Starting Chemo in October 2015

Home School, I did have renal problems before I started chemo. It had been pretty stable before but was classified as stage 3. Now a low 4. I would not worry about Taxol causing a problem only aggravating an existing problems. Since the kidneys do the filtering, most thing that don't belong in the blood are eliminated there. Hopefully the kidneys will improve when I finish this.

I estimated $300 to $400 dollars of cosmetics in my bag. I love every one of them though I probably will not ever wear the sparkly pink nail polish. I do not think there is much danger from transdermal absorbsion from makeup. Almost all Dermatologist say that age renewing creams, etc. do not work because they can't penetrate more than one layer deep. Medications that are delivered through the skin have to have a very specific compound to get them into the body.

I know! Haha Minnie Pearl

Gosh I don't want to have to go to work tomorrow. I have to fight with myself and my need to be "responsible" -pushing through the bad symptoms-vs. resting and recovering.

hi ladies

I read the posts on this forum daily but dont always post if i dont have something to contribute - the info i read is so helpful though, and it's comforting to know you are all here.

I give myself Neupogen injections at home days 3-10 after chemo and havent experienced any side effects at all from it - is this an option for any of you taking neulasta injections?

My experience with food issues is pretty non-existent. I have an appetite and aside from my mouth feeling weird the couple days post-chemo, the only thing i cannot tolerate any longer is any sort of spice - chili powder or chipotle powder - burns my esophagus all the way down.

Have a super week ladies!

Kim

Our instructor said all of the makeup that they give away had been tested on cancer patients that they gave away. I don't know about it being toxic otherwise, but I guess I never really worried about it before either.

Eight kids homeschool yikes! No wonder you are tired. Lol

Homeschool, I'm so glad you get 5 extra days for Thanksgiving! You must be exhausted with 8 kids! I have not posted in a few days because I've been busy with my 2 kids, lol. They both have big projects due this week and we've had all the kids here at various times this weekend working. The last one left at midnight!

I get labs tomorrow. cross your fingers my counts are good so I can go to Italy on Thursday with the tour choir! I've also been really busy planning and packing. I'm still trying to decide whether I want to bring my wig or not. I can't wear it for longer than about 5-6 hours because it really starts bugging me. If I wear it, I would need to take it off on the plane to sleep, have a way to store it, etc. I ordered some bangs with a band to wear with hats. That's coming Tuesday. (nothing like the last minute!) Maybe that will be more comfortable and a little more inconspicuous.

I can't believe how variable everyone's charges are from the insurance companies. I thought mine was outrageous when I saw the charge of $6,000 for one Neulasta shot. Of course it was discounted, but they still paid $4,200. We hit out-of-pocket-max with my surgery, but I've been watching the claims come in on line. The Herceptin is really expensive too, but the Carboplatin is free. (I think it has been around for a long time) What a broken system.

I wish you all a happy week with minimal discomfort and SEs

AmyBeader, I so hope you get to go to Italy. I like your positivity--packing and getting ready even though you haven't gotten the go-ahead shows great hope.

As for the wig, I think I'd leave it off during the flight. Does the choir know you're going through chemo and losing/lost your hair? I'm another one who can only tolerate the wig for about 5 hours, then it's got to come off. Itchy and makes scratch marks on my head. I would think the whole transportation process would take longer than 5-6 hours, to get to Italy and get settled. Put the wig in your carry-on, so you'll have it in the event that your luggage goes missing.

As for makeup, I think it's important to remember that everything is made up of chemicals. The water we drink and the air we breathe is made of chemicals. It's a good idea to avoid the obvious baddies, like lead and arsenic, but for the most part the chemicals in makeup are fairly benign. Adult skin isn't too porous (unlike children's skin.) As someone upthread pointed out, you can put all kinds of anti-aging lotions and potions on your skin and it will not permanently alter the skin God gave you. It might look softer, but you can't change the basic look without dermabrasion or Botox (now THERE'S some chemical~). I just can't get too worked up about my tinted SPF30 moisturizer. I'd rather take my chances with it, than risk getting (more) skin cancers.

I think with make up, I'm not bothered by all the chemicals in it, I don't even really wear it anyway. I was mostly annoyed at the class because the person teaching was very against using fake eyelashes because of "toxic glue going right on the skin". If I lose my eyelashes I just don't see the difference between putting on fake eyelashes are using make up to create the illusion of lashes - Both have chemicals and the instructor has no expertise in terms of toxicity to make such statements or recommendations. Some people are also allergic to some of the chemicals in make up (a person in my class had to giveback half the makeup due to a formaldehyde allergy) while others are allergic to adhesives. Everyone has to do and choose what is right for them personally.

Fingers crossed for Amy going to Italy!! Woohoo!! Did anyone suggest you take antibiotics prophylactically if you white count is low? That is what my oncologist told me to do for an international trip I'm hopefully taking in December since I will travel on likely my day of lowest white count if it goes as this round did. And...I have to mask up on the plane.

I'm also surprised at the huge variability in the cost of a Neulasta shot in the United States. Looks like the range is 6k to 18k. Ridiculous! No Neulasta this round for me, and likely never again due that allergic reaction. I had less severe side effects without it (yay!), but scary low white count and a little tired. Next chemo is November 23, just like ncsue927.

Funny Kim that you can't tolerate spice, and I want spice all the time! chile, curry, cumin, smoked salt, berbere..... It is the only stuff that really tastes good when my mouth and taste buds are so awful - which is almost all the time.

My mom and sister left today. Was a nice visit. : I think it was good for them to actually see that I am doing OK.

Have a super week everyone! Wishing you all energy, laughs, and minimal side effects!

- Andra xo

Kimmer33 when you give yourself the injections are they already "loaded" and you just click or is it like drawing up a syringe?

The breast nurse was here today and she asked if I was comfortable doing them myself. I have bloods drawn tomorrow to check if I need a jab. My temp was up a bit this afternoon.

Thanks for the speedy reply. Not sure I could do it. Wimp I am.

Breast nurse says she's happy to come to my home and do it.

homeschool - I am very aware of my port and can feel some tension around my collar bone area that is sometimes annoying. The good news is that this has gotten better over time. My seat belt goes right over the port (it is on my left side) and this was bothersome until the cold weather resulted in my puffy down jacket coming out - now it is better! My husband tried to give me a back/shoulder rub the other day (nice!) but I had to stop him from focusing on the left shoulder because it caused discomfort from the port. Not pain - just tension and awareness that it's there. I am really grateful for the port - it is saving my veins a whole lot of suffering....but....whenever I am able to have the port taken out...I plan to hold a big party! And a post-chemo party! and.... hmm....I'm sure I can find more reasons for a party....

I have been using coconut oil on my hands and feet at morning and night. I still have dry skin but no peeling.

you look great DurhamGirl! Mine is driving me nuts too, I was just afraid of getting ingrown hairs. I may be doing this before I leave for Italy....

Jclc83 my hands have been so dry I feel like all I do is put lotion on. My cuticles have been the worst- lots of little hang nails and they are very sore. I am using vitamin e oil too. On my body I am using SkinFix lotion and I love it. Got it at Target.- it's in a round pump little.

The port itself doesn't bother me at all, but the tube going up to the artery(?h) bothers me at the incision site. There is a bump there with what looks like a stitch that never dissolved, and I seem to scratch it often. Weird.

Regarding makeup, lashes, etc. I was told that it is really hard to use false eyelashes if you don't have any at all for them to rest on, so I didn't even consider using them. I'm not as concerned about makeup, but I do try to stay away from sodium laurel sulphate and stick with unscented stuff due to allergies. And, I made the switch to natural deodorant and got rid of the aluminum stuff.

Looking absolutely fab DurhamGirl! I keep re-buzzing my stubble down to as short as it can go every few days (surprised it is growing fast). It should be falling out this coming weekend based on when hair fell out last round, but I have a new razor ready to shave it since no barber around for at least 100 miles. Hope my head turns out as great as yours if I do it myself!

Excited my lashes and eyebrows are still hanging on! Fingers crossed they make it through the weekend too. Never though about the false eyelash issue and needing ones to hold onto Amy. I've only worn them for Halloween a couple of times...and they were annoying (though Halloween lashes are crazy long!)

My round#3 is also 23rd (looks like me, DurhamGirl and ncsue) And...similar to Kim, my round 2 felt more like placebo but that was because I didn't have Neulasta (which was the worst for me). I was a little more tired this round, but it didn't keep me from exercising.

Yay Kim - Last AC Friday!...woohoo!! Rock it!

- A xo

andraxo...I'm basically in the same boat as you! I'm doing this alone most of the time, too! My husband works out of town, and comes home once a month for 3-4 days. All my family and my 2 boys are in FL/NC/TN and I'm in Georgia! So far I've been lucky that I've been able to take myself to all my doctor appointments and treatments. We'll see what happens later during radiation, since I'm told that's when the fatigue will really set in!

After listening to all you ladies who have gone to the Look Good Feel Better classes, I actually signed myself up for a class on December 7th. Hopefully I'll still have my eyebrows/eyelashes!

I was supposed to have treatment #3 on the 25th, but my MO has decided to wait until the 30th. Since his office is closed the day after Thanksgiving, I wouldn't be able to get my Neulasta injection. Bright side is that I'll actually be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with my husband and not be icky feeling!