January 2013 chemo group

Starting adriamycin and taxol this week, weekly, for 2-3 months >:( but my ct scan was clear

I bought Alleve (for the post-Neulasta pain) and heard about Claritin (but didn't get it).  But to be honest, I'm finding mself a weird kind of "curious" about the bone pain.  As you all said, in places I didn't know I had.  And remember, the Neulasta is prompting the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells.  So what we're actually feeling is the positive effect of our little immune-system-factory.  Sorry this sounds odd (I probably wouldn't say it if/when it gets bad) but it's kind of cool.  (Forgive me if you're in a lot of pain!)

Hi again everyone, I hope everyone is feeling well.  I don't know if this is the right place to post this...I don't see a place to start a new thread, just a "post reply" button.   - Anyway, I've noticed several things different in my experience than some of the stuff I've been reading. I was never told  to use ace bandage or compression on my bmx, and was sent home with my staples open-to-air.  They are fine, no discomfort but really bruised looking (surgery was one week ago), otherwise no problems.  I have 4 drains, two for each breast, I drain a total of about 200-225 cc's daily since I came home and no sign yet of it letting up. Only discomfort there is where drains come out of my skin, but no infection. I go back to the surgeon on Thursday for my first follow up.  

Will I need chemo?   I don't know yet.

Am I TN?  I don't know.  Is it better or worse than not being TN ?

I need to make an appt with MO to get these questions answered, and I have had a little bit of trouble getting in touch with their offices...but will try again tomorrow. 

I thought I'd get chemo anyway, even if the surgeon or MO says it's optional, but it sounds very scary. 

Every time I'm on here I learn something else to ask the doctors.  Thank you all!  God bless you, will lurk online for a while and jump in from time to time.

gd2shuz- Do you have the JP drains? I packed my drains into a fanny pack instead of clipping them to my clothes. less pulling. My PS said I could cover the drain sites with a gause bandage if they are irriated. I was sent home with instructions to NOT wear a bra or comression of any type until I saw him for my first post op. I did wear a snug tank top.

Your surgeon will tell you more about your treatment when they get the final pathology report. Mine took a few weeks to come back. So focus on healing. DO ZERO HOUSEWORK. Let everyone help you. Your job is to get up every few hours and walk around and then plant your tush in a comfy chair and take command of the remote.

Good luck!!!

Speaking of how amazing modern medicine and our bodies are, I'm trying something a little different for my treatment. (And before I say anything about it, I just want y'all to know that I'm not trying to convince you to try it with me!) 

A scientist at USC has been doing research for the past several years into the effects of starvation on healthy cells. It appears that, when we starve for a short time (48 hours, which does NOT sound short to me!), our healthy cells switch from their normal state into a maintenance mode. They stop trying to reproduce and focus on repair instead, and they become more resistant to stress. Based on that, Dr. Longo's theory is that if we fast before a chemo treatment, we can protect our healthy cells from at least some of the damage chemo does.

So, I'm giving it a try. They're doing clinical trials at USC and the Mayo Clinic but not here, so I'm going it semi-alone -- "semi" because I gave my MO copies of the related studies, and she thinks it sounds fascinating. It's also low-risk.

Anyway, that means I'm now fasting, and I have to say I'm not a big fan. 48 hours before treatment and another 24 after ... if I can find the willpower. Three days with just water and vitamins is a long, long time! I'll keep y'all posted. But I'm sure going to be a cheap drunk when it's my turn to belly up to the bar Wednesday...

Ci vediamo, belle!

hello!  i just dropped in to let you guys know that i'm a little over a year out from chemo and radiation.  i had the same questions you are all asking and i found almost all my answers here on these forums.  my onco acted as if he'd never heard about the claritin for neulasta or some of the other things i did that i learned here.  i found that if you have a question, ask it here and you'll get the answer!  as they say, chemo isn't great, but it's doable.  i found that to be the perfect description for me.  all this to say that i'm on the other side of it now, and i'm doing great, and so will you!  i still have some chemo brain, but i'm 67, so don't know how much of it is age related.  ugh.

i'm cheering all of you on ... you'll get through it and you'll do great! 

Ski girl 72 -I just friended u on Facebook !



Love the video nancy posted !! What an inspiration !

Bryona - that is an interesting theory And study - will have to look Dr Longo

My only caution to u would be watch for signs of hearburn - taking just vitamins and water could make your GI very acidic . I think the chemo drugs in general make our body more acidic ..,



We're friends now on FB !!!

YaYa5 - thanks for the words of encouragement!  I recognize you from the archives of the Triple Positive thread.  Glad to hear you're doing well!

Bryona I'm really interested in the benefits of fasting. I had also read that fasting was good for us during chemo and before my ex I was doing an alternate day fast, limiting my calories to 500 three days a week. I did a lot of research before I did that and there's a lot of people who say that living like that is more like how we used to live and it is a cancer fighting way of eating.

I wonder if limiting calories, 500 a day is very few, would have the same effect. Fasting gets easier the more you do it, but the first one can be hard, and 72 hours is a long time!

Please let me know how you go. I have my next chemo on Monday but its my mums birthday the day before and we are having a champagne brunch, so I won't be fasting till at least 18 hours before, but I'm thinking its probably a good idea.

Here's a link for anyone interested http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241518.php


X

God luck to all those headed to the bar today. To those who just cut their hair or are about to cut their hair- I went for a bike ride the other day and was amazed hoe freakin cold my head was without all my hair!!!! Cover up out there if you are somewhere cold. BRRR...

I am interested in the fasting thing. Bryona- thanks for being the guinea pig with this one. I'm not sure I could do it. I tend to have some sugar issues. I tried the Atkins diet once and made it 12 hours without carbs!! I am interested in the results though. Good luck!

New member orientation at my local Guilda's Club today. Gotta find someplace so me and the kid can hang and he doesn't feel like he is the only kid with a mom who has BC....

Happy tuesday ladies!

So I have seen you guys mention heartburn as a side effect of the chemo. I suffer from acid reflux disease and have been taking medication daily for about 12 years now. I just wonder if the medicine will still work on chemo. I sure hope so. It is bizarre that the medications I have been taking daily for years seem to be the ones they put you on for chemo. I take claritin daily for allergies, aciphex for heartburn and xanax and prosac for anxiety. Does anyone else suffer from anxiety and if so how has it been while on the chemo?

Hi Colleen -You are not alone... I too have been treated for anxiety over the past few years and have found that this journey has really made that battle more intense. Mornings are the hardest for me - I try to remember to take a Xanax when I wake up - and that helps. I'm thinking of finding a therapist to talk to...and have been listening to some guided imagery cds to calm me. I need to talk to my onc to see about the emotional steriod crash that I seem to be experiencing on day two and three post chemo. That has been my worst side effect. Maybe there's something that can be done to help with that?

Thinking of you - Karen

Hi!  I've only posted a few times on the boards, and I'm still reading all the posts in this board.  I'm a 28 year old bc patient that started chemo Jan 7.  I am having TAC 1x every 3 weeks for 6 treatments.  First one knocked me down.  I'm interested in reading everyones responses to their chemotherapy.