Starting Chemo in October 2015

hazelfrances prayer said for you - hope you can get chemo today.

Ladies, i am super nervous to let you see what i look like, but feel this may help me own what is happening to my body. Yikes, here goes

thanks! yes it is a strange feeling when the head gets cold. I usually wear a light tshirt fabric cap around the house.

I bought a gorgeous wig that i am saving for evening events over christmas, and ultimately plan to wear when i go back to work in February. I will post a pic of it tonight when i wear it - we are headed to a Vancouver Canucks hockey game tonight in the city! I havent had a night out in weeks so excited!!!

Kim

Hi Marylc,

Thank you so much for your message. It really helps to hear from others who are facing the same. I suppose I'll do the buzz cut but not until I have to. Just got back from the store - have made several trips trying to get everything I think I might need. First prednisone dose this morning so it's really happening? I let you know how it goes - my best to you my friend😊👍

Petula

So, this second round of AC has been kinder than the first. I am wondering now if the awful weak and almost dead feeling in round one was due to having a miscarriage amd blood loss 2 days before chemo? I am on day 5 amd last cycle I felt like death days 4 and 5. This time, I'm tired amd have mold symptoms, but able to do things still. I'll take it whatever the cause.

Wow homeschool...I'm so sorry! You've really been through it the last few weeks haven't you?! I'm amazed your doctor actually ok'd your chemo that soon after your miscarriage.

Kimmer...you look wonderful! It really is kind of freeing to let it all go doesn't it?

To update my earlier post...We had our weekly staff meeting at 1:00 today. One of the other ladies asked me if all my hair was gone. I told her no that I had just buzzed it and that my beanie was driving me crazy, and that I would love to take it off, but that I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable about my head. LOL...she actually stood up and asked everyone (a room of about 25 people) if they would be uncomfortable and everyone said no! So I took it off and have been walking around the last couple of hours without it! It feels great!

igay1ord,

That's great that you can be free now! I wore a halo and hat out today and it was itchy and hot. I like my soft hats for at home when it's cold, but otherwise just go without too.

I look back now amd question if it was a good idea to do the chemo 2 days later for many reasons, but what's done is done so oh well now.

hazelfrances - I get a sore scratchy throat almost every other day for a few hours....and random waves of feeling like I'm getting a fever/sick - but turns into nothing. Fingers crossed same goes for you!!

Hooray Kim! We are beautiful baldy twins!!

So I had lab work and saw oncology today. She consulted with other 3 breast cancer oncologists over the past week and 2 out of 3 think my allergic reaction and continued (but much improved) itching/hives is from the neulasta, which apparently stays in your system for over two weeks. Everyone agreed no Neulasta this round and just TC rchemo as planned tomorrow but with extra steroids. I am a bit stressed about this. I think the Neulasta was why I felt so good and could exercise so much. I will be back at work immunosupressed without Neulasta. If I react again, she suspects a problem for me with Taxotere and my chemo will change to cyclophosphamide-methotrexate - fluororacil (CMF) for last 4 rounds, because I won't agree to Adriamycin.

Later she called me and said she also consulted with an allergist/immunologist, and he thinks the allergic reaction could have still been something environmental and my body's changed response to it with the chemo immune system. Also that likely it will take weeks to months to fully resolve, but if it happens again this round it will likely be a much more severe reaction and that I should be carrying an epi-pen. Ugh.

Sleep well tonight everyone!

Tomorrow is another beautiful day! Yay!!

Andra xo

thanks for the prayers and good wishes. I was able to have my chemo and my throat actually feels a little better

Homeschool4us - I'm sure the miscarriage is most of why you felt so bad first round. Sorry for your loss. I think/hope/pray you will tolerate your other sessions better.

Kimmer- you look awesome with and without the wig. I don't think people can tell it's a wig. Is it human hair? It looks like it.

Andraxo...good luck today! Hope everything goes great today!

Hi, November, 2014 Gal here. Just weighing in on the use of probiotics during Chemo issue from several pages back. Most MOs recommend you don't take antioxidants during chemo based on the theory that it might 'help' the cancer. However, if you do a search on this board, you will find that many women take probiotics during and/or after chemo to help with all the gastrointestinal SE's, especially the Big D and C. My MO was fine with me taking a probiotic, and I found when I didn't take it, my gastro symptoms were worse. The reaon some MO's don't recommend probiotics is the chance that it might cause a bacterial infection in a person with a very compromised immune system, but this is rare. If you're having bad gastro issues, definitely check with your MO to see if a probiotic would be OK to take.

Anyone else have a cough that comes and goes? I have a wet cough right now but it seem to be more in my windpipe area than deep in my chest. No signs of infection at all. I'm wondering if it is something that is normal with chemo?

I just shampoo with baby shampoo.

homeschool i am still using my shampoo and will probably continue after the stubble falls out - it's what my scalp is used to. I guess we will see

Andraxo

How do a find a pt in my area that specializes in breast reconstruction?

I did not go to pt following mx and did have some rom issues. So i really want to go after exchange surgery (which was 2 weeks ago) as soon as ps releases me to go. I

You look beautiful!!!!