April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Isharvey:  Shave......

Isharvey822- I haven't shaved yet and don't intend to.  I got a very short short boy cut ( my DH and I cut it) when my little bob hair started falling out.  I just got tired of the long strands of hair coming out.  The hair fall out has let up and I still have some hair.  I'm not dealing with stubs.... just one inch hair when it comes out.  I use a lint roller and clean up the hair.  I guess I'm not really bothered by the hair coming out anymore since the fall out has slacked up.  I like running my hands over my head and feeling the little veil of hair that is left. 

Whatever you decide to do, take control over the hair before it takes control over you. 

Ashleyb - I too just finish my last of AC & will start taxol in 2 weeks. I am so praying that taxol is easier on my stomach. From what I have read from the discussion boards here, that it is easier from most people, but everyone is different. Keep posting how u are doing as many of us are just behind u in treatment. Good luck & hopefully very little to no side effects.

Hi Ladies

Thought I would just jump in with information for the ladies going onto Taxol.  I had the AC x 4 and felt almost like you did without so much nausea as my Oncologist here in New Zealand gave me EMEND.  It was wonderful.  No nausea or sickness just the tiredness that you are going through and the mouth ulcers with thrush etc.  I have just had my third Taxol and feel absolutely fine.  No nausea or sickness, I even forget to take my meds now as just don't need them. It can be accumulative but side effects so far are nil except a little bit of thush again but not much.  It is so much easier than the SE's with AC. So hope it will be the same for you ladies.  The only other thing I get is puffy feet with all the extra water I have been drinking. I think if you eat even though you don't always feel like it, it helps your tummy. I am triple negative so I post on that board but I really feel for you ladies that are going though this.  Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel and once you are through it you really are surprised at how quick it has gone.  So good luck and to all who will be having Taxol it is not as bad as the big guns.  Thinking of you all. Annie                       

I'm going to the PS today for a "just because" sort of visit.  They find it odd that my last drain is still offering up 50cc per day, which has postponed chemo.  Stupid thing's been in for 5 weeks and 2 days (but who's counting?)  The record at that office is 7 weeks.  I don't want to break any records, I just want this stupid drain to go away.  I know they won't take it out today, but maybe they'll give me some thoughts.  Although I'm on antibiotics still, I'm glad someone will be taking a look to make sure no infection threats exist. (bright side?)

Will this turn into a June chemo thread, or will I have to jump ship?  After all, I was SUPPOSED to start chemo in May.    Does that mean I can stay? Also, it's in the BEFORE during and after forum, right?  LOL  I'm definitely in the before category.  *sigh*  

I'm going to go back to work (intermittently) drain or not, next week.  I hope that being busy gets rid of the depression that's trying to creep in about all the delays.  I don't do well with the waiting.  I've come to grips with the fact that I have cancer.  I'm doing a good job handling having one less breast than I had 5 1/2 weeks ago.  The waiting and this drain, however, cause tears to spring forth 2-3 times a day or more.

Yup, time to get off the pity pot and get back to work.  My employer is going to work with me on easy work and my own pace, coming and going as I please and resting as needed, and it's a desk job.  

Wow.  Ramble much?  Sorry.  I'm a bit nervous today, as I am before any appointment, and it makes me ramble.  I hope everyone has a good weekend (long weekend for those of us on this side of the pond) and light/NO SEs for those undergoing chemo.  1:00 is a LONG time from now.  Le sigh.

Sandik - I haven't yet (knock on wood) lost my sense of taste.  I wonder if this has to do with which regimen you are on (mine is TCH) or the fact that I ice my mouth during Taxotere???  No clue, but it is interesting.  And that is great that you are inspiring your coworkers!!! 

Christina - THANK YOU!!!

vballmom - hope your outing goes well and you feel better SOON!

fierro6 - what kind of recon did you have again?  If it was a lat flap with the implant, I'm recalling vaguely someone on another thread who had ongoing drainage - she started sleeping in a recliner which decreased the pressure on her back and the drainage slowed down.  Not sure if this is relevant to you, though.  And please, stick around!!!!  You'll have all us "seasoned" girls to give you advice!  And you have every right to be down - this is rough to have a drain that long, and to keep seeing things postponed, and yet it is all still such a new diagnosis for you...so much for the brain/heart to handle all at once!  Be easy on yourself!  <Hugs>

Good morning all,

My first TCH was on Wednesday, all went well, port worked great, no problems with the infusions, ate snacks and drank at least a gallon of various fluids, actually finished an hour earlier than they told me I would. Yesterday, got up took care of the critters, watered the flower beds and worked all day from my home office and again drank water/tea all day long constantly and slept like a rock last night for the first time in weeks.  This morning was feeling a little foggy, shaky, headachy, achy, but forced myself outside to take care of the horses, etc., walk around the yard/barn, get some fresh air, deep breaths and am actually feeling better and still at work from my home office.  No nausea and everything else seems to be working as it should:):)  Should I expect a crash of sorts soon, anticipation of when or if it's going to happen - is making me anxious, but what the heck this entire process is filled with anxious - so what's new? 

So the waiting game continues is what you are telling me:):):)  I know we are all different but just out of curiosity, would you all say in your experience, Day 4 which would be Sunday for me would be the safe zone, whatever is going to happen should happen by then?

Hi ladies I haven't posted since my TX#2 because I had a really hard week.  After my steriod crash I started getting nausea in the afternoons and night.  I was trying to minimize the amount of zofran because the zofran headache is a killer.  So I switched to a 4mg zofran and was trying to just take it when needed.  That may have been a mistake because I had 4 days of horrible nausea that I just couldn't get ahead of.  I am interested to know if you all take the 4 or 8mg zofran?  Do you take it 3X a day regardless or only when you start to feel bad? 

Then the Big D started and it was awful!! I struggled with it during my last treatment but never went more than 3 times a day and the immodium seemed to control it.  But this time it wouldn't stop.  When I called my MO he was very concerned and called in Lomotil.  They are going to have to decrease my taxotere and carboplatin for my next round because my diarrhea reaction was so bad.  Has anyone else had to decrease their dose?  Lowering the dose cares me... which is weird... but the I have worked so hard to convince myself, "The chemo is for me, to help me" that to lower the dose seems less of what I need.  

I love reading all your experiences and advice.  It means so much to have the support of this group.

8 mg Zofran here, and taking it 3 times a day since Wednesday night (after my first TCH).  I asked my onc's office yesterday if I should continue taking it even though I felt fine and they said yes at least for 4 days, so that's my plan and so far no nausea. 

rgina, I would hope so!!!  I always react, but I've seen other ladies do MUCH better, so hopefully if you are feeling pretty good by day 4 you may be able to include yourself in the lucky crew!  

Sandik - good luck today!

ladybug - I am taking 8 mg Zofran every 6 hours.   I start it the night of chemo and continue it at least a week - but only b/c it helps me with my horrible heartburn.  This time I'm hoping to wean earlier.  I think most only need it the first 3 to 5 days post chemo???  And YES, they decreased my dose this time b/c of the severity of my low white and red blood counts, my ear ringing being so bad (my request - I'm petrified of it getting worse - it's not fixable), and also b/c of my severe heartburn requiring an endoscope to make sure I did not have an ulcer.  I read a study that said effectiveness of chemo goes down under 85%, so I asked my doc if we could try that instead of the typical 75% dose modification that is done when you have significant reactions to chemo.  Soooo...jury is out...I'm waiting to see if this round is any better!  We also started Neupogen day 1 post chemo instead of day 6 or 7 right before my nadir, so hoping that will help me not drop so low on my whites.  I don't want to end up in the hospital!

P.S.  That 85% study is an old one (from 1995) that lots of other articles reference.  I don't know how valid it is, my doc said he feels the # of treatments is most important, but I do know chemo has a narrow therapeutic window.  I don't know.  I don't think they really know.  It's all a crapshoot.  (no pun intended...LOL...laughed after I wrote that!)  I think if it is going to keep you out of the hospital, you need to listen to what the docs say - always weighing the risks of treatment vs the risks of cancer.  It sucks.  It was a VERY hard decision for me to make.  BTW, one article I read said the first two treatments at full dose are the most important - that made me feel better and hopefully will make you feel better too!!  

Thanks for the warm welcome ladies!  

nofear2012: The AC was rough for the plumbing department!! I dread going to the washroom! Hope it gets better as others said it has once done that portion. I found also with AC that I had really bad heart burn and acid reflux which Ive never experienced in my life. I burp constantly and take tums after every meal and sometimes a drug that starts with a "Z" but I felt like that kept me up at night. 

CockerSpaniel: So it's the EMEND that has made things a bit easier!!?? I wondered... I still get some nausea but nearly like what I expected... I am on Emend, Dex, Ondansatron and Stemitil for my anti-nauseas and I only take them for the first 5 days and the Stem is only 'as needed'. No doctor or pharmacist here where I live (other than my oncologist who prescribed it) had heard of Emend. Is it totally the miracle anti-nausea pill I wonder?? Either way, Im glad Im on it! Good to hear your Taxol experience has not been too bad. On what day does the thrush start for you? Do you take Nystatin for it? Mine usually starts around day 5 or 6. 

....

The other fun SE I have had: The hot flashes!! Im 28 and so have not had the 'pleasure' of having a menopausal experience until I started chemo. I am also on an ovarian suppressive drug called Goserlin which is supposed to potentially preserve my lady business (says my onco). That injection is like a harpoon that I get every 4 weeks and it is also the cause of some serious mood swings and sleepless nights.

Anyone doing Neupogen injections regularly too after treatments? Bone pain like the dickens, anyone? I am on an every two weeks chemo schedule so I get neupogen for 8 days starting on day 3 after each tx. Luckily I had some practice with sub-cu injections in the tummy from all of the IVF embryo preservation stuff that was done pre-chemo. I imagine it might be tough for ppl who are terrified of needles.

Hi there-I'm in the midst of chemo, next week #3 of 6. The side effects have lessened.  The port was & is no problem.  Diarrhea is the main miserable side effect. Depends helps.  It's reassuring. From North carolina.