February 2011 chemo pals

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  • crog234
    crog234 Member Posts: 801
    edited March 2011

    Paula so glad you are home and your counts are headed upwards.  When my counts were low they didn't tell me that I could not have fresh fruits and veg.  Wonder why....

     Today is # 4 of the A/C for me.  Can't say I won't be glad to be over with these.  Just hoping that the Taxol is easier as most people say it is. 

    Thinking of all who are getting treatments today and this week.  Hoping for not to bad SE's for everyone..

     Cindy

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2011

    I know its weird.  The hospital wouldnt let me order any fresh produce due to the neapunia.  The nurse told me that they are afraid that there may be trace amounts of some kind of bacteria. I had a fever so they were worried I had an infection somewhere and didnt want me sicker.The room service people even were told about the special diet orders, grrrr, lol. My friend who went through the same as me they told her no cured meats.  Weird huh.

    Good luck today Cindy.  The doctor told me the Taxol is alot easier.  I hope it is.  Plus I dont want anymore trips to the hospital.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited March 2011

    charlotte'smom,  about one week after my 1st chemo treatment, I started getting that tingling feeling in the "nether" region, lol.  It was quite often.  That particular hair has thinned some, but not completely fallen out.  That tingling stopped right before my 2nd treatment (3 weeks after the first).  

    My scalp didn't really tingle very often.  By day 14 after 1st chemo, scalp hair began it's demise (on day 19 DH buzzed it off).  Loss of hair hasn't been so much trauma as sort of an occasional sadness. It's different.  Sometimes I'm cold going outside with the wig on.  Other times I get very warm in the house with it on.  I bent over a hot oven and barely missed burning the front of it because it didn't occur to me to guard it from that kind of heat.  

    Sometimes it makes me feel old wearing my wig but I've had very good feedback wearing it.  I think people are sincere in saying it looks close to my regular style.   I went numerous places and tried on quite a few before finding something I thought would work, and then the store owner (nicest, kindest woman ever) had to order the right color, but it was worth it.  

     At the "Look Good Feel Better" program I attended, one woman brought along her adult daughter for support, yes, the cosmetics are for those in treatment, but moral support is encouraged.  I had a very positive experience with the program I went to. 

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  • angelle
    angelle Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2011

    Charlotte,

       It's funny how you started this post asking for help, but it seems you are the one giving it.  Your soul is so full of life and really you are an amazing person!!!! Your blog is just the beginning for you, I can see you writing a book!   I will be 6 years clean in June.  My sister just had her mastectomy Friday.  THere is joy and a new life waiting on the other side!  

    All my best,

    Angelle 

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  • Melanie_Ann
    Melanie_Ann Member Posts: 414
    edited March 2011

    Good Morning Ladies!

    I go in tomorrow for my 3rd round of TAC. I have to have 6 cycles of the Adriamycin. I refuse to call in the red *d*. =) Honestly, I don't want to scare anyone or anything...but I think most of my side effects line up with the Taxotere. But the ones that I think are caused by the Taxotere arn't too terrible (swollen hands-that only lasted a day, burning in my hands and feet- also only a day, taxotere tears- very watery eyes, some muscle cramps...etc.) That's all I can think of right now. My nails are still looking good but I've heard to also use ice or something cold on your nails before Taxotere too because it can cause nail loss. 

    Good luck to everyone this week with treatments. I'm really not excited. I was so nauseous last time. blah! But I know in four days I'll feel better. I just have to hang in there. 

    Melanie 

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  • Dogbiskit
    Dogbiskit Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2011

    I find it highly amusing that my "landing strip" appears to be falling out faster than my head! I shaved the head at day 15 and I'm so glad.  Soooo much easier to care for, well at least till it falls out.  It was getting to be a real chore to wash, dry and style my hair just because I was feeling weak, tired and dizzy for a while.  The GI Jane looks kinda cute actually, not my first choice but it looks better than I thought it would.  I will wear it to work until wig time, maybe another week if I'm lucky. 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2011

    Ok Ladies - the hair is gone.  Yesterday I washed it and lost a LOT of it during the drying.  I noticed a bald patch right at the front of my part - not cute!  So off it went.  My DH who had been following me around with the clippers shaved it for me,  but I think it turned out to be sadder for him than he thought it would be.  He went to the grocery store and came back with lots of flowers and kept coming in and looking at me and giving me that face.  You know the one.

    Paula - glad you are home.  Sorry about the fruits and veggies, but it is only temporary.

    Cindy - good luck on this tx.  Hang in girl!

    golfer - I take inspiration from my Dad who had 2 separate regimens of chemo at the age of 82.  He was determined to stay and take care of my Mom and he was so courageous about it.  In hindsight I realize I should have been with him more during that time, it must have been so hard for him.  It is hard to face doing this the first time - doing it again requires some serious will.  I pay homage to you!

    LisaGH and dragonfly - SE's came on faster (headache, bad tummy, etc.) but also seem to have left faster.  I am handling the headache with Tylenol, only had one bout of dry heaves and not as bad of a tummy.  I am also eating more but having to force drinking.  I am more fatigued but all in all, doing ok.  I haven't been out yet so not sure how quickly I will tire.  Now we are three bald triplets!!!

    Hope everyone going this week does well.

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  • Kar12
    Kar12 Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2011

    Hi everyone,

    I was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer (1.8 cm long) in November 2010. I had two lumpectomies and an axillary node dissection in December 2010. Was scheduled to start chemo on 2nd February 2011, but needed a port-a-cath. Had the first chemo after the port-a-cath procedure on 7th February. My chemo is FEC-T, 3 FEC and 3 T, each one 3 weeks apart. I had 2 rounds of FEC so far and will have the 3rd one in a week. I feel very weak and was also hospitalized for a week after my very 1st chemo. I hope the rest of it goes well. If all goes well, my chemo will finish in late May. Would love to hear from all of you about your experiences, especially with the FEC-T and the side effects of the drugs.

    Thanks.

    Karina

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  • Kar12
    Kar12 Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2011

    Hi everyone,

    I was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer (1.8 cm long) in November 2010. I had two lumpectomies and an axillary node dissection in December 2010. Was scheduled to start chemo on 2nd February 2011, but needed a port-a-cath. Had the first chemo after the port-a-cath procedure on 7th February. My chemo is FEC-T, 3 FEC and 3 T, each one 3 weeks apart. I had 2 rounds of FEC so far and will have the 3rd one in a week. I feel very weak and was also hospitalized for a week after my very 1st chemo. I hope the rest of it goes well. If all goes well, my chemo will finish in late May. Would love to hear from all of you about your experiences, especially with the FEC-T and the side effects of the drugs.

    Thanks.

    Karina

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  • dogeyed
    dogeyed Member Posts: 884
    edited March 2011

    Hi Karina, I just posted to you where you put another post as a separate thread before you found us!  You can read what I wrote there.  Others here have wound up in the hospital.

    Others, well, that really really really AWFUL week last week, I swear, I had a break with reality and wound up being awake and dreaming, but more a dejavu experience.  I should have gone to the hospital right then and there.  But I toughed it out, and when I finally "came to" today, I called and got an appointment with my breast surgeon doc at our cancer clinic in town, and I will be able to tell him just how bad things got during Chemo 2, which I will be seeing him the day before Chemo 3.   I have a short list of items to go over with him, including him showing me my growths on my mammograms, adding more drugs to combat the very strange side effects that aren't like anybody else's (dreaming whilst awake for six hours straight), or putting me in the hospital on a morphine drip for the duration so those people can keep me from falling off the face of the earth again, those sorts of topics.  I cannot continue without a new and improved anti-side-effect plan, a review of HOW MUCH MORE CAN I TAKE, and alternative ideas, like:  For crying out loud, DISPOSE of this thing in me now!!!

    Can't write more, still spaced out, but I made it thru and wanted you guys to know.  I intend to go for Chemo 3 Thursday, unless my bloodwork or insanity testing comes up peculiar.  Oh, been reading the asparagus thread, I'm at where bread is the cause of all our issues, just laughed and yorkled right on thru that one, LOVE IT, thanks so much for telling me, ladies, really clever stuff in there.  When I have more news from my BS, I'll share more.  GG 

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  • thefuzzylemon
    thefuzzylemon Member Posts: 2,630
    edited March 2011

    GG - Glad you're enjoying the asparagus thread ... it's a happy place for me!  And thanks for the reminder of the "bread" discussions ... I laugh every day because of those posts!! 

    Hugs and a Smile.

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  • crog234
    crog234 Member Posts: 801
    edited March 2011

    Thank you SpecialK  I am back home from my 4th and lalst A/C.  It went well.  My blood counts were good.  So today and tomorrow should be fine but after that who knows.  Got my first two dates for my Taxol.  They gave me some pills that I have to take 4 hours before my Taxol appointment.  I am so glad that the A/C part is over with and am in hopes that Taxol will be much better...

     Cindy

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  • thefuzzylemon
    thefuzzylemon Member Posts: 2,630
    edited March 2011

    Cindy ... my third is this Friday and I can't wait to be where you are now ... please keep me posted on how the Taxol goes ... I'm nervous about that one too ...

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  • jenn_h
    jenn_h Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2011

    I was told that you can bring a firend to the look good feel good class, but only you get the free makeup stuff. Alison...do you have a liner for your wig? I know they sell them throught the TLC catalog...I still don't even like  to look at my wig, it is so much more comfortable to just throw on a scarf and there are so many pretty ones. I went to Joanne's Fabrics yesterday and bought some silky scary material (1/2 yard cost me $4.50) and I just wrapped it around my head today. I got a ton compliments!!

    I can't decide if I have a cold or just a runny nose, can we take things like Nyquil?

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  • ruffy
    ruffy Member Posts: 141
    edited March 2011

    Had my 3rd AC today. Feeling good so far, they took me off the steroids and I think it helped. Just getting up from a nap so once I'm up moving I should get a better idea of how I'm feeling.

    I'm enjoying the scarf/hat thing too. One day I might wear the wig but not feeling it yet. Congrats Cindy on being all done with AC! :)

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  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited March 2011

    I'm wearing my wig with a Coolmax liner under it.  The liner is from the TLC catalog.

    SpecialK - can you remind me of the timeline on your hair loss?  You lost yours much later than the other girls here, right?

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  • crog234
    crog234 Member Posts: 801
    edited March 2011

    thefuzzlemon  When I start Taxol in 2 more weeks I will post how it is and what if any SE's that I have.  The doctor told me today that it is much less than the A/C SE's.  Should not be any nausea with Taxol. 

    Cindy

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  • ruffy
    ruffy Member Posts: 141
    edited March 2011

    Do any of you get really really tired after treatment ? I slept from 1-5, got up for an hour or so, now I'm back in bed :( sooo tired.

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  • crog234
    crog234 Member Posts: 801
    edited March 2011

    Rufflol1  It does feel good to have #4 done.  I am sleepy but not tired like you sound...  I think you said something about not having the steriods.  I had the steriods and they give me energy.  Especially tomorrow I will feel like I can do 10 things at once but by afternoon I will start to get tired. 

    Cindy

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  • K-Lo
    K-Lo Member Posts: 2,743
    edited March 2011

    Tired after treatment with Abraxane.  I'm sure my doctor would say no reason.  Maybe it's the anticipation starting the day before, sitting in the waiting room, tension waiting for the needle stick and drugs to start and finish.  I always want to go to bed.

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  • ruffy
    ruffy Member Posts: 141
    edited March 2011

    Thanks, I had no steroids this time due to some yucky se so maybe that's why. All the rest feels good, I'm just alot more tired then last treatments. I think the no steroids is why. I love this board and the help and support it always offers :)

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2011

    Cindy - glad your counts are holding up - I know you had some problems with that in the past.

    pejkug - I started noticing shedding around day 14 after the first tx but it was not bad.  My onc had said I would see major loss by day 18 but it remained about the same and continued that was all the way to the second tx.  He was pretty surprised by it!  If you had not seem me before you would not notice, it still looked cute since it was already short.  On Saturday I noticed a larger volume of hair coming out and by Sunday it was apparent after washing it that it had to go.  That being said, that was day 24.  My DH shaved it and then I got in the shower and probably half of it let go completely from my scalp.  Needless to say I am now the cat in a hat!  I haven't been out of the house for real yet - only to walk the doggy outside.  I need to develop some attitude before I go public!!!

    ruffolo - very tired here too.  Not from coming off the steroids either, I only get them in the drip, not before and after.  I think the fatigue is cumulative also, sorry to say.  Whatever we got from previous tx is still affecting us down the line.

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  • dogeyed
    dogeyed Member Posts: 884
    edited March 2011

    All --- Well, I guess I spoke too soon yesterday or whenever I posted last, because today is another one straight from hell, that's for sure.  I've been having lots of water diarrhea, and today was lots more, and I just don't feel too sharp.  I'm teary-eyed, really.  Today I was supposed to see another doc to to get some regular pills renewed with (from my car wreck), but I'm too sick to go, so I have to call his offices, and then they give him a message, and HOPEfully SOMEone calls refills into my pharmacy before noon.  I don't even know how I'll go to the pharmacy, but all my regular meds are out, so I HAVE to go, altho I might send husband after them. 

    Gosh, I am so weak, destroyed, I can hardly wait to talk to my breast surgeon at the cancer center tomorrow, even if husband has to drag me in.  I gotta unload on doc all this killer garbage I've been terrorized by.  I feel so worn slam out, all wierd in my thoughts, just crazy unhappy, and real fearful I won't make it through another chemo.  I hope the doc can fix me for the next round of chemo... or who knows, maybe he'll decide I've had enough and go straight to surgery, which is MY preference, but I have to go by what he says.  I will say this, I'm going with my nearly bald Gollum head tomorrow, probably will leave my several front teeth out, and wear white to emphasize the dark circles under my eyes, so he will SEE ME.  When I can, I'll let you all know how things go.

    I hope all of you in the midst of your chemos right now are finally getting a little sunshine by now, blazing thru your windows, ohhhhhh, would that we were all done and well again and could leave this sad, sad winter story behind us and never look back.  Love you all more than you will ever know.  GG

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  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited March 2011

    Hi dogeyed.  I felt the same way you did after a treatment one time.  I was so wiped mentally as well as the physica.  I just didnt think I could make it.  It did take time and that went away.  I do still have the get my mind i gear as I get close to the day of chemo.  You will get better!  It may not seem that right now but you will get better.

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  • thefuzzylemon
    thefuzzylemon Member Posts: 2,630
    edited March 2011

    Oh GG - I'm so sad to think of what you are going through right now.  I am comforted to know that you are able to talk about it here and express yourself so well. 

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  • ruffy
    ruffy Member Posts: 141
    edited March 2011

    I feel bad to gg, I hope your onc can figure something out to help u. :( chemo is no freaking fun.

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  • charlottesmama
    charlottesmama Member Posts: 250
    edited March 2011

    Hi GG. I'm so sorry to read about how much you're suffering. Your Onc. should really be on top of it! Does your oncology center/group have a social worker on staff? If so, talk to her/him as well. They are there to help with with all of the stuff beyond the immediate chemo-related crap. Lots of SWs do councelling too. We're a great bunch of gals here, and this is a fantastic place to come to for comfort and support, but talking to a professional is a great help. I can say that, because one of the fist things I did post diagnosis was get me a shrink! In fact, I have a date to see her in 2 hours. 

    Hang in there. Send your husband out for your meds, and read your doctor the riot act!

    xoxo

    Michelle 

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  • alison0415
    alison0415 Member Posts: 35
    edited March 2011

    Getting ready for TCH #2 on Thursday.  Would love to skip the shot on Friday...wondering if they can test my counts and skip or reduce it if things look good.  Uplifted by many of the posts and feeling sad for GG and others that are suffering more than they should have to.  Also watching CNN and following all that is going on in Japan and knowing we have it much better than so many others.

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  • sukie10
    sukie10 Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2011

    Good luck on Thursday Alison. 

    Hang in there GG. We are all thinking about you. XOXO

    AC #2 in 4 hours for me. Dr apt yesterday shows 2.5 cm shrinkage so I'm really happy about that. It grew really fast so I'm happy to see it receding just as quickly. Not looking forward to the next few days but I know you all know that feeling. Hoping to be well enough to try a short shift at work on Monday. I'm still a little nervous about showing off my GI Jane look. Big girl panties are on, moving forward.  

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited March 2011

    alison, that shot is really your friend, helping you manufacture more white blood cells that will destroy the canser.....it may be rough, but hang in there!  Hugs and prayers coming your way!

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