Starting chemo Thursday, May 31 - June Group?

Pamela - Hooray for being done with AC!  O am so happy for you and will able to say the same in one week!

KeepMoving - Thanks for filling me in!  My memory was bad before chemo, but now it's even worse.  Your quilt sounds beautiful.

radioactive -  I have done 3 rounds of AC and will have 1 more next week.  I have gotten a Neulasta shot after each one.  The doctor said my WBC count was good, but not good enough to not get it.  I take Claritin beginning the day before and for a few days after.  I have had minimal bone bone pain.  She's going to reevaluate the Neulasta when I move to Taxol.

Stepanie- I'm glad you were able to get a good nights sleep. Its amazing how we feel when we sleep through the night.

Marcia-We are almost there. One more A/C left. Will you be doing taxol?

Ellebee- I'm glad to hear you haven't had to do the Nuelasta. It would be nice to have one last trip to the clinic. Your energy is amazing!

Pam- How are you today?  I know, it is so nice not to worry about all the color, drying, flat ironing during chemo. Take care!

Melrose- It must feel good to be almost done. That is so great!

Keepmoving-As the bills are starting to pile in I'm starting to get nervous about the cost of all this. I'm going to have to learn to be a better shopper.

Radioactive- Iv been getting the Neulasta shot, but have been receiving A/C every two week instead of 3.  I think by going every 3 your body has time to make it own wbc.

Ellendou- Good Luck today!!

Tammie- So sorry to hear about your port. I hope there wont be anymore problems. What a long day you had. Glad the last half was good.

Well everyone have a great day!!! Off to work, so glad it's Friday. Saturday is my husbands birthday. Looking forward to a nice day with the family.  Sunday we will be taking our oldest son to music camp. Its a 2 1/2 hour drive up in the mountains. Hopefully its cooler there!

jane - Neupogen and Neulasta are two different formulations of the same drug - Neupogen is a multi dose drug, Neulasta a one dose version.  I would take Claritin with both, but it important to take it an hour before the first injection and then continue taking it every 24 hours for several days after the last injection.  Take the regular Claritin, not Claritin D. 

Regarding Neulasta - onc have differing philosophies on this, just like they do on scans and tumor markers.  Some give it preventively, and some wait until you show a precipitous drop in WBC before using it.  It does come with side effects so I think that is why some docs hold off until it is needed - also it is quite costly.

Radioactivegirl, yes, I have Neulasta the day after every AC, because I go for an infusion every two weeks. 

Ellendou, good luck on your 2nd treatment.

Steelersluver, I pretty much wear my wig and these $1.00 bandanas at night - found them at Walmart for $1.00.  Thanks for the site offers.  I'm all set for now.

Marcia, thanks for the bra donation site.  It's something that we don't think of donating.  Nice idea.

Pamelahope, I don' t know much about tumor marker tests.  Just have heard of them and that they measure cancer in your blood.  A drop from 17 to 7.5 sounds huge though.  The chemo must be doing the trick.  Great!  I don't know about BUN and the kidneys.  Hope no kidney damage either.  I bet that doesn't happen.  CT scans increase cancer risk, but I don't think PET scans or bone scans do.  Hope you do ok on your last AC.

StephanieJM, anything yet from Steve and Billiemae?  Hope they're doing ok.

I'm having fatigue a little earlier this time, #3.  Can't wait to get #4 over!

Take care everyone    

ElleBee - what a wonderful friend you have --  really a true friend.

My Daughter In Law and son and my Hubby have shaved their heads..I am still chicken to go out in public without a had or cover on -- did go for a few minutes when I was having Chemo today ---

Big Hugs to you and your boss. 

Ok, just did a little homework on Steve and Billiemae. They have not posted since 7/1. I really hope they are ok. I sent Steve a Private Message. My hope is that since he works in construction, and it is summer, that he is just SUPER busy. But isn't it always summer in Dallas?

Ugh. I am hoping for the best.  She was one sick kiddo there for a while with an infection.

Pam! Yay!!!!! AC is O.V.E.R.!!! You did it. Marcia, you are next girl.Who else is almost off the AC??? 

ElleBee- What a wonderful boss and friend you have! I find it amazing how wonderful everyone has been. I gent cards daily and meals just show up when we need them, the hat party. I have some wonderful friends and it soy ds like you do too!



Pamelahope- I have not heard of the tumor marker test, but it sounds like your chemo is doing it's job! I'm sorry to hear about your continual fight with the WBC. Hoping it resolves itself.



I feel like I have been out of the loop. My brother and his family have been visiting the past couple of days and I have been disconnected. I went to the BGC today. The port worked great and all my blood work looked really good too. The nurse and doc were really pleased. Me too! No nuelesta for me. The only thing I am concerned about is my blood sugars. I have diabetes and the steroids I take are making my blood sugars go through the roof. So, off to the primary care doc next week to see if we can figure something out. This was my 3rd treatment. That means I'm half way through! Yipeeee!! Now I have to start wondering when I will have surgery. Anyone els doing neoadjuvant chemo?

Ellebee - That is a wonderful story and you have every right to gush!  What a great friend.

mom24boyz- You too!  I think that hat party sounds awesome.

Ellendou - You too!  That is so sweet.  I doubt I will ever go out without a headcovering, but I was wering a baseball cap the other day with a headband under it to add a little more cover.  I wanted to try on another hat, so I looked around and very quickly switched hats.  I took a quick peek in the mirror, another quick peek to see if anyone was nearby, and one last switch of the hats.  I felt kind of silly, but it was kind of fun.  (I didn't buy it.)

Pamela - I'm not familiar with either of those tests.  Your results sound promising.  I'm impressed that you're posting so soon after your infusion.  I hope that means that you're feeling a little better this time!

KeepMoving - I hope you get a good night's sleep and have more energy tomorrow.

Jane - I take Claritin the day before Neulasta (which is also chemo day) and for several days after.  I have had minimal bone pain.

I hope everyone has a side effect free night!

Ellebee, what a great work-family you have!  My coworkers have been great, but I can't see them going that far!  As for the mouth rinse, I've used both the Biotin and the ACT version of the dry-mouth formular (alcohol free).  I'd suggest using it after every meal.

 Marcia, Thanks for sharing the tip on the bras.  I gave some to Goodwill, but do still have some and it's nice to have a good home for them.

I hope someone hears from Steve and Billiemae soon.  I worried about them with their rough times they had.  I've had a crappy couple days myself with this round, but it's slowly getting better.  I need to drink more water I know! 

If your dr won't answer your questions ,if treatments are in a hospital setting you can go to the records dept. and get coppies of all your medical treatment by request.

Keep moving, I started chemo 5/31, TCH every 3 weeks for 6 weeks.  I just completed 3 round of chemo, and have not lost any eyebrows or eyelashes yet.

StephanieJM- The Claritin was suggested to me on this chemo threads.  I asked my onco if I could try taking the Claritin for the Neulasta shot pain and she said it was worth a try.  Here is a link for an ongoing clinical trial for the use of Claritin to help prevent the pain from the Neulasta shot:

Evaluation of Loratadine for Prevention of Pegfilgrastim-Induced Pain

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01311336?term=claritin&rank=3

Detailed Description:

Pegfilgrastim is a myeloid growth factor that stimulates neutrophil precursors and can be used to decrease infection risk associated with neutropenia. However pegfilgrastim may induce back and leg pain in 20-50% of patients. No intervention has been consistently successful in treating or preventing this pain.

The exact mechanism of pegfilgrastim-induced pain is unknown but may be related to histamine-mediated inflammation. Several case reports and anecdotal reports have suggested efficacy of antihistamines for this indication.

This study will have two parts. In the first part (Observational Phase), patients receiving pegfilgrastim will be surveyed to document the incidence of significant pegfilgrastim-induced back and leg pain. In the second part (Treatment Phase), patients who previously experienced such pain will be randomized to receive a 7-day course of either the antihistamine loratadine or placebo to determine whether pegfilgrastim-induced back and leg pain can be prevented with this intervention.

an30, My counts were too low 3 days prior to my chemo last week, so they re-ran them the day of chemo to see if I'd need platelets, and they actually came up enough to get the chemo. So, like Special K said, don't throw in the towel as they can change a lot quickly.