October 2013 Chemotherapy

For those starting in November, stick around here, we're in this together now!

To my fellow Wednesday girls, good luck tomorrow. I am dreading it, but it's one step closer to getting done right?

I think my hair is shedding more and I don't even care, makes my life easier not having to deal with it for a few months and of all the side effects I'll take it over nausea, bone pain, constipation, yeast infections, diarrhea etc.!

Just wondering if anyone has had a rapid heartbeat? I'll talk to my MO about it tomorrow.

good luck tomorrow girls. Pam i'm sorry your inlaws bailed. That would upset me. I hate asking for help too and especially short notice. I hope you find someone. Struggles really pile up with this damn disease

Hoping for tolerable side effects for everyone although i must say you are all the most tolerant woman i have ever met. Guess we have no choice.

Xo

Sorry about the markers SyrMom. Maybe it's nothing and the chemo just needs more time to work -- hopefully it will.

I am starting chemo tomorrow. I am doing dose dense AC-T (I think) with me doing them once every two weeks with a total of 4 treatments each with a shot the next day. I am at a loss at what I should do. Cleaning the house tonight with friends and have a shopping list that includes Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. Hoping I'm one of the lucky ones to tolerate the treatment well. Went to a wig shop yesterday but really can't try on wigs till my hair gets cut off since the hair I have is so thick the wigs won't sit right. I plan on cutting off my hair next weekend. Will my hair fall out before then? Should I buy the claritin and take it today -- or should I call the nurse first. Plan on drinking a LOT of water today. Trying to read through the threads for information.

Pam so sorry to hear about your mother in law bailing. Some people just don't get it. Thankfully there are others out there that do . Hang in there!!

Thanks to all for the uplifting comments. I am glad to stay in this group even though my chemo has been delayed. You are all wonderful, caring people. I pray for you daily. May your SE's be minimal, and complications resolve quickly, hoping that you find the food, rides, and support that you need this week!

Denise

I went to my cancer survivalship conselling today. I was suggested to start acupuncture before and during chemo. Also, I was suggested to take L-glutamine, probiotics, and Alpha Lipoic Acid now to help with chemo. Melatonin is also good to have to build healthy sleep patterns. I thought I should shall share with you all.

Take care!

Hi ladies,

Had second AC today, done with 50% of the AC, yipee.  The nurse recommended taking an ativan before treatment, because it helps with the nausea  Dr. didn't give me a Rx for ativan probably because I have a script for xanax.  Took a xanax an hour before and it really helped.  I felt really good during the four hours I was there.   Went to lunch afterward.  Then I crashed.  I've been sleeping four hours and have a headache.  My worst days are 4-5, so waiting it out.

This time around I'm going to add colace, prilosec, and because my bone pain didn't show up until day six an extra day of claritin.  I took claritin day of nuelesta and three days after.  I've seen taking it everywhere from 4-7 days.  My wbc was back up to 7.  My weight was back up too, I had lost 9 pounds first week and gained it all back over the last four days.  Eating everything in sight.

Jianchi-just make sure you tell the MO what you're taking, mine said OK to claritin, but no to the l-glutamine.  She didn't think the studies supported taking l-glutamine.  Friend who went through this two years ago swore by l-glutamine.

I'm at day 14 and head hair is not falling out and leg hair is still growing.  I got 12 inches cut off after first treatment to get it over with and it's sort of cute, so now I've had two weeks of a cute haircut that I wouldn't have done otherwise.  So, I recommend going really short and enjoy the new look.  I'm looking forward to no leg hair, got to look at the bright side, so hurry up and falls out already :-)

Hi ladies I am from the Sept group just checking in...

All the advice on these threads are seriously good and if you follow them you will be in control of all SEs.

The hair- the best advice i got was to cut it short and then I started loosing it after day 14, when husband buzzed it down. Still have a fraction of hair on head, comfortable to wear hats, scarves, wigs. Cutting it or buzzing it really gives you control-otherwise it is so depressing to see it coming out in clumps and you feel like you are in the radiation zone.

Exercising and hydrating have been really crucial for me-2 treatments down and two to go!

And Specialk...that is exactly what she is- so special and priceless. Thank God for her!

All the best ladies...

Hey ML40, how are you doing?  I've been thinking about you.

Some of the concern about raw fruits and veggies is due to low WBC - if there is uncooked food (bacterial risk) you may end up with an infection to battle in a weakened immunological state - doesn't have anything to do with breast cancer - has to do with low WBC.

furfriend - I had a CBC every week throughout chemo, then went to every three weeks when I received Herceptin alone.

Pam - I don't know how organized the ACS in your area - but they do have a network of volunteers who will give rides to treatment, if you get stuck again. Anyone who is willing to give someone a ride certainly "gets it" and would not be weirded out by any SEs you might have! Just a thought - you can contact the ACS at www.cancer.org

lonnie - regular Claritin - I liked the redi-tabs because they dissolve on your tongue - no need for water, and I was totally over taking more pills, lol! Here is a link to the study:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01311336

msjean - I was authorized to receive Ativan in my pre-meds IV - check to see if they can do that for you - IV is a faster response time, you get the added anti-nausea benefit, and one less pill to take.

viji - you are so sweet!

Sorry I have been a bit AWOL - I had a surgery yesterday for a skin cancer - I have a 2" incision near my left shoulder blade. I continued to bleed so they had to re-open, incise again, cauterize, and close again. Kind of like a lumpectomy and re-excision, but on my back! I am a bit uncomfortable because it is in the middle of my upper back, so I can't find a comfortable position to sleep in. I had a flat tire on the way too! I had car trouble in a different car on the way to another surgery for reconstruction (putting my left expander back in after chemo) - seems to be a trend! This time I got a ride from a very nice police officer, who happened to be parked right near where the tire went flat, and got a few funny looks from the valet parking guys at the front of the medical center - never a dull moment! We also had a tornado and power outage during my chemo #4, lol! I am basically a rolling disaster!

I should add in case this may help someone with Nausea SE. I was nauseous from anesthesia. Car trip home made it worse. The thought of even drinking water made me feel like I would be sick. I thought of taking prescription I have for chemo, or pain pill as I was hurting again ,but decided on 1/2 of my xanax dose. It helped me to relax fall asleep for a few hours and when I woke up nausea gone and had some soup.

crazy question?? can chemo nausea be slept through ? Anyone else take xanax? I have for MRI/PET scans and if needed for anxiety.

Vivian

Lili, thank you for posting about Blood Builder. MyMO said YES to it.

Vivian, thank you for posting about BioTrust, my MO also said YES to it.

Both PS and MO said YES to swimming but without using my arms (??) i guess I will just float or walk in the pool...

He said no to soy protein shakes. Said yes to juicing only if I am used to it and not to do it the first five days right after chemo session.

Now, the chemo session: it was uneventful. My count was done right before seeing the MO and was good. WBC was 4.22. All the others were within range. I am half way now! Two more to go and done!

Came home and no side effects. Love it!

Pam, how was yours today?

SpecialK – sending Get Well wishes your way. 

I certainly did not intend to imply anything by the raw vegetables and fruits except that it is important each woman ask her MO about it.  I was given the impression reading different threads here that no raw veggies or fruit, you need to be cautious of dairy, amongst many other things that should be avoided during chemotherapy.  I could understand the need to avoid fresh fruit and vegetables given the germs and residue fertilizer that could be on them.  When I asked the question to my MO, it had nothing to do with Breast Cancer; it’s just that she responded the way she did (I can see where it may be an issue with other types of cancers related to perhaps the stomach and digestive tract).

But I run everything by my MO, which again, I think, is the important point here, and when I asked her these questions she gave me the info I passed on.  She simply said, regarding every question I had about dairy, fruits and vegetables, etc. “you have no food restrictions whatsoever during chemo”.  I think we are all more prone to infection by being around people who cough and sneeze, or touching doorknobs or grocery carts than we are from food sources, generally speaking (there is always the unusual outbreak that could happen).

Headeast - so glad you asked your MO about Blood Builder and you were told it was OK.  I really swear by it; I hope it helps you as much as it did me!

 Relocatedtarheel - I'll be thinking of you tomorrow as we both go thru our first round.  May we both handle it with the least amount of SE's possible.  Best wishes to you!!!!!!

relocatedtarheel - many women here at the different threads have sucked on ice chips or popsicles.  And they swear it helps...I'm bringing a big mug of crushed ice myself.  Easy enough thing to do to avoid what sounds like a very nasty SE!