Chemo May 2011

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  • thinkpiece
    thinkpiece Member Posts: 7
    edited May 2011

    Hey, hi, sunshiny, I think we are on the same schedule ...

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2011

    Back from TC treatment #1. I am SO GLAD I decided to have a port implanted.  Not having to have a nurse search through my picky veins to find one that will cooperate is just plain lovely.  I had begun to feel like a pin cushion the past several weeks.  I did well during the treatment.   I had no allergic reaction to the Taxotere, and only a mild sinus headache from the Cytoxan.  So glad it went well!  Scheduled for my Neulasta shot tomorrow afternoon.  Now the wait to see how my body reacts to this invasion.

     Oh - and a note to self - do NOT drink prune juice until you know you need help for constipation!

  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited May 2011

    Im tired. ANd weak. And scared. I just tried to shave my hair because I couldn't take the shedding anymore, well, I got too tired halfway through and now it looks ridiculous! My hubby is going to have to finish it when he gets home. Hopefully nobody stops by today.I know this will pass, just at my low point.

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2011

    Big hugs to you bkj66! 

  • MamaV
    MamaV Member Posts: 907
    edited May 2011

    neecee - happy to hear your port worked well for you and you did well.  Good luck in the next few days.  I'm praying for manageable SEs. 

    bkj66 - hang in there!  I hope tomorrow is a better day. 

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2011

    Thanks MammaV!  I'm praying for that, too!

  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited May 2011

    Big hugs to all of you... This is my off week and I felt well enough to blog. xoxo

  • DebRox
    DebRox Member Posts: 437
    edited May 2011

    Hugs to all.  I started my steriods this morning.  Ready for tomorrow.  Ugh!

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2011

    Best wishes and prayers for all scheduled for the chair tomorrow!

  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited May 2011

    NeeCee - glad the port is working out for you.

    Candice-thinking of you.

    Bkj66-The transition to less hair is a real trip. You may enjoy parts of it.

    MamaV-Hello and thanks for the support on the thread.

    Stephanie-sounds like you are hanging in there.

  • 40-years-old-now
    40-years-old-now Member Posts: 309
    edited May 2011

    bkj66- I hope your day goes better. You might try to do the wig you got with a hat or scarf. I know that you were worry that your wig looks funny. Just try something different.

    Candice

  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited May 2011

    Robyn. I can't believe that I am actulaly making it through the fast. I didn't fast as much as I would like to prior to the chemo. I am going to go for more of a fast next time. I completed 2 out of 4 TC infusions today.

    Well, that infection that I was taking Keflex for did not go away so now I am taking another stronger antibiotic. I go in for my nuelesta shot tomorrow.

    I hope the fasting will be helpful.

  • 40-years-old-now
    40-years-old-now Member Posts: 309
    edited May 2011

    Cyborg- I will be seing the Oncologist tomarrow at 830am. To find out what my lung biopsy tells. I dont know what will happen, I am a bit scared. There is only so much I can do until they tell me something. I wish I could plan. I dont know what I am going to have for treatment, when it is going to start, or what these hot spots are. UGG I hate not knowing.

    Candice

  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited May 2011

    Candice! It's terrbile not knowing. We are here for you. I am sending you all my positive thoughts and prayers. Keep using the thread(s). {{{{{Candice}}}}}

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2011

    I agree - the waiting is the hardest part.  Wait!  Isn't that a song or something?

    Candice, good luck tomorrow.  I will be praying for you!

  • 40-years-old-now
    40-years-old-now Member Posts: 309
    edited May 2011

    Thank you all. I will let you all know what they say tomarow.

  • mikamomof3
    mikamomof3 Member Posts: 16
    edited May 2011

    Hi all - I am new to this one!  I wish I had found you all last week!  I just did my first round of Epirubicin/Cytoxan this past Friday.  Have a port and it went great - thought it was nothing...four hours later I was in the bed feeling awful.  I never threw up, but felt horrible until this morning.  I took the Zofran every 8 hours, the phenegran just a couple times over the weekend and took the compazine four hours after the zofran.  I had the Neulasta shot on Sunday after lunch and now my rib cage hurts!!!  Today I feel so much better - just tired, but I'll take it!  I am no wimp but I had no idea I would actually feel this bad!  Anyone have anything they have found to work well?  Thank goodness my parents are here to help with my 10 yr old and 2 six year olds!!! 

    I will have 3 more of the EC and then do the T (taxol or taxere) for 4 rounds.  There are days I just can't believe I am going thorugh this!!!  I do like my wig though Laughing  Supposed to get my hair cut short this week in preparation!

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2011

    Hey cyborg - love the new pic!

  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited May 2011

    Cyborg, does that mean you are halfway through?! Yay!!!! Sorry about the infection. Did the fasting help with side effects?

    Thank you all for the well wishes. I know it will get better, just at my low for the next couple of days, at least that is how it went last time.

    Yes, getting rid of most of my hair was kinda freeing, much better than seeing it shed all over the place. It's the weird sensitive scalp that is also annoying, that does go away, doesn't it?

  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited May 2011

    Laureen, How did your treatment go today? We are about on the same schedule. I hope this one is easier on you than the last one. I think I feel about the same as last time, trying to drink more fluids, doc said to have gatoraid, all though I hate all the artificial colors in gatoraid.

  • DebRox
    DebRox Member Posts: 437
    edited May 2011

    What are you all able to eat a day or two after chemo?  I'm hoping to eat nutritionally and easy on fattening foods etc.

    I was really hopeing to juice, but don't know if it is a good idea as I will be juicing greens.  My Onc hasnt really provided any direction.

    Looked at my bloodwork today and I look pretty good going in.  Again my doc doesnt do mandatory neulasta shots unless absolutely necessary so have to keep my immune system up.

    Wow Cyborg, half way there.  Yeah

    How are you feeling Neecee?

    38yo:  Thinking of you..  Keep positive thoughts.

    Anyone not doing ports?  My onc did not recommend for me.  Hope all goes well!!!

  • rondajean
    rondajean Member Posts: 74
    edited May 2011

    oncologist has me scheduled for first AC next Tuesday.  I did sign up for the clinical trial of herceptin and it will be given every three weeks for 1 year.  I will know in a few days if I am approved for the trial.  I am nervous but feel that I should do anything that keeps me from getting cancer again.  This is not  guarantee but i think it is a good choice.

    I did get a tour of the infusion room....looked depressing and just plain ol sucked!  So many of you have given  such good advise and I plan on sitting down and writing some of this down.  

    I wish none of us had to do this to our bodies.  I laughed with the dr today when I said something about how toxic this stuff is and how it reminds me of monsters inc when the one monster touched the sock and the haz met team comes in and shaves him.  We laughed together and it felt good . . .for once 

  • rondajean
    rondajean Member Posts: 74
    edited May 2011

    beaglesgirl, glad to see your back up and typing!  I was getting worried about you :)

  • solds19
    solds19 Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2011

    Laureen...I have not checked in for a few days so just saw your post about constipation.  Thankfully I was warned ahead of time about this by a friend who had gone through chemo.  She suggested a tablet called colace.  Its over the counter.  I take 1 a day and it helps!

  • jackifp
    jackifp Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2011

    Nonono, sunshiny day....this is the last week with hair for awhile, until you win the battle with the forces of evil...at which time it will grow back with greater beauty than ever before...

  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited May 2011

    Welcome Rondajean! Laireen- how did it go! Neecee - thanks. Debris- eating a lot of soup. Low sodium with humerus, blk pepper & curry. I buy it in a carton at Trader Joes. I also heat up a bag of lentils that are cooked in the refrigerator section at trader joes and I pit curry on that. I also put some hummus on top of it. I also make skirpies with frozen fruit and frozen carrots with a blueberry unsweetened juice. Really getting into the food bit cause I will be fasting until 215 tomorrow. I am starving.BKJ66.. I usually feel good with the steroids on board. It's like magic. I felt crummy beginning of the fourth and fifth day. I am wondering if I felt bad cause the infection was brewing. It's so good to have everyone here.

  • Robyn_S
    Robyn_S Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2011

    Hi cyborg - well done on your fast! I have just climbed out of the chair so am heading home for a rest. I will be looking forward to lunch tomorrow!! Post chemo was a steady diet of mashed potato, chicken and cheese n crackers and that all sounds so delicious at the moment!

    Candice- fingers crossed for your scan results, the not knowing is the worst but being a brave strong woman you will endure this and triumph no matter what!

    BKJ66 - I have a seriously tender scalp too so hoping that will pass, I did not shave the pixie cut and still have a fair bit hanging on- just thinning all over, hats n scarves are taking a bit if getting used to but better than the alternative! I use a disposable scrub hat as a hairnet at night to keep my bedding hairfree.

    Hope everyone is keeping their SEs at bay and recovering well!

  • SheriBell
    SheriBell Member Posts: 393
    edited May 2011

    DebRox my onc does not routinely do those neulesta shots unless necessary.  I like that better. LIke many of you I start tomorrow and had my steroids today and I am up up up!  Sorry about the bold - I have a very glitchy laptop and it bolded it and now won't unbold!  Yes I know how to do it - it won't undo.  It is kinda funny because I feel pretty  bold right now!

  • ---
    --- Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2011

    neecee,

    i am glad to hear your port is of being good and favorable use for you.  i don't have a port and i have to weather each stick for 8 sessions.  i am also happy to know that your body seems to be holding up after your TC.

    my session today went well, i started having heavy sinus headache during the infusion of Cytoxan just like you!  i took advil as soon as i got home which helped a bit.  now, it's coming back as i am typing this.

    keep me posted as to how you are doing this week.  i'm just waiting for whatever needs to happen.  i have all my meds ready for around-the-clock intake.  hang in there!

    Laureen 

  • ---
    --- Member Posts: 197
    edited May 2011

    Cyborg,

    i love the new profile picture!  treatment went well, for now, having a headache and i'm fighting it with advil.  started my zofran and compazine on around-the-clock status.  Cyborg, I started getting clumps of hair this morning!  Today is my 15th day!  Yikes, left a lot of trails of hair in the tub.

    Laureen 

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