September 2013 Chemo Group

LiLi ..before during and after chemo: just my own experience and I was freaked out of my mind too. I've had one infusion of a/c so far on 9/13. Be well hydrated going in...I drink a min of half gallon of water a day but it was towards a gallon the week before chemo and 3 days after. I brought my water bottle to chemo and they gave me a choice of ice or a Popsicle during A infusion. My pre infusion meds are Ativan, Emend, dex steroid and zofran. I took phenergan at home the first 3 days just in case although I wasn't nauseous and only at bedtime since it makes me sleepy. Zofran is my backup med if phenergan doesn't work....but it's a serotonin inhibitor and that can't be a good thing? I took colace at bedtime and Prilosec and Claritin in the morning. Never missed a bowel movement. Needed tums in the middle of the night because of acid reflux! By Sunday night the roids were wearing off and Monday was my yucky day (managed a 3 mile walk but did nothing but lay on couch rest of day..not nauseous but just felt like I was battling a hangover and didn't want to do much. Off all meds by Tuesday morning except Claritin which I ended yesterday. No real bone pain from neulasta shot except for slight jaw, sternum and left shin discomfort on Monday. I truly think the quicker you can clear the chemo the better. Hydrate and eat immediately after ...continue that and eat whatever comes to mind! and get off all the other meds for SE ASAP too. The quicker I got back to getting my body functioning on its own the better I was feeling. Plus we want to get the chemo toxins out of our body AND all the dead cells the chemo is creating as well! Good and bad dead cells

I had my period the Monday after my first chemo (talk about adding insult to injury!).  Most people I've asked have said that they had one period and then no more during chemo.  I'm hoping that's true, because I sure won't miss it!

Thank you Michelle & PeacockGirl for the info!!  I really appreciate your taking the time to address my concerns and give me your experiences and how you best handled them.

I see there is a discussion here on periods - if I could join in I have questions on that, too (does it never end?)!!!  I had read that chemo will throw you into menopause and since I've been in perimenopause for about 6 years.....I take that as a benefit.  But I wondered if that meant as soon as chemo starts or what?  I'm seeing here in the discussion that perhaps one period and then none?  Is that generally what happens?  I'm also reading about heavy flows - of which I've been having for nearly 5 years and my concern was right along the lines of what I'm reading and that is:  what will that do to my counts?  I'm thinking really lower them - but I am taking a product called Blood Buider which is something I've had to take in the past because I get anemic pretty easily.  I'm hoping (???) that keeps my counts in a generally healthy area - anyone who wants to enlighten me I'd appreciate it.

See, I've kept from researching anything having to do w/Chemo because it can be overwhelming.  For myself, I find it easier to ask all the wonderful women here - you all are experiencing these things and I don't want the "generalizations" you get by using Mr Google.  You KNOW what happens, is happening so I'd prefer to get your input.

Thanks!

Hi Ladies, I hope you don't mind me crashing your group,  I was also in the August group and I have not been on the board for a while.  As Lisa said, a really nice group of ladies but it just wasn't for me.   

Hope you are all doing well, it was nice to see some familiar names here!  BatCat, where did you get your black & pink wig?  I really want to get something a little more edgy.  I have been looking for a short one but every one I put on makes me look like one of the golden girls, and I can't stand it (I have been an alt music fan for 25+ yrs, and even though I have a 'real' job I can't look like bea arthur!)

LisaSP, Raynaj, Mankato, WIng, Cougar, glad I found you over here.  I'm sure there are a few more refugees but I am still catching up on posts.  Stay strong!

Omg, I'm a Claritin believer now! I had THE WORST bone/joint pain starting on day 4 of round 1 when I didn't take Claritin, but I took it this round & today, day 4, I don't feel the pain!!! I'm super tired & have been napping off & on all day (much more tired than days 1-3) but not that terrible aching. Fingers crossed that it doesn't start



Sgyugon - I got my wig on Etsy from http://www.etsy.com/shop/MissVioletLace - she has tons of fun styles. I really love my wig - it's how I'd do my hair if I had the time anymore.



Good luck everyone - for those about to start & scheduled to get the Neulasta shot, I join the chorus recommending Claritin the day before & for 7 days after.

Lisa how much longer do you have to go?  I have my 3rd tx on Thursday this week and then I am halfway through with the 'weed killer'.  I'll be on the herceptin until July 2014...

I'll have to check into ebay for the wigs.  I figure I will be wearing them until at least March so a variety is appropriate.  I already singed my 'good' wig, probably got too close to the grill or oven.  You can't tell by looking at it, there is just one clump that feels rough.  I keep forgetting they can melt!  I signed up for a 'look good feel better' course tomorrow, I will let you all know if I get any good tips. 

So sorry you are having cramping, and definately check in on the fever.  I have been really fortunate and my SE's have been managable but last night I had a fierce round of stomach cramps.  I really think the Cytoxan you are on is much rougher than the Carboplatin they are giving me. 

Mamastewart, thanks so much ... I will start reading.  Worried about fasting making me too weak or hypoglycemic, though.  Will have to figure that part out.

Hi All,

Crashing the party.  Started chemo for IBC on September 5th, exactly three weeks after diagnosis/mammo/detour began.  Six rounds, three weeks apart, last one on Dec 20th.   Cocktail of herceptin, taxotere, and carboplatin. Then surgery.  Then herceptin for several more months.  About this time next year I'll have kicked cancer's arsk (KCA!!).

Hair started falling out this weekend.  Glad I shaved my head last week. 

Looking forward to getting to know you all.  Started a blog to keep friends informed and laugh along this detour in life's journey:
http://teamsimpsonblog.blogspot.com

Hi Ladies, I go back and forth about fasting, my oco shared it with me and said I could try it I wanted. The countdown for me begins, one week till I have my TCH cocktail at the chemo bar. I will get my port installed this Friday.

Thank you to those ladies that gave me the advise to help me ward off my mother-in-law. I could tell my husband really wanted his mom around but for the past 22 yrs as a military wife/mother/SpEd teacher I have always done things for others. My husband finally got the message when I told him I AM THE ONE WITH CANCER & I don't want her here because I have no idea what type of SE I will have. I gave him the suggestion that she come out when I'm done with chemo and celebrate as a family. He was a little nervous talking to his mom, but I asked to talked to her too. Told her I was grateful for her willingness to help and if our children were small I would want her here, but my kids are young adults and not knowing my SE has me nervous. Again, thank you for letting me vent this past week about my mother-in-law.

I'm not excited chemo but the nurses at the treatment center gave my husband & I some ideas to do on chemo day, do something special or make it a day you can look forward to instead of chemo. They gave us ideas like a spa day or getting something special. I love the beach and have always wanted a Pandora bracelet so on my chemo days I will start off at the beach and buy a pandora bracelet and add beads every treatment. I am looking forward to starting my day at the beach & starting a pandora bracelet on the 30th. Has anyone tried acupuncture? The cancer center here offers acupuncture so I have signed to try it a couple of days after chemo next week.

Thanks.  They told me about it, but, to be honest, I forgot. Then when the bone pain hit the next day, I called them first thing Monday afterwards and they asked me if I took the claritin... My feeble response was something like, "ooohhhh... yeah.... ooooppppssss".  ;-)

SyrMom,

I've been told to take it either the day before the neulasta shot or the day of the shot and for a few days afterwards.  Definitely don't wait until the day AFTER.  It isn't as effective.

Question....
Round 2 is on Friday.  I really didn't like the benadryl fog from the benadryl injection they gave me early in round 1 when I started feeling a little reaction to the herceptin.  Can I safely wait it out a little longer to see if the reaction is manageable without the benadryl?  I hate foggy brain.

Ekaterina,

I was terrified on my first session too.  In fact, I bolted from the chemo room and they asked my daughter if I was planning to come back.  I did. 

If it might make you more at ease to read about another person's experience, here is my blog post from that day.  There were moments of terror and moments to laugh about afterwards.  I hope it eases your anxiety.  Just know that we are here for you and you are not alone.

http://teamsimpsonblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-21-kca-soldiers-arrive-in-war-zone.html

I took my iPad and iPhone and texted my best friends when I was calmed down.  It really helped pass the time and help me feel in control. I also brought the chemo quilt given me at my first oncology appointment.  It helped me be comfortable and it's beauty had a calming effect.

You can do this!  You are strong and you have a future beyond cancer!  Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 

Just saw this thread and saw that you ladies had some questions.  On the Claritin, I took it an hour prior to the Neulasta injection, and continued for several days.  Some people continue it for a week or so.  It is thought to work because the antihistamine (loratidine) helps ease the edema in the bone marrow caused by the rapid expansion in the production of new white cells.  The pain is usually worse in the largest bones, because it has the most expansion.  I have linked the study just in case anyone's oncologist wants the documentation.  Most oncologists do not voluntarily recommend Claritin because it has not yet been conclusively documented, but they will not object because it is a relatively harmless drug to take during chemo, and if it works - great!  I was diligent about taking it at the right time, except for chemo #3, I forgot and I took it an hour after the injection, and paid the price.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01311336

On the icing question:  the taxanes (Taxotere and Taxol) have nail lifting and loss as a potential side effect.  Some people ice and some don't.  I have seen some use bowls with crushed ice, but  I chose to use 4 bags of frozen peas which I brought in a cooler.  I asked my onc if I could do this and received approval, but the nursing staff thought I was nuts.  Many in the field are skeptical about the benefits of icing, but I have seen several members of BCO have permanent damage.  Before beginning the icing - go to the bathroom - very important, because you will be committed to trying to keep your hands and feet cold!  I started icing with the peas 10 minutes before I received Taxotere, which was the first agent after my pre-meds - one on each foot, covering the toes, and then held the other two bags of bags of peas in my lap on a towel, then dug my fingers into the peas.  That way if I needed to take my hand out, usually to get some ice chips to hold in my mouth, it was easy.  I tried to ice for 10 minutes after Taxotere was complete, but sometimes called it quits right when they switched to Carboplatin.  I did get cold, but wore layers and had a warm drink afterward.  My nails did not develop Mees lines, they didn't darken, I had no ridges, and the nails did not loosen.  I did lose my wedding ring fingernail, but it had been injured prior to chemo.  I did also paint my nails with dark opaque polish the day prior to chemo - the light penetration to the nail bed is thought to cause problems.  The next day I removed the polish and painted on clear nail hardener, then painted one coat a day for seven days.  After seven days I removed it, and started over.  At my center I receiced a little care package from Sanofi-Aventis (maker of Taxotere) and it had the nail hardener in it with some Biotene products.

ML40 - I used Sally Hansen clear nail hardener.  I also kept my nails very short so as not to allow any leverage to pull the nail upward off the nail bed.  You may find on chemo your fingertips get very sensitive, and the nailbeds ache.  Some people have difficulty buttoning things, but this does go away.  I also started taking Biotin to help strengthen my nails (and brand new hair) a couple of weeks after finishing chemo. I just read the Oct '13 thread - saw that you are a military wife - I spent 28 years as an AF wife - my husband retired a couple of years ago but still works for Special Operations command.