Starting Chemo March 2015

Hi Bekah,

I've been lurking, and I hope it's ok that I'm jumping in. I saw your post asking for comments about weekly Taxol, and since I finished weekly Taxol/Herceptin last month, I thought maybe I could chime in. I'm not in exactly the same boat as you since I didn't do the AC first, but still...let's see...the good news is that I had no nausea or vomiting, and the other Taxol patients at my infusion center didn't, either. I also had no muscle or joint pain, but I usually got a pretty nasty headache two days out. Advil could handle it, though, so really, that's not so horrible. I only had one toenail that was affected at all even though I didn't ice anything. A couple of times I had mild tingling of the fingers and toes, and that's one of the things my oncologist and the nurses asked about all the time. For me, it mostly went away a couple of days after treatment. (One toe is still a bit numb, but it's not much of a bother.) Hair, though...that's the rough bit. I lost pretty much all of it after the third treatment. My oncologist said all his patients lost their hair on weekly Taxol. Brows and lashes were fine until now, darn it all. Through all 12 treatments, brows and lashes held on. Now, though, they're falling out. Argh. Near the end I had a couple of minor allergic reactions to the Taxol. The nurses said that was pretty common...I got a red rash all over my face, and I had to postpone a treatment. It didn't itch or anything...I just looked like I had a bad sunburn. They loaded me up with Benadryl and decadron (oh, joy) and had me use an OTC cream until the end of it. I rinsed with baking soda/salt three times/day and never got a mouth sore.

With the Herceptin every three weeks, I've had no noticeable side effects.

Hope this helps.

Holly

hello Boots! What beautiful eyes! That looks like a quilting mat...yes? I'm a quilter.

So glad you have a special therapy kitty.

Hugs

Love, love, love all the pet pics!!!

My caretaker kitties Spooky and Tiger. . They look a little perturbed since I woke them from their nap in the sunshine, but they are very sweet.

Bekah, my family doc tried to diagnose me with Reynaud's recently too. I always thought the color changes and cold intolerance were due to my Hashimoto's, but he thinks it's mild Reynaud's. He prescribed a blood pressure medicine, but I never took it, because I've never been a gratuitous medicine person. Ha! Cue cancer...

I'm still not 100% convinced that he's right, but it's interesting to hear from someone that actually has it. It's not very common. I thought someone on here mentioned it a long time ago, but I couldn't remember who. My thumbnails have deep grooves near the base, but everything else is good so far. I use Vitamin E oil on them a lot. I may paint them and see if that helps with the lines

Katy I'm sending you a big hug...and now I'm telling you, you need to get some rest. My heart hurt for you reading your post of your day. You sound like you are thoroughly exhausted and your body is telling you it needs rest. I know I don't know you beyond this board but I get the sense you care so much about others that you put yourself second. I may not be as wise as you but tomorrow brings a new day and things always seem brighter in the morning. Put today to rest and do whatever it is - warm bath, hot tea, soothing music, reading, meditation, etc. - that will allow you to relax enough and shut down your brain and just find solace in sleep or peaceful rest. I'm worried about you and will pray that you get a good night's sleep tonight and that your body aches and pains will be less tomorrow and that your fever doesn't return. Take care of yourself!! You can't be the natural cheerleader you are to this group if you are incapacitated in the hospital! Jack is adorable by the way!

My therapy kitty is 'Mr. Sprinkles'. Don't let the soft name fool ya though. He's de-clawed, neutered, and a BADASS hunter! Every night he brings me some treat - gopher, mouse, lizard, bird, repeat....I don't mind except the birds. Those he just leaves feathers everywhere...at least he eats his spoils and cleans up after himself (except feathers).

Angie- thank you for your kind words. I have been resting and do feel much better.

Well, I didn't know why I needed the dark polish, but I did get some, so tomorrow I will trim my toes and nails and get busy protecting them from the light.

Eileen, my mother taught herself to quilt the last few years of her life when she was living with me. She was always a sewer, and made lots of my clothes growing up. After she died, and then my brother died too, I found myself trying to fly under the radar in a small Oregon town. But funny enough, it had a very large quilt shop! The ladies there took me under their wings. I don't have the patience and skill to work with all those little bits and over the years have tried to work with larger blocks and more interesting fabrics to create my unique "look".

I made first a Christmas quilt for each of my nieces using the same basic fabrics but different ways, in a class. I will attach a pic. And I apologize in advance for hogging up space but will include a whale quilt I made for a very dear friend who loves whales, and a bed quilt for myself with a piano key border. They are all very simple, but I am quite proud of them.

Katy, those quilts are beautiful! I took up crocheting a few years ago, and have made a handful of baby blankets. It's so nice to give people gifts with a personal touch. And yes - Maggie is a tortoiseshell! When I got her they told me tortie's have their own attitudes, known as toritietude, and boy was that true. But i love her dearly. She's been a good buddy through all this crap. She slept by my side during the whole month of December when I was recovering from surgery, and she always curls up extra close when she knows I'm having a tough time. Gotta love animals and their senses!

Katy, do you do the top quilting? I'll send pics tomorrow. I have one quilt that I have pics of that I hand quilted. The others were tied.

Wow Katy, that's pretty impressive! Beautiful quilts. Glad to hear you are feeling a little better.

Time for me to get up and get ready for Taxol #3.....

Happy Hump Day ladies!

Holly: Thanks so much for your info. It was very helpful.

I was wondering if there was something clinical, so to speak about the dark nail polish.

Katy: Your quilts are absolutely beautiful!

The cats are all lovely. I am more of a dog person but I love cats, too. We might have a shot at getting a dog someday but with my daughter's allergies cats are persona (or felia) non grata here ever.

Jackbirdie - your posts inspire me and your quilts are beautiful. Thank you! Hope you can stay away from hospital.

I am supposed to get 3rd TC this am and freaking out. Leg cramps getting worse every day, hobbling around and yesterday weird dizzy spell with my boss demanding to drive me home, but OK after a while at my desk. MO may lower taxotere but thinks I should still have. I was not in such great shape before BC with vertigo, leg cramps so not much reserves to start with. Then addition of all these meds that come with warning may cause dizziness. Almost ready to throw in the towel. Thank goodness for benzos.

Hi All,

Katy, Those quilts are magnificent. What a talent! I do counted cross stitch, but the tips of my fingers are sore and a little pruny, so the stitching is annoying my fingers. My own fault, because I never wear gloves, and have been washing hands so often. I at least remembered to wear them for a little gardening.

I have researched and questioned the dark polish, and have not come up with a source I would quote. I just know polish has been suggested by MO, Onco RNs, and various sites. The whole idea of light hitting the nails causing the damage doesn't make sense because if your toes are in shoes, no light is hitting them. Regardless, I have purple on my toes and teal on my fingers...whatever it takes and whatever works...I will try! And the dark colors are fun, at 57, I am trying to be young...lol.

Just wondering if everyone is taking Colace twice a day? I have had no probs with constipation, and thought I would suggest. the colace and a couple of dried prunes or apricots every day. They have been doing the trick for me. It only seems to be an issue the first week after an infusion. I only have 2 TC under my belt...but all of the tips I have received have helped immensely. Just can't get rid of the metal mouth and tongue soreness. Have the water bottle with the tsp of salt and tsp of baking soda always in the BR...and I am actually liking the taste of Biotene MW.

Last infusion, I had bone/joint issues for a few nights, a couple of hours, also during the first week. Motrin worked, as did moving around. It's weird, if I am still, try to rest, watch TV, I get all fidgety and uncomfortable. So, I have been doing as much as I can, e.g. light cleaning, gardening, stationary bike, etc...and I feel so much better than the first infusion. There must be something to this whole exercise thing. The endorphins, the speeding of of metabolism, drinking more? I don't know if it gets the chemo drugs circulating and excreted more efficiently, or what? I just know I feel so lucky to feel better this time around. And I am so lucky to not have to work now, I don't know how you all do it? I work in an urban area with young children from all over the world, whose vaccination and disease status is not always known, so my MO wanted me home during chemo. I want to send strength and hugs to all of you who are working through this, have young children at home (My 4 are in their 20's).

I wish all of you may have these SEs calm down and take a HUGE hike.

I am so glad to see a lot of us have dogs and cats to help calm and comfort us when we're down. I love all the pics.

I guess I am rambling today...no one is home...so I had time to catch up and think.

Wishing everyone a sunny day,

arlene

Here is my Augie...saying HI!

Arlene: I am glad you are having an easier time this time. I believe exercise helps me both physically AND mentally.

I, unfortunately, don't have an critters but hope to after this cancer nightmare is finished.

Trvler - thanks! It feels good to feel normal.

Leigh - I'm impressed you have still managed to do CF through this. The idea of using a rower or attempting a pull-up makes me tired. I don't even think I could do a push up now. Forget box jumps. I'd be back on that little box (and probably trip over it)