Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

Huge hives - my eyelids, everywhere.   Here is a link to the discussion.   The good news is a combo of meds really really helps.   Here is a link to the topic, Peanut323 in the middle of the page states to try Zyrtek and Pepsid.   I just took Zyrtek and it saved me.   I took it in advance for my next infusions and avoided the rash!!!!!!!

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/769465?page=1

I ended up having to decrease my last dose of Taxotere because my liver enzymes elevated too high but no hives thanks to the Zyrtek for a few days before and a week after.    Hang in there!   The hives were my lowest point on chemo but Zyrtek may help!!!  Hugs to you Jabe

I had the terrible hives as well -- they would start in my crotch (nice) and each treatment they got worse. When they appeared on the palms of my hands, my onco said that was enough -- my last infusion was only Cytoxan, no Taxotere. It was explained to me that my allergy might be to the medium in which the drug is suspended, not the drug itself (not that I cared what was causing my misery!). I was blending topical Benadryl with Vagisil for my crotch, and using the Benedryl gel everywhere else. Tried oral Benedryl too, but that didn't help. Onco said the allergic reaction could be dangerous, because once you get to the severe hives point, you could have life-threatening reaction which would affect breathing. So be careful, and keep in touch with your doc and chemo nurses to help you and advise you.

Hi gakristi -- welcome to TC (where none of us ever wanted to be, but there you are!)... This board really got me through chemo, and I can't say enough about the benefit of being in the virtual space with others who have or are experiencing it. Read lots through the thread for plenty of advice, and keep us posted on how it goes -- fingers crossed for easy bounce back from your first treatment

I did my first treatment today and so far I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am trying to plan and so instead of having the hair fall out I've made an appointment to shave my head followed by a wig fitting.

My HUGE question is will I have to give up coffee?

Any and all advice is accepted

here it is.

Italychick - Thank you! I had to go back to your post to find it! haha! I love this cut. I sent it to my hair stylist after you posted it, and said, "This is what I want when I get hair again!"

I have not, and would not, give up my coffee!

I didn't shave my head either, snd agree with Sloan's advice. and I did go for a shorter cut. Unlike Sloan, I didn't get a wig. Now that I am so impatiently waiting for the hair to come back, there is a big part of me that wishes I had....

Octogirl

My plan is to try on some wigs / scarves / hats and take some photos before my hair starts coming out so I can think about them and get some feedback from friends and family (and maybe here too ) so when I'm ready to take that step, I'm not rushing into something I'll regret.

I had a teensy bit of nausea last night and this morning, but manageable (now 3 days after treatment 1).

Taking it a day at a time...

Here is my son and me with my wig. You can see how thin my brows are. (They fall out at the END of chemo. What an insult, huh?)

The second pic is me in a scarf as my hair STARTED falling out. The scarf look is cute, but once my bangs, lashes and brows went, I didn't like the look. (There is brow-dust for making brows btw).

Lyra - I second the advice not to shave your hair. Get it cut short. I can't post pictures, but another cute, even shorter cut is Annie Lennox. You can google her. Even when it all starts to fall out, I was told to get a short buzz & not shave, since the stubs can be prickly & irritating.

I had a wig but mostly wore Buffs - a great tube type of scarf. The link below shows some of the ways you can use. I got mine at Academy & REI. http://buffusa.com/buff-products/tubular/merino-wo... My head was usuallty cold so I did buy a soft cap w/no seams sleeping.

My infusion center always had a coffee pot going. Yes, the standard advice is to cut down on caffeine, but I drank nothing but coke during chemo & rads. Everything else was less then appealing (even nauseating) & my MO said it was much more important to get down the liquid than to worry about the cokes. So maybe cut back but you shouldn't have to give coffee up.

Sloan - cute picts.

Sloan15 they are gorgeous pics.

I hired a wig from the Cancer Council here in Australia. I can keep it for as long as I like or change it as often as I want. Was only $50 and the money goes back into providing more resources. While I quite like it and it's very similar to my own hair I haven't worn it.

Mostly because it is summer here and it's just so hot. Cotton bandannas have been my "go to" headwear though I do hate the pitying looks I get as I'm so obviously identified as a cancer patient.

Hope you continue to feel well gakristi

I bought a wig but never had to use it. I was lucky enough to be able to use the Penguin Cold Caps. They saved my hair! Many people don't even know about them. My MO's office had them available to me. They were a bit of a pain to use but so worth it to not have the stress of hair loss, wigs, etc. Good luck to you!

gakristi, sometimes it is hard to tell from a photo, but if you are asking for opinions on which to choose: while you are really cute in all of them, I like the blonde one best...not sure (from your avatar) that it is your natural hair color, but it looks like you to me (even though I don't know you :-)). I'd go for blonde...

I've noticed with other women (Sloan being one) that shorter wigs seem to look more natural, at least to me. Anyway, you rock all of them, so you can't go wrong!

Can you take claritin? It really helped me with joint aches. Just the regular OTC stuff, and not Claritin D.

Hugs

Octogirl

I love the blonde too! You look super cute

They look great! I like the blonde one and the long one. Pick one that makes you feel amazing. I watched the Amer Cancer Society video about makeup and wigs, and I saw how the women looked more confident and positive when they wore something that made then feel amazing, verses average. Since doctors say our attitude has a lot to do with recovery, yep, pick one that makes you feel amazing!