the Vin look
Nicole

Susan thanks I dont feel strong but thanks! Sometimes we find strength when we need it but least expect it.

I have heard them called "my own personal summer" many times....
Now my daughter asks me ...most of the time during those hot flashes..LOL....hey mom are you having one of your own personal summers again....then we both laugh.

At least it is a way to deal....laughter is always good medicine and I hope I can keep my sense of humor through all this!
Tina

Good Morning!!!

Well the hair is gone. Was falling out like crazy yesterday and had my husband buzz it last night. Now I have to wear my wig to work today but after reading Peggy's post about back to school night I am a little hesitant. I also feel that it doesn't look like me in the mirror. Tomorrow is my second chemo day hopefully it will be better than the last time coming off the decadron. I definitely am going to use the "personal summer" the next time I am roasting and my kids are looking at me like I am crazy. Although I have to say my little one has been the best through all of this - she was so excited to see my hair fall out and that daddy was going to buzz it off. To her it is an adventure everyday. She also gives the best hugs when I need them the most. If I don't get a chance to post before chemo I'll be sure to let you know how I am over the weekend. Good luck to anyone having chemo the rest of the week.

Anne Marie

Anne Marie
Good luck with your chemo. My 2nd one won't be until October 6th. Something I learned last nite in my Look Good Feel Better class was they said if you put a coffee filter on your head before you put your wig on it will kinda cushion the wig so it doesn't scratch. The lady said it really works because a coffee filter is kinda shaped like your head. They also said not to buy a wig until you loose all of your hair because it doesn't fit the same. I'm probably not going to buy a wig and just do the bandana and doo-rag thing.

Cheryl