Starting chemo Thursday, May 31 - June Group?

StephanieJM  -- I read somewhere to drink something cold with ice or suck on ice chips while they are giving you A/C and it will prevent mouth sores.  It seems to have worked for me so far.  But, I've only had one infusion.  I'm going to do that every time I go.

Hi Pamelahope   Yes, my treatment day is Monday.  I know what you mean about not wanting anything to interfere with your schedule.  I'm the same way.  I worry about a delay, because of a low wbc or something else.  It will be #2 for me and I'm anxious to get it behind me.  Good luck on #3.  It's almost here already.  No way should you ever feel like a wimp about chemo.  We have no control over how it will affect us.  My first week, I took off as vacation, because I had no idea how I was going to react to it.  I couldn't have worked, because some of the time I felt as if I was in a fog and also the lack of energy was bad at times.  The second week, I could work.  But, that's not saying it will be like that every time.  And, who knows?  When, you get to Taxol, you might have the least SEs of anyone.  I hope so.  You deserve it.  Good luck with your picc line consult tomorrow.        

Ladies, I have been hanging out in the April/May thread but had my first tx on the 15th of June.  6 round of TC and H for one year.  Very fortunate that my SE's were minimal.  Should hit my nadir in the next 2-5 days.  Right now my biggest SE is the dry/runny nose that is so sore and tender it is painful, and the zits I have EVERYWHERE.  I look like a 16 yo the day before prom! 

To all going to the BGC tomorrow, kick butt!

DorisMarie,     Great, keep up the humor..... I am sure cancer hates humor!! 

Stephanie, I get the mouth sores from lupus and had them going into chemo.  They gave me a script for some stuff called "Magic Swizzle" that worked well to calm it down.  For mouth rinses, there is one by ACT, Biotin, and Crest that have no alcohol.  I tried the ACT one, and it is good for rinsing out.

Now if I could just figure out how to sleep through the night!  I need to go to work in 3 hours! 

vicki---I had terrible acne from my first treatment as was told it was steroid induced. Ended up with a prescription for keflex to take with each treatment for 5 days as well as a topical antibiotic. Ask your MO. I demanded it as it's bad enough to be bald but to be bald and covered in zits just isn't fair.

pam - they may ultrasound your arms before the picc line to check the vascularity.

keepmoving - glad to help!

Beware acidic foods on the mouth sores - I had a severe case on tx#1 - a combination of the chemo and that I consumed carbonated Italian lemon soda, which was the only thing that tasted decent.  I did try to hold ice in my mouth on subsequent tx, did not have any more acidic food/drink, and had no further issues.  I was prescribed Caphosol to deal with the mouth sores - great stuff!

For any of you ladies who are wondering why I am posting on this chemo thread in particular - I was one year out from chemo when you all started - I seem to be drawn to your group for this reason.  I hope you don't mind that I pop in from time to time - hindsight is 20/20 so I would like to contribute "corporate knowledge" when I can. 

Hello,

  My fiancee' has just had her first round of chemo. And much like you felt like a million bucks the night of the treatment. We had a nice dinner, watched tv all was normal. The second day was smooth as glass as well, so we knda thought that she was that .01% of patients that have almost no side effects. Then there was day three...she felt like making me breakfast, the smell of the food cooking made her so sick that none of her meds could fight it! I felt like such an ass, I heard the warnings yet still sat there at the table ready to eat. So this was the point at which we knew... chemo ain't nothin nice. Her whole diet has changed... it primarilly consists of chicken and rice burritos from Taco Bell of all places. If she can keep it down, I'm all about it!!! (I've had my fill of Taco Bell LOL but his is in no way about me!) But day 8 was the scariest thus far... she came down with a fever that she just couldn't break. And although that might seem like no big deal, let me be the first tell you; if you are taking chemo FEVERS ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM!!! She had a normally scheduled follow up appointment for blood work on Monday, and they admitted her that aftenoon. We came to find out that her blood counts were so low that a very minor infection had her on verge of death. They've had her on IV drips of one type of antibiotics or another for a week now, and the treatments will continue to be done from the house now. As well as shot regiments for her blood counts. As kind of a sick joke, chemo decided to take her hair from her over the last couple of days in very large clumps! We are still in the hospital waiting for her to recieve another pick line and her new perscriptions so we can try to get back to as normal a life as we can build together while taking this journey. It seems odd to me that her partial mastecotmy operation although very frightening, was nowhere near as terrifying as this last week of tests and not knowing. Having to take power naps on this uncomfortable fold out chair, so I can hold her hand while she sleeps has become my refuge! I can't begin to tell you what a blessing it will be to to look back from this a year from now and be able to say, we've done it babe...You've beat cancer!!! God Bless Everyone Taking This Journey!!!

   Steve  and Billiemae  

Steve - OMG!!! Glad you are here for your fiance and doing what you can to help and support her.  I know it has been a huge learning process for both of you.  Please come back to this thread whenever and ask whatever questions you have about whatever or just to vent.  You will get the great support and practical tips to help you and Billemae through chemoland together.  Hoping the hospital stay is a short one !!!

Wow Steve, Thanks for sharing. So sorry that Billiemae has to go through all this. I will be adding the two of you to my prayers. I sure hope she feels better soon and out of the hospital. In a years time you will be such a stronger couple for it.  I'v been married for 18 years and this is the scariest thing we have gone through. Take Care!! Let us know how Billiemae is doing.

Oh MOM2r4boyz,  I wish I was there to put my arms around you!!  You are totally, absolutely not alone (great big tears here), everyone is holding you.   

I am doing the same thing.  It is just flying out.  Having chemo #2 tomorrow.  This morning I put on  a bright scarf, gypsy style, and big earrings.  Actually, I sort of like the look, thought I might as well get used to it.  Huby came in, sure he thought he was at the wrong house!!!

just hold on and know this WILL NOT last forever, you are going to get through this.  Everyone has their arms around YOU , feel that big, huge hug???? 

Glad to hear the excellent news Pam!  Baby that port!  

Hang in there Steve and mom24boyzs...better days will be ahead! Maybe the crappy days make the good days all the better! 

Love the image StephanieJM! 

I'm still battling it out with the fatigue, but have kept everything else under control for the most part with only a few stomach lurches.  I'm not sure how long I'm going to be able to keep getting myself to work though. Tomorrow is BRCA day and ovary U/S day to follow up on the CT findings.

mom24boyzs -If I'd lived closer, i'd be at your front door trying to give you lots of air hugs and elbow bumps (I'm a germaphobe these days) to let you know you are not the only person here that feels or has felt the way you do.  I know that the words may not comfort you much but know the shedding will slow.  It was not easy for me either to keep using the lint roller multiple times a day to get that hair up and to see it on the lint roller nor was it easy for me to see the amount of hair in my hands when I was taking a shower or what was plugging the shower drain.  I did my best to hold it together then and got passed that point and have accepted my new almost bald look.  I will also tell you that from the time the hair started falling out until the fallout slacked off after my short short boy cut, I did not look in the mirror.  Not an easy task to do considering there is a mirrored wall in my bathroom and a large mirror in my downstairs guest bathroom.  One day, I accidently popped my head up while washing my hands in the guest bathroom and saw myself.  I was a little shocked but decided I had to accept me the way I am for now because I am still transforming and evolving.  I'd chose the chemo aka the cancer clean up regimen any day over my hair.  So cry, rant, rave, vent and do whatever you have to do to move past this hair thing.  You will get there and feel better soon!!!!! love and hugs to you!!!! 

Steve - welcome to this board, and so sorry that cancer has come along and cast a cloud over your engagement to BillieMae. It was really nice to read your post, and I have to say, I am all choked up. It is a pleasure to read how "the other half" is managing this disease. You sound wonderfully supportive. You know, my best friend is a survivor. Like me, she was diagnosed in her 30's just after beginning to date someone. Well he popped the question despite the fact that she was bald and sick with the side effects of treatments. He was there for everything. I couldn't even take her to any treatments! Well happy to report that they got married 6 months after she was "all clear" and she over a year in remission right now. 

Steve -Thanks also for the information about the fevers. I had not given this much thought, although they have asked to be very watchful for fevers. Also, today they noticed a scratch on my leg that I got from the beach. Nothing big, just a superficial scratch. The nurse said to keep a close eye on it for infection, and to keep neosporin on it. I guess this is probably "no joke" either. Good job getting her to the hospital! Knowing me, who tends to poo-poo anything when it's my own health, might have delayed going until it was super serious (although your situation sounds like it was). 

Mom24Boyz: hang in there dear. Sounds like you might have had some anxiety. I always want to barf when I get especially anxious. Maybe think of it this way...with every strand of hair, a cell has died. BUT, with every strand of hair AT LEAST one cancer cell has died too! So every time you get a handful of hair, that's perhaps hundreds...or even thousands...of cancer cells losing the battle. 

Pam: The Velveteen Rabbit! I love that analogy. I am going to tell my husband that one. I also love the restaurant story. You probably ROCKED that scarf darlin'. At the restaurant I work in, several people are going to shave their heads when I lose my hair. How amazing is that? Women included! Now they are all pretty rock n' roll and might sport the look anyway....but it is so sweet.

That's all for tonight ladies (and 1 gent)! 

ElleBee