Chemo June 2010

dsa - what kind of cancer do you have that is so rare? I am triple negative.  I don't think that's rare, but uncommon.  I hope you fair well on the ACT.

Tbyrd:  thanks for the encouraging news about Neurotin and hot flashes.  The hot flashes have been very taxing on me.  I went through menopause in my early 40's and I never had them.  Now there are times when I think I can't breathe!  I hope I get the same benefit from Neurotin that you did.

 Kittycat:  that is discouraging about not getting started on your first day.  I'm so sorry.

I keep seeing many posting about drinking lots and lots of water.  My question is does it have to be water?  I'm a sweet tea drinker - would that do just as well or is the caffeine bad during chemo?  I don't think I could drink that much water and if I should get nauseous, I'm sure water would be the last thing I would want to drink.

My neice's wedding is this weekend out of town - should be a nice relaxing event to take my mind off everything.  Then doctor's appointments Monday, CT scan and bone scan Tuesday and chemo starts Wednesday!  I'm a little apprehensive about these scans.  Never had them - don't know anything about them.

Hi All,

Sherry - I am also a sweat tea drinker, but I have developed a UTI, so I am staying AWAY from caffiene from now on. Drinking water, juice and then more water.

The tongue/throat stuff I got was not the dreaded sores, but thrush. So if you don't have actual sores and your tongue/throat feels funny, this may be the culprit. I still have not had any nausea, they gave me ALOXI in my port before my tx and this seems to have done it for me. I am so sorry to see that some of you are having such bad nausea and vomiting. I've been able to work and eat normal meals, I just get really tired at the end of the day. I am praying that SE's for each of you will be minimal. You guys are an awesome group of ladies, keep the spirit!

Kittycat-  Dang!  I have to say, I might request another heart test.  Perhaps speak to the Radiologist at the facility, NOT the technician.  If she was having a hard time visualizing things due to your impants, she should have consulted with someone more experienced right then and there.  SURELY they have seen implants before.  As for your Oncologist being on vacation.  His office knows how to reach him at all times for important matters OR he must have someone who covers for him.  I would have a problem if my Onc was MIA for a week.  IF this heart test does show something, you might want a 2nd opinion of other chemos that would not be hard on the heart??  I'm sorry for your delay, that has to be tough when you are in the saddle and ready to ride!  Hang in there.

brat352-  That a girl!  I'm so glad that your first chemo was non-eventful.  That's what we are all hoping for!  I hope you continue to feel good, fine, okay, or just not lousy!  I'm starting to count down.  Friday is my big day.  What a blessing if I could report back that it was uneventful like you.  Blessings!

Sherry9316- Since my first treatment yesterday I have been super thirsty so I asked lots of questions about what to drink while I was being infused. My onco nurse said that the immediate thirst was probably from the benedryl. I love coffee so I asked specfically about the caffeine and she said that any caffeinated beverages have to be balanced out with non-caffeinated beverages and then I still need 12 glasses of water, juice, or non-caffienated beverages on top of that each day.

I've heard the same things about fluids--caffeine dehydrates you so you'd need to drink extra water to make up for it.  I was told I should be drinking enough to pee every hour--the cytoxan is hard on the bladder and needs to get flushed out asap.  Juices, gatorade, lemonade, all are ok.

Angelwoman1--thinking of you today and hope all goes well.

I find as my date for chemo gets closer (Mon.) that I am getting more nervous.  Reading everybody's experiences is bringing back that yucky tummy feeling that my last chemo gave me. (I just finished it in Jan.)  I think it'll be even worse once I get in that chair.  So a couple of days ago, while I was at the Hosp. for another appt, I stopped in and asked one of the chemo nurses if I could take an ativan before I come in.  I just wanted to make sure it would be ok with this type of chemo.  She said yes, it was ok.  I have some ativan left from last time--its great because it helps with nausea and anxiety.  I needed it before my last round of chemo, as I would start to feel nauseated as soon as I smelled the alcohol they wipe my port with.  I guess its sort of like ptsd--but I've heard that the reactions fade after awhile.  Unfortunately mine didn't have time to fade yet!

Anyways, I'll be praying for peace!  And I'm grateful for this site and for everyone who is sharing their experiences, because I'd rather know what could happen than not.

Take care!

T

Kittycat, hang in there girl!  I know the frustration is the pits.  We will keep you in our prayers and hopefully it will all work out.  You can start next week with me!  I start Tuesday.

 Jenweg, I am sorry you are having a "yucks".  Hopefully it will be better soon and you will be bck on your feet.

I am starting to feel a bit like a cat on a hot tin roof with the anticipation of the treatments next week.  This is the first week I haven't had a doctor appointment or a test all week and I honestly don't feel sick at all except for the hot flashes.  I had a complete hystectomy in 2004 but they left my ovaries.  I had those removed in Dec and went on hormones.  Obviously once the cancer was found they stopped the hormones (I am ER/PR+) so I am doing the whole hot flash thing again!   I know I should cherish the time I am feeling good but I just want to get started so I can get done!  Ok I feel better getting that out. 

Thanks for listening!  You guys are the best.  I hope everyone has a good day. 

Hi everyone,

I think my hair is starting to slowly fall out =( I washed my hair yesterday and more hair then usually fell out and then whenever I would run my fingers through my hair, there would always be a couple strands in my hand. It is such a sad feeling but I am bought a wig already and I am going to go pick it up tomorrow. Does anyone know how long it takes until it all falls out or is noticable? 

Hi all! I'm pleased to report that a week after my first treatment, I seem to be back to normal. Or close. My mouth remains a bit sore, but most foods are tasting okay. I'm still a bit fatigued as well, but not enough to interrupt my day.

Kittycat--How frustrated you must be with the delay. I hope they get this sorted out quickly.

Janny99--I've had problems with my teenage daughter the past few days, and I know it's the stress getting to both of us. It doesn't help that exams are just around the corner.

Sherry9316--My nurses said ALL fluids count. Soup, ice cream, and fruit included. Anything that gets liquid into your body is good. Caffienated drinks pull the liquid from your body, but they will still help flush the drugs out. Just make sure, as others have said, that you add in all sorts of otherfluids. I drank water and Gatorade, and as one of the other ladies mentioned, strawberry-banana juice. But I also consumed low-sodium soups--they went down really nice.

MelMel10--Glad your thrush got treated. Thanks for the warning.

Angelwoman1 & Isla--Thinking about you. Hope all is well.

brat352--Must be nice to have that 1st tx out of the way. :-)

Julia--My recommendation would be: liquids of all sorts, baby wipes, antacid, a fresh toothbrush, a tube of lip balm, Saltines, and daily Activia yogurt. Anyone else got suggestions?

SKD--Are you 12 days out from your 1st tx? I was warned that anywhere between 12-14 days the hair would start to fall out. How long it takes is individual and dependent on your cocktail, but I was told that by three weeks most of my hair would be gone. My sister (who has been through this already) told me to wait until the hair starts to fall, then cut it very, very short. I have my wig already, and I'm anticipating the hairs to start falling. I've thought about going commando, but my head is both bumpy and small for my body. I think if I don't wear something, I'll scare myself, LOL.

Good luck to Mimi and Designermom who are starting treatment tomorrow!

I got a tip on using Phazyme for my stomach problems.  I ran straight to CVS last night and got some after reading the post on another thread.  It didn't work for me but it might for someone else.  I had a sonogram on an ovarian cyst this morning and my gyno is confident that my stomach problems are from that and not from chemo.  Sounds strange since my pains are both high and low on my abdomen but I guess we shall see.  She wants to do another sono in three weeks to see if the cyst goes away so I guess I'm stuck with this for at least that long.  I asked about my ear aches and she said if they get bad or if I start to run a fever then I need to call and in the meantime take Claritin.  Believe it or not my onc gave me her cell phone number and told me to call her in the middle of the night if I had to!

I had my blood work today, too, and my onc nurse just called to say my blood counts are almost nonexistent.  This is day 8 after my first chemo.  So I guess that's why I'm tired.  She said no movies or church, etc. until they come back up.  I guess that means no Winstar Casino to see Blake Shelton in concert tomorrow night, huh?  I didn't even ask because the answer would probably have brought on the waterworks again.  I've been so emotional today!

grneyd5600 my husband is wanting to shave his head when I do but I don't think I'll let him.  Its a very sweet gesture but one of us needs to look normal around here.  He wears his hair pretty long and its just wavy and beautiful and dark brown with no gray.  I've always been jealous!  Right now I think I'm going to wait until I absolutely have to before I cut my hair.

Good luck to everyone starting out tomorrow and early next week!

Terry

Anyone have any advice on shaving your head?  There's lots of stuff out there about when and if to do it, but nothing about how to actually go about it.  Is it best to use electric clippers?  electric razor?  manual razor?  I figure I've got about a week until mine starts to fall out, and then I plan to shave it.  I guess I could go somewhere to have it done, but I think this is something I'd rather do in private. 

My thoughts are with all those having their first chemo this week, and best wishes that those of you experiencing delays will be able to get started soon. 

All you lovelies asking about HAIR, HAIR, HAIR!  I am hoping I may not loose all my hair as I am on CMF.  When they were going to give TC, and for certain I would loose all my hair, I was planning on using my husband's clipper.  He is mostly bald and we shear the rest very short with the shortest attachment.  I bought the clipper at Walgreens for about $20.  My hairdresser recomended getting a plug-in type as the power stays strong.  The battery-operated ones run weak as the batteries go.  If you have never used these, they are a breeze.  The clip on guides (about 1/8 -3/4inch) just run along your head uniformly cutting.  I know a lot of ladies go to barber shops to do this.  I would not want to as I can't stand to be pitied...makes me cry.  As it's not like you are going to ruin your hairdo, it might be easier to just buy a cheap clipper instead of pay the barber.  If anyone is in NYC, and I feel up to it after chemo, I'll bring my clipper and do it for you.  If I do lose my hair, my husband and I are going to have a fatastic bald portrait taken by my photographer friend! I sure am glad to know all of you!

Hi to all, just popping in to say I had a computer problem and just got back on line this afternoon. I will need to catch up, but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you June troopers and wishing you all the best.