October 2013 Chemotherapy

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited November 2013


    School Counselor - you are absolutely right, This is some tough stuff!


    mfm - Congratulations on being finished with Chemo!! Good Luck with Radiation. We'll be interested to see how it goes as some of us are headed there next.

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  • Jianchi
    Jianchi Member Posts: 352
    edited November 2013


    Deb, will yoga and meditation help? Maybe find a new hobby to move your attention to? Talk to people? It is not easy for anybody but we have to do out best. Take care!

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  • Macy187833
    Macy187833 Member Posts: 182
    edited November 2013


    Is anyone else headed for the chemo chair this week? I go Thursday for #3...alternately looking forward to checking another tx off my list and dreading it at the same time! Hope everyone has a good week!

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited November 2013


    Deb - This will sound kind of "out there," but I volunteer at my local animal shelter where they have a program for people to read to the dogs. It socializes them and gets them used to people who aren't out to harm them. I swear an hour or two around furry, nonjudgmental, four-legged friends is a great antidote to all the craziness that fellow humans put us through. They don't care what I read to them, as long as I use a calm and friendly voice. Once I am done with treatment, I am going to adopt a new dog (my little terrier passed away two years ago). I may rescue one of the fur friends I meet at my shelter.

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  • flowergirl1
    flowergirl1 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2013


    Macy, I too have treatment #3 on Thursday and feel the same thankfulness at marking another one off the calendar but dread the side effects. Praying everything goes well for you!

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  • 2timer
    2timer Member Posts: 590
    edited November 2013


    Me three. I have AC #3 Thursday. Happy to mark another one off the list but don't really "enjoy" going to chemo. Think that the AC is beginning to catch up with me. I'm really tired now. Can still go to work but I don't know how long I can continue.

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited November 2013


    Macy, Flowergirl & SC -- I am set for tx #3 on Thursday -- right there beside you.... We can do this!

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  • naiviv
    naiviv Member Posts: 535
    edited November 2013


    I go for # 2 this Thursday. My thoughts will be with all of you, that se's may be minimal.


    Vivian

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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited November 2013


    Thursday, here we come!!! I spent today recovering form my shopping and lunch yesterday. I was so exhausted!!!! My MO suggested I take metamusil and colace. Almost bought the metamusil until I realized it is just psyllium husks and I have that at home.


    I can't believe that the 2nd treatment is coming up already, it seemed to crawl and now it is speeding up. Tomorrow I see the PS about what we will do about the leaking tissue expander, Fun!


    In the meantime I am running around doing laundry, final chores. Today i was driving home from the supermarket and started to get really hot. I just yanked my scarf foo my head and drove home bald. It felt much better! Then I started to think am I wearing my scarf for myself or others? Today was a warm day, when it gets cold, I don't care because my hat will be on my head.


    For stress relief, I might go back to crafting, I have a craft room that has almost every craft known to man. I have just been too busy to be creative! I also enjoy working out with my trainer and lifitng weights so I will be fitting that in aagain.

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  • lonnie713
    lonnie713 Member Posts: 236
    edited November 2013


    I commend all of you ladies who are able to continue working. I don't have the strength and I can't with my SE's. I am hoping that I can return to work during the taxol phase of treatment. If not full time, at least part time. 5 days out of 2nd AC and feeling eh! I remember telling my husband that I wasn't going to let this keep me down. I was going to workout everyday and fight thru it. Boy was I wrong. I went from 5 days of working out to ZERO. I can barely get off of the couch.

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  • smrlvr
    smrlvr Member Posts: 422
    edited November 2013


    first AC treatment today and I have quite the headache! I am nauseous; just took med for that. But this headache is really bad. Is this a common sE?

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  • uds17
    uds17 Member Posts: 183
    edited November 2013


    I have my second treatment on Thursday, too. I'm a bit nervous because I got dehydrated due to all the stomach issues after the first treatment. Hopefully things will be better this time around!


    I wore my wig to work today for the first time. I think it looked okay, but my head is soooo itchy! I can't wait until my remaining hair falls out. Now that's something I never imagined myself saying! :)


    We will get through this ladies!

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited November 2013


    Hi Mary & Gals


    I will be in the heated reclining chemo chair tomorrow to start my weekly Taxol/Herceptin. I am hopefully optimistic since I have been told by pretty much everyone that while there are SEs they won't be as bad as the A&C. (but this is weekly so.....)


    I will have 3 months of that...then continue Herceptin to equal out a year.


    I am trying to catch up here!


    VintageGal

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  • naiviv
    naiviv Member Posts: 535
    edited November 2013


    Uds


    Me too. Went to work in a wig that is a bob,it was itchy and hot..... the moment I got to my car I took it off.


    Plan now for dehydration. Get some popsicle or freeze some of your fav drinks. Get some gingerale, teas, bouillion/ soups.Whatever you feel like hot/cold take very small sips even if only a teaspoon and wait a bit, then some more. Make sure you have your meds and take at the first thought of a symptom. Did your se's start right away? Mine didn't start till the following evening last time. I'll be thinking of you, what time is your appt. Mine is 9:15 am. How long is your TX? I go for blood work tomorrow.


    Take care,


    Vivian

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  • Gramof2boys
    Gramof2boys Member Posts: 194
    edited November 2013


    I will do my last A/C on Friday, hooray!!! I have been working throughout my treatments. I used to work 32 hours a week before all this crap and now average about 25-26 hrs a week, taking FMLA as needed. This past week I worked a little more but I am tired. My kids are grown, only 1 still at home(but in college), so it's easy for me to come home a crash. I hope this last tx goes well. I am on day 11 and have just started feeling like myself again. I just want this to be over, now Taxol is next for 12 weeks. Hope we all do well this week with minimal SEs!

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  • Furfriend2
    Furfriend2 Member Posts: 299
    edited November 2013


    Hi Lonnie


    I know what you mean about the fatigue and being tired.. I just did my last AC today whoop, whoop ThumbsUp


    I had an episode/anxiety at the bar today so they infused me with Ativan to help with my nausea that was coming on. It helped and I actually worked 5 hours today. I start the steroids in the am along with my stool softener and more anti nausea meds to get me through the day. Then a Claritin just before my Nulasta shot to help with the joint/bone pain. I take this for 3 -4 days straight.


    I haven't been able to concentrate on reading or hobbies sort of on the back burner for now.


    Best of luck to everyone going to the bar this week. United we are strong- we can tough this out.

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  • Kindajojo
    Kindajojo Member Posts: 7
    edited November 2013


    Hi, I have my third FEC on Thursday and not at all looking forward to it..but on the upside it's the last of the red devil , then on to the D hopefully that will be ok, getting used to no hair, and hoping I don't lose my eye brows but they have held on through the first 2 cycles so I am confident.


    The second cycle was a bit rough , just no energy for 7 days extreme fatigue, which was very frustrating.


    Best wishes to all those having treatment this month......take it day by day, or hour by hour whatever gets you through.

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  • lgkgde13
    lgkgde13 Member Posts: 164
    edited November 2013


    felt so much better yesterday :). Counts must be going up. Last treatment for me is next tuesday on my 40th. Not exactly how I thought u would be spending my day but very happy to get it done.


    Thinking about everyone going to treatment this week. Stay strong sisters!

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  • mfm48
    mfm48 Member Posts: 110
    edited November 2013


    So my knee is super tender and I can barely walk on it. Did not injure or otherwise hurt it? Has anyone else had this problem? 5 days out of 4th TC tx.

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited November 2013


    DebDylan, Any exercise is good for your mind. I am not doing almost anything now, tired with the TC #3 but as soin as I feel with a little bit more energy I will start walking again. One block at a time. Just looking around the neighborhood, cars, houses around makes you think about something else.


    We all have 'something' going on in our lives but we won't let the ex, the current or people to hurt us.


    I definitely believe we are going through this for a reason and this will make us stronger.


    We will be in the 'I survived cancer' list. If we can do this, we can do all. I have a friend who had cancer 6 times! He is my hero! He is fine and with lots of hair and loves life. Medicine has improved immensely over the years.


    TC 3, day 6 and tired but no other SEs.

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  • Macy187833
    Macy187833 Member Posts: 182
    edited November 2013


    Best of luck to all the chemo ladies who will sit in the chair this week. I know I will be in good company on Thursday now!!!


    I've been feeling good. A bit fatigued the last week or so but then I have trouble sleeping at night.


    I'm hoping to go back to work soon. I think I can do it physically and mentally. I've been out for 3 months. Am I crazy for going back in the middle of treatment? I will be working part-time; my department has been great and very patient and understanding.


    I'm so amazed by all of you here and have learned so much! I don't post a lot because I feel pretty good most of the time, different regimen.

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  • lgkgde13
    lgkgde13 Member Posts: 164
    edited November 2013


    teamkim- thanks for suggestion on sobe lifewater. Tried it today and love :) mango with coconut water yummy!!

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November 2013


    lgkgde13, congratulations, What a great birthday present to know you're done chemo. Good luck to everyone else this week.


    I am getting organized and getting my list of questions for onc about making sure I have drugs to cover side effects.

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited November 2013


    Feeling pretty good so far today. Day 5 out of last treatment #4. Yesterday was brutal. Heavy fatigue. Bone pain in feet & knees. Leg muscles were so sore had ALOT of trouble getting up the stairs, felt like they were going to buckle at anytime. Weaned myself off of steroids yesterday, so I got a decent nights sleep. So glad to be done Chemo! Can't wait for the next couple of weeks to pass so I can feel better. Noticed today my hair is starting to stubble in my bald patches. There is hope!. Today is an up day. Hugs to any & all that need it.

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  • gavinsgrandma
    gavinsgrandma Member Posts: 407
    edited November 2013


    Hi ladies, I am from the August chemo group and I just wanted to stop by and say hello and tell you that you can do this!!!!!!!! Chemo sucks but you can get through it and know that there are good day's and bad day's. I finished my 4 A/C treatments on 10/10 and will get my 3rd (fingers crossed if counts are good) Taxotere this Friday. I am to get a Neupogen shot today due to the fact that my ANC and WBC is not rebounding as much as MO would like. I will try to catch up on your post's and will follow you all into December. Hugs sisters.


    Shary

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited November 2013


    I will be joining you for a tx this week as well. I have #4 tomorrow (Wed). I'm happy it will be the last of the A & C, but not looking forward to the days of SE.


    Smrlvr - some people have gotten headaches from some of their medications - Zofran (antiemetic) which is sometimes in the IV pre-meds and/or the steroids. If it continues talk to your MO, sometimes they can make changes that help. I know for me they slowed down the infusion rate of a medication and it helped with SE.


    Furfriend - congratulations on your last A & C!


    lg - so happy to hear you are feeling better, I'm hoping it stays that way.


    70charger - Congratulations on being finished with chemo!


    Welcome Shary!

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited November 2013


    I went to the American Cancer Society's Look Good, Feel Better presentation yesterday and one of the women who was presenting was very knowledgeable about wigs and passed along some wig wisdom so I thought I'd share.


    Most wig colors follow a universal color chart so you can go into a salon that sells wigs and look at their color rings to get an idea about what color wig you want and then should be able to order a color from a catalog or the internet and have it be the same color. Of course you can order it from the salon too. She said that many of the cheaper wigs online are seconds but usually the thing that is wrong with it isn't something noticeable. She firmly believed in ordering the cheaper wigs online because you can have more than one. If you wear your wig for an 8 hour day it can probably last 7 days before washing. You should always use wig shampoo and conditioner to wash your wigs. Use cold water and then wrap in a towel to pat dry, do not wring it out. Don't comb your wig wet. Place wig on wig stand, door knob, etc. to dry it overnight. She was speaking about synthetic wigs.


    She also said there are two different wig liners. The stocking cap one is warmer but also more uncomfortable. The mesh one that has a hole on each end is way more comfortable.


    And if you are cooking the Thanksgiving turkey you don't want to open the oven with all that heat and stick your wig covered head to check on the turkey as it could melt your hair!


    She also mentioned Vitamin E for our drying cuticles. You can cut a capsule in half and use that as it's cheaper but there are also some sprays available.

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November 2013


    I can't believe some of you are finishing. It seems like the time went really fast. I am sure it doesn't feel like that to you.

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  • kcat2013
    kcat2013 Member Posts: 391
    edited November 2013


    uds17 I stocked up on popsicles for my second treatment and those have helped me keep up my fluids a little better this time. Plus watered down gatorade.


    debdylan I'm glad your neuropathy is lessening so you feel ok about getting your last treatment!


    wrenn you are getting so close to starting your chemo, I hope you can finally start after your rocky road!

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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited November 2013


    Thursday does look like it will be a busy day for a lot of us.


    Just left the PS office and my leaking TE is holding up nicely. If all goes well with chemo my exchange will be in February. I took off work and want to return after most surgeries are completed. There is no part time at my job - school- so I need to get through the day in order to return to work.


    Mfm I have not heard of knee pain, please call your MO.


    Congrats furfriend for completing chemo!!

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