April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

My nails are hanging in there.  Still polishing them with clear polish even though I do a very unprofessional looking job!!!!  Still icing during the taxotere which hopefully is helping. 

I just had another bout of heartburn...drank a cup of chamomile tea...the symptoms were GONE by the time I finished the cup.  Wow.  I had read that it helps with reflux, but had never tried it.  Amazing! 

I just did a little more reading, and there is some research that it can also help with stomach cramps and even mouth ulcers.  Just thought I'd share in case it helps anyone else.  Here's an excerpt from an article I am reading:

2.2.2.4. Gastrointestinal effects

The effects of chamomile-containing oral rinse on oral mucositis or stomatitis induced by cancer therapies have been examined in a clinical trial. Results showed both prophylactic (n = 66 patients) and therapeutic (n = 32 patients) effects of chamomile mouthwash in a case series of 98 head and neck cancer patients treated with either radiation or systemic chemotherapy. After the treatment with chamomile oral rinse, in the prophylactic group, one of the 20 radiation therapy patients developed grade 3 mucositis in the final week of treatment, while 13 developed intermediate-grade and 6 developed low-grade mucositis. Of the 32 patients in the therapeutic treatment group (16 radiation, 16 chemotherapy), all experienced immediate relief from mouth discomfort and within one week nearly all patients had no clinical signs of mucositis. These results suggest that the resolution of mucositis was accelerated by chamomile oral rinse ( [Mckay and Blumberg, 2006] and [Rodriguez-Fragoso et al., 2008]).

 

2 days post  TCH tx#1 and so far so good. Lots of water day of and next day, today i'm tired of water so drinking 7up, juices, and water when i can tolerate it. I feel great and could have worked today, but am working from home so that's good at least! i feel like im waiting for a bus to hit me, i just dont know when and what it will be....ugh!

my mom checks up on me constantly too, I think this is harder on her than on me. driving me to my first chemo she said it should be her and not me, I shut her down right away, mine is her2+ so not inherited or anything, i told her i think this thing has just been waiting for me since i was born and dont ever think it should have been you and not me, this one is mine - and we will both be fine (I hope) .

Hope you feel better Stacie for tonight.

DT, thank the Lord for all your research! how lucky we are to be going through this the same time as you, you do all the hard work for all of us it seems so thanks!

Hello all,

I am going to my second infusion tomorrow! I was very nauseous for several days after the first one! Can't think about eating for a few days! After being tired for a bit, I have felt good for the last five days! My hair is starting to fall out in small,small clumps! I was wondering how round 2 will go too? Are the effects cumulative?? Also, when do I shave the hair??? My head is tender??? I am so glad to hear we are all making it thru!!!!!

jjames - hope you continue to have minimal SE and the bus veers the other way!!!  LOL  I know how you feel.  I always feel like that on days 1 and 2 post TCH...waiting for the ball to drop!  

natm71 - my level of fatigue was not nearly as bad round 2.  And I had less diarrhea, I think b/c I was on probiotics.   However my level of heartburn was much worse - but I have preexisting acid reflux...so that doesn't happen like that to everyone.  Hopefully your round 2 will be better!  I read that many times the first one is the worst.  Some of the effects can be cumulative, though, like if your hemoglobin goes down round 1 and doesn't recover, it will go down further your 2nd round, etc. (this has happened to me, still high enough that no transfusion is needed yet, though).  However,  I'm reading people's experiences here, and it does sound like round 3 can be a doozy, too.    I hope not, cause that's what's coming at me next week!  Hey, watch out for that bus!!!  LOL   It seems like in general it is tough to predict, as each person varies so much.

Glad my geek research addiction is interesting and helpful to others!

I saw a gastro doc yesterday, and he wants to do an endoscopy on me before my 3rd TCH due to the severity of my heartburn symptoms (and my history - I've been on proton pump inhibitors for eeeks...7 years now).   My onc cleared it today, says he wants me to have it done, too.  So Friday morning I'll have an endoscopy.  This should be a breeze (I've had 3 scopes without issues before), barring any issues with my blood being on the thin side.  The gastro doc said that he's done them in much worse situations (ie. pts on Coumadin) with no issues, and my onc said ok, so I'm thinking it must be pretty safe.  It will be good to find out if anything serious is going on before I move forward with my 3rd TCH.  

Natm71- Just had my #2 treatment yesterday in the big girl chair.  Hair is rapidly leaving my head.  I cut it this past Saturday very short short boy hair cut because I just so tired and annoyed of the hair everywhere plus I wanted to make a transition from my short bob to the boy cut.  My scalp was tender but feels much better.  I'm not shaving my head; just letting it do it's thing.  No panic about the hair because the chemo got my poor little hair follicles doing what it's supposed to do---- get rid of that nasty cancer out of me!!!  You will just have to decide what works best for you about the hair and when to let it go.  You are still beautiful with or without hair.......

Dancetrancer-thank you so much for the info! I am praying round two is better! Sorry to hear about your reflux! Luckily, I have been clear from that...... the nausea and steroid high is a weird combo for the first few days after treatment!

Indigomont11- yes I am on AC(I finally updated my treatment)! Thanks for the info! I think the fatigue is here for a while. Howver, I am trying to eat well and walk or exercise on my good days...... hopefully that will help the bad days! I am not sure which is harder..... the first treatment not knowing what to expect or going into the second KNOWing the SE....

Melrosemelrose- so confused about the hair! It is a little longer than shoulder length, I was thinking I may not loose it....lol! Thinking it just wasn't going to happen??? I am prepared with wigs, scarf and hats so maybe I will just go real short??? I guess time will tell before it is all gone! I am hoping to change up the anti-nausea meeds tomorrow to see if it helps! How was round 2 for you? I think we may have different chemos? I just added my treatment to mt profile! I am glad to hear you are doing well! I am applying the clear nail polish like crazy!

Thanks for the feedback on the water, it helps to know I am on Target w the water. I go for my 4th a/c treatment next week & I am so dreading it. I went to a health store & the guy gave me some probiotics in liquid form & that had helped to settle my stomach a lot.



Keep going ladies we will make it they this!

Melrose - yep, still here! Yesterday was pretty yucky, but really just the fatigue and a spell of the blues - and oh, yeah - the hot flashes. I don't understand how a person can feel that hot without having a fever! Overall, I can't complain today. I have spent my treatments visiting with my son and watching movies - as far as I know they haven't ever given me Ativan yet. I'm glad you're here with me too!



Natm - my hair was in a shoulder-length bob, and I cut it short before starting treatment because I thought that would be easier when it started to fall out. For me, that was right. You'll do OK - sounds like you've got the other supplies. :-)

Stacie--Hope you're doing okay.  Get my TX#2 tomorrow. Neulasta on Friday.  Didn't have one after my first treatment, but was told I will need them for the duration (3 more treatments of T/C) Hopefully my platelet counts are okay.  My nails are starting to feel weird.  Like they hurt a little bit.  I am going to take off the peeling nail polish to look at it.  I can't believe your insurance denied your Oncotype test.  Even Medicare covers it!!!  Makes no sense.  I think they just like to deny it to make YOU do the work to file an appeal.  Makes me crazy.

Sade:  I hope you don't lose your nails.  The hair was bad enough for me.  

 For those of you who have gone to the makeup class--did you go there with bare faces?  I am starting to lose my eyelashes.  

Buzzed my hair tonight. What are you all wearing when you go out??? I'm really leaning towards trying scarves tied like turbans, but I'm nervous as hell.

Anndh - I wear my wigs when I'm around people outside the house much - wearing my Buffs or nothing around the house. The Buffs are good for taking walks outside.



I went to my LGFB class a couple of days before starting chemo. I had a full face of makeup on but brought wipes so I could try something new. The ladies who did the class seemed to think that was okay.

I too wear a wig at work and nothing at home and scarfs when I go out. I was mostly worried about my kids, 19 and 22 seeing me without hair...I didn't want to "look" like I had cancer....but I'm over that.



It's been a full week and a day since my last treatment (AC 3rd one) and I'm FINALLY feeling like a person again....I can't believe it took this long this time.



I've developed some sort of tiny bruise right on my heel....it's very sensitive and makes it painful to walk after a few hours....anyone else encounter this?

Karen, I hope not either. I agree that the hair loss was horrible enough.

Lol @ Melrose, yes I'm doing pretty good. I can't believe I forgot. I hope you're doing good as well.