Chemo June 2010

Some days I feel and sound like Richard Feder:  "A Mr. Richard Feder from Fort Lee, New Jersey writes in and says: 'Dear Roseanne Roseannadanna, Last Thursday, I quit smokin'. Now, I'm depressed, I gained weight, my face broke out, I'm nauseous, I'm constipated, my feet swelled, my gums are bleedin', my sinuses are clogged, I got heartburn, I'm cranky and I have gas. ... What should I do?' ... Mr. Feder, you sound like a real attractive guy!"

As Rosanne would say, it's always something...If it's not one thing it's another...GERD, sensitive teeth, sores that won't heal, head aches, nausea, feeling tired, nose bleeds, rashes, on and on and on. I seem to complain all the time now.

It was ever so funny on SNL when the complaints were from a fictional character and delivered by Gilda Radner. Thankfully I have not lost my sense of humor and can still get a chuckle out of it all. .

I'm right there with all of you! Sensitive teeth & eye twitching. I'm glad its not just me

Ladies.. I have having a horrible time.. Treatment on this past Thursday.. body aches.. vomitting, swelling, just feel like hell. haven't really slept.. don't want to be at work.. just feel exhausted.. I don't think I can go through with #4.. this is starting to take its toll on me..

Vicky, So sorry you're having such a bad time of it. I think I can honestly say that we've all been there after one tx or another. Each tx seems to cause more or less exaggerated SEs from the last. Pardon me for not remembering, but how frequent are your tx now? Mine were every three weeks...after the first two I had about 10 or 12 bad days and then felt better. But #3 knocked the heck out of me and I wasn't feeling very well even as #4 was starting.  But I got through it. I know you can, too.

Do you have your anti-nausea meds? If they aren't working, call your MO and ask for something else to help get the nausea under control. And ask if you can take extra strength Tylenol for the aches and pains. Have you been drinking lots? That made a world of difference for me...if I drank more and peed it out, I got the poison through my system faster. If they gave you steroids pre tx, that can account for your swelling and inability to sleep. And that, too will be helped by drinking lots to flush your system.

Vicky, I was ready to give up after tx #1, after tx #2, after tx #3, and finally got to #4...but not without seriously considering just driving on past the chemo center.

Take a deep breath and be good to yourself. If you don't think you can work, I hope you will be able to stay home. I know that you hear all about brave women working throughout the chemo and radiation tx. Well, I'll bet that's not the majority. Chemo is nasty...but it's helping to rid you of the cancer that got you in this mess in the first place. I know it's a tough thing to do, but think of chemo as your friend and know this is all temporary.

Hi Ladies,

I am sorry I haven't been on board for last few days.  HB dragged me off to camping for the weekend.  It was nice but I had really hoped to just stay home and relax.  Ah well, have to keep him happy too   Anyway, I am finding that I lose some steam by Friday night (tx on Tues).  I am having a terrible time with nose bleeds.  Is anyone else having that? 

VickyThomas - I am so sorry ths is so hard for you.  Please hang on!  The #3 AC tx was the hardest for me too.  I so hope you will reconsider and reschedule that #4 tx.  Mine was much better and hopefully yours will be too. 

Vicky,    Vicodin made me throw up - I cannot take it.    So I'm wondering if that might be the problem, instead of the chemo itself.     This was your 3rd treatment of what drug  (sorry I don't remember if you've mentioned it before).

Is there a friend that could hang out with you / lift your spirits for a bit?    Renting / watching funny movies?     I'm sorry you're having such a hard time  {hugs} 

Nose bleeds for me too... always feel like I have a runny nose. I've lost almost all of my eyebrows...

For those of you who have taken time off from work- how soon do you plan to go back?

vicky-  I agree with Bon, you may be throwing up from your pain med.  I violently vomit if I take codeine, I think Vicodin is codeine based, not sure.  It sounds like you are on a lot of meds and you may be having SE from them, not just chemo.  Do you get your prescriptions from one pharmacist?  I only go to one place and have become very friendly with my pharmacist.  I have asked him several times to review ALL my medications (of course he knows what chemo I am on now too).  I find the pharmacists are actually better and more knowledgeable than the doctors when it comes to drugs (their specialty).  My pharmacist actually called my oral surgeon because the surgeon automatically prescribed a codeine pain killer (though my chart said I was allergic).  I'm glad the pharmacist caught the mistake. I have a feeling that not only are your emotions overwhelmed (understandably), your body is too.  Definitely call your MO and tell them you are vomiting and not getting a lot of fluids and wonder if the Vicodin could be causing this. They may want you to come in and get some IV fluids which might help immediately. Rather than canceling your last chemo, could you just postpone that decision?  You can always cancel it the day before!  I'm afraid if you make that decision, you will become totally entrenched and not consider doing it.  Also, I can't remember where I read it, but I think that if you don't complete ALL the chemo cycles, it is almost as if you did not do it at all (as far as benefits).  I would hate to think that you went through this misery for nothing.  I sure hope you can get time off of work, I'm sure that is impossible in your condition.  If your employer can not provide temporary disability, perhaps your state can?  I think there are options. Also, I am seeing that you are triple negative, so I think the chemo is even more important.  Maybe some of the triple neg ladies can speak to that.   Praying for you Vicky.  Come back here and talk to us and we will try to help.

For all you ladies wondering about drug interactions, I have found this site helpful.  http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php   You just type in any meds and it spot checks their interactions together.  You need to know the complete name of your chemo (Cytoxan, not just C).  I think it may even check interactions with food.  I think a pharmacist is more knowledgeable, but this is a good "spot check".

Jackie-  Oh you are a better woman than me!  Motorcycles!  Camping!  Horseflies!  Don't over do the travel thing.  You are still probably immune compromised.  How are your blood counts?  Might give you reassurance or more need for caution.  My white counts were only 900 last Friday before chemo and I went ahead anyway so by now they may be lower yet.  I am the "germ cop" big time right now. I'm trying to avoid crowds, kids etc...  Nothing like being paranoid!

vicky,hang in there baby!!! think of those babies, one more lady then your done!!!! omg, just one more!! you can do it!!!! im so sorry your feeling bad.. i always throw up on vicodin, i have had to ask for Darveset instead,

thinking of you,

love chey

Someone asked about taking time off from work.  With my tx last year for colon cancer I tried working through chemo, and I kept waking up nauseated, or tired, and had to call in sick.  The teachers and students I work with need more consistencay (I feel), and I was very stressed out about it.  I finally took a leave, and felt soooo relieved not to have to try to make it to work.  So this time I took a leave right away.  There was NO way I could have worked through the AC!  With the Taxol, I could probably work a few days here and there, but when I'm done with this I have to do 6 weeks of rads, and physically I'm pretty weak, so I'm not going back until a few weeks after rads.  My job is just too demanding, and I want some time to just "feel good" and enjoy life for a week or two!

# 3 Taxol, done!!! wow to think only 9 more to go.lol well at least im in the single digits now. i asked to cut my benadryl down from 25 to 15 dose it was too much, i dont like feeling that tired also i asked they give me no more ativan i get to loopy, so they did.... Taxol was turned up 100% to start and no reactions so i was outa there in an hour and a half, all blood looked good, all with in range but dropping, eeeek, all in all it went well, i had a good attitude,

Tmarina, i thought of you today, two more to go!!! good job lady, your almost there!!! wish i was that close'

love to all Chey

Oh, Chey...you sound so positive!  Good for you!  Only 9 more to go...now I just know when you are done this whole group will burst into loud raucous cheers!  We can't wait for you to be done with chemo and move forward. Yeah for you!

Wow I can hardly believe it is September.  We have all been through so much since June.  And to think we have made it this far!!  We are all getting through it, it will all be a memory sooooon.  I can't believe it, I will be done in October, that is next month.  I didn't think I would ever be able to say that.  When this all started it seemed like I would never get through it as I am sure everyone else here felt the same way.  But look we are getting through it, and we can soon say that WE DID GET THROUGH IT.  It has been hard as h*** but we are doing it.  We may feel like sh** and look like bald old men haha but hey we are getting through it!!  We are all brave warriors winning our battle against breast cancer and we will be victorious!!  Everyone of you wonderful, brave ladies, give yourselves a pat on the back and be proud of who you are!!!! 

You are all always in my thoughts and prayers!!!!

Question...anyone know how long you can wait between chemo and radiation? I've gone hunting on the Internet and have seen everything from two to six weeks. Tomorrow I'll be two weeks past last chemo and have my consult appointment with the radiation oncologist at 2:30. I know there is some rigmarole to go thorough to get started on radiation, tattooing and all that. I'm just too busy this next couple of weeks to begin the 5 day a week routine. I'm wanting to delay the start of rads tx until at least the 20th, better yet the 27th. Anyone have any ideas on this?