Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

Nfullblume- I would love to take a bath but can't because I have a naphostomy bag for my right kidney. Maybe I can mix up a small batch and washup with it. Hopefully this chemo shrinks the cancer so I can be free of the tube and bag.

I really like the wig on you. The color is great. I wanted to cut my hair off already because I don't want to deal with the shedding. That's great that you had no nausea. It hit me hard today. I guess I should have stayed on something. But i was trying to avoid the big C. I can't seem to drink enough.

Anyone know tricks to drinking more

Hello November Chemoladies,

Just saying hi and reading the posts. Nothing much to say about me. Just a nasty headache that went away overnight after my 2nd treatment.

Nextstorm, nice short hair!

BG, the wig looks great on you.

I havent tried out my wig and headscarves in public yet. I still have a lot of hair left but maybe I will ask my hubby to shave it in a day or two.

Almost everybody seem to be ok here except for some minor SEs. Hope we all continue to heal quickly.

Hugs,

Gina

Bed, Bath and Beyond EO diffuser

On the essential oils, if you have a Bed Bath and Beyond near you, they have something similar. They sell the essential oils too. My little diffuser will run for 8 hours straight and only takes 4-5 drops of oil, so they are potent.

My family sells the Do Terra brand. The one I'm using is called "On Guard." It's a mixture of Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark and Eucalyptus Leaf.

https://doterra.com/US/en/p/on-guard-oil

Here's a link, so you can read more. I have the electric diffuser. I also use Lemon, Peppermint, Lavender, and Immortale pretty regularly.

For those having nausea issues, essential oils can help with that too. It is nice to be able to use natural remedies rather than drugs for everything.

Nfullblume

Love the oils! I use my Young Living oils religiously. Lemon seems to help me with tthe bad smells as well as neaseau. And purification runs throughout the house on most all days. To help with insomnia I use lavender and stress away which is an amazing blend of vanilla lavendar lime and cedarwood. Tranquility (lavendar, cedarwood, Roman camomile,and coconut oil) goes on before treatments to ease the anxiety.

There is something about using something natural to help fight off some of the side effects. I've never been good about to taking medicine and with all the steroids, chemo, neaseau, and otc meds it's nice to add in the oils for a balance.

I haven't posted in while so it's good to see everyone is doing as well as they can be. The sores and burning sensation on my scalp just got to be unbearable so last weekend I let me daughter cut my hair. She is truly my strength through out all this. After bringing up shaving it with her and shedding a few tears she held my hand and said well you know I've been practicing using scissors (she's 4 and in prek) so I let her have it! The next day my husband buzzed it down even which I think was more of a shock seeing so many patches. I don't mean to sound vein but the loss of the hair was harder than I expected and extremely self conscious about it. I'll be sticking with scarfs and hats though. I wore a wig for a day and with our southern heat it was just to hot and uncomfortable.

The past week I have felt amazing and even woke up a couple of times forgetting I was fighting cancer. Just in time to start the cycle again Monday.

Praying constantly for everyone!

Nanpop, I'm sorry day 9 was hard for you. Last round, day 9 was the day I started to feel closer to normal. I'm glad you got the Zofran and that it's helping. I have Omeprazole that I take first thing in the morning and other than the IV anti-nausea drugs, which I think last 72 hours, I haven't needed much. One Compazine each cycle, so far. I eat small bits of food almost all day. And sips of water. If I fill my stomach or let it go empty, either/both bring a bit of nauseousness. I'm hope the salt water helps your mouth. I'm using baking soda rinses this cycle and they seem to be better than the Biotene. I have Magic mouthwash but so far I haven't needed it. I also have a prescription for Nystatin because last cycle my mouth sores were fungal.

Welcome to the November group, IronMom3! I'm new here too, starting FEC-D tomorrow morning (yikes!) Based on your avatar pic and user name, I'm guessing that you are going to be one of those powerhouses who keeps on exercising all through treatment... If that's true, I'm hoping your activity will inspire me to keep moving too! :-) Hope all goes well for you this week.

Thanks Nfullblume for the essential oil's and all your information. I am going to try it as soon as possible.

Nan, I can't believe you got sick on day nine. I decided to keep a journal of all my side effects and hopefully can avoid any pitfalls for second chemo treatment. I stopped taking my anti-nausea medicine on day five and didn't have any problems, except now I have pretty constant acid reflux. I am also on day nine and going for my second chemo on this Friday. Hope the anti-nausea medicine they prescribed works for you.

BG, love the wig and hat wig...very clever. I may be rethinking taking off work, but I kind of want to see how I do with the 2nd chemo treatment. I want to save the time for surgery. Do you wear a mask at work with your students?

Welcome to all the new warriors!!

Aterry,

Those are exactly what i am eating after a chemo treatment. After chemo, usually i have a metallic taste and loss of appetite during thr first week. The cantaloupes here are in season and they are so sweet and refreshing. I also prepare mashed potatoes with lots of roasted garlic, non-fat cream and fresh peppercorns for me and my boy. I also eat boiled sweet potatoes. No salt for me coz that is what worsens my metallic taste

Hope, no I'm not wearing a mask, just lots and lots of hand washing and antibacterial lotion...I teach HS so its not the same as elementary school with snotty noses LOL

My nose has been getting very dry lately...it was actually bleeding when I blew it, so I bought some saline nose spray and it seems to be helping..

I actually had a great weekend and felt awesome!! If all my chemos go like number 1 did I will be VERY happy!! I also have number 2 on Friday!

Good Luck to everyone who has chemo this week!!! We are some tough chicks and WILL get through this together!!

Becky

aterry - Mashed potatoes have been very consistent (in their taste) for me. I also keep up with my daily fiber, and I have not had any issues with constipation (but I have always made sure I was regular).

I purchased to hats (nice warm ones) from Macy's yesterday. I love my pretty scarfs, but sometimes they are not warm enough for my head.

This picture is from my fist chemotherapy on November 15, 2016. My second one is tomorrow.

Whew. Here we go. Just put Emla cream on the skin over my port in preparation for my first tx. Looking at that weird little round thing on my chest, I was reminded of this Tolkien passage:

"No one answered. The noon-bell rang. Still no one spoke. Frodo glanced at all the faces, but they were not turned to him. All the Council sat with downcast eyes, as if in deep thought. A great dread fell on him, as if he was awaiting the pronouncement of some doom that he had long foreseen and vainly hoped might after all never be spoken. An overwhelming longing to rest and remain at peace by Bilbo's side in Rivendell filled all his heart. At last with an effort he spoke, and wondered to hear his own words, as if some other will was using his small voice. 'I will take the Ring,' he said, 'though I do not know the way.'"

Can anyone tell me how they felt the first day of receiving adriamycin?

I had my first infusion on November 8th. It knocked me down pretty hard. I ended up going in for fluids and being put on opium to stop my diarrhea. I was able to manage the body aches with ibuprofen but they told me to limit the intake in fear of more liver damage. Tomorrow is infusion number 2 and I am so anxious and nervous. I guess mainly due to how my body responded last time. Those of you that have had a couple rounds already, did your side effects get worse? My hair has fallen out around the front part of my crown, so I just decided to shave it. I have been fine but I have some family members that are not handling it well (me with no hair).

Any advice on how to make future infusions easier?

Thanks,

Shannon

On weekly Taxol now, today I start having some discomfort at liver area. Should I be concerned about it? Thanks!