February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

formydaughter, I am so sorry to hear about what a hard time you have had with side effects.  I hope the Emend , works for you , I was given that and I think it worked for me. This also must be very hard on your daughter, she too is probably wishing everything was just "normal". Sending big hugs to you and your family, and good luck to your daughter at the dance competition this weekend!

Purpletron , love your comment about rockin the Mohawk, I thought of that too (my daughter)wanted me too...but the way hair falls out it wouldn't have worked...maybe I waited too long,chopped it all off two days ago (18 days ) after first chemo ....thanks for the laugh. Hope you are in less pain,with each passing day. 

Tangandchris , I ordered some stuff from tlc, I like what I got ,but ended up being expensive shipping to Canada ...so I would not do that again ...too much duty to pay . It would probably be ok , staying in the U.S.

Sicilian, congrats on being half way !!! What nice comments too, we do all have each other!!

Wishing everyone a great weekend with minimal side effects !

Well, A/C no. 1 is done.  No big deal.  I feel kinda like I have a hangover.  Headache, rapid heart beat, a bit achy.  Waiting to see if it gets worse, hoping not.  

Hello ladies... I'm in the land of the living again.  Wow!  I got my ass handed to me.  I am one of those shitty chemotherapy tolerators!  Is there such a thing as good chemo tolerators?LOL

So I had chemo 2-20 felt ok after and Fri-day.  Friday night no sleeping.  Saturday the nausea hit.  I took the Zofran2-3 times a day up until today.  Super nauseated. Tried ginger gum even.  Headache that is persistent. Tried several things, no luck.  Face rash and chest too, red, flat, circular, non-itching. Sore to tongue tip, only one. Runny nose.  Severe abdominal cramps, killer.  Still today even.  I lost 10#.  Terrible way to do it. And the chest and back pain with muscle aches. I did take the Claritin too

Went to work Tuesday and on.  Difficult at best but did it.  Saw the NP today and got Bentyl for cramps, and sleeper med.  I got Herceptin today.  I seem ok.  Will see. I am very grateful tomorrow is Friday and I am off the weekend.

I had my husband shave my head when he was here last weekend.  We did make it to the ballet, only for an hour.  I had tried to eat some soup earlier in the evening of the ballet and just could't. I am working hard to keep my self hydrated though today had diarrhea after a bout of cramping.  JMJ!

So 2/18 done..just a little more... 

I think of you all and what we all are enduring.  We're supah stars!  (said in my best South Boston accent)  lol

NJMOM3 - Thanks, trying to relax with my chai tea this morning before I head out. So happy to hear your SE's are still at bay. Hope this trend continues! 

princessrn - I'm so sorry to hear you had such an awful round. I hope your next one goes better. Enjoy this weekend - you deserve it! I took my meds prophylactically - all of them, whether or not I felt symptomatic. It worked for me. I was very preemptive for the first 4 days - took nausea meds on the clock, then alternated it with Ativan before bed. I did end up getting super constipated, but it could be worse, right?!

MicheTheVan… - Yes, it's horrible - trying to keep something in your stomach at all times when everything tastes BLAH. I hate making myself eat when I feel like crap! I invested in a case of ensure and a case of organic smoothie/yogurt. (I hold my breath and down the the drinks.) They are both high in protein and sugar. I'm 50/50 on the sugar thing right now...although it is not good for me, it does give me energy. It does worry me though b/c I've never consumed so much sugar and carbs in one day, but this is just temporary and I will go back to my normal diet once this is all over.

Good day, everyone. Will update you soon. Take care of yourselves!

I had my second round of a.c. on Wednesday.  It went well. It sure was harder to go back the second time.  My hair started coming out in clumps yesterday so I asked my kids if they wanted to cut it for me.  I thought kids always love scissors and hair.  There were lots of giggles.  They kept me from crying too.  I ha e to wait for my husband to come ho.e tonight for the final clean up.  I several holes and patches.  Now, the hard decision becomes , wig, or hat.  I feel like the loss of the hair was the last huge hurdle to get over.  I assume you just get used to the new you.  Feeling a life teary though.  The decordron probably isn't helping that.

Good job to all.  Hang in there.  You are doing great.  One day at a time.

Hang in the Ula. This site is for people all over the world. Let us know what SE you get. We may have some tips for you. Are you doing all 3 at the same time?

Macintx,

Glad to hear everything is going well. How did you make out yesterday and today? I had my 2nd infusion of Taxol Wednesday no problems so far. I will not be getting  a Neulasta shot because my WBC was really high so I might not get the aches and stiffness this time. Here's hoping

thank you lago, yes I am doing the 3 at the same time. Each infusion takes around 4 hours.

I usually get very thirsty at night, and leg pain while sleeping. They had to give me two more shots of neulasta during my infection. I guess that's why my legs hurt.

Dear allydp, thank you, I am doing well now, I guess I am ready for the second round.

Macintx,

The way you fell sounds alot like how I felt no nausea just no appetite. Alot of the time I had to force myself to eat while I was going through the AC treatment. With the Taxol it has been alot better with my appetite. I also remember feeling a funny feeling in my throat, not really a sore throat but did not feel like it usually does. Glad to hear you are doing well.

Ula

When I received a neulasta shot after my first Taxol infusion I did get alot of leg and joint discomfort but it did pass after a few days.  The Chemo Nurse told me that it was from the combination of the Neulasta and my infusion of Taxol. This time my WBC was high so I did not have to get a Neulasta shot so I'm hoping no leg discomfort.

KAT4856 I had a few hairs that never fell out. When my hair started to grow back I actually had to cut them short because it looked weird. You can see those hairs in the 6th photo from right. Here's my hair transition linky.  Starts on the right. Dates on the bottom. 

1st photo 1 week before BMX.
2nd few days after my hair started to fall out and I had it cut short.
3rd photo 19 days after first chemo. Hair is much thinner and dead looking
4th photo 2 weeks after my 4th tx in that wig I hated that was too big and shiny
5th photo about 2-3 weeks PFC

Ula that's a really long day. 12 hours! or 4 all together.

Allydp some of us (like me) never had any nausea. I was on a different chemo then you though. Don't worry if you don't get it. You'll get you're own special SE but you might be lucky and very minimal

Ddgm1003 do you have a wig cap? It should help with the itch

Tang, I have purchased twice from doubleheader and have been very satisfied with my purchases. I have decided not to wear a wig and go only with the scarves. It's nice that the pre-tied have free shipping, and my orders come very quickly as well. They are also the most reasonable scarves I've found.

Stomach was a mess this morning and I was an hour and half late to work. My boss has been very flexible about my hours, so I'm lucky.

Hope, I started carrying around Fiber One bars in my bag. They're great between meals.

Anyone else feeling like an alligator? We've had an abnormally cold and snowy winter. When you throw the chemo into that mix, my skin is a mess. I feel like I've been going through lip balm and lotion by the gallon, and it isn't doing much.

Sicilian I'm not on chemo and I feel it. More dust in the apartment this winter too. You do know that most dust comes from dead skin cells. But yes chemo dries out your skin. Here's a trick I shared with folks when I was going through chemo. I still do it. I use 2 parts Dove body wash but mix it with 1 part hair condition. (I use Suave because it's cheap). Really helps my skin from getting too dry. Granted you still might need to moisturize in this weather but this really helps. I don't now if these products are paraben free. If you are worried about that I'm sure you could do the same with paraben free products.

Ula that sounds about right. It was even longer for me because it took at least 1/2 to get my blood tested and 1 hour to make the chemo after I was cleared from my onc & blood test. So that was at least 2 hours for all that including seeing my onc.

I am right there with you. I am scheduled for surgery again March 7 th. She is going to try to get clearer margins around my sentinel node. Also she will put my port in at the same time. Ten days later meet with my oncologist just to check everything and start chemo somewhere 10 days later so by the 27 th I will have had my first chemo the same treatment as yours. I asked the oncologist when my hair would start to fall out and he said 14-21 days after first treatment. Uggggg anyway good luck it you. 

Hello all, I'm on day 9 after my first treatment [TCH] on 2/20.  The posts on this site have been a comfort to read since I've been diagnosed so I figured I should join.

As far as SE, the neulasta after treatment was the worst.  I got the shot the day after at 2pm and by that evening the aches had set in.  I had taken the Claritin as recommended but the pain got so bad I couldn't sleep.  It only lasted one more day before going away.  The "Big Ds" started on day 4 and I mostly relied on water, coconut water, and vegetable juice.  My husband makes fresh juices for me every week.  I finally started feeling "normal" on day 7 with the bone pain, fatigue, and Big Ds going away.  But then I began to get other SE.  My tongue and lower lip feel "thicker" but don't look any different and I have a little rash on my right hand.

I cut my long hair into a bob [which I love and wish I had done sooner!].  Initially, I wasn't looking forward to my hair falling out but my co-workers kind of have me looking forward to it now.  Once my hair starts falling out and I'm ready to shave it off we are going to have a head shaving party at work and do it all together.  I visited work the other day and the guys have all forgone their regular haircuts in anticipation.   

Sicilian - Have you heard of "The Kind" bars. They have them everywhere now, usually in the all natural/organic section. They are really high in both fiber and protein. Mix of fruit and fiber. Pretty tasty too.