Starting chemo March 2013

Thinking of you all and hoping that each of you will have some rays of sunshine in your Easter tomorrow:-). I'm gathering up strength to leave my comfortable spot on the bed and get at least a few of my traditional Easter activities done before tomorrow. It has always been my favorite holiday & this cancer is really messing with my plans lol. Had my 3rd taxol & 5th research drug on Wednesday & a shot of neupogen today, am kind of tired & achy but am thinking tomorrow I'll feel better. Sending extra warm thoughts to those of you that have young children at home<3</p>

Hi,



Had my first round of chemo on the 28th. I felt great for the first two days and now my whole body aches and my head is pounding. Please help.

Check, what I am learning on here is that there is an incredible amount of difference from me doc or cancer center to another. For example,last week, I had six hours of vomiting. NORMALLY, under my MO's rule, if there is ANY vomiting, you MUST call the office.

Obviously your office might have different rules, but since dehydration is the number one concern, among many others such as electrolytes getting off, I would strongly encourage you to call our MOs office to see what they suggest.



I did find that keeping something small constantly in my stomach helped me a great deal, but if u r not anole to get anything to stay down, I think it is time to call. So stand vomiting is NOT USUAL, especially if you have been prepped with nausea meds.



Also, you might ask about the sancuso patch for nausea, which will prevent vomiting.



Please do update us on how you are feeling.

Last, be encouraged that there IS light at the end of the tunnel.... As I am sitting here, I am starting my first of 12 Taxols, so I made it through the worst AC , although I had many complications.

Hang in there.... And post an update!

Peace!

I had talked to my MO's office three times and even called the exchange after hours and they all said it sounded normal, just seemed like I was really hitting my peak days of being sick. I have actually started feeling a little better today, able to keep little things down finally, just pretty tired now. Yes I did have the Nuelasta shot, but I didnt think that was supposed to make you sick? I am definitely going to ask about the patch because this has been awful and I will try anything to not feel that way again. Thank you so much for the advise! And I'm really looking for that light at the end of this AC tunnel!

I am located in Illinois and am at one of the best cancer centers around also and like you said still surprised with some of the things I learn on here that they aren't aware of either, I have talked to the nurse each time and she had said since I was keeping it down for at least about 10 minutes she wasnt worried about me dehydrating at the time. She said everybody responds different and those just may be my really bad days, but not sure I can handle that 3 more times. I am finally keeping things down today, drank some Gatorade hoping that will help with any electrolytes issues. I'm just hoping this was a bad experience and I won't have it that bad next time, seems like what I have read most people have tolerated it pretty well so here's hoping for a better round two. Thanks for all your input Emilysmom.

Hi!  I also  have been reading these boards lately and had my first chemo on March 28.  Sunday and Monday were defininately my worst days.  Thanks for all your discussions and input.  It really does help seeing how you all handle these awful issues with such strength! 

Tho225, glad to hear parts of it arestartingtockearup cleanup, unless I misunderstood.

Are u doing cytoxin and taxotere as a combined tax or are they separate?

I did AC togetherness, then now taxol,so not familiar.

Many peoplehavethat experience of having a sense of their head or brain changing. I literally felt it with the second tube of Adriamycin going in on the first treatment. Chemo brain, I guess. It goes away with time... How much time differs for everyone.

Some people get that fromtheneulasta shot.... Mostly the chemo, though. It's all pretty heavy duty, so it's hard to sort out.

How are your treatments scheduled? Every two weeks? Every three? How long will u be doing them?

Can't promise a lot due to everyone being different but CAN promise that there is. A light at the end of the tunnel.... Andthetreatments will end, and you will start getting strength. And our head will feel more like YOUR head one day.



Can pretty much promise that if you keep your heart open, EVERYTHING inthe world will start to look differently in terms of what it means to you... People, how important things are or ARE NOT. Life becomes so much more precious.



Can also promise that within YOU is the strength that you will needuto get through this... EVEN ON DAYS when it feels realllllllly hopeless, and I don't thing I would have felt that way several weeks ago myself toward the end of my own ACtreatments.

But it is true.



Always take people up on offers for Eli if they offer and u think they even remotely mean it.

Rely On the strength that others offer.... Cuz some days that strength is what becomes YOUR strength, and you WILL GET through it.



Inthe middle of taxol number 1/12 right now, and it is so much easier thanAC.....



Hang in there, THO, you can do it.

And when u feel like u ant,ask us to help u through it. Especially those of us who came through that part.



Be well, rest and have HOPE!!!!!!



Peace,

C, aka... Emily's mom

Finally, a place to share with others!!! How wonderful is this!! Went for a senior wellness visit,something suspiscious,and now I've begun the journey. First round was March 1.I'll do 4 rounds,and I'll meet with the radiologist at some point.My cocktail is Taxotere/Cytoxan.At this point,I no longer feel sooo out of control,and I take each day as it comes.I'm constantly checking in with my body for symptoms,and I'm sure the neuropathy will increase with each round......GRRR!My son encouraged me to touch base with a naturopath,and I think I'm benefiting from it. Again,what a great round table to be with all of you.......I have a big sigh of relief today just being here.....Thanks

Have been reading but not participating for a bit...THANKS for all your helpful insight! Get my second TCH next week...just when I'm starting to feel human again. FINALLY got taste buds back after a week of blah and not wanting anything but saltines in broth...and am eating like a horse. Sooooo glad water doesn't taste like warm salty spit any more!



Wanted to let those with mouth sores know I had success using Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash...only had one side of the tongue sore that kept me company a couple days. The Biotene was a taste that didn't make me shutter. Oh...really weird and random...but found rinsing my mouth with hot water instead of cold was easier on my taste buds too. May be mental...but I figure whatever works. ;-) Hang in there sisters!

My onc changed the clariton regimen to Zyrtek to see if it helps this time for me since I had severe SE that also could have be been compounded by my RA. I am also allowed to take Ultram 300 xr at night for this week so hopefully that will help too.

THO225

I had my second on Friday...Id I didnt know better Id swear someone was nailing railroad spikes in my head since Friday. It has however lessened a little today..Going to talk to the nurse when I go in Friday for labs... Hope your feeling better by now.

Curly, not familiar with most of those chemo txs, but I know it's hard to do any of them with kids. I am a single parent of an 8 yr old... She had to go live with other parent while I am in 24 weeks of chemo. Now that I am in taxol, she can at least visit on Saturdays..... Hard to be with the kids, hard to be without them.

Glad ours are getting to see u more like normal... So important.



Are you getting all four of those txs at once?

Hope it is going ok for you.



....starry nights.... Have you asked for pain meds for those pounding headaches?

My MO was very wiling to prescribe Motrin or even Vicodin if I needed it. So far, the only thing I've needed was Advil, which took care of the aches. Headaches sometimes required Motrin 800 during theAC treatments.



Hang in there... HOpe the spikes headaches went away!



Peace,

Colleen

Hey Ladies!!



Well it happened. The big shave. My hair was just coming out in my hands. Had it shaved on Tuesday and have my new wig that I have named Vanessa. It's mainly for work. Oh w'll. Round three of AC next week. Almost done!!!