Starting Chemo March 2016

Well, I'm back at home, even stopped for lunch afterwards. Not feeling bad at all so far, and didn't have any allergic reactions at all. The only thing that didn't go so well was getting the stupid IV inserted. It took 2 nurses 4 tries to get it in properly, even after heating pads, dangling the arm, all the usual tricks. I luckily have a followup appointment with my surgeon tomorrow and will be pushing him hard to schedule me for my port install BEFORE my next chemo session.

Jonsey22, thanks for the hint on the Tums, I'll definitely try some. Nurse also suggested OTC Prilosec or similar. Also, I noticed a weight gain too , hoping it goes away when the steroids are done.

Logang, I asked my nurse specifically about Colace, which I had started taking 1 pill at night for the past couple of days. She said it's perfectly fine to take long term, it doesn't cause any sort of dependence issues, just keeps everything moving. She told me even to take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening, then just supplement it with something else, like Miralax, if I get constipated.

Good luck to everyone, may the infusions be uneventul, and the SE's be manageable.

thanks all for sharing support with each other - I'm feeling the positive vibes!

Wannacruize, Tami's picture is beautiful. So gorgeous. Sending love and hugs.

Feeling very achey and weak today. Not awful but not so good.

I have family and friends offering to help, but my daughter is sick of visitors and company and wants it back to "normal". I do too, but I could use a hand sometimes!

I go back to work full time on Monday and pretty nervous about it.

Good luck to all fighting side effects etc. sending love and light

Xo

Heidi

HRWinter, check with your dr whether it might be ok to take magnesium while doing treatment? It might help with restless legs, as well as constipation of that is a SE that you get

Portal was placed Monday, the 7th, easily, skillfully and painlessly. Had my first round (of 4) chemo yesterday. Was first given aloxi and dexamethasone , and then the Cytoxan and Texotere. Have compazine and more dexa to use the next coulple of days. I have also started Claritin as I have a neulasta patch which will deliver the dosage this evening. (The patch is quite amazing and very new innovation. I'm lucky enough to be treated in a local university academic medicine breast center, and the facility and staff are supportive and knowledgeable.) So far, so good, but I do know some bumps can be ahead. Mild headache, which feels like sinuses, is my only symptom. I'm working on keeping hydrated and keeping ahead of constipation. I'm 75 and I'm wondering if senior women might have a somethat easier time with chemo than those younger.

Let's talk about mucus membrane care "down there." I don't have the constipation or diarrhea... but my poor bum. It's very tender and swollen. I'm guessing this is where the rinsing comes into play and is important? I'm going to ask my MO about proactive steps to reduce the swelling and tenderness. I have a hemmorhoid that has now appeared - if I don't deal with this then things are going to get pretty bad pretty fast.

Otherwise, I still have limited SE's. I took a compazine today for what felt like it could have been breakthrough nausea. Tonight I start the miralax + steroids in prep for Week 2, Day 1 tomorrow - Taxol & Carboplatin only this week.

PS: I learned to use eyebrow stencils yesterday...and I don't know how I have lived without them ever. Highly recommend.

Good to have someone to compare AC with 786Tex. But I didn't have any trouble swallowing after the chemo. It was only after my port was placed that I had discomfort with swallowing. This is day 7 out for me and I am still mildly nauseaous. The smell of certain foods, esp meat, makes me sick and I can't eat meat hardly at all.

WannaCruize, the picture of Tami is so beautiful. She looks like she was a happy carefree spirit. Hug to you.

BKGameGirl....please figure this hemmorhoid thing out and pass it along to the rest of us......none of us need a pain in the butt at this point!! ; )

I second what Ksusan said. Rub it on the butt, vagina, head, inside the mouth, on hands, everywhere. The only place it doesn't work for me is on my face for some reason. Any irritated tissue, coconut oil is like magic. I rubbed it in my mouth all during chemo, never got any mouth sores

BKGamegirl. I had swallowing problems after getting my port in. I think it was from swelling and only lasted a day. This started about 4 days out from the AC. Wish you the best with chemo tomorrow. I got sick about 6 hours after it. It's like a really bad flu only you can't sleep it off because you can't sleep. Take an anti-nausea pill that evening. It worked for me and I didn't throw up at all. Will be thinking good thoughts for you.

My MO said that the response to the first treatment is a good indicator of subsequent treatments, but you're more fatigued each time. My experience was that they were pretty similar, and I only had real fatigue about mid-way through radiation.

DIY Ice Packs: Alternative to the more pricey mittens and slippers that also work well. Disclaimer: I own both and have used both!

** I'll come back to add pics after today's infusion (steroids have me UP!)

Assumptions for these instructions: a 1-hour Taxol (or similar) infusion, resulting in the need for about 75 minutes of icing time (set up before + infusion time + 10 minutes afterwards). Adjust your needs as your infusion time requires.

Supplies (sample links will be added below):

1. flexible ice packs. 1 pack lasts a good 20-25 minutes.

3 sets for hands, 3 sets for feet

I bought this comfort cold pack from Amazon because of its flexibility and the various size options. I bought the 6x10" and those will work for my hands and feet. The flexibility was key because I wanted to dig my fingers and toes down into the gel during icing and wrap the gel around the sides of my hands.

Link: Cold Pack Example from Amazon

2. soft, thin cotton gloves; optional

Soft Cotton Gloves from Amazon

3. soft, thin cotton socks (like what you'd wear with a ballet slipper or driving flat); optional. No link - I used some from my sock drawer.

4. soft self-stick exercise tape (re-useable or disposable, fun color or not, your choice)

Self-adhesive Exercise Tape Example

5. Large, stretchy socks or large-mouth adjustable slides

Open-toe Adjustable Slide Example

Approximate investment if all purchased new: less than $100.

Assembly:

Feet:

1. Do feet first for practical reasons (opposable thumbs are handy!) You may need a buddy for the hands piece.

2. Put on your thin sock.

3. Squish toes and feet into gel, and wrap the edge over the tops of your toes and sides of feet.

4. Secure the gel pack to your foot with the self-adhesive tape. Don't go nuts, you need to unwrap and rewrap 1-2 times.

5. Put on the slide or the large sock.

6. Safety: do not walk on the gel packs on a slippery floor. The sock or slide will help but honestly, take a buddy (not just your IV pole) if you have to get up.

7. Switch it out: unwrap and rewrap 1-2 times during infusion as your ice pack cools.

8. Pack it up: reroll the tape if desired; wash socks; refreeze packs for next time.

Hands:

1. Sit down and get comfy now!

2. Put on your thin glove.

3. Squish/lightly grab the gel pack in your palm and wrap it over the tops of your fingers. Put that thumb in there!!

4. Secure the gel pack with the self-adhesive tape.

5. Do the other hand.

6. Practice holding your cup of ice chips and your popsicles to ice your mouth! Have your buddy take a photo because this is awesome!

7. Switch it out: Re-wrap 1-2 times as your pack cools.

8. Pack it up: re-roll or discard tape, wash gloves, wipe packs of sticky popsicle juice, and refreeze for next time.

Let me know if this is helpful.

azrescue - No intubation, I was actually half awake during the entire procedure. Anyone else wake up with headaches in the middle of the night. This started about 5 days after chemo and is still persisting. Maybe related to something else but I found that I get better answers on this board than from my doctor since we are actually living it.

Loretta, I replied to you a couple of minutes ago, but I'm not sure it got posted next to your reply to me. Please look for my reply if you have time. Thanks, Ellie

Some of you having headaches...it's possible you are experiencing these due to your sudden slam into chemopause. After chemo starts, it's generally not a gradual decline in hormones for most, but rather like hitting a brick wall. Hormonal shift headaches are pretty bad...more like migraines. Good news, the headaches don't seem to linger. Bad news, here come the hot flashes and night sweats.

Also, keep your hydration up! Dehydration can cause headaches and contribute to constipation. I was drinking over 100 oz of water/sugar-free Gatorade a day all though chemo and radiation.