October 2013 Chemotherapy

wrenn- I have a pretty good relationship with my MO. So far I have meet her only twice, she is pleasant, she took the time to go through some of the issues that I had . She was able to answer all of my questions that I had prepared in advance...so far so good.

SchoolC- I participated in the same program "Look Good...Feel Better" They provided us with excellent information on coping with air loss, skin change and face make-up . I highly recommend it to everyone.

JenSF- My days on Neupogen weren't pleasant at all... feeling much better since Thursday as well. I was informed due to schedule problem , my next TX is on the 8th instead of 7th. I went for a short haircut 1 week before treatment to prepare myself . I also didn't want to go to my regular hairdresser that I have been seeing weekly. Just wondering if you are you planning to remain on Neupogen for the next TX?

" Hugs to all BC Sisters"

Can't deal with the bone pain... Help!

SuckitBC -- I agree -- call your MO! And meantime, try a warm bath or a heating pad. I have heard from some that works a little. Gentle (((hugs)))

smrlvr -- Welcome! I don't exactly have your Dx or regimen, but maybe I can offer a few experiences. I am a professor, and I teach 4 undergrad classes. For my 1st chemo, I scheduled my infusion for late Thurs afternoon after my class, took Friday and Monday off and taught Tues through Friday of the week after. I was careful to wash hands often and use hand sanitizer, and I avoided hugging people. In meetings, I kept my distance as I selected a place to sit (but told colleagues to let me know if they had been or were ill so I could stay a safe distance). I was tired at the end of each day, and usually took a nap as soon as I got home, but otherwise made it fine through that week. I kept eating about every two hours and drank water constantly. Granted, college schedules are different than high school and I have breaks in my day so don't have to be on my feet for too long. I had no nausea from chemo at all (and I was sick as a dog my first trimester when I was pregnant). I will be getting Neulasta shots for my remaining infusions, so planning to do the Claritin routine to minimize bone pain. Just thought I would let you know it is doable. But we are all different, so you need to listen to your body.

Hi ladies. Sounds like we are all fighting through this October with courage and perseverance. It amazes me how badly the body can get hit and then recover to an almost normal feeling. Just to do it all again!

I had my 3rd tx of TC last Thursday and the Neulasta shot on Friday and so far so good. The first go around I was knocked flat by the pain. The 2nd time, I hit the pain meds (Percocet) as soon as the pain hit and that helped - but of course led to some bad constipation. MO suggested taking 600 mg. Ibuprofen 2x day (with a lot of water) on the 3 days after the Neulasta shot. So far that has worked with NO pain meds. As soon as I feel constipation coming on I take Miralax (icky) but so much better than waiting till it gets bad. I also switched to Allegra (from Claritin) because of an unrelated rash and that may be working better for me as well. No nausea - so sorry for those of you suffering - I am trying to eat small amounts of food every couple of hours and drink as much as possible. I do recommend the Ativan or Lorazepam at night especially when the steroids are making your heart pound so hard you can't sleep. No sign of nail bed changes or tingling in my feet or hands - I have been icing them during the Taxotere part of the chemo. Hope that is helping. Also tried to eat popsicles, and mouth is okay so far.

We are all so different in how we are handling these treatments. I am impressed by those of you working. While I expected to be working this Fall, I just don't know if I could handle it. Kudos to you.

For those just starting, just keep your focus on you and doing whatever you can to minimize your SE's and get through the day. I pray for every woman who is going through chemo each night that they are getting rest, finding the right medications and advice to minimize the side effects, and most importantly, that the chemo is killing every last cancer cell in our bodies so we can get on with our lives!

Hi Gramboys,

I too get the Emend prior to chemo infusion. I have been waiting until the next afternoon the take my Zofran. Thanks for the tip maybe this will help me along with my constant nausea.

Fur

Thanks I will call my MO tomorrow leave a message about the shot SEs. I am concerned when I go to weekly Taxol if they will insist on a shot after each infusion....no way can I deal with those SEs weekly, I would only have 1 maybe 2 *good* days a week.

Food suggestions

Ensure milk chocolate expensive but worth it!

pancakes with a little real maple syrup

life cereal

campbells chicken noodle soup

grilled cheese with swiss cheese

cottage cheese

ritz crackers

jello

applesauce

macaroni and cheese

different things worked at different times. I threw a lot of food away trying to find things.

Good luck hope you can find something...

relocated - try some simple muffins.  full of starch, sticks to your bones, and I've been eating them since Thurs and have yet to throw anything up. 

My plan was for to eat protein bars which I stocked up on.  But the thought of eating one makes me want to heave.

Remember, muffins do not have a ton of sugar, or salt.....they are simple food to digest.  I eat mine cooled in the fridge.

What are you taking as your anti-nausea?  I switched over to the Lorazipam the MO on call phoned in for me yesterday and I feel so much better.

Lisa

suckitbc. I would talk to MO to see if there is anything they can give you to help with SE? It sounds awful but maybe they can change things a bit for you. It sounds like some of the others in this group were able to adjust some things and get improvements

Pam i agree that nausea is worse than fatigue. Ick. Glad you are resting.

suckit...I have had that same thought ' how can I possibly do this 7 more times'...but I know I know I have to and will. Prayer and perserverance...

I'm so glad you are feeling better and able to eat Lisa. Wow from nothing to a sub sandwich. That is an accomplishment and made me smile. It is interesting to me that an anti-anxiety med (lorazepam/ativan) works for nausea. I was told to take it every day recently by family doc for anxiety. I wasn't taking it because I have been sick with a cold and not anxious but am going to keep it in mind for vertigo nausea.....and for chemo if that happens.

It is such a relief to know that there are solutions to side effects. I hope everyone can get good responses from their oncs for solving this.

suckit - Have your tried Benadryl to sleep?  That was another option I was told to use if Lorazipam did not work well.

You may want to give it a try.  I often said they should market that medication as a "Sleeping Aid" since it does it so well!

My MO said to start taking the Zofran at dinner on the night of my treatments. I usually start my tx at 12:30 and end at 3:30. I take the Zofran every 8 hours with Compazine in between, it works for me. No nausea at all.

My husband buzzed my hair last night so I have been wearing a doo rag, my daughter and son-in law went to the Saints game today and they were giving out HooRags(pink for BC awareness with a fleur de lis on it) and brought one for me. I put it on and my 3 year old grandson asked me if I was going to be a pirate for Halloween! I said yes I am,lol!

I hate these Neupogen injections, they suck and make me achy. I want to take something but MO says no Tylenol or Advil, that it masks fever if you get any.I am taking my temperature and took some anyway but still have bone pain. Any ideas? Hope everyone is feeling better, I'm 50% done with A/C.