April 2011 chemo

Treatment #2 yesterday.  No benadryl this time so it is whole different experience.  Tired and sleepy but not strung out like I was with the benadryl.  The good news is that the doc's exam seemed to show some reduction in the tumor!  Yay!  Bit uncomfortable in the core today, but not bad.

The anxiety before the first treatment is awful and normal...cant help but worry and wonder - be good to yourself and have the feelings!

Ain't this fun!!!!!

I agree Geo!  The stubble is annoying!

Ginger: Was the blood from your stool or your urine? If you had just had an AC treatment, the adriamycin/doxorubicin will turn your urine a reddish blood color, since it is so red. That usually only happens for one or two urinations immediately after the infusion.

From what I've read, blood in the stool is not normal, nor is blood in the urine apart from the immediate red color from the infusion. I would definitely contact my doctor.

hi guys I am having 2nd round to morrow cant sleep to night and I am tired pain in arm...is anyone else on navelbine and avastin i have poss 12 rounds but not sure

I get Emend here and it really does work.  Agree with windlass

hey all, I don't have emend (yet)...but my first round I was okay without...and I think this round I could have used it.  Apparently the chemo nurses here call it "Amen".  I think we are all different, and while it's great for lots who have really bad nausea, I'm glad to not have some of the side effects it's known for. 

 But by all means: if you are throwing up, it's time to change meds!!!!

Kiwi mum - I was really sick with my kids (nauseated!!!) and sometimes I try to feel grateful that I can at least take drugs with the chemo.  It doesn't always make me feel better....but sometimes I think back to all the times I really did throw up when I was pregnant (which was all the time).

Hang in there ladies. My onc never said truer words "Pace yourself"

Kg.

I'm getting ewith Emend and I had no barfing for round one., Hugs to you dear.

My worst side effect was the burning feeling in my uppper GI. I am armed with Prolosec for the next round.

My eyes watered very heavy for a few days on TC. Windlass I want to thank you for the idea of putting hair out for the birds. I have a garden angel and I am putting my hair in it's hands each day and watching the birds take it for nesting. There is something beautiful about it , that I can't explain but feels very right.

Ginger -- I hope everything is okay with the bleeding.  What did you find out about it?  I discovered rectal bleeding this a.m. myself -- bright red in the toilet and on the tissue paper.  I'm hoping and praying it's hemorrhoids, although I have never been diagnosed with 'em before.  I guess I'll call the doc this a.m. -- too early right now.

Always something, eh?

I'm not taking Emend -- I don't think I could afford it with no Rx insurance unless they have free samples.  However, I've been taking Compazine and doing fine with that -- hardly any nausea, just a little "queasiness" for a few days that is quite tolerable.  (I'm on Adriamycin/Cytoxane regimen and had round 2 on 4/28).

Windlass - I'm on AC. Haven't noticed teary eyes. Those first few days I did notice I found swallowing hard (not swallowing food but just general swallowing) and my sense of smell was incredible.



Love the idea of putting hair out for birds. My hair is free falling. I can now see lots of scalp!

I am on TAC - just had #2 - I find that my core feels unsettled right away - not sick ,just unsettled.  I get emend and decadron on infusion, along with the pre and post decadron tablets.  Onc rxed zofran and compazine and last go round I only ended up taking one zofran a day for about two days.  I agree with all, that each of our bodies react a bit differently.

My eyes have been bothering me, but am not sure if it just allergy season or if it is related to the chemo.

Woohoo - every day an adventure on the chemo roller coaster!

Good thoughts to all.

Hi i'm on A/C, eyes ok but i did need the emend.  Hair went this morning so i left it near the birds as well.  Good weekend to everyone

just got my first onc bill....i might need a drink!!! thank god for ins...that shot that hurts me so much cost the same as a a nice used car!!!!welll at least two shots!!

Hi everyone. I started Taxotere/Carbo/Herceptin on April 7. I will get a total of 6 treatments every 3 weeks. I just had round 2 last Thursday, not gonna lie, I hate it. I hate how dry my mouth and nose are. I hate how nothing tastes good and my tongue feel like sandpaper but above all I hate how it makes me feel mentally. I will be fine sitting watching tv then boom all of sudden I start to feel spacey. This happened last time too and lasted for a few days, I also hate that last go round I started to feel like me again on the Monday of round 2. I really wish this was over already. Anybody else getting TCH and feel the same?

I'm on Taxol and Lapatinib.  I'm in 5 weekly treatments--no nausea at all, but diarrhea every few days.  ugh.  Hubby shaved my head the other day.  And I agree--while I'd love the stubble to drop, it doesn't pain and itch anymore!  I love my satin pillowcase, but I'm wearing a sleep cap b/c I find my head sweats a bit and then the air on it makes me really chilly.  But I'm up in NH where it's still chilly at night!  

I feel alright with the hair loss.  My head is better than I feared!  LOL.  AND, I finally got the antibiotic prescription filled for my acne rash, so I'm hoping my face looks better soon.  Watch, once my face clears up I'll probably get sad about my hair--right now the damn rash is so distracting I can't even think about my hair!  LOL.

Hang in there gang, we're doing well!  Oh, and I have to share some great shrinkage news too--right before my 5th treatment, I was measured....originally 4 x 3.5 cms (from the outside), and now 3 x 3!  Wooo hoooo!!!  Winning!!