April 2017 Chemo

Good afternoon, ladies! Thank you for the welcome. JLBinPDX, I found that the SE became accumulative and the last treatment I had of AC was the worst. I'm one of those who hate to take any meds, including tylenol and didn't even have any on hand. I only took the anti-nausea that they suggested the very first treatment afterward on the day afterward. For constipation, I took the dollar store tablets for on occasion. I did have lots of bloating, bubbling, and some acid reflux happen. Not fun. I ended up eating whatever sounded good at the time and for up to 3-5 days after treatment near the end it was difficult and I lost weight. Crackers, pretzels, Quinine soda seem to help. I also had popsicles and shebert on hand. My appetite was the best in the mornings so that is when I got down a protein shake with frozen banana and other fruit on hand. I put in ground flax seed, chia seeds, and a little of yogurt and almond milk and tablespoon of coconut oil. Anything that would give vitamins and some calories. I now have tastebud changes whereas before, I loved hot peppers and spicy picklings but they burn my mouth now. I don't know what to expect with the new chemo of Taxol an Carboplatin.

It was easier for me to just shave my head with a razor after two weeks. At this point, I am not liking even putting a scarf on when I go out but will soon probably just put on a cap, bald underneath, especially with warmer weather coming. I feel if people are going to stare, let them, haha. It would be obvious to me if I saw someone like that, that they are going through chemo and I'd have compassion for their position and maybe admiration for them. Be strong ladies!

I'm retired so I can't imagine what you ladies are going through that are working. I had to take lots of naps for the first 3 days and I still go to bed early. My blood count would be taken before chemo and it was very good then one week later the labs showed a drop which accounts for the low energy. But I'd recover and it's be back up again the following week for just before chemo. Doc said whatever I'm doing, keep up. I take a slew of vitamins with my shake in the mornings, too. I was having tumeric and ginger broth in the mornings (very good for you) but since chemo I cannot stand to drink it Cinnamon is good, too, so sometimes I put some into my shake (blueberries are an immune booster to fight cancer, too) I've always been a healthy person and can't ever remember the last time I had a cold. We are vegetarian but eat fish and exercise daily. This has put a damper on my exercise, for sure. But when you feel well, do what you can. Try to not be too hard on yourself...that is a big one for me. This will pass and we can get well and healthy and move on with our lives!

P.S. Sorry for the long post, haha!! Much love to you all! Barb

Barb (BSchutt), you offer some good thoughts that I need this morning. I, too, am vegetarian (with very occasional fish), don't get colds or flu, have never had a flu shot, and work hard to do the natural route. I'm hesitant to take the anti-nausea med or even constipation meds as everything seems to have a side effect. I'm triple neg, having chemo prior to surgery, and I think my chemo med is Adriamycin but won't know more until Wed. I'm getting a port tomorrow (not very happy about it but I finally agreed). A couple questions:

• Will they give me anti-nausea meds right there at chemo? Is it something everyone takes? If anyone didn't, how was it? I can't remember the last time I threw up (maybe 15 yrs ago or so) so I think I have that on my side.
• Can't you help constipation with fruits and food? Are foods enough to avoid a med for that?
• Mouth sore remedies or preventions?

Hello, finally jumping on to this forum. I'm a single mom of a teenager and planning on working as much as possible. I had a double mastectomy in March and have expanders in. I started chemo last Thursday (4/6) and it actually went better than I expected - stayed close to home Friday and Saturday, dozed and took the anti-nausea meds, went grocery shopping today but was exhausted after. Tomorrow I go back to work for the first time since the beginning of March. I doubt I'll last the whole day. The thing I dread most is nausea and vomiting!

Anne, best of luck with your first treatment. Drink lots of water to get that stuff through and out of your body.

Keeping you and the rest of us in my prayers Together we will get through this

Oh, I also wanted everyone to know that at the start of my third treatment the oncologist couldn't even feel my tumor anymore and it used to be 2.9cm and very palpable so that is good news to look forward to!

momojcbc - I received a booklet from my cancer center that explained the various treatment plans. It also had a short itemized list of when to call right away and when to call during office hours. With white blood count depleted we all run the risk of getting an infection and a temp increase to 100.4 could signal the need for intervention.

If you are interested, after work today I can type up those few pieces I was told to watch for

Had first chemo five days ago. I am feeling okay. Never had a problem with nausea or vomiting. On Friday, I developed pain and weakness in my knees, legs, ankles. It feels like my legs are going to give way. It seems to be getting better every day and going away. So that pain was just one more thing that kept me from sleeping. The huge tumor in my armpit is excruciating but Tylenol helps the legs and the armpit. The tumor is already smaller. I will let you know if the oncologist says anything about it at my appointment on Wed.

I had to ask my sister to drive me to the grocery store to pick up groceries that I ordered online. And she helped me carry them in and put them away.

I live by myself so the next round, I'm going to ask if someone can stay with me a couple hours on days three and four and get me drinks, snacks. I think I would have drank and ate more if I wasn't so exhausted in bed. I was really hungry but too tired to get food.

I still didn't cut my hair and I realized it's actually hurting. I have a card from the chemo center for a complementary hair cut, at a salon. I will try to get there this week. Hope everyone is doing well.

Has anyone else been told to take Zyrtec for bone pain? I took it the night before chemo, 2x the day of, and 2 days after. Had no bone pain... but that just could be me.

I'm just checking in - I've got 2 hours left of my work day. I have successfully worked an entire day! But I have to admit I just sit in a cubicle and move a mouse around.

Some people find that ginger candy or ginger ale reduces their nausea.

Hi!!! I was wondering what the recipe is for the tumeric any ginger broth is. I'm a big fan of both and would like to try it! If you could share any of your other vitamin/smoothie remedies I would love those too! I am a single mom and feel kind of alone in this. Thank you for sharing if you can!

I don't know about the broth, but you can chop up ginger and turmeric roots and steep them in hot water with black peppercorns (you can do it entirely with powdered spices if you prefer). Experiment with the taste--try adding lemon, or mint, or green tea, or stevia. I make up a pitcher of this and refrigerate it without straining it. I mix it about half-and-half with green tea or water.

Turmeric and ginger broth sounds great!

Last night was not good as far as bone pain. It kept me awake most of the night. Tylenol helped a little. My temperature has also been hovering around 99.8. Went for a blood test today and talked to the nurse. WBC looked good and the rest of it was okay too. She said that the pain it probably at its peak from the Neulasta shot. She also said that the first chemo pain is always the worst and to call the doctor if temperature goes higher than 100.5. Claritin not helping at all. Hang in there ladies

Hi All - I have been reading other posts from the sidelines but am now at a point where I feel like I need the support of others going through this part of my journey.  I thought I was done after surgery and radiation.  All ready to celebrate until I met with my oncologist thinking it was a follow up and consult as to next step.  However, I learned that she misread my original pathology (mm vs. cm) which put me in an entirely different stage and, with the results of the oncotype dx, she laid everything out including though completely my choice, I may want to consider chemo.  I decided I need to do everything possible to reduce the chance of recurrence so had a port placed on 3/31 and first chemo on 4/3. 

Winsner1558 - I, too, had my first chemo on 4/3 and am still experiencing the bone pain.  Fortunately, it is slowly subsiding with a little help from pain meds. 

I honestly think the reason I am putting this all out here now is because no matter how you try to explain any of this to your family, friends, etc. there is no way they can ever understand the myriad of physical, mental, and emotional sides there are to this.  So rather than take it out on them,  this will be a better place for me to cry, scream, and laugh through it all.  Thank-you so much for being here and sharing!