Chemo May 2013

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  • Gully
    Gully Member Posts: 268
    edited May 2013

    Debbiema,

    I did blood work two days before my first infusion so the docs know what is normal for me. Ie my WBC count normally was 5.5. I then came back 7 days later for another round of blood work to see how well my counts recovered after the first infusion and neulasta shot. For me WBC was back up to 4.4 which they thought was good. From this point out I will go to the center on infusion day and have my blood drawn, and vitals done and then see the MO for an exam. (Our center runs the blood tests literally after they draw your blood) The MO will be able to see my results in about 15min. post draw. If he likes my counts and the exam is good I go to the chemobar for round 2. 

    UKKate- Wow really no tears... you must be one tough cookie. Like the others everytime I tell someone I cry. I have been hiding it from the rest of the world. But the people close to me have been incredible including my DH. Like someone said the outpouring of support was astounding. I had to learn to let people do things for me because they wanted to do something.  I was just so mad this happen to me for the first two months I could not speak the C word. Its still really hard to admit that it got me!

    My "coming out" will be on May 18th so to speak at our community relay for life. I am a high school teacher and my students now I had surgery but did not know what for. I will be taking the survivors lap with people who are treated at my center as well as all of the staff. The event is at the high school I teach in....so the cat will be out of the bag big time!!!! My students will be walking in the event as well and by then....no hair and will look like a cancer patient.  I am really nervous.

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  • Laura5133388
    Laura5133388 Member Posts: 577
    edited May 2013

    Debwarrior, There is a very active thread, "Cold Cap Users Past and Present to Save Hair" you may want to check out. It is full of helpful tips and encouragement.

    Hope your day went well Smile

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  • MariaNL
    MariaNL Member Posts: 118
    edited May 2013

    Hello all,

    I to had my first infusion today, the treatment itself was not bad at all I am getting adriamycin first 4 doses, every other week and they are pushing it not dripping it. The flush and steroids took longer then the med.

    Tonight have a bad head ache tummy a little upset but could be worse for sure. Go back tomorrow for my nuestra shot we will see what that brings. I have my claritin ready.

    It hit me about my hair as well today, I have gotten a wig but man I love my hair. I have cut it short thought that would help but man am I going to miss it.

    I hope everyone has a good night

    If you are starting tomorrow I hope it goes smoothly for you.

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  • sebaroni
    sebaroni Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2013

    Okay, I am going to ask a dumb question, here. What is the Claritin for? I have not heard of any side effects that require am amti-histamine. I remember during my chemo teaching she during the T phase they will give me Benadryl, is this why you take Claritin?

    Maria - So happy to hear you made it through, okay.

    Annie - Ahhh.. like a spa day. The place I am going to do chemo doesn't have tvs or anything, but they do have WiFi. I work for a book publisher and all of our books are on audio, I plan to catch up on some of our newest titles while I lounge in the chairs. Your place sounds great! I think they have water and coffee with limited snacks, at mine. I just plan to bring a big ice tea, put on my head phones and listen to those books.

    Thanks to all of you for sharing, it is helping to get me more prepared when it's my turn.

    Suzan

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  • algranna
    algranna Member Posts: 61
    edited May 2013

    I want a hat or cap with hair or bangs. Have not been able to find one. Anyone know where I might get one? I have long hair and am going to get a short cut next week before my second treatment.  Then I will buzz it when it starts coming out. Today is the day after my first treatment and other than a little nausea I have felt great.  Even worked outside and planted some flowers and went for a long walk. Hope everyone get's a good nights rest.  Cool

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  • sebaroni
    sebaroni Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2013

    algranna - Go to www.headcovers.com. They have tons of scarves, hats with hair and strips of bangs to use with the scarves.

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  • jsrose14
    jsrose14 Member Posts: 117
    edited May 2013

    Algranna.- I found hats with hair by Henry margru. They are really cute and come in three different lengths and lots of colors. They are only 85.00 too. There is a shoppe by me in Philly that has them but you can order then online too.



    Good luck!



    Jsrose

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  • jsrose14
    jsrose14 Member Posts: 117
    edited May 2013

    I had my first infusion last week. I would strongly recommend if you are taking the anti nausea meds to definitely take something to counteract them as they are very constipating!! I thought I was going to go to the hospital in the middle of the night! I have had two kids and a bilateral mastectomy with recon and nothing compares to the pain I was in from the constipation. I am now on colace and miralax and a probiotic! Things have called down a bit but it was not fun!



    Good luck to all!



    Jsrose

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  • MariaNL
    MariaNL Member Posts: 118
    edited May 2013

    Claritin helps with the bone aches caused by the nuestra shot I will get for my immune system.

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  • dianesoccermom
    dianesoccermom Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2013

    Hi,

    Well finally have a start date May 23rd for my chemo and the port goes in the 22nd. I was doing ok but now the anxiety is really kicking in. I have an appt to get a wig. I ordered a head scarve as well.  Just something about going bald is freaking me out more than the treatment. Anyone else have those feelings?  Anybody have any tips for going to the first treatment?

    Diane,

    Cumberland,RI

    thanks

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited May 2013

    Hi Diane

    Sorry you have to be here with us but glad you found us.



    I found the waiting for chemo worse than the actual treatment. Worse side effect for me has been heartburn which was treated very quickly.



    Steroids made me very hungry for first 2 days and was very tired on day 3. I get neulasta shot and claritin certainly helped with pain from that.



    My first treatment was May 2nd and taste is beginning to go now. Nothing tastes just right.



    I have ordered wig and have arranged to have head shaved day 14. Am incredibly anxious about the whole bald thing! I am

    even more bothered about loss of eyebrows! Not sure why but that really bugs me'



    I took xanax before 1st treatment I was so worked up. They were prescribed at time of surgery but that was only time I felt the need. Everyone at infusion vented were so nice I don't think I will need one again. Husband stayed whole time but I don't think that will be possible each time. Bring music book laptop/tablet tot entertainment.

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  • LJaeger
    LJaeger Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2013

    Met with my oncologist yesterday, and I get this show on the road Wednesday the 15th. dose dense A/C for 2 months, followed by taxol every 2 weeks for 2 months. 

    Worrywart- while I am supposed to inject myself with Neulasta the day after chemo, they said that depending on my levels I may or may not have to do it. I don't think they want me to use it if not necessary. So I'm guessing your doctors will give you what you need when you need it.

    They didn't mention Claritin to me, but I brought it up thanks to our discussion boards. The doctor said that she doesn't necessarily prescribe it for patients, but it couldn't hurt and people seem to use it with success. 

    Ukkate - I haven't cried either! My mother always thought I was emotionally constipated (ha, just what I need, more constipation), but I feel pretty healthy about the whole thing. So, now there are two non-crying weirdos in the group.

    As for the no-hair debate, hubby gave me a buzz cut (1/2") on Saturday, and people are giving it rave reviews. There are lots of folks at my company who I will see during lunch that do not know anything about my cancer (not that that will last long once the hair disappears) but I've had lots of women telling me they've always wanted to try a buzz cut and feel inspired! It made me feel really good. In fact, I feel that this 3 week buzz cut stint is making me feel more confident about who I am inside, and really who cares what people think about how I look! I tried scarf shopping all weekend (and I HATE clothes/accessory shopping) and no place had nice square scarves. I really am not into the "pirate" look, so to speak, so I got some cute hats and will see if I can pull off a hat-only at work. We'll see!

    I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and that these treatments still give us some energy to enjoy the beautiful weather that is emerging.

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited May 2013

    Ljaeger, we joke about cancer a lot in my office too! I put water in the fridge and said I was going to put a sign on it saying Kate's chemo water. I think I use humor as a coping mechanism

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited May 2013

    Ljaeger and Kate



    I am in serious awe that you have shed no tears! Mine are far and few between but they do come. I too use humorous to cope but have found some who don't get my cancer humorous. Of course they are same people who never understood my brand of humor



    Is your port feeling better Kate?

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited May 2013

    My port is feeling better but it's so ugly looking. My kids said I looked scary today with all the scars and stitches! I am supposed to be dressed up fancy in 3 weeks yikes!!!

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  • sebaroni
    sebaroni Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2013

    LJarger - I love your attitude! It's great that you can claim your fight so visibly. While I have no qualms about sharing it, I am going to be "Suzan-as-usual" until the very last minute. I truly admire your courage.

    I agree the eyebrow, eyelash, freaks me out a bit, too. Luckily, one of my friends is a make-up artist and she has offered to do whatever I need in that regard. I am hoping that the strip of bangs I ordered to go under scarves will be long enough to cover up the eyebrow area.

    Humor is what we need, gals! It will carry you through! There is no doubt about it, being diagnosed with cancer sucks, but we can't change that fact. What we can do is focus on the rest of life, because this is only going to be a SMALL PART of it, we will all get through it. It is my greastest wish through this whole thing that in a few years I can say, "Oh yeah, remember back in 2013 when I had cancer, glad that's over."

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited May 2013

    Port should be well healed by then. Mine is barely noticeable now. Have you found dress already?

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  • MichelleRN78
    MichelleRN78 Member Posts: 64
    edited May 2013

    My doctor said that they seem to think that the neulasta causes some type of histamine response.  She highly recommended claritin for the bone pain.

    On another note today I go in to blood work and my first post-chemo follow-up appt.  I have my emla cream ready but am kinda nervous about the port being accessed.  It is still bruised and a little tender.

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  • LJaeger
    LJaeger Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2013

    I do admit that the eyebrow/eyelash thing is not something I'm looking forward to, but perhaps it'll give me an opportunity to learn how to make my eyebrows look better..my left brow always has a bit of an Alphalpha twist to it. Sayonara uneven brows!

    I completely agree that humor helps the situation. My husband was really not appreciating my humor at first, and then when he tried his hand at some humorous comments, they didn't work for me. I guess perhaps it's best if we make fun of ourselves, and leave the other people (hopefully) laughing and otherwise commentless. 

    So far I've enjoyed worrying about my one "headlight" (I can't manage to fit in a bra with the left side being ridiculously porn-star like in bulbousness and height) and also joking about how in 30 years my hubby will have an opportunity to snuggle with a middle-aged boob and also a teenage boob. Oh, the options!

    Keep your chins up, friends (then we'll match our perky "shelves")! 

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  • Debwarrior
    Debwarrior Member Posts: 72
    edited May 2013

    Thanks Laura for the cold cap reference. I have been lurking there for advice. Had my first taxol/ carbo treatment yesterday and port placement. Once they got the IV in after 5 tries everything went smoothly, Feel mostly tired today. The cold cap was so cold when it first went on that I gave myself a ativan and a Vicodin which the doc said was fine and which really helped but made me woozy much of the day so I slept through a lot of the day and probably will nap today, hope everyone else is having a relatively easy time with thei first few infusions. So far so good

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  • sebaroni
    sebaroni Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2013

    My PS told me he had a couple in his office and was talking to them about the one-side mastectomy thing and the husband says to him, 'Cool, it will be like having sex with two different women at the same time."

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited May 2013

    I found a link on BCO that had some pretty funny "you know your a cancer patient when" type jokes. Personally, I try to find humor in every situation, even though at times it might be difficult! If you are not the type to laugh at yourself you might not want to read this.



    http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=67&id=755825&page=1



    Pat

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  • Debwarrior
    Debwarrior Member Posts: 72
    edited May 2013

    Went out for a walk and went into a store and tried on a scarf and the lady working there told me that I smelled medicinal. I told her it wasn't catching and I left. Not the best sales technique, I think. LOL. I can't wait to take a shower but they told me to wait 5 days after the port surgery. I guess I better stay out of small stores for now.

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited May 2013

    I work retail and I cannot imagine my coworkers saying such a thing! I can tell you they would be fired on the spot. It is incomprehensible that people are so damned rude!

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  • Debwarrior
    Debwarrior Member Posts: 72
    edited May 2013

    Thanks for the moral support ipc, it kind of hurt my feelings. On top of everything else, I smell bad too!

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  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited May 2013

    I don't start chemo until June 5.  Been hearing concern about loss of eyebrows and eyelashes.  Saw this on another web site.  Just got mine.  Use it once a day on brows and roots of eyelashes.  It is supposed to prevent fallout.  http://brianjosephs.com/cgi-bin/Agora/agora.cgi?cart_id=&product=PersonalCare

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  • Gully
    Gully Member Posts: 268
    edited May 2013

    Hey everyone,

    Anyone out there have a sore dry nose! Day 8 past infusion 1 and I feel good, except for the nose. Any ideas? 

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  • sebaroni
    sebaroni Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2013

    FIVE DAYS!!! I will be sure to ask my suergeon about this. I don't think it is possible for me to go five days without a shower.

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  • Ukkate
    Ukkate Member Posts: 292
    edited May 2013

    When I had my port out in, they said I could shower the next morning!!! And I did

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  • lpc
    lpc Member Posts: 303
    edited May 2013

    Sebaroni I had to wait 5 days too. Was difficult think I lasted 4!



    Gully I haven't had any nose problems. Maybe a little. Vaseline would help

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