Starting Chemo July 2012

natl 12- Hope you are doing well.  You can help those red blood cells out by eating foods with lots of iron (red meat, liver (if you like it), dark green leafy veggies, spinach, iron fortified cereals and grains (Total, Cream of Wheat, rice).  My red blood counts started to drop during my rounds of chemo and fell just below the normal range.   I asked my onco about taking an iron supplement but she said she preferred that I got the iron from food rather than through a supplement.  That was fine with me since I'm not one to take meds/ supplements unless I absolutely have to.  Hopefully my red blood counts will slowly climb back to the normal range as I recover from the chemo.  If you have more questions about the iron foods, private message me and I'll give you more info.

Wishing an easy time in the Big Girl Chair aka BGC to all and minimal side effects.  Always glad to read how everyone is moving forward with her journey and doing well!!!!!

Yay!! I'm done chemo. My oncologist has been out for several months due to family problems and the last few times I saw the physician's assistant. The PA said that I absolutely needed 6 rounds of chemo. When I saw the oncologist yesterday, she said no way. 4 rounds of TC are standard for my stage/type and more rounds show no benefit with just increased side effects. So that was a nice surprise. I'll go onto tamoxifen in a month.

I took vitamin B6 throughout to minimize the chances of neuropathy and hand/foot syndrome and so far, so good. I've had a lot of side effects, but I have colitis/very restricted diet so that doesn't help. I'm really hoping to get my fitness partway back so I can ski with family at Christmas. Even if I can just read a book in the lodge in the morning and ski for a couple hours in the afternoon, that would be great. I just need to get rid of the lead-filled legs and get my cardio back.

Congratulations Cyano!  

I can't wait for this thread to turn into a series of "I'm done with chemo" celebration posts 

I had a hopeful thought today.  I'll be in chemo until December 20.  But in a way, life is just clicking along easily now.  My disability checks started coming in, my treatment plan is set, I've dealt with the hassles of various side effects with nothing major.  All indications are it only gets easier with Taxol.  So... I can sort of relax and coast now, and use the rest of this year to take care of myself and do what I can at home as my energy allows.  I can breathe a big sigh of relief. 

Cyano - We are all cheering for you being done with chemo.  Please keep coming to visit this thread, so you can congratulate us when we finish.

Congrats Cyano - so happy to see someone else finishing up their treatment!

I agree with Ann it will be such a monumental day when we are all finished with our treatments.

Soltantio - I'm finding I'm having sort of constant low level anxiety that I can't explain. I'm thinking it's the chemo as well. Funny how it messes with our emotions.

Soltantio - I'm sure the steroids are a part of the mood problem.  Had chemo Tues, Neulasta Wed, functioned at about half-speed Thurs, and Friday was HORRIBLE. Ached all over, belly issues, totally tired, and ready to cry over nothing!  Good thing I was home alone most of the day...and my DH went out to dinner with friends while I stayed home (my choice) and had Lean Cuisine.  Today is better, but I'm going to take it easy for sure.

Like, I go to physical therapy appointments in the first week after infusion and cry through them and then when I go in the 2nd week I'm fine.

sduch1- FYI  I am almost 5 weeks PFC and had my first Herceptin only infusion two weeks ago.  No more pre- infusion drugs, no more steroids!!!!  I did have fluids in my IV but that is all. 

As for the moodiness/emotional times, it is normal to have the ups and downs of emotions and tearful moments while having chemo and all of the drugs one takes.  This is one of the wonderful side effects of chemo since it affects our hormones.  Be easy on yourselves and kind to yourselves while in chemoland.  All of you know that normally you don't have these meltdowns and emotion swings but things are different since your journeys began.  HUGS to all and wishing minimal side effects to all!!!

Anybody having kidney problems on Cytoxan/Taxotere? The past day or two, I've had a low ache in my back and I know it's not muscle pain. I used to dance and know my body very well. I'll call my onc in the morning if it's not better but just thought I'd check.

Moonwillow - Thanks. As the day goes on, I'm starting to think it might be a muscle thing. I'll see how tonight goes.

How is everybody doing with the instant menopause?  I'm breaking into a drippy sweat several times an hour.  I have no idea if this is what normal menopause is like or not.  I have to put a beach towel under me to avoid sweating all over the sofa.  I'm washing all the bed linens (top, bottom, mattress cover) weekly and running out of t-shirts in the middle of the week.  It's pretty crazy. 

Hi Ann,

The sweating is awful. I am not totally sure if it is not also partly due to the chemo - they said one of the side effects is fever. It is always worse after a chemo treatment. It makes wearing a wig torture! I have found though that the sweating is slowing down a lot, so maybe it will improve with time..

My hair is nearly all out now, but what does remain has turned a really peculiar colour. Most of it is pale, almost white blonde, but I have several spots of nearly black hair at the back. I look like a dalmation!! Has anyone else noticed this? I hope when my hair grows back it doesn't stay that way.

I go for my 3rd treatment of Taxotere on Monday. I am a bit nervous this time, as I am majorly allergic to the stuff, and have had some horrific side effects. I see the Oncologist on Friday, and will see what she has to say about it. I am hoping stronger steroids will sort it out. 

Hi teeball mom,

The removal of your ovaries are probably 90% to blame for the sweating. When I had my hysterectomy I developed a heat rash it was so bad, so really feel for you with that. I was on HRT before this, and that is probably why I am also sweating - withdrawal symptoms. Good luck on Wednesday - hope it goes really well.

I didn't really get restless legs - it attacked my joints. The first reaction was 6 days after chemo- the second time immediately. The first time was an incredible throb right through my back to my sternum. The throb and pain was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack, as the pain went right through my heart. Morphine did not touch it, and I whimpered for 12 hours. It moved to other joints then - lumbar spine, hips etc and I could hardly walk. This gradually wore off after 24 hours.The second time it started within 2 mins, and I wasn't expecting it. It felt like somone had dropped a steel girder on my lap. I literally couldn't move - I was pinned to the seat with the pain. I started going a bright shade of red - quite spectacular my sister tells me!! Anyway the cortisone injection they gave me really helped, so here's hoping.... On the bright side - any other SE's I get pale in comparison - the terrible thrush, nosebleeds etc. They are really just a minor irritation in comparison, and don't bother me at all.

 Lifeonit - you will probably find the low back pain you get is your lumbar spine. I have worked out the chemo seems to target any problems you have ever had in your joints - like a seek and destroy mission!! You mentioned you were a dancer, so you may have minor degenerative changes there which you have not noticed but the Taxol/taxotere has!