Chemo starting in December 2010

Yes, I am a Christmas Chemo Cadette too.  My first (TAC) chemo was Friday December 10th.  I breezed through the first two days - and think that the premeds including steoids were what helped the most.   Day 3 was starting to feel a little nausea, headaches and achy.  Then Monday I went in for my Neulasta shot and boy that really set me back a bit.  I felt body aches and general flu-like symptoms - just felt like crap again the next day.  Today, I am starting to feel like a real person again.  Severe constipation has been my biggest issue. .  I had been drinking lots of water, taking Senakot-S, eating fiber, Metamucil, and Miralax - and still no action.  Doctor prescribed MGP and I am hesitant to take it - for fear of going from one problem - to another - diarreahea.  Any tips on constipation are appreciated.  I am trying to keep in mind on the hard days that chemo is my friend - my ally - and working to destroy any random cancer cell still floating around.  No battle is won without a little pain and suffering.  When I feel really bad, find the darkest room in the house, light a candle, pray and listen to my meditation cd's.  I am brand new to this forum and am looking forward to getting to meet and know some of my "sista's" who are in this war that I pray we all win!  Hang in there!  Love and light to all!

Hi all!  Just experiencing some neck pain and not sure if it is from TC or neulasta but was wondering if anyone had a similar SE and if you tried something that helped (ice, heat, etc).  Thanks for any advice.  From what I read, tomorrow could be my tough day  (1st treatment monday afternoon). 

julie

well, the biggest think to prevent that awful vomiting, is to take your anti nausea meds. round the clock. at least for the first week anyways. i had my first chemo DD AC on the 7th, and today was the first day i did not need them, got my old appetite back today too. but for the first 5-7 days, you gotta stay on top of the meds, they are yucky too, gave me awful headaches, but it's better than praying to the porcelain god!!

i hope you get to feeling human again soon! ( that's what i call it !) (((((HUGS)))))

Hi All - hope everyone is feeling fewer (or none) side effects today.  I FINALLY have a plan to go forward - got my port today, research core biopsy and placement of a marker tomorrow or Friday, then start on Monday.  I'm doing a trial of neoadjuvant gemcitibine/carboplatin/PARP inhibitor - 6 21-day cycles, so 18 weeks if all goes well.  Then, I'll have surgery and follow it with more chemo regardless of response to the carb/gem/parp.  The onc for the trail said that although they have seen great results, there are no long term survival data for use of these drugs in a neoadjuvant setting so they are recommending follwo-up chem - she specifically mentioned AC/T or TC.  I'll decide when I get the path results back after the study.

 I was really confliceted about joining, as was my husband, until I learned that I'd get the trial drugs PLUS the more standard drugs so I figure it's an opportunity to go hard the first time around and hope for no need to ever do chemo again.  Looking forward to getting started!

Donna

Hi everyone did my 2nd of 36 treatments today. 34 to go! Suppose to be very little SE's so praying that is the truth. Taking it easy just in case for the next couple of days. My chemo is way confusing in when is what. Abraxane, every week for 3 weeks, Avastin every other week, Zometa once a month Neulasta shot 3rd week. Lab work every 3 weeks. They said they think that Zometa knocked me on my butt last week. Caused me to be very weak lightheaded and a slight headach. Doable though by just staying in bed.

Spartina (Maria) I can tell you that compazine, zofran did not do me very well as far as the nausea meds go. I started to have some real issues with vomiting and things the first time I had cancer. She gave me Emend and also Granisetron HCI. They are expensive but so worth it. How did it go with the port? I hope everything went well. Having a port is a lifesaver.

Sammolisa (Lisa) I remember the first time I lost my hair all those tingly feelings, felt like someone was tugging on my hair all the time. I hated it cause it actually hurt. How did round 2 go for you? I hope you are not sad anymore. Is there anything I can do? PM me if you would like vent any time.  Did you get to get some shopping done? I enjoy shopping when I am feeling well. I hope to do some Saturday if there are no SE's this time.

Klynnwayman (kim) Keep the strength I know it is hard when we are in pain and just cannot stand it anymore. We want to shield our children. It is amazing though what our children know even if we try and hide it. They are really smart. I will pray for you and your son. Children are so precious to us.  You can whine on here all you want you deserve to whine. We all have our moments some more than others. Whine on my end your welcome. PM me anytime.  How did head shaving go? Well be shaving mine next week probably or the week of New Years.

TonLee know how those caffine withdrawals can be. Weaned myself off Dr. Pepper wow that was a challenge loss lots of weight from it too. I completely understand about being glad it is you having to go through this and not one of your children or loved ones. I am a chemo angel and send gifts and cards to children who go  through chemo. Will I was now that I have cancer again I cannot be a angel anymore. I think of them all often though.

Jmurray (Julie) my onc was not going to give me the neulasta this time but has decided to give it to me this time again. My WBC are low already after 1 treatment. So I hope it helps it did not help me the last time I had cancer. Ended up in the hospital. Hope that does not happen again. So take the Claritan D 24hours the morning before your shot, then take Alieve as well. You do this for 3 days. No more than that. Do not take tynoel, aspirin or motrin, excedrin anything like that just alieve. Hope this helps.

Sunflower71 as far as your nails go. My nail came off with T. I super glued them cause they split in the middle of my nailbed and just helped them grow out. Became painful they also turned brown. Sorry sure that is not what you wanted to hear. I hope that does not happen to you.

Shelbytroy12 I wish you the best on the 17th. Chemo is really doable. The hardest part is after really. Do you have a port or will they have to find a vein? You have any questions be sure to ask here I know the ladies here will be more than happy to advise in anyway they can.

Dlcw (Donna) Donna take Claritian D 24 hour with Alieve (refer to Jmurray)

msjag (JoAnn) WOW YEAH NED!!!! that is what we love to hear....good for you!

LEIsenbarth (Leslie) How did TC go today? I do pray that you have miminual SE. Let me know how you are doing?

hopefortomorrow (Carol) thinking of you!

ShelMel how is the shedding of hair coming along? Did you get it shaved? Mine has not started yet but I am sure it will anytime now. When it starts my daughter will shave it for me. I hate losing my hair again. Going through it once is bad enough twice is just I don't know what the words are. Crazy and just SUCKS

Sparter: I can tell you I did all those things as well and my constipation go so bad (TMI) that my husband had to put on gloves and help me out. It was the worse. I learned about dulcolax it works great in about 6 to 8 hours and you just finally go.  Hard at first but finally lets it all out. Though out the day you have little diarrhea not bad. I found it to be amazing. I would take one the evening of chemo.

Rachel2 Hope you find all the support you need on here. We are all in this together! Sometimes you might feel lost on the thread just pick up where ever and don't worry about it.

hdangelbaby: glad to know that you are finally feeling better. Hang in there you'll make it!

Good night everyone

I guess my name is pretty self explanatory- but it does have history behind it. It is sad. A friend of mine daughter and two grandchildren were murdered by the son-in-law, It's the Sheri Coleman case just outside of St.Louis, Columbia IL.  Already a year and a half ago.I use this name when I go on the newspaper threads following the articles. In my friend's case, a mother losing a dauughter and two of her only grandchildren is insurmountable, Hope is what we hang onto, for justice, for healing, keeps us going. My problems seem so small in comparison to hers.

Tonlee, your visit to Chemo and seeing the child, I would have melted too. I can't imagine starting life out with a horrible disease. Ih is humbling and eye opening for me.

Today is my second treatment day! More dreaded AC-hate the red stuff, but now I think of it as kill cancer juice!

Sending warm thoughts to all. Wishing everyone a good day! hugsss Cathy

Hi Everybody,

Well, I went ahead and shaved...it sucked, and I cried the whole time. My hubby surprised me by jumping into the chair first and asking my hairdresser to shave him, too. And that boy loves his hair! He's a great guy. I changed my photo so you could all see what a loving man I have, I am lucky.

On a good note, aside from a little leg pain today, and slight nausea, I'm doing ok. I decided to have one beer after getting the shave done, which seemed to be a pretty bad idea. I'm not a big drinker at all, but they had said it was fine to have an occasional drink, and I felt like it, so I did. I would not recommend it, and won't do it again. I got pretty sick. 

 It was pretty easy to get ready this morning- cut the time into about a third of what it usually would be. Have to look at the bright side. Also, I won't have to worry about my hair falling out in front of my son, TJ. 

Love to you all- have a great day.

Kim

klynnwayman... you can totally pull off the shaved head! you look fantastic! (((HUGS)))

In hospital...WBC <.08, fever, chills...looks like I'll be here at the very least until SATURDAY.

Guess who wants to put Neulasta in my regime from now on?

kim, you look good!!!

TonLee - Girl - I'm so sorry about your WBC bottoming out. You just stay well and get out of that damn hospital soon.

Kim -  You ROCK that bald head girlfriend!! You're beautiful!!! And kudo's to your sweet man!! 

I was really tired yesterday, had no energy, which kind of freaked me out because I had been feeling so good. I feel better today - but am noticing the neuropathy (Ithink that's what it's called) is getting worse in 3 fingers on my left hand. 

My hair - - well,it's thinning out really bad. I had to use a pair of pantyhose (cut up) on top of the drain in my shower this morning to catch the hair. It was a LOT!! My hubby shaved his head today and told me he plans on being bald as long as I am. Gotta love men like that, huh?? We'll probably shave mine off tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it at all. . . 

eban - I'm so sorry you're going through all of this again. I just read that you're having like 36 treatments!!?? WOW! Honey, you are my hero to have to go through this again. Sending you much love and hugs, sweetie. 

Lisa - I hope the next few days go good for you. Crossing fingers and toes. xoxox

My name? Combo of my first and last name. LOL Shelle Mel----. I know, I'm not creative at all, and I'm a writer by profession. You'd think I'd be better at that stuff, huh? By the way, do not hold me responsible for typos here. I'll blame it on the drugs.

Love & hugs! - Shelle

Hi everyone,

i am starting chemo on monday and am freaking out - i am drinking 8 glasses of water per day - is that enough - should i take colace starting today or should i wait -