October 2013 Chemotherapy

Hi.. anyone on Abraxane/Herceptin/Perjeta and experiencing a crazy itchy painful rash? kind of like welts/acne? if so.. any help or relief ideas?

Lili, I took Ondansetron for nausea. I am waiting for the MO to get back to me.

Thanks lili and mfm. I think I will try as u suggest!!

Headeast - I can't speak of Advil or Tylenol.  I have Tylenol in my pain meds for my headaches and I take NSAIDS daily for arthritis.  So I have both going in my system daily as is and know I cannot take anymore so the subject was never brought up.  If my headaches flare, I just have to deal w/it.

I know I've seen different MO's giving different advise - it's all very personalized so wait to see what your MO says in your situation.  But if Advil PM was OK, I can't see why regular Advil would be a problem.

Hoping you're feeling better....

Headeast - for headaches, you can try:

Ice Pack on the head - no more than 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off

Meditation - and breathing exercises w/relaxation.  Start w/concentrating on relaxing your facial muscles, then your neck, then your shoulders.  Those are the areas most affected by headache and relaxing them can sometimes help.  Do this in a quiet area where you can concentrate on relaxing these muscles as best as possible.

If you have a product like icy-hot (icy hot itself is VERY potent), put a very thin film on the back of your neck up by where it meets the skull.  This can often bring relief.  My opinion....do not use icy-hot (I use an arthritic cream or something that has capsaicin in it).

If you have any essential oils, peppermint oil dabbed on the back of the neck can also help.  Add a few dabs to your forehead as well.

Find the meaty part on the back of your hand. It is just above the webbing between the thumb and the index finger. Using your other thumb, squeeze the muscle by pressing down hard.  It's a known pressure point that the acupuncturists use to help relieve headache pain.

Hope some of these are of help.  If you continue to have headaches w/future chemo even if they change your anti-nausea, might I suggest you see an acupuncturist (many insurance companies now cover up to 50% of these costs).  Acupuncture is the only non-medicinal therapy that could take my pain from a 10 to a 3 - it was always short lived because they don't know what is causing my headaches but even 5 hours of relief is a Godsend when in so much pain. 

Also, there is an essential oil that works well for temp relief for headaches.  It is made from Doterra - it is called Deep Blue.  My MO gave me the thumbs up on using any essential oil topically but check w/your MO for your situation.  If you need info on where to purchase, just PM me and I can get you in touch w/a consultant who can get you the product (please be sure if you decide to use essential oils that you purchase truly pure oil - there are many fakes out there that do NOT give the benefit they claim).  I've found that Doterra is the best - feel free to visit their website and read for yourself.

Hope some of this works. I feel for you, I know the pain and it's hard to function doing anything when the head hurts so bad.

Wishing you well!

Headeast - are they going to change your anti-nausea meds?

VintageGal - Happy Birthday!  Wish you felt better!!

I don't think they move to transfusions right off (I would be shocked if they did).  However, they can give IV fluids to help w/anemia; I'd call your MO and ask about it.  How did your counts look before your last chemo?

Remember though....fatigue is a huge SE of chemo and something we just need to work thru.  I added Vitamin B12 to my morning vitamins and it seems to have helped a little. 

@kittykate78 I use bare minerals cosmetics and LOVE IT! They sell it at sephora if you can't find the store. Got my port today. They had to put it in my inner right arm because my expanders are so freaking huge! I actually prefer it there. Anyone else have it there? I am feeling so good. Gonna enjoy the next two days before getting my second infusion. Chipotle bowl (with every fattening damn thing that they offer) for dinner! WOOT WOOT! Enjoy your evening.

Vintagegal- so sorry you are feeling crappy in your birthday hoping today is a better day and you can have a makeup lunch? That is scary about being too tired to drive home. I hear you on that. I have pretty much become a hermit since start of treatment bc either I am tired or afraid of getting sick. I can stick it out for one more month or so. I am 7 days out from AC 3 and feeling ok. Have a swollen lip and other annoying SEs. I upper the colace yesterday and was running to the bathroom this morning. It came out but bottom hurts like hell. Stomach is still hurting but more manageable.

Off to see what my counts are today. Don't think they will be too bad as I don't feel completely wiped but I know by this weekend it will be. Day 14 last time counts were really low....

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is feeling better. To those with tummy and bathroom issues, Please try Activia for a few days. I eat it first thing in the morning, followeed by a glass of water, then have coffee a little later. I was able to keep it down during nausea days also. I take iron pills and had to have 2 Venifer IV's(iron). I take colace but Activia has made all the difference in the world for me.

Day 16/17 after first chemo I started shedding so bad. Hair everywhere. I couldn't cook or eat without there being hair. I had already cut it short but it was still falling, so I went with my younger son to the place his brother takes him "Snips" and I got a buzz and top spikes maybe about an inch long on top. I let my 12 year old, tell him what to do and he held my hand during it and continues to tell me how cool I look and he leant me some of his gel so I could spike it. (It's still coming out every time I comb/touch but much shorter hairs) My next chemo (TCH) set for 11/15 will probably be delayed due to surgery and antibiotics ( I will be able to get H), I am sure that when I get it if not sooner the rest of the hair will go.

I actually went grocery shopping afterwards, and yes people stared, but you know what I kinda like my hair and am not wearing a wig just yet. I have doctor appts tomorrow, lets see if still brave.

Feel better,

Vivian

@furfriend...yes, I am skipping CBC/bloodwork this week for the first time. My infusion week is next week but my numbers were really good last week. That awful Neulasta shot did the trick. So, I asked my onc if I could skip a week and he agreed. It isn't like anything will change even if I had gone in for bloodwork this week. The numbers will be what they will be either way. I'm just glad to avoid the doctor's office for 2+ weeks!

lgk, water whatever way you can. It is so hard to drink so much water all day!

Tonorrow I have my TC#3, anybody else has chemo this week?

Started getting nervous again?

Hi ladies !

I have had a strange time after #2 on the 30th. I did ok with the change in meds and and added day of steroids to get past the neulasta pain. But then 2 days later, I crashed really hard off the steroid. I never got nauseous but my stomach has felt out of balance for the last 5 days. I either have the Big D or C depending on the day and what med I take to stop the other! I called my MO's office and talked with his assistant. She said she would let him know and see what we can come up with for the next time. I asked her about my followup with the cardiologist that has yet to be scheduled and she never called me back.

Today was the first day my stomach felt normal. My face and head are breaking out - but I am not sure if it is acne or a rash of some kind. This afternoon, I began to have a numb feeling across my face again. I have not taken any type of meds since Sunday. This is nuts. I placed a call to my MO office but did not hear back today. I am getting a bit frustrated with my MO's assistant. I am supposed to get herceptin in the morning.

I am getting my second A/C on friday. I missed my 2nd treatment which should have been last thursday.I have a question for you all. In the chemo class we were told that whatever SE we had at the first treatment was what we should expect for the subsequent treatments. Do you find this to be true or have your SE changed with each treatment?

And Travelmom-if you don't like the response from your MO, find a better one for you. I was very unhappy with mine and once I was delayed with this surgery, I found a new one that I feel so much better about. Despite the circumstances you are a consumer. These MOs are making boatloads of money and as a.consumer/patient you should feel like you're super important to them.

Vintage Gal, I can't take iron without serious stomach issues. I got diverticulitis last time. I can take blood builder and have no problems with constipation. I also started taking 2 of my magnesium supplements recently because my levels were low so I am not sure if that is what is doing the trick but "moving" great and no stomach issues at all.

Great news KBee and Babs. yay.