April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

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  • sheshe3
    sheshe3 Member Posts: 70
    edited April 2015

    Wow! I come on the board for the first time today, and seeing references to uti's. I got up with one this morning and have been running for the bathroom all.day only to pee an itty bitty burning drip! I feel pretty sure thAt I have a uti. No fever, but otherwise, all.the signs. Gingerchi, how are you feeling? I hope you are well enough to get your chemo tomorrow. GLhope all goes according to plan!

    stephmoen , I hope your problem resolves and is not a uti. Slv, I get carboplatin and am wondering if it has dealt me this. I phoned on call MO today and she called onto my pharmacy rx for antibiotics. I drove all the way there and walked all.the way across Costco's gargantuan parking lot and went in to pick it up only to realize that Costco pharmacy is closed.on.Sunday!!! Now I know this perferctly well, so why in the world did I cost myself such extra exhaustion?!? (chemo brain perhaps?)😕 Well, I'll wait and get my rx filled in the a.m. Still ok w/o fever so far...

    Allicat great bonding time with your daughter. I love the progessional styles all the way to bald. You pics are so lovely of you and daughter. You're rocking the too!

    kSusan, looking good! The pic is lovely!

    Kbeee!!! Night shift, church, EIGHT FRIGGING MILES!!! and baking for your friend. You are susuperwoman! I'm in awe!

    Okay all, wishing the best for those in the chair tomorrow.Prayers.

    SheilSheila

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  • Rpayton
    Rpayton Member Posts: 235
    edited April 2015

    Praying daily for all of us in this group. Hoping SE for everyone are easing and your spirits are lifted. Spring in Northern IL. Today a beautiful day. Hubby and I enjoyed a walk in the fresh air, spring buds in trees and the dandelions have bloomed. I do think exercise helps. The fatigue is tough but a good balance of body rest and exercise seems to help. Taking time out each day to really appreciate little things and make the most of each day.

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  • GingerChi
    GingerChi Member Posts: 252
    edited April 2015

    stephmoen: Sorry to hear this!! I hope and pray you'll soon be feeling better!!!

    sheshe, UTI!!! What in the world is going on this weekend...its like an epidemic!!! Hopefully when you get your RX you'll feel better quick! I know you were frustrated about that after hiking around Costco and feeling bad at the same time!!!

    Welcome to Andrea and thsizit!! Sorry that we are all here, but now that we are...its so nice to have each other!!!!!

    thsizit, I kept whispering that scripture to myself at my first infusion 2 weeks ago. I was freaking out at first!! But I made it through with God's help!!!

    I am feeling better!! I think if mine was UTI it was caught super early!






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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2015

    I do like a few scriptures to get me through. I also like to read inspirational quotes and listen to upbeat songs (which I do on my walks each day). A few hours after I got the diagnosis about my recurrence, I was still pretty much in shock/zombie mode about it all. I went to a show choir performance...my first one...my son was in show band. I got there late, but just in time to see my son's group. His group came out and the first song they sang was one from Glee "You have More friends than you know." I had never seen Glee or heard the song before. All I know is the phrase muttered over and over in that first song was "It's Gonna Be Okay. You have More Friends than You Know." I immediately took it as a sign that it is all going to be okay. I put that song on my phone, and I still listen to it every single day. If you've never heard the song before, search it; it's on Youtube.

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited April 2015

    well staying the night at the hospital wbc count is almost nonexistent at 0.7 so mad I did not receive a neulesta shot will be from now on!! Temp is down at normal just being pumped full of antibiotics :(

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2015

    So sorry to hear that. I hope they give you Neupogen to get your numbers up and get you home. I just do not understand why they take risks and skip the Neulasta

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited April 2015

    Stephmoen, I hope you have an uneventful night and are sprung early.

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  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited April 2015

    thisizit7... did they think for some reason that your internal mammary lymph node could possibly be affected? No Pet Scan was ordered for me at all before chemo or after. That makes me a little nervous now.


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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Karen30, are you still having a sore throat? Could it be a cold? I had one after my first AC. Sore throat first and started to have a fever (101F) and lasted for a couple of days. Drink a lot of water.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Positive_spirit, I had scalp pain a few days after my chemo. It was painful to touch. It also hurt when I was sleeping. I didn't do anything to do. The pain was tolerable. On day 14 post chemo, my hair started to fall off, and the pain disappeared. I think your scalp pain will go away soon. Good luck with your chemo tomorrow!

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    allicat1214, lovely pictures! Both of you look georgeous!

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Stephmoen, sorry that you had to go through this. Hope you will can go back home soon!

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    After my cold and fever two weeks ago, I have been coughing nonstop for the past week. My MO gave me some meds for the cough and phlegm. Doesn't seem to work. Can't even sleep at night because of the cough. I am scheduled to do my AC #3 on Wednesday. Not sure if I should postpone it. But this cough doesn't seem to pass anytime soon...

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited April 2015

    My MO said the throat is full of the type of cells that the AC is looking for- I had heartburn/sore throat through day 5 after AC - could this be all the sore throat problems?

    Stepmoen - hope you feel better by now!

    Good luck to everyone today!!

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  • melb44
    melb44 Member Posts: 130
    edited April 2015

    StephMoen - I am so sorry you are in the hospital - Hope that can get those counts up quick and get you home.

    I am sorry for all of you who are experiencing UTI symptoms. Yuck!!!

    Kbee - 8 miles. Wow you are my hero! That seems amazing.


    I have chemo teach today and first AC tomorrow. I alternate between being terrified and just want to get started and get this thing done. It is such a long journey though. I won't be done with chemo until mid September and then I still have to have suregery and rads.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2015

    melb, we will both be in the chemo chair tomorrow! I will toast you with my cup of ice! Be sure to suck on popsicles and/or ice 10 minutes before, the whole time during, and 10 minutes after AC. It can help prevent mouth and throat sores.

    Theprincess, if Zantac does not help the heartburn/sore throat, ask for Protonix (Pantaprazole), which is stronger. If it is beyond those, it may be a sore which has become infected. They will typically put you on an antibiotic, and often and antifungal too since thrush infection can happen in the throat during chemo and can be a challenge to get rid of. A local friend had that happen.

    lemonade, let MO know meds are not working. Maybe you need a different antibiotic. I sure hope it clears soon.

    I have labs this morning and appointment with MO immediately after. Hoping my counts are good. Considering how good I feel, I really think they will be good. Today is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. It is getting to be sun tea season. I just bought a bunch of the huge tea bags for that...I got decaf ones. Hoping it tastes good to me this round. It's always such a crap shoot about what will taste good!


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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited April 2015

    ThInking of all of you headed to the spa today! May the force be with you! Everyone who is not feeling well, I hope and pray for quick healing so that we can all continue this fight together! I see some are already coming up on their 3rd trearment.?after being down and readING the long term survivor stories this morning, I was filled with joy for all of us here supporting each other to the finish line way out there in the distance, and victory over this annoying disease! Have a strong day, sisters!

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited April 2015

    Stephmoen, I'm so sorry your in the hospital, I hope you get out right after your breakfast so you can rest in your own bed! I'm worried about my levels as well as my first pre chemo bloodwork showed low (4.2) before I even started!

    ThePrincess, that is a good explanation for all the sore throats, thank you for explaining this because I've had a sore throat and was scared I was getting sick.

    KBee you are amazing! I wish I had the energy to walk a mile but I find I'm not as strong as before surgery. I had to laugh when you said you bought big tea bags for sun tea (we call it ice tea- I think that's the same?) because I bought all these expensive herbal teas to enjoy through chemo only to have been told that I can't drink any of them as they all contain antioxidants! Now I remember being told to stay away from green tea the first time because it's packed with antioxidants, but I thought ginger tea, orange tea etc would be ok. Oh well I guess it will stay in the pantry.

    To all those suffering with UTI, I hope the non burning, free flow returns! I'll have to drink some more today- I hate UTI's.

    Just a little heads up, two years ago a woman in my chemo month took drinking 'lots of water' to a new level and actually drank too much water and flushed all the electrolytes out and was hospitalized! . I drink soda stream water (no salt) and add a little sugar free Gatorade to it on my 'heavy drinking chemo' days, to hopefully keep everything more in balance.

    To anyone visiting the chemo spa today, minimal SE, but C cell crushing devastation!

    Shari

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2015

    GM April ladies,

    First, best wishes those in the chair today. I'm not sure what schedule Sssonia and Cheryl are on, but they started 4 weeks ago on 3/30!!! Yay on getting through a month of this already.

    Cherie and Lorraine, I hope you are feeling well enough today to have #2. It's funny to be wishing for this stuff to go on as scheduled, but I very well know the feeling of wanting to get on with it.

    We have a really full day tomorrow - Melissa and thsizit7 going to the bar for 1st treatment. We are all there with you in spirit.

    KB, Stacy, and JustDiagnosedToday for #3

    Denise and Tina for #2. I hope I didn't miss anyone, I'm not 100% sure of everyone's schedule.

    I don't remember if I told you that I was able to switch my day to Mondays, so my #2 is scheduled for 5/4.

    Anyone else which they had a dollar for every burp? I stopped the Zofran yesterday, and while stomach still feels off, I am able to eat, but the burping is literally non-stop. The one thing not on my list was some sort of "gas-x" or other - I don't know if Tums would help? It just makes me feel nauseated until I burp, then I get about 30 seconds where I feel ok, then the gas builds up again.

    Stephmoen - I hope you are home and healing by now.

    KB - you rock - 8 miles - wow, I wouldn't have the time, it would take me 2.25 hours with a walk/run schedule!

    lemonadehk - my mom had that cough/cold for 3 weeks. I think it's just one of those viruses that hangs on. Wish you healing and no delays in treatment.

    -Lynne

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  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 540
    edited April 2015

    Hi All

    I am so sorry so many are having such rotten SEs. I am 1/3 of the way thru TC chemo, and have been pretty lucky. I have the metal mouth, irritated Chia Pet scalp, gassiness at times, Decadron craze for 3 days, then really tired on Day 4, and achey hips, femurs and lower back on Day 7 after infusion. My biggest complaint is horribly dry and painful eyes, and 3 bouts of scleritis. I am going to forego contacts for a few days and see if that helps.

    I just thought I would share my Onco NP, RN and MD's advice. But I think, especially based upon what I read here and on other Chemo threads, (the people with the least SEs seem to be doing a lot of the same things?) that the keys to fighting the SEs are hydration and exercise.

    Here's the advice I was given:

    Drink 64-80 oz of any non-caffeinated beverage each day ( I drink 1 cup of coffee in the am. That's a "minus" drink, because it dehydrates)

    Exercise 30 minutes a day----garden, walk, run, bike, do laundry, vacuum, anything to get your heart pumping

    Rinse with the baking soda, water, salt mixture Every time you go in the bathroom (16 oz water with 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda-leave in a water bottle in bathroom, change daily)

    Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash

    No Lysine, as per my MO

    Brach's Lemon drops

    Colace, once or twice a day, as needed, first week after infusion, or whenever

    Mucinex--( no D, or DM, etc) for chest, head, sinus congestion (I had bloody "snot" and a tight cough for a week after the first round)

    Cleocin Lotion Rx---of course I got acne all over chin and cheeks, at 57 years old

    Ativan Rx--0.5 to 1mg the day of infusion, and for the really bad nights or day, helps with nausea, too

    No alcohol for 4 days before or after infusion---and then 2-3 drinks per week...for life.

    Eat small meals every 2-3 hours for 3-4 days starting with infusion day

    Dove Liquid Soap for scalp and body, I scrub those loose hairs off my head, and it feels so much better

    Satin pillowcases

    Scrub fruits and veggies clean before eating, no lettuce... and no cold foods from restaurants or take-out, including cold cuts or sliced meats, cheeses, no unpasteurized foods or raw fish

    (And of course the 3 days of Decadron, Zofran and Claritin (the plain Claritin) at infusion time)

    I know all of this is so difficult for all of us. This whole BC thing feels like a full-time job, sometimes. I want to cry when I read every day how so many of you have young children, have to go to work, deal with these sucky SEs, feel like we look like Sh$T, yet have others tell us how Good we look! UGH. I can't wait to feel normal again. My tight and achey Tissue Expander being pumped up every 2 weeks never lets me forget. I dream of being able to sleep on my left side again. And again, I am "lucky" because it was a unilateral MX.

    But I don't want to complain, and I try so hard to remain upbeat and positive. I hope everyone on here can find days where they can forget these SEs for a bit and just feel good. I think of all of you all the time...and send hugs and hopes for CRUSHING these SEs.

    Love, arlene

    PS I have broken the rules...I posted this on the March and April threads because you are both my chemo buddies...I hope it helps?

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  • Lobster731
    Lobster731 Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2015

    Hi everyone!!

    Let's see where do I start. This is really hard for me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer Her+++ in March at the age of 39. This is the same age my mom was diagnosis and sadly she passed away with mets 15 years later.

    Wh

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  • Rpayton
    Rpayton Member Posts: 235
    edited April 2015

    Arlene, excellent post. Pretty much all the same I was told too in addition to no teas of any kind. Hydration and exercise. Live fully each day!

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited April 2015

    Arlene- Yahooo 1/3 the way through! Great post that I'm sure others will benefit from.


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  • GingerChi
    GingerChi Member Posts: 252
    edited April 2015

    I couldn't take treatment today...there was a problem with my port! The nurse said it was swollen when she first saw it......then as she was flushing it, I could feel the solution stinging. She said there is no way they could push the red devil if I was feeling stinging just from her flushing it! She couldn't get good blood return but was working with it....she said it was like the needle was trying to come out and even after her taping it down,the needle popped out! I see the surgeon this afternoon. I'm worried and pray that it doesnt have to be removed.



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  • Lobster731
    Lobster731 Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2015

    Hi Everyone!!

    Where do I start? This is really hard for me. I was diagnosed with HER+++ breast cancer in March at the age of 39. This is the same age my mom was diagnosed and sadly she passed away 15 years later with mets. As I was the primary caregiver to her, I saw the struggles and pain that she went through as the cancer was taking over her. So when I got diagnosed and found out my cancer was very aggressive I thought I was going to died in two years and actually decided I didn't want treatment. (Thanks Dr. Google)

    When I went to see my MO, I cried to her and told her I didn't want to died like my mom. She told me that was going to do everything in her power to help me live. I just needed to give her hope. Still, I told her I was dreading chemo. She told me chemo is doable. It's not like what my mom had 15 years ago.

    So here I am. My chemo cocktail is TCHP x 6. I already had my first on April 7th and will have my second one tomorrow April 28th. I am already having anxiety and dreading it. I get scared as I kept reading it gets worse as the treatments move further along. I feel like with all the SE everyone is describing, I will be a rag doll by the 6th treatment. I hope I can have all the strength to finish my treatments. My last treatment is July 21st just in time before my 40th birthday, July 31st.

    Thanks for listening.

    Linda


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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited April 2015

    I have read "no lettuce" many places. Why not, if it is washed?

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited April 2015

    Linda, a very warm welcome. I'm sorry that you find yourself joining our group but you have found a source of really great support! Everyone here is supportive, caring and knowledgeable. I'm also sorry about your Mom. I watched my Mom fight breast cancer and ultimately loose after 2 years when I was 15, so I know how that can leave fear in you. I'm here to tell you that chemo is very doable. It isn't a walk in the park, but it's not horrible either! They have so many good drugs to counteract all the side effects. My oncologist told me the first time (this is my second time doing chemo) that if I felt at all nauseated that I should phone right away because that meant she wasn't doing her job! That made me feel so much better- I was never sick (except when my steroid increased appetite made me eat way too many garlic shrimp! Lol) . I never threw up just felt queazy. I know the trick is to take your meds even if your feeling alright- stay on top of it, don't let yourself start to feel nauseous, take your RX.

    Please don't let fear of treatment hinder your fight- I know you can do this! Remember things have changed a lot and we are surviving! It's normal to be apprehensive so I think of chemo as my friend! I imagine each drip a hungry 'pac man' orb entering my body and eating up all the cancer!

    Hugs hon, your with friends here and we will support you through!

    Shari



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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2015

    Linda! So sorry that you have to go through this - what a horrible thing you had to go through with your mom. She was way too young - same age as many of the women on this DB. I believe your MO - they have made a lot of improvement in the treatment and cure of the BC, and you will get through. Your mom's story doesn't have to be your story. I have added you to our cheat sheet list: Open in Sheets (hope that link works - I'm at work and cannot access Google docs from here).

    Cherie - oh no! Not what you were expecting at all - I hope it doesn't have to be removed either. What kind of port did you get? I got a power port, and I was told that they "never" have problems with it.

    Arlene - good list. I would just clarify that coffee/caffeine drinks are not dehydrating, especially if your body is used to drinking them every day. Caffeine can cause a mild diuretic effect (having to go more often), but who could tell with all the fluid we are consuming? Seriously, it may even be a good thing if you think of the fluid as a way to flush your system :-) I also was given no eating "don'ts", but my infusion nurse said my MO is very strict and doesn't allow any alcohol.

    -Lynne

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  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 540
    edited April 2015

    Mysunshine

    I think the "no lettuce" is because you really can't "scrub" it clean. And their have been many reported E. coli bacteria cases involving lettuces and fresh spinach. I LOVE salads...but am skipping the fresh lettuces and spinaches until I finish chemo. I just use every other scrubbable veggie and frozen cooked spinach, instead.

    hugs!

    arlene

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  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 540
    edited April 2015

    lovilynne

    Believe me, I am Not giving up my morning coffee! LOL...just reporting what my Onco RN advised...she has been great!

    :) arlene


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