October 2013 Chemotherapy

I'm finding myself envious of some of you who are finishing up chemo now. I will be at it for awhile still...until February. I can't even start reconstruction until after rads are done (April probably) so it is a long haul for me. My team of doctors believes reconstruction should happen after radiation so that there is no damage by rads to the newly-reconstructed tissue. It makes sense but it feels like I've been at this for so long already. Sigh. Sorry, I'll stop whining now.

Thanks, kcat! That helps to know I won't be in for the long haul alone. I'm really looking forward to next summer.

Macy you are allowed to whine!! We are here to listen.

Not sure when I will have my exchange surgery though I want to lose the 15 lbs I have put on during this time. Yeah I am a stress eater. This is the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Can't wait for this to be over so I can join gym and start working out. The day I was diagnosed I quit smoking and that added to the weight gain as well. I was never a heavy smoker only a few a day but so glad that the terrible habit is behind me. I am ok with the weight gain for now knowing I need to get serious about eating healthy and exercise once AC is over.

I have gained weight too. 25lbs! I have been overeating and between all the nutrients I was eating, bananas, protein shakes, beans for protein etc I look round, plus not that much exercise, feel too tired these days. This is the heaviest for me as well. I started eating different yesterday, also in part because my stomach is doing good in this third round, so I don't have to be eating every two hours, and no carbs.

My DH is grilling squash, zucchini and eggplant. He also found some veggie sausages at Publix. He grills them and makes spinach wraps with feta cheese. He puts some onions, garlic and bell peppers as well. He has gained weight too during this treatment, lol! I am sure I will be losing the weight fast though, because this is really overeating for me.

70charger, congrats! Please give weekly update on how you are feeling as I am interested to know how long the SEs are going to be around. I finish my fourth and last TC next week. Then on H only for a year.

Pam thank you for posting wig care. I lost my pamphlet on it and was wondering what to do.

Wren so happy you are finally going to start treatment soon.

Hang in there everyone!

SpecialK! I was missing you!

headeast - Hi! That is cute!

For those lamenting weight gain, I am betting some of it is not actual weight. Chemo makes you retain fluid, as do the steroids. To gain a pound of flesh you would have to eat about 3,500 calories and not burn it off. There was no way that I did that during chemo but I did gain about 10 lbs. Most people will lose some weight once chemo is done - and within the first month or two, but I will warn the ER+ ladies - if you start on Tamoxifen or one of the aromatase inhibitors it can be very difficult to take the weight off, and you may gain more. Most oncs want you to start hormonal therapy about a month or six weeks PFC, some will wait until after rads, some won't. Just thought I would put that out there for you all to think about - and yes, I am speaking from experience, lol!

Hi,

I do hope the weight gain is from chemo because I have gained 15lbs and I am not happy! Also I use ACT flouride rinse , with no alcohol for dry mouth in addition to the biotene mouthwash.

Lgd...Happy birthday, here is to many many more!!!

Furfriend, I always take the steroids, I have a history of anaphlaxis and I know some people have allergic reactions to chemo. Call your doctor to ask what he thinks.

SpecialK, I will try to go back to my walks. I have been so tired since my chemo this past Wednesday. My dogs are making the weirdest noises, like talking to convince me to take them out. I am changing my foods again now that my stomach is not suffering with this TC, more veggies now and less carbs.

Thank you! HE

headeast - exercise is one of those things - hard to get motivated because you are tired, but if you do it consistently you actually have more energy - it is getting over that beginning hump that is difficult.

Headeast ... why no swimming?  Does the clorine interact poorly with the chemo? 

Viji I will do my best .

For my exercise, I have decided not to put so much pressure on myself with daily goals. I have decided to look at my progress at the end of the week instead. Hopefully good days will balance out bad days & I won't feel like a failure.

Thanks to all for the congrats. Other than the taste thing, today has been a really good day. I think it is taking some time for it to sink in that it is done. Beginning to feel uplifted.

Teamkim ... the smooth move tea works VERY well.  I only had to have 1/2 cup, so be careful!  It does take a good 8- 12 hr. to kick in.  When it does, it's very effective.  I also have taken steroid before infusion because my previous chem, Xeloda, cause huge hand/foot syndrome and the current chemo kept irritating what had healed.  It worked well for me.  Just make sure you eat because the steroids are very tough on the stomach.

Headeast ... thanks for info, I'm sure risk of infection is another reason.  Didn't realize you had expanders.

Gram, I had dry itchy eyes periodically from my A/C chemo last year at this time. I used lubricant eyedrops, I think the name was Systane, and that helped a bit. Since I am at home, I put a steam vaporizer in my computer room to raise the humidity and that helped a lot.

Carol

Pam and suckitbc, congrats on finishing up your A/C, I had my last A/C on October 10th and I was glad to say " Good riddens to the Red Devil"

Macy, hang in there, my journey started back in May and like you, my surgical team and my Hubbs decided while I was under for my BLM that it was in my best interest to delay recon and get stared with treatment w/o delay's. I will be doing chemo through February and rads into probably April and then I can address recon, I figure I fit in here a little better than my Aug group as a lot of those great ladies are done and/or moving on to rads and my timeline is much longer. There is so much support here on these threads and I always welcome questions on venting and bitching😝

Well due to insurance I could not get my Neupogen shot yesterday, it is only authorized at my treatment facility which is 3 hours drive one way, so as per my nurse, I am to take it easy and grow WBC today, do labs tomorrow and see if I am a go for 3rd Taxotere Friday. If not I will have to possibly the 6 hour round trip for a "shot" and hope for Tx next week. Keep your fingers crossed that counts are good tomorrow.

Shary