Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

Good morning all,

I'm right behind you Al12, I'm getting ready for AC #3 today glad your face swelling has gotten back to normal.

Just curious from those in AC how long is your infusion the day of?

wow, Alla, that is one expensive wig. Mine is synthetic and cost me less than $400 and I thought it looked ok but now I'm wondering if it looks like a wig to everyone else. I know they do make synthetic wigs they call petite which might be better fitting.

I've not had skin issues like you've had by any means. I do have a few tender splotches but that's it.

I'm worried about my 4th AC as I've had some slight nausea with the 3rd. The 4th is Monday so if I have issues, it will imvolve Thanksgiving.

Hi Everyone, It has been awhile since I have been on. The week after my second chemo was not pleasant but this week as been pretty good, went back to work and feeling much better.

The Friday after Chemo#2 I just couldn't take it anymore and went and had my hair buzzed off. I think the break over point was when I went to put a pot of water on the stove and looked down and I had hair floating everywhere in it, had to throw out and start again, thank goodness it was just water but, it drove me crazy. This week I have worn various hats and scarves and have been getting a good reception from the guys I work with, which I great, relieved I would say.

Wish everyone well on their treatments!!

Melinda

just to weigh inthe on the wig issue- I got one the day I had my head shaved. It is a Rachel Welsh (Welch?) synthetic. I thought it looked the closest to my normal hair style. It cost $450 and my insurance paid $375 of it. I thought that was a lot for a synthetic wig. However, I was told it was hand tied and has a lining that lets your scalp show through in places (in a good way!) so that was why it cost that much. I have gotten good feedback from people who have seen me in it (on the other hand, what else would they say, right?) but I've got to say, it's much more comfortable to just wear a cap when I go out. And at home, I go bald most of the time, unless my head is cold and then I wear these plain, soft, inexpensive caps I ordered on eBay in different colors. I still will wear the wig at times because the cancer thing isn't obvious to others when I have it on. But I like the freedom and comfort of just a cap or going head-naked at home. The wig wasn't as great of a thing I thought it would be.

I had chemo 5 yesterday and it went smoothly. It was the first time I used numbing cream on my port and it didn't seem to do anything. I was told to put it on an hour before the port being accessed which I did. But 10 hours later, I couldn't feel any tenderness at the port site at all so that's when it kicked in. How weird is that? Today I have the normal tenderness at the port site that I usually have (it's been 2.5 weeks since the port was put in) but last night was golden.

Nancie

Luwusu - Well I am right behind you. Looking like the buzz cut or super short cut Monday evening with girlfriends.( including wine/champagne). Lot of shedding, surprised how much is still here. The hair on face and neck is getting annoying so buzz cut it before Thanksgiving. Methodist Infusion Center has a "beauty shop" with free wigs. With Chemo 5 tomorrow , a friend (Breast cancer survivor from 2011) and I plan to pick it out tomorrow.

b2alicia - drive past St. Paul's regularly. Beautiful church.

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For the red skin spots, my onco. recommended Benadryl cream if it itches. Thus far no itch, using Aquaphor. Agree about the moisturizing sometimes it does seem like for no reason.

Another juicing.... ? Borrowed a juicer from a friend and love the carrots, green apples, and ginger. Naturopathic Dr. friend noted carrots and green apples along with beets and spinach as "healers".

Also Bone Broth anyone ? ....another friend who has an auto immune issue, makes bone broth every few weeks, slow cooker/crock pot for 30 hrs. She double batches now and gives me some. I drink about a cup a day.

Ladies : here's a little something you may enjoy. I get these daily from greatday.com.

I have the video delivery option.. Today's message - Choose Challenge.

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Terry (aka Whistlestop)

Hi everyone,

I am at work today and feeling great so far!! I had my last 4th of AC infusion yesterday and I am overjoyed that part is done. Now starting Dec 1st I will start my 12 weeks of Taxol with Prejeta and Hercipten. Then I will decide on the surgery I want. I am so grateful my blood work is still coming out good maybe that is the reason of me doing ok through this right now. I'm not sure. We will see though how I do tomorrow since that will be my sick day. I"m just so glad Thanks giving lands on my good weekend.

Melindawv, so happy all is well and you are rocking the scarfs. I also get very good feed back at work between my scarfs and hats.

Hkuester, I looked in to it but unfortunately the wigs that would be available are avarage size maybe they will have a small but I would need a children's wig to fit my head and I know that wigs can be adjusted but they only get adjusted so far and I have a freakishly small head. I am ok now knowing wigs are not in my cards through this. I will just need to get creative with hats and scarves.

Luwusu, I have to say $450 sounds cheap and especially that insurance covered most of it. Where I am and I was looking at real hair wigs started at $2,000 I know insane and I would of still had to pay upfront before sending a script to get reimbursed. I know I can order a cheaper wigs on line but I think since my head is so small I would need to try it on and the ultra petits are not even in stock online. Even a small in children's will be big on me. I think you got a good deal. so glad to hear your doing well. I never had a a problem with the numbing cream for the port I put a huge glob of it and use surgical tape over it while I wait for my Onco before chemo that takes about 45 minutes. How much cream did you use?

Connie1230, I guess every place is different. I went in yesterday at 12:40 and left around 5 something. It took longer this time because they were backed up a bit due to holidays comeing up but I go in at 12:40 get blood work done first then I wait to meet my Oncologist discuss everything that was around 1:40 then around 2:30 cause they were busy I started my chemo. so I guess around 3 hours for chemo. I had an extra pre med cortisone drip that took 1/2 hour or less. Sometimes they run all the pre meds at one time which is faster and sometimes they do one at a time. hope this helps. I love coconut oil and use it for everything too and I cook with it and use it in my smoothies. But great idea for down there my daughter sometimes complains of itchiness down there ( she's 11) and usually I would use the baby stuff but coconut oil is pure and natural I will def use that on her. thanks!

Whistlestop Thanks for the juice recipe I juice and do smoothies too and I think it's so important through this. I have been slacking cause of coarse the steroids make you crave comfort food over healthy stuff but I stacked my fridge and plan on getting back in the game. I also wanted to ask you I love bone broth and set a side chicken bones from when I butchered 2 chickens for dinner one time. What type of bones were used in your friends bone broth. I too have an autoimmune disorder because I suffer with psoriasis but thanks to all the steroids now all the psoriasis disappeared. I went to a holistic doctor one time and he told me about the bone broth and gave me a recipe which I lost but I'm sure I can find one on line. Also very important for healing breast cancer are red and green cabbage with what ever you want to add. Plus fruits with seeds like raspberries, strawberries and black berries, as well as Mangos they are know to have properties that kill breast cancer cells.

Wishing everyone a great weekend ahead!!!

Alla

Connie1230 Yeh I love coconut oil. It's great make up remover. I don't ever wear make up except for lipstick and mascara but when kids use face paint for halloween it takes out the toughest red and black colors in seconds. I start Taxol and when I do prejeta and herciptin with it my day will be more like over 8 hours. I feel so bad for my husband I wish they would make more comfy chairs for visitors too.

Hi everyone,

Just here to share the best news I've had in awhile--my daughter's BRCA results came back, and she's negative for BRCA 2. Such a relief. However, because there is so much breast cancer on both sides of the family (particularly my ex-husband's side--nearly all of his first cousins have had it) they are recommending she start screening with alternating MRI/mammograms every six months beginning at 30--5 full years from now.

I'm just overjoyed that she can get on with her young adult life now, without hard decisions hanging over her in her 20s.

As for wigs, the writing is on the wall for me--I have two, and I doubt I'll ever wear them. They are so itchy and uncomfortable, even after being re-styled at the hairdresser. I've been experimenting with hats and T-shirt turbans and I have a few that are really easy on the eyes and even better, on the head. I wear glasses and the wigs and some of my headwraps start bothering me--there's a very fine line between too tight and too loose.

Best,

Kate

Fantastic news, Kate!! I know that's a huge relief for you!

Buzzed the hair today, feels so much better. I'm onDay 3 of round 2 and still feeling well.

Hope you ladies have a fantastic weekend!

Good morning! I woke up feeling good only a little achy meaning my skin sensitivity to the touch but nothing compared to the last 3 times. I'm hoping as the day goes I will do ok. I skipped miralax yesterday and paid the price this morning but as soon as I took it with my breakfast it worked like a charm. I am so so happy I am done with the AC + Nuelasta but getting nervous with the next step that is Taxol for 12 weeks. I know we are all different even on the same drugs so I cant really compare. I have a friend who is doing Taxol and she is not doing good at all. Her doctors already postponed chemo twice already and they said Taxol is supposed to be easier. I don't know what to think. Its that unknown again.

I'm also glad I am no longer obsessing over getting a wig. I have accepted that I will go through this journey with hats and scarfs. its really a relief not to think about it and stress over it. I have been having very positive feedback at work with my head coverings and being in a meeting isn't a big deal.

chickdudefood, great news about your daughter and it's even better that they are still letting her get screened at an earlier age. It's so important that she is aware at a young age and not be afraid of getting a mammogram. Since finding out I have breast cancer and speaking with my girlfriends about it I am so freaking surprised how many of them are not getting them selves checked out and they are older then me. They don't touch them selves, they just don't want to know. I am shocked. The good news now some of my girlfriends are making that appointment to see their doctor.

Julianne, love the pic

Nfullblume, glad to hear your managing well.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!

Alla

Al12 no matter on the wig. Do what makes you feel good. You have a great smile and bright eyes. Love the red framed glassed too in the photo with your 3 compadres. Thinking about a pair of colorful cheaters to add to my new look, as the buzz cut party with friends in Monday evening …Still have hair but definitely thin.Got the freebie wig yesterday @ infusion center, American Cancer Society. This will at least avoid scaring the 3 .5 yr old granddaughter @ Thanksgiving. Now with a couple of others lent by friends, may change my look on a whim daily / weekly. Make it an adventure - Blonde Brunette or Redhead. LOL.

Will send bone broth recipe once I receive. I am sure it is beef bones as she does grass fed beef & meats @ our local farmers market.

Nfullblume Buzz cutting Monday pm for me Round Two day 2 was Friday. Doing with some great gal friends. Hallelujah for the support circle.Wine / Mimosa's might be involved.

Julesbabe55… On anemia….my HGB is down more. Adding more beets and will likely do some steaks this week. Beau loves to cook. Along with loading up on spinach. Onco appt Monday, so will see if iron supplement is an option. Takes me back to iron tonic youth when I was anemic (yuck) .

b2aliciabeatiful snow photo.....and pup too.

May have the Benadryl reaction covered as yesterday was a breeze with the infusion nurse noting she loads slow in the Y port. Added it to my chart and yes I will ask each time …. Push it SLOW.Only a little sleepy, no other SE.

A bit more tired than usual after Taxol only Chemo 5 yesterday likely due to burning my reserve on the the full real estate day, multiple closings, and networking events on Thurs. . Felt good though to have what seemed like a normal portion of my typical work day. Even wrote and offer during normal rest time yesterday, so it was 8:30 pm bedtime last night.Have to chuckle …. If there is such a thing as good timing for a Realtor chemo, Late October to January plus end of Jan. surgery, seems to make sense from holidays to before the early spring listing time. Nice too that I can manage from home office with feet up. Lesson reinforced…..There's always something to be thankful far.

A little something for everyone…Happy Weekend.

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Terry ( aka Whistlestop )

Great idea on the mouth wash, Kathy.

A brutal several days after AC #3. ER visit. I'm too tired to share details tonight, but am reading your notes and wanted to check in.

Lyn

Hi everybody,

I'm due for chemo #3 tomorrow, and spent much of last evening taking my temperature. I felt completely fine, but after a nap I took it and it was 100.1. Even after a Tylenol it was creeping up to, and got to, 100.5. My doctors say to call them if it exceeds that, and, slowly but surely, over the course of the evening, it went down to 99 and then eventually to 97.7, which is about normal for me. I have, in my usual over-thinking way, 4 thermometers--one fancy digital one recommended by a nurse friend which takes the temperature from the forehead, one old-fashioned mercury, and two in-the-mouth digitals from the drugstore. They were wildly inconsistent--I think I'll take the fancy one in with me tomorrow to see how it calibrates with the in-ear thermometer used by the nurses.

Given all that, I'm spending a quiet day at home today, although I'm so tempted to go out to the movies or a yoga class or something. But I don't want to jinx the schedule. I heard from a friend who had chemo at the same hospital on Friday that it was very crowded, with people all trying to fit in their chemo before the long Thanksgiving weekend, and took longer that usual because of the backup. I'm glad to have the heads up...I'll spend some time tonight loading up my iPad with library books.

Lyn, so sorry to hear about your hard time after AC #3. Hope you're feeling better and are getting some rest. I'm still planning Thanksgiving (with a lot of housemate help) but have no idea if I'll even want to eat on Thursday.

I've lost a few pounds, which seems impossible since I've been very careful to choose nutrient-rich meals, lots of small meals, following all advice. I have lost my sweet tooth, though--maybe that accounts for it. This is a journey that I know will be over someday, but right now, I'm having trouble envisioning the "after."

What have you all heard or experienced about the Taxol? I hear some people saying it's easier than AC, others that it's harder...perhaps this is individual. I have another full month (AC #3 and 4) before it starts for me. The neuropathy scares me the most since I already have arthritis in my right hand that makes it hard to open jars, etc. My oncologist discourages icing of hands and feet, because she wants the chemo to have full access to all my cells and I am pretty much behind that. She ok'd the L-Glutamine but said the evidence of it helping was largely anecdotal--not enough double blind controlled studies to convince her. But at least it's something.

Best to all,

Kate

Lisa - I'm really sorry to hear about what you've been going through. It sounds really scary. My SE's haven't been as bad as yours on TCHP, but after 3 infusions even I started having thoughts that I don't want to do it again. I think sharing your feelings with your MO's office was the right thing to do. They started you on a standard treatment, but maybe they can tailor something that will work without such a severe reaction.

Welcome Leigh39. I am Stage 2b, ER-, PR-,HER2+ and finished my 5th straight Friday 11/18 with a break this week due to the holiday. Nervousness / Anxiousness definitely a part of it all. Embrace it. You will do well. After your first you will know what to expect and attitude as many of the ladies here will tell you is so much of it. Faith over fear will carry you a long way. Reaching out to others, as you did here, will be a great infusion of strength and power. Draw on the other bumps in the road you have overcome to this point in your life. Hugs for you Leigh

Here's a little something that dropped into my message box today: http://greatday.com/cgi-bin/X10/video.pl?mc16112109HQc6x

Little things make a difference. I simply asked if anyone wanted to be with me when I extremely short cut or buss my hair tonight. I have a group of 9 women who are rallying along side of me, wine, snacks, and lots of love. I will be using every bit of that love to keep my chin up, allowing the pity party when needed yet tuning with back to faith and thriving.

Sending you comfort and energy for easier days Daisy777.

Rest sometimes is the best medicine chickdudefood and I embrace it now , despite my brain wanting to do something else. My body seems to know what's right.

Took time yesterday , just me, for an easy drive to the coast......No matter the beach, even in Galveston...... a walk on the beach always does the mind, body, and soul some good. First attempt at a scarf wrap and decided to embrace it and go out for seafood.

Here 's to a beauty of each day and a wonderful Thanksgiving for all.

Terry ( aka whistlestop )