August 2013 Chemo Sisters

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  • Togetherness
    Togetherness Member Posts: 202
    edited August 2013

    Morning,



    Heading out this morning for my first chemo TC X 4 treatment. A bit anxious but ready to get it started and deal with what may come my way. Hoping for minimal to no side effects. Thanks for all the great posts on this board. They are very informative as well as comforting. Hugs to everyone!!

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  • BabyRuth
    BabyRuth Member Posts: 264
    edited August 2013

    Togetherness-hoping your treatment goes well today.  Update us when you get home. done.

    HVV-How are you feeling this week?

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  • peace777
    peace777 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2013

    Togetherness keep us posted. We'll be there with you.  All will go good

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  • jnprsn
    jnprsn Member Posts: 151
    edited August 2013

    Togetherness, the unknown is the hardest part.  I was extremely anxious before my first chemo.  Ask them to add Ativan to your fluids.  It relaxes you and is an anti-nausea too.  

    You will know much more after this one.  Then you will know what to expect for chemo #2.

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  • beeve
    beeve Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2013

    This is morning three after my first chemo.  I have a bit more nausea but started taking the ondansetron, the anti nausea med they told me to start taking three days after my first infusion.  Mostly I'm okay, which is mystifying, but I guess I am getting a bit tired.  I don't know.  I feel like chicken little, waiting for the sky to fall but it just isn't falling as I've been told.

    My husband has been great, the pets too.  Hope all continues as well as possible.

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  • carolpr56
    carolpr56 Member Posts: 241
    edited August 2013

    Good luck and blessings on all starting or just having had their 1st treatments!



    I need to know, though, will I be the only person walking in to their 1st tx with hair still on her head? Will I be subject to looks of pity or resentment from the others? I'll be shaving soon anyway, but should I just go ahead, lol?!

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  • Togetherness
    Togetherness Member Posts: 202
    edited August 2013

    Hi KellyJ, I did not have to have a port put in. So as long as my veins cooperate I should be good!! As far as the Neulasta shot I will have that tomorrow morning. I chose not to administer it myself or have hubby do so. When do you start your treatments? Hope all goes well for you?



    Teresa

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  • gavinsgrandma
    gavinsgrandma Member Posts: 407
    edited August 2013

    Good morning chemo sisters, I hope every one is having a good day so far, togetherness, good luck today with your 1st infusion, we are all here thinking about you😄

    Beeve, I am sending healing aides to you and I hope your nausea goes away quickly and that you begin to feel better real soon.

    Ggs66, hope you are feeling good today and not having any se.

    I am going today at 1:00 to the Salon I worked in when I retired and I too am getting a really short Pixie😄 I hope everyone has a great Friday and a nice weekend, peace and comfort for those already on Tx and peace for those of us starting next week.



    Shary🌞

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  • candi07
    candi07 Member Posts: 188
    edited August 2013

    Going wig shopping today, I'm all alone...there is no one to go with me :(

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  • gavinsgrandma
    gavinsgrandma Member Posts: 407
    edited August 2013

    I would go with you if I could, I specialized in Hair Color for 25 years, I loved it and color was my passion😄wish I could go help you, let us know what you get. BTY what is or was your natural hair color, eye color and skin tone?

    Shary🌞

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  • gavinsgrandma
    gavinsgrandma Member Posts: 407
    edited August 2013

    Oh yea and if you have any freckles are they golden brown or darker brown and look at your eyes, what color are the flecks around in the colored part, they will either be gold or grayish.

    Shary🌞

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  • Shalimar630
    Shalimar630 Member Posts: 100
    edited August 2013

    Carol, I also had a couple Norco last night. This morning I'm not feeling too bad (knock on wood). Just took a couple tylenol as I have to go to the dentist to get a release for treatment after my abscess. Hope yours feels better soon.

    I was lying down this morning with my icepack on when my 3-year-old gson was leaving. He asked me if I had been stung by a bee. That's what's on his mind right now with summer water play.

    I am also fortunate that I can work from home. I work remotely as a medical transciptionist. I know I don't had enough coverage to get through this, so I hope I will feel alright to work a fair amount of time.

    Gigi, we passed through Brattleboro a number of years ago when we were visiting Boston. We made a stop and I remember thinking how pretty it was. There was a park by the river (and I think a gazebo).

    Babyruth, sending good thoughts your way. Hope things start to happen soon!

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  • Togetherness
    Togetherness Member Posts: 202
    edited August 2013

    Hi all - just returned home from from my first treatment. Things went well not as scary as I had anticipated. Did have a reaction to the cytoxan mid way through. Started a terrible migraine so they slowed the drip down and gave me Tylenol. Great group of nurses here in FL. Now going to go rest and see if I can get this migraine to go away. Next treatment they will start it slow and give me meds before hand. This is a trial and error game.... Everyone is different!! I felt all of you there supporting me :).

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  • carolpr56
    carolpr56 Member Posts: 241
    edited August 2013

    Oh,

    Togetherness! I'm so encouraged by your post - thank you for making it!



    Here waiting for my chemo teach...

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  • peace777
    peace777 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2013

    Carol  Im sure everything is going well with you.  So much of a relief getting started.  Did you shave your head before todays treatment?  Sending good thoughts your way.

    Beeve  Knock on wood but I felt the same way you did.  Had SE but not too bad. As the week progressed I did have a little nausea and head aches, dry mouth   it does catch up, it just didnt seem bad.  It would be nice if this is how the rest of the treatments went  hmmmm we will see.  Day 11 today still  have my hair really hoping it stays, I might be in denial haha.  Keep us posted.  I did hear it gets worse after each dose not sure have to wait and see. Either was I'll make it through it just like everyone else here

    Togetherness glad to here your chemo went good today.  It feel so good to get the first day done.

    SmileCarol

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2013

    Hi all,

    I hope that you are all pulling thru. I found the first infusion to be tougher than expected but I am fine now.Ruthie, I am sending positive thoughts your way.

    Has anyone considered not using a wig or scarves? This is my second time around with bc and my hair was still not completely grown back (short/medium afro due to chemo curls) when I got it trimmed super short last week.  So, a wig is lost on the folks at work who've already seen me with super short hair or even with nearly mid-length hair. They know I have cancer and know that my hair is already very short. It only fools the people who I don't know or whom I haven't seen me who I care less about.  For me, the scarves are sort of bohemian and given me a hippy/bohemian/ethnic look that really clashes with my personal style.  I have a couple of hats and some chemo caps that friends tell me that they are knitting and so I hope that these will help fill in the gap but I am feeling at a loss.   Has anyoen else felt these things?  What eother options are there?  The cold caps are not proven yet as doctros suspect that they work by preventing the meds getting to your entire scalp and as this is a recurrence for me, I can't afford even one little cell getting away.

    It may sound funny but I am really upset about this.

    Thanks,

    V

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    Hi August Beautifuls!!!

    Today I had my first treatment.  T/C x4 every three weeks.  Everything went very well.  Drinking plenty of water.  For dinner I had spagetti + the last piece of fudge brownie with walnuts . . . Yum!  It's too humid in NJ to walk but it's in my plan for tomorrow.

    So far I feel the same; we'll have to see of the next week or so.  I'll keep you posted.

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    V,

    Do what makes you feel beautiful + comfortable.  When you feel confident, you'll feel better. 

    I'm opting for the wig . . . I pick it up on Saturday.  I AM creating a video + written diary so I won't cut my hair until it starts to shed.  My Onc said it should start to fall between weeks 2 + 3. 

    Has anyone kept their hair longer than 3 weeks?

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    Carol, you will not be the only one walking into your first treatment with hair.  I did not cut my hair yet.  I'm waiting for it to start shedding.  The doctor said it should be between weeks 2 + 3.

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    peace777,

    I touch and agree with you on keeping your hair.  God said He would give me the desires of my heart.  My strongest heart desire is to keep my hair, eyebrows, nose hairs + eyelashes.  However, not my will by Thine will be done.  Miracles happen every day!

    I don't deny the dis-ease either, but it was in my body illegally and had to go via bi-lateral Mastectomy (over lumpectomy).  When you clean the house, the enemy can return 7 times stronger!  I AM believing God that CHOOSING chemo will close the door to the enemy 4ever!!!  Amen 

    You are NOT battling cancer!  This battle is not yours, its the Lord's!  You're NOT fighting cancer either!  The only thing you are fight is the Good Fight of Faith!  Stand on the Word of God + do not waiver.  When you've done all you can do . . . Stand!  Thank God daily and Walk in Joy! 

    Don't look at your circumstances or situations; keep your heart, mind + eyes stayed on God!

    We are on the Potter's wheel + are forming our witness + testimony for God.

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    Did anyone take this pre-med cocktail?:

    Aloxi, Decadron, Benedryl + Pepcid AC

    ALOXI (palonosetron HCI) injection is an anti-nausea medication that may help prevent CINV when you take chemotherapy. ALOXI is given as a single injection, often given through the same intravenous (IV) line as your chemotherapy.     

    ALOXI can help prevent nausea and vomiting on the day of chemotherapy that is highly likely to cause nausea and vomiting and up to 5 days following chemotherapy that is moderately likely to cause nausea and vomiting.

    Dexamethasone is classified as a glucocorticosteroid, a drug that mimics the function of natural corticosteroid hormones regulated by the adrenal gland. Though the ways in which dexamethasone works to increase appetite and prevent nausea are undetermined, the anti-inflammatory properties of the drug alleviate swelling in the body by preventing white blood cells from reaching tumors. This medication is also prescribed to facilitate the programmed death of cancerous white blood cells. - See more at: http://www.healthguideinfo.com/other-cancers/p96238/#sthash.E5zOdDXb.dpuf

    I guess all the weight gain comes from the steriods!  More water, salads, fresh fruit + veggies for me.  Tonight was my last bowl of spagetti with meat sauce!

    Benedryl + Pepcid AC, I believe help to reduce the allergic reaction to the chemo drugs.

    My doctor prescribed a dosage of 2 pills the night before chemo and 1 pill the morning of.  Is anyone else taking this many steroids?

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  • JellyK
    JellyK Member Posts: 150
    edited August 2013

    V, I agree that what makes you feel comfortable and attractive is what will work.  If that's going bald, then work it :-)  Other options I've heard about is to get a wig but get one that looks completely different than you usually look, or a with hairstyle you've never dared to try - when else can you rock it with white blond or black, lol?  I would feel weird wearing a wig at work too - everyone there knows I have cancer so what am I hiding really.  Not having lost my hair yet though, I can't REALLY say what I will or won't do.  On one hand I'm looking forward to shaving off the time I usually have to spend forcing my hair to do one thing or another, but on the other hand my hair is a gigantic portion of my identity - that's why I can't get myself to cut it before treatment starts.

    It's not weird that it's really upsetting you - cancer freaking sucks on a cataclysmic level and there's no way our brains can process that level of suckage all at once.  I find myself focusing on "small" things with a ferocity I don't understand, until I realize it's all in there, all of the suckage, and my mind is allowing me to process it in chunks.  

    I'm glad so many ladies on here have their religion to lean on, it's a beautiful thing.  What gets me through is realizing that I can handle this happening to me more than I could handle it happening to one of my kids - if it was one of them I'd be BEGGING to take it from them onto myself.  So after I've allowed myself a proper pity party, I think of how grateful I am that this is happening to me and not them, and it pulls me through to the other side of my grief.

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  • carolpr56
    carolpr56 Member Posts: 241
    edited August 2013

    Ok, chemo teach made it seem less scary! They're telling me that with TC the hair can stay until after the 2nd treatment, but you'll be able to feel it when it's going... I don't feel strongly about losing it, as I always had a love/hate relationship,with my curly hair, lol! It's gonna continue to be bloody hot here in Texas until late October anyway, so I bet I'll even leave off the scarves at work after a while, lol! I intend to do my face and wear some pretty spectacular earrings, though ; )



    Jelly I like your chunky ferocity theory - I'm feeling the same way. My teens boyfriend just dumped her, and I felt like going for his throat!



    My pre-med cocktail, FMGdtr, will be ; decadron, aloxi and emend, and a little Ativan. Purrrrrfect... ; ) then scrips for more Ativan (guess they're not worried about a little benzo dependence in their cancer patients, lol), AND compazine (!) to be taken as needed for nausea, a steroid taken twice daily the 3 days following infusion (dexamethazone), l-glut amine or l-carnitine which might help prevent neuropathy (but are harmless).



    I will go back 1 week following infusion to have my WBC levels checked, THEN neulasta MIGHT be given following round 2. And Claritin if neulasta is necessary. Oh, and Emla for the port, to numb it.



    I'm anxious to get going...oh, and port hurts still. Norco, thank you...

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  • peace777
    peace777 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2013

    ForMyGrandaughter  So very well said!  Amen!  He has given me so much peace to get through this. His grace is enough.

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  • peace777
    peace777 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2013

    ForMyGrandaughter  I have to take 2 pils day before, 2 day of, and 2 day after (steriods)

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    Ladies (and gentlemen, if there are any),

    When I received my diagnosis in March 2013 I made a TLC Healing Bar of soap.  It is an all natural soap that is ultra conditioning + skin loving.  The made-by-hand soap contains EVOO, raw Shea Butter, fresh Avocado, raw goat's milk, Manuka honey plus other great ingredients; it's truly a luxurious + gourmet bar.

    This fragrance-free bar is geared to help soothe dry, itchy + dehydrated skin damaged from chemo + radiation.  While I did not join this forum to promote my products, I am interested in having a few people from this "August" group try my TLC bar for FREE.  I couldn't resist because we are my targeted market for this bar!!! 

    It won't be ready and posted to my website until the end of September.  If you are interested, please let me know via email @ opulence@jlexi.co.  In the meantime, check out my online store @ http://shop.jlexi.co.

    Blessings!

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  • Shannah75
    Shannah75 Member Posts: 19
    edited August 2013

    Hi V-

    I just had my first chemo on August 2nd, 2013, and it was nothing like I expected.  I left feeling ok-- just had a little tingling near my eyes and cheeks when the nurse sped up my drip, but I quickly let them know, and they slowed it back down.  I felt okay for the first two days... just a little wobbly in the legs periodically.  By day three, I had swelling in my ankles, hands and face... but they resolved the next day.  I did, also, starting with day three, have some extreme fatigue, body aches, and gas type pains in my stomach... similar to how you might feel with the flu.  This went on for days 3, 4, and part of five (that's today), when I ended up feeling much better, but then had what felt like a burning lump(heartburnish) in my chest, and diarrhea X2.  I'm feeling better than I have all week at the moment, and plan to go in to work tomorrow... it's just so "iffy"... I don't know if I'll feel the same in the morning or not.  I'm praying on it:)  I have had NO nausea... Sooo thankful for that... just not much of an appetite... Other than that, while it's been no picnic this week, I want to be here for my kids... so Round 2... here I come!

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  • carolpr56
    carolpr56 Member Posts: 241
    edited August 2013

    Awwwright, Shannah! Great! You didn't say (i don't think?) what your meds, are, but my NP told me today that days 3, 4 and 5 are the bad ones, then it perks up until the next treatment. Of course, we all react differently, she ALSO said ; )

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    Shannon,

    What pre-meds did you receive?

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  • ForMyGranddaughter
    ForMyGranddaughter Member Posts: 294
    edited August 2013

    My Onc ruled out taking many of my vitamins because they will interfere with therapy. 

    She advised me not to take:

    ~ B-Complex

    ~ Super C22

    ~ Omega Krill

    ~ MSM

    ~ Superfood 3 (sprulina, chlorella + blue gree algae)

    ~ Iconic Minerals

    ~ Calcium Bentonite Clay

    She told me to continue with:

    ~ Multi-Vitamin

    ~ Iron

    ~ Calcium + Vitamin D3

    ~ Acidophilus

    ~ Reishi Mushroom

    ~ Melatonin, as needed

    What herbs + vitamins are you taking? 

    Doctors stick to what they know.  In addition to doing my own research, I will speak to an Alternative Nurse Practitioner to see what herbs/vitamins they recommend.

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