June 2011 A/C & T Groupies Unite!

Stephanie - I second BobbieJo's sentiments regarding your son's service.  This has been brought home even more with the shooting down of the Seals' helicopter.  It's an unfortunate reminder of the extreme danger that our service men and women face each and every day. 

BobbieJo - yup, just a quick look at the list of discussions under this forum.  I'll give you chemo brain....lol!

Michelle

Awesome Stephanie!  Getting to see your son.  

I hope you with the nausea issues get them worked out with the doc.  I didn't have those issues, so I think my doc has a good protocol in place.  She is also very insistant that I call if ANYTHING is wrong.  Sooo....

I called today with a new side effect!  Today is day 8 after first Taxol.  I woke up with a rash all over my trunk (belly and back), thighs, back of knees, inside of arms, top of hands.  Itchy, blotchy, red, raised.  The nurse told me it can happen with Taxol.  She wants me to take Benedryl and use some 1% hydrocortisone.  I need to stay on top of the doses today and if it's not relieved by tomorrow to call back before the weekend.  Bleh.  It's not insane itching, but a low level of constant itch.  I need to run out for the Benedryl (what I had in the cabinet expired 2006!) and had the cream on hand.  I used the cream less than an hour ago and have relief already.  I'm not a fan of Benedryl, but I'll take it as I'm told.  

Now, a bit of TMI SE.  Several days ago I had some slight constipation which physically irritated me.  So now things have changed to really soft stools which are irritating my irritation!  I had to deal with constipation from surgery and pain meds before chemo, but that was short lived and non-irritating.  The chemo is taking me back to my post-partum days and I needed to buy some Tucks pads!  I'm not sure if it's a hemorrhoid or fissures.  (sigh)  I'll be so glad to get my fast reproducing cells back!  I didn't have this issue with AC.  Normally I'm very regular and, shall I say, balanced.  I'm not sure if this is a Taxol thing or a cumulative chemo thing.  

My Oncology Dietitian recommended me to take Organic Acacia Fiber (I bought Heather's Tummy Fiber) because it regulates naturally bowel motility (alleviating both diarrhea AND constipation).  I take just ½ tbs with my smoothie daily.

Paula - If you wind up with diarrhea try the flushable moist wipes; they really help with general soft tissue irritation (Scott Naturals Green Done Right Flushable Wipes). I bought them at Amazon. Try using flushable moist wipes the first few days after chemo to prevent the discomfort/burning that may accompany urination; these may help soothe irritated tissues. You may also use a squirt bottle with warm water. I recommend using Vaseline or a diaper rash ointment as a barrier for a week or two after chemo. It also helps with the dry skin in that area. Taking precautions several days in advance for constipation will help you to avoid bleeding hemorrhoids associated with straining.

Well... I went in.. and sat for two hours with an IV and 3 med push.  That cut the nausea and headache down... somewhat.  It was a 3 before I went in, now it is a 1....

I got two more prescriptions for the next round as well as a new set of drugs in the premeds. So, hopefully this will work.....

Lunch stayed down! 

Haven't posted for a long time. Just can't seem to make myself sit at the puter. I started doing some reading today to prepare for taxol. One more week and I'm heading for round three of AC.

Some things have me worried.
The list of foods posted that I shouldn't be eating.
After first AC I had tumeric twice in a stew. Have been taking multivitamin, but not every day. Also after round two I used a lot of mint tea. Only once this time though.

I read on one thread that three weeks between AC may be less effective than two. Especially for negatives. My biopsy indicated positives so hopefully that means the three weeks won't be much different than two. I asked for that schedule to have a week to be able to function. Hoping it wasn't a horrible mistake.

My 5 cc lump doesn't seem to be getting smaller almost two weeks out from round two. Has that been so for any of you?

 I will try to read this thread more faithfully. Be easier than trying to catch up all at once. Problem is making myself get online at all!

I skimmed the posts and can't add much that hasn't been answered. Someone asked if anyone had breast pain with neo. Yes, not bad, but definite twinges of pain off and on.

Ralson, this may be a non-issue, because your post was awhile back. They gave me zolfan in a melt on your tongue form so it hit the bloodstream fast. Was a nuisance for me because I wasn't vomiting and had to really work to dredge up enough saliva to melt it. But if you still have vomiting, it might help.

I'm a stay at home housewife (kids raised and have grandkids) so have the luxury of watching Dvds (can't seem to focus on reading. We spurged on netflix (streaming only) It's ok, but many of the good shows you have to sign up for the more expensive membership and get them in the mail. Maybe when I run through all the streaming ones.

A question for those on taxol. I'm on once a week for twelve weeks. Do you take the claritin when you get the infusion, or for the full time to prevent pain?

Bobbi Jo and Ralston, thank you!  I feel better about addressing my irritation--whatever it actually is.  

My taxol rash has not subsided!  Unless it miraculously disappears, the same way it appeared this morning, I will be calling my doc in the morning!  

3bells, I had a very hard time with liquids on AC.  Thank goodness it's not nearly as bad on taxol.  I tried to eat more 'juicy fruits' to help me along.  Even ice cream!  I've been taking claritin for several days: infusion day to maybe day 4 or 5.  But I go every 2 weeks.  

I forgot to tell you all my eyebrows are thinning!  Not gone, but thinner and patchy.  I'm sad because I have good eyebrows without help from brow color.  I rarely feel like putting on makeup to help me out now; maybe after chemo is done.  My 7yo did suggest I get fake eyebrows if I really want to!    

Oh Rose, that sounds like a miserable experience!  Why on earth did they miss the port?  I'd be one unhappy camper, for sure!  I do expect to be in the chair for 4-5 hours on Wedneday.  They told me that Taxol itself takes 3 hours.  I guess that's the difference between every week and every two week.  I'm guessing the pre-meds take the same time, so I am not unhappy to be on the every two week plan.

 I've heard about Taxol/Taxotere rash...not looking forward to the possibility of an allergic reaction.  But I intend to enjoy my weekend and not think about it too much.

 Hope everyone has a comfortable day,

Michelle

Rose - I think there are conflicting opinions about icing, just like everything else.  I've already discussed this with my chemo nurse and she has no problem with it.  I am definitely using bags of peas/corn/whatever is cheap along with the supplements that have been mentioned.  Neuropathy is a big deal, especially for a diabetic.  And it may help prevent the nails from lifting off the nailbed, which is really painful. 

I'm going for labs today in advance of Wednesday's chemo.  They are doing a tumor marker test.  I'd like to see something lower than my numbers before surgery and four rounds of AC.  Let's hope!!!  I'll get the results on Wednesday - it takes a few days for the test results.

Michelle

Bobbie Jo, I'm so very sorry to hear that your sister is also going through this, especially since you two can't be together.  But I'm sure you are with each other in spirit and by email, etc.  I hope your AC#2 goes better for you.  And thank you very, very much for your post on my CaringBridge site.  It's so encouraging to get Guestbook posts.

Michelle, I did enjoy my week off, very much.  And I think it has certainly helped me get through AC#3.  Time will tell since I just had it yesterday.  But I took a little nap yesterday, then went to eat at Furr's and went to see a movie - The Help.  I read the book, and both the book and movie are wonderful!  I prefer the book, of course.  But the movie really brought it to life.  I'm glad you got an extra week off as well.  Not glad for the reason, but I know the break was nice.

Michelle, after reading all the posts I had dh get some watermelon and am enjoying it. I think it will work during the bad days. Hard to figure how much liquid to add to a quota though.

Paula, I hoped I would read that your rash was better today. The rash is one thing I have to not let myself worry about. I tend to have allergic reactions. One hive both times in reaction to the adramycin. Second time half way through the injection. If the added benedryl hadn't brought it down they wouldn't have been able to finish the dose. Best thing, to call your doc. Praying that they can get it under control for you.

Rose, it's hard to believe they could miss the port once. Three times is nasty! Not a good first time. You must have been exhausted just from the experience, not just the chemo. Hopefully ses will be few!
Thanks for the info on silent reflux. I hadn't heard of that. I have the prilosec generic in my "in case" stash. I don't want to chance acid reflux burns so maybe I should try it.

Has anyone heard recently from singlemom? I remember her from when I was "on board" earlier in July and have been praying for her. Maybe she just can't fit the forums into everything else she has to handle.

Hello ladies, I'm late to the party, but I spent this morning reading through this whole thread, and want to thank you for all the great advice. (I've been over on the Triple Neg thread, but I don't post much because I only have IPhone access right now)



I started neo-adjunc chemo 6\1 with 12 weekly Taxol then 4 DD AC. This Wed. will be my last Taxol, so I found you because I was looking for AC info (and I found it in spades, thank you ladies!!)



I do have a question for the group, and I have a reason I'm asking. As I read through the thread I saw some of you mention "boot camp chemo", "nurse navigators" and other ways you were prepared for chemo. Could you tell me a little more how each of your facilities prepared you?



I'm a nurse and getting my tx at Dana Farber, which is a world class cancer facility (waves hi to Michelle) but I'm astounded by something. Would you like to know what information I got to inform me before chemo? NADA, NIL, ZILCH!!!! (I did grab a secretary who hunted up a booklet for me). I've also run into some other misinformation that could have been a problem if I didn't have a great infusion nurse.



So ladies, please tell me how you were educated by your facilities. I have been keeping a journal, and plan with meeting with somebody in administration about this problem