Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

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  • b2alicia
    b2alicia Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2016

    Thanks Ella, Thanks Chick.

    I did call the Dr on call, and she did call in a script to my pharmacy. Just waiting now for the script to be filled.

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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited October 2016

    Thanks for your suggestions and concern. I'm convinced it was due to the dexamethasone, which I finished yesterday (the list of side effects for that steroid is unbelievable!!!). Anyway, I'm fine so please don't worry. I'll call my MO tomorrow morning and see what she has to say. Off to buy my pumpkin ... I've got a date with Jack (O'Lantern, that is!)


    image
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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited October 2016

    I'm heading out now to do some errands now ... taking Wiggy for another road trip. Here is what we look like ...

    image

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  • b2alicia
    b2alicia Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2016

    Oh, good, Barb! Glad you're feeling better. Your date Jack is very handsome! And I love your wig!

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  • Hkuester
    Hkuester Member Posts: 27
    edited October 2016

    Arriving late, but wow I want to keep on this as thread I have many similar symptoms and feelings. Looks link a great group. I started chemo October 20 apparently I'm one of the very few who reacts to Taxotere -that was scary but lots of benadryl from now on. Iron infusion last week and this week-still anemic from surgery September 26th when I lost a lot of blood.

    My biggest problem are headaches and sleeping. My legs always get super tired/weak and I just have to sit. Is that chemo related or recovery from surgery-I'm not sure. Definitely hard to keep up with my boys 9 and 13. Thanks all your posts are so helpful and knowledgeable .

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  • b2alicia
    b2alicia Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2016

    Lyn, I cracked up when you said your Neulasta was "smothered in breast". HA! Just struck me as very funny.

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  • b2alicia
    b2alicia Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2016

    Hi Hkuester! I also started my nasty chemo on 10/20/16, and I am also receiving taxotere, plus 3 other 'chemical weapons' to seek out and destroy any cancer cells that escaped my tumor.. But I have a hard time determining which nasty chemical is giving me which nasty side effect! But you have the added strain of 2 busy children so that's a whole other component that I am not dealing with.

    My main "whining" soap boxes- 1. diarrhea 6-7 x per day. Mainly during the night to wake me up. Just lovely. Can't find anything to eat that won't get that started. I'm waiting for my pharmacy to fill a new script to replace the Immodium. 2. Mouth Sores. I now have the Magic Mouth wash which I discover to be sorta iccky. But I like it the best with Q-tips dipped in it, and placed for 90 seconds or so on the 2 worst spots inside my mouth. 3. NEW THING- Nose bleeds. Four times since last night . Haven't checked if that's a real side effect or not.

    My favorite foods so far this week- 1. the home-made chicken noodle soup from Whole Foods. 2. baked potato from Wendy's.

    BTW, my port site is driving my batty too! **HUGS**

    Betty

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  • VLH
    VLH Member Posts: 1,258
    edited October 2016

    Hkuester, welcome ! I'm sorry to hear about the reaction to the Taxotere . That must be so scary. Did it start with back pain? If I'm unlucky enough to react when I switch to Taxol, I hope to spot the problem early.

    Barb, you look so cute in your wig! One of mine has so much volume that it looks "possumy" while the other lies too flat. I hope I can find someone through the wig shop to tweak them. Gracie eyed them with far too much interest so I'll have to keep them on the tall chest once they're styled. Did you get one of those Styrofoam heads for between wearings?

    I'll try to remember to ask the nurse to put my wee pod more towards center next time to avoid another bosom burying incident. :-) The oncologist said it could be another four months before the swelling goes away. I hope it's not permanent since my bras are $45 each, even through Amazon, and I'd have to pad the right one due to the size discrepancy. How crazy would it be to pad an F cup? Sigh...

    Betty, ohmigosh on the D! That was one of my biggest worries when they thought I was HER2+ and would need Perjeta. The mouth sores sound horrible & now nose bleeds? Good grief! The soup and potatoes both sound tasty. I'd forgotten that Wendy's has those.

    Lyn



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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited October 2016

    ((((((Betty)))))) Sending huge hugs to you, my friend. You are not whining ... in fact, you sound incredibly perky as you list off symptom after symptom. You are one strong woman. Hoping that the planets align, and the meds start to work, and those nasty side effects buzz off and leave you be! Hoping you're feeling better soon ....

    HKuester - Welcome, and sorry that you had to go through such a rough time. We're on different treatments, but fatigue, headaches and sleep problems seem to crop up for many of us. Best of luck ... hoping to hear more from you.

    Barb


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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited October 2016

    Hi Lyn,

    Thanks ... I took my wig to my regular hairdresser and had her cut into something close to my regular style. The more you write about Gracie, the more I like that dog ... she sounds like quite the character! (I like a dog with a little imagination ... I can just see her cocking her head with a speculative gleam in her eye!). I didn't get a Styrofoam head, but the volunteer at the Canadian Cancer Society gave me a plastic stand (some assembly required!) and a special wig brush.

    Good luck with your bosom burying problem ... try not to 'bust' your wee pod!

    Loopy



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  • Hkuester
    Hkuester Member Posts: 27
    edited October 2016

    b2alicia- I've been lucky. I had the first night with diarrhea and nausea for several days. I did have severe bone pain from Neulasta-24 hours couldn't walk by myself. I hope you can get the symptoms under control.

    VLH-reaction to Taxotere couldn't breath turned completely red. Fun stuff.

    B2alicia I don't think I'll ever get used to my port I can't wait to get rid of it. Everything I swallow I feel it.


    Can anyone explain Oncotype score? I got a 38 which is high they said for recurrence thus 6 rounds of chemo. I am cancer free after bilateral masectomy no lymph nodes were involved.

    Abracadabra - seems like this is just how we have to live for now:)

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  • b2alicia
    b2alicia Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2016

    Lyn, I thought I'd share a couple of Dillon stories with you, and also point out that my new ACS wig is up high, out of doggie reach!

    image

    This darling little angel could NEVER do anything bad, could he?? He is the Cuddler King, the Snuggly Champion!


    image

    image

    I just have to NEVER forget to pick everything up when I leave the house!

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  • FightingTheFight
    FightingTheFight Member Posts: 75
    edited October 2016


    Welcome Jacbowden and Hkuester! This group is a great place to get support. Originally, I was planning to find an in person support group, but this forum is filling a lot of that need.

    Lyn, I'm glad you remembered you had those sea bands on hand. For such a simple contraption, they work way better than expected, for me. In fact, with the help of sea bands and tummy drops, I was able to attend a really nice dinner party yesterday.

    Betty, I'll be praying that you really get to feeling better soon. Esp, those issues with D. But those photos you posted are hilarious. Particularly those shoes that look like they've been through a tornado. :)

    As for me, my sense of taste seems to slowly be returning, which is great! For about 2-3 days everything I ate tasted like literal sawdust, or food mixed with sawdust.

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  • b2alicia
    b2alicia Member Posts: 64
    edited October 2016

    Thanks, Fighting! When I first posted the torn-up pillow on my Facebook page, my dog groomer replied with,

    "THE PILLOW STARTED IT!!"

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  • FightingTheFight
    FightingTheFight Member Posts: 75
    edited October 2016

    That's hilarious! The pillow may have started it, but your dog certainly finished it. Lol!

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  • deemendoza
    deemendoza Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2016

    Good Morning Ladies,

    In spite of everyone's SE I pray that you all had a fairly decent weekend. Each and everyone of you were in my prayers this weekend,. Especially during mass yesterday.

    I have some silly questions, 1) How long does the infusion stay lingering in your system? 2) How is the stage determined? by tumor size? lymph nodes involvement? metastatic involvement?


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  • chickdudefood
    chickdudefood Member Posts: 51
    edited October 2016

    Hello everyone,

    I've been reading everything over the past few days and am so grateful for everyone's spirit and energy. I'm very lucky that so far I don't have bad physical SEs from my first chemo on Tuesday, but I do feel that chemo brain or chemo fog has invaded me. It's super hard to concentrate on anything and I couldn't possibly work or take care of anyone else right now. Even typing takes such a big effort--not fatigue, I just feel that I have to narrate every single step: Kate picks up her laptop. Kate opens her laptop. Kate navigates to the forum page. Kate starts typing but has forgotten how to spell. Kate tries to read a book (impossible) or watch a movie (can't follow the plot.) I was/am a writer so I pray that this is temporary, since I used to have a pretty sharp brain in there and now it seems like a bowl of oatmeal, which I would in fact like to eat except too. much. work. to. make. (All those periods? That's what it's like in Kate's brain these days.)

    I have been managing to follow along with a yoga DVD (I am also a yoga instructor) and have walked for at least a mile every day, but even that requires major concentration and I can't seem to have a conversation while I'm walking. It's an either/or. I'm going to try to take my meds at night instead of in the morning to see if that helps. And I'm going to try skipping the anti-nausea meds completely today as an experiment to see if I can get my system more cleared out. This was the last thing I expected, although I certainly knew it was a possibility.

    Anyway, today is Halloween and my neighborhood is either completely full of trick or treater's or we don't get any...this year I'm going to hide upstairs and let my housemates do the door-answering since I'm beginning to feel a little sore throat that I don't want to encourage with more germs. I usually love to see the kids but not this year.

    So this is my Monday morning rant...but believe me that I am so happy that you are all here and that this group exists.

    Best to all,

    Kate

    PS. My username is chickdudefood because that's the name of a blog I have with one of my housemates where we cook together and write about life. It's on hiatus right now because if oatmeal is too much for me, imagine me with a sharp knife and a complicated recipe! I will surrender to this hiatus and hope that someday down the line I'll be confidently back in the kitchen...

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  • VLH
    VLH Member Posts: 1,258
    edited October 2016

    Hkuester, YIKES! You've had a tough go with the drugs. :-( I hope things go more smoothly in the future. If you go to the main breast cancer.org page & search for Oncotype, there is probably a good explanation there.

    Deemendoza, I don't know on #1, but the answer to #2 is yes. ;-) Tumor size, nodal involvement and evidence of metastasis all play a role in staging. The main breast cancer.org site has a good explanation with the details

    Barb, it looks like Gracie, also known as Miss Naughty Britches, may have to share a masculine version of her nickname with Dillon. It does sound like a case of self defense with the pillow though!

    Kate, I hope your clarity returns quickly. I had to abandon my career with huge financial consequences because of severe Fibromyalgia and brain fog was a major culprit so I feel your pain.

    As for me, my blood sugar got too low at 2:45 a.m. and I got violently ill. I don't use insulin so these incidents are luckily fairly rare. In the snippets of fitful sleep that followed, I dreamed that I was at my vets' office and my beloved Katie and some other dogs had somehow been let out. The others had returned, but not Katie so I was panicked. Then, probably referencing my Wicked Witch melting to the floor experience at Target, I also discovered I'd taken my foot off the brake briefly & my van rolled into a car and damaged it. Not surprisingly, I woke up with a nasty headache and feel more tired than when I went to bed. NOT a good start to the week!

    Lyn

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  • Melindawv
    Melindawv Member Posts: 19
    edited October 2016

    Hello ladies, I am doing well and preparing for my 2nd chemo this Thursday. I will let you know how everything goes. Hope everyone is doing well.

    Jenn how was your 2nd treatment? You are a week ahead of me, with the same treatment protocol.

    Alla you stilling in there? Working still?

    Lyn hope your week improves and gets better. BTW I love the picture of you and all your hair, thanks for sharing the older picture.

    Barb Love your wig, you look great! I tried on several and didn't find anything yet, not sure I want to spend money on something I don't know I will wear.

    Betty love the dog and dog pics and stories, we need the entertainment. Also I had awful diarrhea too and had to be put on a prescription for strong med then Imodium. hope you find something to help you too.

    Keep the faith and Hope everyone has a good week,

    Melinda

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  • Al12
    Al12 Member Posts: 79
    edited October 2016

    Melinda,

    still here. Yes I'm working so far I only take the day off on my chemo day which is Thursday and I come to work on Friday. So far my SE only last on the weekend. I already completed my second chemo and I was much better then the first regarding pain. I started to take claritin daily and this time around I did not feel any pain or discomfort from the nuelasta shot. I don't want to jinx myself but besides not having any hair I feel and act as if I don't have cancer. This can all change maybe who knows, this whole thing is so unpredictable. I did have slight nausue more then last time but it was managable once I took my back up pill. I also had diarrhea for 3 days but this too was not bad and I was at work. I think I am more emotional but I push through it. my 3rd chemo infusion is this Friday. doc did say it accumulates so I will see but I will work till I can't

    Alla

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  • Connie1230
    Connie1230 Member Posts: 192
    edited October 2016

    Alla, I know I am more emotional. My Neulasta reaction should be tomorrow and Wed. if it happens at the same time as last time but I also continued taking the Claratin so my fingers are crossed. Other than being more tired, I can't see more in the side effect category from the first to the 2nd treatment.

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  • Al12
    Al12 Member Posts: 79
    edited October 2016

    Connie1230, Thats great! fingers crossed all goes well for the rest of the week. last visit my blood work was good except platelets were slightly low. I'm very curious how my blood work comes out this Friday. I'm really hoping 3rd round will be just as good my sister in law is coming to visit this week to take me to chemo and I want her to see that everything is well with me.

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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited October 2016

    Hi everyone,

    Deemendoza, thank you for your prayers.

    Chickdudefood - I am also experiencing the invasion of the chemo fog ... not being able to read has been most distressing for me, as it has always been my fall-back activity in times of distress (escape in a good book!). I found that my concentration improved about a week after each chemo treatment, not back to normal but enough to get by. In my case, I know that steroids prescribed by my MO definitely added to an overall jitteriness ... it was hugely distracting ... I could barely stand to be in my own skin.

    On the 'recipe' topic, I made the mistake of starting a big batch of curried carrot soup ... it seemed like such a good idea at the beginning, but I ran out of steam half-way through .... my DH found me slumped in a kitchen chair, and I told him that he could have soup for dinner if he was interested in finishing it (just blender work at that point). It all worked out fine, but no more biting off more than I can chew!

    Lyn - Sorry to hear of your fitful night. 'Miss Naughty Britches'? That's quite a moniker!

    Melinda - Thanks for the positive feedback on Wiggy. We're still getting to know one another! Hope that Thursday goes well for you.

    Connie & Alla - I'm right there with you the 'emotional' department. My tears well up over nothing at times. What a roller coaster. Combine that with my newly acquired left-eye twitch, and I am quite a sight!

    Have a nice evening.

    Barb

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  • Julesbabe55
    Julesbabe55 Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2016

    Hi Ladies - I am trying to follow all the posts and failing miserably. Going for bloodwork tomorrow and expecting white blood count to be in the toilet. Hopefully this time I will not get too emotional and deal with it. I was a bit more tired after the 2nd treatment though nothing that would cause me to take a nap or anything like that. Am determined to get out today for a short walk today just to stay ahead of the Neulasta SE however with taking the Claritin, that has been minimal.if any.

    Alla - I hear you - I don't "feel" like I have cancer either other than when I look in the mirror at my no hair reflection. My appetite is good, food tastes normal - nothing on that front has changed yet. I'm working though I have it easier than you as I don't need to go into the office each day. But I do get dressed in the morning as if I'm going to work to make it feel real. Otherwise I would be sitting here in my PJs for the duration of treatment - not a good thing.

    Love all the pictures being posted - dogs, beautiful ladies in wigs - they are all beautiful.

    Best to all

    Julianne

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  • Miles
    Miles Member Posts: 62
    edited October 2016

    hello to all y'all

    Welcome everyone.

    I ended up in the hospital Friday and am waiting for Results from the 6 plus blood drawls for cultures and tests. I'm on antibiotics and have had a fever since 10/18 (1st Chemo)..

    Cracks me up when the Dr. ask for systems. I'm ready to say let me tell you what is good instead....

    1st Bald spot:

    image

    Space Invaders (old Atari game) pewww.. pewww....pewww pewww..Pewww!!

    Love it!

    Happy Halloween!

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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited October 2016

    Miles ... Oh honey, I am speechless! A fever since your first chemo? Antibiotics??! Hospital????!!!! That sucks!!!!! I am only (slightly) reassured by your irrepressible sense of humour. Of course I remember Space Invaders, and underwent a few peww-peww-pewws of my own (see evidence of the carnage!). We may be battle-ravaged, but we are definitely going to win this war!image

    image

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  • Zena32
    Zena32 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2016

    Hi! I am Zena and new on here. I just had my first round of chemo on 10/28. The first few days weren't that bad but by the third day I am feeling drained. How is everyone else holding up? Any tips to boost energy?

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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited November 2016

    Hi Zena, and welcome!

    Congrats on getting your first round of chemo over and done! Which type of chemo are you getting? Glad to hear that the first few days were ok. Fatigue is pretty normal ... rest as much as you need to (I slept a lot during the week after my first treatment). I find staying as active as possible helps with my energy ... going for a walk every day gets the blood moving. I've been pretty fortunate, and have been able to keep going to the gym, swimming and yoga classes regularly during my treatment. As I said, everyone is different. Best wishes,

    Barb

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  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    Barb, I love the headshot!! God bless you for embracing it!!

    I'm set to start on Wednesday, so I've moved to the November chat. You ladies are freaking awesome and such a great source of inspiration. I'll keep following your humorous stories! Good luck with your round 3s

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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,369
    edited November 2016

    Nfullblume - Thanks! Best of luck on Wednesday, and with the remainder of your treatment. As I've said before, you have great spirit and energy, and are a wonderful (and very positive!) contributor to these forums.

    Best wishes, Barb.

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