Starting Chemo July 2012

PAEaglesFan...what an awful thing to have to deal with right after the chemo.  Hope there are not too many SEs from the wreck, either fot you or your mother.

3rd round of chemo yesterday morning.

 At 7 am, I noticed that I have a VERY red face. Flushing is mentioned as a side effect of the Taxotere, but as a thing that happens while it is being administered...so I'm not sure whether to call the MO or not.  Going to the close hospital (45 miles instead of 100 where I get  my cancer treatments) for my Neulasta shot.  If it's not better by the time I'm ready to leave there, I will make the call and find out whatever.  This is a new SE for me.  Also, I have, if not "chemo brain", "chemo fingers".... I keep hitting the wrong keys as I type. !!

Cyano:  What is neutropenia?  So, after two rounds of chemo and losing mush of your hair, it is already growing back?  I've never had curly hair so cannot relate to what you are going through with the curly/straight hair but as a scientist (meaning you), I can just imagine!    Good luck with round 3 today!  Oh, and Tazzy posted a picture of Einstein on one of the threads, not sure which forum though - you would enjoy it.

Lifeonitsside:  I am so sorry about your financial difficulties, you have enough to worry about.  Good luck with the meeting with your supervisor, I hope it turns out well for you.  And, it sounds like your DB sure is a keeper!

PAeaglesFan:  Oh my, just what you needed, an accident.  I swear people using their phones while driving are going to cause more accidents/deaths than I care to even think about.  Every time I see someone driving like an idiot --yep, they are on the phone.  Even the hands free thing in the ear is not helpful.  Sorry, just my opinion. Sadly, you will feel worse before feeling better from the accident.  So, you are a late loser too -- as in hair.  I'm with you, the hair will come back and if I had my head buzzed and don't actually lose it, oh well, it will come back faster then.  And you are right... we are NOT our hair! Glad you had a "moving" night!

soltantio:  I had a friend, may she RIP, who had curly hair like yours, she actually called it "nappy" and when it would be humid, it would curl up so tightly it looked as though she had gotten a cut...mine stick straight and fine as babies hair -- I was actually hoping for curly hair after all of this BC crap!  Good luck with the cold caps working for you!

natL12:  Wow, 100 miles to a treatment, sure hope that you don't get car sick! Hope that the red face etc has subsided!   And chemo fingers -- LOL I know the feeling!

I had a good nights sleep -- feel much better today, thank goodness!  Now, what to make for supper -- some things never change. Now, off to try and clean off the kitchen table which has become a dumping ground -- that never ends either. 

PinkyWi -neutropenia is when you have very low neutophil counts. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Mine got very, very low at the same time as I picked up a stomache bug so I couldn't fight off the infection. The solution was strong antibiotics, neulasta and isolation to avoid picking up another infection. I now get neulasta every time I do chemo which has made a HUGE difference in how I feel.

PAEaglesFan - sorry to hear about the car accident.You definitely don't need any added stress right now!

Oh my, the boards were busy yesterday and I feel like I missed alot.

Life- your DB sounds like a terrific man. You have been such a positive inspiration to everyone on the boards. I know that things are going to be okay for you.

PAeagles - a car accident, seriously? I really hope that you are feeling well today and you are not too sore.

Nat - I had a red face three days after my first treatment and the doctor said it was from the steroids.

Cyano - the shot definitely helps. After my last round I asked about my wbc and was shocked to hear it was so high. Then the nurse explained how much the shot can increase the count and it all made sense.

My hair ---I shared that I buzzed it on Saturday. Now it is beginning to look patchy as the stubbles fall out. I have been wearing scarves with fedoras since Sunday. Funny, I always wanted to wear a fedora, NEVER had the guts/confidence to do it. Now it's all I wear. I tried to wear the scarf alone on Monday and boy did I feel self-conscious. I need to work on that. I wore my wig out to dinner last night with the girls. Again, felt self-conscious, like everyone knew I was wearing it. Anyway, by the end of the night I was relieved to take it off because it was definitely getting itchy.

Hope today is a good one for all of you - Hugs!

Hey July sisters, I have a question.  Is anyone having hot flashes or similar stuff?  I'm not quite having hot flashes but it's like my body can't regulate temperature any more.  I'm hot one minute and cold the next.  I'm sweating all night long with no covers while the mate is all bundled up.

My hot flashes are from the Neulasta and the Taxorere as I'm already in menopause. But it sounds like it could be any of the drugs/steroids/stuff flooding our systems. The body is such a complicated yet delicate thing. All this new stuff it's trying to adjust to can't help but throw everything off. My onc told me to monitor my temperature a few times a day to make sure it's not an infection. A temp of 100.5 is where the concern starts. Anything under that is "normal" during chemo. But check with your doc if you're concenred.

What a day! Car accident. Treatments. Hot flashes. Hair. 

I have hot flashes--only from shoulders up. Cannot seem to get a good temperature to sleep (have 120 lb dog on each side doesn't help).

Anyone having what seems like "heartburn" but not really. Belches that hurt and burn?

Had a really uncomfortable experience last night. And a smaller one today. Has anyone felt invisible? At the grocery store I felt invisible, as if i was totally isolated. A sad feeling.

Hugs to each 

Susan HG--

You asked about the heartburny, belchy thing. Yeah, I've definitely got that. Pepcid does seem tto help with the burning part of it for me. I also have a shallow, dry cough that I think is part of the same little set of symptoms.

Are we having fun yet?

Eight days out from my 2nd chemo, I was able to go to my strength training class -- which totally exhausted me. But at least I worked out!

SusanHG - I'm so sorry you had to add having a car accident to your week.  As if you weren't going through enough!  I remember when I was going through chemo, my friend's car was broken into - she and I had gone for a walk on the beach and (silly us) had left our wallets under the front seats.  Dumb thing to do.  There was one person on the beach and he left when he saw us approaching.  Little did we know, that was our robber.  Certainly didn't need all that extra stress in my life.  He even had the keys to my house so had to change all the locks.  Why do people have to do these things?  Sorry for the rant - I guess that opened up a traumatic memory!

The heartburn issue can be a problem while on chemotherapy.  I wrote an article a few months ago about that: http://marnieclark.com/ways-to-combat-acid-reflux-while-on-chemotherapy/

I hope that helps someone.  Eating that way certainly helped me.

And hot flashes - don't you hate them?  They're definitely worse in all this heat.  I still get them, 8 yrs later.  Much more manageable though than when they first appeared.  Had them every 45 minutes when I was only into my 2nd round of chemo.  I felt the need to write an article about that too - it is such a huge thing for us when we're going through chemo.  http://marnieclark.com/tips-tricks-and-support-for-hot-flashes/

Sending you all lots of love today.  I know you're going to get through this. xoxox

Hi, NatL12--

My strength trining class is a research program at the University of Illinois. Among other things, they are interested in how exercise benefits older folks cognitively. The head of the program and I have spoken a couple of times about lymphedema. Now when the rest of the class uses resistance bands, I use weights. There was a nice study, maybe at Penn State, where they did progressive weight trining for women at risk of lymphedema. They started with 1 pound weights and added no more than one pound per week (meeting 3 times a week).So I'm kinda using that as a template and I'm currently using 3 lb weights.

The new routine they started this week has a couple exercises that use the hands to support some body weight. I'm still working out how to adapt those to limit the weight.

My mouth has been dry but Biotene gum has been a big help. Also have been using aloe vera lip balm.



I have been crazy emotional as well. I thought that since I'm now over a week past my last treatment, I'd be fine. But I just spent 48 hours with my DB (we don't live together) and was absolutely convinced the entire time that he was ready to break up with me. No reason to think so but I couldn't convince myself otherwise. Broke down in tears as we fell asleep last night (luckily, he never saw that). And I've been sitting on the couch at home since he dropped me off earlier, sobbing over the littlest things. Spin the wheel of emotions is going to be the game tonight, I think.



Makes life interesting, doesn't it?

Just wanted to pop in and wish all you ladies (maybe guys too!) well. I finished chemo in late May. The road is long but you will get there. Sending prayers and good vibes that you have few side effects and that the good days outnumber the hard ones.

CVmarilyn,

I feel the same way you do. i was diagnosed in June but feel like I have been in treatment for year's. Marianne

I totally agree. I am awake most of the night with the meds too. Having a lot of side effects from the Taxol. I think the Chemo makes you depressed also. I am consumed thinking about possible death. I think it is just something everyone goes through. Let's just think about getting through treatment so we can start living again. Hugs to you. Marianne