Chemo May 2013

Angie - I have been having the same issues all weekend, and am also on taxotere and cytoxan. It started Saturday evening, which was my day 4 after my first infusion. Had to take Imodium yesterday - just one did the trick for me, though, but perhaps because I didn't take it until late in the day and I didn't have much in my system at that point.



I am living on broth, toast and Popsicles at this point, and not much of any of them. It is sad, but I am almost afraid to eat anything because it has been so painful yesterday and today. But I know I have to eat, so I am making some rice pudding in my rice cooker, with coconut milk substituted for part of the regular milk. I thought maybe some comfort food would help, and I put in a bit of cinnamon to entice me to eat it. Still cooking, but the house smells wonderful...so I am hopeful I will at least get a little to stay in when I eat.



I was told that the SEs would be worst with my regimen days 5 through 12, and so far that is proving true for me. But I will survive this. If the rice pudding doesn't work, I will try a shake made from some Boost meal replacement and ice in the blender - at least it would be cold on my sore throat going down, anyway. Chemo...it's not for sissies, eh? UPDATE: rice pudding just finished cooking... yummmmmmmm. Will post my recipe if it actually stays in my belly well. Just had a tiny bowl - was afraid to have too much, but it was lovely just to have something cinnamony and warm and cozy to eat.

Hi All - Have just been lurking for awhile. Got my port put in last week and am just now feeling better from that. A/C starts tomorrow. I will go in there and "do it scared." My breast surgeon told me if I don't do it, I will get cancer again. I have to kill as many of the renegade cells that may be out there. I so want to back out.

Suzan

Thanks Gowiththeflow pickles were good. I also got some of that rice pudding someone was suggesting. Day 4 and still battleling a 101 fever ugh.....this did not happen first round. 

Elkatho - thanks for the useful information from your nutritionist consult. Appreciate it all very much.



As far as digestive challenges that some have been discussing, constipation has been really challenging for me, which in turn has kicked up the hemorrhoids, which in turn create painful bowel movements with bleeding. I take three over the counter stool softeners at night, and miralax in the morning, and dulcalax when I haven't gone for a couple days.



The past couple of days I've had a good size amount of raw veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots) and have incorporated some black beans too. Actually had a fairly regular BM today and think I need to incorporate more of that into the diet....



Of course, that is all for when we don't have violent diarrhea from our chemo....which I did have during days 2-4. But that did subside.......and went back to constipation which is more the status quo for me. Oh the joy.



Regbeach - I hope a path opens for you that you feel comfortable walking with your mother. I'm sorry that you and she have to deal with this. I am wondering if there is a geriatric consultant that you might be able to incorporate into your info gathering?



Sebaroni - I had my first AC treatment on 5/15. While it wasn't wonderful, it wasn't horrible either. I feel like "I can do it." Although as my second treatment approaches, I'm getting more anxious than I thought I would be.....we'll see what it brings.



I'm curious what everyone's MO days about drinking alcohol? I've not had much taste for wine but a beer here and there has tasted good when I got past my SEs.



Good evening to everyone. I hope we all have moments where we forget about what we are going through.....

I haven't asked about drinking but did have one drink Friday night. Cranberry for the bladder and vodka for the mind! I just figured 1 wasn't going to kill me.

Hell, if you're already pouring chemo into your body, what difference does a beer make?  

Now, with that said, I haven't had a drink since October, but I don't normally drink much anyway.  I do miss my iced coffees though.  used to drink them from morning til night, but now I might have one or two a week.  Just my one cup of hot coffee in the morning, then switch to lemonade or water or juice.

Lpc, I never saw the movie or read the book...and here I thought I was onto something! Lol

Thanks for the well wishes.



Gowiththeflow...no coffee either? You are all killing me! Was my head buried in the sand during instructions? Usually I am two cups hot coffee in the am, one hot coffee in the afternoon. i didn't really want it during week 1 chemo, so that was ok, though I did find an International delight Mocha "iced "coffee in the drink section of the grocery, and I made it in the blender with ice and boy that sucker was good. Just one a day for a few days. LOVED the flavor. Didn't touch it after week one. Wanted to save it for my "special occasion" (chemo).



Oh, an aside on how I came to buy the International Delight Mocha iced coffee. I went grocery shopping I guess day 2 or 3 of first treatment. You know how you look around to see what you want when you don't have a list? I came home with that iced coffee, a watermelon, cream cheese, a tub of mashed potatoes and a loaf of bread. Lol...that was for a family of five. Needless to say, I shouldn't be going food shopping without a list when it's week one of chemo!



Pat

💜❤my coffee. Just don't use sweet n low !!!

I asked about my wine consumption...... They said that as long as it doesn't contribute to nausea.... Have at it!

I love me some wine and have some most evenings..... Hasn't created any I'll effects.... However, everything in moderation is what they say. I'll tell you when my aches were so bad that oxycodone didn't help, the glass of wine about an hour before bed made the night bearable...

Sebaroni, sorry you have the jitters about chemo. You WILL be fine. Bring plenty to keep yourself occupied. I hope you have read the boards to see about side effects and what to have on hand. As well as what to bring with you to the treatment. If you haven't read the boards I will rummage through and post it all for you....there are some great tips to be had. Truly does make life easier. The women (and sometimes there are men) here are great. There is so much to learn AND so much support. You are not alone.

Pat

@mcgis-  Good luck with your treatment.  Sorry I have been off the radar for a few days.  Had chemo Thursday and it pretty much knocks me out for the first few days.  I have been super tired.  Have not had any diarrhea or constipation this time and the nausea seems better.  I take the herceptin with chemo so I don't know what the SE for that are alone.  Stay in touch, let me know how things are going.

@Itiswhatitis I just noticed where you live.  Me too!  Maybe we have some of the same docs.

For those following the story about the cheme decision for my mom.  First, thanks for reading and commenting.

This AM (Monday) I talked about chemo again with mom. She was adamant with no. Then, I said she would still have to do radiation and she said no- which made me question her ability to decide all over again.  Most of the day I was thinking we would cancel it.  Then, I talked to an old friend who basically thought the original plan of trying at least one treatment seemed like something everyone had agreed to and why not do that.  My brother and I talked to mom again.  She tends to listen to him- like, she won't do extra exercises at home for me most of the time but will always do it for him. It's either his deep voice, or she's just tired of me telling her to do things all the time (take your medicine, move your foot, etc).

Anyway, with both of us there, she agreed to do it.  Oddly, this time, she cried, which of course made me question all over again.  It seems no matter the decision the opposite one always seems better!  I say oddly- because the neurologists told us her personality and emotions would be affected by the stroke.  One specifically said she would never cry again.  She has laughed, she has been annoyed but through all of rehab and breast cancer news never one tear until today.  Maybe the situation finally sunk in, maybe her decision this time even with tears was made with a different clarity, a realization that chemo as bad as it might be, might be a good choice.   Or maybe she just couldn't take us bringing it up again and is doing it because my brother said the drs. and us think it is a good idea to try.

Either way, it doesn't feel "better", it just feels surreal.   Of course, I googled one more thing and read horrible stories of side effects- numbness in feet, blah, blah.  And read that the steriod has a moderate interaction with her anti-coagulant- trying to tell myself that it is just for 3 days. 

She is always tired when she goes to bed (silly, aren't we all), plus she takes her more of her anti-seizure med at night which might add to it.  Those are the moments when I think- My God, I hope she can still walk on the "fatigue days" and that there aren't more than a few in a row.  I thought her agreeing would feel better.  In the AM, I first felt bad (like wrong decision) when she was saying no, then I felt sort of relief that we wouldn't be dealing with chemo.  Then after talking to my friend, I felt like chemo was right again, then mom's tears...

Steroid in the AM and IV line in the afternoon. 

Itiswhatitis - I have Dr Tiffany, but had seen Orlowski for my brca testing. (I liked him) I work at the hospital and knew them before all of this.

A bit nervous.... I had blood drawn 11 days after first treatment, now they want to draw again tomorrow & then the day of my next treatment in 3 days! Doc said things looked good other than being a bit anemic last time..... Why 2 more if I was good? Ugh

Maybe the nerves are creeping in about this weeks cocktail.....

Arya and Carla - welcome, and good luck! You will make it through - we are all with you. I'm headed to chemo cocktail #2 tomorrow, now with my new arm port. Hopefully it will work well, other than still being slightly sore. Got to shower again this morning after a few days of not being able to get the area wet - halleluia! I always hate peeling back the bandages to see the "surprise" underneath. I'm not that bruised so that was a nice surprise this morning.

Hugs to everyone going through temperatures and SEs today. I realize today is as good as it gets for the next week. Sigh. 

I'm interested to see what my blood count levels will be tomorrow before chemo. Not worried about the WBC since I'm on neulasta, but I find the fluctuations fascinating. Will be interesting to see what chemo does to all the different levels in our blood.

Certain hairs are starting to fall out now - if I remember correctly, the "you know you're a cancer patient when" stated it best - when you use the restroom and notice a squirrel has exploded in your undergarments. HA! Not quite there yet, but the image makes me giggle every time.