April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Good Morning!!!

Hey gals---If you want to, you can add your chemo treatment info to your signature lines by editing your personal profiles.  That way, everyone can see what kind of chemo you are having and when and you won't have to type that info in every time you post. 

Isharvey822- Yay- One chemo treatment down!!!  Keep drinking that water today especially if you are working so you can move that chemo out of your system!!   Hope you are getting that blood pressure under control with some meds.  I kept thinking I could think my way into lower blood pressure.  I'm not overweight and eat healthy so the best solution was getting the blood pressure meds.  i couldn't have be in the Herceptin clinical trial or even take Herceptin if i didn't have my blood pressure under control.

Wishing everyone a great day and minimal side effects!!!!

Stacie -- thanks for the fatigue advice. I guess the more exercise I get, the more marbles I get? Also, along with the fatigue is the inability to sleep at night. I did notice that if I exerted myself, I slept longer. I go for my 3rd treatment tomorrow so today I feel great. I'm going to load up on fluids today and take a nice walk.

Good luck to everyone going for there 1st time! You'll do great and remember to Fight Like a Girl!

Sorry but I need to vent here -- don't want to scare anyone why hasn't started yet, but I've  been suffering through the weekend after my first chemo on Friday.  The day of treatment was ok, a little nauseous during, but it passed quickly.  Saturday wasn't too bad, but no appetite at all.  Sunday is when it all went downhill - the big D hit with a vengence, extreme fatigue and nausea.  Had a little vomiting, but not too bad.

I am really suffering with the fatigue and loss of appetite.  Everything either smells awful or tastes like acid.  having to force myself to eat anything at all.  And drinking is a challenege to, nothing tastes good.  The Zofran they gave me caused an awful headache, so I stopped that yesterday afternoon after discussing with the onc.

Monday was just as bad.  Couldn't stay awake more than an hour at a time.  Been sipping water with lemon as that seems to be the only thing I can stand.   Called the onc office again as Dh was concerned about all the sleeping and fatigue.  They said it's ok, but to try and get some protein in me and some calories as that would help..  again, hard to do when you can't stand the smell of anything and can't stay awake.

Today is a little better.  I actually woke up hungry at 5am.   had some cereal and it made me feel awfil again.  Thought I might make it to work today, but that's not gonna happen.  my daughter is going to take me for  hair cut.  Time to get rid of the shoulder length curls... after this weekend, definately too much to handle!  I have something short and cute picked out for the new me before it all comes out.  

I knew it could be awful, but I guess i believed everyone when they said you'll be fine!  What was I thinking????

Anyone have advice for the fatigue and appetite problem? When does the nausea feeling go away?  I can't imagine doing this again next week!  I am on a cycle of Abraxane / Carboplatin/Herceptin every 3 weeks and abraxane/Herceptin every week...  will it be this bad every time???  

JD80, I also had 4DD of AC.  I was often nauseated through my tx cycles. It's different for everyone. I tried several different anti-nausea meds, and finally found promethezine, which helped somewhat.  Believe it or not, sipping a real Coke on ice helped when I was feeling really awful. I did lose about 7 lbs while on AC, but I'm healthy, so I didn't worry. Yours will pass, but perhaps not completely. My nausea didn't go completely away till I was done with AC.

What made me most sick was the smell of certain foods, food being cooked at our Student Union and wafting into the air, and all those gross close-up food ads we are bombarded with on TV. There were times I had to change the channel because the ads make me so sick.

Saltines, yogurt, applesauce were my friends during DD AC. The nausea and loss of appetite subsided and went completely away on Taxol, and my hair started growing back on Taxol.  Take heart, ladies. You'll get thorugh.

Hugs,

Claire

Sandik - I still had plenty of hair Friday afternoon when I got it buzzed off, but I think also it was an empowerment step for me. 

Some silver linings (re: the hair loss):

I can shower and be dressed in maybe 10 minutes tops (I am typically a high-maintenance girl - takes me 10 minutes just to blow dry my hair as a rule). 

As of today I do still have my brows and lashes, but those annoying little lady "stache" and chin hairs that I detest are almost gone!!!  Yay - no plucking or waxing for the next while!  It also seems like my underam hair isn't growing in from when I shaved a few days ago (I usually shave every other day). 

And no shaving down south either for the next while - another little chore I'll be happy not to do (and another reason for the expedited shower, lol).

 No such luck with my legs yet; I'm hoping, but if I still have to shave my legs through this, at least that looks like all.

I wore one of my wigs most of yesterday (it was cool and rainy here all day).  I was pretty comfortable all day - got to the point where I didn't really think about it - but when I took it off in the evening there was a red mark around my hairline from the band and/or wig cap.  Probably one more reason that most people eventually decided they don't like wearing the wigs....

I put mine in. Seeing if it works! 

What the heck...

Raelen - I completely understand.  I had bad diarrhea after my first TCH, and although not nearly as bad after my 2nd TCH, I still lost 6# in two days!  It is indeed exhausting.  I think the reason I did a bit better my 2nd time around was that I started on probiotics after my first TCH per my onc's recommendation.  They help regulate the system either way.  So you could ask your onc about trying that.    I also can trend to the constipation side quite easily - my GI system switches rather quickly.  I hope you can get some fluids as I bet that will make you feel much better.  So sorry - I know it's exhausting!

Chrissera - you are not alone.  My experience with TCH, especially the first round, was pretty rough.  Not everyone sails through chemo, unfortunately.    Some of us have worse side effects, just because.  The key is to learn from your first round how your body reacts, and discuss with your onc what changes can be made to hopefully make the 2nd one better.   I hear ya on the exhaustion.  My first round, days 4 and 5 post TCH it was all I could do to walk to the bathroom and back.  I pretty much lived on the couch those days.  This second time around my energy level has been MUCH better.  Perhaps it is the probiotics making me have less of the big D.  Another factor - I decided to take sleeping pills for the first week post chemo - getting that full rest made a huge difference, I believe, in my healing.  Even though I'd get up a few times a night (including once by my alarm to take my Zofran on schedule), I could fall back asleep easily if taking the sleeping pills.  I did not have taste changes, so I don't have much advice to offer on that - although some of the cookbooks mentioned could certainly guide you in items that might stimulate those tastebuds.  One way I did get protein easily was through Ensure Hi Protein shakes.  If you can get them down, you'll get a full 25 grams of protein from one.  I'm hoping your 2nd one is better for you like mine was.  Mind you, my 2nd one was/is still tough, but it is nothing like the first one! So hopefully that will give you some hope!  

Claire - I can totally relate to the smells causing nausea. I'll have it basically under control, when, wham, I get a whiff of something that makes me sick again. Even smells of foods I normally like are offensive. Ugh. In terms of food, I've mostly been eating white rice with butter or a little cheese. Also lots of mashed potatoes. My other staple has been vanilla shakes. We are making them with whey protein powder, milk, and adding banana and ice cream to taste. Sounds weird, but these are the foods I can eat. I'm thin, but my doctor is concerned about weight gain, so I'm trying to be mindful of what I'm eating.



Anyone else start chemo last Friday the 4th? I'm wondering when my hair will start to go.

chrissera - another tip - I became RAVENOUS after my diarrhea bout...ate a big meal...promptly ended up with even worse diahrrea about an hour afterwards.  So....EAT, but maybe half what you normally would....let it sit in your tummy 30 (maybe 60?) minutes or so before you chow down further.  I'm guessing the GI tract is inflamed, and if you put too much in at once, it lets you know.  So glad to hear you got some rest and are feeling better! 

3 monster pimples forming on my chin. Nothing has surfaced yet. They are just festering there! Every time I go to rest my face in my hand I hit one! haha

I had full blown cramps and everything like I got my period, but nothing there. Blah!

Mashed potatoes and green beans are my favorite feeling blah food too. Haven't tried the vanilla milkshake. Been doing sherbet.  

Well, I saw my second opinion oncologist and finally made a decision to go ahead with the chemo. With the oncotype of 27 and Grade 3 I decided I wanted to do everything possible to keep this thing from reoccuring (This is my second occurrence in 15 months). I've had 3 doctors tell me they would advise chemo but I'm having a hard time convincing myself that I've made the right decision. I think it's just because I'm scared. I expect I'll start in a week or so. I'm sure I'll be on this forum with alot of questions and asking for advice!

Hi girls I just had my first Chemo treatment today I tried to nap but I sweat real bad and I kind of feel alittle funny thats the only way I can describe it is this normal and I have to add I felt great after its been around 7 hours since gonna try some soup. Also Chrissera I used Lidocaine and Prilocaine cream 1 hour before and it wasnt painful at all!!!!!

rn4babies - you've had a tough past year, for sure.  Welcome to the group - I know it was a tough decision and chemo can be a tough road - but we are here to support each other and make it through!!!!  We can do this! 

Stacie - are you asking about treatment for a year?  It is standard for those of us who are HER2+ to continue with Herceptin infusions after chemo until a year is up.  Can't imagine doing it without a port.  

sandiK - I got the WORST chin acne after my first TCH.  I was covered with pimples...and I rarely break out.  Someone told me it probably was from the dexamethasone.  It didn't happen on my 2nd one, though.   I just used a very mild face soap, and it cleared up on it's own. 

Cuddles, yeah, it's normal to feel a bit "odd" the day of chemo - at least for me!   Most feel good for days 1 and 2 post chemo, then symptoms start around day 3 when the steroids wear off.