October 2013 Chemotherapy

Team,

hands/finger extreme itchy with blisters. ..ecema/dermatitis perhaps? I took Benedryl for a few nights & I feel better but now my hands/fingers are cracked , bleeding , peeling and sore.

not sure if I am right furfriend do you put your hands in hot water a lot?  I have problem with feet and hands because I was taking a lot of hot showers.  I am also on different chemo but it is a side effect of mine.  just wanted to make suggestion incase it helps.  it is called foot and hand disease.  take care...m 

Hi Gram,

I am sorry about your Se's. I have my 2nd Taxol tomorrow & not looking forward to it as usual. I am going to take an Ativan this time. Thanks to the lovely ladies here telling me it should help with my anxiety. I too noticed the bone pain with my 1st tx. I hope your pain subsides Grams. Take care.

Furfriend -- does sound like hand and foot disease, which is a SE of the taxanes. -- Keeping you hands out of very hot or very cold water/ice, and using a good moisturizer (Aquaphor, Eucerin Calming Creme, etc) may give some relief. When I had hives for Taxotere! the Benedryl every 4 hours seemed to control the itching. Be sure to go over this with MO -- you may need steroids or other interventions to help.

hi everyone- need to catch up on posts but wondering if anyone else has had Chest tightening and slight wheezing. I have been struggling for a few days with this on and off. I try to calm myself down thinking i am overreacting but past 2 nights have had it. I thought perhaps was trying to fight off something like slight cold but it seems like cold air helps. It dawned on me tonight that it might be asthma. I have never had asthma before. It is scary of course which makes it worse. Wondering if anyone else is dealing with this. I think I will be calling MO tomorrow.

thanks headeast I will. I have sarcoidosis in my lungs which complicates matters fore which is why MO puts on AC rather than TC. She told TC has chance of pu issues and with sarcoid she didn't want to risk it. Wondering if this is asthma or just me trying to fight off cold. I have been congested as well.

I will keep u posted it is scary. One minute I feel ok and next I don't.

ok so I didn't call...slept with window open last night. Seemed to be ok once I feel asleep. I am going to see how I do tonight and if same thing then I will call.

schoolcounselor - you need Nystatin mouthwash for the thrush - it is a Rx so call your onc.  This is a very common SE, so don't be worried, but it may happen each tx.

lg - I had very mild asthma associated with hay fever, mainly in the spring or when something is blooming, prior to breast cancer.  I rarely used an inhaler, but it did flare with chemo and I had a more difficult time with it.

Wrenn, it sounds like your gut instinct was spot on, and it is nice at your MO agrees. It sounds like you will be watched carefully, and the referral to the nutritionist is nice. You'll have to share what he/she has to say. i hope you feel better and better each day.

Oh my I hope all this improves & goes well with you Wrenn!

BTW have you considered eliminating gluten (flour pasta breads crackers cereal cookies etc) from your diet? It made a HUGE difference for me. I have an intolerance & have been GF for 3 years. Just a thought....

Vintagegal, I am going to try everything. Nutrition and exercise is my treatment now so I will be sure to do tons of research. I am also going to work on weaning from Nexium. It is really hard to do but it does interfere with absorption and has been known to cause diverticulitis too. I was just too comfortable with it all before but new year means new lifestyle. thanks everyone.

wrenn, you are always so sweet and upbeat! Thank you to all you wonderful ladies for the help and support you have provided. I haven't been on here much lately but I hold all of you in my heart. 

Wrenn -- Glad to hear you reached an agreement with your MO and that you have a proactive plan going forward -- (((hugs)))

kbee-  doing much better haven't had an attack.  Was even able to shovel some.  I do have slight wheezing.  I have appt with MO on Friday for bloodwork and tamoxifen script.  I don't want to start...finally starting to feel like myself and  I don't want another drug into system.  Ok I will stop whining....

Specialk-  I started biotin supplement thanks for suggestion. 

Wren-  glad that you and MO are on same page.  I have been thinking of you as we all know how tough this road is.