Is there a July 2011 group?

Okay the SE that is doing me in is an itchy/prickly rash on my chest and scalp that started day 5 post T/C. Had a hard time sleeping last night. No OTC creams seem to help. Will call advise nurse soon as they open this morning.

Does anyone know why they give you benadryl? Support nurse was telling me that they give you this before hand but I did not ask her why.

Hi.  The benadryl if for to help along with the steriod to stop or help allergic reactions.  I did have a weird thing happen on the taxotere.  We had about 10 minutes left and my legs starting hurting really bad from the knee down.  I told the nurse.  She stopped the drip, gave me some more benadryl and it went away all within 5 minutes.  She started the drip slower and nothing else happened.  Our bodies do not want this stuff in us so they tend to act out.  The benadryl helps that.

About the period.  Mine have always been erratic.  I can go 2-6 months without one.  Well, mine did show up the week after chemo and it was ALOT.  I hadnt had one since April 16 and I kinda hope that was my last one for a while.

Im doing good.  I mentioned about the hair below falling out.  Well, last night the hair on my head started.  I had it buzzed last week due to shedding and getting it over with.  I used my lint roller last night and OMG I filled it up 4 times.  Today is worse.  I should be silky smooth by the end of the week!  I let my kids lint roll my head and they got a kick out of how much was on there. lol.  BTW, this is day 16.  I have to look at it now to remember.  I see that as a good thing.  I am feeling so normal (other than my hair) that I stopped counting the days!!!

@ valbee. Hi Valbee, I try protecting my nails with Silicea Cell Salt tabs. Maybe a little help from the inside will do the trick

Sommer, I got Neulasta yesterday.  Kinda an emergency thing for me....onc nurse says get in the car and come here NOW!   I got claritin on the way home - as instructed.  Then somewhere between there and here I started to panic.  I felt like I couldn't swallow.  I finally took the claritin and laid down.  I think my nerves got the best of me.  I settled down, which I really hadn't done since chemo and the steroids.  I feel pretty good.   I have Rheum Arthritis - so I am absolutely not looking forward to bone aches.  I have them enough.

Sommer, this is all so new to me, and I'm no expert.  I figured I would need the Neulasta because with R.A.. my blood counts are all wacked out like an autoimmune disease.  I even asked about it before my infusion.  Nurse said they checked and my blood was good. Lip service I suppose.  I was feeling so good the next morn, I went about my day in a great way and they caught up with me.  They suggested claritin to counter the SE's of the neulasta. My guess is an SE is like an allergic reaction. My MO rx'd steroids and benedryl - which I think are also often prescribed for allergy relief to help with SE's during chemo too.   I feel Ok, I guess they are working for me. 

Shaved my head today!! This morning in the shower, I had handfuls of hair coming out, like a dog! I'm at day 15, one day behind Jamie. 

went to one of the cancer centers here in Louisville and they gave me an awesome wig (will probably only wear once in a great while) and several beautiful turbins. Also scheduled a free massage for next week and one in September. It's so nice they do this stuff for us!

I went to the dr. today for bloodwork, white count was 2000, pretty darn low but expected I'm told, funny thing is I don't feel that bad, thought I would but I don't. Had a fever of 99.5 and that was after taking a hydrocode so it was probably a touch higher...dr. put me on cipro to be safe. I feel okay....I don't want to postpone my next chemo in one week so hopefully this knocks out whatever is trying to start up.  

I was diagnosed in late April.  In my lymph nodes both sides, signs in left breast, but big tumor was in the right breast.  Has already spread to my spine and ribs, so metastatic stage IV, no masectomy, but started my Chemo on May 23.  Doing C3D1, which I learned means 3 chemo drugs(plus other things) every 21 days and Herceptin every week. 

Got my port in the Fri before I started what I now call Big C (every 21 days).  I too was freaked, but turns out, nothing to it but it is just slightly sore to the touch.  Seatbelt bothers me when I drive, so bought one of those cushy deals to put around the strap, helps.

 After 1st BigC, went home and enjoyed 2 shots of Jose and a beer.  Next day back to Center for a shot of Neulasta (to help produce more white blood cells).  They warned me....n they were right, the BigC wasn't bad at all but that Neulasta made me think the top of my head and every bone in my body were gonna burst like a melon.  Took 5 days to feel better.  The weekly Hercetin Chemo, I call H-C does not affect me at all.

2nd BigC and next Neulasta only took 3 1/2 days to feel better, wasn't near as bad as 1st.  Now I have finised my 3rd Big C (3 more to go I hope I hope).  Took 7 days to feel better, but I had allergic reaction (my eye bout swoll shut) to something and was reacting to Keflex, then Sulfa, then Steroid (because of the folliculitis, if someone wants more info on that lovely ailment jes holler). 

Hope this helps those just beginning!  Sending everyone positive thoughts and keep SMILING!

Hi ladies; updates from me now:-) today is day 7 after my first chemo (thurs 7/7) and it was NOT A GOOD DAY!!!! It all started yday evening. I went back to work on monday and have been having good days, the eves have been abit tough but manageable, BUT last evening i started getting the chills first, then i felt soooo tired, took a nap on the sofa while my kids were watching TV and hubby was making dinner. I was feeling hot one minute then cold the next. Took some tylenol xtra strength and lorazepen before bedtime, slept fine. Woke up at 5am and i just did not feel the same, my body was aching all over, i had this tingling feeling on my back that went round my abs then to my legs. I tossed and turned for a while then decided to take another tylenol and lorazepen, went back to sleep, woke up feeling a little better. Decided not to go to work. Had bfast and just slept all day. I called my doc's office regarding the tingling feeling and the nurse told me that its the SEs of the meds we get:-( she told me to take aleve, which helped alot. My mouth feels funny/weird/dryish, thank God i still have taste for food. I am hoping and praying that tomorrow is better; planning to go to work tomorrow.The other thing i noticed is that i get palpitations every now and then. 

Dexxy - how are you feeling?

Have a good nite and a blessed Thursday all. HUGS!!

Welcome Kimberly69. Were you born in 1969? I was, that's why I asked. 

Paulamati: Weird, I got my period late by at least a week and it was the day after my first chemo. Wonder if it will be my last.

Today was my second fill-up of A/C. I feel tired mainly because it's a long and strenuous day. Going to sleep now. 

Snoopy73- I read that a Biotene mouthwash was helpful. The one I picked purchased was for dry mouth. That may help you out. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

snoopy, I got some massive palpitations the first few days after chemo, onco told me today that it was probably more stress related than anything...

good luck everyone, hope we all have few SEs! 

snoopy73, hope you will better when you wake up.  I use Chlor-rinse which I find pleasant.

ewa-swimmer - My aches are still bearable, its the weakness, the gas bloating and the insomnia that are affecting me.  Appetite is also gone.  Hope day 5 is better.  I just got back from my neupogen jab this late morning and crashed out on the sofa for half hour but no deep sleep.

misswim - all the best.  think of it as 1 down...

Cathy_C - I told my boss I am off for 6 months.  I am blessed in that I have a supportive boss and a good company who is paying for all the private medical care for me and still paying me wages.  As this is my 2nd cancer, insurance wont cover anymore.  We dont have short term disability here.  good to stop working and focus on getting well.  Also when we are undergoing chemo, immunity is weak and hence dont want to catch anything out there. 

 All the best Bless0Mel! 

Hi all, wasn't on the past 2 days, had wicked bad Se's all around...could barely move. I have rheumtoid arthritis so my immune system is already compromised and the oncologist thought this might be contributing. I just woke- 3AM-  and no headache, feel my joints are better, but I am on percoset, and mostly I have a really really sore mouth. I too think I may be gtting a lister/boil down below...OY!

Decided not to wait and called onc regarding a step up to a stronger drug than mouth wash for the thrush. I sent her pictures via email and she had an Rx called in immediately. She says she will have me start the diflucan on day 1 of treatment to try to prevent the thrush again. I just have to get rid of it first.

Glad to hear msot of you are managing well.

Shinypop- how great...People can be so wonderful

J-Bug had read your post and it is all so individual. Sorry that is where this took you.

I made myself take a walk around the block today- had to hold onto my hsuband- lsot 6 pounds in 2 days because I could not drink without pain.Still can't..like my mouth is  burning up...but I am hopeful the meds will work within a day or two....

I can see why people give up. I am not going to but my first go was a walk in hell and I am glad at least for this moment I feel a bit better.

I am reading Swamplandia byyoung Karen Russell.... funny, creepy, silly and a good thing to take ones mind elsewhere. Also have David Sedaris, and have a Evelyn Waugh's A Hadful of Dust. Am not getting to them as I though I would but there is always online library book renewa.

Hope everyone is doing OK.

Thank you Fraces.
I will see if things get better today adn if not will ask the oncoloigist for something to numb my mouth.

I am hoping htis s stronger drug kicks in , over te next 48 hours.