May 2010 Chemo

Leanna, Taxotere can make you lose your fingernails and toenails too. Read in the "Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?" thread.

My thumbnail seems unchanged, it's just a little bit of purple near the cuticle. Hopefully it stays this way, but with 2 more treatments to go... I don't know.

I'm going to check on that supplement Acetyl L-Carnitine.  Its being used for neuropathy as well I've heard it has an energy componant that helps some with the extra fatigue.  If that doesn't work, I've read about using Ritalin to take the edge off the fatigue.  I noticed when I took the steriod Decadron right after a tx, that it helped enough to make it tolerable.  But you don't take decadron very long and the crash weaning off was like a building falling on me. 

I'm not expecting to be superwoman here, but can't live 3 months sitting in a recliner 24/7.  I've had 4 different sets of chemo in my life so far, and after they added Avastin this time, I just can't tolerate this level of fatigue that doesn't go away.

I hope something shakes out.  I'm going to talk to my onc next week about all of this.     

Hey girls

I just wanted to let you know that there is life after chemo. I'm now 18 months post treatment and remember it so well. You feel as though it's never ending, but you will get through it and enjoy life again. Promise.

Just go with the flow and you'll soon be through it.

Mal

Ladies, I don't want to keep you in suspense any longer.  Today's activity was a "Chemo Thera-Tea Party".

Jenny brought tea, little tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off, petifours, chocolate covered cherries and dried blueberries.  Now all the nurses call me the party girl.

 Treatment went quite smoothly today.  No reactions.  Yay.

This time the doctor will have me take one less neupogen shot.  My theory is that 6 days of shots bringing my WBC count to over 25000 caused my body to freak out and start making hives and attacking itself.  We shall see.

 Leanna - I will take your "Epi Pen Cozy" suggestion under advisement.

Paxton - were the tornadoes in your area?

Golfer Girl -- I have also discovered low salt sunflower seeds.  Takes for ever to fill up on them, but it keeps me busy.

Sweet dreams to all.

Jen

I looked for 100% aloe vera gel in stores and didn't have any luck till I stumbled across some in the sample size aisle at Walmart.  They had little 2-ounce bottles of Fruit of the Earth 100% aloe vera for something like 97 cents, so I picked up half a dozen.

If you can't find 100% gel, look for one that has no alcohol or menthol.  Both those ingredients make your skin feel cool, which seems like a plus when you first put it on, but they ultimately dry your skin and make it worse.  Target has a store brand (Up & Up) with no alcohol or menthol, and I think Banana Boat makes one that most drug stores should have.

Hi all!  Thursday had 2nd treatment -- got shot Friday -- and today I HAVE NO ENERGY!  To be expected -- but we know to take care of ourselves and hubby is great to me.    Packjen -- we  all were SO at that party -- YUMMY!    LOVE to you all -- bonetired- monkey-brains me

hi njbhwgirl!I think about you too. Congratulations on your graddaughter's christening. That's great that they were able to make it work for you!! I too ate a lot the 1st 2 weeks after Tx 2 but I think it's back to normal now. I gained some weight which is a combination of the eating and the bloating. The hair is actually doing really well. It's all there and I'm starting to get used to this whole - no styling it thing. The gray however is a different matter. I have lots and lots of gray hair and it's becoming impossible to do a good job covering it up. I'm just so thankful to have the hair that I don't even care. Yes, my team,hee hee (my mom and BIL) are doing great with the caps. They have it down to a science.

Happy father's day to all those men supporting us fabulous women!!! 

njbhwgirl  My Onc says that after dose dense AC there needs to be 3 weeks between the end of Adriamycin (SP) and Taxotere...thats why the  3 weeks...with 2 blood test in between...I'm looking forward to it..

Today was a hard day for me ..I wasn't expecting to be so bad today..yesterday should have been my bad day... my back aches and I slept off and on all day..went to the farmers market this morning couldn't even stay long enough to get everything I wanted...my DH took me and drove .good thing came home and slept for couple of hours...OK I was so tired I couldn't even get up enough strength to change the channel from the golf game.. watched the whole thing off and on...in between sleeps..

I wish I could snack....food is not my friend today..feeling really bloated...

just feel ugh!

Hey May Friends,

I have been off line  since Thurs. A/C number 3.  Everything went okay, except more nausea yesterday.  I talked with my onc nurse, who reports  that Taxol with have less SE than dense dose A/C.  I have my doubts.... I have one more  dense dose A/C in two weeks, then weekly Taxol for 12 wks, then radiation..... I found out that  one of my scans showed something questionable on my thyroid (all but 10 % removed years ago), which will need to be scanned between the A/C and Taxol.  I am praying it is nothing of concern.  I would not look forward to a surgery or another setback in this process. 

I continue to walk, although my red blood count is a little  low, so I am weak, and have to rest a lot.  Onc said, 30 minutes of walking a day.  Right now I have to break it into two 15 minute walks.   Yoga is still great, especially my Tuesday session with my  teacher.  I need something to do with my hands.  I have resorted to Solitaire on my phone!  I think knitting would be better.  I do not have the concentration for much of anything.  

I love reading all your stories of love, giving and laughter.  Heck, we all need all the laughter we can find.  Best wishes for a happy fathers day for all of us!   

Happy Father's Day to all around us!!  My 8 year old sold me out to my DH and told him that he didn't pick out the card he signed!  Little smartie... it was hard enough for me to get to the store alone to get him the cards; taking the kids to the store was never going to happen!  We ate at Cracker Barrell today which was quite a feat because I just feel terrible.  I am probably overdoing it with my work schedule... but I don't have a choice for the next 10 days. 

PackJen - GREAT party!  Hope your 'allergies' are better this time... I bet you are right! 

Sacphotomom - Aloe is a great idea and something not in my chemo bag YET!  My LGFB class is not until mid-July.  I'm starting to get antsy about it!  I went to Claire's with my DD yesterday and bought some cute big dangly earrings... I think they will go great with my bald head!  Also, had DH get some sherbert yesterday - and not only was it soothing, but it tasted great, not blah like everything else!  Finally, something YUMMY!!  

MNLinda - Thank you for the tips.  I was thinking the other day, that I really do love the advantage we have on this board of not having to suffer through trial & error on treating SE.  I feel so very well prepared for chemo...and especially me because I have done it backwards, and seen most go through AC ahead of me. 

Drim - We missed you!!  Also thinking, have not seen Cleob in a while. Glad the caps are working for you.  Of all the hair I am losing (its about 60% gone now) - its the darker and gray hairs that are coming out faster than the rest.  I have also had some recent issues with my eyes.  Just a reminder that I still refuse to think I need reading glasses also. 

Kim - Relax!!  You deserve a rest!    I know what you mean... that draining feeling is so hard to deal with.  I have that with a headache to boot.  Boo.  ((HUGS))

NJgirl -  I would try a light covering of cortison cream for the itching; I don't know about benadryl though.  I thought my rashes were from the chemo, which I guess ultimately they were.. but they were more a reaction of sun and chemo.  I've been sure to stay out of the sun this past week, and no more rashes or itching.  But the cortisone cream 2-3 times a day helped a lot!  I hope you had a blessed time at the Christening today! 

Paxton - Big (((HUGS))) for you!  Wishing you some energy soon! 

LauraM - Lucky for your DD!  It's so hard to watch your kids play sports... if my son goes much further with football, I don't think I will be able to go to the games! 

Patricia48 - I will be praying for a clean scan on your thyroid also!  I am so impressed with your walking and yoga.  Keep it up!!  You give me a great idea though.. I never have time for crocheting anymore... maybe now is the time to pick it up again! 

To all moving on to Taxol... I think (IMHO) that we have had similar SE... but yours have seemed more drastic than mine; and adding the injections with the pain... until the other day when I had shooting pain in my left hip (for some unknown reason), pain has not been a SE I have had.  But, we have all shared in the nausea, fatigue and taste changes.  My infusions were Thursdays, and my somewhat normal feeling days started somewhere around monday night - tuesday and lasted until Friday.  Lately, however, seems to be dwindling... I guess this is the cumulative effect. 

Happy Father's day again to everyone!! 

Day,  Do the SE ever end?  I had to take my nails off  (acrylic)  first time in 10 years, dr. was afraid of water getting underneath causing an infection.  It is also a SE of taxotere, at least that is what they said.

Kim, I told the nurse giving me the infusion to put my second in at the same speed as the first, the first treatment went well and second did too.  Tomorrow I am telling them the same thing. That will be treatment #3 and makes me halfway through. I am sorry you had to go through that, but you are wise to tell them next time.

Laura, so sorry about the blisters, that sounds so painful. Hope you don't have to deal with it ever, ever again.

JennyB, I am truly sad to hear about your tooth.  Can they do anything to get you on your feet and feeling better? 

Paxton and JennyB, hang in there.  I had a bad week,  felt like crying, but thought if I did I wouldn't stop. Feeling much better this week.  Just very tired.  Not doing things that I normally do.  Today didn't cook dinner for the family, instead went to a restaurant that my dad loved - he passed away 4 years ago.

Paxton, let the dust collect in the house,when you are better it can be cleaned.  Take care of yourself and your little one.  I so admire all of you who have children at home.  I guess you have to do what you have to do, but I know it is much, much harder for all of you .  God Bless!

Lisa, listen to Kim, you can rant all you want, we all completely get it!!! I have the most wonderful husband,  children, family and friends, but unless you are going through this, it is hard to explain and understand.

Summer,  keep telling them about any eye problems.  My dr. feared a bleed,  now there wasn't one, but he did check me out.  That was my eye dr. who I called. He saw me right away.

Leanna, my husband is not working either, he has some health issues.  It is nice having him home.  I have plenty of sick days, if I need them.  With school being out, it is soooo much quieter, I am getting so much more done. Congrats on getting 1/2  way there.  That's me  tomorrow. I can't wait.

Hi Fotopet, are you doing okay?

Sacphotomom, I am on #3 tomorrow, but it is taxotere and cylophasphomide, so not sure about SE getting better, it would be nice, I will keep everyone posted.  My bad days are usually days 6-10, other days are much less, just don't feel like myself, tired mostly.

Well,  wishing eveyrone the very best. Love to you all. Judy

Well, sorry I haven't been posting for the last couple days. I felt so good that I cleaned the house. Yup, you read right, I cleaned the house. Straightening, vacuuming, dusting, doing laundry, re-arranging cabinets, the whole nine yards. So you can imagine I felt good enough. Well, I was a little tired but I took frequent breaks. It feels so much better! I am not saying my boyfriend doesnt' do anything, but you all know the difference between a man cleaning and a woman cleaning, and on top of that he just tried to be on top of things, keeping up with his job, taking care of me and the house. It will be so much easier on him when he comes back from drill. I also had visitors last evening, for the first time in a month, and boy, did that feel good!

Today I was lazy, just laying around the house, working a little bit on my sculptures, but mostly reading and napping. No bone pain, no dizziness, no burned mouth, the thumbnail purple spot is fading, no ravenous appetite, well, I was a little fatigued, but then, my guests left at 3 am and I also was able to have a couple beers. Also, it's VERY hot here in Oklahoma, so I am making sure I stay cool and hydrated. There is NO WAY I could do any kind of walks - due to my hyper-thyroid state, I already have heat sensitivity, adding the chemo to all this cocktail... you get the picture.

Reikidolphin, another Oklahoman, that is awesome! I mean, not meanign it's awesome you had to find yourself here. Well, you know what I mean. Where are you doing your chemo?

 I feel still blessed, with all my SE's it seems I still have it easier than some. No rashes, no nausea at all, no sores, not even I got mosquito bites all over. Now, of course, I am in the last week before the next treatment, once that come, you will hear me whining all over the place again, lol. My dear BF comes back a week from tomorrow, I can't wait.

A friend will be bringing me some tea tree oil to have on hand for emergencies. 

There is something I had noticed: a week to ten days after chemo, my mouth is very clean. I mean, VERY clean. My teeth just squeak when I rub my tongue along them. I guess the chemo kills all the bacteria in the mouth too? Anyway, my hair still seems to keep growing, what is left of it. Except for two very small spots that are kind of bald (about pea-size), the rest of the head is just thinned out, not sure how it would look if it was normal length, but if I don't shave my head one day it can be easily seen.

With this heat (and my normal diet sigh) I have issues eating meat. I know we are supposed to get high-protein diet, but I can't stand meat for some reason.  Lately I was able to eat grilled chicken with salad, and a couple times ham sandwiches. I'm trying to eat veggies containing protein, I love mushrooms, the only problem is that I would have to go often to the grocery store for that and I do not really want to go unless it's really necessary. I'meating eggs alright, and made a few times veggie dishes with lentil, split peas, beans and such. I can't eat soy due to my thyroid. I hope I am getting enough protein.Normally this is the time of the year for me when I splurge on fresh (read farmer's market fresh) veggies and fruit, especially watermelon, cantaloupe, bell peppers, eggplant, celery, and such. I am sorry, but I think I am reverting more to my regular diet ( an ex co-worker one time said that I eat "disgustingly healthy" lol). I've been pondering and I said, "you know what? my body knows what it needs. If it woudl need protein, then I would crave meat. If I crave fresh fruit and veggies, that means that this is what my body needs"so I gave up and I'm splurging on my favorites lol.

The eyes thing - I had some eye twitching after the first tx, but it went away in 2 days. No other effect.

I hope everybody has a good week, with as little SE's as possible, and high spirits. 

Hugs all,

Day

Hi All,  I had treatment No. 3 on Friday.  The treatment itself went fine, but I felt flu-ish on Sat and Sun.   Not horrible, but definitely worse than the first 2 treatments.  I guess whoever said the toxins accumulate was right!  I feel better today, but have to go for my shot soon.

Day- I saw a nutrionist a few weeks ago and she said if I didn't want to eat much meat to add quinoa to my diet as it is the only plant based whole protein.  I haven't made it myslef, but I have found it a few times in som salads at Whle Foods and its not bad.  Doesn't really have a taste at all.   You might want to give that a try for protein.

LauraM- scary story about your daughter!  So glad she's ok. 

Drim- after treatment 1, I had my period a week early, after treatment 2, I had it the day after treatment, so far this time, nothing.  Maybe I'm in chemopause now,  We'll see.  I don't mind, wasn't fun dealing with that on top of everything else!

Rieki- welcome!  Sorry you have to join us, but like veryone has said, it's a great group and it's so nice to have peole who are going through the same thins to share with.

paxton and sacphoto mom- hope you are feeling better!  Hang in there!

For those with treatments this week, good luck!  GG

Jenny, you have been through more than anyone should have to deal with at any time, let alone all at once.  Hope you are feeling better soon.

Summer, Glad to hear from you.  I have been suffering the extreme fatigue around days 5-7.  So,  I am kind of expecting it this weekend.  When you are tired, you need to rest, it is as simple as that. I take lorazepam for anxiety.   I don't take it often, but when I need it, it helps.   Had to take two pills the night I shaved my head. 

Golfer Girl, you must be thrilled to be nearing the end of the chemo.  They are giving me 6 treatments of the TC, and having finished #3 tonight and being  half way through, I am very excited.

Well, it is an early night for me.  Stay well, love to all of you.

Judy

Hi everyone,

I hope you don't mind that I am posting on your list (I'm a member of the June chemo list), but I am looking for advice from someone who is a "bit more experienced in this :-)"

I had a bad experience yesterday with my second round of AC - it took 2 nurses and one dr 5 attempts to get a vein, and they burst two veins on the way. I don't need this added stress and pain, so have asked for a port.

Can anyone in the group who has a port give me some tips on things to know or ask before I get it, and any tips for after I have it in? Especially anyone who had it inserted after they started chemo - is there anything impt to know?

I would appreciate any info at all.

Thanks,

Latte