Starting Chemo October 2012

Schoolmom: I don't know what "if I can get in" means ... Are they too full or? I don't know that it will help but I would certainly try; My friend at Methodist gets home from vacation in Jamaica on Wednesday, so I assume he goes back to work the next day. Let me know if I can help.

POKE - you are a doll!  I am going to call in the morning and try to go visit.  I have no idea if they book up....if need be, I will certainly PM you if I need help getting in.  Thanks

Woke up this morning with a bad skin rash, specially on my hands any thoughts? I am day 6 post 2nd infusion, haven't had something similar with the first one!

hi there,

i started chemo about two weeks ago and have my second on november 1st. I felt okay after the first one, but by day three i was exhausted and very achy. Recently i've started losing my hair. First a few strands, then clumps. I got my hair buzzed off and kept a little bit on top, but even that is staarting now to come out. My daughter helps me wash my head with a soft washcloth to get the loose pieces out. i have a pretty large bald spot in the back which is really disconcerting... The hair loss was probably the biggest worry for me. Seeing that there are others going through this at the same time is refreshing in a way, and i've used this thread to read everyones experiences

queeny- I'm here with you. What chemo drugs are you getting? We are on the same cycle. My 2nd chemo is Nov 2nd. My friend/hairdresser was supposed to come over today and shave my head. But she is sick. So will get it done tomorrow. It's falling out. And I have mine just above my shoulders. I should have do e it sooner. Day 2 I felt flushed, but ok. Aches after Nuealastra shot, but ok still. Day3-4 were the worst. Bad headache. I just ordered a bunch of buffs. Yay! Easy to put on. Go to buffwear. There's also a tutorial on line if you type in buff wear how to. I think they may be my cover of choice. Glad you found this board. Welcome.

Thanks Marlene. And I do love the picture. I just want to get it done. Tomorrow is the day regardless if my friend/hairdresser is able to. I too will try and post picture. I like how you split it. Too funny- it is a good time to go bald, Halloween wig shopping could be fun. :-) trying to stay positive.

Poke - my hormone therapy starts after chemo as well for 5 years.  I was told that if I wanted to have children that we would have to harvest my eggs before all of this.  I understood that this would be the only way, may also be related to my age (39)? Something you may want to inquire about before hormone therapy if you are looking to have children.  

Omeggo - Glad you are feeling a little bit better today!  Definitely talk to your MO about upping your nausea meds if that was an issue.  They gave me IV steroids & then more to take for 3 days/twice a day plus eMend by IV before the chemo along with Zofran to take every 12 hours and Ativan to take every 5-6 hours once home.  For the other side of GI issues from the anti-nausea, you might want to look into miralax and magnesium.  I took miralax in a drink 1x a day and magnesium both night & day.  Hope you are feeling much better soon! 

Tomorrow I start my steroid-taking. Chemo is Tuesday, neulasta on Halloween. Taxotere and cytoxan. Even though I know what to expect, I'm still a little terrified. I am so thankful for this discussion board! And good luck to everyone!

Buffs are awesome and I have been wearing them for years. I have the original one and one of the original winter ones which are half regular fabric and half polartec. They are seamless too. 

For us Canadians here is the link: they are in Canmore and I called awhile back explaining my reason for new ones. But I ordered a lot stuff from Headcovers.com so have not done the Buff order yet. BTW, I did get to pay HST for the headcover order but it was easy as FedEx took payment.

http://www.buyabuff.com/default.aspx?

Yeah it was $20 and I did have a look at the bill and you are right, HST plus whatever! $20. For Buff, free shipping if over $50 I think and of course using the Canadian site, none of those extra charges. 

LouBar - Thanks ... I declined egg harvest. I am content without children and although I'm 29 I am adopted so I figure especially since I'm BRCA2+ I may as well adopt if I change my mind. (50% chance to pass it to my kids.) Thanks for the advice, though. A lot of my friends thought I was making the wrong decision and should do it just in case, but I couldn't put myself through that. 

MrsCich - I'm totally worried about cancer somewhere else. I have had a lump on my forehead for as long as I can remember that hasn't changed and I'm already convinced it's a tumor. (Knock on wood, superstitious and paranoid, a fab combination.) I asked for a PET scan and they said my insurance won't pay without 4 positive nodes, but I emailed my insurance, and while the email was cryptic, it seems they will pay. (As a pharmacist I interact with insurance complanies every day and still can't always understand them.) I'm going to print the email and take it with me tomorrow when I go for my appt. The thought is terrifying for sure. The thing that I can't wrap my head around is that there are people with tumors smaller than mine that have mets ... cancer is such an ugly beast. I know that I am going to feel this way for the rest of my life. This is also why I never for one second thought twice about BMX. There's no way I could live my life after this with breasts. I wish they could scoop out all the tissue under my arms as well, and since I'm BRCA they're taking my ovaries at some point and I also get to worry about increased risk of colon and pancreatic cancer. Stupid genes. 

I'm done complaining for now. I am feeling good today and to whomever had the hand rash (I forgot who): Mine worsens and gets better randomly. Mine is like tiny, hard, bumps on my fingers. Mostly on the tops of my hands, but sporadically on my palms. It seems worse around my knuckles. I hope it's not the Herceptin since I'll be on that awhile. It doesn't itch or look red and when I point it out to my MO tomorrow, I doubt she will even see it. It does seem to swell or worsen when I do things like wash and rub them on a towel (gently) to dry or today when I carried the laundry basket to the bedroom. It's annoying, but not as annoying as the numbness in my hands. I think that is also the Herceptin. I have gluatmine powder but I'm waiting to ask again about it. I asked at my last appt (before I had the symtpoms) and they sort of blew the idea off ... we'll see if it is taken more seriously now that it has developed.

Ordered some satin scarves on Etsy. I have a few here plus two hats I bought. Luckily it is cooling down here in Florida. I hope everyone is safe from the hurricane up North. I have also been shopping for earrings ... My mantra of the day is: Lose hair, buy earrings. 

Love to all. xoxo

Poke, I do not need radiation.  The cancer wasn't part of the chest wall that's just how I word it so everyone knows location.  It was towards the center of my chest, where cleavage would and I guess was NEXT to the muscle.

MrsCich - I'm so glad you don't need radiation!

Hi POKE.  I'm just up the road from you in St. Pete.  I used to live in Sarasota (10 years ago), before moving to NM and CA and now back to FL. I like the 'lose hair, buy earrings' mantra too.  I did that as well.  Quite the new look. )