February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

Megomendy- my thoughts exactly, check out what the ladies before us are experiencing....my friends haven't really known what to say to me  I think these boards are very informative, thank you all for sharing your experiences, feelings and advice. I think it can only help, not hurt. 

I cut my hair today, it was a little traumatic but I have to buck up. 

I did do the Claritin. Didn't seem to help, although who knows? Could it be worse?? And what's with the weight? According to my scale, I've gained THREE POUNDS since yesterday! THREE! How is that possible? My heart is going like a jackhammer in my chest, I have cramps, leg pains, and I'm bald. Might as well add FAT.

I am trying to keep everything in perspective. Health, get cancer-free, let the rest fall into place afterwards. But it's hard to do in the every day.

Good news, though. When the nurse practitioner checked me prior to chemo, I asked her about taking Boswellia. It's a natural anti-inflammatory that I learned about on Dr. Oz. I was diagnosed with lupus/not lupus (one doc said yes, another said there was something raising my counts, but wasn't sure if it was lupus, and that I did have some signs of arthritis), so I started taking the Boswellia to help with the joints. It was a big help, but I discontinued it just before my first surgery. I finally remembered to ask if it was OK to take it, and she said it was a good idea, and that it might help with the Neulasta pain. You guys may want to check with your doc and see if they think it could help.

Water retention is a big issue with chemo. Some have the issue with the Decadron. I had just the opposite. Decadron kept my retention down. As soon as I got off it I gained 4lbs! It's not unusual for us women to gain 8lbs (some more) on chemo unless of course you are puking and can't eat. Don't worry it came off for me. Granted I have put on again but I think it's a combo of age, reduced metabolism and Anastrozole. I'm still do not have a weight issue.

When I went to the ER over a fever, they noticed that my heart rate was quite high (122), but blamed it on the meds. I usually have a high red count because I have thalassemia minor. They just took my blood on Thursday and will take it again this Thursday, so I'm not going to make myself crazy. I'm so bloated, though! My fingers look like little sausages. 

Thanks Lago.  I'm not trying to make you worry Sicilian.  Sorry if I did - I am only trying to help.  Some chemos can cause heart damage, resulting in swelling in the extremities...and resultant overload on the heart and rapid heart rate.  It is unlikely this is what is going on, but I would be remiss if I didn't share that it is a possibility.   Ounce of prevention and all that.  

If I recall correctly one of the "call immediately" symptoms on my chemo educational sheet was for rapid overnight weight gain.  

Sicilian-  Dancetrancer and Lago have given you great advice...... Call your onco.  Please don't be afraid to call today because it is a weekend day.  There should be an onco on call and available for you to talk to 24/7.  It is the onco's job to help you get through chemoland and manage the side effects that can crop up anytime.  You won't be bothering him/her by letting your onco know something is happening.  Keep us posted.

Macintx,

I agree it does help to read what other people write. It really helps to make it less scary. Wishing you the best tomorrow.

Stunned_at_33 I think I was there for 4 hours. It's not that the procedure takes that long. It's all the checkin and out time. Recovery... which is really just to be sure you're away. Granted every one is different but I had already had my BMX with nodes on both sides 5 weeks prior. By the time my surgeon came to check on my after the procedure I was already dressed and sitting in a chair. He was expecting me to be still on the gurney. I was 49. 33 young and healthy I bet you'll do better than most of us. I did Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. Perjeta wasn't approved for early stage back then. There are lots of side effects but no one gets all of them. Chemo is not like you see in Hollywood movies. I worked out in the gym for 70 minutes on the ellipitcal and treadmill through most of chemo.

I'm getting my port in next week. I was supposed to get it this Wednesday, but one of my blood levels came out either high/low which meant I wasnt clotting? Obviously my blood is fine since I just had the surgery and "clotted", so they think it is a lab error, and are redoing it. So that put me off a week. I dont now what happens if it comes back strange again, as the radiologist was the one who "complained".

Someone posted that they only got the local anesthetic, not the twilight sleep for their port insertion. Can some of you share what kind of anesthesia you had? I just had the wire localization under u/s before my lumpectomy and only had a local. I could feel tugging, etc, but no pain. I'm wondering if I could handle the port. For some reason the twilight is worrying me. I'm afraid I'll be too groggy and have trouble waking up?

Hi, NJMom3, I'm going to The Cancer Institute in New Brunswick. Dr. Kearney, BS, and Dr. Wong, MO. How about you?

You are a few weeks ahead of me. How was it getting the port.

BTW, good luck tomorrow with little to mild SE's!  

I am on the same treatment plan, just completed the 3rd AC treatment. Can't wait to get the 4th behind me!  New problem came on suddenly yesterday...peripheral neuropathy in my feet!  Ugh. Not happy with this SE.  Off to see the doc tomorrow. Has anyone had this during AC ?

megomendy I had twilight for the port. If they are saying you'll be there for 4 hours I'm betting you'll have the same. You should know what your getting. Call up the surgeon's office and ask.

jbokland I had/have neuropathy in my left food from Taxotere. It started after the 2nd tx. It's not bad and most people recover. Be sure to let your onc know especially since you are getting Taxol next if I remember correctly.

Some folks do have pimple issues. My gums did bleed a little on chemo. Remember to write all this down and tell your onc.

mazie73-  Sounds like you handling the side effects well.  Sorry about the rash and throbbing gums.  Make sure you let your onco know about that rash before you have the next round of Cytoxan/Taxotere.  It could be the beginnings of an allergic reaction to the chemo which may mean that the next round, that rash could show up again and stay longer.  Hope your side effects stay minimal and you feel start feeling normal by the 6th post chemo day!!!!