Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

Hope88, I think there are several approaches to icing that have been mentioned in this thread. I do icing during the Taxol treatment--with my fingers in an ice bath (I alternate my hands so my fingers don't get too uncomfortable and the nurse offers thin gloves--to keep the skin off the ice--but I don't like those). For my feet/toes, I take in my own ice packs and the nurse uses the medical self-stick wrap to secure them to my feet. The evening after the infusion I do my own icing with an ice bath on both fingers and toes for about 20 minutes--up to an hour. I've been doing one ice bath per day during the week. Some people do more. I trust the nurses on this--my nurse says it helps and her unit treats120 breast cancer patients per week.

Hope88: I'm getting my 6th (and final) chemo on V-day. So far, I haven't had any neuropathy or darkened nails. And I never iced. The only difference I see with my nails is that my nails seem much stronger during chemo and my cuticles shrunk a little bit so I haven't needed to push them back since I started chemo.

I've also had lots of diarrhea and constipation issues. I can go from diarrhea to constipation (and vice versa) during the same day. I try not to take Imodium for diarrhea cause I'm afraid it will cause constipation, but constipation occurs anyway. When I know I'm getting constipated, "Smooth Move" tea helps. ("Smooth Move" was recommended by my MO. It taste like dirt, but it's bearable.) I tried prune juice but that doesn't seem to help me, or I may not be drinking enough. I also take a stool softener on a daily basis -- it doesn't cause me to go, just makes it easier to go.

I iced for the first time during my taxotere this past Friday....so far so good....I used the gel mitts, and I wore fingerless gloves under them. I didn't do my feet during treatment (too hard when I have to get up to pee nonstop from the IV fluids lol) I also iced again that night at home and once the next day....I also sucked on ice chips the whole time, I really hope I can keep my taste buds this time around...*fingers crossed*

My place is very small and doesn't really ever mention icing, but I just brought all my own stuff, my nurse told me to let him know how it works out, he was curious about it.

I have to say for taxotere #2 I have been feeling pretty good...(#1 was not so fun) I haven't really had any side effects (yet) the only wierd thing is hiccups! starting the day after, on and off all day and still going on 3 days later...but I'll take that over any kind of pain any day! Even my Neulasta didn't give me the pains I usually get the day after it goes off...today my skin feels a little tender but nothing too bad.

I was hoping to avoid Rads since my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon both thought I shouldn't need it since I"m having a double mastectomy and have no lymph node involvement..but my MO still thinks I need it (ugh) So i am going to consult with the RO and see what he says, and hope for just a short amount.

I'm upset by the fact that I can't have the exchange from expanders to implants until 6 months after radiation is done...I feel like everything is just getting dragged out longer and longer....I was so hoping to be "Done" by the end of summer and be able to move on...now I'll have to add in another surgery, miss more work during the next school year :-(

oh well....It is what it is..and I"m trying really hard to just deal with all this as it comes my way...

Becky

I have such heartburn what is the best thing to take? I usually would take Pepcid AC and it worked great, but you can only take 2 a day...and I feel like i need something more/longer/

Does Prilosec do the same thing? I have some at home but haven't been taking it because I wasn't really sure what it was "for" kwim? :-)

Thanks!

Becky

I bought Prilosec and read on the bottle that it can take a few days to work, it's not an immediate response like I think Pepcid may be.

Aterry - I'm glad you like it. I just might have to try it or something similar. :-)

Last chemo done. Pain has set in. Last time for this.....

Leslie. Congrats on your last chemo. You did it.

Hooray Leslie!!

DBear---that looks delish!

Thank you Pamela. I won't have radiation until April but I'm looking into it a bit in advance. I already have 3 of the 4 components mentioned so that's reassuring.

Daisy613, I'm glad you reached out. You sound like you have a lot on your plate. Like you, many of us have found each round to be tougher to get through. We are here for you! It's nice to have place to come to vent, bitch, question, complain and eventually celebrate. I hope you chime in more often when you need to. I also encourage you to join the cold cap group too if you haven't already.

daisy613,

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. If you can go to a National Cancer Institute. If you are stage 4 they will tell you not to operate. its is important that you go to a knowledgeable institution.

amw5--Congrats--hooray!!! hoping for smooth sailing through the SEs

Thx for the congrats ladies. Hubby and I celebrated and went out to dinner. I hadn't had any alcohol since way before my diagnosis (not a big drinker at all), but I did have a light fruity drink, and it was yummy.

gmmiph - Congratulations dear. (((hugs)))

Congrats gmmiph!!