Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

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  • fromtritotam
    fromtritotam Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016
    Rachel- I went to a local chain salon on Tuesday night and had my hair shaved- I was also worried about the mess. It's about an inch on the top and half an inch around my ears and neck. My head is very tingly and itchy and every time I touch it, I get hair on my hands. Sleeping in a hat tonight- hope that will catch the hair! As for scalp care, I ordered an organic jojoba/coconut oil blend from Amazon and I'm planning on rubbing a little on my scalp at night. Other ladies I know have also used Argan oil. Good luck with your shaving.

    Amyenm- love the cut!
    Leslie- I hope your ultrasound is ok- keep us posted.

    I hope you all have a great night,
    Kelly
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  • amyemn
    amyemn Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2016

    nfullblume I plan on holding out as long as I can

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  • 2blessed2bestressed
    2blessed2bestressed Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2016

    My 3 year old niece was overheard diagnosing her Boo doll with breast cancer of the arm. She has great bed side manner though and told Boo she would be healed in 5 days. I'm envious of Boo's speedy treatment plan. =p My sisters and I cracked up!

    image

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  • Hanging_in_there
    Hanging_in_there Member Posts: 226
    edited November 2016

    Thank you Javamama on your account of port placement. I am within days of mine. I haven't read this whole thread because up until today, I've spent my days in additional testing. I think over the weekend I will have time to read the whole thread. I start chemo 11/28 so probably everyone will be ahead of me unless there are a few stragglers at the end of the month. I finished all the tests in record time (told them I would go anywhere at anytime, so I could go to FL to visit my MIL) And I got it done with one day to spare.

    I watch funny kid videos to make me laugh. I get my port on 11/21

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  • LatinMixy
    LatinMixy Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2016

    your wig looks fantastic on you SleeplessinCo!

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  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2016

    Dang, the port/my neck really hurt last night!! Took some pain pills and went to bed at 9:30...didn't go to sleep until later, but need to lay in one position! At least this morning it's more an achy pain, not the pain pain of last night! Geez! I'm also not impressed that I can't shower for 7-10 days. Dang dissolvable stitches!! I hate baths!! Ok, end of complaints for today.

    Thanks for the good wishes on the ultrasound, I'm not as freaked out now as I was. Knowing the US is done, I know I'll have an answer sooner or later. Nothing more I can do.

    I'm on the wrong page to get the name, but I LOVE that your 4yo is looking after her dolls just like the doctors are looking after you. Shows that she's processing everything in a positive light...she knows the doctors are going to make you ok!! Good stuff! Edited to add, 2beblessed! That's who it is!!!

    Looking forward to watching my daughter on stage tonight. I know she and her castmates will be awesome as always!!


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  • aterry
    aterry Member Posts: 290
    edited November 2016

    gmmiph, I've also been doing mouth washes for mouth sores. I've been using Biotene toothpaste and mouth wash. It was so ugly inside my mouth/throat I couldn't tell if it was SE or a virus. On day 9 it started to settle down so I think SE. I hope the mouth tissue recovers more before the next round.

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  • natster
    natster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2016

    aterry My nurse said there's a special magic mouth wash they can call in for you!

    Here's a pick of the cut my husband gave me :) Not sure what I'm doing with my mouth. I had treatment on Monday and I wake up at night, but I've felt ok. One thing: I had to take compazine on wednesday afternoon and it KNOCKED me off my a**. I was on the couch from 4-bedtime and slept until like 5am.

    TGIF!!!


    image

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  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2016

    The cut looks cute on you natster!! I like it.

    I forgot to mention in my post...before the port installment they did mention to me that my wbc count was a little high...14,000. Between that and the lump I must have been asked 50 times in the last 2 days if I've run a fever at all, because it indicates I'm fighting an infection...but I haven't been. They don't seem pleased that it's high and I don't have a fever. I know, fevers and chemo are a bad thing, but my friend who is a nurse told me there are people that can have an infection and not present with a fever...they don't "like" those people because it makes it harder to diagnose them when a fever is the best/first sign that an infection is present. If I'm one of those people it's harder to tell when I "need help". The infection will get further before I have symptoms. Oh joy. Kinda hoping that's not the case. It's going to be a long weekend until Tuesday when I see the MO!

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  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    well, ladies, the deed is done. My scalp was so sore this morning. Feels a lot better now! image

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  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2016

    For one, the short looks good on you, for two, you still have so much!!! I still have a lot too, though mine isn't as thick as yours. I'm really surprised, as I was told point blank I would NOT have any left by day 14. Well, what's this? Day 17 of my cycle? Hmmmm. Oh well. I'm glad I took control rather than be nervous every day guessing if that was the day I'd lose it. :)

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  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    Thanks, Leslie!I have really thick hair, so I knew it would be super messy once it started falling out. So much cleaner this way. Now I can wear a cap at night and keep the hair in that.

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  • 2blessed2bestressed
    2blessed2bestressed Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2016

    I have been dealing with the doctors asking repeatedly about a fever too. Which eventually did come but their not sure if it's a side effect of one of the fertility meds I'm on, an actual cold or a UTI (caused by the egg retrieval surgery)!

    Now I'm on Anti-b's for the UTI, waiting out the cold and trying to get the doc to approve me stopping the letrozole.

    I'm just bummed because I wanted to feel solid walking into chemo next week for the first time. Here's to 4 days rest before the big day

    Was anyone else under the weather or on antibiotics before chemo? Will the MO still let me do the treatment?



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  • natster
    natster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2016

    Nfullblume You look great! Gorgeous! Mine is getting shorter and shorter by the minute.

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  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    thanks Natalie. Your husband did a great job. Mine was scared to hurt me. 🤓

    2blessed, I had a small cold going into my first chemo treatment. They will do your labs first and check your white blood cell count and then your MO will decide weather to delay or if you're strong enough to push forward. My MO gave me antibiotics and I started them the same day as chemo. My blood counts were in range. The MO asked me if I felt like pushing and I said yes. I had the timing right to not screw up my holidays, so we went ahead. Depending on your counts, you may have an option too. Hope this helps.

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  • Coupon
    Coupon Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    Thanks Gmmiph & Nfullblume,

    It's day 4 after 1st infusion and I am feeling better today, didn't take Metonia at all and managed to cook for the 1st time after chemo. Still have a bit nausea and headache.

    Do you guys experience sore throat? I do. I have been using baking soda to prevent any mouth sores as well.

    My face is so dry and peeling since yesterday. I had severe Eczema and my dermatologist already prescribed very rich moisturizer to cope with this.

    Leslie2016, sorry to hear about your new lump. Hopefully it turns out benign. For your Port, did you experience challenge locating your good vein on your 1st infusion? I had mine on 3rd attempt and wonder if I end up having one. I will meet up with my oncologist Dec 2 for the tolerability assessment.

    Nice pic amyemn!

    Hope everyone has a great weekend and keep up with positive spirit.




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  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2016

    Coupon, no, they haven't had any trouble finding my veins. The port was ordered before my first chemo but we didn't have enough time to get it done as everything was rushed to get me set up for chemo. They got my path back and 1 week later I was doing chemo. The reason is I have 6 chemos plus 18 Herceptin treatments (well, 3 of the herceptins will be with my last 3 chemos) so they deemed it too many infusions to do veins every time.

    I'm choosing not to worry about the lump. Ultrasound was done yesterday...I figure if it was something major that we needed to deal with immediately they would have called me today. Otherwise, I see the doctor Tuesday so I'll know what is what by then.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2016

    Hi Coupon,

    It's good to hear that you're feeling better now. Try to relax and don't stress yourself.

    I also have mouth sores now. starting from Day 14, I think until now. I started to take prescribed meds for it, anti fungal, antibiotic and analgesic but still it persisted. I am Day 4 on my mouth sore meds now, I hope it subsides. You should also gargle a mixture of baking soda, salt and water. It might help. I was looking for Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste, which others say is effective against mouth sores like this but I can't find them here.

    You should also try to eat natural healthy foods that will boost your blood counts. I have my own blood level problems. Low WBC and RBC. I am eating local green veggies like moringa, sweet potato tops, jute, and Malabar spinach plus Iberet Tablet to increase my iron level. I just finished 3 days of Filgrastim shots yesterday for my white blood and will take another CBC test this afternoon to check my blood levels. I am sure you will have your own CBC tests too. Chemotherapy tends to mess with the blood levels depending on one's condition. Did your MO prescribe you with anything to stabilize your blood?

    I don't have facial problems like you do but I am very itchy all over my body and started to have rashes about 5 days ago. I told my MO about this but no replies yet. She's still out of the country and only responds thru text messages.

    Ok, that's it for today. Wish you the best.

    gmmiph


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2016

    Hi Nfullblume,

    In whatever hairstyle, wig or hat you wear, you still look pretty. So are natster, amy, Sleepless! My hair is still very much intact but I am starting to feel a tingling sensation on top of my head. This could be it. Gonna try and get a shorter haircut or shave it all off once I start shedding.

    2blessed, nice dolls for a nice daughter.

    Regards to Leslie, amw5, nanpop, Pamela, fromtritotam, hopfull, and all the other November Chemoladies.

    Prayers and good luck to all.

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  • Coupon
    Coupon Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    gmmiph, my dermatologist prescribed me the Epicream, which is supposed to help chemo patients to tackle dry skin, see if you can get it from your MO.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2016

    Hi Ladies,

    I just finished my chemo in September. I just wanted to say good luck to everyone and don't worry. It's not as bad as you imagine. Here is an article I wrote for a local newspaper about my experience that hopefully will give you all a smile and positive attitude.

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

    The last paragraph is very very important...READ it and believe it!

    DD

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  • Coupon
    Coupon Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    This is the EpiCeram I got from my dermatologist. Hope it helps!


    image

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  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited November 2016

    Amymn you look great!! glad #2 went well!

    I had my first chemo today! It went well, better then I expected (in my head lol) very uneventful...they did have a massage therapist who comes in, so I got a neck/shoulder massage during it, it was pretty nice and relaxing! I finished about 1:30, I'm home now and I was going to try to take a little nap but I think the steroid they gave me has me up, and my heart beating fast...I also have a little headache, but I'm not sure its related to the meds...

    I'm going to a Girls Night Out tonight at a big hotel, it benefits breast cancer...so I hope I keep feeling pretty good :-)

    Here is a picture of me from my first chemo today :-)

    image

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  • amw5
    amw5 Member Posts: 189
    edited November 2016

    BG46TN,

    You look great, and I'm glad your treatment went well. Enjoy the event tonight.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2016

    Thanks Coupon. Gonna try to look for Epiceram.

    Hi Dolly, welcome to this thread.

    Hi BG, you looked so relaxed. Congrats on your chemo session. Hope no serious SEs for you. Enjoy your nite out..

    Hi amw5.

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  • pmevans50
    pmevans50 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2016

    Guess I spoke too soon. Wow! Hair started falling out this morning. What I had on my bathroom sink counter looked like a birds' nest. I kept getting visuals today - I have my hair in a ponytail and felt like if anyone were to tug on it, it would have all just come right off. Yikes.

    Hi Nanpop - why no steroids? For me, I don't think I need them and I simply don't want to take more meds than I need to.

    Hi Gmmiph - Nothing but positive thoughts for you to be the first survivor in your family. You are a Warrior! :-)


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  • amyemn
    amyemn Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2016

    Chemo support kitties

    image

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  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    DD, great article!!

    Becky, I'm glad you're done. I'm jelly, I wasn't a massage. Might have to hit up the hubby!

    Patti, it feels good to buzz it.

    Leslie, I think you're right on the ultrasound. I'm hoping no news is good news!

    I keep getting emails from my insurance company to check out the claims. I've looked recently and have to laugh at how much cancer costs. What a business!? Wouldn't it be nice if we could get tax breaks on buying organic food and taking care of ourselves ahead of illnessversus the tax breaks of writing off the medical expenses later? Perhaps I'll hit the White House up with a suggestion! 😜

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  • pmevans50
    pmevans50 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2016

    Nfullblume - haha you're right. Already on the calendar for tomorrow. cut and shave. :-)

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  • amyemn
    amyemn Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2016

    pmevans50 Me too! Washed my hair this morning and when I pulled my hands away from lathering, they were full of lather and hair! Throughout the day, I keep finding hair that sticks up and when I try to fix it it just comes out. BUT, the good news is I called my insurance company today to find out if it would cover the cost of a wig and it does 100%. Only catch is I have to find one through a medical retailer, which after some searching, doesn't seem to be correct. The ones listed one my insurance website seems to be for hearing aids and stuff. Has anyone else here gotten a wig through insurance? Specifically BCBS?

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