October 2013 Chemotherapy

Hi Wrenn,

Thank you for your response. I will wish & hope with you as well Wrenn & all the best for you. {{{Hugs}}}

Hi TeamKim, thank you for sharing your updates. That's really helpful. So we are only 1 week or 2 apart. Keep it up!

I got my Oncotype late last week. 24. (intermediate, 19 to 31). Doesn't make a difference much about chemo decision. My dear MO told me she was hoping mine would be low risk, therefore I dont have to go through chemo. It's funny that I actually made up my mind of going through chemo even if the score comes back low. Went on the Oncotype website anyway and read many stories. Different people truly made very different decisions.

Went Farmers' market today. One of my favorite activities the past few weeks. It really cheered me up when we saw so many good choices of fresh (& organic) veggie and fruits! Reasonable prices too! We are really blessed here in the States when good and safe food are accessible. There are many other countries in the world (even advancely developed) where "Organic" is a foreign or "undefined" name.

Jen

Hi Furfriend,

Looks like we are on the same cocktail although mine doesn't start until Oct 23. Dreading that..... I will be glad when it is over.

Wren that will be good if you don't have to take chemo.

I had constipation and cramps today. Took laxative, which didn't seem to help. I had a headache too, which was getting worse, so took 2 ibuprofen -- headache and cramps both gone 45 min. later. Hmmmm.

Travelmom -- Must be a difference in our "cocktails" or our MO's pref. Mine said I could take ibuprofen, but not Tylenol or Vicodin or any other pain med containing acetaminophen. Has to do with whether the chemo drugs are processed by liver or by kidneys, he said.

The Lone Ranger mask sounds very irritating and uncomfortable! A good night's sleep would probably help, so I will keep good thoughts for a peaceful night tonight for all of us!

Head east - There seem to be a lot of those items where you hear conflicting stuff -- My MO said L-Glutamine was a good idea, but said no to all vitamins and minerals, except for my daily cranberry pill. I didn't get much guidance on foods except to eat a balanced diet and to avoid soy and mushrooms. I am glad the diet wasn't too prescribed, because different things taste good each day so far.

Drinking water and other fluids.... A LOT.... Is one consistent bit of advice from all sources. Onc RN said "you want to get it in, and get it flushed out as soon as you can".

I don't do well with laxatives so have been drinking Smooth Move tea every couple days. Anyone else use that? I do have a stool softener if needed but for me I can go from one extreme o the other too fast so have to watch it!

The taste buds have definitely changed....I thought the hair loss this week would be traumatic but I think facing the fact that food doesn't taste the same is worse! I LOVE to cook & bake , & eat!

Is that affecting you all yet?

dear VintageGal and Kellee,

I haven't had a problem with the metal taste or losing my appetite yet, no idea what will happen in the next sessions, though. Still three more to go. I have gained 25 lbs. since the surgery. Might be the lack of enough exercise. I still have issues with my arm after the lymph node dissection and still healing from the mastectomy. I used to be very active. I am not worry about the weight now. I will lose it later after all this is past.

I find it hilarious me waking up and finding if my hair is on my head everyday.

Has anybody experienced gaining weight too?

I've lost around 40 lbs since diagnosis. I am overweight and lost about 10 before surgery on purpose and then with the surgery (big boobs) and since then have not had an appetite. I still have no appetite but have started stress eating. I used to love steamed vegetables but now have to gag them down. The only thing that appeals to me is sugar and I am trying to avoid that she I eat a lot of fruit and yogurt.

Thanks again to the people who are sharing how it's going with them.

I went to 2 chemo classes in different hospitals. General guidelines - Drink 2 to 4 quarts of fluid daily. Combination of soup, juice, milk, ice cream, jello and water. Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine intake. 2 quarts approx equal to 4 x 500 ml bottle of water.

That is interesting Jaybird. I am recovering from one from all the antibiotics. The drug I took for it (fluconazole) says to use only one pill per treatment. I am wondering if those other treatments like Canesten can be used as well? I worry about systemic yeast if it goes on too long.

Listening to drug commercials on TV some of the side effects they warn us about sound deadlier than our chemo drugs sometimes. :-)

is anyone starting Oct 24? I'm drinking a lot of water now but worry about being able to later. When my boys were little and would be sick and it was hard to get them to drink, my pediatrician told me to feed them potato chips and olives, things they both liked because the salt in them would make the boys thirsty and they'd drink. I'm going to try to see if I can eat salty things that will make me want to drink.

Compared with you gals on ATC, I feel like I have had an easy time of it. Saturday was the worst day -- no energy, headache, a lot of abdominal cramping and the big C -- I have been able to get out for a walk everyday, which seems to help tremendously. I just put on my headphones and go for about 20 minutes. Today I have more energy and better appetite, but feel achy all over -- Saturday nothing sounded good and had to make myself keep drinking my water and ginger iced tea. No nausea so far, but the lower GI cramps were like really bad gas pains. Watermelon has been my mainstay -- tastes really good to me.

Hang in there, Wednesday girls! You are turning the corner and the first tx can be crossed off the calendar.

Jaybird - I read your post and my sympathy to you on the yeast infection!

I had a long BMX recovery w/drains for 6 weeks - which meant 6 weeks of antibiotics. Yes, a yeast infection finally caught me (grrr).

Can I suggest something? I will be getting my first chemo 10/17 (been postponed 2x). I'm prone to yeast infections when I take antibiotics and had read that chemo does in fact bring on yeast infections in some women. Well, I found this product a few years ago and I swear by it - and I asked MO if I could use it as a preventative because who wants to deal with THAT on top of everything else.

It's called Azo Yeast. MO said it is perfectly fine to take daily while on chemo. It can be found at most drug stores or online. I take one pill a day and am hoping once chemo starts it keeps me from getting a yeast infection.

Also, if anyone is interested, Azo also makes a Urinary Tract Health pill that my MO also approved to take as preventative while on chemo. Only had 1 UTI in my life but I don't want to take any chances because I read chemo can bring that on as well. Or, any supplement that is basically an equivalent to cranberry juice (that's basically all the pill is) will work.

Anyone interested, of course check with YOUR MO first. We are all different and just because my MO ok'd it for me does not mean it is safe for everybody. But there are the products out there to use as preventatives and I just wanted to let you gals know.

Best of luck to all you w/your next chemo!