Starting chemo November 2012

Junebug here's a group prayer for your daughter and you friend and one for all of us...Amen!!!

I had my pet scan with drains still in, I went from a stage 2 to a stage 4 in less then a week. I got mammos every year and was told my left breast was dense, so they did ultrasound and found a cyst, funny it is in the same place my cancer was 2 years later. The mammo in between was supposedly clear. Soon after that one (which was last year in March) my breast started hurting. I told pcp he did manuel and said everything was fine. He did last manuel on 9/19/12,said no lumps everything fine. I was dx on 10/24/12. And now the bc has met to my right hip. Sigh!!!

Junebug - I added my prayer for your daughter and friend.

Soteria - Thanks for reminding me to take my Decadron.  Instead of waiting the full 12 hours to take the 2nd one, I took it at about 8 hours, hoping it won't interfere with my sleep tonight.  Just took a 3 hour nap on the couch with my cats!  No nausea, but I took a preventative Zofran.  Worked for me last time.  My buffs finally got here today; I love them, and think they will become an integral part of my wardrobe.  All the best to you guys.  Love, Martha

Macyhen, I'm so sorry. We really have to take charge of our health and fight for it. I live in Holland and the only remedy they know is: paracetamol.

Thank you so much Ladies. I've said it before but I really do appreciate you all! What a caring and compassionate group of women you are. I have hope and I will always have faith that The Lord will see me through this journey. I used to ask why me? I lost my mother, father, sister and brother at a young age. When I asked the Lord please don't take my only remaining relative, my brother he did. But through all of that I have never questioned why. I just know that I was strong and never lost my faith. So no matter the outcome of this journey I am on, I know I'll be alright. I have my moments but then I try to think of all the positives in my life. I have 3 wonderful adult children and 2 granddaughters and of course my dh.

Anyone else ever get the sore skin thing? Round 3 day 3, I had 24 hours of really painful skin. Nice that chemo is so full of little surprises:) But otherwise, round 3 seems pretty much the same so far. I also have buzzy feet and one buzzy finger (why just one??) but my mouth seems less pasty this round.  

I am shocked at the cost of treatments and drugs in the US. $9000 for Neulasta?? Unbeleiveable!!!! I had to buy some Neupogen locally, which is far far cheaper than Neulasta to begin with, but in Singapore it is about Sing$1000 for 4 shots (about $800USD for 4, or $200 each). Where I live, for two shots, it cost USD$80 or $40 per shot. I would imagine that is close to the "real cost" as this was from a private hospital, and so would still build in a profit margin. Neulasta must be real money maker for some....

What are everyone's plans to celebrate the new year? We all have to do something special to celebrate being cancer free in 2013!!!!

hah..how about this one for chemo brain

got out of shower and was towelling off...looked down and saw a long hair....almost asked DH who's it was....forgot about long haired cat....

lol...

Adagio~Are you getting steroids? Or Benadryl? Those both help to get rid of the allergies, which sounds like that's what you have. Have you called your onc? If not, do so right away! You shouldn't have to deal with that!



I'm getting AC, two rounds o far with no rash at all. Lord, I hope I don't get that.



Blessings

Paula

Adagio - I am doing TCH, but I did have a very itchy rash on the backs of my hands.  It lasted maybe a week, then stopped itching and is now peeling.  Didn't have it anywhere else.  Nothing yet for this round; it's day 2.  My onco had the same response - it's from the chemo.

And politicomama, my face broke out, too.  I was thinking that part was from the steroids, but I don't know.

5LuvBugs; my hair looks about the same!  I tell everyone it looks like that little guy from The Hobbit, Golam or whatever his name is!

I haven't really posted much during treatment because most of my side effects are like all of yours and the tips and advice are already out there, but have taken inspiration from all of you ladies who post regularly. The salon that did my wig suggested I use Nioxin cleanser (shampoo) and conditioner.  A bit pricey at $20 each but with a bald head, will last for months.  It feels very invigorating and is supposed to encourage the hair follicles and encourage growth when it's finally time.  Figure it can't hurt and the conditioner feels so good on a sore head.

I finished my 2nd treatment on 12/19 which made for a very Twilight Zone kind of Christmas.  Each time it has taken me a full 10 days to feel like the fog has lifted and that I can actually move again.  I am only working about 7 days during the 21 day cycle because I can't even seem to drive or focus.  So strange how everyone reacts differently to the same drug cocktails. The compazine keeps the nausea under control but makes me feel dizzy and very out of it. 

I have never suffered from heartburn but did try the Prilosic for the "ball of pain" that was always in the pit of my stomach, made a huge difference so if anyone else feels the same, ask your onc about it even if you don't think it's "heartburn" related.

Besides the Neulasta aches I feel like every single injury my body has ever had is super sore; my surgery sites, a spot on my left cheekbone where I ran into a piano as a kid, etc. 

Happy New Year to you all, thanks for all the help, Nancy

txjunebug ~ Please don't tell me that!  I go for round 3 on Friday.  I had little energy with round 2, so really not looking forward to 3. I seem to lose a little more with each treatment.  My friend wanted me to join her in Tomball from the 14th-18th, but I figured I'd be wiped out.

Adagio -

I had a bad rash after round one on my chest and neck and it was AWFUL. Poor you. I took benadryl, smeared myself with calamine and cortisone cream, took tylenol, and nothing worked. I finally resorted to laying about icing the rash which at dulled the itching while I was awake.

Three rounds of that - you must feel as though you are in HELL. They told me to take chlorpheniramine the second time to prevent it - at the maximum adult dose. I am sure you have tried all the various antihisitimes out there... so the advice may be useless. It sounds unliveable. Not something to be shrugged off as a "drug rash" - but its a serious quality of life issue if it last as for several days or more. Yikes - I hope it gets better...

Sorry to hear some of you are really suffering after round three. I hope things improve for all soon.  

Hi there, been swamped with relatives but thinking of you all.

Milkyway - can u take Benedryl?

Maychen, geez, so sorry but impressed by ur great attitude.

Txjunebugs- fingers crossed for DD results and sorry u and

BetNY - are so wiped out, shall we talk Hallmark movies?

Powermom - and anyone else on TCH - the Herceptin co. Genentek (?) is offering a program to cover 80% of copay - i havent gotten chemo bills yet but with copay starting fresh on the 1st, this is good news and works through onc office...

Maryah- hope u get lucky with round 3



Anyone have tips for bad taste buds? Mine are shot, everything tastes like sawdust!!!

Aside from runny nose and occasional bleeding from both ends, leg aches and fatigue, i feel better than usual this time - except much worse chemo brain...feel so stupid!



Are we all having a quiet New Years? My DH would love a romantic evening and that means my sexy Santa's helper outfit, ha - wish it was my 'good' third week but has been a month since we've fooled around poor guy so... Not sposed to drink but does a glass of wine work like it used to for anyone ?

A gripe before 2012 leaves :-)

I went yesterday to a friend's birthday party. They said: you look great, better than before! Thank you?

I know they mean well, but

1) do they expect me to look like a corpse?

2) when I was looking like a corpse (last week), where were they?

3) I put the wig and make up on but I still feel lousy and try to keep things in my stomach.

I guess I just don't want people to tell me that I look good, cause I feel awful. That was my gripe, back to our regular program

Sick of Pink...My Oncs office told me I could drink..said my liver function was fine and they wanted me still to live...yes I don't get falling down drunk but have had a few drinks...and it helps me relax..

No real tast buds left miss them alot...but other then being tired I am doing pretty good...but #3 is next week...I have to think from there there will only be 3 weeks and I can totally start recovering!