August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

OH  believe me Taylor I never have thought in a million yrs I would have the nerve to buzz mine either,LOL  but it does makes it a lot easier to cope with it falling out in clumps especially if you have had long hair like mine you will know when the time is right,and somehow u will get the courage , Good Luck and thinking of you !!!

Vinade45 Good luck with the head shave today and thats lovely to have your daughter with you , you will be fine. 

Im on day 3 past 2nd TX no SE's yet and sleeping great just feeling a little loopy from the steroids , I feel like my brain is fried and cant concentrate if someone is talking to me , (anyone else feel that way on the steroids)  just went picking blackberries and apples with my hubbie and his mom and he is gonna make Blackberry and apple Crumble tonight, 

Hope everyone is well and to those of you having a hard time with SE's big hugs to you and I hope they subside soon,  

I'm on day 10 after 2nd A/C and still feel like crap. I was able to work this past week but stomach felt horrible all week and don't want to eat or drink. Then woke up today and no energy. Slept 12 hours and laid back down and slept more. I have not bounced back from this treatment yet and suppose to have another one on Thursday. I have an appointment to see the doctor first. This second treatment has hit so hard I hate to think what the 3rd tx does.



Hope everyone has a S/E free weekend!

Hi everyone, not feeling well today. Day 5, of #4 a/c tx. Hit me a little late, shthakey and guess what, I caught my daughter's cold. Got stuffy nose and phlegm. I hope and pray it doesn't turn into anything. Drrinking tea like there is no tomorrow. Just, really, really tired. Thank god my mom is here to help. She just took the kids for a ride to town. Sorry to whine, sometimes it feels bettee to just let it go!



The neulasta shot se kicked in last night, pain in neck, shoulders, forehead, back. Should be gone by tomorrow. Hopefully.



Sorry all.



Hope everyone else is feeling ok. Hugs and love from jenn

Sorry Jenn that you are not feeling good. Sorry about the cold too, I am nervous about catching anything from my kids and grandkids.  It took me a good 8 days to start to feel anything like 'normal' again after each tx.  Even now on day 11 I am still having some nausea and am tired.  I did go in for more hydration yesterday which has helped too.  I get Taxol, and the pains I get from that and the Neulasta are all in my hips and legs, and will last about 3 days. 

You will pick up again, it gets better just before you start again!!  Whine away on here that's what we're all here for.

Hi Everyone!

I'm day 3 post  3rd AC and I'm feeling okay, actually better than usual at this point.  I hate to speak too soon because I know that this can change at anytime and I can be achy and down in the dumps at any moment.  Just some aches from the Neulasta shot is all I can really complain about at this point.  

Theatrecat - I would definitely make sure that your ONC gives you different meds for nausea. Mine has prescribed Emend ( a 3 pack that I take one hour before treatment, and the other 2 on the 2 following days), Dexamethasone ( for days 2, 3 and 4), Granisetron (daily as needed) and Phenergen (as needed, I carry this in my purse for any breakthrough nause I might incur).  I admit that I take something at the slightest twinge of nausea, but I have not thrown up once since I started chemo.  I think Emend is a godsend. 

Koalakid - I hear you about the prosthetics.  I live in Austin, Texas where it has been way too hot to consider wearing one.  I haven't even pursued ordering one yet.  I have a little cheap form that I found, I call it the "equalizer", that I put in my camisole when I feel like it's important to look somewhat even.  Otherwise, I go without it.  Same with the headcoverings.  I've only worn a wig twice and just found a hat that I can tolerate. Definitely looking forward to the cooler weather.

Robyn - We're in the same boat it seems regarding our DHs.  Mine is transitioning between jobs (he was recruited around the time I was diagnosed) and works every day until he drops at night. He does still manage to go to all of my appointments and makes sure I'm taken care of, but I do miss our normal interactions.  His mother has been around to pick up any slack.  I don't feel as though I can bother him with all of my whinings, etc. while he is so busy trying to make sure that he meets deadlines and keeps track of our finances.  Luckily, I have a friend who is 4 years post BC treatment and is also a counselor.  She tells me that this is a fairly common situation with couples in any sort of "crisis" situation.  While one is in crisis, the other one holds things together.  She told me that once she was deemed "cancer free", her DH finally broke down and let his emotions show.  I hope that you will soon regain the interaction with your husband that you are missing. 

I have one more tx of AC on 9/29 and I can't wait to get that behind me.  Three weeks later I'll start 12 weekly TX of Taxol.  I spoke with my ONC about the shortage of Taxol and he did not think that it would effect my treatment. I'm happy to hear that as the infusion nurses keep referring to it as "chemo lite".  The NP also told me that I will find it much easier than the AC.  

There are many other posts that I read that I could respond to, but I forget as I keep reading. I'll start taking notes as I read.  

I hope you all are having a nice weekend free of SEs!

BTW, is there anyone else from Texas here?

edye 

Jenn,, I'm experiencing some of the same symptoms as you this weekend. I had AC #3 on Tuesday and thought I was over the worst of it. This weekend, I've been really shaky and feeling very tired. Hope it improves soon! I hope your cold goes away. I've been really nervous about that now that the kids are back in school.



Taylor, glad to know there's another fellow Canadian with me. There are a few of us Southern Ontario gals here. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Konandkalsmom - So sorry that you are having terrible diarrhea SE.  I have found using vaseline liberally and also Preparation H suppositories helpful.  Also Walgreen's flushable wipes (most aren't flushable).  Toilet paper is too rough in times like this. When I have that much diarrhea, I take some Immodium to slow every down for a while. Best - I hope you are feeling better.

konandkaismom, i had really, really awful diarrhea for two weeks because of a strong antibiotic. one thing that helped me a lot was a water bottle filled with warm water that i squirted/sprayed before patting dry with a flushable wipes. I spent a lot of time in the shower too!  i'm glad you're better now.  

My oncologist said the same thing about suppositories - do not use them while on chemo. 

Kasi, ya, my onc told me before I started chemo, no tampons. I hate pads too but since I have started chemo, I have hardly had any menses.



Islandgirl, we have to be careful because you can perforate your rectum with suppositories or enemas........thank you.



I had this "wall" after supper, I was so weak and heart was racing. Fell asleep for an hour. Guess I ate too much! If felt good to sleep though, had some shivers but temp was only 99.



Hopeeveryone does ok this week. Kasi, will bethinking of you Thursday.



Hugs,

jenn

Thanks.... I thought of that after the fact.... but hopefully I'll be prepared next time.

My onc prescribed Anusol HC (cortisone) supps for me with no hesitation.  He told me I could use 1 every night.  He gave me the scientific reason the hemorrhoids flare up big time during chemo.  It is because of the huge decrease in white blood cells. 

It's amazing how all of our oncs aren't on the same page as far as treatment goes.

I am leaving soon for AC #4.  And then in 2 weeks I start Taxol x12 weeks.  My 85 year old mother reminds me that , "this too shall pass".. She is an 18 year bc survivor herself.  And she did the same route as me; chemo, rads, tomoxifen.

Have great days my bc surviving friends!!

Mary - Good luck today!!! Is this 4th one your last?

First time to post on this board. Thanks to Special K and dlb823 and others for responding to my initital post. This is where I need to be from now on.

I've finally started losing lots of hair beginning this past Saturdary night. 

I know it is going to be fine. Have been wearing my wig for about 2weeks now. That helped a lot. Still feels weird. Going to have the big chop this week. No turning back now.

Hope everyone is having a minimal SE day.

My next chemo treatment is this Thursday.  I hope and pray it goes well. My chemo is Taxotere/Cytoxan x4. One treatment every 3 weeks. Then radiation and 5 year hormone treatment.

Until next time. Thanks for reading.

Missey29