April 2012 Chemo Starters?
Comments
-
kjiberty I got my beeswax at hobby lobby $15 for a pound but I make a pint jar of lotion and it only takes 2 ounces. I also use the 40% off q you print online for hobby lobby- you find it back by the candle making supplies/soap supplies. I also make lip balm 1/2 beeswax 1/2 coconut oil and it's the only thing that heals my sons lips. Very simple - just melt mix and pour.
Thanks for the tip on the MUguard I go to the onc. today.
-
I wanted to let e'one know that the problems I am having with my fingers and feet is very real and is a SE I did not know about. Evidently, it doesn't happen often but is pretty bad when it does. The drug that seems to be the culprit is the adriamycin....... If you do a lot of walking after your treatment, the small capilaries in your feet can "leak" chem drugs into your feet and cause tissue damage. What I am experiencing is almost like a really bad sunburn and hurts to the touch. I can't wear any of my shoes that are tight on my toes. I found a pair that was loose enough that I could put some "gel" soles in if I have to go out. I was told to keep my feet elevated and not do any excessive walking for a couple of days. They told me to get either "udder cream" or "bag balm" and put it on several times a day and take ibuprofen when I need it.
My fingers have now lost skin twice and I can't even button up my shirt because my tips are so sore.
It's just weird that this never, ever came up in any discussions with Doctors, nurses, or on this board. Lucky me, huh?! If you google hand and foot syndrome + chemo there's a lot of links that talk about it.
I just wanted to share this in case anyone else starts having these symptoms.
-
Slawson (her screen name on bco) is, right now, in the "Benadryl zone" for her first Taxol infusion....
She plays the banjo, so hopefully the neuropathy issues for her hands and fingers aren't too bad. -
This no taste thing is driving me crazy. My mouth feels like an animal crawled in it and pooped
-
So sorry to hear of all the SEs..TwoStep the problems with your feet and fingertips sound miserable and JRyan I know what you mean about the taste issue... After my 3rd AC last thursday my tastes are all out of whack... Liquids taste horrible...I am down to just water and diluted juices (apple and pomegranate)...some Gatorade when I can tolerate it... Nothing carbonated. Food is weird...everything tastes too salty.. I can tolerate yogurt , fruit and some veggies but meat is disgusting. More neuropathy in my feet and noticing it now in my fingers too. Had low grade nausea from thurs. up until this morning even with the meds...will ask them to prescribe something additional for my last AC in 3 weeks. Thank goodness only one more to go then switch to taxoteree. Hang in there everyone.. Things are bound to get better for us soon!!
-
SinginCyndi: Thanks for the tips on the beeswax!
-
I totally sympathize about the taste- my third AC was Wed. and not only is my mouth sore but the taste is wacky. I take a complex b vitamin with an extra b-6 to battle the neuropathy. Mine hit right after the treatment and within a day or two the vitamins gave me relief. NP said it's the b-6 that helps but you need the b-complex for the body to absorb the b-6. I too feel the nausea starting to get a bit more persistent - but so far not too unmanagable.
I just hope the pain under my fingernails doesn't progressively get worse-they are pretty tender at this point-I know it's possible to loose the nails even. Have a good day everyone and take gentle care of yourselves-not just your bodies but your souls too. My kids have their last day of school today so the hub-bub around here will be soothing to me!
-
Just wishing I could put the fire out on my tongue.
-
SingingCyndi: I have the pain too. It's kind of scary. Wish I had a hose to take care of your fire.
-
I had my first taxol treatment today. I was there for 7 hours....they had me in the bed for this one and put a blood pressure cuff on to monitor my pressure. She said they always are very cautious with the first one because they want to make sure I don't have an allergic reaction to anything. I didn't take a magazine or anything because they always gave me addivan in the other set and I usually slept thru the whole thing. They put benadryl in this one and I only was out for a couple of hours. I wanted to climb the walls b4 that drip finally finished. But, thank God, I didn't have a reaction to it.
The Onc told me that the neuropathy (if it hits) would hit by the 2nd treatment. I asked him if this would clear up after the chemo is over (I have 3 more). He said a lot of it would but that I may have problems for years....... Singin Cyndi - what did your onc tell you about it?
He also said I could get some pretty bad pain in the muscles and to see if ibuprofin would help. But he also gave me a prescription.
I thought Taxol was supposed to be a little easier on us - this does not sound easier!! I'll let you know.
He told me that the chemo will be in our system for 3 to 4 weeks after we are through. My surgery would then fall in late August.
I'm seeing the light at the end of this terrible tunnel and I know of lot of you are too. We just need to hang in there and try to stay positive.
Carolyn
-
Well ladies if I didn't have you all to confer with I would think I was losing my mind...the side effects are that bizarre. But when I check in I see you all are having same...well it makes me sad to think you are suffering too but at least I figure it is "normal "(though how anything we are going thru could be called "normal" is difficult to imagine!). For the record here is what my last 8days have been like:
1. Thurs week ago 3rd AC
2. 4 Pm that afternoon nausea kicks in
2. Next day (Fri) neulasta shot
3. Fri thru sunday low grade nausea even with anti nausea meds and fatigue
4. Monday morning wake up and tongue feels like it has been scalded..you know that feeling like when you burn your tongue on hot tea or coffee? Tastes were a little off after 2nd AC but not like this time. Now Everything is tasteless and tongue feels burned and sore all the time.
5. Feel a bit better by Tues but start to feel bad again wed night and feel awful by Thursday. It is the neulasta shot which for some reason takes about 6-7 days to kick in for me...just like first two times I get bone and muscle aches but this time terrible headache and run low grade fever too.
6. Today (Fri) I am thankfully better.
good grief what a roller coaster ride this is. I hate the unpredictability of it...all I can do is try to accomplish what I can on the days I feel halfway decent and those days are fewer and farther between. I can tell by the decline in posts that we are all having a hard time. My best friend, who had same chemo 2 years ago, said it was same with her group...posts dropped dramatically when everyone was on 3rd and 4th round of AC then picked up when folks felt better. Hang in there everyone. We will get thru this. -
twostep62 my onc really didn't say anything about the neuropothy lasting just said to take the b vitamins and they seem to have done the trick. Although there are days I am feeling it more.
Pelicangirl you are so right this time is more touchy and less bounce back. I am one day ahead of your schedule. My tongue is getting gradually better but has some real sore spots. Yesterday my finger tips started to get sore today they are super sensitive as well as the bottoms of my feet. They felt like they were burning.
We are camping this weekend and I pushed it to get things done- but I'm hurting in places that didn't seem so sensitive previously. I feel like it's going to hit my stomach next. Have a good weekend everyone-I'm going to try and enjoy the time next to the pool watching the kids swim.
-
Here I sit wide awake at the campground. Everyone else is sleeping, I would be too except my DH told me to ley down about 7ish because he could tell I was at the endof my rope. So I slept a few hours and so here I am. A really sweet lady approached me at the pool this afternoon and said "How you doing honey?" I told her Ok and she asked what kind of cancer I had-she too has breast cancer-although she escaped having chemo-just finished her radiation. Another women nearby jumped into the conversation and said she and her daughter just donated their hair - made me feel great that complete strangers would be so kind and ask how I'm doing and encourage me.
My son and DIL came to see us here and of course seeing the grandson was a great joy-he's 8 nmonths old and so full of mischief-but so wonderfully innocent. Just love it - it's been a nice week-end -despite feeling lousy. Can't wait to get home though. Grad party tomorrow for my sis's twins.
-
My first treatment with Taxil caused me to have some really bad muscle pain and made my arthritis really hurt. The Onc told me to take ibuprofen which didn't help. He also gave me a prescription for some meds that gave me relief. Other than the muscle pain, I haven't had any other weird SE from it. No neuropathy yet - thank goodness. My feet are finally healing and my fingers are on their 4th peel. I hope it is the last of it since I think the adriamycin caused it.
It still seems like the Neulasta shot gives me my worst time. I can't breathe well for 4 or 5 days after taking it.
When I went for my shot on Friday, I was talking to a lady who had cancer that worked behind the desk. Another lady walked up and said "my sister had breast cancer last year --- she didn't make it". I try to stay so positive and think positive and when she so casually stated that, it really sent me into a nose dive. I've been depressed for several days. And especially after hearing about Robin Roberts. But today, I said enough and started the climb back up. I know we have to stay positive thru this ordeal. I can't imagine why anyone would make such a callous remark to a person with cancer.
I hope all of you are doing OK and dealing with your pain.
Carolyn
-
TwoSteps: Why do these people have to say that kind of stuff? Some people don't have a brain!
They did a story about Robin Roberts today and they indicated there's a very small percentage of the people who receive chemo who develope this type of disease. I felt a "little" bit better.
-
It's been an up & down kind of week. Extreme fatigue, tongue feels like it was burned(thats a perfect description!), and now a massive toothache. Not sure what to do about that one. Guess call to onc tomorrow will be necessary.
Taking my soon to be 14 year old daughter & 3 of her friends to the beach for the weekend for her birthday. Hoping i can keep up! -
Good Luck JRyan. I hope you can enjoy it some as well. I think the water is so soothing....I'm looking so forward to my trip in May....
After my treatment Thursday, I will only have 2 more thank God. What a wild and crazy ride it has been. I feel like I have been housebound much of the last 4 months and I am not a "house" person at all. I will be so happy to resume some type of normal existance.
I was feeling pretty good yesterday and just had to get out for a while. Went to Kohls with a 20% off coupon and bought a few pieces and then treated myself to lunch at Chick-fe-la. I actually could taste it. I just sat way back in the parking lot and ate......it was so nice just to be out! Made my day.
My feet are finally clearing up but the fingertips are still peeling. Still no neuropathy at ths time.
-
Sure hope everyone enjoys their week-end we are going to try and get the kid's pool up today, thing is we have to move our massive wood pile to put it where we want it.We were trying to save our front lawn it was the first year it was actually looking pretty good. The drought is not helping.
I had a surprise last night. My DD's friend's mom did a fund raiser for me. She made breast cancer bracelets from parachute cording. The one she made me was black with the pink chording looped into the ribbon shape. Anyway she apparantly sold them and gave me the money. How sweet is that? It's enough to pay my next doctor's fee. I don't even know her that well but we did hit it off when we talked on the phone and met up. I am just overwhelmed by her generosity and I must say she is quite the go getter. It just amazes me how the Lord uses people - ones we don't even expect to lift our spirits.
-
SinginCyndi: What a nice gesture! Hope you have enough energy to help with that wood pile.
-
twostep~ My fingers & feet just started peeling and I am 3 weeks PFC (had Taxol followed by AC.., I know backwards). What do you use to stop or inhibit the peeling. The nurse at my oncs office said to "just use a good cream". I have been doing that but it doesn's seem to help. Do you or anyone have any suggestions???
-
C-Squared: Here's a couple of ideas: Vanicream or Aquafor. Please google them. Aquafor is like using Vaseline. My sister is a radiation therapist and recommended this for any peeling issues as well as for use as soon as I start radiation.
-
Well I did my last T/C today!!!! On the downside the oncologist told me that he's putting me on tamoxifen for 5 years. Mind you I am only 10% positive estrogen receptor. Seems rather low on the scale to me and I'm not real sure why it seems every decision is not by the books. Although I realize that my type of cancer is only .5% 1 in a 1,000. So Ifeel it's all a guessing game.
I also gained 8 punds last time I had lost 4. These are 2 week increments, So for me this really sucks the most I worked so hard last year to loose 25 pounds then maintained it for a year. I'm up 12 since the diagnosis in Feb.
-
SinginCyndi: Congrats on your last TC. I will be going on an AI (not tamoxifen since I am post-menopausal), and do NOT look forward to the weight gain either. I have lost 25 lbs since last October. I am determined not to put it back on (yes, I just got done eating two pieces of Belgian chocolates-my neighbors just moved here from Belgium two weeks ago and keep brining me chocolates!)
-
Belgian chocolates sure sound good to me-that's the problem EVERYTHING sounds good. I haven't even researched the tamoxifen yet and have no idea what to expect.
-
csquared: Aquafor is really good ...I put on at night and put light cotton socks on because as Kjiberty said, it is really greasy...but it works...my heels did not split. It was worse on my finger tips but I just kept putting something on them throughout the day. Good Luck..... My peeling is finally clearing up since I am off the red drip stuff. I am on Taxil now and hoping I wont' get the neuropothy that comes with it.
I got some great news from the Cancer Surgeon this week. She could not find the tumor - it has disappeared and the node is feeling normal. she was totally amazed! She said the Chemo must have done the job. I say God and all the prayers going up from my friends and family did the job. This to me is more than chemo because I had a 4cm tumor. It doesn't change the surgery but makes it easier.
My taste buds are coming back and so is my appetite. E'thing sounds good!! Belgian chocolates sound "to die for"! I told my husband I would gain 20 pounds after chemo - will really have to watch it.
Wish all of a good week......
Carolyn
I have 2 more chemo treatments and I so am looking forward to ending this chapter as we all are.
-
Singincydi: congrats on your last chemo. That will be me next Thursday. Counting downthe days.
Carolyn, I am glad the aqua for is working for you. Yes, these chocolates are amazing and their big shipment with all their furniture and more chocolates come tomorrow!,, they are having us over for a little bit to eat and drink (as they say it) on Tuesday night. I also agree with you that God is great and has a hand in our healing. What wonderful news! -
2step that is a miracle and such wonderful news!
-
twosteps~ I am familiar with Aquafor (thanks kjiberty too). Interesting.., I am 3 weeks PFC (post final chemo) and the peeling began last week or so. I had Taxol back in January-March. It was much easier for me than the AC. I finished with AC April-May 31 (final!). I never experienced the neuroapthy with either. It's so strange how the chemo drugs affect us ALL so differently. Good Luck! I hope your Taxol experience is easier than the AC!
Best Wishes to all for a peaceful weekend with minimal SE's and maximal comfort. Your final chemo will be here before you know it and we will all do the happy dance for you!
-
csquared: I love your quote ""I can be changed by what happens to me. I refuse to be reduced by it." That is so true. I think all of us will come out of this much stronger and probably with a different outlook on life. We've shared our pain and I hope everyone will check back in when it is over to share their good news and let us know what is going on with each other.
I got in the swimming pool for the first time today. My Onc told me to wear a swim cap but that is OK. It felt so good.......so normal!
I had my Neulasta shot today so I guess the next few days will be rough..... I won't miss those shots.
Good luck to e'one this week.....I hope your SE's aren't too unbearable.
Carolyn
-
Twosteps: I hope you have a painfree weekend from the darned shot. Wishing you minimal S/E's.
C-Squared: All of the sudden today, I feel like y feet are peeling. Ugh! It's aquafor for me tonight!
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team