Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Options
1…3839414344…57

Comments

  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited August 2013

    I've been using brianjosephs from the beginning and haven't lost any brows or lashes yet. Haven't started Taxol yet tho...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sharon1953-
    sharon1953- Member Posts: 36
    edited August 2013

    I have had 4 treatments and I still have lots of hair!!! I am very concernced over this.  It makes me wonder if it's not killing the good cells is is getting the bad ones.  It has thinned a lot, and still have eyelashes and brows.  Has this happened to anyone else? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited August 2013

    My eyebrows thinned a little bit.  Been 2 months since finishing with chemo, and just now losing my eyelashes.  I still have about half of them.  Probably would have lost all of them if not using Brian Josephs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angstapp
    Angstapp Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2013

    Yeah I thought as much :(

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angstapp
    Angstapp Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2013

    Netter - what is Brian Jospeh's?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited August 2013

    Going in for my first taxol today....not looking forward to finding out how my body reacts to this new poison!!!! Was happy to find out my muga heart test showed no changes due to AC.... Not sure if I get herceptin today too or if they start one at a time! It's been so good to feel good all weekend....the only thing in my nails,fingers and hands hurt!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited August 2013

    It is a liquid put on the roots of eyebrows and eyelashes.  Developed for ladies on chemo to keep eyebrows and eyelashes.  Looks a little expensive but I have been using everyday since the end of May and still have about 1/4 of tube left.  Still using it and will till gone.  http://brianjosephs.com/cgi-bin/Agora/agora.cgi?cart_id=&product=PersonalCare

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kayezzy66
    kayezzy66 Member Posts: 116
    edited August 2013

    Please tell me this will be over,soon...had my last chemo 4,last tues.and ive been so sick,with them all.My white blood cells take about 7 days to work,and i feel myself crashing,and next will be taxol...on the 10th of Sept.Please god let this be better,or not as bad as that dern poison...thanks

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited August 2013

    Ok weird question. Has anyone noticed the skin in their armpits turning brown? My armpits are noticeably darker than they used to be. Ugh! So weird! I can't wait to be normal again!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • raindeer1217
    raindeer1217 Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2013

    Pain pain pain. Felt good this am, made most of the work day. Then crashed around 2:30. Pain level high, disoriented and just feeling down and lonely.



    Moved into a duplex this past weekend. its an adjustment feeling secluded sick and lonely and lastly a bit sorry for myself. Pitty party at my place tonight!!!



    2 nd taxol down, eye brows almost gone too. Boo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OceanWarrior
    OceanWarrior Member Posts: 96
    edited August 2013

    Not enjoying this.  Everything feeling weird especially my skin on my face, my hands, my feet, down there.  Eyelashes very sparse, eyebrows mostly gone.  Exhausted!!  High pain levels (change in weather? RA back now that AC done?, Taxol?).  Rain, crashing your pity party and bringing tissues.  I know, I should have my spirits up, 2 more to go, I can do this etc.  Just hard you know..... and I know you do.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2013

    Annika12 - I found Taxol to be SO much easier than AC - it was a huge relief for me.  I definitely had pain but I was straight up with my oncs and told them I didn't plan to do pain - give me meds!  And I have them.  Hydrocodone during the day and oxycodone at night.  And they had me add Aleve morning and night.  I took them pretty steadily for 4 days, then just oxycodone at night for a few more days. 

    Rain - don't hurt!  Ask for something to get on top of that.  The oncs don't want you to be miserable and you really shouldn't be!  Besides - pity parties are more fun if there's drugs involved - I'm coming too cuz I go for round 2 of Taxol in the morning and even though it was easier - I'm NOT looking forward to it.  Wish we really could all sit together and give each other encouragement. 

    My fingernails hurt too!  And they're turning very brown.  Add that ugliness to being hairless.  sigh . . . ready for normalcy too.  Tired of the pitiful looks.

    I'm still taking L-Glutamine and I got my vitamin B shot today so I guess I'm as ready as I'm gonna get but I so dread it that I've had a headache all day.

    Keep hanging on everybody - we're nearing the end.  But don't everybody leave when you start radiation - we need to stick together!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NisaVilla
    NisaVilla Member Posts: 574
    edited August 2013

    I had my last infusion today - hooray! It had to be a reduced dose because of neuropathy - darn taxotere! Has anyone had this happened to their regimen?



    Hope everyone is well as we get closer to the end of chemo!



    Thanks, Nisa

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited August 2013

    I had taxol and herceptin yesterday with two anti neausa meds, 3extra strength tylenol and benadryl!! I told them it was too much for me but took em all. Got so dizzy and yucki feeling ...made me pretty much pass out....slept for both infusions, the hour ride home and the rest of the day and all night. Still feeling good just hoping fir no pain.... when do they start??? I dont do well on pain meds...hoping motrin will do!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited August 2013

    Good morning ladies had a great feel good weekend taxol #3 Thursday so cant take anymore I feel like a child stamping my feet crying saying I don't want to do this anymore. I have half my eyelashes on top all on bottom gone and my eye brows are thinning rapidly. When". Will my hair come back...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2013

    Sitting in the chair, sleeping on benedryl and Ativan. When I wake up I'm almost done.. Finising up to go home



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Angstapp
    Angstapp Member Posts: 121
    edited August 2013

    Gosh it helps so much to see so many women going through the same thing!  Your all amazing women and so so brave, I'm dreading next wednesday when I have Tax number 2, hoping the week drags on!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2013

    I know what you mean Dlm!  I'm stomping my  feet and screaming "NO" also.  Maybe the 'stop, drop, and flop' would be more effective.  My daughter tried it a lot when she was little.  Made it through Taxol #2 this morning but was pretty drugged up as you can tell by my earlier post.  I had my husband drop me off, a friend pick me up, my neighbor got my youngest kid from school and my daughter will catch a ride home from a friend.  It's not just chemo, it's logistics!

    I'm pretty whoozy, tired.  Annika12 I started having pain on Thursday evening after my Tuesday infusion.  It was manageable with just a mild pain killer.  I took Percocett to sleep but preferred to function during the day.  And the Aleve helps as well.  I think Dlm got away with just using Tylenol.  I hope it doesn't hit you hard!  I didn't do Herceptin.

    Congratulations NisaVilla!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited August 2013

    Annika I did use tylenol no other meds. Ok I have bugs bites in my arms and legs and face. Had anyone heard of drinking a teaspoon apple cider vinegar a day to ward off heartburn and its very good to change body from acidity to alkaline which cancer likes to live in an acidity environment. Well I'm giving it a try. It had to be organic apple cider vinegar

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited August 2013

    Another day to feel good :) what sucks is it's Labor day weekend last weekend and I know I'm going to be sick

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Robin-Lynn
    Robin-Lynn Member Posts: 32
    edited August 2013

    Rain and Ocean (cool names by the way) I'm coming to the pity party! I had half the Neulasta shot with my second Taxol last Tuesday and the pain was no less, pretty much taking Vicodin round-the-clock for four days. Ocean, my joint pains flared up for two days as well and I freaked because I thought well here comes the RA back now that Cytoxan is done.

    Right on schedule I felt miserable and weepy and had "I'm not doing this anymore" mindset! But right on schedule I begin to feel better and now feel okay so I remind myself I'll get through and the end is in sight! I think there should be an island where we all go and suffer and support each other together…

    Starting to have neuropathy in fingers and toes and eyebrows are thinning; also dealing with restless leg syndrome at night.

    Thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Wouldn't it be great if we could have one big end of chemo party!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rachel22
    rachel22 Member Posts: 54
    edited August 2013

    Hi all - big hugs to everyone experiencing pain. These side effects are so crazy. I too have lost most of my eyelashes but still have my brows for now. Also is anyone noticing their head hair slowly growing back? I think mine is but it could be wishful thinking.



    I am with you all - can't wait to just feel normal again!



    Are any others doing weekly Taxol over 12 weeks?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NisaVilla
    NisaVilla Member Posts: 574
    edited August 2013

    Robin-Lynn - coming to the party too. I completely agree with the post-chemo island concept. I finished my chemo Monday which had to be on a reduced dosage because my neuropathy has reached a worrisome point. I had my Neulasta yesterday, tons of Decadron daily, and predictively I will be getting sick from tomorrow through the weekend. How great it would be to have an end of chemo party. I am in SoCal, where are you? Feel better!



    KatiAK - Congrats on being so much closer to leaving this bear behind. We still have the weekend to contend with. I chose chemo on Mondays predicting I would be well by Fridays...wrong! I am well the first 3 days post- chemo, and once Decadron is gone, the SE-tsunami comes in. Wish you well with yours. Keep posting if feeling lousy, and I will be here to commiserate.



    Dim425 - I too will be sick over the weekend. Keep posting or PM and we can support each other. I can't remember if you are now done? Yes, the alkaline and acidity thing seems to be well-documented but I just learned about recently. Youtube has examples of how to make this very simple home remedy - although the water supply in your area should be "alkaline enough."



    Rain - I am in Solcal and wish I lived closer to you to help out with unpacking and sharing our current pains. Keeping posting or PM if bored, lonely, or in pain... I will respond. Great we have this forum though!



    Dyvgrl - Thank you for responding to my PM question on "mets." Yesterday I asked my doc about her opinion on compromised nodes as "mets." She said that the thinking makes sense because what is found in nodes is cells of the primary tumors but that in general "mets" refers to same-breast cells found in tumors in bones, brain, live and lungs which are the typical places where breast cancer mets are found. I also learned that she has a patient with cancer mets in her bones who has been in Stage IV for 11 years and doing great...how awesome is that?!



    Health to all, Nisa

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OceanWarrior
    OceanWarrior Member Posts: 96
    edited August 2013

    Hi everyone,

    Well blood work today then it's # 7 of 8 for this chemo girl.  Been fighting with the 'make this stop, I want to get off of this ride' feelings.  Just all gets to be too much and taking such a toll.  However and I NEVER thought I would say this...I'm looking forward to treatment tomorrow.  Bring back the energy boost from the steroids and the happy mood.  Now that we have the med cocktail figured out, I'll be feeling good, better than I am now.

    About this plan of getting together on an Island to celebrate the completion of our chemo journey.  That would be such an empowering and wonderful experience.  And you know what.... I live on an Island and I have room to host a whole bunch of you!  I am serious - not kidding about this.  Even told hubby about it this morning and got the green light.  So if some well earned and much needed camaraderie and celebration is something you can see yourself doing, a couple of nights away on the West Coast of Canada on Vancouver Island think about it and we can make it happen.  You would enjoy an ocean view, guest accommodation, outdoor hot tub and I'd cook for y'all and love every minute of it.  Just make your way to Seattle, WA then take a ferry to Victoria and I'll pick you up.  That easy.  Who's in and when shall I expect you? Laughing

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NisaVilla
    NisaVilla Member Posts: 574
    edited August 2013

    Ocean - one of my kids was in BC in June attending a Young Life "retreat" if you can imagine a retreat for 300 boys and girls who are about 17 years old, LoL. He said it was gorgeous! Thank you for offering. I want to say "I am in" but contingent on date - have final reconstructive surgery coming as well as travel, plus working with patients which requires arranging for coverage and stuff. A weekend would be ideal! Lets hear from others. If the numbers go big, I can volunteer arranging for group rate at a hotel nearby. An "island of support" feels so cozy though - movie material!



    Good luck tomorrow with 7 of 8. I too couldn't believe myself yesterday saying that I was looking forward to my last treatment. I felt a little naked when leaving however... It was like "who will watch me closely now?" But I will adjust and move on. What I want the most is my hair back...but see absolutely no signs of it.



    Thank you. Nisa

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited August 2013

    Oh ocean Im in for sure we need to make a plan as to the how and when. I would love to be around everyone who is going through the same. Or I live on Long island and we could rent a house next summer In Fire Island....In the Month of June

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited August 2013

    Ocean how many treatments did you have

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • OceanWarrior
    OceanWarrior Member Posts: 96
    edited August 2013

    My treatment protocol was dose dense 4 AC and 4 Taxol for a total of 8 treatments, all two weeks apart.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2013

    Ocean -If I can swing it, I would LOVE a weekend getaway!  Was thinking the other day how wonderful it would be for all of us to be able to reward ourselves for being so strong!  And what better way than all together?

    I wanted to mention that I had to have potasium added to my cocktail yesterday because I was so low - kinda scarey.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I eat a lot of fruit.  I wonder if potasium level plays into the muscle pain of Taxol?  Am I totally on my own with this one?

    And yes . . . in for a painful Labor Day weekend.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited August 2013

    Hi ladies-

    Ocean, I'm totally down with a get together!

    Went to see my Naturopathic onc today and he suggested B complex and glutamine for neuropathy, and Eupatorium and curapro for bone pain. He also wants me taking CoQ10 for my heart and melatonin to aid with sleep and to protect my brain during radiation. Might try some of these things if you are having SE's. I have round four AC tomorrow, praying for no SE's. will be glad to have the Red Devil behind me. 12 Taxol coming up next...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories