Chemo in June 2015

The American Cancer Society has a website called TLC. They sell all kinds of headwear. Aldo, call your area ACS. They offer a workshop called Feel Better Look Good. I have not gone yet myself, but I hear they give lessons on tying scarves, make up, etc. they also give you make up and headwear. Also, my church has a thrift shop that has a headwear area (even wigs). You might check with church thrift shops. I wear nothing in my head at home, but wear a cute turban or a wig when I go out. Yes, it is hot, but I just cannot get into just wearing a staff. Just me!

I find scarves or do-rags much cooler than baseball caps. Look for Ergodyne Chill Its on Amazon or elsewhere. Cheap, fun, comfortable. I also use scarves and bandanas.

I did have sideburns for about a week after day 12 of AC#1, I shaved them because they did not match the wig / hair wigs etc close enough to not look ridiculous (my mom cut my hair to about 1/4 inch).

Had it with the hair everywhere so tomorrow we decided to go for the buzz. I cut 12 inches off already but I cannot stand this hair all over me. The amazing wig lady/ hairdresser will buzz me but my 15 year old daughter gets a few swipes in as per her request Ready for the next big step , on a side note i had not shaved my underarms and they are bare so that's a bonus Hope everyone finds themselves in a happy place tonight.

Theycallmecommdorable- enjoy your meai and the wine !! Have a relaxing evening with your hubby!

TheyCallMeC, I sent you a PM, but forgot to tell you to swish with a soda and salt water solution many times a day to keep the mouth sores away. I started that the day after infusion. Never had mouth sores. Biotin swish after you bRush your teeth with a SOFT brush. I did have sore gums the second week even with doing all that

Hello all,

Tamkay123 I'm impressed you've been working! All I could do today was sleep and eat(day 1, cycle 1 A&C) I felt so tired at the end of my infusion that I was fighting to stay away when the Rn was talking, I felt like I needed to prop them open with toothpicks like they do in cartoons.

The good news is my port decided yesterday when I removed almost all the steristrips, that it would stop hurting, worked just fine sleep well everyone.

Tamkay, I am also up in the middle of the night! Not unusual these days. I am having T/C # 3 next week. You will start to lose your hair around day 14. I doubt you can wait until second treatment. Most salons will shave your head at no cost. Call and ask. I asked my salon if someone could shave my head before the salon opened, or right before closing. While it is a scary and unpleasant thought, I found that once you start getting handfuls of hair, you will be more than ready to just do it. I took my wig with me to the salon and left with it on.....2 weeks to the day after my first treatment. We just have to accept this. NOT pleasant, but it will grow back and worth it to get every last one of those Cancer cells GONE forever!!

Thanks ladies. I'm on a bi-weekly regimine so I think that's the plan to do it when I'm there for treatment.

checking in here--Had my first treatment on 6/2, Neulasta shot on 6/3. The only real side effect was moderate fatigue on days 3-5, and I was wondering if I should just take that Thursday/Friday off of work. The weekend came around and I was just fine, then Tuesday (day 8) I went in for my pre-Op prep for my port. By the time I got home I had acid indigestion and diarrhea. Because of the indigestion I couldn't drink more than a couple of ounces at a time and ended up back in the treatment center on Thursday to get some more fluids. Went back Friday for more fluids and was sent directly to ER for fluids and a check up. Upshot was low potassium, which they supplemented along with 2 more liters of fluids and a prescription anti-diarrhetic.

Lesson learned--don't assume you'll be constipated. Listen to what your body is telling you this time for side effects. Another lesson--wear a mask when you go to ER and tell them you are a chemo patient. I ended up getting cuts to the front of the line, everyone was so sweet, and I got a private room not the ER ward. If you do have Diarrhea--follow the BRAT diet until the end--don't think you're okay now and go out and have a hot dog with all the trimmings at the theatre

Other than that, side effects have really been minimal.

Got my port--Doc was worried because I don''t have a lot of room around my collarbones, and the left side is right out due to a plate from and bad fall. His first words were, "this is going to be tricky." Actual surgery comes around and I'm in for a whopping 45 minutes, went as smooth as it could. No pain, no meds, just an ice pack every few hours to get swelling down and I'll be using it next week for Tx 2.

Here's to hoping for light side effects for all!

I had my 2nd of 8 dose dense AC/T on Wednesday. I felt crappy (headache, stomach "off" and fatigue) for 5 or 6 hours that evening. A couple hours after taking my meds (Emend, Ondansitron, and Dexamethasone) I was feeling better. Yesterday and so far today have been great, similar to AC #1. I was more proactive with my anti-constipation meds (took 1 Senekot S the morning before infusion and 2 the evening of along with some smooth move tea) and have had BMs yesterday and today. So the 2 Senekot S in the morning and evening seem to be about right to keep me as regular as possible.

Yesterday my hair started coming out by the handful. I'm letting my almost 16 year old daughter buzz it (with probably a mohawk and pink tips) tomorrow.

I've been building my collection of hats, scarves, do-rags, and skullcaps for the last few months and have a great selection to carry me through the summer and most of the fall. I've bought most from local thrift stores for very inexpensive. I have a huge Value Village with a great selection of headwear close to where I go every other weekend and I found a great inexpensive on-line place for do-rags; wholesaleforeveryone.com . I got 4 cotton do-rags and 6 of the nylon du-rags with the long tails shipped to me (in Canada) for about $20. I had previously gotten one cotton do-rag very similar and the same brand as one of the ones on-line from a store near me for $7.85. The quality of the cotton ones is the same as the store bought one and the nylon ones are very lightweight and ok quality. I do like the lightweight and found that I can double them up and do some nice braids with the long tails. They should all be good in the summer. I got my package about a week and a half after I ordered it and the shipping was only $1.10. Anyway, I would recommend them if anyone is looking for some inexpensive do-rags!

I need to be more active on the board here, because there are so many of you I want to respond to. I've been reading, but just procrastinating about the responses, so here goes;

Julie (lulu2533); Wow! $35k for Neulasta is crazy! I have heard insurance companies getting charged u to $9k but never as much as that. In Canada it seems to go for $2500-3000 and the Neupogen is about $200 per vial. I had 7 of the Neuogen for round #1 and as far as I know that's still the plan for round #2. My Neutrophils (baby whites) were low (1.29) on Wednesday, but high enough for me to get treatment. I'm a little concerned for the next time because My regular infusion day (Wednesday) will be on Canada Day (July 1) so they want me to do my blood work on Monday and infusion on Tuesday. I hope my baby whites will be good enough by then. I am already taking probiotics and a good prenatal (for the added iron and folic acid) vitamin and mineral supplement. I will eat more brazil nuts (for the selenium) and spinach and other leafy greens (zinc, folic acid) and garlic to see if I can help them along more.

Steph (TheyCallMeCommodorable); I've started dose dense AC/T on June 3rd and have been working my regular schedule of part-time residential housecleaning during my treatment. My infusions are Wednesdays and I've been good for the Thursday and Friday with the anti-nausea meds and steroids and after my weekend low, the next week and a half was good as well. I've been lucky and so far have had no bone pain from the Neupogen. I hope you had a good diner and relaxing eve w/ your hubby and that your first infusion went well.

Theresa (Italychick); Thanks so much for chiming in with your experiences. I've been reading your March Chemo thread and you've been an inspiration to me with all the biking you've been doing. I ride my bike to work once a week and that plus the moderate activity of my job and staying really well hydrated have been good to keep my side effects low I think.

DayLily15; My hair started coming out by the handful on day 16 (yesterday), so just about the same as you. I think enough will hang on for the buzz and to keep the mohawk or whatever dd decides for a little while. A lady I know locally here who is a few weeks ahead of my chemo schedule still has quite a bit of hair, but pretty much only the white ones. I hear you on the rant about constipation/diarrhea (it sure is a fine balance... I've had BMs with a range of 2 to 6 on the Bristol Stool Chart i the same BM!) and about the looking like a cancer patient thing. I started off wearing rosthesis, but have been flat and fabulous all the time since early May. I'm loving not wearing a bra in the summer. I doubt if I'll wear a wig more than a handful of times (maybe only once or twice when I decide to put on foobs and make-up to match)

Brightsideplease; I had to lol about your visions of hair falling out at your husband's reunion. Mine has been hanging on unless I give it a tug, and even then not all the hairs I tug come out at once. My dd is worried it will all come off as she's buzzing it. I told her some would, but not all. The buzz will still be worthwhile.

Had A/C #1 yesterday (June 18), Neulasta shot today. So far, so good. Was really tired after infusion yesterday. Had a touch of nausea last night but Zofran and Ativan helped. Was told to get up several times during the night to urinate out the chemicals. So I set an alarm for every 3 hours and drank water when I was up. Took a Zyrtec this morning and will take another tonight. My MO said Zyrtec works best for bone pain from the Neulasta and to take two a day. Today has been good, no nausea or pain, just a slight dull headache.

they had given me Benadryl and a steroid before the infusion...it was very frightening. Hopefully it won't happen again. They said they would up the steroid next time

Hi Proverbs35678

glad you joined in

tresjoli i hope it gets better for you !!

eaglemom great to hear from you, i will be googling the bristol chart , and all the tips on head apparel is helpful ty.

good news on your white blood count justmaximom.

lots of April surgery sisters here, i like it , makes me feel comfortable about my treatment schedule, seems similar time frame for us all.

italy chick , i dont bike but im so energized by your drive ty. i have been gardening and planting trees, 14 trees last weekend .

hugs for all

Hi everyone,

I feel privileged to join the June gang. I had my port put in yesterday and start AC on Thursday 6/25. The sooner I get this started the sooner it will be over!

Michelle

Welcome, Michelle! We're glad to have you, but sorry you have to be here. You'll be glad you have your port. It makes things so much easier and safer, especially with the Doxyrubicin (Adriamycin). I wish you minimal side effects.