June 2011 A/C & T Groupies Unite!

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  • FGCUfan
    FGCUfan Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2011

    I'm not a good one to ask about chemopause--I started menopause at age 35 & I'm now 64 and still having hot flashes.  Never a regular period since 35.  Sorry I can't be of any assist on that!

    It's evening of day 4 & I'm fixing dinner, it's been a good day.  Hope yours all get better!!

    Love, luck, laughter, peace, prayers, & littles SEs to all.

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  • Southamptonmom
    Southamptonmom Member Posts: 491
    edited June 2011

    I've also jumped over from the June chemo board. I had a hysterectomy in August 2010, and had my ovaries out because of the risk if getting breast cancer.... Guess that didn't work! I had horrible hot flashes, but they're slowling down. I am day 10 post AC. I had unrelentless nausea day 3 and 4 and slowly improved from there. Day 8 and 9 I had severe bone pain. My energy level has also improved, and today I was able to vac the pool, swim, and go for a long walk. I've been using the baking soda/salt rinse 3-4 times a day. My tongue is funky, but no thrush or sores. I, too, had the angry stomach~argh. Today I have firey heart burn. I guess it's the "symptom of the day." Deep breath everyone.

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  • kks_rd
    kks_rd Member Posts: 363
    edited June 2011

    Kyroheal, for me the neupogen injections are no big thing. I had a great RN teach me and although my hand shakes every time, I can get through it.  I practiced on a dummy blob and then did it on myself with her.  It hurts no more or less than when someone else does it for you, I have to be honest.  But at least on my own, I can kind of go more quickly or slowly depending on it how it feels.

    I'm starting the shots again tomorrow and checked my supplies. I'll post them here in case it helps anyone else: alcohol sawbs, little bandaids, clorox wipes (my preference) and an applesauce jar for the syringes. No need for gloves the nurse said, just clean hands.  So I clean down the countertop with the clorox wipes, open everything up, wash my hands super-duper well and then give the shot before I contaminate anything.

    Hope this helps. :)

    I think I'm having a hot flash right now! I'll be interested to hear what others have to say on the chemopause subject. So glad it wasn't one of those "dumb" questions to all y'all. ;)

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  • kks_rd
    kks_rd Member Posts: 363
    edited June 2011

    FGCU, I loved the last line in your post! 

    Love, luck, laughter, peace, prayers, & littles SEs to all.

    Sums it up beautifully! Best wishes all- Kat

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    I am on day 12...no heartburn because I am taking Prilosec; no bone pain because I took Claritin; no mouth sores because I rinsed with baking soda/salt and also ACT mouthwash (similar to Biotene); no funky stomach because I seem to be hungry all the time and I just keep eating; not tired because I finally got a good night's sleep compliments of Restoril, and no early morning ducks quacking.  LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I am a chemical waste dump!!!!

    Seriously, I'm feeling pretty normal today.  We went out for supper on the patio of a restaurant at a golf complex.  We walked the cart path then got an ice cream.  I think we'll play 9 holes on Tuesday evening, before my Wednesday infusion and the start of the second cycle.  I'm feeling way better than I ever could have expected, and I'm going to keep on keepin' on until I can't.

    Hoping everyone has a good week with minimal side effects. 

    Michelle

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  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited June 2011

    I had my fourth and last dd AC this morning and all my SE are checking in...uuuugggg!!! Feel horrible. But I have to rally and get myself back there for the nuelasta shot tomorrow.



    Regardless I REACHED A MILESTONE! YAY!



    Taxol next 12 weekly.

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  • Southamptonmom
    Southamptonmom Member Posts: 491
    edited June 2011

    Congrats, Beaglesgirl on your milestone! I hope you find relief today! I have taken everything and still continue with heartburn. Tomorrow is my second AC and I'm worried I already have an ulcer. Did anyone have breast pain after starting treatment? Mine started a day or two ago.

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    Congratulations, Laura!!!  Do you go to the KC Cancer Center?  I went to the one off 435 and Holmes until I moved to NH.  Hope you are feeling better soon!

    Southamptonmom - I didn't have any breast pain...are you doing neo chemo?  Maybe it's a sign for you that it is working.  And are you taking some sort of antacid?  I started with heartburn a few days after my first treatment and I immediately started taking Prilosec.  I've had no trouble since then.

    I have my second treatment today starting at 10.  I am drinking like crazy, and I did the same yesterday.  One of my new favorite beverages is V8 Fusion Light - cranberry raspberry.  It has just the right sweet/tart flavor, and it's lower in sugar (helps with the diabetes thing).  I'll put on my scopolamine patch before I leave, which is just another anti-nausea precaution.  Plus it makes you thirsty, so it ensures that I'll flush this crap out of my system as quickly as possible.  My hair is still hanging in there - today is day 15.  I would think it will start to go any minute.  I'm as ready as I can be. 

    Hugs and healing to all,

    Michelle

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  • Southamptonmom
    Southamptonmom Member Posts: 491
    edited June 2011

    LuvRVing~ We are almost on the same schedule, as I am Day 13. I started on Friday the 17th, but my regular day is Thursdays. I already take omeprazole 40mg, pepcid 40mg, Maalox, and Gaviscon. Anti-nausea: Emend, zofran, compazine, ativan, decadron. I'm going to ask if I can take the omeprazole twice a day and add carafate. I have to ask about the scopolamine patch.I started hydrating yesterday. I am neo which freaks me out a little. I just want it out of me! Good luck today, and I hope you have the same positive outcomes in the days to come.

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    Southamptonmom - I think neo is a little scary, too.  I had a clear mammo in December and by the end of March I had a huge recurrence with several nodes involved.  I wanted that cancer out of there pronto, and did not want to take a chance on neo.  So I went the immediate bmx route.  My Ki67 was 90%, so that thing meant business and it needed to go, go, go!   We "older chicks" are supposed to have lazy, slow growing ER+ tumors.  I sure drew the short straw on that one!

    Wow, you are taking a ton of meds...you'd think that would be enough to ward off any tummy problems!  Hope you and your onc can come up with a combination that works for you!

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  • FGCUfan
    FGCUfan Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2011

    Laura so happy that you've finished with the A/C. It's been a beast for you and we will all pray that the Taxol will be easier. 

    Day 7 & time marches on, I'll have my 1st post chemo blood tests tomorrow and am hopeful that wbcs are behaving themselves!

    Love,luck, laughter, peace, prayers, & little SEs to all.

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    Sitting in the chemo chair getting pre-meds and hydration.  I am looking at my labs...the CMP results are just about perfect except for low Total Protein.  Bizarre because I've been eating my protein like crazy.  The CBC report shows high WBC, low RBC.  Everything associated with white cells are on the high side, everything associated with red cells are just barely on the low side.  I guess that is to be expected.  The Neulasta shot did its job, and I need to continue to eat more iron-rich food.  The word "Unremarkable" summed up the results.

    Hubby and son have gone off to get food. They will be coming back with soup and salad for me.

    Michelle

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  • kyroheal
    kyroheal Member Posts: 48
    edited June 2011

    Hey ladies,

    Hope everyone is doing well!

    Congrats Laura!!! That's really exciting!

    My SEs are making me feel like crap. I also think mentally i wasn't expecting this :(

    I've been thinking about doing a bilateral mastectomy bc of my age and triple neg status and that I don't want to go through this again. Anyone know how soon after chemo I can do that surgery? With reconstruction?

    Any info would be great!

    Thank you!!!

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    Kyroheal - sorry you're not feeling so hot.  Those first couple of days are a little unsettling!  I got home around 3, and I just took a Compazine as I'm just a little queasy.  I suggest you ask your surgeon and consult with a plastic surgeon.  I think it will depend on the type of reconstruction you want to have.  You will want your blood counts to be in the normal range.  I think some people have a BMX not that long after finishing chemo. 

    Michelle

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  • cider8
    cider8 Member Posts: 832
    edited June 2011

    Beaglegirl, so happy you are done with AC!  I'm halfway there. 

    My second dose of AC had left me with longer fatigue than the first round.  I'm on day 8 and I still napped three hours this afternoon (after falling asleep once in the morning).  I'm so weak and fatigued and it feels so discouraging.  I keep trying to remember it's only temporary!!  I'm not feeling strong and positive, but I tell myself it's not a bad thing.  Just as long I as I keep showing up and doing what I need to do!  

    As far as the question of surgery, I started with a bilateral Mx.  I have a revision surgery coming up and they told me 3 months after chemo.   

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  • kks_rd
    kks_rd Member Posts: 363
    edited June 2011

    LuvRVing, do you recall what your serum albumin was?  I'm a registered dietitian "in real life" and we don't always look closely at total protein when we have albumin available as should be the case in a CMP-14 (albumin is more directly tied to dietary protein, total protein is influenced by a bunch of things).  Unless you're over-hydrated, I'm willing to bet your albumin was above 4, in which case you're doing great! :)

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    kks_rd - my albumin was 3.8.  The range shown is 3.3 to 4.6.   I could be over-hydrated considering I made a point of drinking about a gallon yesterday!  My total protein was 6.2 with a range of 6.4 to 8.1.  Everything else in my CMP looked really good, which is a miracle considering I've been diabetic for 11 years now!

    Michelle

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  • dsnydawn
    dsnydawn Member Posts: 175
    edited June 2011

    Kyroheal -  I had my surgery first, but was told that you could do it as soon as 1 month after depending on your counts.  But will also depend on surgeon I guess.

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  • Southamptonmom
    Southamptonmom Member Posts: 491
    edited June 2011

    Kyroheal~ Hope you feel better quickly! I have my second AC chemo tomorrow. Not looking forward to the next 4 or 5 days. My surgical Onc said AC x4, TCH x 12 weeks, then surgery and radiation, then finish out the year with H. I was told they would talk to me about reconstruction. Because of radiation, I have limited options.

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  • singlemom1
    singlemom1 Member Posts: 434
    edited June 2011

    I had 2nd AC on monday. Tuesday and wed were pretty bad but not as bad as last time. Did not have reaction to steroids and compazine since dr made changes. Just feeling overall sick. I have babysitters taking care of my daughter. Two more to go - I can't wait till this is over.

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  • dsnydawn
    dsnydawn Member Posts: 175
    edited June 2011

    Well this morning I seem to have lower back pain.  I didn't think anything but then my legs started to hurt? I am currently I guess day #9 since 1st treatment.  I did the claratin with my neulasta shot and didn't have any problems then.  Is bone pain a side effect this long after shot for anyone?  Hoping I just slept funny and tweaked something.  Also went for my week after bloodwork yesterday and some count related to wbc was 900 and they don't like it to be over 800 ,so they put me on cipro (antibiotic) and have to repeat bloodwork friday...onc said very common for young healthy women (almost kissed him) after 1st round to have wbc very low but recover quickly .  I feel fine except for the back??

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    Dsnydawn - I don't know about the leg and back pain so late after the Neulasta shot.  But you could try taking the Claritin for a few extra days next time around.  Some people who have allergies take that stuff year round, so I don't think it will hurt you a bit.

    I am lucky that my bloodwork is done on treatment day - no need to go back mid-cycle for it.  My WBC was slightly higher than the reference range but no one was concerned.  If it becomes cumulatively higher, I may have to skip a Neulasta shot.  Oh well!

    Hugs and healing,

    Michelle

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  • medinorth
    medinorth Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2011

    How long after A/C did you start T? Please include how many treatments you had of A/C and T and how often.

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  • Southamptonmom
    Southamptonmom Member Posts: 491
    edited June 2011

    dsnydawn~Mine occured on day 8 and 9! I took alleve, and was already on a zyrtec type drug, but I'm going to try the claritin this time. Just got home from my 2nd treatment.

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  • FGCUfan
    FGCUfan Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2011

    Well today is day 8 & I had a midcycle blood work---wbc is 0.8!  No more raw veggies & fruits for a while.  Started on Levaquin today until next labs on 7/5/11.  Got to get them up so I can continue my chemo.

    Love, luck, laughter, peace, prayers, & little SEs to all 

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited June 2011

    Suzanne - are you getting the Neulasta shot after treatment?   If not, it seems like you should be!  Be careful with those low counts!

    Michelle

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  • FGCUfan
    FGCUfan Member Posts: 41
    edited July 2011

    Yes I'm on Neulasta.  My onc says after 1st A/C it is not too unusual for dramatic dip but mine may be a little more dramatic than anticipated.  I'm off my beloved salads & confined to the house until retest on 7/5/11.

    Love, luck, laughter. peace, prayers, & little SEs to all 

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited July 2011

    Suzanne - interesting because my wbc was high when they did my labs on Wednesday.  It's always interesting how different everyone is!  I'd be sad if I had to give up fruit and salads.

    Michelle

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  • 716bobbiejo
    716bobbiejo Member Posts: 140
    edited July 2011
    Suzanne - so sorry to hear your counts have dropped so much that you have yet more restrictions on your life!  I'll be praying for healing. Just thought I'd check in & report that I had round 3 of Taxol yesterday.  I'm definitely noticing that the fatigue & muscle/bone pain comes on quicker & lasts longer with each treatment.  I did take the Claritin for the Neulasta pain for round #2, & it helped tremendously.  However, the Taxol itself can also cause the same pain, though not nearly to the level of the Neulasta.  I'll be taking the Claritin around 1:30 today to prepare for my 2:45 Neulasta shot.  In round #2, I noticed that the Taxol related bone/muscle pain (actually I maybe should call it more of a fatigue than a pain), returned during week #2 especially when I tried doing too much (like walking around the science museum with my son all day on Saturday & then helping a friend move on Sunday).  For those who are doing Taxol next (which I think is just about all of you) my SE's so far have been fatigue, bowel trouble (fluctuating between constipation & diarrhea), hair loss, difficulty sleeping due to steroids, & bone/muscle pain/fatigue mostly in my lower half.  (Oh yeah, and an occasional headache.)  Very livable SE's, all of which have remedies if you can catch them at the right time.One thing I have not had is any nausea or vomiting.  I'm not looking forward to A/C for that reason.  It sounds like many of you are on A LOT of nausea meds.  I guess I thought that Emend was the cure all & that I wouldn't need anything else, but I see that many of you are taking other meds along with the Emend.  Right now I get Aloxi during infusion, I take one Emend an hour before infusion, & one per day for the next 2 days.  I get Decadron during the infusion, & then take it twice per day on days 2, 3, & 4 following infusion.  I take Ambien as needed for sleep.  Those are the only prescriptions that I'm taking.  (Not counting the OTC remedies for other SEs.)  I'm really nervous about how I'll react to the A/C.  I really feel like I'm getting the easier end of the stick first, which is not good because school starts again for me on 9/1, & I'll still have one more treatment on 9/8 to get through assuming all goes well with my levels & we remain on schedule.  I just don't deal well with nausea/vomiting, & it seems like the majority of you are fighting this SE to some degree.I wish you all a SE free weekend to enjoy Independence Day with family & friends! 
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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited July 2011

    Bobbie Jo - I'm on AC first, and I am getting the same anti-nausea meds as you, except I get Decadron on infusion day only.  I have compazine and ativan on hand in case I need it.  And oh, I am wearing the Scopolamine patch as it helps me.  I have a tendency towards being easily nauseated (car sickness, morning sickness, sea sickness, etc).  I took one compazine the night of treatment, but that's it.  I don't really think I'm on any more anti-nausea meds than you are, and I am getting way less Decadron.  So far this time, I've been pretty good.  And last time the smell of charcoal lighter fluid set me off; otherwise, I did OK.  I can honestly say I haven't skipped a meal due to nausea.

    Hope you have a good weekend, too!

    Michelle

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