October 2013 Chemotherapy

paloverde - I did not have any particular issues with chemo brain - the one thing I thought I did was lose the computer password sheet with the passwords to a gazillion things!  Turned out that my husband picked it up off the desk with the file for his car maintenance (which I have never touched) and re-filed it. I had to re-invent that wheel because we did not figure this out until about six months later!  I also played games - solitaire until I won, mah jongg until I won, puzzles, crosswords, etc., no matter how crappy I felt - I did it every day.  I did not continue working during chemo, partly because I had already had five surgeries in the couple of months prior to chemo, and also because in my workplace I had to make decisions that directly affected patients and could be life-threatening if I made a mistake - honestly, I didn't need the additional stress.  My MO was not enthusiastic about the bio-hazardous nature of my workplace either, so I took FMLA and long-term disability until a month after the last chemo.

I did four A/c starting in October 2weeks apart.  Now have 12 weekly Taxol/ Herceptin. It does sound like we are on the same program. How have your side effects been?

Goosie

 my side effects with A&C were rough, specially the Neulasta shot. How about you? But with Taxol (& Herceptin) I am feeling better. Some bone pain & tiredness for 2-3 days is about all.  I was anemic too during Nov so that fatigue was killer.

Though I would love for this 3 month runny bloody nose to end!

 I think my last #12 Taxol will be Feb 4. I will be happy to be done with Taxol but with surgery, rads & still having Herceptin infusions looming it won't be like *it's done*. ya know..

Vintage Gal

High Five Deb!

Hi Mikesgirl17

 I will be going Tuesday for Taxol #8. (12 weeks) For me it has been a much easier road to travel that the A&C. That was rough. (4 dose dense) (I am getting Herceptin too since i am HER2+)

 The side effects are minimal. I get a couple days of fatigue & bone pain, but nothing like the A&C or from the Neulasta shot. 

 No neuropathy except twice I got some weird lower facial tingling & numbess. Benadryl & Pepcid per MO took care of that. 

 I hope it is easy on you. We're all different but I have to say I feel pretty good & even though I am bald & there's not much left to my eyebrows & lashes I seem to be looking ok. 

All the best to you.

VintageGal

@Pam: you will probably still be ahead of me with regards to starting rads, but I totally understand wanting to wait until spring/better weather to begin! I live in Michigan and will probably start the end of March at the earliest. I also have a long drive and I'm not sure how I am going to work that out. As it is, I haven't even met with a RO yet...still doing chemo (3 more tx's left, yay!). 

Omg, such intense muscle aches this round! I could barely get out of bed yesterday. Have any of you had these? Thankfully, today was a little better. 

Hope you're all doing OK. 

Xoxo 

Hello,

I started T/C on Oct 3, 2013 and finished Dec 5, 2013. The first 2 rounds put me in the hospital with a 102 temp even with Neulasta! Last 2 rounds I was put on antibiotics so, no fever but developed edema instead and had to start Lasix. Gained 10-15lbs due to edema and steroids. My nails were fine during chemo but now have horizontal ridges and have become quite brittle. Limited nausea, meds helped a lot! I think the worst part was trying to stay hydrated when even water tasted funky. I start 30 rounds of radiation Jan 16, 2014 and have my port removed on Jan 30th.  My port site has been bruised since it was put in. Did anyone else experience port bruising?

Forward Girls!

 Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year to you all.

Missed you guys. Trying to catch up on all threads, have been a bit quiet, Chemo # 4  together with a cold  knocked me on my tush. I'm still trying to get up and going. It seemed like all my SE's were competing for attention and first place still have a few trying to outdo themselves....I can't wait for this TCH part to end.

On a positive note, I can join the chia pet club. The hair on my head is growing straight out, I would say I have about 1/2 inch at top back and sides a bit shorter. It came in all white. I colored it this morning. I used a 4th of the bottle and a cotton ball and 10 minutes later dark brown hair again. Now that it is darker you can tell it is not fully in, My 12 year old said , I look like a big baby. I guess I can deal with that. No hair anywhere else yet.

Looking forward to reading about your holidays and how everyone is doing.

New Year's Hug to all...

Vivian

Thanks PatAlameda and Bluegrassharp!

Newbie with first AC
treatment coming up next week, I have another question. My prescription
insurance carrier, Caremark, will not cover Emend, presumably due to the
expense. I was supposed to take Emend/Decadron/Zofran to prevent
nausea. My MO team couldn't budge the insurance carrier so they will
prescribe something else to replace the Emend.

Question: Does Emend
perform head-and-shoulders above all other anti-nausea meds, e.g. is it
worth considering paying cash for it? Or have some of you had other
anti-nausea combinations that were very successful for you?

Thanks for any help, I'm trying not to get too stressed about it. You are all an inspiration!

lonnie-Me too!!! Had my 2nd treatment of taxol today too and knock wood, so far it has been heaven compared to A/C. I felt like I was on some horrible mind fogging drug on that. I never felt good. I had 3 days of bone pain wi th the first taxol but my mind was clear...it was great! Hoping this one qnd the next 2 are similar. 

Smrlvr,

I do have joint/muscle pain from Taxol. Some neuropathy w/hand and feet as well.

Monday is my LAST CHEMO- Happy Dance, hip hip HaPpY DaNcE!!!

SpecialK that sounds like a great alternative and if they don't come up with that recommendation themselves, I'll bring it up.  I wasn't sure what the other options were for heading off delayed nausea up-front, but from what I've been reading, Aloxi is a good one.  Thanks!