Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Maureenb- I'm almost 11 months PFC after having 6 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere.  Yes, my hair has grown back and fortunately, grown back evenly and a little wavy.  It is now about 3 1/2 inches long with a little more grey than before.  I lost most of my hair and had a very sparse veil of hair at the end of my chemo.  My hair started to come back after the 4th round of chemo; but the next round of chemo would take it out again.  I used to rub my head a lot because I found it was very comforting.  My head felt like a velveteen rabbit stuffed animal--- soft and downy.  I was glad to know that my hair follicles were trying to come back since they let me know that my hair would one day return.   The interesting thing is that when we were very little kids, we never focused or thought about our hair.  We would just get up every morning, someone would fix our hair and we just went on our merry way.   I know what you gals are going through with the hair.  No matter what, you are all beautiful everyday!!!!

Patty, thanks for the response.. pee factor is also an issue during the chemo--I have always been able to hold for long periods but once I let go and go..its an every five minute occurance.. so the up and down with the paraphanalia is a pain,BUT doable (:

I had a major headache all night last night-(still have a dull ache this morning) when it was over I had taken six tylenol-I started the treatment with a mild headache as it were, I blamed stress for it- as the day wore on though it didn't go away-- and only continued to worsen as the evening progressed.. so not sure if maybe the chemo the chemo did attribute to some of it-I call my oncolgy nurse in a bit to report in and I will memtion it to her- I know it is one of the milder side effects of chemo-- and belive me I am not complaiing..I know I am fortunate as it could be much worse......

@maureenb, I am sorry to hear you had sucn a difficult first treatment ):I am also getting taxotere and read the same thing as you about permanent hair loss. I posed the same question elsewhere on this board, problem is I don't know where or if it was ever addressed.. but it scares the watts out of me.. I don't mind losing but I want it all restored once this war is over.. not sure that is doable though.. Did you have a Pet Scan? Mine,thankfully showed no new tumors, so we are agressively going after the cells that are trying to work their magic.  I am sorry you are having such a diffcult time.. try to remember to drink lot of water to get all the toxins out of your body- flush, flush, someplace here patty has a list of good guidelinse to follow for getting through this- maybe ask her where it is so you can make a copy to have with you...I hope you feel better today and even more bettr each day following.. keep the fiath and try to just take one day at time.. God Bless.....

I really thought I was ready......now the day before my first A/C I feel the panic coming crawling , feels like someone is sitting on my chest !!! Running around like a mad woman making my kids clean the house,plant flowers, do laundry and grocery shop !! Taking them swimming in a bit then dinner, dog walk and horse visit . Haven't touched the xanax I got first week of diagnosis but I just might tonight and tomorrow . Having the first round in the hospital but visited there the other day and they were all so very nice !!! Hope everyone is having a good day

sarajaneevans- Your post just made me laugh.  Hopefully as your hair takes a vacation, you will be able to hold that head of yours high, no matter the amount of hair on your head.  At this point, i keep getting asked if I'm going to cut my hair and keep it super short.  Now mind you, it is short now.  I had waist length hair at the time of diagnosis in Feb. 2o12.  I think the questions about whether I'm going to keep it super short rather amusing and funny.  I'm trying to continue my hair science experiment that I started in May 2012.  Right before my 2nd chemo, I cut my hair super super boy cut short and never have trimmed it or cut it since then.  I just wanted to see what the chemo would do to my hair and see if the chemo would take it all.  Now I'm on the other part of my experiment to see what my hair follicles do post chemo and to see how much time it takes to grow my hair to the tops of my shoulders.  No matter what, it's all good....

You are all in my prayers. I am 12 months PFC. My hair is curly, but its back. It didn't really fall out until after my 2 tx. I will repeat, Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Especially after the third day after tx, when the steroids wore off. That was when I felt the least like drinking. Especially if you get diarrhea, like a few of us did. Constipation was the norm. You will get through this and the friendships on this thread help you know you are not alone. You will get through this. Small and few SEs, and Much Love.

Chemo tomorrow yuck round 2!

Kmurphy: my hospital gave me a free wig, the American Cancer Society does, and also, if you have insurance, your doctor can write you a prescription for a wig up to $500 (at least that is how much my insurance will pay, Anthem Healthkeepers). Best of luck getting wigs.

I think I might like the scarves I have.

Invite your friends over for a scarf swap. That way you can have new scarves. OR, maybe a friend can send you some, if you private message them your information. (wink, wink) {{{{{{Group Hugs}}}}}}

SN:The wigs from the ACS are always new.

2nd round is finished!!!!!  I am feeling good!!!!  Drinking lots of water.  I asked my nurse about taxotere and permanent hair loss.  She had not heard of it happening to anyone.  She said if you have to have radiation on your brain that it would be permanent hair loss because it kills the follicles.  That is all that she had heard about.  I was given a patch to put behind my ear and phenegran, hopefully it will make a difference this time.  Will know in 2 days...................

Hi everyone,

Good luck Netter, Dlm, Dyvgirl, Annika, and anyone I've missed. Thanks Moonflwr and Melrose, always nice to hear your encouragement from post chemo land...

Am on day 3 post chemo 2, feeling good so far.. Forgot to take steroid until late last night so was awake until 1.... Have done that both times now...

Feel a bit cold/flu like this morn..

No neausea or really bad se's at all this time. Spent yesterday out in sun all day feeling fine...

now...Wondering if they put enough in.. I had lost weight at first weigh in, then put on about 3 kgs after first chemo so maybe I should have pointed that out.. I think they stick to/keep dosage from first one...

Oh well...

Maureen; feel for you... look on it as insurance....And it will be over in a relatively short time.. Chemo isn't the easy route that's for sure, was looking mournfully at pic of me with hair yesterday...And was looking at all my bottles of hair care products with a wry smile...

Anyone doing the cold caps here??

Every round over is another one done anyway. I asked my onc if I could do the TC every 2 weeks instead of three. Want it over... Too hard on the body he said...

Another month of this seems better than six weeks.

Take care everyone, hope all goes well.. As to permanent hair loss, don't want to even contemplate.. I'd be getting the worlds most expensive wig I guess and getting on with it I guess. More to life than hair!!!

Oh, the only thing I did differently this time was drink about a gallon of orange Gatorade the first night: not sure if that helped but really compared to first one this one was a walk/rollerblade in the park!!!!!!

So far anyway..fingers crossed... inga x

New here am a man with breast cancer going thru chemo 1st was the 12th next on the 3rd. Also have had back pain but only after 4ish every day The week after the first treatment was lots of pain all over. Heard Claritin helps any one try that?

Round 2 tomorrow 😁😁😁 hoping for no NAUSEA I can handle the rest!!

Jorman, sorry you join the ranks of those with breast cancer. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was surprised to learn that men get breast cancer too.



Claritan 24 has worked for me to ward off bone pain associated with the Neulasta shot. I take it the morning of my Neulasta shot and one each morning for the next 7 days.

My oncologist never heard of this. She indicated that there was a SMALL chance of bone pain and that it "isn't that bad". I would prefer to ward it off if possible. When I go for Neulasta shot the nurse said I am the ONLY patient she has that can tolerate the full shot.



If you did have the Nuelasta shot they can lower the dosage the next time around if you had the associated bone pain....you can still ask about using the Claritan 24.

Pat

Jorman Welcome!

We are on the same treatment. I got my 1st round on the 20th and the next on July 11th! I took Claritin and had very minimal joint pain. Walking around helps! If you go to earlier pages, MelroseMelrose posted great tips that I printed and used most every tip! (Thanks Melrose!!!!!!) VERY helpful. Best wishes on no side effects, and once again, {{{{{{Group Hugs}}}}}}

Sorry for anyone joining in it Sucks but it is all doable!!! Chemo is very hard on our body and we have to stay on top of the se so keep taking them Clariton,zofran,ativan.,compazine.,decardron and anything else try weed too helps so much with nausea...Round 2 today. Where is ocean and rain have not heard from them in days hope all is ok. Be well be strong. Xoxo