September 2013 Chemo Group

Good morning all, I am at Sierra Nevada Cancer Center getting my 3rd A/C infusion, yea this will be 3 down 1 to go. After my 1st infusion my shingles flaired up really bad but I have been on a high dose of anti virals and no flair up with 2nd infusion, I took Claritin with 2nd Neulasta shot and it seemed to help bone pain some. My WBC'S dropped both times so I have taken an antibiotic with each round and Dr said to start taking it again in 7 days as my WBC will probably drop agin😛On constipation Mirilax really does work great, I put some in my gatorade today and will take it everyday for at least a week. I hope everyone having or had treatment this week will be blessed with minimal SE'S and peace of mind, body and spiriy😄



Hug's Shary

Hi all! I'm another from the August group looking in and hoping to share. Just reading a couple of pages and I have seen new things and strategies to help us all get through these tough times. 

I have completed 3 treatments of TC with 3 to go. I also get Neupagen shots for a week after to help with WBC. This last treatment the most notable SE is nausea/stomach issues.

One thing I have noticed this month is that I have not had a period. For years I have had them like clockwork about every 25 days. They say this can bring on menopause, but I am only 43. My mom didn't go through it until almost in her 50s. My sister had a baby earlier this year at 41. It may be nothing. I guess it's just another thing to deal with in this thing called cancer treatment.

Welcome Breezy! I lurked forever before I got brave enough to post. I have 4 kids, but they are a little older 9,11,14&15(almost 16, yikes!) sometimes I think the older they get the more work they are! You have your hands full though. I agree, take all the help you can get. That was hard for me,but I am learning!



Keep a daily journal with your first treatment. That way you can kind of predict the worst days and know when you will need help most the next time. Best of luck and good wishes for you

Breezy - fatigue is different for everyone. I went in thinking only need 3 days off work of for each cycle (I'm at a computer desk job. But I soon found I didn't have the energy or brain power to do my job effectively. I had to take disability & that is really hard for me to admit. In round 1, I about 5 almost normal days out of 21. There are other ladies on the same regimine who've had similar experience, so it may have to do with the chemo specifics.



Try to take it easy on yourself & get as much help as possible. Setup a Meal Train ( http://www.mealtrain.com ) or Take Them a Meal ( http://www.takethemameal.com ) & email to everyone you know so they can bring you & your family dinner ever night. It's is a lifesaver. It's customizable & private & works brilliantly.

Wow I'm tired. But I've just spent a lot of time walking in our new Wegmans. Here I am infusion 3 and a very different side effect - diarrhea which is odd since I went to other way. I'm about to have Powerade Zero for the electrolytes. Any other suggestions? Thought I'd have a banana too.



Batcatlady

BreezyH, the biggest thing you'll be up against is mental fatigue, honestly.  Just like after the surgery, there will be days you can't do everything you want to be able to do, and your little one will be asking you to play with him/her, asking for a book, asking for a glass of milk...and you just can't.  If it's an option, plan on having help available for the entire first cycle, then see how you do.  For me it was the first 5-7 days that I needed a lot of help, then things got back to normal and while I didn't feel 100%, I could at least function and take care of my kids' needs.  But the BIGGEST hurdle was my frustration with myself at not being able to do everything.  Be patient during those times, and patient with yourself for being frustrated.  Try and break tasks into small pieces - if you would normally clear the dishes, wipe down the table and wash the dishes in the sink (with all of those interruptions like changing a diaper, answering the phone and empying the dishwasher to make room for the dirty dishes), try just clearing the dishes and then taking a rest.  If you get interrupted with a task that takes a little out of you, rest before you get back to the original task, and let that be okay.  For at least the first week after treatment, things aren't going to get done - the kids may get fewer baths, the dishes may pile up a bit, you'll be wearing slippers everywhere because vacuuming is too much.  But once you get a little energy back you can catch up - or if you're lucky enough to have help you can lean on that person :-)

That's my 2 cents after 2 treatments with 2 kids :-P

lighthouselady- No I am not using the cold caps! I researced them and wanted to, but didn't go through with it. My hair is thinning and definitly shedding but I manage it my conditioning really good and leaving in a bun ponytail (i had shoulderlength hair to start) I am sure it wont last but I am thrilled I have gotten this far into treatment and still look the same/ I hear the anticipation is the worst, and I am starting to sleep less sound, worrying about moving around to much and losing my hair.  The way I keep looking at it, is the faster it comes out the quicker to grow back. I have beautiful youthful wig with awesome highlights ready for when I need it.  I am sure I wont be the 1 in a million that doesn't lose their hair:)

Lighthouse, thank you I am so glad to have # 3 just about done😄I hope your SE'S are not to bad and congrats you are 1/2 way done with A/C. Do you go to Taxotere or Taxol after A/C?

Nichole, kudos to you for running, wow. That's great. 

That would be a drive. I know some people have to travel further, but we don't need to add more stress than necessary.

I tried to get in to see Dr. Chui but he was booked out quite a bit. I did see Dr. Kemmer there for 2nd opinion and she corroborated everything my onc was doing, so that made me feel better.

My infusion center does have a couple private rooms, but the outer one only has 8 chairs and I feel comfortable with that. People have all been really nice (well last time there was quite the eccentric lady, told everyone much more than we needed to know, LOL). So far I've gotten the corner chair which has the most privacy and room. So I aim for that one...

BCL: Etsy does have some really cute hats. Bonus on the extra one!

Hi ladies, start TCH on the 30th and I now have a cold and took Claritin, but I've notice others are taking it during treatments, can I ask what SE Claritin wards off? I must have missed a post. I'm nervous about my first treatment and going to buy things off the shopping list provided but Claritin wasn't on it? I don't know if anyone can be ready but I'm trying to be ready for whatever comes my way

Hi ML40,

The Claritin can help ward off the bone pain that the Neulasta shot (day after chemo) can cause. I did TC and did not need the shot. They checked everything after the first round and said I would get it with the other treatments if my counts didn't come back on their own or if I got sick. I got lucky! My onc told me if you are over 60 or are doing dose dense with anthracyclines, then he automatically gives it.



Waiting for that first treatment is the worst because our imaginations run wild! In reality it is not as bad. I found TC pretty easy, considering. I didn't have the H with it so I can't speak to that. ( my C was cytoxan though)



Good luck! You will be through this in no time!

This is a "recipe" to help and hopefully prevent the mouth stuff. I found it in a book about how to thrive through chemo. Just check with your docs first! With the TC the mouth was the worst with the first treatment and got less and less with the following treatments. Hope it is the same for all the cocktails!



Glutamine Powder 10 grams in 8-12 ounces juice or Gatorade

(I used pills until I could order powder)

B6 100mg twice a day

Lysine 500mg twice a day



Start two days before treatment. I just did it most days. Just ask the doc first!



Also suck on ice or Popsicles and some recommend doing a slush and spit with baking soda and salt water every once in a while when the infusion is still running. I think it is 1/2 teaspoon each to a cup of water, but don't quote that. I will try to find it again for sure.



Rinsing with club soda is supposed to help too.

Thanks light house lady,

 The cancer center navigator called today. She asked why I decided against the re-incision surgery. I told her I didn't make that decision. She said "Oh it was made for you?" Geesh I called her last week to find out why I never heard from her in a months time & know she attended the tumor board meeting so she should have remembered!

Anyway, I think she got my vibes & knew I was chomping at the bit, & knows they haven't been doing things in a timely manner. I got my appointment changed to tomorrow morning with the oncologist (finally) & she is trying to get me in for the infusion nurse visit.

Yes I can be a bit impatient! LOL

Mankatostate-

I'm in the cities and luckily only about 10 mins from my oncology office! So far I've had help everyday since surgery and a friend set up a meal site for us.



I am just having a hard time letting so many people help me

And I just got the crappy news that I haven't healed the way my surgeons hoped from the double mastectomy so I'll need more surgery but they hope this won't effect chemo start date-hopefully day surgery-in & out.

This whole cancer thing is just sh*tty and exhausting. I'm 33 and I feel like I shouldn't be this tired-rant over

gavinsgrandma - I am going to have Taxol, but it's still up for debate whether it will be 12 weekly or dose dense.