For those starting chemo in June

Dawnt · July 2004

Janie after my 3rd one I had the sore joints & throat.My sore throat lasted a couple of days.I gargled with warm water & salt & stayed away from all citrus like crystal lite & fruit.Next Tuesday is my 4th & fianl one.I cant wait till this is over.

PJB · July 2004

Sounds like most of us were pretty drained this time around. Took me longer to regain any energy after that last AC. I'm getting progressively more nervous about Taxol. I see a lot of postings about how people sail through it compared with AC. I hope the same goes for us.

Have a call into my onc about Taxol. I read (probably foolishly) all the side effects, one of which can be a big drop in blood pressure. (Apparently they monitor while they give you the drug) I told the nurse that seeing as my bp was 96/49 last time I had chemo, I don't have a long way to plunge to get to nothing. So I don't know if they'll change my dose. Mary, I think you and I share the low blood pressure thing. Maybe if we pump iron before we go or something, it'll help. [Smile]

I envy all you guys gardening. It's too hot for me to even think about it. I wish I had some of those tomatoes!

And good luck everyone on the next one.

shelliks · July 2004

What's with the bp??? I had #3 A/C yesterday and my bp was 86/44! I am not joking...they took it 4 times just to be sure. Normal for me is about 100/60. Doc said I was probably dehydrated, which is odd, because I drank a liter of water by 10am yesterday.

I drove all the way up there (Cleveland, 50 miles each way) again today for Neulasta shot and have to back tomorrow for surgical consult for prophylactic right mast. I chant all the way there, "Aren't I lucky to only live an hour from University Hospital/Ireland Cancer Center?" But, it does get old.

I feel pretty good tonight, but have a TON of gas!
Good think hubby is traveling on business. My mom came over to help me get the 3 little monkies fed, bathed and in bed (7, 3 and 2). I am a bit ashamed to admit that they are driving me CRAZY!! If I hear the word, "MOMMY" one more time, I might scream. This is the decadron talking. I'll deny it tomorrow.

Love ya girls

shelliks · July 2004

I forgot to mention...

My mouth is so sticky and dry, I can't stand it. A couple things that are helping me:

Sparkling water, La Croix or Pellegrino
Sugar Free Jolly Rancher Candy (makes your mouth water)

mary1220 · July 2004

Hi Girls, I asked my onc. about B.P. because of mine always low and he keeps saying it will not affect it. My B.P.has been 68/48 (and last week it was 60/48 at the hosp) for three weeks now I know thats affecting my energy.I don't want to dye trying to get the cure.He told me to eat salt, Hello, He saw my mouth and swollen throat and tongue, salt burnt every inch of my big mouth.I asked about getting taste back but was told now it will taste like metal all the time. Lemon drops are suppose to be good for it. I am soooo darn hungry and thirsty I could scream! I told my husband when my taste comes back I am having lobster and crab every day till I get sick of it.I could honestly eat paper and I wouldn't know.4 more, thats 8 more weeks.Hang in there girls, we may all be limp blobs with no mental ability because our blood pressure will be so low but we will muttle through.I may look like a zombie when I get the white skin and no eyebrows and can't vocalize cause I am so out of it from my b.p.I will have to drag myself around.Just call me "Igore"

mary1220 · July 2004

Girls, Has anyone noticed their eyes getting bad? I have 20/20 far away but need reading glasses. I have noticed I am a bit blurry now, maybe this will clear up but I had crystal clear, sharp vision and it don't seem so sharp now. I guess I will need glasses for my soon to be non existant eyebrows and lashes.Hey I can get glasses with eyebrows attached but may have to have nose attached too. What a bonus!just wondering hugs, Mary

janie44 · July 2004

Had my 3rd AC Tuesday the 20th. It definitely hit harder this time. Still nauseated daily and the bone and joint pain is worse this time. I do have a sore throat but no sores or fever. My CBCs were way down yesterday. I was foolish and went to a meeting where I thought everyone would be healthy. My superintendent called me this early morning and said one of the ladies woke up with a 102 fever this morning. I decided to stay home the rest of the week. I haven't really felt like working since treatment, but have dragged in anyway to save sick leave and also because there is so much to do. I'm glad AC is almost over and hope Taxol is easier on the system.

Everybody hang in
Janie

ps - A third person was diagnosed with bc in our small school system. She had surgery yesterday. This makes three bc's since March plus others in the community and in the schools with other types of cancer.

shelliks · July 2004

Mary, I had trouble with my eyes during the 12 weekly taxoteres, especially with tearing. I went to work without makeup for about 6 weeks! I didn't taste food for 4 months and it was soooo frustrating. I weighed 120 lbs when I finished Taxotere. I now weigh 132! Once the taste buds came back, I ate like crazy. The AC along with the decadron makes me ravenous, but even though my mouth is so dry and sticky, I can taste, thank God. I feel for you, but I promise it will come back. With only one AC left, I am starting to think about that 120 body again. I have to get off the couch...haven't worked out since dx in Sept.

It's day two after tx. I will probably hit the wall tonight. Will the Neulasta change how I typically feel???

mary1220 · July 2004

shelliks, Thanks for the kind and wise words.I watch the cooking channel picking up new recipes for when I can eat again. My husband and I love to gourmet cook. We don't get much time with the hours we both work anymore and I haven't worked for three weeks now but too sick to cook except for a couple days towards next treatment.We always wanted to open a restaurant but raising kids just never got the chance.We cook different styles so its nice we get a good varity.I want to learn to do cakes and pasteries but haven't yet.I do them but not like I would like. I love presentation, if it looks good, it taste good. Anyway I get nupagen (or however)and I get bone pain for about three days but only every other shot.Don't know why I get pain every other shot but thats what happens. I use tylenol for the pain.Its mostly in my legs and hips.Thanks again,have a good weekend, take care,hugs ,Mary

janie44 · July 2004

Mary, have you tried using plastic utensils to help rid the metalic taste. I was told to do that and have not had a problem with this. In fact, I unfortunately still taste everything and the Decadron is causing me to bloat and I'm hungry even though nauseous and only want comfort foods. I look like a 58 year old pregnant woman.

Shelliks, the Neulasta shot augments my normal pains and adds a few of its own, mostly in the joints and bones. I have also have daily headaches.

I am still working whenever possible. I find it takes my mind off of things.

Warm fuzzies,

Janie

PJB · July 2004

Mary, Shelliks, I feel like i have HIGH blood pressure compared to you guys! Comforting to know there are others in the same boat.

Mary, I wouldn't describe what I have as a metallic taste, just everything tastes chemically. Nothing really tastes like it's supposed to. So I'm figuring that maybe by the time the turkey and dressing roll around in November, I'll be back to normal. Heck, I might even start to like sweet potatoes. I hope you enjoy that lobster when you get it.

Shelliks, boy, I can't imagine going through all of this with THREE little ones on top of it. When I get home from work, I pretty much just want to lie around. I feel guilty I'm not out playing catch or swimming or whatever with my son. Luckily, he'd just as soon sit around and sort Pokemon cards anyway... [Smile]

I have to start taking Decadron before my Taxol. What I seem to be hearing is it makes you get bloaty and get the munchies? Guess I'd better go buy some stretch pants?

Tine · July 2004

Hey guys,

sorry it took me a while but couldn't log on because of this stupid survey. Thanks to Belinda she send me a new link. [Smile]

Had my #3 CEF on Tuesday. All went well, except that my veins are starting to get beaten up quite bad and they had to do some fancy digging to get going. Half way through, my arm started to feel not right and they had to stop. Looked for another vein, didn't find it, dug and got one. Couldn't continue with the red devil as blood leaked back into the line. Luckiyly it was 90% done and the nurse wasn't too concerned. So they booked me for a central line. They don't do ports in our cancer clinic. Will be done with the xray tech, and with a local.. So will see how that will work. not really too happy about it but don't want to mess anymore with my veins. Did really well up until this afternoon. Feel really puky and have to force myself to eat. Gained over 5 pounds since last chemo and look bloated. Usually the first week I don't like to eat and then watch out. Tomorrow will be my first day of antibiotics again and I sure hope I don't react to it the same way as last time.
Got really bad acid refluxs tonight. Wonder what caused it this time. I am on heavy meds for it and for some reason they don't seem to cut it today. Oh well. Would have been to good to be true to be feeling great all the time right?? Sure hope that my bloodcell counts stays up. On the bright side, I am halfway done. yeah. Only 3 more to go.

Good luck with all of you ladys. You are in my daily prayers and I hope we continue to do well..
take care

Christine

judithlee · July 2004

hello all - my first time here. I started chemo early June. Had my third cycle this week. My first and second was FAC, but we changed to TAC this time. I got infusion of adriamycin alone last Friday because I've had chest pain with previous 2 infusions and my oncologist is trying to figure it out - he says I'm the first pt with this problem for him. My first infusion of adria was on 72-hour pump with minor chest pain. Second was 48-hr.pump - because of the July 4 holiday weekend and staffing issues - and I ended up in ER with chest pain, pressure, and shortness of breath. I think it was worse because of the shorter infusion. Did a flow study of my port to see if it's leaking - negative. This time adria, 72-hrs. with chest pain, but no shortness of breath, etc., and on Monday got Cytoxin and Taxotere (T for the first time.) Tuesday I felt great, but since Wed. I have felt really bad - muscle pain and achiness all over. My counts are good and no fever, but...
I have some GI discomfort but notheing major, but the all-over pain and general feeling of fatigue is new for me - 4th day in bed feeling so yukky. Has anyone else experienced this with Taxotere or other drug?

janie44 · July 2004

Tine,

Too bad your clinic does not do ports. It would save you a lot of what you are going through. My clinic is 2.5 hours away so I have my labs done locally and they do not access my port. It is hard enough for them to find a vein and get it going long enough to draw a little blood. I cannot imagine doing chemo without my port.

I was diagnosed with several gastro disorders a few months prior to my bc dx and was already bloated. Now, I feel like a real blimp. My Prevacid is not totally doing it for the acid either.

I find that whatever I already had is worsened by all this and it brought on a few more things as well. It's like all the docs say, "when all this is over, we will deal with it."

We'll get through it and if hardship builds character, just think how wonderful we will all be.

Dawnt · July 2004

Christine you sound just like me.When they went to draw blood it was like I ran out of it & they had to find a new place.Since I'm only having 4 chemos(the 4th is tuesday)I think thats why they decided not to do a port.My arm was black & blue from the 3 places they took it from but its all gone away now.I had a worse time with the heartburn this time.Of course now that I feel better its time to go again.

mzsandy · August 2004

Hello All,

Had my third A/C last Monday and was down all week. Terrible flu and congestion. Come to find out, I got a sinus infection and that is what laid me up. So, I am on antibiotics for 10 days. I do still have a lot of congestion to get out.

My eyebrows and eyelashes are thinning out. Still got to shave those darn legs! Not fair!

But, good news is my last one is on August 16 - yahoo!

Hugs to all!

~Sandy

Tine · August 2004

Ok,
So far so good. This is day 7 and I feel ok. I can handle the chemo but boy those darn antibiotics are the pits. Not only do they make me dizzy and nauseas, now I have the yeat infection from hell. All those creams I can't take as I had an allergic reaction to them once before. Tried yoghurt nadda. Anybody else have a good suggestion?? I wish I wouldn't have to take this crap. sorry I know I am whining and I shouldn't but I am so irritable.
Any help would be appreciated.

christine

mary1220 · August 2004

Hi girls, Well the final a/c wasn't a picnic. It lasted 9 days but Its done.I had so much sinus this time that cytoxin did a real bad number on them.I guess a med. they use with the Taxol will affect the sinus too. Gee my sinus are about ate up from this stuff.I do the Taxol tomorrow. I am scared because I have heard some nasty stories about that stuff.I hope its better than the a/c on me. I had about fifty percent of my taste buds back today so I went and had lobster and crab legs. I was in hog heaven!!!! If I could get to drink something beside orange/pinapple juuice or milk I would be greatful.I dream of chugging a cold coke or ice tea(I drink a lot of tea)I still can't stand the thought of water or water base drinks.Now we go to metal taste in our mouth.Thats what I have beeen told.I will know tomorrow.I understand the steroids will make me hypper so I may be typing very fast tomorrow.good luck to all, Mary

mary1220 · August 2004

Hi girls, I know some of you like pjb are giong to get a Taxol here pretty quick.I was scared cause I had heard about some of the side affects but it went well. I threw up soon after first bag of pre meds but they added a small dose of ativan and it went well. I discussed weekly Taxol instead of byweekly with my onc and I went with the weekly. They know byweekly works better than the every three weeks dose but do not have stats. on if weekly works better than byweekly but onc. says he thinks it will be better when they get the data in on it. The side affects are usually eaiser and you DON"T have to get nup. shot for white blood cells SOOO no bone pain HURRAY!!Its a little less on the pre meds too. I was very dizzy as there is alcohol in Taxol. There is a lot of steroids and benidryl so me and my sensitivies to drowsyness I was out as soon as they started the ben. I slept all through it and husband got me to car and I slept until 7:00pm.I asked them to take my b.p. to see if it was low because of the dizziness but it was 108/54 which is great for me, but I was scared poopless so my ticker was working double time.I was really sacred the b/p would drop too low but came through like a throwing up ,drunken sleeping almost comatose champ.I can pretty much taste some food now!!! What a great surprise, wonder how long that will last? 1 down and 7 to go, good luck girls, Mary

PJB · August 2004

Mary,

So glad you did so well on the first Taxol. I guess with the weekly, your infusions don't take too long?

I'm not sure if I get the Benadryl. My sister is coming from Omaha to go with me. I told her if they do give me Benadryl, her job will basically be to make sure I don't snore or drool because that stuff knocks me out like a light.

I'm glad you got to have your seafood dinner before you started.

Hope you all do well this week, whether you're getting treatment or recovering from it.

Dawnt · August 2004

yeah!!Yesterday was my last treatment.Everyone at the chemo place was so nice & wished me the best.Not feeling so great today but who cares I'm all done.Hopefully I'll see some of you at the rad board.My consultation is 8/23.

mary1220 · August 2004

congrads Dawnt, I am sooo glad for you.I wont be in rads until sept. My onc said something about doing 12 Taxol is better than 8 so I may go a few extra if they go well.My second day and I baked a cake and made candy ,pecan pralines. A little tired all day but not sick. They say you get to feeling down about the third day so we will see. I wish you well Dawnt. hugs to you and all the girls, Mary

PJB · August 2004

Dawn, way to go getting through treatment. I hope rads go well for you. I'll be a few months behind.

Mary, boy, your house sounds great: baking and pralines.... Good to hear you're feeling pretty OK. Keep us informed...

Had a bit of a downer today. I'm due for 4 Taxol. Onc's office called today. Usually, I get my treatments here in my town at a satellite clinic of a hospital about 40 minutes away. Apparently, the nurse didn't know their policy for Taxol is to only allow the first two treatments at the hospital. You know, so if you have an allergic reax to it, the emergency care is right there. Boy, that instills confidence in me. So anyway, my chemo is now Friday instead of Thursday and I have to drive to it on an AWFUL freeway. I hope I'm not allergic.

mary1220 · August 2004

PJB, your sister is taking you right? I was very dizzy and slept all the way home.I am 40 mins. from my oncs.They ran steroids and something else first then benadryl and a couple other things second then the taxol.I don't remember what all I had I was out of it.I feel rundown a little today but I guess that goes with the Taxol.Not bad and my tummy is a little upset but I have had indigestion.Its doable so far.They do my treatments at my oncs. office and the docs. are right there in case of a reaction. They have a pharm. right there too.They are right next to the hosp. also. My treatment took one hour and 15 mins. The pre meds were 15 mins.each then the waiting on the nurse crap.the Taxol was maybe a half hour. They said if you have a bad reaction its usually when they start it. They didn't even moniter my b/p or pulse but maybe cause I am getting it every week and its not as strong.I asked to take my b/p when I got dizzy but other than that they ran the I.V. and left.Good luck PJB. I don't know what the every two weeks will bring but this isn't bad so far.My thoughts are with you cause I know I was scared to death.Mary

Tine · August 2004

Dawnt,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy for you that you finished your treatment. Hope your rads will go well.
Good luck with that. Hugs to you. Hope you celebrated the event [Smile]

Oh boy I can't wait till Ocotber to be finished as well [Smile]

Christine

janie44 · August 2004

Congrats to all the graduates!

Tine, I finish up chemo the around the 2nd of November. Halloween never looked so good. Of course six weeks of rads and one year of Herceptin await.

mary1220 · August 2004

Yea PJB I know what you mean. I don't know how much more I can take. We are going to get through this though. Its all we got so we will muttle our sich butts through and boy will we appreciate freedom of treatments when we are done!!!!We have one more month to go.Hang in there and lets hope we have the worse over with.It seems like my head has been a little messed up with this one.I have a few extra screws loose now.Gee,I don't need that. Enjoy time with your sister its really nice of her to help.We will get through it and I am always here.Hugs, Mary

PJB · August 2004

Thanks, Mary. I'm sitting here getting a little misty to have such support. I'm really nervous about the infusion and beyond, but my sister WILL be there. She's bringing her laptop so we can watch some movies, and she'll drive me home.

Funny, i wasn't as nervous about the AC. I guess because I was in my initial really go-get-em, fighting mode. Now, I guess I'm tired of it all and just plain tired. I've got to find that attitude again.

janie44 · August 2004

Mary, talk about loose screws. I worked like crazy to meet a state deadline -- even took the work with me to treatment since I have to stay two days. That was in June. I completed the report on time. They called me this week. I forgot to mail it!

mary1220 · August 2004

Janie, We have to laugh at our mistakes or we will go nuts.I am doing the darndess things.The sad thing is I would be embarressed if I were in my right mind.I'm not, I just go on like I am o.k.Between my mind and sinus so screwed up from this crap I am a mess, and its not bothering me a lot cause I don't hold a thought long enough for it bother me. Does that make sense? Mary

For those starting chemo in June

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