Chemo May 2011

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  • txladysara
    txladysara Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2011

    Thank you Beaglesgirl. Sorry for whinning but it's overwhelming right now. :( Thanks, trying to be strong.

  • MamaV
    MamaV Member Posts: 907
    edited July 2011

    I had vision problems for a week after every A/C but none with taxol. Hope everyone gets a break from all of these darn SEs. They stink

  • blondelawyer
    blondelawyer Member Posts: 327
    edited July 2011

    txladysara:  I hope that the SE ease up soon--they sound miserable!  Hang in there!

  • Robyn_S
    Robyn_S Member Posts: 197
    edited July 2011

    Txladysara- the rash may be an irritation from the taxol on elimination- I started to get an itchy reaction even though rinsing well with warm water- I used a nappy rash powder (zinc oxide- curash powder) to dry and soothe and it worked brilliantly giving immediate relief from the itch and helping to heal.

    Taxotere is a doozy- itchy dry eyes (lubricating drops work) and sore dry nose (saline rinse helps) at the moment and not much of an appetite. But would still take it any day over FEC or AC!! No nausea !

  • txladysara
    txladysara Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2011

    Thanks Blondelawyer.

    Robyn-Plan on going to the dr on Monday, have to wait till then, and well its no fun, so itchy. Was going to take benadry but i have none. Yeah no nausea but I think the side effects are bad in a different way, wasn't expecting this. The first 3 days all I did was sleep and felt so tired and had two dizzy spells, that wasn't too bad. But now uggh :(. Throat did hurt for eating so i'm thinking if i have thrush I hope it didnt go down my throat too :(

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

    Robin and Txlady-I had that problem with ac as I was getting a 24 hour drip. The hospital gave me moisturiing wipes and I used those everytime I wiped and those helped me so much. I forgot about that because as soon as I used the wipes everything went fine after. Maybe your doc will recommend the ones from the hospital, I forget what they are called but come in a green pack. 

  • Patriotic
    Patriotic Member Posts: 281
    edited July 2011

    Brilliant, Robyn_S. Got lots of diaper cream on hand. Great! Something else to worry about when I start AC next week. Thanks for the warning.



    Blonde lawyer, have a great time in HI. Something about HI just seems to soothe the soul. I, too, am wondering what the heck I'll do during the 4 weeks between the end of chemo and surgery. I am sure it will seem like an eternity!! LOL



    Txladysara, hope you get a break soon.

  • neecee
    neecee Member Posts: 663
    edited July 2011

    Patriotic - I use diaper cream too.  It works like a charm!

  • Plils
    Plils Member Posts: 146
    edited July 2011

    Good afternoon,

    Sara, I was also having and still am vision problems and my Dr. cut my steroids in 1/2 and told me it was from them so we can only hope when this is over our vision will go back to what it was, night time driving is the worst for me.

    Beaglesgirl - does miralax work for you?  I take two Senna with one colace in the morning and at night and it seems to work good for me but I have noticed right after treatment I am going to have to do more because my body trys very hard to get constipation and I do not want any of the it hurst like hell.  Good luck.

  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited July 2011

    Pam,

    Yes, I have found that Miralax does work for me but I found this thread that has some wonderful ideas that have worked for others.  

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/768428?page=2#idx_51

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

    bkj66- I am 1/2 way threw my chemo. I did have rads at the beginning for 10 days on my leg and arm to help with the pain. The pain is mostly undercontrol with meds, but I have weakness in my right leg and cant walk without a walker or wheelchair. I see a physical therpist on the 26 of this month. I am expecting rads after chemo on the breast, lung and liver. I am not sure if they will do more on the arm and leg or not.

    I will have a CT scan in about 5 weeks (just before my 5th treatment). I am only scheduled for 6 treatments.

    I seem to be very very tired, having hot flashes that last for 4-6 hours and on my period. I think my body is revolting, I am worried what type of revolution it will have. LOL

    Take care, hope SE are minimul.

    Candice

  • justme1
    justme1 Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2011

    we cn we get off this roller coaster like now? Yesterday feeling great today feeling like i got hit by a truck.suposed to be a good week....

  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited July 2011

    BTW Pam, I take 2 doses of miralax the day before and the morning of chemo. 

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

    38, hope the chemo is kicking a$$! Yes, the se's are very tiring, I can't imagine that with the pain and weakness you are going through. I hope pt helps with the pain. Are you on ac, or was it tac?

    I just finished #6, my last ac and I don't feel so well. My doc is giving me a 4 week break between my next round of chemos, he want me well healed from the ac, I guess. I don't really want to wait that long, but it is his call, as I trust him. I will get a pet/ct in between to make sure nothing new has popped up. I am going to try to enjoy my extra 2 weeks of recovery, and maybe work some extra hours so I have some money!!!

  • singlemom1
    singlemom1 Member Posts: 434
    edited July 2011

    I had vision problems after my first tx and the doctor told me it was the steroids. Since I had a reaction( in many ways) to the steroids, she cut them down quite a bit and that helped. I am so sorry you are having such a hard time TXLady I feel for you. I am not handling the AC well at all. I get very sick and the last time was down for the count for two weeks. The Doc states she thinks my body is very sensitive to the chemo. Going for #3 in the morning.  So scared, but this time I am staying with a friend. I have been alone the last two times and I think that has made it worse. My 5 year old daughter will also stay with me and my friend for the first 5 days until she leaves for vacation. 

    Beaglesgirl - hang in there! I am thinking about you!

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

    Singlemom, We were diagnosed only 4 days apart, but I am having chemo first. AC was no picnic, and I had to do 6 rounds, yuck! I am finished with ac!!! Are you having to do a taxol also?

    Edited to add:

    Singlemom, I'm glad you are staying with someone to help you and your daughter, I hope that will ease some of your fear. I hope this round is easier on you.

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

    uggg. I feel like crap.

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

    beaglesgirl and bkj66,

    my se's got better as i passed through 5th and 6th day of #1 taxol.  all my nails are half-way black now, fingers still numb and tingly, and weight has been up and down.  had to take norco for the severe body pains from 3rd to 6th day.  i downgraded to ibuprofen yesterday.

    i hope everyone is feeling better this week.

    laureen

  • txladysara
    txladysara Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2011

    So sorry that alot of us are feeling so lousy :( . I am a bit better took a benadryl last night then went to bed. Called my Oncologist this morning i thought for sure he would send me to my general dr, but they told me to come on in. Took a quick shower, less itching but so much rash it looks awful ewww!! And well my throat is a little better but still hurt/bothers me when i swallow and mouth has an awful flavor. Well Dr. checked my throat and yes its thrush, and he didn't check my privates but he says the med he is gonna give me should work for both things. I really hope so, he prescribed Diflucan once a day for 5 days. I also have these hemroids eww again, i feel so gross! He also prescribed something for that. Drop the prescription off, but wasn't able to pick it up 'cause son took me and he had plans. I really wanna start them already! I am hoping my sis will be able to pick them up for me later today. Well here's to brighter days. This too shall pass! We just have to hang in there, we don't have much of a choice I guess if we want to get better and improve our odds of living a long full life. :) God bless you all my May Sisters! :D

  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited July 2011

    Laureen, so glad you checked in and that your SEs are better. I had to take vicodin day 2 thru 5 for the bone pain.



    #2 tomorrow I'm going to let them know that my vision is really bad with this taxol, along with the pain.



    Hope this next round is easier on you



    Laura

  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited July 2011

    Oh Sara, I will say a prayer for you that this passes quickly and that someone picks your scripts up. That is so frustrating to have to rely on someone else. ((((hugs)))))

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

    Glad to hearfrom you laureen.

    Hope you get your scripts soon sara and that you find relief.

    beaglesgirl, hope your next round goes better too.

    This last ac has really been different for me-diarrehea for the first time on ac! It is horrible, I think it is because the nurse gave me something extra for constipation, well it worked! Maybe it will be good to be so cleaned out! Miserable in the meantime. I will drink extra fluids during this.

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

    beaglesgirl,

    so are you doing weekly taxol?  i am on dose dense every two weeks.  will be back on the chair next monday.  i'll be thinking of you tomorrow.  i didnt have vision problems.  what happened to your vision?

    laureen

  • txladysara
    txladysara Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2011

    Thank you so much beaglesgirl, I will pray for you too :) That your vision will improve and that the pain be gone. (((((Hugs))))) 

  • Beaglesgirl
    Beaglesgirl Member Posts: 287
    edited July 2011

    My glasses barely touch my vision issues right now, it literally happened overnight. I read somewhere that it's not the taxol, that it's the steroids. I will find out what the doc thinks tomorrow. I am on 12x weekly laureen.

  • DebRox
    DebRox Member Posts: 437
    edited July 2011

    Beaglesgirl: i complained of vision probes after first tx as well. I felt as though I required a new prescription. My onc stated steroids cause vision changes. Hopefully this is all it is. What I have been doing is using eye ointment every night. It is a thick substance you can buy OTC to lubricate your eyes.



    Txladysara: I have an on/off hemmroid (sp) problem. If I use that baby cream destin, it helps alleviate the soreness and itchiness. Hope that helps, yet another thing to deal with. I hope you find relief and feel better.



    Single mom: glad you are staying with a friend this time. That will help.



    Bkj66: enjoy your 4 week break from chemo. Eat well and help your body recover.



    38yo: keep kicking cancers ass! You can do it.



    Cngrats to the ladies who have finished chemo and moving on with treatment.

  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited July 2011

    Back from Las Vegas. Trying to catch up on reading this. Congrats Blondelawyer on brainscan and necrosis in your breast tumor. Glad u r going to Hawaii .

  • MamaV
    MamaV Member Posts: 907
    edited July 2011

    Beaglesgirl I'm so sorry to hear about your pain on weekly taxol.  I had so hoped you would do better with the pain :(

    My amazing 12 year old DD has been sending me daily emails and inspirational pictures.  A few weeks ago she sent:

    "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." 

    We are strong ladies - even in our weakest moments we keep fighting!

  • DebRox
    DebRox Member Posts: 437
    edited July 2011

    Mamav: amazing quote your dd sent. Love it. Smetimes I don't feel that way that's for sure, but keep going, one foot ahead of the other.

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

    And just like the quote says, "women are like tea bags.  we don't know how strong we are until we are thrown into hot waters." - Eleanor Roosevelt

    laureen

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