February 2011 chemo pals

mamaoftwo - You are getting Neulasta, right?  My onc gave me no restrictions at all.  He said I can even eat sushi if I want to.  My WBC has stayed in the normal range all along, with highs being the week after the injection and then settling down into the normal range on subsequent CBC up until the next tx.  I know there are special produce washes you can use but probably acidulated water and careful washing and peeling would be enough I would think.

Fuzzy - Glad to see you!  Sorry your round 3 was yuck.  I know what you mean about the room - I may have to re-decorate when this is all done. 

Hi all, I hope everyone is hanging in there!  I started dose dense ACT Dec 22nd and next week is my last one....hurray!  It was not bad at all.  The anticipation was much worse.  I have a fabulous wig which made all the difference....looks like my real hair did.  It goes by fast....hang in there!

fuzzylemon I'm having the same problem with the stubble...it seems like it grows a little bit but then it hurts and it catches on everything. Mine just breaks right off if I scrub my head, though. Now I've just got a few patchy places with stubble and the rest is bald.

Welcome Back, Fuzzy!  So glad you're feeling ok today!

So we're talking about hair...my husband siad that he has heard more about HAIR in the past month than he did in the 16 years prior.    He's probably right.  

Who here shaved their head?

How much of your hair did you lose?

How long did it take to lose it?

I'm on Cycle 2, Day 8 and I've lost probably 30-35% of my hair.  I didn't start shedding hair at all until the night of TCH #2 though.  I had my DH scissor it off that night because my scalp was on FIRE.  Felt like a bad sunburn.  Now my scalp doesn't hurt and the hair shedding is minimal.

Part of me if happy - I have pretty much full coverage, albeit SHORT.  But I have teased the chemo nurses about giving me the "cheap stuff".  If my hair hadn't been scissored off, I could wear it out and no one would think a thing of it.  But I have dark and thick hair normally.

None of my hair has fallen out completely.  My eyebrows don't hurt when I pluck strays (but they don't seem to gro back, I still have some nose hair and the hair on my legs/pits grows in very slowly.

Weird, huh?  I'm trying to be thanful and no worried.

pekug3 My hair started shedding really heavily on day 16 of cycle #1 of TCH to the point that I couldn't stand it and had to buzz my hair on the closest clipper setting by day 18-my scalp became sore shortly after that. I know that SpecialK started TCH #1 within 2 days of me and her hair didn't shed badly until a lot later than me so it does seem to vary quite a bit but the outcome seems to always be the same.

I've had an even coverage of stubble until yesterday and I'm at the end of TCH cycle #2 (my TCH #3 will be next Tuesday) and all of a sudden the stubble is all breaking off when I wash my head-my scalp will be completely smooth soon...Eyebrows and eyelashs are completely intact but everyone who has completed TCH has advised that they fall out or thin 5 weeks after TCH is finished (nice parting gift, huh?) I'm also noticing the same thing about hair not growing back...it's nice not having to shave very often at all!

Day 17 was the last day of hair for me ... I haven't lost my eyebrows yet but they are definitely thinning and that really sucks.  Treated myself to an eyebrow pencil today though.  Red Devil number four is scheduled on April 1st. 

I have started praying to the eyebrow Gods ...

Now there's a statement I never thought I'd utter " I still have eyebrows"..

Fuzzy...Pajama Party at my place April 7th..everyone's invited. Bring your lounge chair, blanket and pillow, anti-nausea meds of your choice and a bottle of whatever you can stand to drink. I'll supply a large variety of munchies in hopes that there is something we all can manage to get down..even if it's soup! I'll even make up a prune juice punch!

Cabana? Well...bring your parka too then..there's 6 inches of snow on the ground here still. Do I need a swimming pool? Ground is still too frozen to dig....

Ok...got another question...

my abdomen aches ... pretty much all the way around.  Not really a "pain" or anything sharp ... just achy.  I know chemo is hard on your belly ... any ideas on what is happening or if I should be concerned?

Paula, I have a huge smell issue!!! Everything , hand cream, perfume, food, dogs, the hospital, every smell is really intensified for me and turns my stomach. It's crazy the week of treatment and does sort of fizzle out a little bit week 2 but it's always there. I used to be the biggest bath and body works girl ever....not so much anymore, even unscented creams have a smell to me. So, in answer to your question...yes, I am also suffering the smell issue. I was thinking/hoping once I start taxol it might subside ?

I can smell everything everywhere.  I was like that when I was pregnant too.  Fortunately my onc office - where I receive chemo - is perfume free.  I have a hard time in the soap/laundry type aisle in the grocery store.  When I go for a walk in my neighborhood in the evening I can tell what everyone is having for dinner!

Congrats Michelle - yay for you!  Congrats to Paula and Emily for moving on to the next.  For Taxotere don't forget to ice your fingers and toes during the tx.

p.s. - I still have some carpet, drapes and all of my eyebrows!

Emily - where are you in Ontario? 

Fuzzy - Is it your stomach, lower abdomen or the whole thing?  You might have some edema which is pressing on stuff.  I have noticed this week that my eyelids are really swollen like I have been crying all night.  It looks fabulous with my emu hair!

Emu hair! Haha..that's cute...*L*

Congrats Emily also on being done first half, you must feel so good! And Michelle, congrats to you as well. We're all making progress and should be proud that we're getting through this. Happy weekend everyone