Chemo in May 2014

debiann

I am on day 9 of round 2 and I have had a much better course this time, same as you, I started the Prilosec and that made a huge difference. Last time I didn't have many days when I was able to function well at all until day 14. This time I've felt 75% myself since day 4.  Sorry about your thrush:(

Glad its going better this round Lespring. I wondered too how I lose weight so quickly even when it seems like I'm eating enough. Guess the body is using more engery. My dh is being wonderful about my short temper and my stupid actions. His eyes get big and he fixes whatever dumb thing I did but doesn't say a word. Well he did say something the first time, but I nearly bit his head off in my retort so he's laying low now.  He did ask if I could just try to not burn the house down,lol. 

lespring, I feel you with the diarrhea issues. That seems to be my only side effect from the taxol. it last several days after infusion and I am on the weekly dose! I am shocked I haven't lost weight. Appetite is good just feel like food goes right through me! I had #5/12 yesterday. Hair is shedding fast. Down to a buzz cut but not bald yet. Best wishes to your daughter hope she stays well for her birthday!

Happy Birthday to your daughter lespring. I hope your proactivity works.

I had my labs done yesterday. Everything looked good. Although doc gave me Ab for acne (on my face and I have a small spot on my bmx scar that looks like it's getting infected.) She also 1/2 my steroid dose after chemo. She thinks that caused the acne. It's gnarly acne too, not just the normal small spot I used to get once a month.

2nd chemo is Tuesday. Doc and all people I meet at the cancer ctr keeps saying drink LOTS of water. I thought I did good with drinking water but probably not good enough. I had a a little trouble with constipation.  I took pericolace and that was probably too strong so I will change to Senokot and take it earlier (night before chemo)  than I did last time. I also had a white spot or two in my mouth. Doc went ahead and gave me a script for Magic Mouthwash just in case.

I am going to have an acupunture session today.  I've heard it can help with side effects. I also have a frozen shoulder from a fall on ice this past winter and can't move my arm into the position I will need to when for radiation after chemo. So I am looking forward to that.

I cut my hair short a few weeks ago but shaved it using the 1/16" comb yesterday because of massive shedding. My 11 year old son says he doesn't like it and asks me to wear a hat. :-(  Poor thing. I think my dx has affected him more than my older 2 (dd - 13 and ds - 15). He continues to ask questions about dying and has frequent stomach aches. :-( So I will try to wear a hat for him but most of my hats hurt when I wear them. For this reason I am ready for it to be all gone.

How is everyone else? Is everyone about on their 2nd round? 

I love all the pics!!! Your beautiful shaved heads are giving me strength and I can't wait to share mine. I'm only Day 4 of my first A/C dose and so far have been doing fine. Only mild nausea when hungry, after eating, and when I move too quickly (taking Emend, Decadron, and Prochlorperazine; I have Ondansetron but haven't need it yet), some fatigue, and restlessness from the Decadron. A little constipation the second day so I've tried to eat dried prunes and drink prune juice every morning and that seems to help.

On Wendesday, I saw an MO at Dana Farber, which gave me great relief because she confirmed that the treatment I am receiving already is what she would prescribe. She also said I qualify for a clinical trial once I'm settled into Tamoxifen, which will be months from now. So, I'm feeling lifted by the hope of more treatment to reduce recurrence.

Many of you probably have seen this, but just in case, I wanted to share a great YouTube video I found on tying headscarves in all kinds of fancy ways:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbGOK-0POAE

JKLB thank you for the recipe! I am hoping the second go round is a little easier then the first. I did dring a LOT of water and I think that helped. My next treatment is a week from today. I feel 97% normal so I'm going to enjoy this week!

Fatigue kicked in faster for me this round too. Told dh when this is over we're gonna need a new sofa cause this ones gonna have a permanent indent from my butt. Happy to hear it doesn't seem as bad this round. Hope you have a good weekend!

I hate this is eating up my kids' summer that is just starting! We had a horribly long winter here in MN and by March I was craving the sun badly. Our snow didn't melt until the end of April! The first week of May we finally had a 60* day for the first time since like September. I made my kids sit outside with me all afternoon while I just soaked up the sun like a lizard. The problem is, I am still craving the sun but I can't stand it longer than 3  minutes! Then I start sweating so bad and move into the shade where I get the chills. Really, this crap is pissing me off. 

I'm thankful I have two rounds done. 8 or so more days of bad side effects ahead of me and then hopefully I'll be feeling good again. My eyes are on August 1st, when the side effects of my last treatment should just about be wearing off! 

I have my second round on Friday. I was affected almost immediately last time. I was tired, queazy and some sort of mild headache. Didn't sleep very well.  Nuelasta shot didn't give me any bone pain and I took Claritin day of and day after the shot. Everything lasted about 3 days and then slowly slowly got my energy back to where I could function a full day (Thursday/Friday). Now here we go again! 

No hair loss yet and it feels normal still. July 11th is my last round of A/C. I should be back to normal by the 15th or 16th if I have the same SE's each time. Fingers and toes crossed.

Hi, lisa84! We're almost on the same AC schedule. I hope it goes as easily as possible for you. Lots of great recommendations and tips here.

Btw, everyone, I'm loving cold watermelon for dry mouth. Hits the spot and soothes right away. 

Welcome lisa84.  I started on 5/20 too but on diff drugs.

My next infusion is tomorrow.  The depression hit a few days ago. Yesterday I flipped put on my husband about my son skateboarding down the mountain AND without a helmet. Justified yes, but I went over the top with it. :-( 

This sux.

I'm worried about how bad it might get physically this round.

Watermelon is great. Another great fruit is raspberries! OMG are they yummy. I am usually not a fan which makes this the perfect food to get hooked on during chemo.

I started losing my hair last week. It was already short but I buzzed it to the scalp late last week because I didn't want to leave a trail of hair all over the house. I've been using a lint roller to take off what's left. I'm ready for it to be all gone so I can wear some hats. Right now the little that is left makes that uncomfortable so I'm wearing Buffs.

I have a question, does anyone put any lotion or oil on your head?  I feel like I need to use something like that since it is seeing the light of day for the first time in about 47 years. And I feel it should be very gentle. If you use something, what do you use?

Day 5 of round two of TC. Hell. Running a temp again. No diarrhea though constipated instead. Bone pain started already last night. They told me the next two will be worse. I can't even imagine.

Writinghelps...My hair us pretty much gone, slight baby fuzz left. I got some California Baby Overtired& cranky shampoo and conditioner. I also use the same sunscreen on my scalp I would use on my face.  I'm blond, when I have hair, therefore burn fairly easy. I have been using CeraVe sunscreen for face SPF 50..oil free.  It seems pretty good, I tend to break out from sunscreen, but pretty good so far. 

In the chair for #2 with my designated cancer shirt. I wore it for surgery and I decided I'd wear it for the rest of chemo. In a sense I am regenerating.  Can't WAIT to Carry On.  Halfway done!

Yesterday was finally a little better. Hoping today will be better still. Getting IV fluids today so that will help I'm sure. I was awake for 5 hours today. Thats the longest I've been awake since my treatment on Thursday June 5th. I wish there were some rhyme or reason to how the side effects hit various people. If we didn't have a house full of kids here, who need a lot of supervision, things would be easier. One of the kids cannot have outside caregivers at all so that just ads to the stress of "How are we going to do this two more times?" My husband wants me to switch protocols because the Taxotere really does me in. I just can't see doing that when I'm half way to the finish line. Praying my slow wake up continues and by the weekend I'm back to myself again. 

Anyway, I am glad to see that not everyone's side effects are as severe as what I've had. As someone just going in my SE's would scare the hell out of me. They make me feel like a total wimp. We have a family friend who is on the same protocol two weeks ahead of me. She is going to work every day through this. I can't even speak in sentences from day 1-5 because of the fog. I drove on Monday (day 5) and my arms and legs still felt like they were disconnected from my body. It is the strangest feeling. The bone pain was not quite as bad this time, but when it does start it comes with a fever, so I'm cycling fevers every couple of hours. 

I am, by nature, a very positive person. I try to find the humor in all situations. This is truly testing my ability.