Chemo starting in December 2010

I don't remember who recommended the haircut party with the kids, but thank you!!  We did it yesterday with my 2 and 3 year old and it was a grand success.  They kind of freaked out when I left one day with long hair and came back from the salon with short hair.  So this time we wanted them to be involved.  We got a cake and candles, had them help cut, made a mohawk, and then shaved that off too.  At the end we lit candles and sang "Happy haircut to you..."  The 3 year old even announced that he liked the new haircut.  It really made such a huge difference for them to see and be involved.  So thank you, thank you!

hdangelbaby - I used Claritin D, the kind you have to sign for at the pharmacy counter. I was never in any pain, just really exhausted.

I insisted on Emend for my second round of AC which will be Thursday, 12/30. I was pretty nauseaous the first time. My insurance denied Emend in IV form. I purchased the oral Emend to take with me to my treatment. It cost $48 through my insurance. Boy, was I surprised when I discovered it was for only 3 pills.

I've also been battling the possibility of either having LE or my port is cutting off the flow of lymph on my good side.  My left hand is twice the size of my right.  My arm is a good 1.5 inches larger in circumference than the right side and my armpit is so swollen.  I had BS on my right side.  Christmas, I was in pain until I took some relafin, then the swelling went down considerably.  In fact, I felt the best since prior my first treatment!  Tomorrow, I'm going in to get it checked out.

I went in to Joann Fabrics and purchased material to make scarves and turbans.  My hair hurts but it hasn't started to fall out.  I think the idea of my eyebrows and eyelashes falling out is more upsetting than the hair issue, for me.  I hope my head isn't funny looking when the hairs gone...  you know bumpy, or pointy, or maybe it'll have scars I never knew I had.  I had waist length hair but have already cut it short.  Wednesday, will be day 14, so I was thinking of buzzing it.

It is so comforting to know that I have you all here to talk and share this awful experience, Thank-you!

well, the hair on my head is now in ICU  on life support. I will be pulling the plug on it either tonight or tomorrow. after a couple glasses of wine, it will be Rest In Peace, beautiful long hair, you served me well, but now you must go, you will be missed, but will be looking forward to your return by summer!

Well I had my first TAC on Dec 21, and althpugh I managed to take an almost 40mn walk on day 2,went to my kids xmas party at school on day 3, today is the first day I can think of as being almost normal. Christmas eve and Christmas day were horrible. I was in pain (muscle and bone) although I didtake the claritin. I was completely exhausted. My poor kids had to see me like this, while opening their gifts from Santa. I did not think it was going to be this tough. fatigue and muscle pain were the worst.

I admire you all for having more energy, being more upbeat...God bless you

ShelMel - keep all of your great kids ideas coming.  I'll keep stealing them!  Feeling okay.  The little stubble it a bit uncomfortable, especially when I lay down, but another 25% came off today in the shower, so even the stubble will be gone in a few days.  People say I look like Sinead O'Connor.  Probably because I'm freakishly white like her too!

Just like EricaH - my head is freezing!  Time for fleece hats!  At least until the stubble is gone.  Or until the hot flashes start.  Anyone having those yet?  I'll know in a few days if my period is already gone or if I'll have to wait another cycle.  My left ovary was really hurting last week though.   

pasofino222 - you really need to go get your arm checked out. I was told that lymphdema can occur any time - even years after our lymph node removals. I hope that's not what's happening to you. Sending you special prayers.

imatthew - I don't know of anything special but I would definitely let the dentist know that your wife is taking chemo and give him the name and phone number of her oncologist. They may need to speak to one another before she's given any medication, etc. I hope it all goes well!!! 

 prayersareanswered - I'm glad you're feeling better. It does get better - before you have to go in again. It's not easy staying upbeat and positive, that's what we're all here for - so we can vent and cry and we all understand. 

bambi - I'm so glad you're feeling better, too!!  

noola - I'm down to fuzz on my head now, with a little bit of stubble in a few areas. My scalp still hurts. I wear a soft cap around the house and even sleep in it. It's easier than wearing a scarf and less painful than a wig. LOL 

We've been knocking around famous bald girl names, too - Sinead O'Connor, Britney Spears, Demi Moore  - I'd love to look like Demi.  

TonLee -  Ha!! I don't blame ya, hon. 

hdangelbaby - Good attitude! Did you get it off yet?? 

Shelmel, yes, we did the deed last night! I rocked a mohawk till today till even those hairs were shedding everywhere, so we just, and i mean just buzzed the rest of it off!

msjag, sorry you are feeling so yucky. but to be honest, that is exactly how I felt my first two rounds and that's exactly what i ate for the first 4 days of each  cycle! it will get better!!!

Leigh,

The only reason I can tolerate not shaving...my scalp is really tender and the thought of clippers makes me cringe...but I wear a cotton like skull cap (from Wal-Mart) all the time for warmth, so when my hair comes out, the hat catches it and I lint roll it out.

I love my hat hair.  I ordered the TLC one but it was so cheap and crappy I sent it back!!  So I ordered this one...

http://www.bestwigoutlet.com/Hair-Pieces-Hat-Magic-LF.html

This hair comes far enough into the front of the forehead that it covers the lack of "side burns.:"  It can be cut and styled to be shorter too.

There is SO MUCH HAIR on it...I trimmed the bottom to be more blunt...and can wear a low pony tail, and in the back it goes up higher than on the sides...so nice because I can pull that part through a baseball cap at the rear....my favorite look is with a fur bucket hat.....I'm loving it!!  Looks so much like my real color and style (though longer).

I will post pics some day...lol...maybe...my eyebrows are fading fast..

msjag-my onc suggested taking benadryl before sleep on the days that I took steriods.  I know they also give it as a sleep aid in hospitals. 

I'm 7 days after my 2nd round today.  My onc prescribed Ativan for my nausea last week when the the Zofran and compazine were not working for me after my first treatment.  I am not nauseous all the time anymore but I am very tired and slow and sleep alot.  But as soon as 7 1/2 hours have passed that nausea comes back and is quickly alleviated  by the Ativan.

Last week a friend cut my hair to about 1 1/2 inches short.  It is tufty and patchy now and when my husband gets home, we will shave it all off.   Funny, it was so achingly tramatic a week ago and today it is something that is a bearable consequence of killing cancer cells and getting well. I tell myself, the hair will grow back; my goal is to have the cancer not grow back.   

Barbofel- did you have a lumpecomy? masectomy? will you be having radiation? 

Leah and Spartina, thanks for the tips/info.  I never was offered zolfran, Donna, only have the emend two days later, capazine (actually the generic I believe) to take every 8 hours as needed. The ativan was prescipred for me to take at bed time to help with sleep, not during the day. I guess every onc is different, that's for sure.  I'm used to the scarves now, wear the wig once in a while, (snowy and cold in MA after the blizzard!!). 

Thanks all for sharing your experiences/hair stories/kids stories.  I admire all of you going through this with young children.

Hi Meglove - I am taking the Emend for the day of chemo and 2 days after.  I've only done it once and my liver counts were fine, but it might be an issue the longer you use it.  I too have the headache but I was chalking that up the compazine....didn't realize it could also be emend.  My nurse practitioner at the onc's office told me I could take tylenol when the headache was bad - maybe you could ask about that?  It's helping me today.  She said even though it can mask fever I can have them for the first couple of days when the nausea is the worst.  I also cut back on the compazine and am trying only zofran every 8 hours but will take a compazine in between if I start to feel yucky. 

The DD A/C sounds so hard - I'm glad you're halfway!!  Hope the third round is kinder.

Donna

dlcw - as far as I can tell, it's all of the nausea meds (zofran and compazine) that make me loopy, tired, and make me feel like a space cadet.  The Ativan just knocks me out (and makes me feel tired, loopy, and weak).  The worst for me is that I still have 4-5 days of nausea, even with emend, compazine, and zofran.  I can't imagine how bad it would be without them.  I tend to lose weight the first week then try and eat as much as I can the second week, but am still losing a few pounds each AC cylce.

msjag - can you take fewer steroids?  Ask your onc to lower the dose?  I feel great on Day 2 bc of the steroids but then crash and burn for the three days following.   

Hi Everybody! I'm new to this forum and just about everything breast cancer related. Haha! I am doing TC 4X, so I'm 1/4 the way done.Yay! Have had a mastectomy; no radiation needed. I have opted for reconstruction and must now wait until after chemo to complete the last stage.

I had my first treatment Dec 22nd with the hopes that Christmas would be doable. The 25th is also my son's birthday, and this year it's his 16th. I had to be 'me' somehow. As for side effects, I have had no problem with nausea, during or after. I did have the Neulasta shot the day after, on the 23rd. The nurses recommended a Claritin (not Claritin-D) the day of the shot and the next 2-3 days. I took it Thursday thru Sunday. I don't know if it helped at all because the achiness in the bones still moved in by Friday evening. Most times, a couple of Tylenol XS took away the rest of the pain. Only one night I tossed a lot trying to get comfortable. I tried not to take any Tylenol during the day just to limit the use of it and save my liver, but it really helped me get a good night's rest if I took a couple before bed. Today I have had less pains throughout the day, but am just a bit achy this evening. I'm on the fence if I'll need the Tylenol. As for other symptoms, hopefully I'm lucky or doing a good job fighting them off for now. I use biotin toothpaste and mouthwash and sometimes a rinse of salt and baking soda with warm water. No mouth sores so maybe it's helping. I am also using fluoride on my teeth to prevent any deterioration. Nails are fine so far. Keeping them covered with some strengthening and care polish from Sally Hansen. I'm not sure if it will help long term, but so far so good. Hair hasn't started to noticeably fall out but I'm set with hats and a wig. Should be about Sunday or Monday I suppose. I don't notice any increased fatigue. I have been keeping busy with Christmas/Birthday stuff and other post holiday running around. I try to get out for a walk everyday, if the weather permits. Rain is coming for tomorrow, so I'll head to the mall. Shopping is great therapy! Maybe a new hat on sale. I drink lots of water and eat healthy: fresh fruit, veggies and protein. I hope all of this helps, At least this first round is doable. I hope the best for the days ahead. And for all of you too.

It's great to meet you all, though better circumstances would have been nice. I'm so glad to have you all to help me through these weeks ahead, and I hope I can help back.