March 2012 chemo

fedfan - if it helps, I'm on Day 8 (Wednesdays are chemo days) and I feel good again.  Monday was the worst for the bone aches and pains (it actually started Day 3, Friday afternoon, and Tuesday I felt like I had ran a marathon without training beforehand.  What really helped was taking my leftover Hydrocodones from the BMX - really helped.   Next time I will just stick with Hydrocodone if I feel it coming on.

The good news - I feel normal today.  Tired yes, but I still walked an hour (wouldn't have dreamed of walking Monday or Tuesday).  There is hope.

I do not have the fingernail pain you describe. I did ice my hands and feet during the infusion.  I also take Alpha Lipoic Acid (on the advice of my MO), Glutamine and Acetyl L-Carnitine (based on advice on the web).  When I mentioned the latter two to my MO, she thought the Glutamine might help.  I think this was all vis a vis the neuropathy.  I've had no neuropathy thus far, but I"m no fool and know this could change at any moment.

So I came home at lunch today to let me dog out and what i thought was dirt was FLEAS!  OMG in 14 years she has never had fleas.  I just bathed her and treated her with frontline Sunday so no idea where she got them.  Not like i go out much and she doesn't get out much except the same places all the time.  So instead of relaxing and prepping for tomorrows treatment, i am washing bedding, pillows, sheets and anything else i can think of!  I feel bad because she is old and is obviously very uncomfortalbe!  

Oh well, just another thing i will deal with!  Thanks for all the prayers for my friend. Her funeral is Friday and she has requested a beach theme Jimmy Buffet funeral!  So like her, I live too far away to attend, but I will be playing Jimmy on Friday!

 Hope everyone has a good night with minimal se!

cheers! 

Yes the vet told me the same thing!  Oh well, there are worse things I guess!

God bless your friend, Kim, she sounds like a remarkable person. ((((((Kim)))))))

I get taxotere, on my 3rd round and have had no issues with my nails.  They are actually stronger than normal but I think that is because I eat so many Tums.

Sorry I confused the dishwasher.  I swear, I'm worried if I leave the house alone I'll end up on a milk carton.  The RVing sounds great!  I have always wanted to do that.  We are getting a new car and plan on doing more travelling when this is done. 

good morning ladies.  Ready for #3 today, half way!  WOOHOO!  

Hope everyone has a lovely day with minimal SE! 

Love -- did your mother-in-law, 10yr survivor -- make any lifestyle changes along with her medical treatments? 

I wish this type of data were included in the stats we get regarding drug treatment options. You know... something in actual numbers... not the 'better chances of no recurrence if you exercise, eat healthy, and keep weight healthy.' duh.... these pretty much help with any health issue. And so many of us here were already on that track!

Kam -- From what I've read -- pain can be from Nuelasta or Taxol.. or both.  Claritin did not help me with Neulasta either.  Even so, I've continued to take it for all 3 treatments prior, during, and after Neulasta shots -- just in case it would start helping but I don't think it did. What helped me was getting a half dose, rather than the full dose, for treatments 2 and 3. It made such a  big difference... that in my case, it probably was the Neulasta causing most of my bone pain. I do think the Taxol/Taxotere adds to it.  Also... I learned the hard way to take percocet at very first signs of pain instead of waiting and playing "catch up". You'll endure less pain this way. 

And speaking of Neulasta -- great news to share (I hope) -- I DON'T NEED A NEULASTA SHOT THIS ROUND!

I just had my 4th and LAST treatment yesterday! I'm TCx4 (and my heart truly goes out to you ladies on the 8 or more cycles of the DD AC-T regiment)

You all know that Neulasta is a white blood cell (WBC) booster and that we get our  blood counts checked prior to infusions. For me, when my WBC count was in the normal range of  4.8 - 10.8 CUMM  -- I was allowed a half dose of Neulasta. 

Prior to tx #3 -- my WBC count was 4.9. (Just .1 within normal)

Prior to tx #4 -- my WBC count was 17.3  (ABOVE normal -- big change)

The only thing I did different, was follow my naturopath's advice. After seeing my WBC count on the low end of normal, put me on an immunity boosting supplement which I took twice a day for the 3 weeks between these treatments. 

I'll let you all know how this works out for me. I'm a tiny bit nervous about not getting the shot... but more relieved than nervous. I know of one woman who ended up in the ER with complications due to too high WBC count - after they had given her Neulasta. They would have given it to me again on auto-drive... but I noticed my counts were up high and asked if I still needed the shot. My MO didn't hesitate to say no shot needed. More evidence that we have to be watchful and advocate for ourselves every step of they way! 

In case your interested in checking it out, here's what my naturopath is having me take for immunity: 

MARROW PLUS Ji Xue Teng Herbal Supplement

Formulated and distributed by company:  Health Concerns, 8001 Capwell Drive, Oakland, CA 94621

kltb -- your sneeze and pee share has me laughing to tears. A reminder of the glamourous life we all lead in this moment! lmao

Indigo -- Thank you for sharing so openly your struggles and wisdom. Your posts always help me "reset my bummer button" back to a better place. Many hugs back to you!!

I did talk statistics and prognosis with MO... that's why I'm here getting chemo! The prognosis stats are also why I opted for TCx4 over dose dense AC-T. For me, there was only a 1.3% advantage with the more aggressive route. My MO said it was such a small margin that he was comfortable leaving the decision up to me. But he AND the prognosis stats, strongly advised chemo in one form or other.   

KADIA -- ME TOO!!!! Last infusion yesterday -- hopefully forever!  It has not been easy for me -- its been hellish -- but on the better side of hell I guess -- as in 'it could be worse'. 

Once I'm through the next week of side-effects... I'll be on a quest to detox. Internal systemic detoxing and thinking about taking a hot yoga class --- my thinking is that the sweating along with exercise will help detox.  Will be searching the forums for detox tips! Please don't hesitate to share your ideas!

onvacation - sorry to hear about your friend... she sounds pretty fabulous turning her funeral into Margarita-ville! Celebrate her life.

And celebrate ours.. here and now. 

I'll take mine "no rocks, half salt" 

(confession -- I can't drink any alcohol right now... any attempt, red wine, whatever, burns all the way down somethin fierce. So...the body is telling me something. I will celebrate here and now with my warm honey lemon water. Oh the glamour) 

Shera - woohoo!  Raising a glass of virgin margarita in celebration of your reeaching the last TC treatment! 

Is your avatar one of your pictures?  I've been meaning to ask. 

And thanks for the info on the Marrow Plus - DH says he can get it for me to try.  I haven't had my blood checked yet since tx #1, hoping I don't need any shots - we'll see next week!

Shera - woohoo to last treatment!  That is interesting about Neulata.  My WBC was high today and I asked if that was good, she said yes that is due to the shot and it will go back down that is why I have the shot.  Seems they good test it next week and see if it dropped before giving it to me.  Oh well, luckily I haven't had any issues with the shot, so I guess I can't complain!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day! 

Hello all!

This is my first post, although I've been following along since my first treatment, that was March 8th. I'm now a week away from my last TCH on May 10. Sooo looking forward to it being over!

I've had just about every side effect except for neuropathy and nail changes. I'm hoping to put my foot down with my MO next time and opt for no Neulasta shot. I get such bad bone pain, especially my neck and back, it's unbearable. No pain killer has quite cut it, so I'm saying NO! Just wondering if anyone else has done this? Are there any precaustions you take after? I pretty much just stay home for the week after treatment as I'm a germ phobe now..

I'm also suppose to keep getting Herceptin for a year after chemo. Anyone else doing this? Are the side effects as bad?

Thanks for any info, I've loved having all of your insights this whole time. It's one of the few things that has kept me going on the bad days!! Wishing you all happy days!

-Yvette 

4th TCH of 6 today.  All went well.  I am just super drained.  Took my Claritin in prep for Neulasta today.  Also about to increase my L-Glutamine to 30g/day to prevent Neuropathy. 

Hi friends! Missed you all! Can't read what 20 pages!?



After my 3rd AC on April 19th and neugopen everyday 7 days after chemo, it was nothing but pure hell. Vomited two different days and diarrhea one day, weak more than a week, couldn't tolerate food! Stayed in bed not going anywhere except going for my neugopen injections . What the heck! Plus didn't feel like talking to anyone let alone using iPad or Facebook I just wanted to be left alone then last three days I felt a swollen gland in my left throat only one side. What a crappy. I was bitchy and pissed and weepy ! So unlike the last two treatments! I didn't drink much water, could that be why? Or maybe 3rd tx is more and gotten to me. Yesterday started to feel little better, guess what? Had my 4th and last of AC this morning but met my MO first I told him about my bad two weeks he said it was normal even with the swollen gland too? Hmm and my blood work was good enough for me to continue my 4th and last AC today. Now I dreading SE !!! But I'm going to drink more water this time ! In two weeks I will begin taxol 4x every 2 weeks I'm scared ! I hope taxol is easy????



I have been feeling so fed up with all going on, I want my hair back. I get bitchy sometimes is it normal ??? Any of you gone to support group in person? I haven't but I feel more comfortable in here as if this is my support group.



Sorry for venting! Hope someone understands. Hope tomorrow I don't get SE I am gonna drink water and take anti nausea faithfully. Have to go for neupogen injection tomorrow morning -__-



Hugs to you all xoxoxox

Yvyc - woohoo for approaching the end of your chemo!



You are all making me glad my MO only gives neulasta/neupogen dependent on blood counts. I haven't had it, hoping I won't.

Sissydi and kltb04- sorry to hear #4 and #3 are giving more SE's. I am dreading number 3 next week.

My new SE for #2 is mouth sores, actually it is tongue sores. Heading off to buy magic mouth wash. Thought I could beat it with just baking soda and salt, but today I am not able to eat much because of this.

My Obgyn vist yesterday went off ok. She said she didn't think it was anything, probably just the stress. But will be doing an ultrasound just to be sure. She did mention that only a small minority continued having periods but Taxol will definitely stop it.



Ok off to the pharmacy.