Starting Chemo in April 2014

My hair started falling out exactly 2 weeks after infusion 1 and I got a buzz cut the following Saturday (which was last weekend). The hair ("drapes" and "carpet") have been coming out mucho this week. At least the long hair was easier to get out of the shower drain. These short hairs are a mess! 

Good going!

Sharon!! love it!!

Love the pictures ladies!  

I went to LGFB today.   It was better than I expected but I had low expectations Got a wide range of makeup (and a lot of MAC which I do wear) learned how to draw on my makeup eyebrows and lashes.   Best part was meeting people, even one my age with small kids who was also looking to connect.  I think she will be my 'Nordie's at noon' friend.  So I am glad I went.  Really wanted to pump my mascara wand

Hi all,

Well I'm the day after round three and feeling ok.  Wondering if I'm going to jinx myself by saying that out loud.  Lol. My MO added Prilosec to my ever increasing list of meds.  However, so far today heartburn hasn't reared it's ugly head, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I asked about my phlebitis.  He said it might clear up or it could always remain a problem.  But for now, my arm is not aching.  The veins are just swollen and hard.  I guess I can live with that.  I am receiving Emend in my infusion and it seems to be working great also.  

Clarrn - thanks for the pep talk!  I was SO not wanting to go to chemo but am relieved its over.  I did get the dreaded headache a few hours after my infusion, but so far that is the worst of it.  I keep telling myself I only have ONE more to go!  I'm hoping the Taxol will be easier on me like my MO tells me.  Good luck to you on your next treatment!

Wishing all of you a wonderful SE free week!

Hugs to all,  lilyrose

Sharon love the blue wig. 

So tonight was my daughters concert for chorus and I wasn't going to miss it. So I talked to the principle last week about an easy out seat. A seat close to the front near the door and he said no problem. Well I asked him for the seat and he told me it wasn't me who asked. I a lost had to show him that I was wearing a hair piece under my hat. Luckily he just gave it to me.  So I apparently do not look like the typical chemo patient. . Go me!  

Is any one else going to be on weekly taxol after AC???

I love the blue wig0 You rock Ms. Lady

Good morning all, 

LOVE LOVE LOVE all the pics!!! 

I went in for my 4th treatment yesterday (just my weekly low dose of Taxol, no cisplatin, thank god!). I was a little worried about my blood work because the cisplatin pretty much laid me out for most of Sunday and all day Monday, I was not able to eat very much. My chemo nurse looked up my blood work when i arrived yesterday and said "Your labs look GREAT! Whatever you're doing as far as your eating habits, keep doing it, it's working."  I wanted to share a couple of my tips with the rest of you. I get my treatment on Thursday, so Friday, Saturday and Sunday I immediately start taking my anti-nausea med alternating every few hours with Tylenol, that seems to keep my SEs from hitting too hard over the weekend. I drink copious amounts of coconut water, and I also drink my protein shakes on those days. I got the recipe from someone here but for the life of me I can't remember who or which board,so my apologies to the OP! I changed it a little to accommodate my preference for Trader Joe's products. I pour a cup of TJs Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk, 2 scoops of TJ's chcolate whey protein powder fortified with 21 vitamins, a few frozen strawberries and a small handful of High Fiber cereal, in my ninja single serve blender cup. It tastes like a chocolate milkshake and I'm getting the calcium my bones needs, protein and vitamins, and a dose of fiber to keep from getting "backed up" by the meds! Monday through Thursday I switch to my fruit smoothie. I use about a half cup of TJs 100% orange juice, a banana, some TJs frozen pineapple tidbits, and fresh spinach and kale leaves in my single serve cup blender. It's delicious and full of replenishing vitamins and minerals. Beyond this, I just try to make healthy eating decisions--whole grain toast with natural PB or some oatmeal or egg whites with spinach and mushrooms for breakfast,a salad or soup for lunch, and stir fried veggies (in coconut oil or flavored olive oil) with brown rice and fish for dinner most nights. 

Everyone is different, of course,and these are just some suggestions based on the chemo nurses' assessment that whatever I'm doing is working, my body is bouncing back week after week and I haven't lost or gained a significant amount of weight yet. 

Fight on my fellow warriors and enjoy the weekend!

Love the pic, Jaimieh! And the blue wig, And the ACS wig. I need to see about my ACS wig. It's too small.

good morning all!

Ure all doing great!  Sh and I decided not to travel this time around. We will wait until treatments are done but he took the day off today anyhow. We will go visit my mom and chill around the city. Play tourists!!

My head was driving me NUTS - the itchy scalp woke me up so I put a cold compress and then went back to bed. More pimples showing up. Guess the hair will be gone soon

Have a great day all

:-)

Linda, your ACS wig looks fantastic on you! 

Feeling a little achey and sore today (2 days post 2nd infusion), but not too bad so far. Bald spots on my buzzed head make me look sicker than I feel. 

I hope everyone is managing their SEs better as we move forward.

jaimieh- 

Herceptin and Perjeta won't make much of a difference. This is my second time with Herceptin and I've never had issues. The only problems I've seen reported with Perjeta is rash the first treatment (which I had) and a little diarreah. I just had my 2nd round with it and so far no rash. I think you will do great! 

Janet P, I love your regimen and try to follow very similar regimen myself.  I admit though, that the week following treatment is a "wing it" week and I'll allow myself to eat whatever feels good.  In addition to green smoothies and salads, etc. I also supplement with a vitamin/mineral supplement (Called Women's One that I get at Whole Foods), b12, b6 and D.  After my 2nd infusion my nurse was also excited about my "Great" counts. 

Linda - great wig!

Jaimieh - I am taking Herceptin now, and one week out of each month I have it by itself, and I felt really good that week. I will continue on Herceptin for a year after I finish chemo in late July.

Clarrn - I'm doing weekly taxol, 3 weeks on, 1 week off for 4 rounds. I have found this second round to have more SE's, but by far not horrible. I'm more cranky and uncomfortable, I'd say. My numbers have remained pretty steady, so I haven't had to have Neulasta or anything.

I finally got out to walk today, I hadn't exercised since Tuesday's infusion, mainly because the weather has not cooperated. I feel soooo much better when I'm able to get outside. It was cool but I was still able to get in 2.5 miles. I've lost most of stubble on my head, it's now very thin. On the bright side, 5 weeks since waxing and no need to do that again any time soon!

Happy SE free Friday & weekend to all!!

Great picture ColdinCanada! I hope it's warming up there for you, finally! Enjoy your weekend!!