November 2014 Starting Chemo Crew

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! my 3rd. round is jan.6th.

enlm20Erica - So sorry to hear about your loss.  Sending prayers out to you for support on Saturday.

enlm20Erica: sorry for loss. prayers for you and your family. happy early birthday. good luck on your round 3 of chemo. love you too friend.

cookies: just hang in there i know it's hard hun, but i know how you feel my boyfriend helps me with a few things, but as in cleaning the house, going grocery shopping, or doing the laundry that is not his area and i know his sister across the street won't come over and help. that is why i do it because that way i know it is going to be done. but i love him with all my heart. he does take me to my appointments though i am happy for him doing that. hopefully he will come around. i hope this help. just take one day at a time hun. i will be praying for you and you husband.

Hi Everyone! I've taken a break for Christmas, and was over on Facebook for some of that time, but it's important to be with the original chemo crew here. Isn't it sad how life just doesn't seem to give us a break when we most need it? I'm so sorry to learn of Erica's loss. Erica, I'm thinking of you and your family at this sad time. Cookies, it's so hard to deal with this alone much less with someone else having issues. My husband is wonderful, but every winter he goes into a funk and he's telling me he's depressed now. I'm not surprised, but it brings me down, too. I just have to remind myself that it's not about me. Please find someone who can counsel you--I hope your doctor or insurance company can recommend someone, or perhaps you have clergy. I've done it many times in the past for various reasons, and it is such a relief to talk with someone. It's a sign of strength to get yourself some help.

Kimberli, I use baby shampoo on my head that still has stubbles, just to keep it clean. I tried putting lotion on it once, but it just gummed up my hats, so stopped. It doesn't get too dry when I leave it alone. I have an artificial wig, but I did wear it to my regular hairstylist and she trimmed it up to fit my face better, so that might work for you. I still don't feel the same in the wig, so I mostly am wearing hats and caps around the house.

I'm on Day 5 of my third round of CT, and feel very foggy, like I'm underwater, and very fatigued. I went for a walk today and it was a struggle but the fresh air and sunshine of north Florida felt so good.

I hope everyone's day gets better. Hang in there, we're all in this together! T

Also did anyone experience tingling in the hands and lower arm periodically? I know this is a side effect but is it common and does it go away.

wheelygirl...if I may ask what was your wbc count...of course i started googling and thats not a good thing!!

Thanks wheelygirl.. did they also take a vial of blood from you from your port? They did for me today, wasn't sure whether that is standard or not.

Erica, I'm so sorry about your grandfather. My dear grandpa died this month, too, and I was lucky to be well enough to be at the funeral. I feel so bad that I can't help my poor grandma or even visit because I'm stuck in bed. So sorry for you and your grandmother especially.

Cookies, my heart breaks for you. I have a less-than-helpful husband, too, but my kids are a little older and can fix themselves sandwiches etc. You could request four months of free housekeeping at cleaningforareason.com. I feel very alone lately. My husband has always been a daily drinker and got plastered the night of my second A/C round, when I was quite ill. He continues to go to weekly happy hour and last Friday stayed out until 1-2:00 am, which led to him coming down with the flu. Which led to canceling Christmas with relatives. I am fine with taking care of myself, but sheesh, at least he could try to protect us. Rant over.

I finished my last of 4 DD A/C on Christmas Eve. I usually crash hard three days later, which is tomorrow. I'm going to drink tons of water and possibly walk (I used to run, but I'm a couch potato now).

Have you guys seen the weekly taxol thread? We might be in for a rocky ride. Scared! But overall they say it's easier than A/C, at least the first six weeks.

Thanks for being here, everyone!

On WBC counts, mine was 18.2 with a reference range of 4.1-10.9, so way high as well, 2 weeks after the neulasta shot. The nurse told me that it was from the neulasta shot and not to worry. I think it's great to have them so high.

So sorry to hear of woes with less than supportive partners. I guess that this is a tough time for them, too, and we all choose our own ways of dealing with setbacks. Hang in there. We care here!

Hi everyone hope you all were able to enjoy Christmas. After my Nuelesta shot it made my WBC critically high so 2nd chemo my dr didn't have me do Nuelesta but instead I went in 4 days in a row for a shot called "Granix". Which elevated my WBC normal. Erica, will pray for you and your family, so sorry for your loss. Sorry to hear about those who struggle with their spouses. Has to very hard emotionally. :-( I am all for counceling. Even before diagnosed with bc my husband and I done 2 years of counceling and are so thankful for it. Yes hard work but together we are so much stronger! :-) my next treatment is also January 6th, but dr is reducing strength 25% since having horrible side effects. Wish me luck 3rd round goes better please. Hugs to you all. :)

hey everybody! Erica, I'm so sorry about your grandfather and will keep your family in my thoughts. Cookies I amso sorry that your husband isn't supporting you more. I know caregivers have their own stressors and he is overwhelmed too. However missing your chemo. Well that's just not okay! I hope that he and you can both find the support you need to get through this horrible period. I'm doing same treatment plan as you. I did my last AC week before Christmas and start my taxol jab 9. My first three rounds weren't horrible. My last round knocked me down with fatigue. I'm also starting to have pain in my fingernails. So my usual activities are, of course, very active pursuits like running. Now I can't even do my "backup" hobbies like knitting. I'm not looking forward to three more months of chemo!! I've been through my fair shares of mental suffering in my life but the physical is a whole new game. I know we will get through it but it sure isn't fun. Thankful to have a supportive group to vent wit

Minivan, several of us are using Brian Joseph'seyebrow gel on our eyebrows and eyelashes. I've had three rounds of taxotere and Cytoxan and I still have them. But I heard they can fall out after the last treatment. If that happens, I have Lumigen on hand.

I haven't been on this site in a while (posting mostly to the fb page) but trying tomget caught up here.

Erica ... very sorry to hear of your Grandfather. Timing for a loss is never right. Thoughts are with you.

Cookies ... very, very sorry to you and any others who do not have very supportive husbands/caregivers. It saddens me to hear this. I understand some not wanting tomoick up all the slack but to miss your ppointment?! Ugh. I am very fortunate in this respect .. I also think you should look into any support services your cancer center can provide for you ... from counseling to transportation help (Amer. Cancer Society had a program in many areas to help w/transportation).

I had my 3rd round of TC on Friday ... so far doing pretty good on my 2nd day out from it but definately in a fog and much less energy than I had the da before (got a wonderful 3mile hike in!). Couldn't have done that today if my life depended on it, but otherwise feeling OK, eating well and limited to no nausea. Here's hoping this is the worst of it.

Nails were hurting but felt better just before round 3, but are blackening in the corners and very prominent rings, esp. on my thumb nails. MO says it's par for the course. Just hoping they stay on! ugh. I did notice some fuzzy hair gowing back!! I actually can't believe it and am wondering if now that I had another treatment if that will fall out or not. Thakful the folliculitus cleared & pray it doesn't return. I wash w/baby shampoo and have been occassionally putting some tea tree lotion (can't think of the name - common shampoo brand - male name)

Eyebrows/lashes thinned a little, but nothing truly noticeable.

My counts were really high prior to the first round but within the week my white count was 1000 and neutrophils 0 so my onc ordered the shot for me this round.  I had the shot Friday and no side effects until this evening.  Now having sharp pain/muscle spasms in lower back and just all over aches.  I'm not sure if I will allow the shot next round as this is worse than any chemo side effects so far.  I was on house arrest (couldn't leave the house for 3 days) when the count dropped last time but they sprang right back so not sure if the shot is worth the side effects.

Midlifecrises, I had Nuelesta shot 1st round and it sent my wbc critically high. So 2nd round dr skipped it. Then my wbc were almost zero!They were 100 and he wanted them to at least be 1000. So I did 4 straight days of a shot called granix. now I'm 3000. He wants me to do Nuelesta again next time but not looking forward to it because it was also horribly painful for me.

Still have my eyelashes after 2 rounds of TC.