December 2012 chemo group

I started losing head hair on day 14, lost underarm hair around day 28. leg hair and pubes are still hanging in there!



Finished final & fourth AC treatment today! Start taxol in 2 weeks. Feels great to be at the half way point in chemo.

Still have surgery and a full course of rads to do :- p ...but feel that the hardest part will be behind me after chemo.



Praying for good days & minimal SE' s for you all!

Runnergirl2013, for me, the super intense foggy brain after tx turned out to be the Benadryl that I was on the day of and the couple days after my Neulasta shot.  It was like being on a hefty dose of cold medicine; definitely couldn't drive and was miserable.  My nurse switched me to Zyrtec the last time around and that took care of it.  Could it be that the Claritin is doing it?

SherylB, thank you for the Prilosec tip!  I'll absolutely ask about it.  The heartburn lasts a little longer each round; I'll have tx on Wednesday and am still dealing with it from the last round.

Beckster, my nurse said that a mouth rinse of about a teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 oz. of water would help with the taste and white tongue issue.  I sure hope so; I really dread that this next week.

kslansky, you're two days ahead of me on exactly the same schedule (I'll do 12 weeks of Taxol).  Can't wait to get #4 behind me on Wednesday.  Hope the joy of being done with AC will make any tough moments over the next few days a lot easier!

Nanc~I love you right back! I know exactly what you're talking about, considering faith. I can't imagine for a second, going through this battle without faith in my Lord. Knowing what his Word says about Healing, Peace, and Love. I am a 10 + year member of a non-denominational church. People keep commenting on my great attitude through all of this. It isn't me! It's JESUS, and his Peace that surpasses understanding. I choose to believe his report over that of science.



Blessings

Paula

Yesterday I had my last AC treatment and will start taxol in two weeks. I need to talk/ask about a couple of things.



1. I definitely have chemo brain. I meet with the MO (I've seen the NP for a month now) and I want to have my questions written down before I meet him before the taxol starts. Problem is I'm all foggy. Does anyone have some questions I should be asking him at this point?



2. My daughter and grandson have been away since I lost my hair. I saw them Sunday and had my nicest scarf on. My 6 year old grandson was a bit taken aback by my appearance but seemed to get over it very quickly.



My daughter, however, kept looking away from me whenever she could. Later my husband told her I was opting for a bilateral mas and she freaked out with him. He was able to calm her with the logic behind this decision. Has anyone else had a grown child who has been unable to deal with the physical aspects of treatment from this illness?



3. This may be T mI, but I have been unable to have sex with my DH since chemo began over two months ago. He is very understanding and not pushy at all. We snuggle and watch tv at night for awhile. That helps me feel more intimate but DH has always felt so much more connected and intimate thru sexuality. I feel I'm depriving him but can't feel ANY sexual desire. I also feel so much less sexally attractive being bald, I'm so surprised at that but it adds to my resistance at even trying to be more open to sex. Even wearing a scarf to bed doesn't lessen these feelings.



Any feedback on any one of the concerns would be so much appreciated.



Peggy

Peggy~Ask your MO if there's anything in particular he'd have you do to protect your nails. My DGF's MO told her to use tea tree oil. I like that idea. I use it for other stuff. It's amazing.



Ask if you should take vitamin B6 for neuropathy. Or L glutomine or something else.



Here's the thread for solution to painful intercourse. It's also for those who have no desire.



http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/776318?page=19#idx_558



Blessings

Paula

It's so nice to be able to come here and see that others are going through exactly the same thing. Although i have many great friends nobody quite "gets it" unless they've experienced it.

Had 2nd chemo on 1/3/13. It's becoming increasingly more difficult to sleep through the night. Aside from days 1-5 when i have no energy and sleep well, the rest of the time has been like this.

Anyone else have this experience?

Thanks Tinah - I started the same chemo as you the day before. I haven't used the cream and still have my brows and lashes. Ahh! No easy answers. The thing concerning me is that a lot of the ladies say they lose them after they're done chemo! I guess the cream is an added insurance and so I think I will order it. The only downside is losing $50. The upside of keeping them is quite worth it.

well I am on day six of the packing and at least it is no longer painful, which they tell me means the infection is gone, and they say it is healing very well...which I am very grateful...and after Thursday, only one treatment left...



has anyone met with their radiation Dr. yet? I am going to ask about it on Thursday... if I remember..lol....

Gwen - I got the Brian Joseph gel at the wig shop for 39.00 and started using it the week before my first tx. I still have my brows and lashes, but they are thinning a bit. In the long run I have no idea if this is going to work or not. I have heard some say that their lashes did not fall out until after they were totally finished with tx! I am on my 3rd tube so I sure hope this investment pays off!

Judaday (((hugs)))) to you. I am sorry you are going thru such a crappy time right now, but glad that the infection seems to be gone.

Peggy - there was quite a discussion about sex (or actually lack of it) a few pages ago. Please know that you are not alone in this area. It's hard to feel attractive or have the desire when we are bald, boobless, puffy from steroids, have a nasty fuzzy mouth or have stomach issues ( we are all dealing with different issues). Hopefully this too will pass and we will be back to normal in a few months.

Tracy - I might try the ice chips, but that would mean chewing ice chips for close to 2 hours during Taxotere, and I already have my hands in insulated lunch bags with frozen peas and bags of ice. I will have to see if someone can feed me the ice chips . Maybe I should take frozen grapes and suck on them!

Peggy, I'll start Taxol in a couple of weeks. They will provide ice mitts and socks for me during the infusion for neuropathy. My MO also has me taking 300mg of vitamin B6 and L Glutamine (1 tbs, 2 Times a day) These are both to help with neuropathy and mouth sores.



You may also want to ask about the length of the infusion (it may take longer than the AC combo) and potential reactions from it. (After the nausea meds, I'll be getting an IV of Benadryl before the Taxol) The chemo nurse also recommended that I makes sure that I bring someone with me for the first couple of treatments.

Hello chemo buddies ! I head into # 2 Thursday so will begin starting the steroids tomorrow - on wow I can look forward to that !!! But Going for a bike ride on the bike trail by the river tomorrow too. Hopefully will cancel out steroids effects .

Judaday. _i also has an infection mid cycle and ran a temp - so I can totally relate ! I am just wiped out when I have a temp.

Bren and others - have you asked your mo if u can do Latisse ? Mine said I could so I will try it . My lashes and brows look ok so far but defiantly no new growth so I am sure by my 4th and final treatment they will be thinned out .

Gwen - love the positive attitude about life's good !! We are all taking the right steps to make sure this bc stays away forever and in order for that to happen a positive disposition is best !! Not always easy though !!



Wishing all a good rest of the week !!!



Sandy

It seems the anxiety builds as chemo approaches. Good luck to everyone going in this week.



I had a meeting with the RO today. He is recommending radiation over mx. I asked if he would do the same for his wife or daughter, he said yes, unless it was a grade 3 or a large tumour. Grade 3 being aggressive.... BUT THEN he said how surprised they were at my grade 1 being ki67 of 18% and said there are only 5% of grade ones which are aggressive like that. He said ki67 indicated likelihood of travelling, hence chemo. Anyway, I'm confused about him not recommending mx as its not aggressive, but me getting chemo as it is. Hmmm

Steiner - After my tx3 last week, I started with the somach issues that night. I thought it was the food that DD ordered us for lunch. As it turned out it was the SE's starting much sooner than usual. Stomach, mouth fuzzies, taste, everything! I thought I was really in for a terrible recovery time. As it turned out, the SE's started sooner but also ended sooner. So hear I am one week post tx3 and I feel pretty good, except for the head congestion. This is the second time I have gotten it after tx. I can't believe I might have another cold! I haven't been anywhere, literally! So I hope if your SE's are starting so soon that they will also be over sooner.

Sandra - I have not asked about Latisse, but I will at my next appointment. Anyone know how much it costs?

Runner & Nanc- Good Luck today. I hope all goes well.

Kiwi - sounds like you need some clarification from your docs before you make your final decision.

I have been trying to walk at least a mile everyday (or at least most days) to keep my energy up. Well this morning everything is covered in ice, so unless it warms up signifigantly, no walk today

Nicole~I haven't gotten short of breath walking up a flight of stairs, but then, I use a cane, and rarely use stairs. I do think if I tried to do anything at all strenuous, I'd be out of breath.

My onc told me, the risk to the heart is it weakens the heart muscle. I doubt that's what you're experiencing.



I tx #3 on Friday. I'm dreading it, but also eager to get it over with. My SEs start about day 6. That's when the horrible fog hits, but I also feel kind of faint if I stand more than 2 or 3 minutes, and when I'm sitting it seems like a real effort to hold my head up. Then the peeing starts along with the chills. I'm so glad when day 9 rolls around. I wish I could sleep from days 6-8.



Blessings

Paula

Steiner, My 3/4-long hair is bugging me, too. Only thing is we don't have an electric shaver in the house; DH'S uses clippers. Thinking about buying one, might be easier for my DD to use too.



Good luck tomorrow Runnergirl. FOllowing in your footsteps with my #3 Friday.



Bren, that's encouraging about the SE's ending earlier- I'll just count on that.



Something seems to have clicked with me the last few days. I have realized that since I have more time, I don't have to rush around all the time like I did before dx and that I have the time to do some of the things I enjoy but couldn't seem to get around to. Today I am baking bread in my bread maker (after dusting it off!) and shopped for the ingredients needed to make a lentil, sweet potato, and kale stew! feeling downright domestic! All weeks of the cycle won't be that way, but I'm making hay while the sun shines.



Best to all of you.