September 2013 Chemo Group

Lighthouselady: BLAST! I was hoping I was on the way back up already (day 6) not still not at the bottom yet. They are doing labs tomorrow to see what my numbers are at so I guess I will find out then. I am not getting sick. Period. I just got back from taking my two littles in. They both have ear infections. Getting flu shots for all of them as soon as they have them (why do they never have enough?!) My oldest has cerebral palsy so we are top of the list with TWO immuniocompromised folks in our household. I can't wait to lose my hair and see the stares we attract when we go out lol. We will be stopping traffic! 

VintageGal: I am so sorry to hear that that things have changed for you, but at least they are getting right to it and not messing around. I think that was part of what scared me the most: how fast everything went. I just kept wanting to say STOP!!! and let me think for a minute! I had my sono/mammo/biopsy on August 12th and it was a nothing short of a flurry since. I can say I am glad to be done with all the testing and have a schedule of events to come. I think schedules help keep us sane in times of crises. 

Alfranco: lemon water is good to me! Make sure you drink drink drink! I am sure I was drinking 8-10 eight ounce glasses and still ended up dehydrated and needing IV fluids. I found that it really helps to have a straw too, for some reason. Just have that cup beside you at all times. I normally only drink room-temperature liquids (I know, I'm weird) but have found that I have to have it ice cold now. I think everything changes with chemo so you may have to experiment. Good luck and DRINK UP! 

Solnitsa: I was going to comment about Lovewins comment too lol. I can't wait for all this unwanted hair to take a hike lol. I am day 6 and haven't lost anything yet except it seems my arm hair might be thinning a bit. I can pull it out quite easily. Probably just my imagination. I have heard usually around 10-14 days? I hope mine hangs on until this weekend. I was going to shave it last weekend but I just couldn't do it! I am going to have my little cut it. Why not? It is something they will likely never, EVER be able to do again lol. They won't every forget it anyway

Take care everyone!

When times get tough, remember its times like these that teach us the most valuable lessons and helps us to grows



I still hate this and wish none of us had to be here- going to another dr appointment to learn about the portal b4 they put it in but I've learned so much from everyone here, hope everyone gets through the day with little or no SE

Good Morning Ladies,

I got my port put in yesterday and the procedure was a breeze although they had to stick me 3x to get an IV - the nurses were happy I was there for the port then!  Feeling crummy now but nothing too bad. 

Joining this conversation late but....I was recommended to fast (by a naturopathic doc who studies cancer not my onc).  At first, like many people I have told since, I thought it was nuts!  But I did a lot of research and it makes sense to me.  The research is still in the early stages and there is one randomized clinical trial going on now (but looks like open for lymphoma and leukemia).  One of the oncologists conducting research into this is Dr. Valter Longo.  He has published a few studies (that I have found), one on mice and one on a small non-randomized study of 10 cancer patients four of whom had BC.  I will include the link below but the main gist is that the fasting puts your body into keotosis during which your healthy cells go into a repair/slow mode.  The cancer cells cannot.  So when you get chemo drugs, not only are they more effective but your healthy cells are somewhat protected (less se).  I have no idea if this works or not but I feel like it is right for me.  I totally understand my family and friends who are shocked at first but the science does seem to support it and it won't hurt me (my onc is not happy but ok).  It is a water only fast - so don't worry I am drinking plenty of liquids.  I'll let you now how it goes.  If it doesn't help with the se then I won't be continuing but worth a shot.   

http://impactaging.com/papers/v1/n12/full/100114.html

Luckily my mom is here for the first treatment to help me out.  Very nervous about thursday but I know that the anticipation is the worst and I just need to put my head down and make it through this week. 

Sending good energy out to you all!  I am very thankful to have found this site and all the knowledge contained within! 

Josgirl let me know how it goes, my Oc shared the same thing with me and said I could try fasting. I don't start until the end of the month (Drs said I could go 8wks so I opted to wait so I could fly to OR to be in a cousin's wedding and let my husband have sinus surgery) NOW, Im losing my patience and wish I didn't think of everyone else and just started right away. Walking everyday is the biggest relieve for me right now.

love your quote mama stewart!

70charger...welcome...sorry you have to be here...but if you gotta be somewhere this is the best place to be to find comfort and sound advise.  I wish you the best outcome possible.

josgirl...good luck on your fasting...i can see where it may be very helpful.  Welcome to the club nobody wants to join...alot of wonderful ladies here who can help you along...i can't imagine if i never found this site how i would be doing.  wishing you the best.

Thanx ladies...back in the land of the living

Chemo at 130...vomiting at 6pm...hospital at 6am...12 hours x3 was way to much. One bag of fluid and a couple of nausea shots and back home again

So my oncologists theory that I would not be sick was way off...his plan for me that did not include iv nausea meds on demand has been amended to me receiving home care on demand and my care packages which include provision for both neupogen injections and iv meds has been couriered. And a prescription for wafer anti emetics filled and at the ready

And my hubby is down for the count lol

Hopefully tonight will be better.

And I hope you all had and have a better first 24 hours than I had

MamaStewart,

I know this question wasn't directed to me, but thought I'd answer anyway . My husband is a PS and yes, you can have implants with a DIEP flap. Most wont do it with the initial flap surgery because its too risky, but you can go back afterwards and add implants for added volume. Hope this helps!!



Shanon

posnegher2, heartburn is absolutely a SE - your entire digestive system is being attacked (the whole thing is full of rapidly dividing cells, which is what the chemo is targeting).  Try Pepsid, also avoid eating right before you lie down if you can.

Treatment #2 is complete, and I don't want to jinx anything, but I feel normal.  Last time I was sick even in the car on the way home, so I'm hopeful.  My sinuses started acting up even with the Adriamycin (the Cytoxan is known for it, but apparently I'm weird...like normal), so she gave me a sudafed and that cleared it right up.  I got a LOT of slaps on the wrist for not calling when I was nauseous last time, so this time I've promised to take more meds and call if I'm sick.  Something interesting I hadn't realized is that they give you 4-5 different types of nausea meds because each one tackles the problem from a different angle.  I had avoided taking any more meds because of all the ones they'd already given me, but apparently I shouldn't do that.  Also, nausea is like pain, it's hard to get control of once it's in full swing, so prevention is key.

The hair is going today, definitely.  The hair "down under" started shedding this morning, and by the time I was sitting in the doctor's office I was pulling 15-20 hairs out of my head every time I ran my hand through it.  So I'm still not happy about it, but it's time.  I'm having a buzz party tonight with my sisters and a close friend, and I'm going to let my 7 year old son have a turn with the clippers too :-)

My phrase for today: "When you can't control the wind, adjust your sails."

Diane, so glad to hear you're feeling better and that your docs are on top of it!

Mamastewart, I had labs on days 8 and 10 and all of my counts were up into the normal range by then, but I'm on 7 doses of neupogen (days 3-10), so that may have had an effect.  I also felt normal by day 8 too.  I'm thinking that the first 7 days are when I'm at my lowest.  But I didn't do labs during that time, so who knows.

For those counting the days to try and predict when their hair will go, to add to your chart I'm on day 15 and while I still technically have a full head of hair, it's starting to fall out as of this morning.  I did hear a story today about a woman on ACT who kept all of her hair through the AC portion (no cold caps), but it's a story ALL the nurses tell because it's so unusual - they teased the woman that she was supergluing her hair on :-)

Hello everyone, yesterday was Day 4 and it clearly was the WORST day. Part of what made it hard was not knowing how bad it might get and how long it might last. Also, I would start to feel better only to  become suddenly worst, this added to making the situation more difficult. The day began with me not feeling well, a little achy, no appetite, and when I tried to eat or drink I had abdominal cramping. Thankfully, I never became constipated or did I have diarrhea - I suppose I've managed to stay right in between by eating a high fiber diet, drinking lots of water and trying to walk every day. However, yesterday I struggled to drink, eat and move. I took two ibuprofen but I'm not really sure it helped. I was also nauseated but never threw up. My mouth is a little tender but no mouth sores, I'm implementing good dental hygiene and rinsing my mouth with baking soda and water. I was also aware of the tingling sensation throughout my body but it hasn't been too bad. It was hard getting through yesterday and when night came I did sleep better than I have since starting chemo, but I woke up almost every hour.

Today is Day 5 and it's better than yesterday. I am very sensitive to smells, and can't eat certain foods,
but the cramping is less, I feel less sick, but my motivation to do much is very low. I'm being more gentle on my body, eating only small amounts of food, resting more and trying to increase my fluid intake which went down yesterday. Today the tingling sensation seems to be gone. I'm REALLY hoping the worst part of the first treatment is gone. 

hi deb...well from my experience and I had tch I felt worse on my 3rd day and felt pretty good by 6th day.  Today is 7th and I think it is around this time I have to worry about catching something until day 10 or 14.  I hope the 3rd day was my worst.  Sounds like you did very good.  I had bad constipation, heartburn, diarrhea and one mouth sore...now I think it is a matter of building ourselves back up for round 2!  Hope you get some restful sleep tonight and feel better tomorrow.

JellyK - Yay for a good treatment today!  I'm two days behind you - my #2 will be Thursday (provided I get good counts tomorrow).  Good luck with the buzz party.  I had the same idea - if my cold caps don't work I'll let my kids participate and make it not such a horrible thing!

JellyK, Glad things went well today. I hope you continue to feel well. I hope the shaving party went well. Mine is next Wednesday...2 days before chemo starts because I know I will be so stressed waiting, it will make me physically sick. Guys at work are meeting me for a margarita and then we will all shave our heads...or do each others...we'll see..........

Hi there to us Ladies of the evening.  I had my long hair buzzed off on Sat. My daughter took a week to think about, she was honored that I asked her.  My MO today said she likes it better short.

So I went for my pre-chemo blood work..not!  I was told that was why I was there..but..it ended up being another consult.  As in you are good to go, here are some prescriptions.  See ya tomorrow.  Took the one at supper time, have had a ton of nauusea, hot cold chills.  Took my temp twice.  Took ativan around 9. And here I am. My stomach is starting to feel better.  I really think it was more nerves than anything.  After getting over shock one of you are not here for bloodwork.  When I got the scripts filled they said to take 2 pills, whereas the doc said one.  I stewed over that one through supper til I could get home & phone someone.  Only to find out the doc wanted 8mg tablets. It doesn't come 8mg so they gave me 4mg & told me to take 2.  Like they couldn't have told me that & saved me stressing out!!!  The stress from today has me exhausted.  Just needed to vent.  You all can relate.  Big hugs to everyone.