February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

Tangandchris some get it in their drip like you. In my case I got it in pill form to take the night before, day of and the night of. I do believe it's to reduce allergic reactions. Also helps with fluid retention although I think I'm one of the few that got that benefit.

tangandchris - we are having similar SE's: gums are super sore (especially when flossing), scattered pimples on my head and top of chest (they don't itch and does not look like a rash), and itchy scalp.  So if it is any consolation, you are not alone! I am calling my MO today to see if I can get a rinse to help prevent any mouth sores!

NJmom3 - may you keep feeling good! only 2 more to go for you of that stupid AC! Will you update me on your hair status...I keep going back and forth on when to shave it.  I was supposed to do it last weekend, but couldn't bring myself to do it. We had the clippers out and on; then, I backed down!

Good luck to all who are getting infusions soon! 

I just had my first AC yesterday, and they did give me a drip of anti-nausea and steroid in my iv before the AC.  So far, knock on wood, I feel totally normal, but I feel like there is a ticking time bomb of SEs that will hit at any time!  I went ahead and ate breakfast and had a cup of coffee and will head out around lunch to go get my Neulasta shot.  Guess I'll keep my anti-nausea meds with me in case anything hits while I'm out. 

Njmom3 I never did buzz it but I did cut it short. I too have lots of thick hair. I would vacuum my pillow and bathroom every day for about 1-2 weeks. I would empty the shower drain twice in one shower because it became so clogged. Hang in there.

I have told people to go to a Japanese restaurant or store and buy some pickled ginger. I didn't get nausea on chemo but  the last time I was nauseous I tried it and it worked.

Hi! I'd like to join the February group. I started chemo today. I'm taking Cytoxan for four infusions. The whole infusion went fine but they didn't prescribe any anti-nausea pills? Is that normal? The nurse told me to take or eat ginger if i got nauseous. How long was it before you started feeling side effects? Thanks so much for any insight that u can give me. I'm working on adding my stats to the signature line. Sending everyone big gentle hugs

I'm back.  The rash came and went.  Chem burn rash on face they think is from the Perjeta.  I've been a rotating case of SEs - daily call to my MO, daily Rx change, daily SE change...it continues.   They put me back on steroids for awhile to help with nausea, throat closing up and rash.  But steriods causes tremor in hands (couldn't type) (tried to work from home a bit), and nausea when coming down from them.  The latest was today - all my veins in my right arm turned kelly green.  Then they went back to normal.  No explanation - must be aliens.   I had an ultrasound of my upper left arm (there was pain and they feared a blood clot).  Result was that they found a 3 cm mass, likely liquid.  MO said we'll watch it - might be post-surgery fluid.  The moment the ultrasound tech said 3 cm mass, I freaked - it hit too close to home.  Left side has been a bad side.  But no blood clot.

Lost my hair day 14 after 1st treatment.  Starting falling out in clumps.  Brushed out more clumps.  Cried.  Took a bath.  tried to wear a wig out, but felt embarrassed, obvious and that it was falling off/moving.  Tonight my brother came over and shaved me.  I feel sad but better n a way.  Wig easier on.  My daughter came home and said that I looked scary.  She didn't want to be near me.  I cried more.  She read a book about cancer/chemo that my MO gave me today.  It helped.

My blood counts are high enough that I am now back out of quarantine.  I get to see my daughter dance this weekend with a trip to a dance competition.  Will need a mask, but I can go!!  Will come back for my second hit of chemo on Mon.  I do not want to go back, knowing how bad I felt this time.  I'm afraid to go back.  They are changing my pre-meds.  I will have Emend, 4x the steroid I had last time, Benedryl and Aloxi.  If this does not work, I'm up for cannibus.  My MO actually raised it.  

Tomorrow I go to my OB (SEs include UTI and a what I think is a staph infection on my labia)  But, my inflation with my tissue expanders went great - no pain this time and I'm liking the result.

Time for sleep.  Sleep heals.  I love that first moment when I'm waking up when I feel safe, cozy, content and I do not have cancer.

Formydaughter - you have been through it.  I did TCH, too, and did not have an easy time of it (no Perjeta).   Gentle hugs!

FYI, you can get a yeast infection of your skin when your white counts are really low.  I got one in my armpit and also in the perianal area (sorry if this is TMI for some).  So it could be that and not staph.  Something to ask about when you see your gyn.  It was treated successfully with Nystatin powder.  

Hope you feel better soon. 

My hair is starting to shed alot, scalp is really sore and in the shower tonight it was coming out bad. I had a mini-breakdown tonight over it.

formydaughter-sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. I'm concerned about my daughter's reaction to my hair loss, so I can identify with you. ((hugs))

trying2staypositive7 I'm wondering if because you are only getting Cytoxin that maybe you don't get nausea as often. I would call your onc and ask him/her about this. But just to let you know I was on Taxotere & Carboplatin and didn't get any nausea.

formydaughter hang in there. Ya the word "mass" isn't a great one for us

formydaughter, I'm so sorry to read about the difficulties you've been having, and a little heartbroken to imagine how difficult this must be to go through with young children. (I'm in kind of the opposite situation, where all my family and most of my friends are thousands of miles away, which has its own troubles and heartbreaks.) I hope both you and your daughter are able to adjust to and overcome these challenges soon. And good luck to you, Gardengirl66, and everyone else coming up on their second (or any) infusion!

trying2staypositive7, I hope you get all the answers you need tomorrow. I've been keeping a notebook with a diary of my side effects and lists of questions for each appointment; it's already pretty full!

After a couple days of quite intense body pain which Tylenol didn't really touch (I will try the Claritin & also ask about something stronger next cycle, stupid me), I'm feeling pretty okay here on Day 7 -- tender mouth, occasionally tingly fingers, and a little residual achiness aside. Am noticing some twinges in my scalp and pondering rocking a mohawk for a while...

Stay strong, ladies!

Sending hugs to all of you!! I know how hard this is and how scary, but how lucky are we all to have one another??

Went to my onco for my followup visit today and told him that pain from the Neulasta had me out of my mind. He said that my blood levels were so good that if they stayed that way right before my next treatment, he will stop the Neulasta. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Stomach still a little wonky, but otherwise doing OK and happy to be halfway there!

All I know is all the pre-tied scarves were too big for me. I have a small head I guess and with no hair even smaller. That's why I preferred ones that weren't pre-tied. 

If you want to go cheap I would recommend going to a fabric store and buy some remnants. There are fabrics you can cut that won't frey so you won't have to sew the edges.

My favorite place for scarves was www.anokhiusa.com   All wash and wear if you take them out of the dryer right away. Maintained color. I would get at least the 30" x 30" As someone mentioned you can use those ponytail elastics that come in colors to tie the back. They are pricey though. I'm not sure if the rectangle size would work. I don't think it's wide enough.

Lago-see I have a big head lol.....at least I think I do. I've tried to wear ball caps in the past and they just are too tight. I have really thick hair and even when I wore a ponytail they didn't fit right. So, I don't know how that will work w/o the hair. I'm gonna look on that website and I like the idea of the remnants.

I haven't planned well for this part at all. My hair is really starting to come out now and I just didn't want to deal with it before. Now it's here and I got to