Chemo June 2010

algreach: I am on day 13, tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my chemo treatment.

dsa-outtah: my wig lady also said shave with a #2 blade to prevent ingrown hairs?

grneyd5600: my husband said he would shave his head with me too! He said I could shave his head then he would do mine. We will probably do it this weekend so I will let you know how it goes. I've always wanted to know what I would look like with a mo-hawk!I think it will be easier to just do it then constantly see my hair fall out. Everytime I see strands it makes me sad so I figured why be sad for the next week when I can just do it and be sad for a day! Plus I figured it will be nice and breezy for the summer. I don't know if I can handle seeing it come out in clumps, it is hard enough seeing it come out in 2-5 strands.  

 I guess most of us are losing our hair in the perfect season of summer! And then it wil start growing back by the fall/winter to keep us warm again!

I bought 2 nice head scarfs and a night cap because I get so cold at night. I also bought a wig that looks identical to my hair now so my wig-hair dresser said not to cut my hair short because then people who don't know I have BC would be confused seeing me with long hair one week...then short hair the next week..then back to long hair again. I think I am also going to buy a synthetic wig that you can wear under hats or your scarf that doesn't cover the top part of your head...so in the summer months the wig won't get too hot. Its crazy how there is a whole "wardrobe" out there for your head!

One of my friends going through chemo told me not to shave the head completely bald.  She did this and it was uncomforbable.  Using electric clippers would be best.  I use them on my hubby all the time.  I'm going to have the wig lady use the clippers on me.  She has a tonic or something that she puts on her customer's head to make it feel nice. 

Just checking in... I'm on day 8 and having my hair clipped short as possible later today. I found a company that specializes in alopecia/chemo patients and has individual private rooms for consultation, hair treatment and wig styling, etc. I'm nervous as hell but I figure I'd better get used to it sooner or later... Especially since many people do not know what I'm going through, I'll have to make sure the wig is really good.

Hi gals,

I finnished treatment #1 today.  It was uneventful and I wonder why I cryed so much the last few days.  No tears today.  Just feeling thirsty and have a mild headache.  DesignerMom, glad your's went well too.

Danielaes, did you find a wig?  I am stubborn and think I will wear scaves and buffs.  We will see.  I have an appt. in 12 days for my stylist to shave my head.

I want to thank everybody for all their posts.  It keeps me going.

Mimi 

"If circumstances are bad and you have to bear them, do not make them a part of yourself."

Diagnosis 03/03/2010 IDC 2.8cm, stage IIIa, grade 2, 6/12 nodes pos, ER+/PR-/HER2-

I am glad to hear you girls are doing well with little or no se's!!  Congrats!  I am hoping to get my meds tweeked enough to make me that way this week for my second treatment.  I am so not looking forward to feeling like I did last time!!!  I am a week and a half out from my first treatment and am cutting the hair off tomorrow, I sure hope I am ready for it.

Have a great weekend all and I hope everyone continues se free!!!!!!!!!!!

RS711:  hope you're pleased with the hair clipping outcome.  don't guess any of us have much of a choice about losing it.....it's either we take the 1st step ourselves of 'helping' the loss along by clipping/buzzing, or it occurs on its own way & schedule, which sometimes can be more bothersome!

DesignerMom:  know what you mean about the teary-eye thing---& it is pretty surreal that this BC is actually really happening to us!  It's good that you have DH to support/encourage you & a med nurse team that is compassionate & sensitive to your anxiousness.

Mimi:  congrats on getting the 1st treatment out of the way!  i'm so ready to get to my start date...it's scheduled the 23rd.   i have no doubt that i'll break down w/emotion when that 1st drip goes thru the line....

Danielaes:  yep...the hair thing....we all have an issue w/it, don't we!  someone recently told me that losing the hair was a 'good thing' because it is evidence that the chemo is doing what it's supposed to do.    i haven't put my head around that comment yet....i think they thought it was encouraging....but, i still haven't figured out what i really think about it!    hope u have fun on that date!!

Wish everyone a great weekend----am learning lots from each of you & it's going to be helpful to me when my magic date gets here & i can get beyond the 'WAITING'

Deb    

I picked up my wig today and it looks fantastic!! It is actually way nicer and healthier looking then my real hair so I am excited to wear it. I ordered a custom wig with real human hair because I figured I would be wearing it for awhile and I would probably spend that much money on hair cuts and colours and products in the next year anyway so may as well spend it on a wig! I put it on and  showed my husband and a bunch of my friends and they all couldn't tell the difference! It makes me less sad now about losing my real hair and I just want to shave it all off now and wear my nice wig. I am only on day 3 of it falling out and getting sick of it already! We will see if I get through the weekend but I will keep you posted.

 Hope everyone is doing well and getting lots of rest. 

danielaes: have fun on your date! Hope it goes well!

I am getting the MUGA scan repeated on Monday.  If my ejection fraction is still low, the onco is going to put me on Cytoxan and Taxol and leave out the Adriamycin.  What does Adriamycin do anyway?  I just keep hearing that it's the red devil!

Glad to hear everyone's chugging through... The waiting is the worst, once treatment starts it's like, 'Oh that's not as bad as I imagined...' For me, day 4-6 was the worst. My dr. switched me to Zofran for 2nd treatment and hopefully it will work better. I'm also using the sancuso patch- anyone else using it?

@!!!!! drain to come out.

Wishing you all the very very best!

Sherry9316:  i think i remember that you are on the ACx 4, then taxol, right?  I'm on the same mix & my onc nurse has also given the prescription for Zofran,as needed during my work day (i hope to continue working as much as possible), in addition to decadron as a pre-med along with Aloxi.  Then for the neulasta shot she recommended to try Claritin (over the counter) for the day of treatment, the day of the shot and 1-2 days afterwards.  Also, if i have troubling sleeping, i will have phenergan.  For Taxol, the pre-med will be benedryl and Zantac.

Of course all of the above is contingent on how the 1st treatment (6/23) goes and whether those will actually work....if they don't then i get switched to others until we find a combo that is effective.   Emend will be a back-up if any of the above don't do the job.

P.S.  I grew up in Muskogee (too many years ago!) and have a cousin/aunt who reside in Tulsa.  Small world!

deb    

MzCaprcorn:  welcome to the group---sorry it's under these circumstances!!

yes,you'll find that everyone is great w/chatter about most everything, particularly about their early treatments, SE's, etc.  I don't start treatment until 6/23 but had 3 surgeries within 4 weeks immediately after being diagnosed.  so, yes, moving swiftly is sometimes necessary.

most important thing for you at the moment is to make sure that you're comfortable with your medical team and that you trust them....if you are uneasy about anything at all (putting aside the quickness of everything), then you should seek a 2nd opinion. 

you don't mention age, family history of cancer, etc. so, it appears that this is a 1st for you and it's normal to be worried and questioning everything!!!----

ask for a copy of all your medical records immediately & try to catch up with what has been diagnosed/recorded & ask for explanations.  It's important that you know your full diagnosis as quickly as possible so you can be more informed----being well informed becomes your ally and is an empowering factor in the journey you're undertaking.

don't be hesitant to ask lots of questions---we all have been where you are and you'll discover how important it is for all of us to learn from one another in addition to what we are hearing from our medical teams.

stay on the thread w/us and you'll be encouraged along the way.

deb     

   hi every one, thank you for all your support, June 10th was my first treatment. Went pretty well. Have had a little headache because they gave me the steroids a little fast. No nausea at all. They did tell me Sunday or Monday when the steroids wear off I will feel tired. Had the Neuastra shot Friday. little hip pain. The ensure Plus group has signed me up for 48 cans of ensure for at least 3 months. The dietitian came to see me,gave me a food regiment. my husband still says wont lose my hair. The onco says will in about 2 weeks,next treatment 6/24/20. On 6/17/10 get the lab to see if the shot is working. Oh yes, went to work for 4 hours on Friday. not today though had to buy some high fiber for constipation.

I hope everyone is doing well. You are all in my prayers, of course if you dont mind. Oh forgot,my face and chest is so red it is from the hight dose of steroids. Looks funny!

Bon-  Stay strong and just keep pointing yourself in the right direction.  It is going to get better!  I had my first chemo yesterday.  I have been through SO many scary "first things" over the past few months.  Chemo yesterrday was quite uneventful. I have to admit when they started the IV I was scared and teary eyed.  But that passed.  The anti nausea drugs must have worked, because I haven't felt nauseous or vomited once.  THANK YOU GOD!  I am constipated, but "this too shall pass"! 

I am SO proud of all you ladies.  It is an honor to be a member of your club!