Starting Chemo in December 2013
Comments
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Hi Mollyv
I don't know about the gel nails, I also have used that, but have not for a month, I have clipped my nails short because I don't want them longer and raggedy. It may be fine to keep it on?
I have my 2nd AC on 12/26, I'm 8 days out from my first one and I wash my shoulder length hair every other day. I see more hair in the sink now afterward asking but no clumps yet. It looks drab though and more lifeless, but still there. When I see clumps I will shave down to about an inch, I believe it may helps to keep some due to irritation.
The longer I don't have to wear the wig the better to me. Have two synthetic ones bought from the store on this website, the nightcaps and a tourban. I have one that is very nice and way to expensive for work days. I have cute hats of many styles as well. Even the bangs to go under them. I think everyone's hair loss is different as far as timing and also a personal choice when we decide to rid of it.
I did the claritan, my bone pain w as a backache one day, not too bad, I think it helped more with the sinus issues, although I had a day of a miserable sinus headache. Battle on ladies!
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Just got my first neulasta shot today, so I can't speak from experience. But, I do take Claritin daily for allergies, and in my experience allergy-wise it takes 2-3 days of 24hr Claritin for it to provide relief.
Right now I think I'm only feeling SEs from the steroids. My face is very flushed, and for the first time in ages, my sinuses/nasal passages are clear. Doc told me that could be a positive SE of the steroids for me.
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molly, I had my first TX on the 3rd. Started losing my hair a few days ago. I pulled most of it out yesterday by running my fingers through it over and over. Now it is still coming out, but I have enough left to feel comfortable going without a wig or hat. My hair was very thick. So, I am sure it will be gone soon, also. I have heard that others say that all of theirs did not come out, so, for me, I will probably have a wait and see attitude until I find out how much might stay, if any. Then, I will take the scissors to what is left and cut it shorter. Mine was originally 10-12" long, then bobbed it. We all seem to deal with it differently. Try not to buzz it too short if you cut it, as it could cause ingrown hairs, etc. It may hurt for a day or two before you start to lose it. I would ask your MO about the gel nails. I am using tea tree oil on mine. I'm not sure yet if it is helping or not, but no SE's on the nails as of yet.
I hope you all have a wonderful week-end and have manageable SE's!
((HUGS))
Terri
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oranje_mam
My infusion was about 4 hours but I did not get herceptin just AC. I got my neulasta shot at noon today. I am taking my zofran every 8 hours and so far no nausea. Did have a bucket and towel at the bedside last night, just in case. I took a couple of advils right after my neulasta shot and was told to use more as needed. Feel tired today and a nagging frontal headache. At least I was able to drink coffee today along with a lot of seltzer water with a splash of cranberry juice.
Barbara
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Jackieak.
I also decided to clip my nails short. Less change of chipping or hangnails to contend with. I figure they will not grow very fast during chemo.
I also decided to color my hair last weekend one more time before starting chemo. Darned if I was going into Chemo with white/grey roots The roots will probably not grow out before the hair falls out . I really wonder what color my hair will grow back. I still have one box of hair color in my bathroom but I think I will probably let it be whatever it grows in. No dealing with growing out color anymore.
barbara
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Nursemom, I got my first AC chemo on December 6 and I also felt high on the third day. When I drove to work I drove slow and clutched the steering wheel because I felt like I was drunk driving. I was in a fog all that day, but then it went away. phew! I was not taking Compazine.
My hair started to fall out on day 13 (last night), lots of it and not just the hairs on my head, which was a shocker. It was upsetting and I had a good cry. Tonight my girlfriends came over and we shaved it. After, of course giving me a spikey Mohawk and doing my face up in goth makeup and taking some funny pictures. Then we shaved of the Mohawk and did regular makeup to see how I would really looked and I modeled all my hats and scarves. Making a fun event out of it, made it easier.
Mollyv, welcome. This group of ladies are a great help and I learn a lot by reading the posts. I waited until my hair started falling out before I shaved my head. It was just my preference. Do what feels right for you.
Completed my second round of chemo today and used my port for the first time. I love that thing!!! Made it so much easier and less painful, no more stabbing me for a vein. So far I have more Nausea then the first round, oh no.....
A friends son is a paramedic and he's going to give me the Nuelasta shot...phew I wasn't sure if I could do it.
Good Night Super Women!
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Hello ladies,
I had round 2 yesterday with my port, I agree, it is so much easier. I also had my Neulasta shot in my stomach fat, much easier than on the arm. I am in a fog today, same as last time. I can't drive for about 3 days.
DJJ - I am on day 15, my head is getting sore where my roots are. Congrats. on your new job, I am so glad that they will wait for you to get through you treatment. Sounds like a great place to work.
I tried on my hats yesterday and look crappy in all of them, I put my wigs on the other day too, look crappy in those. Maybe it's my mood. I see the hair dresser on Sunday, she will make a few alterations to my wigs and hopefully I will like them better.
Good Night,
Kim
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kjfromca, I had my wig fitting yesterday. . . Didn't care for it at all! I see myself staying home a lot:(. Unless my hairdresser can alter it too, I think I like hats & scarves better.
DJJ & KJ I hope your 2nd round SE's are manageable , I had major nausea with round 1 so I'm anxious to hear if you think it's worst ore better.
Take care, I'm day 5 after chemo, feeling ok, no nausea just low energy. Hope to work this week.
Have a great day!
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Hi Ladies...just started my first round of TC chemo the 18th. It's been ok so far, just feeling tired mostly. I'm so nervous about loosing my hair. I know it's going to happen soon and I have a wig ready, but for some reason I'm just terrified about it. You'd think I'd be more worried about the chemo side effects that "matter";). Sending good thoughts to all of you!
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DJJ
The chemo nurse told me yesterday they make sure the neulasta is taken out of the frigse for at least 20 minutes to warm up and inject it slowly so it doesn't burn. Most other medical people inject subQ shots quickly. Sounds like you had a fun goodby hair party.
Question for anyone getting adriamycin. Does the pink urine return after the first day? I had pink urine even before leaving the infusion center. Pushing lots of fluids but this morning the urine was pink again 2 days after the chemo (thurs).
Barbara
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dancingintherain
I had those first terrifying thoughts also about losing my hair. Heck, I hate my hair, it is thin, straight and going white/gray if I do not color it. Losing it is a visible sign that looks back at you in the mirror everyday that you have cancer. But it is also a visible sign that you are getting treated and will beat those all those little space invaders in your body. I keep telling my self the hair will grow back but not the cancer.
I keep hoping my hair grows back different from what it is now.
Barbara
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round 2 yesterday gals and as of right now I am feeling well,, this is huge as the last one had me in bed at this time, so hoping for minimal SE with a bit of a reduced dose. hang in there my warrior friends we got this !
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dancing in the rain, welcome! The hair loss worry is with most of us. Good luck with your treatments. So far my SE's have been very manageable. There is an active TC thread from February/March if you want to see what the TC ladies are doing.
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crazywabbit, my first round of AC I hade pinkish urine, only twice and both at infusion center, I expected more but did not see it. I drank allot of water the day before, during and after.
When they explained that if you have bloody urine or stool to call right away, my DH wondered how one would know its blood or the red pee. ( I certainly could tell the difference if it were blood, I had to giggle at him because he of course never has had to deal with the monthly gal thing...we know what blood in stool looks like)
I didn't go to wig fittings, I maybe should have, but You Tube has allot of good show me how videos. I expect major hair loss after round two on Thursday, for now it's just limp and dull looking, but not much loss.
I don't even want to play with my wigs or hats yet, they are all in a box...I guess I should at least hang them out to get the wrinkles out of them....one is a lace front and I have seen tape put on by some in videos but I don't know if it's a necessity? I normally wear wispy bangs anyway and hope to have my wig styled as best I can to my real look. Oh the drama of it all....so very much we have to watch for and consider.
Wishing everyone well!
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Day 16 and I had hair gloves in the shower this morning. So it begins....
I have Santa pee after my A/C. It is red at first then slowly fades to pink the next morning. It doesn't hurt to call and ask someone about it if you are concerned. Does your MO have on-call docs for times they are closed?
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Crazyrabbit - I had more pink urine during round 1 than round 2, as I was really nauseous round 1, so wasn't drinking as much fluids. Drink a lot of water if possible. I cannot stand the smell of my urine from these treatments. I agree with RobinLK, give your MO a call if possible.
Jackieak - I just took my wigs out of the boxes the evening my daughter put them on me. I purchased them about a month ago. I am just hoping my hair lasts until Christmas.
NeSkir99 - I see myself staying home a lot as well, luckily I am able to do a lot of my office work at my house. I am hoping that by the time I lose my hair and adjust, I will become confident with my new look. I am scheduled for a LGFB class at the end of the month.
My SEs are better this round, tweaked my meds a little. Hugs to you all.
Kim
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Crazywabbit, Thanks for the tip on leaving the Nuelasta out for time to warm up. They didn't tell me that part. I also had pink urine right after the red devil at the infusion center and then it was gone, but I did have it again the next morning, only once. I thought it was just because it built up in my bladder overnight. That was the first round. That didn't happen on this round.
Kimmie, glad today is going well with SE's so far. Fingers crossed it continues!!!
Day after round two I have nausea but nothing unmanageable. I just returned from a 45 minute walk with the dogs. Slower then usual, but a walk non the less...
We can do this!!
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Day 6 of my first chemo and I'm just coming out of the fog. First few days I felt wierd and dizzy but then I felt like I had the flu. I would make myself get out of bed and walk a little but I could have layed in the bed 24/7 which is unlike me.
Hoping to be on the upswing soon.
I'm going to Austin Cancer Center, getting my chemo in Lakeway
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leealice, are you seeing Dr Goorebeeck? (SP?) I know she is in Lakeway as well as N Austin. She is my MO and she is awesome!
I know what you mean about laying in bed. My first couple of days were fine, then days 5-7 were kind of achy; 8-14 were tired and sleeping for 10-12 hrs, but feeling good the past several days. I am not on adriamycin though. I hope your SE's diminish soon.
Terri
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Don't know why I am still not feeling well and getting depressed. My A/C chemo was 12/12, followed by the nuestra shot the next day. I really had minimal SE's with constipation one of the worst. I took stool softners for 2 days and everything seemed fine. I had 3 nights of chills and went to have my blood work done on Thursday and the WBC are very low. The chills are gone but not the funny taste in my mouth and now I have diarrhea....when does it end? I thought I would have atleast a couple of good days where I feel like myself before round 2. I guess I am suppose to call them with this new SE and its the weekend so I don't know if anyone will get back to me or not.
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Charusa, I'm sorry about your SE's. Definitely call. They will have an answering service and an on call doctor that will call you back to discuss your side effects. I had to call the weekend after my first round and the doctor called back within an hour. They adjusted my meds which made a huge difference in how I felt. It didn't knock out my side effects but made them doable. Good luck and if the depression gets to bad be sure to talk to your doctor. There is no shame in going on anti-depressants when we are dealing with what we're dealing with. This is huge, but you're not alone.
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yes, I see dr. Gorrebeck. I like her a lot. I have my follow up on Monday
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morning all, I was feeling good Saturday, went to my sons wrestling meet then lunch with friends. That evening I started having back aches throughout my whole back & hips. I took ES Tylenol but that wore off during the night I took a painkiller. The pain is still here this morning. I had the Nuelasta shot on Tuesday and had some pain after but it stopped. My first round of AC was Mon.
Had anyone had this, related to Nuelasta maybe?
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You guys all seem to be coping which is great. I have been "morning sick" queasy since the afternoon of my first round. I have anti-nausea meds which help a bit. I have been trying to work and they make me feel loopy, though. My hair feels like a dead mess and I think I'm going to go out and shop for hats this afternoon which makes me want to cry. I'm still recovering from a lumpectomy on the good side along with the port a day before chemo so I think my body is fighting two kind of stresses. No neulasta for me yet. I don't know if it is because of the kind of chemo I am on or whether they will give it to me later in my treatment cycles. Anyway, happy Sunday everyone!
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charusa, sorry you are having those SE's. My MO said for me to take colace or senekot before chemo and that the steroids can cause constipation...pain meds can also. Make sure you stay hydrated, eat fiber, etc. I am now back to my "normal" self. It was only the first week I had problems with that, really. I did end up taking senekot for a few days. Try to stay somewhat active if you can, also. I also had the neulasta shot following chemo; that helps bring your WBC's back up more quickly. It can cause some pain also. mine was pretty minimal; I took 24 hr Claritin before and after shot. I had weird taste buds where I didn't even like water. The taste buds came back after about 9-10 days I think. I guess what I am trying to say is, that there is light at the end of the tunnel! 2 wks out, I was pretty much back to normal with no SE's. So, I am going to enjoy this week, until my next TX on Thursday! Def call your MO with symptoms. It is annoying for sure. Hang in there! I hope you feel better soon~
leealice, good luck with your follow up on Monday! Keep us posted. Have you been in touch with bcrc.org? A great non-profit here in CTX. Just an FYI.
I hope you all can enjoy what's left of this week-end. I am going to clean house one more time before Christmas and my next tx and finish my Christmas baking today. For anyone who isn't aware and needs help with cleaning, there is a service for cancer patients called "cleaning for a reason" in some areas.
((HUGS))
Terri
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NeSkir99 - Re the Neulasta shot: First round, I was achy for a couple of days, then nothing until about days 8 or 9, then my lower back was bothering me. I had low blood count on day 7, then it was good by day 10. Which leads me to believe that your body will ache throughout the 2 week period when you are producing those white cells.
My hair on my head is really hurting me. It feels like someone has been pulling on it. I see the hair dresser today, I might just get it cut really short... This is very uncomfortable for me.
Charusa - I am sorry that the SEs are getting you depressed. I want you to know that you are not alone. My emotions are all over the place right now, what we are going through is hard on us both physically and emotionally. I would not hesitate to talk with your MO re how you are feeling and what these SEs are doing to you. I hope that they can tweak your meds so that you are feeling better next round.
Hugs to you all,
Kim
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charusa- hang in there. I thought I was turning the corner and then got hit with bad diarrhea and stomach cramps. Called the dr on call today and he called me in atropine. Seems to have helped. I had already used the max of immodium. I waited until day 3 to call. Should have called sooner
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Just lifting my head out the fog it's been in for the past 24 hours. Went from Big C to Big D to fever/chills within an hour. Fever was 102 this AM, called MO, she says it's too soon after the infusion Thurs. to be infection from low WBCs. Just taking ibuprofen. Finally feeling able to pick up my head.
Days 1 and 2 by comparison were nothing. I even went for a hour-long bike ride on Day 2.
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Kim, my head/hair pain came right before my hair started coming out in clumps. (Yesterday) Shaved it today.
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RobinLK - I am really thinking about buzzing it today, as I cannot stand hair all over my house. I feel like I need some control. By the way, that is a cute picture of you, you give me encouragement.
Kim
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