Starting chemo November 2012
Comments
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Avrenim, I am on TC, but two close friends did FEC last year. Both reported terrible nausea & dizziness despite the meds for the first 4 days. When I was told by an MO that I could do FEC, ACT or TC, and the MO did tell me that nausea is worse with ACT & FEC than TC. I didn't have unmanageable nausea, so who maybe she is right. My friends both said by day 5 or 6, it was much better so good luck.
Scarves - does anyone know of a pattern that is any good? I can't buy them here - but tailors are dirt cheap and fabric is plentiful. But I would have to give them a good pattern.
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One day past second AC. Hair is falling out in clumps. Getting it shaved in the morning. Made it an entire day through work, but I teach from home. Did the last two hours in the recliner though. Got a little sickly this after so I took a compezine. Cleared the ickys up. Was able to eat dinner. Heading the bed with my tylenol and ativan soon. Hoping everyone else is holding up.
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MeganB, I was not given options. I wonder if the treatment could be changed. I lose weight very fast. I warned the oncologist about this. Today I was only able to have breakfast. When I tried to eat again in the afternoon I was not able to and it is night again and I am feeling sick even though I took the meds again.
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5Luvbugs is right. My nurse told me that I should never suffer from nausea as there was too many different meds that they could try.
Hugs to all of you ladies!! We're in this fight together. Ya'll are the only ones that truly understand what I feel. Going to get a wig tomorrow. Hopefully I'll find one I like this time.
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Sooooo.....this is a really silly question and I suppose I should already know this, but what exactly is the dexamethasone for? Other than to keep me up all night???!!! Is it for nausea? Inflammation? Allergy? What?!?! I s'pose I should've asked my MO but I didn't!
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The dex is to prevent a severe allergic reaction to the Taxotere and prevent fluid accumulation. My onc told me last week that everyone would react to it and that if I go without I'll go into full anaphylactic shock when they try to administer my Tax. I don't entirely believe this. How can they know that EVERYONE will react the same way? Someone told me a patient didn't take her dex at all and had no issues. I was hoping my onc would let me reduce my dose somehow because steroids always make me so depressed and my last dose three weeks ago was no exception. We agreed we'd try tapering the dose for a further three days to see if it's the abrupt stop that is bothering me. Bit risky but I agreed. I am tempted to skip day 3 though and take day 4's dose tomorrow. I've had the Tax today so it surely can't send me into shock now??
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I had my first cycle of CTH chemo today. I was prepared for many different side effects and intesities to start appearing this afternoon, after the treatment, But...so far, I feel great! Thank God! I guess I'm wondering if I should be waiting for "the other shoe to drop" ? Will the side effects really hit after the Neulasta injection tomorrow? I'm glad today is a good day, but I want to keep those good days. Any thoughts, advice? Thanks.
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Hi,
Now that my hair is falling out my scalp is tender. It feels like i have had a ponytail too tight. Is this normal? Does it go away? I cut 15 inches off tonight but it is still tender and tingling.
Hope you all have a pleasant weekend.
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Hi,
Tender scalp very normal.....mine was at the start when hair was starting to fall out, and about a week in..now its not tender and I haven't lost all my hair - Day 11 post 2nd chemo (Taxotere)
I get bone pain day after Neulasta though onc has told me that that too is caused by Taxotere, it only lasts a couple of days (off and on pain) so not soo bad....I have panadol for the pain and it reduces dramatically.
My nails are a little sore cuticle colour is darker than other part of nail however onc said thats when we have to look after the nail, keep away from any glues on your nail etc as you can get a fungal infection. (gee another thing to worry about, yeh !)
I use a nail strengthener and its as if my nails are on steroids, getting longer by the day I actually need to file them down every couple of days....
I iced my nails for the first time 2nd cycle, I really don't think that they made much of a difference other than the nail bed pain which went in a couple of days and the 1st cycle seemed to be a little longer.
My feet however , no ice, just nail polish and oh my gosh.......the hell and ball of my feet are in agony...really painful to walk...severe pins and needles etc....i've been moisturising and soaking......onc says that so long as there are no blisters etc he doesn't need to see me until my 3rd treatment on dec 12th. (last Taxotere thank goodness ... providing all goes well).
Nausea, no nausea at all for me.....I only have whatever they put in the iv drip at the time of chemo and thats all.....
Hope you ladies are well......dec 1st here and my son can't wait to see the christmas lights we've put up once its dark
Hope you all have a SE free Saturday
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Thanks, Michelle for the explanation
. It sure keeps me wired....it's 12:15 AM here and I'm still wide awake. Last night I didn't sleep at all. Sunday is my last dose so hopefully by Monday I'll sleep. I agree, it's hard to believe that EVERYONE would react the same to the taxotere! Sorry about the depression you experience from the Dex :-(. Are you taking anything for that?? -
Claritin really helped with the Neulasta SE's. Hallulujah!
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Claritan helped me too..slight pain in the bones but nothing like the 1st time.
Treatments - some meds cause worse reaction than others and we don't all react the same.
Ginger Snaps, for those of you who weren't here early in Nov, = ginger snaps really help with nausea.
Steriods - good thing we only take them for a few days, can't stay wide awake every night, also I've been eating way too much but I think it's because I'm trying to find something that tastes good!
Weight - I haven't lost an ounce!!! damn,damn, damn bet you skinny girls are losing though..
Exercise - I need some!! I just don't have the energy...
Hair Color - asked MO if I could color my hair when it grows back, he said yes but it probably won't turn out the color you think - maybe orange, purple, who knows = that will be very interesting
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It's December girls- we made it through November - Yahoo!!!!
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Michelle--I only get steroids on the day of chemo-Iv during chemo...still flew High for a few days after..Maybe you can cut down to just that day!
Here I am 5 days after dose 1...got my constipation taken care of yesterday (which when senna starts to work it really cramps....) slept decent last night, I am actually up at 720 on a Saturday...but I was HUNGRY and had really bad dry mouth.....guess I am about where my counts are going to drop..but I think I will try to do a bit of Christmas shopping today...keep thinking I am going to crash at some point and be unable to do this stuff... -
today is day 6...counting day of chemo....wow what a difference from yesterday to today...i was feeling a little icky in the am and took a metoclopramide ...big mistake...felt ill all day...slept on and off for most of it and then by 9 last night was fine like a big muzzy blanket was lifted off me....today...just a little achy cause i havent had any of my walks this week...put it off until i could tell what was happening...even the mouth tenderness is minimal...yeah...made it through the first and only 14 more pricks to go...not counting bloodwork...lol....thanks for all the info on this site...im very glad i found it...and for my dry mouth found lots of water and a rinse with peroxyl helped.....
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Anita - my head started tingling a few days ago. Now it's shedding by the handfuls. Scalp is tender like it has a mild sunburn. I've been told this is normal.
About the hair. I'm so tired of it being everywhere! Can't touch one hair without getting 10 more in my hand. Going wig shopping in a few minutes and if I find one then tonight I will give my son the honor of buzz cutting me. The hair is dead. Won't curl. Won't do anything. Just lays there and I swear it doesn't even have any life left to it. Dull and different shade of color. I'm ready to let go of it. Besides if it's falling out then that means the chemo is working!! Working to fight any rogue cancer cell in my body. I finally feel like I'm fighting back to cancer. Take notice cancer -- I'm kicking your butt!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a fight you will not win!!!
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Been asleep all day so will probably struggle to sleep tonight again. Glad I checked in here because I'd forgotten I've got to give myself the Neulasta. Haven't eaten and not hungry but think I should at least have a sandwich. Going to have a nice bath and wash my hair. Wish me luck. Anita & Junebug - front of my scalp is tender too and is normal. I remember the tenderness last time I lost hair. Because I've used a cold cap I'm hoping I can keep the majority of mine and try and look somewhat normal...
Keetmom - they don't give me IV steroids IV so don't want to stray too far from what they want me to take as not sure of the difference in dosages between IV and oral.
Thankful - I've been on anti-depressants for years anyway but recently upped my dose after my 'crash' after last dose of dex. I am not sure it will make much difference but hoping the tapering off the dex this time will help. If not I am going to BEG my onc to do something!
Traii - I have never had any nausea either. They give me ondansetron IV, then tablets to take home twice a day for 5 days AND some domperidone if I need that too. I always take the ondansetron tablets just in case but not needed the domperidone yet. I just remember years ago with my ABVD they once forgot to give me the ondansetron tabs and I thought I'd be ok cos I'd never been sick - I soon realised that was because I'd always had my anti-sickness when i started to throw my guts up! -
Tired tired tired. My bones are starting to ache a little too. And the yucky taste in my mouth has shown up. Will be happy to get thru these next 5 days! In the meantime, time to break out the saltines and ginger snaps! Have a good day, everyone... It's cold and gloomy here today...perfect for sweats, a fire, and movies:).
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Hi, I am new to this blog. I was diagonosed in Sept., had mastectomy on Nov. 8 and just saw an oncologist. I had been told I probly wont need chemo because it was stage II, estrogen/positive, and sentinal node negative. The oncologist just told me that if I had chemo, it would reduce the risk by 3%. Or, in other words, in 97% of women, the chemo would not help. The reason for doing it is because the tumor was big (3.7). My question to you guys that are going though it right now is: knowing that it might help only 3%, would you go through chemo anyway? Would you regret it in the future if you dont do it? I am very confused. The onco said there will not be much side effects because of the other drugs that will be given to counteract the side effects, except for hair loss.
Bea
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Welcome Bea....
We are kinda in the same boat. My cancer was Stage II, ER/PR+, but it was multifocal (3 spots) covering an area of 3.6CM. They ran the oncotype test which was inconclusive so based on size, and my age (38) my oncologist recommended it.
I feel ok about it now knowing I'm doing all I can do to hopefully prevent this from ever coming back. The side effects, altho pretty uncomfortable the first few days, are manageable and then you do get "normal days" again before your next treatment. The hair loss was tough but what I found is that it was the anxiety leading up to the hair loss that was the worst part. Now that it's gone, I feel better.... As weird as that sounds!
Everyone is different....but for me, this was peace of mind.
This board has been tremendously helpful to me....it will be to you, too! Best of luck! -
I am in Calilfornia right now, since my family lives here. I went to UCLA. Is that where you saw the oncologist?
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No...I go somewhere else
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Bea,
I was in a similar situation. Had a double mastectomy, stage II, and technically node negative (isolated tumor cells found in one sentinel node). The Breast Center kept telling me I may not need or benefit from chemo. However, I researched my situation extensively....given that 2 tumors were found (multi-focal), and the largest tumor was 3.7 cm, I decided to find an MO who would start chemo asap. I went with a more aggressive plan; I am 45 and wanted to do everything I could. I'm still waiting for Oncotype results that the Breast Clinic ordered but even a low score would not have changed my mind.
Wendy
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Although I am feeling ok....I really HATE the taste in my mouth, just cant seem to quench my thirst.....
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I agree with wendymartha. Even though I'm not looking toward to it because of the se, I'm ready to begin my chemo.
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Bea, I'm her+ fast growing but otherwise clean but was told the diff of risk of recurrence without chemo was75 % vs with chemo 90% doc said it was a huge diff and imperative to do chemo. I like it when i can realy on someone smart to make these decisions....(surgery at cedars, onc at st johns- herceptin was developed at ucla where most local docs start out it seems).
Thankful im with you got past the shot ok but here comes the stomach issues, trying to eat pb & crackers, sleep sitting up. Thank goodness there's a hallmark movie on!
Xo -
I have been tired since thursday, which was day one after and it has not let up. If this is the worst side effect i am grateful but are you all feeling the same and how do u combat that? Cant possibly drive or work like this.
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Sickofpink, I just noticed you live in one of my fav places! Haven't been there for a few years but hubby and I used to head over there quite a bit in our "beginning"!
Yep....I feel the downward spiral coming on...tired, legs are aching, tummy is just a little "off".....here we go! Good thing hubby picked up a pumpkin pie tonight....I discovered after my 1st chemo that pumpkin pie is the ONLY thing that doesn't have that altered, chemo taste! -
Thankful thats great!
Nancy, yup no driving for me, hope to do some work online but mostly holiday shopong online so far, hoping to delay intense thoughts a few days til focus is back. Last time i worked a few hours a day then a ton one day then had to rest. In a day or so ill try to start walking, more and more. Lucky to not have small kids and to avoid people for long enough to avoid getting sick. Would feel like a Vacation for a multitasker like me -- if only i didnt feel like a little old lady with aches and stomach problems.....
Txjunebugs & 5 lovebigs are u okay?
Take it easy if u can! -
Nancy, I am finding the fatigue to be quite intense as well - I see you are working. Me too, and I have three young kids, so maybe its just life:) There is no way I could drive - I keep losing my thoughts mid-process... anyone else misplacing things around the house?
Bea - the "to chemo or not to chemo" is a hard one given your situation. For me, it was easy as I was node positive and the tumor grade of 2 was fast growing enough that I was told the chemo would kill any cells left behind by surgery and be of positive assistance in preventing a recurrence. Can you get a second opinion? It might help you decide. Chemo isn't easy, but if it has clear benefits, then obviously totally worth all of the aches and pains and hair loss in the long run. "clear benefits" is also a very personal things, for some that would be 3% and for others it wouldn't. As for your doctor's comment about side effects, mine said the same thing and I am not sure that I agree with them!! There is a definite impact on most people's lives during chemo, even with the arsenal of drugs we are given. It is quite do-able, and if there is no choice, well, you have to do it. But the drugs definitely don't take away all the side effects to the point that life is normal during the course of the treatments. Good luck with your decision.
Alison - my head started tingling, the hairs started dropping, and they were all pretty much gone within 7 days. Everywhere. Fun times:) I brought out the wig for work today, and lots of stares but everyone was scared to comment so I had to break the ice and crack some jokes. Cancer can be so awkward (for other people).
Hope everyone who had their treatments last week are doing well and that the cold sufferers among us are on the mend.
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