Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?

Hi All,

Well round 2 was not quite as uneventful as round 1.  I guess I developed an allergy, not to the chemo, but to the stuff they have to mix it with to disolve it.  I asked the Doctor what that was, and he said there are lots of things in the mix, including castor oil.  A little evasive.  My DH looked it up online and he decided I was likely allergic to the propelene glycol.  Yuck!  I asked him if that was anti-freeze, and he said no, but it sounded like that to me.  Anyway, they just slowed down the drip, and pumped me full of benedryl, which made me really really sleepy, so I slept through the remainder of the treatment.

The way that my symptons presented were that I may face felt really flushed, and then I was having a little difficulty breathing.  I didn't think much of it, but told the nurse.  She looked for hives, and I didn't have any, but she told me that if got worse I should tell her right  away.  Well, less than 2 minutes later, I had a hive on my neck, and I started coughing every time I breathed in.  Then it was like a BIG deal, they were calling doctors, stopping my infusion, and generally just mobilizing around me, pumping me full of benedryl and decadron.  I came home, and slept for several hours, which I guess makes up for my lack of sleep last night.

Hugs to all!  Have a good weekend!

Oh, BTW, the dates are not too bad.  They have a slightly caramelly flavour. 

Oh, Suz, I think I would have been terrified!  So glad you're okay!

My only news is that I sent my husband out to buy an inexpensive clipper set (he ended up getting a Conair at Walgreen's), and today we took my hair down to a 1/4 inch.  It feels so much better, although I'm still curious to see if it ALL goes.  With three more treatments, I imagine it will.

RJBaby and Pinkshirt:: I'm sorry to hear about your hair. 7 years ago I cried as I shaved my mom's head and now she gets to cry as she shaves my head next week.

Cooka: So sorry you are feeling so rough, I'm sending warm good feeling thoughts your way. 

Suz: That sounds really aweful. Was it the Taxol? The exact same thing happened to my mom with Taxol, so I am a little worried about whether I will also be allergic. We seem to shareall the food and drug allergies, but one, so she is insistant on wanting to be there incase I have a reaction and no one notices. Actually, before I got cancer I used to joke with her whenever something would happen giving me all the junk genes and she would say, "I had the exact same problem at your age." I would never do that with this as I think she already feels bad, but I do worry about how similar are reactions will be. 

Suz - Different oncology centers may have different practices, but we do share in common that we are both on TC x 4 (Taxotere and Cytoxan).  You may have noticed that some people on this thread don't get Neulasta unless their counts tank out.  My center gives it routinely as their protocol.  Practices differ I guess.  That being said, what they are giving me is Decadron 8 mg twice a  day before chemo, the day of chemo, and the day after.  In addition, I get Aloxi 0.25 mg and Emend 150 mg intravenously before the actual chemo drugs begin.  The Aloxi and Emend are anti-nausea.

Your story with the reaction at second chemo, but not at the first, made me question what might have been different between the two.  They give us the steroids (Decadron) to protect us from the reactions, I wondered if your steroids were IV before your infusion and were inadverently skipped.  My mom had colon cancer.  My sister has breast cancer.  Neither one of them got steroids in pill form like I do.  They got them before their infusions as a pre-chemo IV med.  I don't know how they are giving you steroids, but when you had that reaction I wondered if it was missed somehow.

Rjbaby, on a rational level I wasn't that upset when my hair started coming out.  I knew it would happen and I accepted that.  What was disturbing to me in a weird, visceral way was that I felt I couldn't get it clean anymore -- it was like it was dead and I didn't want it on my head anymore.  I don't think I could've stood it another day, so I asked my husband to use the clippers, and we stood in the bathroom and he cut it off.  Now it's thin (and very thin in a couple of places), but I'm so glad it's off.  I've been using baby shampoo because it's gentle and it smells nice.  *g*

I don't think there's anything special you need to do except keep reminding yourself that ... this is just a stage.  It's temporary.  At least, that's what I'm telling myself. 

 Hugs to everyone!

Yes, but will we be able to sing like Judy Garland?  (er, movie joke -- Easter Parade)

Don't worry about writing too much!   This is Crazy Time. God knows I've been up and down -- there's no one "right" attitude to this.  

You don't have to be a pink shirt.  Husband asked me if I wanted to do one of those things and I said no.  Your sister means well, I'm sure, but you don't have to go if you don't want to.

*hugs you*  Wish I could have a drink with you.

I always wanted to see a redwood, that old, that big.  What did you guys want to see?  or perhaps a few days in New York.

Just wondering how long does it take after a taxol chemo for the hair to go?  I am doing taxol x4 then ac x4 and wondering when I should shave the head.  I already had it cut short so will not be a major dramatic difference. 

and KIMBERLY--keep whining honey --you have earned it...we all have the right to whine once in a while!!!

My first treatment was Wednedsay and today the glands in my neck are hurting.  Front and back of neck--so strange but otherwise feeling ok..making myself walk around the yard a couple of times a day to get things moving.

Maggie

I wish we could already meet just so we could have a head decorating party and have a big round of tears, laughs and hugs!

Kimberly: Sorry you are having a rough time. I'm sending you a big air ((((((hug))))))! My mom walks every year (7 year survivor) and when she asked about this year, I told her there was no way. I'm sure when I'm done I'll want to suppor this cause so we can get to a place where no women have to go through this, but right now I just want to get through this.

Hi Ladies!

Kimberley, keep writing.  You are saying the things that sitting in my subconscious, and it helps me to read it.  I think everybody here has the best intentions with their posts.  I am so glad that you brought up the pink walk stuff, because I was kind of berating myself for not wanting to get involved.  Soon after my diagnosis I inadvertantly drove past one of these walks in my neighbourhood.  I felt so disjointed, that I didn't know about it, and then it made me sad and angry at the same time because all these women were cheering having a great time - I didn't feel like I could be around all that enthusiasm about breast cancer, and it made me feel bad about myself.  So, I'm glad to hear that I am not the only one.  I don't think that until I really feel like I might be a survivor, will I be able to participate.

Mags - my hair started falling out around day 13, and was completely gone by day 15.  I am TCx4.  I read on another thread that day 17 was a big day for hair loss, so you might have a few more days with it than I did.  I had really thick and dense hair, so people made the comment to me that I might not lose my hair, but I did.  I really don't want to lose my eyebrows - that is my next emotional hurdle.

Shelly, I'm not touching my eyebrows either!  I don't want to lose them.  I'm sorry to hear about your nasty SEs.  I've heard that rice and bananas are good for binding things up again.  My mother in law has made me some great rice porridge with shitake mushrooms, and it really settles my stomach, but I don't want to eat it because everything else I am on for nausea is constipating, so I have to be careful. 

Hugs to everybody.  I'm just planning to lay low this weekend.

S 

Hey Kimberly - you didn't hurt my feelings at all.  I'm just glad someone thought my story was funny because it was intended to be funny.

 I know what you guys mean about the pink shirts.  I picked my sign on name for that very reason.  I have done the Walk for the Cure in the past to support a dear friend who is a survivor.  I just never thought I would qualify for the pink shirt.  This year's walk was a few weeks ago and I chose not to go although my whole family walked in my honor.  I didn't feel emotionally ready to walk down the Survivor Lane since I just started my treatment.  Next year, I will dance down the lane in a tu-tu.

My husband clipped my hair off for me last night.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now I just have grey fuzz all over my head.  I haven't seen my real hair color in years so it was a bit of a shock to see that it is mostly salt and very little pepper.  

 My hair shedding started on day 15 just like others have mentioned.  Yesterday (day 16), it was coming out in clumps so I figured it was time.  I didn't watch while my husband clipped my hair which I think was helpful.  I just looked in the mirror afterwards, showered, then put on my terry cloth turban.  Today I will wear the cute wig I bought a few weeks ago.

Thinking of you all today and sending strength.

Hi Ladies, keep on writing, keep on bitching and keep on supporting.  This is serious sh*t and if we can't all hang together, I feel like I'd be hung out dry ;-).  My energy has been going up and down.  I'm at day 6 after 1st chemo and although everyone says, "Wow you look great, etc." I feel like replying, "As great as I can with effing poison running though me," but I just smile and say thanks.

I keep eating small meals, but my mouth is so slimy.  I'm using Biotene, but it's gross.  Since I can barely eat, maybe I'll actually drop a few pounds.  I've put on 10 in the past few years and would love have something good come out of this chemo (including no recurrence too).

body aches really bad today and my glands in my neck are swollen...no fever though so should be ok...it's day 3.  Colored my blonde hair --my short blonde hair red today and I really like it.  Maybe when my hair grows back I will turn it red!  I always wanted some redness to my hair so I used what was left of my daughter's color--kinda sangira like...makes my green eyes POP!  First day I have felt pretty since BMX.  I even put on some makeup to go to lunch with friends.  Signed up for a Look Good Feel Better seminar on Oct 3, which is free for cancer patients.  Hear they give you a great goody bag full of free products...check it out in you area!

Maggie