Chemo June 2010

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  • mimi9186
    mimi9186 Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2010

    Julia2, I have ordered buffs from Planet Buff.  I just love them and they are fun to wear.  I think I will continue to use them after the hair grows back.

    Sherry, if I can get through FEC without nausea, thanks to many different meds, your onc can find something to work for you.  I know Ativan (lorazepam) is addicting, but if you need it, take it!  When you have good days or the chemo is over, you will not want it then.  It helps with anxiety, nausea, and generally makes chemo more tolerable. I discussed the addiction aspect with my husband, and we agreed I should take as much as I need on the bad days and not take it on the good days.  We suffer enough!

    Latte, I hope your port surgery is an easy one.  Geez, you just need a break for once.

    Love to all,

    Mimi

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  • cheyenna
    cheyenna Member Posts: 379
    edited July 2010

    hi all its been a few days,im sorry, its been 5 days since # 3 AC and im still like a zombie? ive not been well, ok what is Fatigue? i have not been able to get off the couch, so tired but cant sleep. i just lay here, sometimes i cry. is that what fatigue is? really tired? i have one more AC on the 30 then on to Taxol. i dont know i can get thru it... did one of our girls mention the starting the lawn mower? god bless her!!! ive not the energy to type LOL

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    lainey64--> thanks so much for stopping in and sharing your experiences with Taxol!

    Danielle-->Taxol is supposed to be easier, so hopefully you will breeze right through it!  I know what you mean about taste--so hard to find something that I like to eat  (except dq shakes like designermom said! Laughing)

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    Chey--> hang in there girl!  You can do this!  Yes, fatigue means REALLY tired!  I have 3-4 days where I can hardly get out of bed!  Only one more ac!  Taxol should be easier!!

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  • PearlGirl
    PearlGirl Member Posts: 549
    edited July 2010

    Oh, Ladies. I don't know where I'd be without you. I have sympathy and empathy for each and every symptom you are experiencing. I read your posts and sometimes don't respond because I'm at a loss for what to say. Some of us are struggling more than others and I almost feel guilty when my SEs are better under control. 

    I hope everyone gets to feeling human again and can taste something yummy soon. And that ports settle down, toes and fingers regain feeling, nausea subsides, fatigue wanes and spirits soar.

    We can do this! Remember the mantra...we don't have to be brave...we just have to keep showing up. 

    Sidebar: That Buff head covering is another genius item! Thanks for sharing. I wore my Brett Michaels hat/wig on my beach outing today. It looked OK, didn't blow off in the wind and the brim is wide enough to protect my face from the sun. If I can find a website reference to that type of 'thingy' I'll include it in another post.

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

    lainey64 - thanks so much for the taxol info!

    tina - I start my taxol on August 2 (2 weeks after my last AC)

    starting a lawnmower??!??!! I can't even get off the couch some days...

    although today i took my daughter to the playground and to see the dogs in the dog park for the first time since i started tx - it was great to get out, but I was exhausted afterwards.

     off to hopefully sleep through the night now (last night i was awake from 1.30AM-6am!!)

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

    hey fav chemo girls:

    just catching up on everyone's comments.  sounds like we're in  better spirits today...not to say that we're not still having SE's, etc., but, the tone of everyone's posts is much more 'chipper'!!

    strange how that happens.  i also have my 3rd AC round tomorrow & i'm eating nearly everything i can put my hands on & that tastes halfway decent because i  know after today the word "food" will make me ill!!!!

    bon:  i like the way you encouraged & expressed your hope for everyone's SE's to improve and/or disappear!!  

    each of us feel helpless about our own situations, but, just knowing we can come here and offer words of hope to others is worth it because for me, it makes me feel better!!   nothing like sending supportive messages to one another cause it lifts everyone's spirits!

    later-------deb

      

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  • grneyd5600
    grneyd5600 Member Posts: 420
    edited July 2010

    Ok Ladies, I am slowly coming out of my fog from TX #3.  I finally can eat again and sort of taste things.  I still have a sore throat (post nasal drip feel) but temp is good and nausea is gone.  I dragged myself to grocery store on Sunday and when I looked at my cart I had to laugh.  I had soft pretzels (the mini's), ice cream - 2 types, yogurt and crystal light lemonade.  Definitely not the healthy food choices! 

    I am gaining strength and should be ready to play ball again for 4th and final AC treatment next Tues.  Yay! 

    Hang in there all of you and remember we are all in this game together!  Hugs all around!

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  • sandiddstn
    sandiddstn Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2010

    Hello ladies..

    I visit here everyday but have only posted a few times.  I am on Taxol treatment #5, as of Monday.  11 more to go.  That is I have 12 taxol every week and 4 Adriamycin and Cytoxan every 2 weeks. Saw my ocn yesterday and according to him my worst is yet to come... :(   Not sure if I want to start the latter.  On Taxol I still have good days, 4 of them .  Have the bad taste.  Drink a lot of sugar free cokes... and lime juice in my water cause I hate the taste of water now, never was a big water drinker and now I really have to make myself.  

    So glad I ran across this forum.  It has really helped me.. 

    Hope I can be some help to other ladies, as you guys have been a HUGE life saver to me..

    God Bless you all.. 

    Remember we are women, hear us roar...

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  • cheyenna
    cheyenna Member Posts: 379
    edited July 2010
    sandiddste, hi, so you had taxol first? then you do youe AC? a few of us will be starting Taxol within a few weeks and are wondering about all the side effects... if you have questiong about AC we have a few of us who can help.....Smile
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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    sandiddstn--> thanks for sharing about the Taxol.  I think your onc is right--ac can be tough, but not for everybody.  Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones!  And it definitely is doable!  The fatigue can be really bad, but you just have to accept that and plan to take it easy. And you'll have to drink TONS of fluids to flush out the cytoxan :P  The good part?  Only 4 treatments!  We'll be here for you of you need us!

    Grneyd-->I have my last ac next Mon.!  Woo-Hoo!

    ~Tina

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  • JFV
    JFV Member Posts: 795
    edited July 2010

    Hey ladies, I check in here all the time and am so glad to hear everyone's stories.You give me hope good information and a reality check.   My last AC is tomorrow.  I try to eat with abandon on my good days to try and catch up for the off days .  For me it's ham and cheese and rice pudding that go well on my bad days although  my taste does change.  Salty seems to help me with the metallic taste. 

    Had an interesting realization re my hair.  I never shaved my head just cut it really short.  So I have always had a small amount of hair left after most of it fell out.  I realized this week that the hair that is left is growing!  Don't see anything happening in my bald areas and know that this AC or Taxol could take anything that's left.  But, it is a pleasant suprise!

    Congrats to all the ladies heading into the last taxol. 

    I wish everyone few side effects and good appetites. 

    Joan

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  • lizzyanne
    lizzyanne Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2010

    My 3rd A/C is tomorrow and I have also been eating everything in sight. I had made a huge dish of mac and cheese right before my 2nd treatment and TG for that - it got me through those first 7 days after the treatment. I'm not as prepared for this one although I do have some homemade chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream...hmmmm. Guiltless desserts are great!  

    Liz 

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited July 2010

    Sherry: They always want to give Zofran; insurance doesn't like paying for it cause its so expensive and I don't think it works as well as the other stuff. See if you can get Aloxi in your IV pre treatment. You poor thing, hope it gets better.

    Diane

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  • sandiddstn
    sandiddstn Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2010

    Cheyenna- Taxol to me so far has been very doable.  Tired some and some nausea but nothing I can't handle.  I just take my meds..I can clean house, cook, go to lunch with friends.  Only have some tingling in fingers and toes.   I can't sleep at night still, so Ambien CR  is my best friend.  My Doctor said I could not get hooked on them, soooo I take it...  Worry about that later.  So if you are about to do Taxol, that means you are on the other side of the hill.:)  Good luck and God Bless..

    TMarina- I hear that AC is the Red Devil.  I am scared out of my wits on this one.  What are some of the SE on this?  Will I have any good days like I am having with Taxol?   Just the unknown scares me to death.  I think about this 24/7 and I get mad at myself cause I don't want to.   Is 4 treatments good or bad?  Or is it normal?  Good luck on your last AC.  God Bless

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    sandiddstn--> Don't worry too much about the ac!  Everyone has different se's, and you never know how it'll affect you.  I think fatigue seems to be the biggest issue.  Day 3-6 I am pretty much useless and can't do much.  I sleep alot.  Brain fog is bad and can't think (pay bills, etc. before tx! ).  My nausea isn't too bad, but I stay on top of it, and take something at the first sign. 

    4 tx is good.  Its called dose dense.  The se's are probably a bit worse, but you get it over with faster. And its the "gold standard" of treatment, (esp. with your dx) so you know you are doing your best to fight the cancer. 

    The "A" of the ac is the red devil, because, as a friend of mine put it, "its red and nasty!"  The "C" is the Cytoxan, and that's the one where you have to drink tons of fluids to flush it out.  Have drinks made ahead of time, so you don't have to think about it--just drink!

    Like I said, TRY NOT TOO WORRY!  You can get through 4 tx!  And we're here to help!

    Tina Smile

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  • cheyenna
    cheyenna Member Posts: 379
    edited July 2010
    sandiddstn,Tina is right,yes we are all here to help. ive had no problem with the AC other then the fatigue and a lot of emotional crap, but i hope i have that under control. i have my last AC on the 30, not soon enough..lol you will do well.. you have all of usSmile
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  • lizzyanne
    lizzyanne Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2010

    Went for #3 today - was thrilled because my port worked fine. But - platelet count was only 88. No chemo for me today. Rescheduled for next Wed. I am very disappointed - I just want to get this A/C treatment over and done with. This is the second time that I had to be postponed (the first was for a defective port) . Hopefully they can do it next week and I won't need to get platelets...

    Hope all you other Wednesday gals did better than I did.

    Liz 

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  • mimi9186
    mimi9186 Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2010

    Hey ladies, I joined the fever club.  Spiked a low fever last night and this morning it was high.  So off I trundled to Emergency Dept. at 6 am.  After numerous tests, the doc said I have an intestinal infection (thus the gut pain).  He sent me home with 2 different antibiotics.  I am supposed to have #3 and last FEC Friday.  I hope it is a go.  I can't imagine all of the chemo and SE drugs plus two antibiotics that upset your tummy too.  Sounds like a fun week ahead......

    Mimi

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  • flopsy
    flopsy Member Posts: 365
    edited July 2010

    lizzyanne, are you getting the Nuelasta injection day after chemo.  I hope the low count is not the start of something.  Please be careful and stay away from shopping carts, buffets, and crowds.  Wear a mask and gloves if you have to be out in public.  I know it makes you feel funny to do that but is worth avoiding infections and complications.  Good luck with getting your next tx done and feeling better.  Try to think good healthy thoughts.  I am praying for you and all of us,LOL and hugs,gin2ca

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  • RS711
    RS711 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2010

    lizzyanne & mimi- I'm so sorry to hear about the complications, thinking of you and hope you feel better soon!!! I agree, take precautions when you go out, it's worth it.

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  • RS711
    RS711 Member Posts: 105
    edited July 2010

    cheyenna- You must be sooo looking forward to that! I just finished #4, and will be seeing my onc tomorrow to discuss taxol & herceptin... if anyone has any specific questions you'd like me to ask about that combo, just let me know...

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    mimi-->glad you got into the doc--you did just what you were supposed to!  Hope the antibiotics don't mess you up too much.  Get some probiotic pills or eat yogurt :)

    Lizzyanne-->bummer about not getting chemo!  I hated that when that happened to me last year--you just want to get it DONE (although I usually found out there was a reason, and things worked out for the best).  Platelets usually come back pretty quickly--I hope that is the case for you.  Low platelets are not the same as low wbc, so no worries about germs, but do be careful about injuring or cutting yourself (hopefully your onc explained that to you?).  And don't take aspirin or ibuprofen!  I was told not to use a knife in the kitchen or shave until they came back up--what did your doc tell you?

    Tina

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  • Isla
    Isla Member Posts: 82
    edited July 2010

    Hi all

    Lizzyanne, are you sure we are not twins?  I also went for my AC #3 today and got postponed just as you did!  my white blood cell count was too low to have the chemotherapy.  

    Here you have a blood test the day before chemo, we seem to use different units to the US but here the nurse said the 'cut-off' for having chemo was a 1.4 level and mine was 0.98 (normal is 4.5-10.2)  They took another today to see what the trend was from yesterday's but it was still going down (0.95)  unfortunately.  The oncologist explained that some patients are what they refer to as 'late-dippers' - that is the 'expected' drop in the WBC occurs later in the cycle than average. The positive thing is that it now gives an explanation as to why I'd been feeling a bit rough and very very fatigued this time and really hadn't had a 'good' week (one when I'd got any energy)

    The negative is that all my carefully timetabled plans re work etc are now altered and a significant quantity of mental psyching up has gone to waste!

    I was sent home with the instructions to rest and avoid all bugs and germs or "we may have to admit you' - hmmm I would have thought being admitted to hospital was the last place you'd go if you wanted to avoid illness ;-P   So like an obedient patient I am following instructions and plan a lazy week. 

    Aren't portable computers so I can sit up in bed sending big cyber hugs to you all across the oceans wonderful!! 

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    Isla-->sorry to hear you are delayed as well!  One thing you learn with this--its one day at a time!  Its so hard to plan for anything!   I hope some good comes out of this for you and Liz.  Try to enjoy your "time off"!

    Hugs!

    Tina

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  • PearlGirl
    PearlGirl Member Posts: 549
    edited July 2010

    Oh, Ladies, so sorry that you're facing delays. It's already so difficult to get psyched for the treatments and to face these delays is the ultimate in frustration.

    For me this chemo thing isn't one day at a time...it's minute by minute.  I keep hearing Michael McDonald singing that refrain..." Oh, minute by minute by minute I keep holding on...".

    I may make that my ring tone for the next 10 months. 

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  • TMarina
    TMarina Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2010

    Good one Bon! (okay now I have that song stuck in my head!)

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  • grneyd5600
    grneyd5600 Member Posts: 420
    edited July 2010

    Well called the onc this am because I was having day #3 of loose bowels.  Which is VERY odd for me.  They had me come in for some blood work and a stool specimen.  Looks like have an intestinal infection.  Yippee!!!  But that could explain the low energy and the nausea.  They sent me home with a mega antibiotic. The good news is I don't have a fever yet so hopefully we can kick it with the mega dose stuff.  Mimi - sorry to hear you are in the same boat...

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  • Isla
    Isla Member Posts: 82
    edited July 2010

    Obviously taking seriously the advice to drink plenty of fluids during chemotherapy is this superbly barf making number entitled 'Cancer' by My Chemical Romance with the lyrics :

     Now turn away, 

    'Cause I'm awful just to see 

    'Cause all my hairs abandoned all my body, 

    Oh, my agony, 

    Know that I will never marry, 

    And baby, I'm just soggy from the chemo,

    We're counting down the days to go

    It just ain't living

    And I just hope you know

    Phew I bet that made you all feel good - NOT !!!!!!!!!

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  • Isla
    Isla Member Posts: 82
    edited July 2010

    o0hh sorry ladies

    I meant to post that in an amusing thread elsewhere on these boards entitled "songs that irritate me' - but my chemo brain resulted in me putting it on here where it makes no sense at all ...sorreeee

    if you want a laugh have a look the song thread

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