Chemo June 2010
Comments
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Wow! Lots of threads on this one, and tons of good info that I didn't know. I'm really learning a lot. I have weekly Herceptin for a year and TCH every 3 weeks to equal 6 TCH treatments. I just had my 3rd TCH cocktail, and am feeling pretty good. On the average, so far, I have about 1 fatigue day, and my nausea seems to be under control, as long as my tummy isn't empty. weird...I know. I drink lots of water, green tea, and juices. I was wondering if anyone else started out ok...then the hammer hits and you feel worse? Will the side effects start to change after TCH #4? I cut my hair 11 days after Chemo #2 because I just couldn't see picking up long blonde hairs after myselft anymore. The shower drain was rediculous after just 1 shower!! So I started with a really short "Jamie Lee Curtis" cut, that I totally loved, now it is getting pretty thin up top, and I'm thinking of rockin' a shaved head. hmmm... too hot for wigs, and I am working on getting used to scarves. What to do? I am scheduled to go to the "Look Good...Feel Better" class in a couple weeks, so maybe that will help me decide hat, scarf, wig, or ROCKIN the shaved head!! Maybe big earrings will help distract from my head! LOL
Its really nice knowing that I can talk to others about what I'm going going through, and that there is a wealth of information out there for us. My Chemo nurses are awesome!! I feel so blessed that I am so well taken care of as I go through all of this, on the homefront and at the Dr's office.
Oh...and to Designermom, about the bite. Holy Cow! I got a bite on my arm, and it swelled up soooo very big, it looked like my bicep muscle moved to the wrong place! But my Onc Dr said to take Benadryl and call in the am. I did, and it was noticeably smaller the next day, and on day #3, it was gone! But yeah...weird!
And I don't know if anyone else did this, but in the TLC magazine, there is an advertisement for Chemo bracelets. You get as many bracelets as you have Chemo treatments, and then take one off after every treatment. I give mine to the awesome Chemo nurses. So next time, I will only wear 3 and leave with 2! They love the thought, and have them hanging in the nurses station. I had my 2 daughters make them for me, so it was kind of a fun crafty thing! But, you know, seeing the number in bracelets reduced, is certainly a lot more satisfying, than just leaving, and telling yourself "ok...3 down...3 to go..". At least for me it is.
Well, everyone stay strong and take good care of yourselves! You ARE worth it!!!
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Chey...You CAN do this! We'll all be thinking of you in the morning and sending positive energy your way! You can celebrate with Kittycat tomorrow. Hugs and STRENGTH!
And Kittycat...HOORAY for you! Bye, Bye AC! What a smart idea to have a housekeeper come in to clean. That's a nice present to yourself and well deserved. Hope your nausea stays in check and that all SEs stay away.
Northerngirl...you've been through a long and difficult time. But your story of family unity and love is very inspirational. Wishing you all the best.
Right now it's almost 3:30AM here and I can't sleep due to the Prednisone I'm taking for this rash. But, the rash isn't going away. I'm still incredibly itchy and blotchy. Great. Now I'm an itchy, blotchy, bitchy chemo patient hyped up on steroids! This just gets better and better.
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mmtreacy...Welcome! It looks like we are receiving the same treatment. TCH x 6 every 3 weeks and one year of Herceptin. I am scheduled for my 3rd treatment on Tuesday. I have had very few SE's as well. Besides some stomach cramps and fatigue I have been very lucky. Great idea about the bracelets.
Designer Mom...I too have had what looked like bites on my hand and stomach. They started out red and itchy but then they became very painful. The one on my hand caused my entire hand to swell. I made an appt with my PT because I thought it was the beginning of Lymphedema. Thankfully it was not and the swelling eventually went down. I ended up going to the Dr. and was put on an antibiotic. Now, after my second treatment I have them on my legs. Not sure if they are bites or not. Onc took cultures so I am waiting to find out. Hope yours get better soon.
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Chey - good luck today! After today you can tell the Red Devil good bye!
Jen - I am having similar issues with my contacts. I thought it was just me and I refused to get new ones (I still have 3 months worth of disposable left) because I can't afford it. I am wearing my glasses more which I don't like.
Sherri & Designer Mom - I am happy to report my swelling from the darn horse fly has finally gone down. I am also taking an antiobiotic which is making more queasy than I think I need to be but part of that is the fact that I have to take it on an empty stomach. Not helpful when I am battling that last AC SE. Anyway, glad your's wasn't Lympedema Sherri. Good luck with the cultures.
On the final note for today - my oldest son who is in Marine Corp leaves for his next duty station today. He is Hawaii bound for 36 months. I have decided I am doing my "I kicked cancer in the butt" party over there! We should all go!
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grney5600 - The thought of Hawaii sure does give you boost, doesn't it? Great...and all the best to your son. Bon
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Jackie, glad to hear your swelling is gone down. Good luck to your son!!!! Hawaii sounds wonderful, boy do I wish. I am looking forward to vacation next summer already haha. We go to North Myrtle Beach, SC every year for a week but had to cancel this year's trip because of this darm bc! However I am planning a two week trip next year to make up for it. I am already counting down haha.
Welcome to the board mmtreacy, glad you joined us.
Kittycat, congrats on being done with ac, feels great doesn't it!!
Sherri, glad you don't have lymphadema, that is scary!
Bon, the no sleep thing sucks, I have nights like that, as a matter of fact last night was one of them. Some nights you would think I was pregnant because all I do is get up all night to pee and then can't fall back to sleep, so I should be sleeping at my desk this afternoon at work haha.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!
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Hi All,
Bon, did you find out from the chemo maker about your side effect? I am really annoyed for you about this.
mmtreacy welcome and I like the bracelet idea ! Very nice. I was thinking of baking brownies and bringing them in on my last chemo for the nurses. I get a different one everytime. But have gone frequently enough to see the same ones in passing. I have stuck to very light weight scarves from Anhoki USA. I have already given away my wig. I bought it because everyone said I should and I just hated it. Too hot and itchy. Now that I am in chemo pause and having hot flashes there is no way I could wear one even if I liked it! People do look at me alot when I am out. I am obvious in my scarf. But there are some things I just don't give a cr*p about anymore! My hair is very, very very sparse but has grown about a half in during chemo. I am also regrowing hair on my legs and have a couple of annoying long hairs on my face. So even tho I do have hair it's ugly.
Kittycat! Welcome to the other side of AC. I found the SEs on my 4th to be manageable. I hope yours are the some.
Chey as I write this you are probably getting the red devil or just done whoo hoo!
grneyday, designermom, mom of 2 kids and bon, You are quite the lumpy bumpy ladies! That sure is a new SE!
I am having eye problems too. I wear cheaters but need them more and more. Noticed my eyes are dry. This is also allergy season for me so somtimes the pollen affects the eyes.
Northerngirl Too much, too much... I am so humbled by your great attititude
Re Hawaii: Grneyday You are the third cancer girl I have spoken too who has used Hawaii as a whoopy I'm done destination. Enjoy!!!!!
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I took the Adivan last night and it really seemed to help me sleep better. I still had to get up in the middle of the night to pee, but that's no biggie. I am achey this morning from the Neulasta shot. I took my Emend and ate a peach. I'm really hoping i can ward off this low level nausea thing this time around.
Bon - sorry to hear about your rash. I can't remember - did it start while you were getting chemo or afterward when you went home? Are they going to change your regimen to something else?
My onco said that if I have a bad reaction to Taxol, they will switch me to another chemo drug.
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Northern Girl- WOW! What a year you have been through. Your positive, strong outlook is an inspiration. Your advice about unsupportive partners is spot on. For all you ladies "putting up" with unsupportive, irritating partners, know that you deserve the best, and know they are out there waiting for you. I am so very blessed that I found my DH (on a blind date I did not want to go on). That was in 1991. I was young, successful and VERY disillusioned and lonely. Several relationships (with very self-centered, immature men) hadn't worked out and I really wondered if there were ANY decent men. From the moment I met my DH, it was easy, fun, and "right". We have been together through plenty of ups and downs ever since. I always thought how tragic it would have been if I had "settled" and then met the one I was truly destined for. I know one thing about cancer, it sure does prioritize things. I pray all of you single ladies find your perfect match, I know it is possible. I'm living it.
Okay, on to more mundane. That "bite" or chemo whatever on my butt is driving me crazy! It itches like wildfire! Julia, my itchy thing is about the size of a quarter and appeared 4 days after chemo. I guess it could be chemo-related. I think I'll go get some calamine lotion.
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grneyed- ALOHA! Count me in! My parents retired to Hawaii and lived out the final 25 years of their lives in Paradise. My brother and his family live on Kauai and I got married there. I would definitely be up for a celebration reunion in Hawaii. I'm sure my brother knows someone in the hotel biz. Maybe we could get a group deal?
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DesignerMom,
I recalculated, got my itchy thing 4 or 5 days after chemo too. Got it Saturday, chemo was Monday and Tuesday. The only things that kept me from scratching it raw were fear of folliculitis and my husband yelling at me each time I started scratching :-)
Julia
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LADIES...The manufacturer of Taxotere indicated that most skin reactions and rashes occur within 5 to 10 days of infusion. But 2 days or 12 days is still 'between treatments' as their literature says. And if you read the patient info it says rashes are common but only 5% are severe. Mine is severe. Perhaps your bug bites on various parts of your anatomy are not bug bites after all.
My onc didn't want to believe it was the Taxotere but I called Sanofi-Aventis, as I've already posted, and they didn't brush me off.
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i have another glutamine question - i think i am going to take it during the taxol txs. but when i went to buy it, I found that it is only sold here in capsule form, not in the powder form that Kaycee posted about.
is anyone taking glutamine in capsule form, and if yes, how much are you taking a day? Kaycee said she is taking 10gm 3 times a day, but the capsules contain 500mg each, which would mean 20 capsules 3 times a day which doesn't make sense (or maybe i'm just no good at math??)
here is the link to the brand that is sold here: http://www.solgar.com/SolgarProducts/L-Glutamine-500-mg-Vegetable-Capsules.htm
Anyone have any ideas?
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Chey - as I write this you are probably finished with your last A/C treatment - so CONGRATS! to you. Here's hoping the Taxol will be a breeze for you.
Kittycat: My mom and sister paid for their housekeeper to come to my house once a month until I'm done with chemo. What a blessing. Don't feel guilty. It is so nice to get that done. I can keep up with the kitchen and laundry with help from my husband, but mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms was more difficult.
New SE that started yesterday. Usually Thursday (1st day after treatment) I feel so-so. Not really bad but not really great. Wednesday night I had a bad night where I didn't sleep much. Got up at 6:30 with a dull pain in the middle of my chest. Took my blood pressure and pulse on our automated machine. BP was high for me but within the normal range. Pulse was 120. By noon my pulse was still hovering between 110 and 120. By early evening I decided to call office. They told me to take an Ativan to relax me and I did. Went to bed shortly after that and slept good. Thanks Ativan! Woke up this morning around 6:30 still feeling "strange." Took BP and pulse on machine with same results. Fairly normal BP but pulse at 123. Pulse has stayed at 100 or above since yesterday morning. Called office again and clinical nurse asked many questions then conferred with Dr. and told me to call my PCP to see if they could get me in and run an EKG. So, relunctantly I did call but my PCP was in Haiti so nurse conferred with another Dr. who told me to go to emergency room. Not again! I thanked her and hung up.. No way am I going through the emergency room/admit thing again at the hospital. I'll just wait till my treatmnt next Wed and ask my onc about it. I'd rather deal with a racing heart than nausea. It only makes me extremely tired I don't have the chest pain any more. Just the elevated heart rate.
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sherry-I'm SO sorry you are having SE again. I don't like this racing heart thing. And I don't like that the doctor who is covering for your doctor wants you to go to the ER for an EKG! If your doctor's office does EKGs (usually by a technician), why can't he have you come in to the office? I would call him back, tell him you agree it should be checked out with an EKG, but don't want to go to the ER (after all, you are immune-supressed and there are SICK people in the ER). Surely, he should be able to do this! What is wrong with doctors these days????
Bon-I sure hope your itching has settled down. Does the Pharmaceutical company think it is an allergic reaction or just a SE?
Chey, Kitty, and everyone else finishing up some of their chemo, I am celebrating with you!
mmtreacy- Welcome! These ladies are the best, best, best! Let us know if yo need anything.
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Hi Sherry, after two FEC (E=adria) my heart rate was always elevated. The EKG returned perfectly normal, but just before they infused the adria I kept asking my MUGA scan results from yesterday. they showed a 12% delcine, from 67 to 55%. the on call onc wasn't comfortable with this so he called my onc at home on vacation. My onc said to go ahead and give it. I REFUSED. I can not have any more heart damage. We switched to the taxol treatments and I will do four of those instead of three. Did I make the right decision? The on call onc agreed with me after i refused. I guess time will tell.....Off to bed now
Mimi
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Chey...let us hear from you and help to celebrate your last AC! Bon
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Ok, I talked to my new (and lovely) onc. We are going to try the TC on Monday and see how it goes. She gave me her cell phone # incase I get nervous this weekend. I also had a lovely chat with the nurse that my insurance company has assigned to my case. It was fortuitous that she called. We were on the phone a long time, she took all my history, and I found out that my insurance will probably cover Abraxane if I can't tolerate the Taxotere. So I do feel like I have choices now.
Julia
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Jenweg - Like you, I start Taxol next week (after AC). I'm trying to figure out how bad the fatigue is and when it hits - so I can plan to take off from work. I know everyone is different, but any feedback you can give would be greatly appreciated! Toni
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Sherry,
I don't think you should wait until Wednesday, that is a loooong time. Be a PITA and make that rotten Dr. take care of you! Failing that, what about one of these walk-in urgent care places? We've had good luck with those on the couple occasions we've used them.
Julia
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im done with my AC,
all went well except i cried, im so emotional, im glad its over but worried about the next week of fatigue and tears. im glad its done! they said that is the hard part! i have 3 weeks off then taxol once a week for 12 week, im worried what that will be like. i feel good tonight and have my sis with me till wed..sherry,i agree you need to go in!! call ONC and tell him he needs to meet you there if it cant be done in office!!!! they put me in a special room. you need to demand that!!! im worried for you!!!
julie, im glad for you
bon, i pray your rash goes away! ive had hives before and the Itch is unbearable... i was told by my onc that it can cause rash...
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toni30, I had my first taxol on Wednesday. When I was on the ac I would have that Wednesday, go to work Thursday, then crash and not go back to work until the following Wednesday. I am happy to report that I went to work Thursday and Friday after Taxol. I did go to bed around 7 p.m. Friday night and got a nice long night's sleep. It is now Saturday and I feel pretty good so I am hoping it stays this way!!!
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After 2 months with no period, out of the blue I just got my period... Is that normal? I was told that once it stops it probably won't come back till after treatment ends. Are any of you having intermittent periods?
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Got up this morning after another good night's slleep (thanks Ativan) and took BP and pulse. Pulse 109. BP in high end of normal range. Had some chest pain last night and had my husband look up rare side effects for Taxol and Carboplatin. He found that it did cause rapid heart beat, shortness of breath and sometimes chest pain in rare cases, but if you were a woman your odds of getting those symptoms rose 30% or else 30% more women get those symptoms than men. With my chemo brain I'm not sure which one he said now! Yesterday afternoon I did experience chest pain so I promptly took an Ativan which is what the clinical nurse at the office told me to do and it helped. Got my pulse down into the low 90's. I had chest pressure and shortness of breath which sent me to the hospital about a month ago and they ran every kind of test known to man and my heart checked out just fine. They gave me massive amounts of antibiotics IV for a couple of days and I felt much better and went home after 2 days. So I don't want a repeat of that. There is no telling what that bill is going to be. I don't really feel bad, just very very tired - more than usual. I'm just going to keep my eye on it and wait until I see my onc. on Wednesday. If it gets worse, or I feel worse, I will head to the nearest facility and pretend I have taken over DesignerMom and Bon's bodies and tell them what I want done, when, where and how! Surely they won't be able to refuse that!
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rs711, well ive had two periods in two weeks and this one does not seem to let up, i feel like it will never end...but my ONC said its all normal while on treatment, she said we just dont know what our bodies will do, good luck.
love chey
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Sherry,I know you have a handle on this rapid pulse and chest pain. But please, chemo brain or not, DO seek help if it gets any worse. I had chest pain a couple of weeks ago after my 2nd TCH tx and a Neulasta injection 24 hrs later. Onc did tell me then that the chest pain is more pronounced in women and that it isn't unusual at all for 30% of patients to end up in the ER. He didn't say not to go, just that I shouldn't be to alarmed if it happened and to be aware of it's ebbs and flows. Of course, this is the same guy who doesn't believe that my rash is a SE of the Taxotare so who knows how valid his observation is on chest pain.
Ladies, it's a miracle that we all survive this poison being injected into our veins. But somehow we do. I sometimes think how incredibly brave or stupid the first chemo patients must have been to let themselves be used in trials of all the early drugs and even the drugs we're taking now. The will to live is so strong. So, here we are, sick and tired, both literally and figuratively, and still we come back for another round.
I raise my water glass high in salute to all of us, all who went before us and all who,unfortunately, will follow us on this path to be cancer free. Hell and well rhyme. Seems like we have to go through one to get to the other.
Hope you all have a SE free weekend. I have a friend who came up from the Keys for a few days and right now she is doing my vacuuming. Not that's what I call a friend and the start of a good weekend! Bon
PS/ this is my 4th day of Prednisone and the rash is subsiding. Not completely gone but it will be history soon. The manufacturer filed it as an 'incident'. I assume it's just a side effect, not a full blown allergic reaction to the Taxotare. But they do recommend a reduced dosage and vigilance during the next infusion on Wednesday.
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Bon- Beautifully said! The human will is a wonderous thing. I have a folder on my desktop entitled "My Year of Living Dangerously" It is full of everything cancer-related. Photos, letters from friends, my own thoughts. Just like all of you, I think one day I will look back on this experience and be amazed that I actually DID it.
Sherry- I give you permission to channel my NYC attitude with your doctors any day. Please promise to go to the ER if it feels worse. Even if you go to the ER, they won't usually admit you, just check things out.
jenweg- So glad that your new regimen is kinder to you. Wow! Straight to work after chemo. You rock!
For all of us who like our clean houses! Just in the news, a study that says using cleaning products can double the risk of breast cancer. A few years ago, I started using more "green" cleaning products. Even before this study, I just felt that it could not be healthy to breathe fumes and have to wear rubber gloves to protect against cleaning chemicals. I actually make my own spray cleaner with white vinegar, it works great. Here is a link to the article. In the article is a link to a site that has recipes for safer cleaning products. The way I look at it, every little thing we do to improve our odds helps.
It is gloriously cool here in NYC. I'm headed to the Park with my guys...as soon as I finish the laundry using these carcinogenic laundry products!
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after 2 months of no period, I'm certainly making up for it now... its really heavy and Im achy and crampy like I cant believe... I hope tomorrows better.
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My stripes are back! Here it is, the beginning of day 5 on Prednisone and I've got the rash back., Doesn't itch this morning but it's just annoying and a bit frightening that the steroid isn't taking care of it. It's an unusual pattern, mostly stripes on my arms and back. Looks like I've scratched myself, except I haven't because it doesn't itch. Have not had anything unusual to eat, nor used new products. Diet is pretty boring, so is life under chemo so it's a mystery to me what's going on. I know that allergies to foods or products are things that build up over time and it could be something pretty simple that is just part of my everyday activity.But if this is Taxotere related I'm not really happy about having an infusion on Wednesday.
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i'm having my first taxol tomorrow - still haven't heard if anyone used ice packs during the tx to reduce nail damage and neuropathy? anyone?
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