Chemo June 2010

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  • cheyenna
    cheyenna Member Posts: 379
    edited July 2010

    Tmarina, i agree i think you need to call, dont worry, just be on the safe side!! im not sure of the Nyquil, did u check with ONC about that? we are both on a powerful drug.we shouldnt put anything off so please call, im thinking of you

    Designer mom, yes im so tired as well, not sick though, just very tired.. feel better!!!

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  • workmother
    workmother Member Posts: 78
    edited July 2010

    cheyenna - glad to hear your fever is gone. Mine seems to be gone today too. Just still have the congestion and cough. Today now I'm getting shooting pains in my right ear and above it in my head. It may be stress because I had this happen once before. I have a bit of TMJ.

    Tmarine - I had really low blood pressure on day 6 and 7 after my first AC treatment. I didn't realize thats what it was until I spoke to the nurse on the phone. Hubby checked it when he got home and sure enough, it was low. I was extremely light headed, weak and dizzy. I'm on blood pressure meds for high pressure, so now I have to monitor it. If it drops, I skip a dose. But the one thing that gave me immediate relief was I ate a steak for dinner that second night. I had cut beef out of my diet when I was diagnosed in April. Decided to eat it and felt a MILLION times better. Pressure has been OK since. Due for my second AC on Wed. I also have a cold and a cough. It started 2 days ago. I additionally got a fever and had to go get checked out at hospital Friday night. Blood counts were good. they did chest xray due to cough, but that was clear too. Sent me home with antibiotics, but I still have this lousy cold. Scared to get my 2nd treatment feeling this run down. Hope it doesn't get progressively worse each time! Keep me posted on your pressure. Feel good!

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  • CEBsMom
    CEBsMom Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2010

    Day 13 after first round of TC.  My hair is starting to thin--if I run my hand thru the back of my hair and get more in my fingers than I should. Not real upset about it--seems there is a recurring theme here--the anticipation/not knowing is far more stress producing than the actual 'happening'. Bought some bandanas at walmart yesterday.  1$ a piece.  My throat has been bothering me--my eight yr old daughter caught a sore throat from her cousin.  Been gargling w/ salt water like crazy. Got a head ache and the highest my temp as gotten is 99.7 and that was only once.  Am going to try to wait until after the holiday but if it hits 100 I'm going to call. 

    Been napping alot--I was big napper BEFORE the BC, so now I just have an excuse.

    At what point do u get Nuelasta?  (sp)  My white count is down to 1.5 which is kind of scary to me.

    Julie 2--it seems we have similar BC types.  The only thing my OncType came back 50 and size was 1.6cm.  Are you still taking Bcomplex, glutamine, ginsing?  I am not a supplement taker either--I've always taken just an MVI in the morning.  Do you still feel you're getting positive results from them? 

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  • dsa-deb
    dsa-deb Member Posts: 126
    edited July 2010

    Hey girls: 

    tina:  i agree w/everyone else---call your oncologist!!!!  don't wait until something else 'pops' up unexpectedly.  i think if nothing else, we're all having to learn to be "pro-active" & not "re-active" during this beastly BC trip. 

    everyone who has a sore throat/cough, etc:  my nurse told me anytime i felt the slightest hint of something 'different' or 'not right', i was expected to call in.   i'd like to think i'm "tough as nails" & would not be inclined to be a 'whiner'---but, truthfully, i'm finding that i'm just a "thumb nail" in this mess & so I have decided to "give in" to the nurse's request & call for any & everything that is out of the norm!!!   by the time i'm thru chemo i bet my nurse will wish she hadn't told me to call!!

    happy independence day!

    deb

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited July 2010
    Trusting: I am also on FEC and started May 28th and did my second round June 18th, i started losing my hair exactly 14 days after treatment and everyday after that more and more fell out and I finally buzzed it on day 17th. It happened all of a sudden and not gradually. First it was more strands then usual, then clumps....then chunks!  I still have a bit of my hair left but it is incredibly thin. I would recommend buzzing it right when it falls out. I think it scared me WAY more seeing it fall out then having it buzzed. I wish I had done it sooner..and it will fall out. I know I hoped it wouldn't and was told 1% of people don't lose their hair on FEC and i really did think I could be part of that 1%. So right when you do see it falling out, I would recomend doing it right away, not waiting 3 days like I did. Good luck!!
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  • Isla
    Isla Member Posts: 82
    edited July 2010

    Hi Ladies – I’m just after some helpful suggestions for those ‘pity party days’!

    I’m 4 days post my second AC chemo and feeling very low today.  Just can’t seem to find the bright side of things – something I’ve managed to do up to now.  No specific worrying SE’s – I’ve got a bit of mild nausea and fatigue, total hair loss now (which I think I’m OK with) but nothing to complain about so why am I feeling tearful and down when so many people on here are suffering much worst SE.

     Kind friends pop into visit, bring treats and food (I’m spoiled) and I put on my happy face but it seems like everyone elses life iswhizzing along when they leave and I’m facing another 3 months of this.

    Sorry to be grumpy, it's not like me but I would really like to know how others cope with these low times

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    Thanks for the advice and thoughts.  I have been taking it easy today, no more light-headedness.  Still some chest congestion, and a bit of a cough, but I'm going to wait until tomorrow to call the doc.  Don't want to end up in the ER with the drunks and firework injuries!  I am monitoring my temp (and not taking any Tylenol), and will of course go in if needed. 

    Isla--> you don't need a reason to feel down!  Having cancer SUCKS, even on days you might be physically feeling great.  Can you think of some things to comfort you?  A bubble bath?  Favorite blanket and movie?  I like to go to my bedroom and listen to music and watch the birds and squirrels.  Or sometimes watch a goofy movie wrapped in my robe and favorite blanket.  Light some candles, get a backrub, eat some ice cream.  (I just had a Wendy's Frosty--its a thick chocolate malt--I've been craving them lately!)

    I hope you can get a good nights rest and better enjoy the day tomorrow.  Remember, you don't have to entertain anyone, just do what YOU want to do!  This is your time to indulge yourself!

    Take care!

    Tina

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  • mimi9186
    mimi9186 Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2010

    Isla,  feeling depressed, crying, getting angry, having pity parties is a NORMAL response to this breast cancer journey.  As Tina says, having cancer sucks.  Endulge yourself in your feelings, let them pass through knowing it is ok.  Another day you will feel better. When you are feeling down, that is when to post and share with us.  We all know what you are going thru.

    Love and blessings,

    Mimi

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  • julia2
    julia2 Member Posts: 183
    edited July 2010

    CEBsmom, I'm still taking B complex, ginseng and glutamine.  I don't have any neuropathy at present and my energy level is good, so I'll keep taking them.  I looked at your diagnosis since you said we were similar, why did they take so many lymph nodes when they were all negative?  Didn't you have an SNB? 

    Waiting for my hair to fall out is driving me crazy!  My scalp is super sensitive in places, but nothing's falling out.  Tomorrow is day 15.  I have a little blister on my tongue, something I ate must've been too hot/spicy/sharp, so looks like plain yoghurt for dinner :-(

    Julia  

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  • Beanius
    Beanius Member Posts: 1,697
    edited July 2010

    Isla - I'm having a very depressed, weepy day too, I think it's partly the holiday. I live in a beach resort town and everyone, I mean everyone is out having fun and I'm sitting here waiting to have my first chemo on Tuesday and I'm not having fun. The weather here has been awful too, gray, drizzly all day. I was so hoping for some sun. Then lastly 'ol flo showed up again. She's been coming around about every 20 days. I'm 52 and just wish she go bye-bye. I've been told chemo will probably send her on her way, so that's one good benefit of chemo. Coming here to BCO is helpful for me.

    HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL YOU BRAVE LADIES! I SEND YOU ALL MY BEST WISHES!

    4 JULY NAILS

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  • NorthernGirl
    NorthernGirl Member Posts: 67
    edited July 2010

    Isla:

    At day 4 post chemo, you can be exhausted and feel fragile due to that exhaustion. I felt the same way... could not understand why I could break down crying and scared and feeling ill without actually being in pain or being nauseous. The onc nurse explained that feeling fragile and emotional and can be the result of exhaustion. I found it lasted about 2 days or so, before I started to feel better. Sleep sweetie, have a good cry if it feels good, I hope someone is there for you to hold your hand. Soon, there is a brighter day.

    Anyone else feeling really breathless with Fec100 treatment? I am so fed up with it. I am Day10 after 2nd chemo. It happened with the first infusion too. I am dizzy and weak. Maybe my blood pressure is low.

    Cancer sucks.

    Feel well ladies

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  • MandM22
    MandM22 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2010

    Hello Danielaes and everyone in the June 2010 group.  I had my first chemo tx on June 29th (TCH 6 treatments, every 3 weeks) and have been following the June threads.  I have not posted, just reading and learning.  I was wondering if I could join the group.  Could you add me to the list please?  Happy 4th of July to all!  Thanks. 

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  • Beanius
    Beanius Member Posts: 1,697
    edited July 2010

    Hi MandM22 - I was supposed to start in May, then June, now it's July 6. Congratualtions on getting your first treatment done! Hope you are doing well.

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  • cheyenna
    cheyenna Member Posts: 379
    edited July 2010

    Isla, im feeling the same way, im 3 days past #2 AC and i cant seem to not cry, no SE but i dont think i can feel any lower then i do, i dont know how to do this? does anyone, i dont know how  i can get thru 14 more treatments, i dont know how to do anything right now. im a happy girl and positive but i feel its all been taken away and wonder if ill ever be the same girl as i was before!? as you, i feel i should not feel this way, I just dont know what to do, i wish i could help you. maybe tomorrow will be better for us!!! sleep, ill be thinking of you!!!

    Mandm22, hello, welcomeSmile im sorry to meet like thisFrown, these women are great as you have read, my heart and prayers go out to you!! 

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  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited July 2010

    CEBs Mom - you asked about Neulasta - if you're going to get it, it needs to be given between 24-48 hours after the end of the chemo session, otherwise it won't be effective. So it seems to be used more as a preventative measure, I'm not sure that it can be used after your counts are already low. But you should ask your onc what they plan to do to to up your counts. I've been having Neulasta after each AC tx (dose dense) and just before my 3rd AC (this afternoon) my WBC counts are slightly higher than the normal range (this is impt to me because I have a 2-yr old and I am worried she will bring home something from daycare that I can catch)

    Isla/Chey - crying seems to help me when I feel like that. Also, a hug from my daughter. I also forget when I am feeling so awful that the SEs pass after a week and then I will feel better. It's hard to remember that the bad things will pass when you're stuck in the middle of them...

     Feel better everyone - I'm off to use my port for the first time today (oh yes, and I forgot to tell you that I got skin burns becasue I was allergic to the dressing they used after the port surgery - never a dull moment here...)

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  • CEBsMom
    CEBsMom Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2010

    Julie2

    They 'tried' doing an SNB--The surgeon said he couldn't find them...  I am just grateful all 16 they DID take out were clean.  Feeling tired--could be low blood counts--but that's why the question about the supplements. 

    Thanks for the reply! 

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  • angelwoman1
    angelwoman1 Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2010

    hi everyone, well as you know we went for round 6/24 and round three on 7/8. We now have Trush talk about hurt. Its in the back of my thoat. tired this time, but I will keep going! all of you give me inspiration! My friends took me to the pool! I stayed in the shade with a hat. It felt like a normal day and as you know we need that,RIGHT?

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  • RS711
    RS711 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2010

    Hi everyone... hope your holiday weekend went OK... it can be really tough when everyone's out partying and we just want to lay on the couch, but hey, do what makes you feel better... I watched TV with the cat.

    Tmarina- sorry to hear you had such an ordeal I hope you're feeling better.

    Isla- I am on day 5 also, and always find that it's the worst- tired, cranky. Do what you can, and everything else can wait till you're energy goes back up.

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  • MandM22
    MandM22 Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2010

    Thanks for the welcome

    Beanius - good luck with your first treatment tomorrow, hope all goes well.  I loved the 4th of July nails, very festive.

    Cheyenna - Thanks for the prayers.  I will send them right back at you. I hope that you are feeling better today.  I am sending positive energy for you to get rid of the blues. 

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  • DesignerMom
    DesignerMom Member Posts: 1,464
    edited July 2010

    Maybe it's the holiday festivities that are making us all feel blue!  I am weathering 7/2 chemo, but just feel downright yucky.  Mostly it's low-grade, perpetual nausea and total digestive shut down.  It is going to hit 100 today in NYC and I am just hiding in the AC.  I know I should get up and walk around, but I am just being stubborn.  My son wants me to cook fried potatoes for him (our weekend routine), I just can't face cooking.  I'm going to try to get DH to take him out to the Diner for a treat.

    Isla-  Like everyone says, cancer sucks.  I worry more about people who NEVER feel down than those who cry, get blue, get angry.  These are all normal responses to this miserable situation.  Just know that it will pass.  It WILL pass!

    TMarina- You are such an inspiration.  You just give in to the moments, try to make the best of them.  I wish I could curl up and watch your birds and squirrels with you ....and eat ice cream too!

    Beanius-  This is a particularly tough time....waiting for your first chemo.  You are going to see that it will not be as bad as all those scary thoughts running around in your head right now.  You are going to be SO fine, I just know it.  Did you paint those nails???  OMG what patience!

     I NEVER go to the big crowd celebrations in NYC like New Years or Fourth of July.  No way!  I did curl up with my 11 year old in a pitch dark room and watch the live televised version last night of the fireworks.  It seemed fitting that they played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".  I feel like I am in the BIG battle right now.  Hang in there my friends.

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  • Beanius
    Beanius Member Posts: 1,697
    edited July 2010

     MandM22 - Thanks for the good luck wishes, much appreciated.

    DesignerMom - I am so sorry to hear your feeling that darn 7/2 dose, and the heat can't help. I so hope your DH will take your son out and that you can take a pass on cooking. My best thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery. Just think, you're almost half way there!!! Thanks for the pep talk, too. I was feeling way worse last night then the fireworks cheered me up. I got my chemo bag all ready, been drinking tons of H2O, starting on the metamucil early (tee hee) and my car is gased up and ready to go. I see my oncologist at noon and tx is set for 1 pm. Oh, boy, oh, boy...About the nails, no, I could never do that so well, I found the pic on line and thought it was cute so I shared it!

    Ladies, I hear a lot of struggling over the weekend, I am so wishing you well and my thoughts and prayers are with each of you. We will get through this!!!

    HAVE A FANTASTIC, BLESSED WEEK, MY CHEMO BREAST FRIENDS!

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  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 2,144
    edited July 2010

    Hi ladies!  Seems like a lot of you have had some worse SE's this time around. I am also feeling yucky.  My onco switched my anti-nausea med from Compazine to Zofran (in addition to Emend).  The Zofran didn't seem to kick the icky nausea feeling.  I haven't thrown up, but my tummy feels sour and icky.  So, I switched back to the Compazine, which seems to be better.  However, I still feel like blah!!!!  No headaches this time.  I've been eating little meals every few hours and drinking fluids. 

    I had more energy yesterday than I did last time on Sunday.  We went to a friend's house for a bbq.  It was nice a relaxing.  I slept on their sofa while they cooked dinner.  My husband and the guys let off fireworks.  I was terrified my wig would catch fire!  LOL! It looked good in the photos, though!  Got home last night, took off the wig, changed into my jammies and fell asleep.  I forgot to take off my make-up!  LOL! 

    My hair is buzzed, but I was itching at my head today and more is coming out in clumps.  At least it's little quarter inch clumps!  :)

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  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited July 2010

    hi all,

     it really sounds like most of us are feeling worse this time (except Sherri - who couldn't possibly feel worse than she already did..). I had my 3rd AC a few hours ago and am also feeling yucky already. But the one good thing was using the port for the first time, so no playing hunt the vein this time.

    going to bed now, maybe I will wake up feeling great (one can always hope...)

    Feel better everyone

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  • dsa-deb
    dsa-deb Member Posts: 126
    edited July 2010

    hello everyone:  it's interesting how many of us 'feel' like we've been on a week-long binge & are now suffering from the 'left-overs' of the 'trip!!'  i'm up for only my 2nd A/C treatment this wednesday --am not near as far along as some of you & if i feel like i've been hit by a train now----i can't imagine how you all feel!

    was doing great last week, but over the weekend & today, i feel like i've regressed....can barely keep my eyes open, among other SE's.  guess those are called 'delayed SE's', right?  whatever they are, every stinking' one of them can go back to where ever they came from!

    for those of you on 2nd/3rd rounds of treatment.....more power to ya!  you are my heroes!

    later----

    deb

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    Hi ladies!  Thought I'd fill you in on my day!  I finally called the triage nurse after feeling light-headed pretty much anytime I moved (which hasn't been often these days!). I didn't start to black out in the shower like yesterday, but did feel woozy and laid down quickly in front of the fan.  The nurse wanted me to come to the ER, she was worried about heart trouble.  That moved me to the front of the line, and I got in quickly. 

    They did the usual vitals, ekg, chest x-ray and blood work up.  There was a lull where we didn't see anyone for about 2 hours.  We found out that my wbc's were so low that the lab was running them again, and getting something called a "differential".  Not sure which wbc number they were looking at exactly, but something shouldn't go below 200, and mine was 12.  Also, once when they took my blood pressure it was lower than its ever been, and my pulse was really slow, but the tech said it was strong, so he wasn't too worried. 

    So, after all that, the ER doc wanted to talk with an oncologist to see what to do.  Mine was unavailable, but his partner was on call.  He said it was ok for me to go home, if I felt ok, and watch for fever/infection.  I will talk to my onc. the morning.  Of course I am to go back if I pass out, or gt a fever over 100.4.  Don't know what is causing the light-headedness; we'll see what they say tomorrow.

    I feel better after having gone in, because my heart is ok, and that's what I was worried about.  I have a family history of heart disease, and I hate being on Adriamycin because of that (among other things!!).  I will take it easy tonight, and see what happens tomorrow!

    On another note...my DH cut my hair really short today (it is coming out by the handful!), and buzzed the back of it.  It was kinda fun--although he was real nervous at first!  Left it spiky, and even had a "faux hawk"!  I wore a scarf to the hospital, because its still falling out all over.  The scarf has a little hat attached underneath.  So it was my first day out in a scarf!

    Boy, we sure are the bunch with the tough se's!  Glad we have each other to talk to!!  Hope EVERYONE is feeling better tonight and tomorrow!

    Take care ladies!

    Tina

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  • cheyenna
    cheyenna Member Posts: 379
    edited July 2010
    Tina,  you need to take it easy and get well, thank god your heart is fine..now thats enough of this!!! what is happening to all of us this week? lol next week will be better!!! I hope, im so afraid to go in and see what my counts are for my third, im only 4 days past #2 and im freaked about fever and # 3...Tongue out sweet dreams all, and NO MORE SE's
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  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited July 2010

    I promised an update about my headsores for those of you who also have them. I went to the dermatologist, and she said I have folliculitis, which is another chemo SE... (as if there weren't enough SEs already). It started with a couple of spots, and now my entire head is covered with read pus-filled spots and painful (sorry if TMI).

    She gave me a broad-spectrum antibiotic to take, plus an antibiotic cream to put all over my head twice a day, plus antibiotic shampooo. And I have to go back to her in 10-days to see if I need to keep going with everything shegave me. Phew...

    Another question - for those of you having neoadjuvant chemo - has anyone had to have a wire marker placed in the tumor to check its progress/changes? I have to do this on Thurdsday and I don't know what to expect. My onc said it is like the biopsy I had (which I pointed out to her was extremely painful because the local anesthetic doesn't work on the nipple area, which is where my tumor is) :-(

    Hope everyone is feeling as OK as possible

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  • CEBsMom
    CEBsMom Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2010

    Hello Everyone!!  Hope everyone wakes up feeling WONDERFUL and like they are going to kick som eC A$$.   BTW--I LUV the quote about more horses A$$s than horses.  I may have to use that one.Laughing

    It's day 14 after first TC.  Go for blood work this morning and will go into work.  I was tired all weekend but took a nap yesterday and woke up feeling great.  Did some house work and my Ex grilled burgers for us.

    My hair is falling out very quickly--mostly in the back.  I ordered another wig yesterday and am taking the one I already purchased to my hair dresser to cut--she says they all need to be cut--they come w/ way too much hair.  Other than the hair loss I fell like my old self. 

    Changing the subject--My onctype test came back high--50 and path gave it a grade three.  I've had a lumpectomy but was thinking, w/ this  high a score after chemo and rads is all done, about a bilat Mastectomy w/ reconstruction.  I know the recurrence can happen elsewhere, but you can't lop off your liver and brain. Any thoughts? Have I lost my mind???

    Will talk to my Onc next Monday--my next tc tx. 

    Hope ya'll have a great day!!

    CEBs Mom

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  • RS711
    RS711 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2010

    Latte- Hope your head starts to feel better, thanks for the update... I had a marker placed during my biopsy... I hope yours goes quickly and painlessly.

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  • twinmomjackie
    twinmomjackie Member Posts: 24
    edited July 2010

    Hey Ladies!

    Wow you miss a few days around here and you miss a lot. My second Taxotere/ Gemzar treatment last Wed. was pretty uneventful and although I was tired for a few days I felt better than the first cycle. I think part of feeling better was the fact that I knew I would eventually feel better, which I wasn't sure about the first time around.

    Latte- I am having neoadjuvant chemo and have a marker in my tumor and in a lymph node. It was easy and they placed them both during core biopsies. A little stinging lidocaine and then some pressure when they put it in. The only difficult parts of both placements were keeping my arm above my head until it fell asleep and having a ton of mammogram film taken after to check the placement. Overall, it wasn't bad at all.

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