Starting Chemo January 2015

Thank you BeachBum and RVGal. You both are so supportive and I appreciate it so much. BeachBum you are right it will take awhile. Wish we all had a switch to flip! No more fatigue. No more SE. RVgal I have the same GI symptoms it never tastes right or feels right and everything tastes funny.

Brandi so glad you had a good day and felt better!! It's your turn to start having an easier time!!

It's almost April!

Patty

Hi All,

There is a lot going on in this thread. Wow, forgive me, I must leave out names except for SweetHope, FIGHT your current MO for that referral, the PT I saw said the sooner I came in if I got LE, the less damage it would do and the sooner it would abate. The American Cancer Society web site has a good section on LE, it covers most issues and has simple, practical suggestions. The PT gave me a printed version and went over it with me. The main thing I got is that you want to avoid all inflammation on the side where your lymph nodes were removed. Any cut, even a hang-nail can cause inflammation (histamine response, I think) and that can cascade into LE. So the mosquito bites would cause more inflammation. Then, yeah get out of there!

And

All chemo sucks! I really like that. My AC #4 was rough. The extra week off was welcome. I was able to get back to work everyday for 6 to 8 hours a day. So glad about that. Just had my first Taxol treatment today. I cried and kicked the elevator and swore because my appt had been moved up by 2 hours the night before and I was late after scrambling to get there then one of the elevators was broken so I wasn't going to get up to the 5th floor anytime soon. I told my MO all of this later and she laughed and said "that's what the elevator door is for, don't worry". I was having a mild panic attack of sorts. But my MO and then the nurses calmed me down. Blood pressure went down. After AC, any chemo just scares the crap out of me. I shake and shake in my boots. All chemo sucks. I iced my feet and my nails. I like to ice, not brave, I just like the cold. My nails are tender. I am using cream, nail oil, keeping my nails short and using the nail strengthener. But still, yowch! Back of hand is peeling where blisters were, reveling normal colored skin underneath.

My concealer can no longer cover the deep black circles under my eyes. Yay for sunglasses. Can't spell anymore so back later.

You all are so brave. So brave. I am so proud and amazed by of all of you .You help me to go get an infusion though I would rather stay home and nap. 11 infusions to go.

Good Night.

D.

jlstacey, how is the blood pressure today? Mine has been very low since I finished chemo. But I have heart damage from the Adriamycin. When I had my mastectomy, my blood pressure dropped to 70/34, and stayed low for 4 days. They would not let me leave the hospital so I stayed for 4 1/2 days. I just checked it and it is 80/66. Ugh! I'm going to chug some water and see how it goes. Take Care.

Hi RV6Gal, thank you so much, but it is amazing to see how everyone lives through all of this insanity in an effort to get well. I am so glad to be here, it really makes a difference to be with everyone that gets it. It is so hard to explain that to anyone that has never had to deal with BC. I hope by drinking extra water and skipping caffeine it will bring my blood pressure up, I am feeling pretty unsteady and slow moving today. I think it has been adding to my fatigue. I am hoping that skipping the MO until 4/28 with help before chemo again. Have a great day!!

Hey Beachbum and Wendy,

Thanks for the validation! I felt like a wild animal in a cage. Don't put baby in a corner, as they say. It all gets to feeling so out of control and my head starts swimming. I'd kick that damn steel elevator door a hundred times, it felt great! I am so weak, I couldn't hurt my foot. hahaha. Beachbum, I am so glad you demanded a long break, you deserve it. Sorry about the low blood pressure, that is troubling. Hey, maybe this is the perfect time to take up light smoking? It would shoot your blood pressure right up. I'm sure your cardiologist would love that! Yeah, don't take that advice.

Wendy, I am icing my feet too, my onco nurse said the theory is that icing reduces the blood flow so less of the Taxol or Taxotere is able to make it into your feet and hands, minimizing damage to your nerves. I did not know this, no studies done, but she and my MO said why not try it, no harm. I got this huge ice pack with a cloth cover that I can rest both of my feet on. It's good.

Also, for those on a Taxane drug, if Claritin is not helping with muscle, joint pain, I was given Zyrtec instead. Studies have shown it (just a usual dose of 10mg per day) to be effective against the swelling and pain caused by the Taxanes. So maybe talk to your MOs about switching? I found that Claritin was wimpy when it came to controlling my severe seasonal allergies, but Zyrtec rocked.

Jenn, AC #4 was tough for me. You will make it through. But it sucks. Went to take a 1/2 hour nap today, slept 5 hours. but I feel so much better than on AC. No cement stomach, no side effects from anti nausea meds. Even though I had the huge 20 mg dose of steroids yesterday, that is still less than the overall dose I had to take with AC which was 36 mg over 4 days. Hoping that my mood will go through less of a distortion as it leaves my system. Next time, I only get 16 mgs, tapering off 4 mgs each week until I am weaned completely off it. Whew. My face is bright red. And I had one long hot flash last night. Had to have a fan on and ice packs to sleep. People say, you look healthy. I do not. I am puffy and red and have peeling lizard hands. But my nails look OK for now, so I will take what I can get. I am able to eat more normally too. More fruits and vegies, feels good. Want to get my nutrition back on track after eating whatever would stay down on AC. Yeah, so I am celebrating! And you can't explain it to someone who has not been through it. Also, my MO said I can take ibuprofen again, no more anemic Tylenol for me. So I hope I can skip the narcotics if the joint and bone pain hits.

Well, time for bed. Can I sleep 13 to 15 hours a day? YES, I can. Stay strong ladies, and sleep well with your brave, brave hearts beating in your chests, warriors all.

bonsoir (or bonjour, given the time it is lol...

Last AC in the bag for me too. They were late so I got there at 7:45 for 8am appointment but did not get oit until 12:30. Have to take Neulasta just in case even if my neutrophiles were now 2.4 (compated to 0.6 last week, which delayed me a week). Can someone clarify which claritin product, dosage and was it really helpful for bone pain?

Played tennis on sednesday night but not sure if I will be able to continue on weekly Taxol.

Brandi999, my fingers are pruny as well. I was associating that with overwashing my hands all thr time but could also be that I don't drink enough water...

Jenn, starting Taxol on the same date as you.

LCH, we will be the last ones saying hello to each other ten years from now because of that study lol.

Kristin whay dosage is recommended for L-Glutamine, which I can't seem to find?

That's it for now, embrace April and spring which is now truly knocking at the door up here!!

Marjorie

P.s. Beachbum - you make a huge difference in so many lives, do you realise that?

Good Morning Tennisfan, Congratulations on finishing #4! I think it's time to jump the net, isn't that what winners do?? You made it, a really big deal. It is so nice to be able to look back at that and know you are done with it. And even better to know that you have a break until 4/17. Much needed and deserved to rest and repair. But you are still playing tennis? I am so impressed, but I am sure that your love of the game has pulled you through. Don't forget to hydrate enough when you play.

I had Neulasta with AC as well, but the bone pain was a problem with dose dense Taxol. The level of pain increased with each infusion. I tried the Claritin, but I did not find relief with it. I took Tylenol #3 with Codeine. The last dose of Neulasta I had cut in half, and no pain. Since it was the last one my MO had no problem with cutting it since I had time to repair after it.

I hope your weather is coming around, and is more Spring like. Here we are back in the 20's today. Sunny but very windy and cold. They say 50's next week. I can't wait to get back outside and find some sunshine!

Marjorie, thank you so much for your very kind words. I drop in to read the threads and I hope to encourage everyone to go one more time, get up another day, and I am amazed how strong and powerful everyone is. I know how hard it is to get to this point, and I know the anguish, tears, pain, and frustration that I read. But as a group, so many good things have happened along the way. The good times, laughter, and joy shine far brighter than the uncertain infusion days. And we all have so much life to live!

Have a great weekend, rest and repair! Cheryl

Good Afternoon. Just checking in with everyone. Have a fabulous Saturday. I am out of bed and so thankful for that. My arm hurts from 7 neulasta shots to get my wbc counts up, but I would take that over being chemo sick any day. Have a great weekend everyone.

Patty,

congrats on finishing chemo. Tell your family that with as much as your body has been through it will take time to recover and you need to allow yourself that time.

TNBBGIRL, I admire your strength and your courage. This is a long hard road and what ever you do, please feel free to come here and talk, vent, cry and pray with all of us. We are here for you.

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to a add a few things. I have watery eyes too. Very dry skin no matter how much water I drink. Our temps are in the 90'S now here in Arizona and it's only going to continue to get HOTTER!!

Also my feet are peeling and my toe nails on my big toes feel like they are infected but they don't look infected. I have not iced my nails because they keep the chemotherapy room so cold I freeze anyway.

I always get a headache during my Taxol infusion and I don't know what causes it. Last week I took meds for it and it wasn't near as bad.

Ladies, keep up the good spirits and have a great weekend

Hi thecolorpurple, I was happy to read that so far so good on the switch to Taxol. And your hair should start growing back soon, mine started to fuzz after the first Taxol. So good news for sure. Sorry to hear about your DH though. I agree that once one thing starts it is almost like a fountain! It pours, and I am 58. So when I went to the Doctor to look at this little lump, well they decided I needed a diagnosis for every ache, pain, bump, and freckle on my body. And then they want a new test, procedure, surgery, scan, the list is on going and endless. I hope DH is improving and on the mend. Are you done after Taxol, or do you have rads? Take Care, Cheryl

Beachbum, you talk about hair growth While on Taxol. I have had 3 Taxol treatments now and my hair is not growing back yet. I have not started taking the biotin but I do rub oil into my head. I alternate between coconut oil and argon oil for my head. I do think I will have to use it more frequently because of the warmer temps now, just to keep my head from drying out.

Maybe I am just impatient but I don't like my bald head. I only go bald around home but if someone comes over, I cover it. If I go outside, I cover it. I don't let people outside my immediate family see my bald head.

Kirstin, happy to hear you have less se's on taxol. I'am also very happy not to have the nausea and the foggy brain. It is not easy if your husband also has health problems and you have to take care of him when our are not feeling well. I am 48 but sometimes I feel and look like 80 too!

Mommacat, I don't think everybody has his hair grow back when on taxol, but that would be nice. I don't hate my bald head, but if it could grow back quickly that would be nice. I'am on taxotere, with coldcap, but my docters say it will grow back after I finish chemo, but secretly hope I'am an exception and it will start to grow back now. I never lost all my hair on fec, it only got very thin.

Jlstacey, hope that with springweather your cold will pass also!

I'am feeling a little better today, but friday and saterday I had terrible jointpains, but with painkillers and doing nothing it was not to bad.

The only thing I have is a rash on my back, which started about a day after I stopped the steroids, some kind of allergic reaction. Anyone else has this too? I will call monday for medication.

Noor