April 2013 Chemo Group

Hi all!

Second treatment was by far much easier side effect wise than the first. Got thrush again- but diflucan helped. Having lots of muscle and joint pain from the taxotere. Had the nuelsta again and did get the bone pain but less than the first time. My MO gave me stronger pain meds. Seems like my hair isn't falling out anymore. My hubby buzzed it down to about 1/4 inch all around when it started coming out in clumps on day 17 post chemo # 1. I have hair with some bald patches. I don't know if it will start falling out again  later in the week.

Good luck to all of you that have rads or surgery coming up!! I have 2 more chemos then TE exchange and breast lift on the right sometime in the middle of sept....So greatful for these boards!!

Kerri

Jen, thanks for the rads update. I heard that eyelashes grow back fast. Didn't hear the same about eyebrows but they are easier to fake, I think.



Kerri, so glad that you are having an easier time with your second treatment. I guess once the first one happens, we know what to do.



Heather, I posted yesterday a link that should give you assurance that both your prosthesis and reconstruction are covered by insurance. I know that it is only a small blessing to you but one less thing to worry about. It is quite a financial hardship to be sick. Don't you wish you could lift all your worries off to someone else while you get well?



I also have acid reflux....but my dr has me take a Zantac morning and night starting the day of chemo for 5 days and that really helps get me over the hump. Then I take it only when needed which is probably once or twice. She also told me to have 5 small meals each day..not 3 . That's hard sometimes but when I do it I notice the difference.



Amy, how did your treatment go today. Hope all is well.



Hair check!

Legs....had to shave again this past weekend! WTH!

Head....I look like a little duckling...dh says I have baby hair.

Underarms...smooth

Down there...a scraggly Brazilian. It ain't pretty.

Arms....still have hair on my arms and lots of it.

Eyebrows.....thinning

Eyelashes....5 total lashes on the bottom and scattered on upper lid with blank spots. Mascara only highlights my weirdness

Stubborn whisker on my chin.....still gone. Yeah



Had treatment 5 today. experienced vein burn and they had to slow the taxotere down. When this is done, I probably won't have any good arm veins left.

Have noticed that the fatigue is lasting longer. I only have energy to work. When I get home, I put on my pjs and hop into bed. Sleeping a lot at night. My dh takes care of everything. Even Unmakes the bed and pulls the covers down. What a sweetie!

My eyes are tearing constantly and it is so annoying.



Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Good news - my onc said today was my 5th and final chemo.  She didn't see a reason to have #6 since my PET scan was so good.  She also agreed no rads so now moving onto Femara for 5+ years.  I forgot to ask when I would start but I have a Neulasta shot tomorrow so will find out. Wow I can hardly believe it.  I'm done with chemo and will pray every day that I never have to go through this again.

Kept 2/3 of my hair with cold caps so now, can hope the rest starts growing back.  

Good luck to my April sisters and hope you all get good news soon as well.

Yes Amy yesterday was your dah. I'm so happy for you. We all will say that its our day soon or later.

Heather,my eye lashes and eye brows are melting like butter. I think it suck!!! I got some fake ones but cant see to put them on. Plus i dont think they will look real any way.remember we are here to help you as much as we can. I hope your surgery goes well! My oncologist gave me omeprazole for my heart burn and acid reflux. I take it everyday and it works for me.

I had a muga scan Monday . I was very happy it was tbe same as 3 months ago.6cats I hope everything will be ok for you! Its seems like there is always something new goingon with us.

Was going to start taxol and herceptin today but my platelets was low so will have a blood test done again this morning to see if it went up. Whats another week!!! But we will see.

To everyone happy 4th!

Kerri - Thanks for sharing the YMCA info!  What a great program.  Unfortunately the closest one to me is about 200 miles away so I wob't be able to particiapte in that one but I'll ask my doctor or the ACS if there is anthing similar to that available in my area.

I go for treatment 6 of 8 today.  I'm still very fatigued, looking forward to a nice dose of steroids.  Hope everyone has a happy 4th.

Chemogate 7/4/13

Guest starring Wayne Rogers(Mash Vintage: Trapper John) as Dr. Gravy

Previously on Chemogate: Our heroine’s nagging back pain refused to go away…could it be something worse than strained muscles?

Pamela Kay’s long-awaited visit to the breast surgeon finally arrives, and she heads in with a list of questions aimed at focusing Dr. Smallnick’s razor-sharp intellect on the mysterious, lingering back pain. After a satisfactory breast exam, Pamela Kay blasts out her questions:

Dr. Smallnick, this back pain, it’s not going away…

Not unusual, sometimes it takes a while for back pain to resolve.

But, it gets better after the chemo treatments, then worse again…

 That wouldn’t be a sign of metastasized bone cancer.

What if….

“Don’t worry, be happy!”  Dr. Smallnick sings in conclusion. Pamela Kay resolves to take her advice, and try to focus on something other than her aching back.  This turns out to be an easy resolution to keep, as the next two A/C treatments wipe out all of our heroine’s energy, so she has absolutely none left over to fret about back aches.

Finishing her last A/C treatment under the auspices of Dr. J’s substitute MO, the Onco nurse reveals the true reason for Dr. J’s long absence: she is opening her own practice and will be switching her patients to a new infusion center operated by Dumbinagain Hospital.  At first shocked, Pamela Kay tries to take the change in stride, but is worried about all the possible cracks she could fall into during the transition.

Pamela Kay is launched into her first Taxol/Herceptin treatment by yet another colleague of Dr. J, her third MO since Dr. J’s “vacation,” and the last at her comfy, old infusion center. All goes well during the treatment on Tuesday.  On Wednesday, Pamela Kay arrives for her Neulasta shot feeling fit as a fiddle.  

On Thursday, Pamela Kay is hit by the Taxol truck. On Friday, since Dr. J’s new office won’t be open until the following Monday, she calls the old office to beg for some Vicodin.  She is told that Vicodin prescriptions must be dispensed in person, and that no doctors are there that day to do so. Our desperate heroine tears apart her medicine cupboard and finds a two-year-old prescription for Vicodin, with 6 precious capsules left.  Parceling them out one-by-one, she barely makes it through the weekend, clinging to the hope that on Monday she can obtain the precious script.

Bright and early Monday, Pamela calls Dr. J’s new office, describes her side effects: hit by a truck, muscle pain, nerve pain, and abdominal pain, and requests the Vicodin. Not so fast, comes the reply, first you must come in for a blood test.  The problem, it seems, is the abdominal pain, the source of which must be determined.

Willing to jump through just about any hoop, Pamela Kay arrives at the new infusion center, has her port accessed, gets the blood drawn, and hands over a urine sample. The results in: nothing that explains the mysterious abdominal pain. It is now 4 P.M., and Dr. J declares: "NO VICODIN FOR YOU! It could mask the pain and then we’ll never figure it out. You must visit the Emergency Room and get a CAT scan."

Beginning to wonder if a mere Vicodin script could be worth this much trouble, the ever obedient Pamela Kay trudges into Dumbinagain Hospital’s ER. Two nurses, one physician’s assistant, and one hour later, our heroine is taken to a room and told the ER doctor will be there shortly. Two more nurses, another urine sample, and one more hour later, Dr. Gravy arrives.

“Why are you here?”  he asks. For the fifth time, Pamela Kay tells her story: chemo + abdominal pain= CAT scan.  Dr. Gravy snaps back, “CAT scan? No need for that! Let’s start with an ultrasound.” Pamela Kay suggests that a simple prescription for Vicodin could solve all their problems, and is happily reassured that it will be forthcoming before she leaves.

One nurse, a lab assistant, a pharmacist, a hospital gown, and another hour later an orderly arrives and wheels Pamela Kay to radiology, where the ultrasound tech asks,  “Why is your bladder empty? I told ‘em to fill you up an hour ago!”

One empty-bladdered ultrasound, a ride back to the room, two promises of “the doctor will be in to see you soon”, three ice chips (“No water for you, just in case.”), preparation for a vaginal exam, and another hour later, Dr. Gravy arrives and announces that the ultrasound has yielded results: an ovarian cyst is the culprit. Nothing to be done for this but to follow up with an OB/GYN, and cancel the vaginal exam. Pamela Kay is doubtful, and after more discussion, Dr. Gravy decides that the vaginal exam is back on. But, too late, the nurse for the exam has been dismissed and must be summoned again. The doctor disappears. The nurse reappears and waits for the doctor. The doctor appears and asks where the wet mount is. The doctor and nurse both disappear. The nurse reappears with wet mount then disappears. The doctor reappears and asks where the nurse is. The doctor disappears. The doctor and the nurse reappear discussing how to do the wet mount. After some searching for tools and supplies, the vaginal exam finally proceeds.

Samples are taken, and the possibility of a yeast infection is discussed.  Pamela Kay dresses while waiting for the exam results, which she is assured, will only take half an hour.  It is now 8 o’clock. Pamela Kay has not eaten since breakfast and is exhausted from medical care. Having been assured, several times, that the Vicodin script will be given before she leaves, Pamela Kay resists the temptation to just walk out; after all, by this time the abdominal pain has dulled enough to be hardly noticeable. Our heroine girds her loins; she has waited this long, surely she can wait another half an hour?

An hour later, Pamela Kay leaves her room and finds the nurse, who assures her that the results should be in soon. Half an hour later the nurse comes in with two prescriptions, one an antibiotic, the other for a yeast infection, and none for Vicodin. Pamela Kay asks what the antibiotic is for. The nurse doesn’t know, and leaves to ask the doctor. Half an hour later, the nurse and doctor arrive. The doctor explains the antibiotic is in case the second test is positive, and even though the yeast test was negative, he is convinced by the looks of things she must have an infection anyway.

It is now after 10 pm, our hungry, disoriented heroine has been at the ER for over 6 hours, is wishing for a pair of ruby slippers and chanting under her breath, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home,” and is afraid that if she asks for the Vicodin prescription it could be another two hours before she can escape from the ER.  Figuring that no narcotic is worth that, Pamela Kay flees the ER, wondering how she got herself into this mess anyway.

The next day, still exhausted from her ER ordeal, Pamela Kay is on her way to another fill with Dr. D., to be followed by her Herceptin-only infusion at the new Center, when she gets a call from Dr. J’s office: Why hasn’t she come to her appointment this morning?  Pamela Kay replies, “What appointment?”  “Oops, guess we forgot to tell you…” After establishing that no appointment is possible until after her infusion, Pamela Kay agrees to see Dr. J at 4:30.

That afternoon, sore from another fill and the hard chair at the infusion center, our wiped-out heroine arrives at Dr. J’s office, seeing her for the first time in two months. Dr. J greets Pamela Kay with a question: “Why didn’t you get a CAT scan yesterday at the ER? Now we have to schedule one for Friday!” It seems Dr. J. is unconvinced that the cyst can have caused that much abdominal pain, and that all other possible reasons for it must be ruled out before chemo can proceed. Having obtained Pamela Kay’s promise to schedule the CAT scan for Friday, Dr. J relents and writes the Vicodin prescription.

As Pamela Kay leaves the office, she reflects on the trouble that can result from a mere desire for pain relief, and hopes that she will suffer enough pain from her next infusion to have made the trials of obtaining the Vicodin worthwhile.

Next on Chemogate:  Will the uncomfortable chairs at the new infusion center cause Pamela Kay’s back pain to reoccur? Will the CAT scan discover anything worth being dosed with radiation? Has Pamela Kay learned her lesson not to mention any pain that lasts less than a week?  Is discretion the better part of being a chemo patient? Find out next time on Chemogate!

Oh Pamela, what an ordeal!!! I hate ERs! And navigating things like this! I'm sorry for all you went through. I hope your CAT scan turns up clear. Glad you finally got the prescription. 

indenial -- seems like your doc should have thrown you a party or something! What a let down!

Hello ladies. Pamela Kay thanks for the funny twist on a not so funny situation. I guess that's how they keep people out of the emergency room! I also had a bad er experience...will opt for urgent care in the future.



Had 5th treatment on 7/2 and the side effects have not been bad. Thank the lord! My son and dil and sweet grandson will be here next weekend. At first I didnt know if I could handle it but god loves me and gave me mild ses this time. I so dearly love my family. My two sisters are going to come after my last treatment and before first rads. We always have so much fun in las vegas, but I suspect that I will be the slow one this time. Hopefully we can see a show and have a relaxing spa day.



It's nice living in las Vegas because everyone wants to visit...but it is hotter than hades.



I hope you all have a wonderful, side effect free week....no er visits, no fevers, pains, or stress.



Sandra

6cats, 

I've had the bad taste every time. I've tried sucking on ice during my Taxotere infusion but I don't think it helped any. Good news is that about a week after my treatment, it goes away. Hope it does for you too!

Thanks to all the comments for me - much appreciated! PamelaKay - thank you for the laughs, but we also feel for you - poor thing, I cannot imagine. They are throwing pain medication at me, more than I could ever want, LOL.

Surgery will be 7/22 and finding myself panicking. I am trying on a daily basis just to relax and keep things in perspective, which is GET RID OF THIS CANCER. I was upset with my surgeon, went in wanting all kind of answers about what the surgery will be like, and he was just too busy apparently. So now, I will have to call him and try to get my answers.

Hope you all had a good 4th of July, we went on a cruise around Newport Beach harbor with the Make-a Wish foundation for my daughter, who is pending a possible wish due to her own health condition. It was nice, but I keep going in the sun, and my Dr. keeps yelling at me to stay out of the sun! But I love it =(

AmyQ - CONGRATS to you and all who are wrapping up chemo. I have two Taxol left after surgery, but the other 2 were really not bad at all for me.

I am just dealing with these hot flashes and sweating terribly.

Hoping everyone has a good week!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Taste:  I see most of you are on a different set of cocktails.  I've had taxotere with my mix every 3 weeks all along.  Taste buds used to come back towards the end of the cycle, but #5 coming up Wednesday and they never came back this time.  Sometimes I can eat two or three bites of something before it tastes like 'caca'.  Also bad is the neuropathy.  4 toes dead on the right foot & 3 on the left along with the balls of my feet.  Fingers of right hand also mostly numb or tingling.  I can't even open a silly bottle of water.  Also neuropathy of lips & tongue never went away this time.

Last week my eyes started itching & burning & getting 'crusty'.  I'm guessing it's a taxotere SE?  Or maybe the carbo?  Anyone have a good suggestion for eye drops?

I feel fortunate that I've never had vomiting - but the Big D is like a colonoscopy prep for much of the 3 weeks every time.  So far I've lost 20-25 lbs.  My son's positive comment is - well Mom, you've been wanting to lose weight.  ha ha.

Off to do blood work then to see the MO.  Hope things are steady so I can go ahead with #5 on Wednesday.

Thank you Heather214 -- just signed up!

MinusTwo -- I switch between brands of eyedrops... seems to work better than a single brand...

Bad taste? Today is my second day... praying it will go away before chemo on Thursday.