Sept 2012 chemo

twinsplus1 · September 2012

After diagnosis, I knew that I didn't want to ever see "THE LOOK." I hate "THE LOOK." I decided to go Facebook public with my DX and just flat out tell people that I DID NOT WANT "THE LOOK!" I was still the same silly, goofy, funny, AMAZING and humble person that I was before the diagnosis. I told them my FB post was not for sympathy or "THE LOOK" but for prayers and encouragement. So far, it has worked and my friends have taken my lead on the situation. There are only two people that I allow to give me "THE LOOK" and they only get a pass because one of them is so over-the-top-crazy-ridiculous dramatic that it makes me laugh inside when she does it and the other is so truly and genuinely splenda-sweet-n-low-sugar-sugar-substitute-sacchrain sweet that she truly can't help it.

Hang in there, baby. Just tell people what you expect. They'll be glad you told them and you'll be glad you did, too!

Cocobean · September 2012

Hello Ladies,

I have been stalking this board for a couple weeks as I prepared for my first chemo. I'm 35 and I discovered a lump in my left breast while nursing my 8 month old. I really didn't think it was anything, my boobs were all over the place with pregnancy and nursing, but I when to my ob/gyn to check it out. He wasn't worried but sent me to get an ultrasound and mammogram on a Friday. Monday morning I got the call to come in to the office to discuss the results, I thought crap, this isn't good and it wasn't. Fast forward through biospies, masectomy, delayed healing, and port surgery and I finally began chemo last Wednesday. The first couple days were not too bad, but this weekend has been pretty rough. Nausea is awful and I have been taking the meds around the clock. I'm taking zophran and ativan, wasn't doing much, got some compazine on Sunday didn't do much and I ended up throwing up a few times last night. Now I have been laying in bed, feeling a bit better, but afraid to move because I don't want to get sick again. I'm trying to drink water and have been eating the same banana for the last three hours.

So any advice on dealing with nausea? and Can anyone tell me does this get better before my next treatment?

Cocobean · September 2012

Hello Ladies,

I have been stalking this board for a couple weeks as I prepared for my first chemo. I'm 35 and I discovered a lump in my left breast while nursing my 8 month old. I really didn't think it was anything, my boobs were all over the place with pregnancy and nursing, but I when to my ob/gyn to check it out. He wasn't worried but sent me to get an ultrasound and mammogram on a Friday. Monday morning I got the call to come in to the office to discuss the results, I thought crap, this isn't good and it wasn't. Fast forward through biospies, masectomy, delayed healing, and port surgery and I finally began chemo last Wednesday. The first couple days were not too bad, but this weekend has been pretty rough. Nausea is awful and I have been taking the meds around the clock. I'm taking zophran and ativan, wasn't doing much, got some compazine on Sunday didn't do much and I ended up throwing up a few times last night. Now I have been laying in bed, feeling a bit better, but afraid to move because I don't want to get sick again. I'm trying to drink water and have been eating the same banana for the last three hours.

So any advice on dealing with nausea? and Can anyone tell me does this get better before my next treatment?

Mariposa123 · September 2012

Hi all,

Thanks for the encouragement and hugs the other day! I so needed it!!! I am feeling a bit better today. My stomach still feels like yuck, but better than before. I have been eating saltines when things are terrible, and that seems to help. Still have this weird combination of constipation and diarrhea. Yuck. In my healthy body, I am a totally active moving kind of person- so this has been hard. Especially with the children. Again, I appreciate the encouragement. And I took your advice Melrose and called my doctor and left a message:-) Hopefully I will get a call back soon.

Cocobean: Sounds like you had a weekend much like mine:( Hopefully you are through the worse of it and will start feeling better soon. Eating bland foods seemed to help me. Drinking lots of water also helped. (I actually have been having a hard time with water, so I have been having lots of Popsicles and jello) And I would call you doctor if things still feel horrible. I think everyone is different around when they feel better. When is your next treatment? I am on a three week schedule. My doctor told me I would feel pretty good the week before my next treatment.

Cocobean · September 2012

I am on a three week schedule as well and just hoping and praying that this really yucky period passes and I can have a little break before the next treatment. It's tough... it's hard on the mind as well as the body to be stuck sick in bed, but I just gotta keep telling myself it will get better and it is only temporary.

I am going to try popsicles, thanks.

Mariposa- I hope you start to feel better soon and I love your quote from Rumi- beautiful.

damiana9 · September 2012

English Rose- You can buy eyebrow stencils at grocery and beauty supply stores, and then use an eyebrow pencil or even a dark non glittery eyeshadow. Also, if you wear a wig, bangs will help cover the eyebrow area making it less noticable. I did ice my nails at my first treatment. I have heard it takes awhile for nail problems to show up, but hopefully I don't have it. My onc uses ice not because of the nail issue but to help with neuropathy on the fingertips.

JoJo- yes, I will be getting a flu shot also. During my last chemo treatment they also gave me a pnemonia vaccine.

Cocobean- I am so sorry you are dealing with this while having a baby so young When I had my lump, I knew it was in my duct- it felt like a clogged duct from when I was breastfeeding. It makes me mad that I breastfed for a total of 4 years and it didn't even help me avoid breast cancer As for feeling lousy- I felt good after day 7. That is 2 whole weeks of feeling pretty normal! Not bad at all. I have been more tired, but nothing a short nap doesn't fix. I didn't have an upset stomach luckily but from what I hear staying ahead of it with meds and staying hydrated help alot!

Well, I start my 2nd treatment on wednesday- which means I need to start my steroids tomorrow. I don't want to start my steroids! whaaaaa!!!! Totally not nervous about the chemo this time though- just the damn steroids and the neulasta shot. I am going to do Claratin this time though and see if that helps!

For you fellow baldies- do you still have stubble? Mine is still there and very thick- but my head itches terribly and parts of my scalp are really tender like they were when my hair first started falling out- but my stubble seems firmly attached...weird. Just wondering about other peoples stubble or lack thereof.

Melrosemelrose · September 2012

EnglishRose75- I had six rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere. My eyebrows and eyelashes did start to go starting after the 4th round. They hung in there pretty long but there were noticable less eyebrows by Round 6. My bottom eyelashes also did the same thing. After Round 4, I noticed that I had a little head hair fuzz but it would seem to fall out at the end of two weeks after the chemo. After Round 5 & 6, there was more a little more fuzz and less fall out. I'm 7 weeks PFC and no more fall out but lots of new growth on my head, eyebrows and eyelashes. I look like a little boy with a short buzz haircut. My head hair hasn't fully grown in but at least it is growing. My eyebrows are growing out but not quite filled in. My bottom eyelashes that fell out have all returned. The eyebrows and eyelashes are on a different growth cycle than head hair.

As for the icing, I did ice during the Taxotere infusions. So far so good. I haven't noticed any lifting of the nails or any dark discolorations. I also use Essie brand of clear base coat on my nails to help keep them strong. I also have been very careful about my fingernails. I use rubber gloves when I wash dishes or do housecleaning with cleaning products. i also made a big effort not to use my nails as tools to open things like food boxes, mail or to remove staples. As for the toe nails, I do not wear sandals or go barefoot much right now. I always try to wear socks and sneakers or slippers to help protect my feet and nails. I'm sure you have noticed how dry your hands and feet may be. I use Cetaphil cream to take care of that. As for icing, my onco told me that it might help prevent nail damage. I opted to do it since after reading what I have read about icing, in my mind, the likelihood of having mets in my fingers and toes was minimal. Do I think the chemo got in my fingers and toes..... yes because I have experienced some pain in those digits and also have had some minimal neuropathy. If your onco approves of the icing, it is just a matter of personal choice for you. I looked at the icing as a personal science experiment. I know some women that did not ice and perhaps were not as cautious as I have been about protecting my feet and hands. Some were just fine without the icing and some have experienced lifting and nail infections. Good luck with your decision.

Melrosemelrose · September 2012

Cocobean- Call your onco to let him/her know about your side effects, especially the nausea. Your meds may need to be adjusted. Don't be afraid to call because it is the onco's job to help you with the side effects. No reason to suffer with the chemo side effects. It is okay to call the onco!!!! Keep us posted!!!

Mariposa- Hope you got a call back from your onco. Cool

DonnaD08 · September 2012

@Timbek I equated how I felt with pregnancy too. It was a little easier to deal whith because we had a sweet little surprise at the end, but I guess we get life at the end of this so that is pretty sweet too. I also had issues with my mnstrual cycle. I was always like clockwork. After the fist treatment my cycle was nearly 3 weeks late, but it did come. It was a little lighter than usual.

@Jojo you look so beautiful. I hope we really enjoy our class tonight.

DonnaD08 · September 2012

@Timbek I equated how I felt with pregnancy too. It was a little easier to deal whith because we had a sweet little surprise at the end, but I guess we get life at the end of this so that is pretty sweet too. I also had issues with my mnstrual cycle. I was always like clockwork. After the fist treatment my cycle was nearly 3 weeks late, but it did come. It was a little lighter than usual.

@Jojo you look so beautiful. I hope we really enjoy our class tonight.

DonnaD08 · September 2012

@Timbek I equated how I felt with pregnancy too. It was a little easier to deal whith because we had a sweet little surprise at the end, but I guess we get life at the end of this so that is pretty sweet too. I also had issues with my mnstrual cycle. I was always like clockwork. After the fist treatment my cycle was nearly 3 weeks late, but it did come. It was a little lighter than usual.

@Jojo you look so beautiful. I hope we really enjoy our class tonight.

jojo2373 · September 2012

Damiana - I still have patchy stubble. My head is really itchy too and sore/tender in spots. I think we are in a "toughing up" stage. I put lots of lotion on constantly (everywhere).

Waitingforthenextstep · September 2012

Kimber1963

I am starting chemo tomorrow too. I am full of fear not only about the chemo itself, but the place where I will be going. What if I don't like it? I won't be able to leave once I start my treatment there. I wonder if that ever happened to anyone. When will I get home? Will I feel like doing anything? Too much...I can't even think about side effects, if I get sick, I get sick. That's the only thing I am at peace about. My hair, eyelashes, how can a person even project how they will feel. Listen, sisters with experience, did you have these thoughts, did any of this happen to you? please share.

Waitingforthenextstep · September 2012

Kimber1963

I am starting chemo tomorrow too. I am full of fear not only about the chemo itself, but the place where I will be going. What if I don't like it? I won't be able to leave once I start my treatment there. I wonder if that ever happened to anyone. When will I get home? Will I feel like doing anything? Too much...I can't even think about side effects, if I get sick, I get sick. That's the only thing I am at peace about. My hair, eyelashes, how can a person even project how they will feel. Listen, sisters with experience, did you have these thoughts, did any of this happen to you? please share.

damiana9 · September 2012

Waiting- I felt fine that day and the next day I went shopping and out to lunch! Day 3, I was a bit run down, day 4, I slept all day...NOT that bad :-) its normal feel what you are feeling right now, but tomorrow you will feel so much better and calmer.

Melrosemelrose · September 2012

waitingforthenextstep- Sounds like you have been hit with the anxiety and fear that is pretty normal right before chemo. Yes, one can fill one's mind with all of the what-ifs and self-doubt and get herself just tied up in a knot. I know that you are scared, frightened and fearful right now. You need to take some deep calming breaths and try to relax. First of all, you know you are not alone, you will not be administering the chemo to yourself and by yourself and you are not being sent out into the countryside to survive on your own. You will be surrounded with the infusion nurses/staff/medical staff and monitored the entire time you are there. Your onco has told you what side effects are possible and have an arsenal of medications to take to help you when you get home. It is true that no one knows before you actually have the chemo what side effects you will have. All the oncos/nurses and people around can do is to support you and help you as those side effects arise. I know you feel like you are so unprepared for what comes next but you aren't really. You will have pre-chemo IV drugs and post-chemo anti-nausea drugs to help prevent some of the side effects. Part of thriving through chemo is dependant upon you since you are in control of what you eat, drink, when you rest and sleep and when you take the meds. You haven't given up total control as you might think you have. The taking care of yourself is your contribution and essential to your recovery, especially while you are in chemoland. At first, you won't be sure what you can do like go to the grocery store, walk around the block but you will gain your confidence and find that perhaps you do feel ok, maybe not at your best but can do a lot more than you thought.

I can also tell you that the hair situation is so personal because it impacts how one feels about herself. As my hair left me, I knew that my outward appearance was a clear indicator to the rest of public world that I was seriously ill and was having chemo. How did I feel----- I felt good on most days and did whatever I felt I could do to keep moving and be active. Yes, there were down days, the days I rested and stayed close to home and times I became frustrated with all of this. However, there were good days, the days that I felt energetic and did a lot of things. Having chemo doesn't define who you are. My mind is not what is sick or ill but it is my body that is not well and recovering. I am still the same person as I was before I was diagnosed; there is just less of me physically. It is still one of my goals to thrive during all of this and continue to heal and get healthy. I know it's hard for you to see this right now but you will get through tomorrow and continue to move and push forward.

I don't remember if you told us what your chemo is. If you post that, perhaps one of the other gals who is on the same chemo as you can help you a little better. HUGS!!!! We are here for you and everyone else struggling to get through this time.

(edited to add following) Make sure you hydrate today and drink plenty of fluids today and tomorrow morning before you have the chemo. It will make it easier to access your port (if you have one) or your veins.

bearcub · September 2012

I think I should mention this. I know we hear lots on the news but I think I will just put this out there. Dr. Oz tomorrow, will be talking about Melatonin. It may be interesting to watch.

My pharmacist at the chemo clinic told me that the melatonin I had was not compatible with the AC treatment I was getting. I bought mine at Costco. I was told not to take it.

Kimberly you can expect the nurses at the chemo clinic to be professional and explain every step with you, do not be afraid to ask them any questions you may have. You will sit in a comfy chair and depending if you have a port or a IV they will walk you through the process. Hopefully you will have a friend or a DH with you. They gave me some meds via pill for nausea and warmed my arm with a warm towel and had me take deep breaths to make my veins pop. I had an IV as I have excellent veins and they did not feel I needed a port. Once I was hooked up they put saline through then they hand injected the A as it is so toxic on the veins and it has to go in 2 tsps at a time. It took about 20 min. Then they put the IV bag of C through followed by another bag of saline. I ate some crackers, and drank water, chatted with my DH and read the paper. The whole process for me took maybe 3 hours. The first time is longer as they take the time to explain everything. Normally they said mine should only be an hour or hour and a half. It was funny but I was a bit afraid to leave as I thought for sure something horrible would happen but it went well and I took the meds for Nausea for 3 more days and that was it. I have had very few SE so I have been very lucky. This was my experience, everyone's is a bit different. I hope you do well, try and relax and remember fluids, fluids, fluids.

patriciahurtado · September 2012