Chemo June 2010

i have had 2 periods in two weeks, ill have my last AC on friday.... hmmmm i dont know whats going on???

Is anyone still getting their period? I got mine today and I am 3 treatments in! I thought iwas suppose to stop? (I am on FEC but changing to Taxotere on Friday). I am also young and no where near menopause so hopefully it will stay.

Cheyenne: My weight also fluctuated but just by 5 lbs at most. I like the mornings that I wake up and it is down!  

Hi SKD,  Got my period right after first three rounds of AC.  Almost stopped after 4th round.  But, not holding my breath.

Good luck Bon on the rash. 

Kittykat  Best wishes on your last visit with AC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rash update:   The itch is maddening! Last night I did take two Benadryl, a total of 50mg, and spread on Hydrocortisone cream.  It took until after 2AM for the itch to subside enough for me to fall asleep. I got up at 7 and all but one blotch was gone. Now, just after 7:30, my hands are brick red and the blotches are climbing up my back! Already took another 50mg of Benadryl and will phone onc's office at 8:30 when they open because I may need a steroid to squelch this. .

I'm so glad I wrote about this and that Meliss spoke up about her similar experience with Taxotere. I never would have put it together. I read the literature but just didn't pay attention to that part. Shows how much I absorbed, right?  Unfortunately, when faced with chemo, there are so many SEs to deal with that I think I just shut down the thinking process and went forward. And what else can you do? I keep telling myself 'Chemo is my friend. Chemo is my friend. Chemo is my friend.'

Bon-->Hope you get some relief soon!

Kittycat-->yay for the last AC!!  I hope you get all your allergy q's answered! I was told I'll get a "big" dose of benedryl before the Taxol.  Not looking forward to that as it'll knock me right out!

Danielle-->I'll say a prayer for you!   The last thing you need right now is to be in a lousy relationship!  Good luck!

I'll be babysitting my grandson for about 4 hours this morning--hope I have enough energy!  I know I'll be napping as soon as he leaves!  But he's such a sweetie, how could I refuse?  My dd knows I won't be able to babysit for the next few days, I'll be too out of it.

Have a good day everyone!

Tina

Well today is my first of twelve weekly taxol treatments.  Wish me luck!! I am a bit nervous!!  I will keep everyone informed of se's.

Hey thought I would share an excerpt from an article I read:

7 Ways to Slash Cancer Risk

1. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes a day.

2. Lower your weight to the lower end of the body-mass index for your height. Even more important, banish belly fat, which acts like a ‘hormone pump' releasing estrogen into the bloodstream as well as raising levels of other hormones.

3. Avoid sugary drinks and high-calorie foods. For blood sugar balance.

4. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

5. Eat less red meat and little or no processed meat. Red meat contains heme iron and other substances that damage the colon lining, making way for tumor growth. Processed meat is even worse. When meat is preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or by the addition of preservatives, cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) are formed that damage cells in the body, leading to cancer. While studies show we can eat up to 18 ounces a week of red meat without raising cancer risk, research shows that cancer risk starts to increase with any portion of processed meat.

6. Limit alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one for women-but none is best of all. Scientists are still researching how alcohol causes cancer. One theory is that alcohol can directly damage DNA, increasing our risk of cancer. Research shows that alcohol is particularly harmful when combined with smoking.

7. Limit salt intake. Salt and salt-preserved foods are linked to stomach and other digestive cancers; limit salt to 2400 milligrams to be safe.

Jenmarie9...It wasn't me who said anything about tampons. I haven't needed them for quite a while and wasn't part of that thread here.  Sorry. 

And RS711...I'm doomed!

Jenmarie9:   My ONC specifically told me no tampons and I even checked with my chemo nurse to make sure.  She said they harbor bacteria and you can get a terrible infection while on chemo.  I even read it in some literature they gave me.  I know, nothing like making a bad situation worse.

Jenweg:  Good luck with the Taxol.  I'm nervous about my 1st Taxol next Friday. 

Danielle,  thanks for that info.   I'd not heard it but good to know if dear ol' aunt flo decides to show up again.

Does anyone else feel like they're running out of foods they can eat?  No tofu, which I love and used to eat a lot.  No meat unless thoroughly cooked (I like rare to medium rare steak), limited uncooked fruit and vegetables due to bacteria (ok, I used to eat salad for lunch every day and fruit for breakfast).  I like fish, but only wild caught, which gets expensive, and you have to limit somewhat due to mercury levels!  I'm not crazy about eggs, and when I do have them I want them European style (ie. undercooked, another no-no).  Onc wants me on a low fat diet, which seems like a good idea, but there goes cheese.  I am beginning to think I will live on beans and rice and plain yogurt!  I watched my husband down a half dozen Penne Cove oysters and rare tuna saturday night, it was torture!

Julia 

danielle- As it sounds like you have no interest in pursuing a relationship with this guy (can't blame you, sounds awful), I say "no more Ms. Nice guy".  I would just tell him that it is not working out, you have to focus ALL your energy on your medical treatment, please do NOT call or contact you.  End of story.  One thing I have learned about getting cancer, this is a time to try to focus on our own needs, not on others.  Initially, I was always trying to make the news easier for others to bear.Imagine!  As time rolls on, I have become somewhat matter of fact, even blunt.  Deal with it....I am!  You need to get this guy out of your life and surround yourself with supportive people only.

Bon- Oh you poor thing.  There is nothing worse than itching (well, maybe nausea). Ages ago, when I was in nursing, I got measles at the age of 21.  I have never been so miserable.  When the Benadryl and other stuff didn't work I ran out in the yard and ran around and around the house in frustration.  My mom just sat on the porch and watched me go round and round!  I do remember oatmeal baths being soothing, worth a google.

Hooray for all of you wrapping up part of your treatment.  I am celebrating with you.

RS711-  Thanks for posting the list of Dos and Don'ts. I know Dr. Oz had alot of tips too, can probably get more from his website.  I know drinking 2 cups green tea a day can reduce BC by 50% according to a study in Japan.  He says everything in the cabbage family as well as seaweed is very cancer-fighting.  

As so many of our doctors are focused solely on the medical side, and, in my opinion, neglect the huge area of nutrition and quality of life, I am starting to research on my own.  A lot of the May chemo girls were talking about a great cookbook, which focuses on nutrition during and after cancer.  I just ordered The Cancer Fighting Kitchen, There are 2 cookbooks by Rebecca Katz: One Bite at a Time and The Cancer Fighting Kitchen. Both deal pretty exclusively with nutritionally sound recipes for patients undergoing cancer treatment and dealing with nausea and bad taste in the mouth, etc.They say the recipes are great, I'll let you know.  The way look at it is we are all trying to optimize our chances, it just makes sense to make our bodies stronger to fight cancer cells and other things too.

Ok, we have been down for a week. Have had 4 treatments and we are half way done! Taxol on the next 4. they tell me not as bad as the AC...?

Danielle and Janny- If the guy can't "step up to the plate", then at least now you know that he ain't worth it... better to know sooner than later. You can do better, and you will.

Thanks Janny and RS711 - The problem is that he won't go away.  One minute he's calling me and calling me every name in the book for being selfish and then 5 minutes later he loves me and will never stop trying to be with me.  It's kind of psycho and it's driving me nuts.  At 42 you think I should be able to tell a man to go away that I don't want to be with him and he should listen.  Nope, he's here to torment me forever apparently.  I've tried it the nice way and the very ugly way and he still swears he loves me.  The BC is just something he can get attention by telling everyone in the world about.  Janny, what your man said sounds like the exact thing I hear from this one all of the time.  Poor him, I went and got breast cancer and spoiled his fun.  Oh well, I'll keep praying and trying to make my point.  At least the craziness has calmed down some after 2 years of this, I was kind of hoping the chemo would get rid of the cancer and him.  Maybe Taxol will work.   Enough about that, I have to live the nightmare every day.  Thanks for all of the support, it helps me stick to my guns.