Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

Amyemn - I think I remember form an earlier post that the American Cancer Society offers a first free wig! You could check the out.

Good luck!! :-)

So many of you look truly cute with buzzed hair. I won't be posting a pix of myself but I'm enjoying all of yours.

Today I reread through most of this forum. I'm amazed at the wide variety of drugs that are being used for the side effects. Until this illness I'd only been on antibiotics once and no other meds except otc cold stuff. Now it seems I'm taking a life-time of pills over the course of a few months. It makes me think of Jefferson Airplane, "one pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small."

they offer rembursment with your receipt up to $150.YOU MUST ALSO HAVE A DR.PERSCRIPTON.THEN  I FOUND OUT EVERY AREA IS DIFFERENT.MY CANCER CENTER GAVE ME A LIST OF SOLONS THAT WILL GIVE U ONE FREE.IN ALL THE LITERURE THERE R PLACES THAT WILL DO SOME PERSONAL THINGS FOR FREE LIKE THIS,MAKEUP-MASSAGE.HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL

Hi aterry, thank you for your thoughtful post. I am from Manila, Philippines. I searched for Biotene in a popular drug store here but they dont have it. Gonna go to a mall today where they sell all sorts of imported medicines and hope they have it. Hugs.

Hi pmevans, thank you very much for the positive thought. I am including this November group in my prayers , that all will survive this terrible disease and have wonderful lives in the future. You are a sweet lady. Hugs.

Pmevans: I'll be a ball cap, beanie, hat wearing person and the first ball cap I'll wear Monday says, "My Oncologist Does My Hair".

I always thought a good T-shirt would be "Chemo Hair, Don't Care,"

I am sure someone out there already thought of that ... might be a ready-made T-shirt out there.

pmevans50

My hair was the same length as yours. I love the hat you'll be wearing on Monday. Yes, it should break the ice nicely. (((hugs)))

I had a very good day. I teleworked, got a very good nap, ate and drank lots of water (like I always do). When my husband came home from work, I got another very good nap. We went to the store and to pick up some dinner to bring back home. He was surprised at my appetite, and I was a bit too lol. Now it's time for me to log off, and curl up on the loveseat and watch a movie.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be thinking of you all. (((hugs)))

I'm sorry you ended up not feeling great BG. I do think all the standing and such takes its toll. I went to my daughter's musical and by the time we got home my port (installed Thursday) was killing me again. Too much trying to act like nothing is wrong I think and not being able to hold my arm or whatever the way I wanted to.

I hope you have an easy day today on your couch with those cheesy movies. Be kind to yourself today.

Latinmixy I haven't slept great since I was diagnosed...it sucks! the minute I wake up for anything (the kids, to pee) my head gets the best of me and I'm up for hours...

Hope your stomach feels better!

I'm only on day 1 of my first chemo and I'm in bed, my husband took the kids to a birthday party an hour away...I'm planning on doing nothing all day and keep taking my Zofran on time!

it's day two for me. I was a bit nauseous. I was trying to go over tumor reports and noticed that nothing was marked final report. There were still portions labeled pending. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

Did anyone receive a finalized report that states it a final copy

Aterry, I love that term!

Neulasta headaches and aches kicked in around 7pm last night. Ugh. Still battling with it a little today. Made myself get out with my husband for errands anyway though. Probably time for more Tylenol. Hoping to be out of the hangover portion of the chemo by tonight.

Hope everyone is doing well

I really messed myself up. I had the 1st chemo Tuesday with the Emend, took my steroids and got the neulasta shot on Wednesday, and had the worst headache for 3 days and constantly queasy but never threw up. I never took the zofran or compasene because they said it could give me a headache and the hydrocodone could make me nauseous. I'm finally feeling human today but I really need my MO to tell me exactly what to do because I was way too confused with all the meds they gave me. No way I can do it like this again. I'm not feeling much like a warrior right now. :

Sorry, Sleepless! I definitely take nausea meds for the first 5 days, then I'm normally good. I've been taking Tylenol for the Neulasta headaches and pressure. The Neulasta pain and aches areno joke. But I can attest after having a cold all 14 days of last cycle that it does work. My blood counts were good. So, at least it's working, to me, that makes it worth it.

Patti, doesn't it feel so much better off though? It's odd passing by a mirror and not recognizing myself.

Saying a prayer for you guys tonight! 🙏🏼😘

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted for a while, I started AC on 11/1. We're all having such similar experiences.

Cut my hair short last week, but hair started falling out in clumps today in the shower. I'm not dealing with that mess, so I had my husband shave it. It feels so much better.

What I experienced this week with regard to side effects was not acceptable. I will be doing all I can to avoid how I felt on Thursday, 2 days after treatment. I just can't tell if it's the chemo, the withdrawal from the steroid, or the Neulasta, but I had an incredible headache and couldn't get out of bed just slept on and off. Nausea too of course. Can anyone tell me if they are getting headaches after the Neulasta and anything to help?

And then Friday felt like a new lease on life! Like in the movies when a person gets punched, then gets up swinging at everything? That was me!

Will keep checking in on everyone

Sleepless, I don't wait until I have symptoms to take the nausea meds they gave me. I take 2 of them before I even go for chemo, 1 again later that night and 2 each day following for 2 or three. The meds they gave me for nausea are to prevent it, not stop it when it starts. If I feel nauseous, they said take gravol AS SOON as I feel it, and try to eat something because sometimes nausea is because you are hungry. Not eating makes it worse until you can't eat, etc.

Hey ladies!

I'm out of the fog!! Wahoo!! Seems my SEs are exactly the same as round 1. Day 5 and I'm back to normal. I'll take it! Hair is almost comical, but luckily I have a good sense of humor. You really do just have to laugh! I figure I'll be close to totally bald by Turkey day.

Aterry, without question, all of the headaches and body aches are Neulasta based for me. On the night of day 3and all day of day 4 random body parts and muscles just hurt. But my skull, teeth, and spine pulse for about 24 hours. I'll be talking to my MO about it too, since it was the same as round 1. Maybe a touch more intense this time. Still zero nausea though. I've been good on the dried fruits, nuts, and steel cut oats this time around, so the big C is nowhere in sight! Winning!!

My appetite and mouth are still in great shape too.

Feeling very blessed on this Sunday! Now for some online Christmas shopping and football.

Hugs to you all!! 🤗🤗