Starting Chemotherapy March 2018

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  • sillyoldrabbit
    sillyoldrabbit Member Posts: 124
    edited April 2018

    Hapa, I don't know how you feel about adding more drugs to your life, but my primary care doc wrote me a script for diazepam (aka Valium) to treat my anxiety. Since it's very addictive, I only take some when really needed. Just knowing it's there for the times my anxiety gets out of hand helps me cope, and I rarely seem to need it. I'm rather tiny, so a single 2.5 mg dose does the trick for me.

    I've also found that taking 1.25 mg at night when the steroids are making it hard to sleep works to make me sleepy enough to conk out.

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  • Bec-Ky
    Bec-Ky Member Posts: 216
    edited April 2018

    I asked my onco today what they recommend for people who have beginning neuropathy...and was told 2 things.

    Either 1 of these 2 B vitamins: B-complex vitamin 1 per day or B-6 50 MG per day

    And

    Lysine-500mg twice a day

    Also was also told that the 4 things I was going to take is FINE . Those were vitamin E, powdered l-glutamine, B-12 methylcolbamin form, and fish oil. These will not affect the chemo for me.


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  • May07
    May07 Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2018

    Steph74, I’m on Lupron depot injections every 28 days while on chemo to protect my ovaries (I don’t have kids) and want to try and preserve my eggs...have some on ice through IVF...so this is for insurance....

    Lupron depot suppresses ovulation, hence no period. If periods are that bothersome for you during chemo, maybe you can ask your MO if this is a good option for you

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  • Quiltingnut
    Quiltingnut Member Posts: 67
    edited April 2018

    jstarling- love the quilt! You do beautiful work! Good luck on your next round.

    Becky, steph74- good luck on your round today and tomorrow! Hope everyone else is doing ok today as well.

    I just got home from my round 2 a few minutes ago. I had to see doctor first then chemo. Doc says that all my physical pain is from the five shots I have to do. She said the chemo part would cause the fatigue but not the pain. She did give me a pretty heavy duty pain medication in case I need it this time. She said she knew it could be extremely painful in some cases. She also gave me a different nausea medicine I could try since zofran gives me headaches.I’m sure praying it’s not as bad as the last round but not getting my hopes up on that.

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  • Jstarling
    Jstarling Member Posts: 139
    edited April 2018

    I got home from round 2,which went smoothly and slept until 5! The steroids kept me awake last night....since I take more in a few hours, I expect tonight to be wired as well.

    QuiltingNut, my doctor said the same thing that most of my pain is from the 5 Zerxios Shots and to keep the Claritin going as long as it helps that bone pain along with a painkiller. I am going to fix us some supper and spend the evening knitting on the couch as I am so drugged up can’t imagine doing much else!


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  • Quiltingnut
    Quiltingnut Member Posts: 67
    edited April 2018

    jstarling, glad your round went smoothly. Mine did too and like you I still feel drugged up also. Trying not to go to bed to early or I will be up too early in the morning. She told me had I been under 50 in age I wouldn’t have had to do the shots. Strange I thought.

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  • Steph74
    Steph74 Member Posts: 72
    edited April 2018

    May07 I will definitely consider that if I get another period like the last one...I would not be disappointed if I never got another period again!

    My chemo bag is packed and I’m all set for tomorrow! Have labs first, then dr appt w/ my onc, then the chemo..so it’s going to be a long morning. Don’t anticipate sleeping great tonight because of the steroids, but I’m so tired from work today I hope it’s not too rough a night.

    Hoping that we all have minimal side effects this time around... 🤞

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  • urdrago71
    urdrago71 Member Posts: 559
    edited April 2018

    Wishing everyone good sleep and no SE... off to bed, and infusion tomorrow..Take care all, drink plenty of fluids...


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  • hapa
    hapa Member Posts: 920
    edited April 2018

    Round 2 is over as of four hours ago and my BP and anxiety levels are back down to baseline. Neck pain and headache are gone. It all disappeared at some point during my infusions. Not sure what that was all about. You may see another meltdown in 20 days. If so, we'll know it's chemo dread.

    I did not have any problem sleeping on the steroids last time, I hope that holds up. I did have problems two days after finishing them with the diaphragm contractions but my onc's PA gave me a prescription for muscle relaxers. My buffs came in the mail; I'm wearing one now. I think I'm going to order a half buff to cover the bald spot and that may be my look for the remainder of treatment.

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  • GBT1Lady
    GBT1Lady Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2018

    Hi all,

    Getting ready for my 3rd TC on Friday. Only 1more after that. But on Monday started itching and broke out in major hives. Has anyone else experienced this side effect? My MO says it's not from chemo, but I've never been allergic to anything and can't help thinking may be. Going to see my primary tomorrow.

    .

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  • GBT1Lady
    GBT1Lady Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2018

    Hi all,

    Getting ready for my 3rd TC on Friday. Only 1more after that. But on Monday started itching and broke out in major hives. Has anyone else experienced this side effect? My MO says it's not from chemo, but I've never been allergic to anything and can't help thinking may be. Going to see my primary tomorrow.

    .

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  • Kanona7795
    Kanona7795 Member Posts: 54
    edited April 2018

    Bec-Ky and Steph74 I feel both of you on that time of the month. Mine has lasted over a week now. Dealing with SE and monthly pain just sucks.

    I was supposed to have my 4th treatment today. My treatment center is 2 1/2 hours away so it's always a full day off from work. Well unfortunately my labs didn't come back great. My liver function is really out of wack so unfortunately treatment wasn't a option. I was so disappointed with the thought of adding another week to my protocol. I was told no alcohol or Tylenol since it effects the liver. Maybe since there was no treatment this week I'll feel good with no side effects.

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  • mLghtn
    mLghtn Member Posts: 101
    edited April 2018

    Hi everyone, I haven't posted in a while but I read and appreciate all the posts coming to this site continues to help me a great deal. I am day 9 after my second AC tx and had enjoyed some normal days just before 2nd infusion and then the first few days after were actually not bad. Unfortunately steroid crash was upon me this weekend and haven't really recovered since. I now am still fatigued and have the bone pain again from the neulasta which is weird so many days after the injection but was told by MO's nurse today within the realm of whats to be expected. Not sure if maybe the light exercise and walking I did yesterday when I thought I was getting better could have triggered it, but back to being mostly in bed again today, alternating taking advil along with percocet is helping . Feel like other SE's have dragged out longer this time too and had frequent headaches as well probably since I also got my period same day as my last infusion (great combo as many of you know). Starting to wonder if I will have any "normal" days before I'm due for infusion next week. I loved seeing all the haircuts and wigs! I had most of my head shaved except front right and it was actually kind of a cool haircut--I got a lot of compliments, so now I'm thinking I might actually like having short hair when it grows out! Alas I enjoyed that for about 3 days and then it all just fell out completely within 3 more days. I went from bob to very short/shaved to bald within 1 week! Anyone else experience this with AC? I'm happy with my wig it looks very similar to my former long hair but its pretty uncomfortable and with the headaches and general crummy feeling I've had I only wear it out occasionally for 1-2hrs max, mostly wearing soft hats or nothing as my head was itchy and sensitive. My kids actually have adjusted to my hair loss quickly--they even saw me without hat accidentally and is no biggie now. It was a huge deal for them initially, they wanted me to cold cap but MO said it wouldn't work with AC. I'm glad it sounds like many of you are doing well overall, good look to those going for their tx this week.

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  • YangSainst
    YangSainst Member Posts: 71
    edited April 2018

    Goodluck to all Ladies who will have their chemo this week.. Sending good vibes and Hugs..

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  • Bec-Ky
    Bec-Ky Member Posts: 216
    edited April 2018

    Kanona- what a bummer you have to wait another week! I am feeling your pain and frustration. This whole thing is long enough. ☹️ But you're right.. Maybe delaying a week will change the side effects!

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  • Quiltingnut
    Quiltingnut Member Posts: 67
    edited April 2018

    Steph74, Urdrago71- wishing you well today on your round. Hope you were both able to sleep last night.

    Hapa- glad you are feeling better now. I haven’t had trouble sleeping from the steroids either but I take my second one around four pm. My trouble sleeping comes from the intense pain from injections.

    GBT1lady- so sorry about the hives. My daughter has been plagued by them for years. There are so many things that can cause them even stress. Hope you get better soon. Congrats on 3rd round. Almost there!

    Kanona7795- I’m so sorry they have delayed your treatment but you sure don’t want your liver damaged. It might be good for you also to have a week of feeling better. I’m sure glad I don’t have to deal with periods anymore like some of you. Lol. I’m dirt old at 63. Although when I was having all those pains from the shots I would swear I was having extreme cramps like I used to have. Brought back those memories.

    mLghtn- I hope you get to feeling better soon so you have some good days before next treatment. I’m shaving the rest of my hair off today as I have bald spots everywhere and it looks stupid. Lol. My grandkids have not seen me with no hair yet, I hope I don’t scare them crazy.

    YangSaint- hoping you are doing well!

    Becky- hope all is going well for you today also.

    Be warriors ladies! We can do this and before you know it, it will be behind us.


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  • May07
    May07 Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2018

    GBT1LADY- I started getting hives periodically after first diagnosis of BC 3 years ago.....back then I had lumpectomy and radiation only and they started after the radiation ended. The doctors said it had nothing to do with the treatment but I found it strange that they started happening at that time They come and go...not sure what caused it...tried to do a process of elimination but haven't found the culprit yet....Quiltingnut may be right it could be stress.

    These steroids (Decadron) are causing me crazy hot flashes!! Woke up 3 times last night. Anyone else experience that?


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  • Steph74
    Steph74 Member Posts: 72
    edited April 2018

    Good morning ladies! I'm currently getting my infusion and feeling optimistic that everything will go smoothly. Thank you all for the well wishes and encouragement! My blood work this morning came back normal but for some reason my calcium is a little high? My dr said not to worry about it and don't change my eating habits, but she will keep an eye on it and if it is still elevated next time I may need to do something about it.

    May07 same with me re: the hot flashes. Definitely the Decadron in my case. I also woke up throughout the night damp with sweat. Good luck today at your infusion!!

    Kanona so sorry about the delay..how disappointing. But like the others said you need to play it safe and use this week to continue enjoying feeling well.

    GBT chiming in about the hives... When I was in that awful week waiting for my oncotype score to come back about a month ago I was just sitting there watching tv one day when all of a sudden both hands broke out in hives and also swelled up. That had never happened, but I didn't eat anything different, use different soaps, etc. Over the course of the next week I proceeded to break out in hives every day in different spots all over my body. They did go away after a couple hours each time but then would come back. My oncologist said most likely stress. Since I started the chemo I have not had any more flare ups..but my stress level has also gone down so that's probably why


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  • Jstarling
    Jstarling Member Posts: 139
    edited April 2018

    QuiltingNut, my grandchildren (ages 5, 3 and 9 mo) live in Boston and Michigan and we FaceTime almost everyday and visit at least 3-4 times a year since retirement (l am your age and retired as a librarian three years ago). The kids took it ok after their parents explained why it came out. Haven’t seen them in person since the holidays and boy does that hurt. However we have big plans for a Whole Family Holiday in the fall when radiation is over and I am only on a three week schedule of Herceptin infusions. Support is everything. Did anyone else read the great recent NYT article about cancer caregivers

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  • hapa
    hapa Member Posts: 920
    edited April 2018

    YangSainst - regarding your question on alternative therapies, there is a thread on here from a young woman who recently travelled to China for alternative therapy with her mom. She is back and we are all anxiously awaiting her follow-up appt tomorrow:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/121/topic...

    If you're talking more about integrative therapies like acupuncture, meditation, and supplements to help with side effects, I am working on learning to meditate and tried ginger for nausea but it didn't work so I moved on to compazine. I still brought some ginger tea to work though, and I drink tumeric tea sometimes for inflammation.

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  • Bec-Ky
    Bec-Ky Member Posts: 216
    edited April 2018

    Today I'm enjoying my day... (day 1 post #2 tc chemo)

    I go get my nulasta shot t at 4..so then the misery shall begin. I'm hoping that starting Claritin on Sunday and having 5 days of it, including today.... Should hopefully help! I certainly pray I have 0 back spasms!

    Infusion #1, I started Claritin the day I got the shot. So that could be why.

    I'll find out soon enough! ❤️

    Hope everyone is doing well!

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  • YangSainst
    YangSainst Member Posts: 71
    edited April 2018

    Quiltingnut

    Thank you,yes I'm doing good eating as much as I can lol..hope your doing great and less SE my hair started to fall out almost all my hair..next week is my 2nd chemo.

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  • YangSainst
    YangSainst Member Posts: 71
    edited April 2018

    Hapa,

    I've search a site before asiancancer its from China they do alternative healing but when I ask the Nurse on chat it cost a 6,000 dollars for a treatment My Goodness .

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  • May07
    May07 Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2018

    Hi Ladies,

    Treatment 2 done today!! I hopefully got a better fit with the cold capping this time. They got my vein on first try!! Things went smoothly.....tomorrow is neulesta ...hoping it goes well...hugs to everyone going through treatment this week

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  • Bec-Ky
    Bec-Ky Member Posts: 216
    edited April 2018

    May... Glad everything went well!! I hope the cold Capping stays a success for you! ❤️

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  • GBT1Lady
    GBT1Lady Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2018

    May07, Quiltingnut and Steph74 - Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! I thought I was going crazy!!! I went to my primary and she suggested I take Pepcid with Benadryl or Zyrtec. I could not make it to the drug store fast enough - but it appears to be working. Oh, I am also taking Decadron as tomorrow I get my 3rd infusion. It really got bad I could not stop scratching and my hand and arms began to swelled so much that I had to remove my wedding ring. More importantly, I do not have a port so TC is delivered through my arms which were essentially invisible with the swelling. My MO said that I could still get the infusion tomorrow - I am just so thankful that the swelling and the itching has subsided. I have to admit that this was probably worse than the spasms or a very close second. Just one more infusion after that. Looking forward to the end of Chemo - May 11th.

    I hope that everyone is managing the best they can. This is not a walk in the park but we will get through it!! Keep the faith!!!!!

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  • Downdoggie
    Downdoggie Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2018

    Hi Warrior Women,

    Chemo #6 done today, and 6 to go so I'm at the half way mark! Hoping for a better week ahead than the last one. Wishing you all well

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  • Steph74
    Steph74 Member Posts: 72
    edited April 2018

    Best wishes to all of you that had chemo today too...feels good to have another one down doesn’t it? But at the same time I’m sure we’re all apprehensive about side effects. But we’ll all get through it just fine! 😊

    My infusion was uneventful. Last round I was feeling a little queasy by this time. Tonight, nothing. Still just took a Zofran anyway to be on the safe side. I’ll already be up all night I’m sure between the steroids, sweating and peeing (drank soooo much water today/tonight)..so don’t want to get up from feeling nauseous as well.

    Hope all of you have a restful night! xo

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  • May07
    May07 Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2018

    Steph74 - same!! I didn't feel nauseous and was contemplating then decided to take the zolfran anyway!! I'll be right there with youon the night sweats (I was given the Lupron today as well...so i don’t even know how bad they will be) and the pee pee runs lol

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  • Jstarling
    Jstarling Member Posts: 139
    edited April 2018

    My second was yesterday too. Didn’t need a Zofran today and had the Zerxio shot (and Claritin) this afternoon. Don’t know how the back aches will be tomorrow, but at least I know better what to expect. Glad to have all of you to go through this together. Looking forward to sleep tonight after those steroids

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