Starting chemo September 2014

Kath (tobycc) ~ you made me cry and laugh at the same time...i also had a minor meltdown on my DH yesterday and I can totally relate! I just love your choice of old adages...priceless. It makes me want to use a 'turn of phrase' out of context today just to keep 'em guessing...and then I'll smile to myself and think of you! The tears are a good emotional release for us. I believe they're essential, as is laughter...which often comes afterward. Hope you have at least one good laugh today. And, as far as wise words for the rest of us...you've already said them and you just don't realize it.

Sybil...thanks for the much needed optimism and perspective. 

Jean ~ I'm also curious about Taxol...I'll be doing it weekly as well after I finish the AC. 

LARock ~ thank you, I am feeling emotionally better for sure. I'm going to talk to the MO tomorrow about the sore throat. It's funny (not), just when one side effect subsides a new one comes along to take its place. Congratulations on the run! I, on the other hand, drove to the dog park this morning! Somebody razzed me about it, but I didn't care. 

Indiegirl ~ I'm with Daniella. I have at least one cry a day. It releases frustrations and fears and it must be cathartic, otherwise why would we do it? One day this week I cried in front of one of the other dog owners in my neighbourhood. She was on her way to the dog park and I knew I couldn't make it all the way down there and I just started tearing up and I scared the heck out her. She thought something traumatic had happened to my dog at the park. I finally divulged why I was crying...and I was secure telling her because she had confided in us about her boyfriend's testicular cancer earlier this summer. So, indiegirl, we are emotional beings. We laugh and cry together and it's nothing to be concerned about. 

Hugs to all and hope everyone has one minimal side effects and a little laugh!

I cried today. I cry everyday almost. I ask myself why did this happen to me. Why when other women my age are getting to spend fun times with their kids do I have to be in this miserable state. First infertility, then my first battle with bc in 2008, now its back. Why me? Why me? I ask myself at least ten times a day. Why weren't they watching me better so the recurrence was smaller instead of 1.8mm? Why did I go for mammograms every year and get the clear all those six years while this cancer was growing? 

I guess I am still in the anger part of the grieving process. The SEs are bad but I think the anger is a real drag too. It will get better with time. I will survive this and be stronger for it. My husband has been so supportive and understanding. I am so grateful for his presence and patience. There is still so much to be grateful for.

SueBe - I 'm sorry you are having to go through this again too.  Kick, scream, yell, cuss, do whatever you have to do to get through the angry stage.  We are here for you and we will get through this.  I know how shocking it is to get news like that.  I had a 1.7mm lump and when I woke up from a simply lumpectomy, my surgeon told me I would have to have a BMX due to the fact that my right breast was 98% full of cancer and my left breast had signs of cancer in it.  The mass was never detected on the mammogram, MRI or sonograms.  I am grateful everyday that I get out of bed.  Hugs to you. 

Thanks ilovepugs, nomatterwhat adn LARock for your positive thoughts. It will get better.

Hi KayaRose, 

Have you ever tried psyllium husks? You can buy them from a health food store and some grocery stores that have a health food aisle. They work for both constipation and diarrhea! You take a tsp. or tbsp. of the husks and stir them into a small glass of water and drink it down. Follow that up with another glass of water and there you have it. I used to force it on my husband when he was 'irregular' and now that you've brought it up I am going to stock up because I think I'm going to need it. 

For fun, mix a glass of the husks up with water and leave it for a few minutes or so to see how the mixture turns from water to a gelatinous substance. 

I do recall that you should avoid eating anything within a half hour or so of drinking the mixture.

Hope this helps!

Anyone else having trouble sleeping? I was only able to sleep for three hours. Hopefully this is just a temporary SE of the steroids?

KayaRose - I was told a long time ago that when you're constipated, you shouldn't keep ingesting more stuff bc it sort of compacts the problem.  Use some glycerin suppositories or even an enema (a cold coffee enema I heard works the best) Sounds like you have already found relief but for next time. My baby has terrible constipation issues. When it sits in you too long, it just gets harder and worse.  Glycerin will help solve that issue.  Sorry for the rather gory response but there you go.

Tobycc - Glad you got through the day reasonably ok. I could never tell whether the pain was more bone or muscle, it just felt like I'd been belted with a baseball bat. Part of the difficulty is that Taxotere by itself causes bone pain, so Neulasta is just adding to that.

It was a peaceful, rather dreary and rainy day for me. DD and I got the dogs out for a walk, but gave up on going to the dog park, as it would have just been muddy. I got some small branches trimmed off my tree in the front yard before it started raining again, and hopefully it will dry out tomorrow so I can finish that task. I still can't figure out why I've been rather hyper the past few days, but I'm willing to take advantage of it as long as I can.

Today is two weeks since my first treatment.  My hair is coming out pretty good now.  I have felt really good for a week and a half now like I have never had chemo.  My Onco says he's not gonna give me the nuelasta since I hurt so bad from the first one.  My blood counts did not drop after the first treatment.  My fear is the second one that is a week away.  I have heard the second and third treatments could be worse.  I really only had the pain from the shot, a sore throat and slight diarrhea.  Can I expect to have worse SE next time? 

LARock My scalp has been so sore.  I wouldn't shave it too short, a friend of mine did and she said the stubble was painful to touch. Wishing you well.

Hi, badhairday - Welcome! Sounds like you're pretty darn allergic to Taxotere. That must have been scary to deal with, but I'm glad they're getting it figured out for you. Each of the poisons is especially difficult on different parts of the body - Taxotere on the liver, Adriamycin on the kidneys and heart, and to be honest, I've not researched Cytoxan enough to know more than the nausea that they all seem to cause.

Your SE's probably won't be all that much different - headache, fatigue and taste changes happen in both. Although I've found that the Taxotere taste changes didn't resolve until a month or so after the course, where Adriamycin taste changes start resolving a week or so after a tx. From the information my MO gave me, Cytoxan on it's own causes hair loss, although usually not until 3-6 weeks after tx. It might just take longer before your hair loss kicks in. I hope you let us know as you go along - I'm curious now!

Hi badhairday, 

I started AC chemo on Sept. 22nd. I was prescribed these 4 anti-nauseants: Aprepitant (Emend), Ondansetron, Dexamethasone, and Prochlorperazone. The nurse gave me the first 3 of those meds approx. 1/2 hour before the chemo began and gave me ice to suck on during the Adriamycin portion to prevent mouth sores. During the Cyclophosphamide the nurse told me to tell her if I felt like I was getting sinus cold symptoms (I didn't) and if so, she would slow down the infusion. 

My side effects started about 6-7 hours later. I had nausea, dizziness, and profuse sweats initially. Over the next 4 days I had nausea, often triggered by food smells, or thoughts of food; subsequent loss of appetite and of course, weight loss; fatigue; mucous/saliva overproduction; and heartburn. By Friday I had begun to crave food again (chicken soup and mashed potatoes) but often by the time the food was in front of me I'd lose my appetite again or after a couple of bites the heartburn would kick in. I took it slowly, and just had wee bits at a time. By Saturday and Sunday the initial side effects were really subsiding, but I was still losing weight and developing a sore throat. I saw the oncologist yesterday and he said it didn't appear to be thrush, but rather chemo-related mucositis. He gave me a prescription for Magic Mouthwash and some other mouthwash...I can't recall the name, and something for the heartburn, as he thinks that the heartburn may be triggering the nausea. 

So there you have it. The only other thing that I will mention is my newly developed aversion to the smell of our little pug. To me this is like insult to injury, because she's my little constant companion and all she wants is to snuggle up beside me or on my lap and I don't know what to do about it. 

Naturally, I hope that you don't experience any of the side effects. They're lousy and don't make for happy days.

Christine

Christine, I can completely relate to your comment about your pug. My constant and most devoted companion is my golden retriever but I couldn't take any more of him last night. He suffers from ear infections and the smell of him was making me crazy. How sad.

This might sound odd but this morning was the first time it really occurred to me that I'm sick and that this is going to suck for a while. It was also the first time I cried. I am so used to powering through everything, it's hard to accept that I might have to give some ground to cancer.  

That said, I forced myself to get ready for the day and am glad I came to the office. It feels normal (despite a fuzzy brain). I even packed a gym bag and hope to spend some time on the elliptical later in the day.

Hi Ladies,

I'm in the Sept. 2013 group. I purchased a wig last year and wore it once (guess I'm not a wig kind of girl, I preferred caps and scarves). I've attached a couple of pictures. It's dirty blond with light blond and reddish blonde highlights. It is virtually brand new and I thought maybe one of you would like to have it? It's the lace type, which gives you a natural-looking part. The wig is a large size and even though I have a large head, it was still a bit big. So, if you're a small, it won't work well for you.

I'd really love to send it to someone who can use it. If you want to PM your mailing address to me, I'd be happy to send it to you.

I hope everyone is having minimal side effects and is making it through. Hang in there!

Kelly

Hi all, hope you are,doing well.  I am in my "off"  week from the A/C.  Feel pretty good.  Mostly just heartburn and feeling weak.  Thats OK, as I have always been a bit too independent and now I am learning to lean.  Humbling  experience but good for me.  I am scheduled for my third dose of A/C next Monday.  Love, Jean