April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

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  • lisa2012
    lisa2012 Member Posts: 652
    edited June 2012

    My sister said the same thing about rads. After AC and Taxol, it didnt slow her down too much though it was a hassle and such. That is like my one reward of having thevBMX- no rads.

    Stomach not hurting yet like it did all day yesterday. Not C or D, but very productive. Hope I got through whatever it was. Total couch day..

    Nails. My friend said the sensitivity lasted for 6 mos for her. Hurts to bump them, thoughnthe discomfort goes up and down. Might paint my toenails. They don't look bad, just a bit discolored. I just don't want nails to get loose or fall off. I am only day 6 though so we will see. bummer.

    Hope weather and fires are not causing problems for y'all. BGC girls, may it go well.

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  • TriChick
    TriChick Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2012

    Re; Taxol - - I am 2 in of 4, like Chapter 4 - - most of my SE's were from the Neulasta shot.  The taxol made me super, super tired from day 2 to day 4...easing off days 5 and 6. 

    It seems to me much easier than the A/C - all relative and we are all different.  I hear that some can be allerigic to taxol and it's derivatives.  No nail issues so far for me aside from kicking a poorly positioned bicycle helmet compliments of my husband!  He feels really bad. Frown  I do not want to take the polish off to look but I probably should.

    I am in the BGC tomorrow at 9:15 am for #7 of 8 (3 of 4 taxol)  Looking forward to getting this over with.

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  • sandik
    sandik Member Posts: 482
    edited June 2012

    In the BGC now. Things are moving very slow here today. I think they are all half asleep. Haha. Dr said my hemoglobins were a little low.

    Side effects list they gave me sounds worse that the AC. Fluids are going in now. She said when the taxol starts to go in she will stand here in case I have allergic reaction. Also said sometimes bp drops on taxol. I take meds for high bp, so I'll have to keep an eye on that at home.

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  • Nance72
    Nance72 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2012

    My final (#4) A/C is tomorrow. Will be happy in a few days to a week when all the SE's are past. It has thankfully gone quick. Two weeks till my pre-planned vacation to Glacier National Park, then back for Taxol#1. I didn't totally shave my head-- the hair I have has been growing back already.

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012

    Morning ladies!  All the best to everyone in the BGC today.  This last A/C resulted in a longer ride on the C train (wondering if the heat didn't help either); but better now. Drinking water whenever I think of it, and eating high fiber stuff.  Things are definitely not tasting the same either.  

    Thanks for all the good thoughts re: the fires.  We live in west central suburban Denver, and the fires are not close to us, so we aren't in danger.  But we can sure see and smell the smoke from here.  I have been concerned for Vickilind since she's closer to the Waldo fire, but late last night I heard that they cancelled the evacuation order for Manitou Springs, so I'm hoping that bodes well for you, Vicki!  I'm working now and dropping in here in between doing stuff; haven't heard much yet this a.m. about how much progress they have made containing the fires today.  Still praying for more rain.  

    Sade - so glad you checked in, I've been thinking about you.  

    I am trying to blame chemo brain for mixing up the date of my mom and niece's upcoming visit - I had it in my head that they are coming on 7/13, when they are coming on 7/6!  Yikes.  Just means we have to scramble around some more to get ready for them.  

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  • Nance72
    Nance72 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2012

    Cool statement I just came across: Count your smiles instead of your tears and count your courage instead of your fears.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2012

    Nance72- Glad to hear from you.  Haven't heard from you in awhile and hope your job hasn't been too taxing on you.  Yay for the last A/C treatment tomorrow!!!!  Double Yay for your planned vacation!!!

    Sandik - Thinking of you and hope you do okay with the Taxol.  Not surprised your hemoglobin is low.  Mine is in the upper low range since the round #2.  There is a list of foods you can include in your diet to help with low hemoglobin on the Livestrong.com website.  Just do a search on that website that is "Foods for HGB".  You may already eating all those foods now.  I can't say if eating those foods will fix the low number but it couldn't hurt.

    Dancetrancer- So glad you are staying here.  I know that if and when I have to have rads, I will definitely be asking you some tips to help me get through that.  I'm in the grey area of rads or no rads but once the tumor board figures out its recommendation, I'll know what is next.  Have a great day today and enjoy that fruit bowl!!!!

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  • rn4babies
    rn4babies Member Posts: 409
    edited June 2012

    Marcia......let me know how it goes.I haven't gotten the courage to do that yet. It was expensive and bought for me as a gift. Its been chemobeanies all the way!

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012

    Y'all, this fruit bowl is fantastic - best one I've ever made!  It's red grapes, peaches, and strawberries (everything in season here at the market).  I mixed 1/8 cup of honey with the juice and zest of 1/2 a lime and threw in some chopped mint.  Tossed all together...OMG!  Y'all gotta try it when your tummies are feeling well enough! 

    AND, DH is behind in his prep work, so he's working from home today and not leaving to travel for work til around dinner - yahoo!!!  We are plowing through the fruit bowl!

    AND, I just had my blood rechecked and my whites are doing great!  Reds still low but slowly climbing!  

    It's been a great morning.

    Wishing all of you in the BGC today and tomorrow all my best!  

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  • Pauletta
    Pauletta Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2012

    I have one more Adrianmycin\Cytoxan then I will have 12 (taxol and herceptin). Can anyone tell me if the taxol and herceptin is easier to go through than the A\C? I was told by my oncologist that once I get through the 4 A\C treatments, the taxol\herceptin will be easy. Any input from someone that has gone through all of this?

    Hope everyone had a good weekend!! 

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  • Pauletta
    Pauletta Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2012

    My last A\C treatment is July 6th. I am so glad that it is AFTER July 4th, so that I can enjoy the Fireworks!!!

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  • vballmom
    vballmom Member Posts: 426
    edited June 2012

    Pauletta - me, too!  I think mine is 7/2.

    I got my bloodwork done. I am neutropenic. Damn. 

    My right foot and leg are killing me. I think it is bone pain. It hurts to walk and I didn't do anything to hurt it.  

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012
    dang vballmom...I forget...you get neupogen now b/c neulasta didn't work?  Sorry I can't remember, I just know you ended up in the hospital last time.  Sending you positive energy to stay infection-free!  Sending you a virtual hug, too!  
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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2012
    vballmom- Geez!!!!! Enough with the low blood counts!!!!!  Hope you can take something for the bone pain!!! ELBOW BUMPS AND AIR HUGS !!!!!!! Sending you lots of positive calming and healing prayers, thoughts and energy!!!!  
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  • Husker123
    Husker123 Member Posts: 101
    edited June 2012

    You ladies are busy! I left on Thursday & got back this morning. 8 pages!!! I can't keep up!

    I was at a horse show over the weekend. I had an 8 year old girl say the nicest thing to her mom. They were watching me work my horse & Emily says to her, "Mom, Mary may not have hair but she's the most beautiful person out there." When AnneMarie told me that, I just had to hug Emily. I had tears in my eyes. What a sweet child.

    I had a good weekend. Kept hydrated & out of the sun as much as I could. I sure had a lot of folks making sure I was drinking & being good to myself. The show manager is one year out from colon cancer so we compared a lot of notes.

    I hope all of you are doing well. I can't possibly remember what is going on with everyone.

    Good luck to all in the BGC!

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  • chapter4
    chapter4 Member Posts: 155
    edited June 2012

    Pauletta - we are all different, but I can tell you - after having gone through 4 AC treatments and 2 Taxol so far... taxol is much more tolerable...at least for me.

    biggest side effect is the bone/muscle pain which I found managable by taking Aleve. I did not have to have the day after shot with Taxol..... only with AC.

     let us know how it goes for you... and best of luck - you will get through this!

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  • vballmom
    vballmom Member Posts: 426
    edited June 2012

    dancetrancer, yes - I'm getting neupogen shots.  I guess my body just isn't into making neutrophils!  I hope things are better on Taxol.

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  • Pauletta
    Pauletta Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2012

    thank you. My last A\C treatment is July 6th. Not sure how soon after that they will start the taxol and herceptin. 

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  • lisa2012
    lisa2012 Member Posts: 652
    edited June 2012

    Sitting on the patio with DH and DS at lunch,msuddenly the ground looked so good i just had to lay down on it. DH was a bit shocked. I then trudged up to bed.



    Stomach not terrible like yesterday. Maybe it was Neulasta ( yes it can be a SE)



    Bumped my most tender fingernail on wall when opening mail-WOW!! Yelled. Painful indeed. Think I will call nurse to see w hat might help.

    Fourth and last round is definitely wiping me out. Plus nadir and low WBCs are about to hit .

    Ordered 2 more wigs for fun.

    dancetrancer, glad your DH is there!! And the fruit salad sounds divine... Maybe in a week OT two, yum.

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited June 2012

    Sandi:  Hope all went well today

    Nancee and Trichick:  Good luck tomorrow

    Dance:  Glad your DH was able to spend time with you.

    Lisa:  When was your last round? Hope you're okay.  Let us know what the MO says about your nail. I guess I am just anticipating..... 

    Vballmom:  Feel better soon!! 

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012

    vball, that is just not fair!!!!  I so hope things are better on Taxol for you, too. 

    Good gracious lisa!  OK now people, no more making friends with the ground!  I've heard enough of these stories!

    Seriously, hope you are doing better lisa!  My nails are not nearly as tender as a few days ago - I decided since they are a bit better to carefully cut them short as I could and file them (I was scared to mess with them a few days ago).  Hoping this will keep me from snagging them on stuff.  Hope your nails improve, too! 

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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012

    I've officiallly had this headache for 9 days straight.  I don't have it all day every day, but I have it every day.  I'm slow to connect dots (or sometimes even recognize the dots) so I've been pouring over my chemo diary, which is just short-hand notes, typed into a document to help me track things (and maybe recognize dots.)

    I'm quite certain it is triggered by food.  Now, I just have to figure out what food(s) are doing the damage.  It's usually about a 4-5 on the pain scale, but I hit a 9 today.  I think it's about 7 as I type this.  I am so glad I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow morning.  

    If she can't help me either a) figure this out, or b) remedy it when it happens, then I'll put my own plan into motion.  These headaches started when my appetite came back.  Before that, I was only forcing down chicken noodle soup or mac-n-cheese.  If she doesn't have an answer, I'm switching back to a bland diet.

    If that works, I'll introduce one thing at a time (sounds like a baby trying food for the first time!) until I find out what is causing this.  I'm sure tired of a pain that doesn't respond to Advil, Tylenol, or even Percocet! 

    OK.  Done whining.   

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited June 2012

    Fierro: So sorry to hear about those heachaches.  What a pain in the .......  I hope you get some answers tomorrow.  Feel better soon, will ya?

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2012
    Fierro- I keep a food diary so i can remember what I ate and what to avoid.  Yes, I know I'm a nerdo but it provides info for me and the onco/research coordinator as they keep track of me while on the Herceptin clinical trial.  If you private message me, I can email you the form I have.  Weird about the headaches and a real annoyance.  I had a headache for about five days after my first infusion but I figured it out it was my allergies and high pollen count bugging me.  Who knows, you could be sensitive to your pets also.  Hope not!!!  You may also want to note exactly where the headache pain is so you can tell your onco.  I also used to suffer from daily headaches about an hour after I would get up in the morning before I got my TMJ under control last fall which was before I got diagnosed.  My TMJ would cause neck aches, shoulder pain , head pain and ear pain.  I now have a night guard which I haven't worn in a while (bad girl) and had a root canal in Sept. 2011 which also helped.  Hope you don't have that.  Feel better soon!!!!Cool
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  • Pkate
    Pkate Member Posts: 37
    edited June 2012

    Thought I should chime back in - haven't been here since starting Taxol 4 weeks ago.  Much better than A/C with different but manageable side effects.  Fingertips and bottom of feet feeling burned and sensitive - but I can still type!  I soak my feet every night in epsom/peppermint salts.  Think my hair may be starting to grow back but slowly - nurse said that in some patients they've seen that on Taxol - but maybe I am just hopeful about that.  I get Taxol every two weeks and will get #3 of 4 on Wednesday.  Nails sensitive - so far so good.  I'm so nervous about them lifting. 

    My question for those who have finished Taxol or if you know, how long until you regained taste buds?  Sometimes I miss them more than my hair :).    After searching, can't find much on this site about that.

    Pkate

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  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012
    Fierro - I know you are really on top of everything, but just in case you might want to try it - I had stubborn headaches with my first A/C tx (granted, not as long-lasting as yours, but the 7 on the 10 scale sounds familiar).  Nothing worked.  Someone recommended Tramadol (a non-narcotic prescription pain reliever), and it has really worked well for me.   Otherwise, best of luck in your detective work.  I hate headaches, and I feel for you!
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  • Fierro6
    Fierro6 Member Posts: 224
    edited June 2012

    It has certainly made me empathize with those who suffer headaches, that's for sure.  I probably get a headache once a year, if that, before this cancer ride left the gates.  I am certainly thankful for that, and am sorry I didn't appreciate it before.  LOL

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  • dancetrancer
    dancetrancer Member Posts: 4,039
    edited June 2012
    Fierro - so sorry about the continued headaches.  Uggghhh!!! 
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  • rgina
    rgina Member Posts: 100
    edited June 2012

    It must be Monday!

    Vballmom - hope those counts get up for you

    Lisa - you, Marcia and Sandik need to get out of the meet the floor/ground club - not good, take care of yourself.

    Fierro - sorry you've still got the headaches, I can't even imagine, since like you I seldom if ever get one.

    Husker - that little girl deserved a hug for sure, glad you are able to get out and get to your horse shows

    Dance - love fruit plates, ever tried poppyseed dressing on fruit - YUM!

    As we were all talking about germs this past weekend, today I went to my actual office for the first time in 2 weeks in lieu of working from home.  As I was sitting in our board room for a meeting with 30 other co-workers the person that sat down next to me spoke and sounded like the Exorcist.  I said, you sound awful are you sick?  Silence in the room followed by everyone looking at me and going OMG - you need to go home, why are you here, this is going around and co-worker immediately got up and moved across the room.  At least I felt loved, just hope I don't get anything!

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited June 2012

    Set up a friend to bring me 3 lunches next week and plan to ask my Sis to bring some too. They are both serious healthy cooks. Last week was very intense work wise and this the most fatigued I've felt week 3 so I am anticipating an ass kicking last two rounds. Thurs is 5 of 6 TAC. Trying to cut out anything that is not work or treatment for 10 days with the 1st 4 off work. Taking care ahead of time. Blessings to all in the BGC. I can't catch up with all, know you are one Sandi.

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