Starting Chemo May 2018

Thank you, ingerp! I am hoping for similar experience next week. Planning to learn how to meditate..

2 weeks to the day...my hair is coming out in clumps. No worries, it's only hair, but I'm definitely buzzing it tonight so it's less of a mess to deal with. When I first told my kids that I had cancer, they didn't talk much...my 14 year old was exceptionally quiet. It's hard being a teenage boy and this just added to his stress. I found humor and little ways to get him talking...one of which was telling him he could buzz my head when the time came which resulted in the biggest smile on his face. My mom has voiced that it would be a negative memory for him and that I'm crazy to let him do it. Thoughts?

BigPeaches - the list is great! Thank you!

Question: what do you normally bring to the infusion besides a book, iPad and headphones?

Also, does any of you ladies do juicing therapy? If yes, how do you manage it?

Wlo002 - I think it depends on how sensitive your son is and how deeply he is affected by negative things. If he is very sensitive and perceptive, I would probably agreewith your mother, but if he is a happy go lucky kind of guy (my son is), then give him the buzzer!

wlo002, my 14 year old daughter buzzed mine- she thought it was cool to make me look like a bada$$ (like Emma Gonzalez!)- if my husband or I had done it, it would have been sad, but she was doing something CRAZY so it made it a good memory

re the claritin for neulasta - it's speculated to do with alleviating a histamine response.

Here's one published case study about its effectiveness https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24664474

I’m not doing Neulasta but have read lots about Claritin on various threads. Seems to help to take it several days before and after. I’m not icing. My half-assed idea is to wear sandals through the infusion and no blankets—I feel like I don’t have the best hand/foot circulation so maybe staying cool will help?

I’m also trying to keep this from my about-to-be 90-yearold mother. Not sure that will work—there might be a dinner for her in a few weeks and I think if I’ve buzzed by then I’ll give her a scaled-down/simplified version of the truth. I think these older non-Americans are tougher than you think. She told me once you’ve lived in a country with war going on, you learn to take things in stride.

I can tell you this about the Claritin, when I went thru chemo the first time in 2008, the Nuelasta pain was unbearable. This time I was really concerned about it because I'm already in pain so I decided to try absolutely anything anyone suggested to make the Nuelasta pain better and there is definitely something to the Claritin trick, it is not NEAR as bad as before.

For the chemo infusions, I actually sleep thru most of it because of the benadryl, just flat knocks me out. I do bring a book, crossword puzzel (which my husband ends up doing), blanket and gatorade. Drink lots of fluids!

Thanks for your input ladies - I let my son handle the clippers and all went great!

Tomorrow I turn 42, it's a 3 day weekend and the extreme dry mouth & taste changes are suddenly gone...I'm a happy girl!

(((Clare))) I'm so sorry. There's been some doggy discussion on one of the other monthly chemo threads. I know you're heartbroken, but I don't have to remind you this is part of owning pets. At these times I try to focus on what a good life you gave your fur friend. Hang in there. I think one of the worst things is how quiet your house seems.

Cry until you're out of tears. (And FWIW, one of mine was recently diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy so I've spent quite a bit of time this week. . . um. . . looking at rescue dogs. It's pretty fun when you're up to it.)

I just had my ovaries removed last Thursday and will get my port placed next Thursday with Chemo immediately after. I'm scheduled for AC-T but after reading the heart risks, I'm wishing they prescribed Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Taxotere (docetaxel) instead. Does anyone know the protocol on how they choose which treatment they will give you?

Thank you Clare, I will definitely ask. Just want to get this over with, I'm startign to get in panic mode!

Thank you Inna for your response. I see you live in Jersey, have you been to Mary's Place? If not - google it - its a cancer retreat for women in central Jersey and its absolutely amazing!! I wish every woman could spend tiem here.

Hey, ladies. Question: will any anti-histamine work for the Neulasta pain, or does it have to be specifically Claritin? My seasonal allergies kicked in a day ago and I usually take Allegra, since Claritin wouldn’t work on me for some reason. So, if it doesn’t help with my allergy, how can I be sure it will help with the Neulasta shot? First treatment is on Thursday, hopefully my allergy will clear up by that time..

Thanks, BigPeaches! Now I am taking both Allegra and Claritin for allergies. Damn! Worst timing in the century! My oncologist says, go ahead, take all you need, it will not affect the timing of the chemo. First session will be on Thursday. I think I purchased all I could to deal with it: Biotene mouth rinse, cold therapy socks and replacement gel packs, Claritin, stool softeners, Tylenol, wig, 3 caps, UdderlySmooth moisturizer, OPI nail straightener and cuticle cream, got 4 kinds of prescription meds from the pharmacy. Froze some grapes to nibble on during the infusions. Hope there will be no unpleasant surprises...

Thanks, Ingerp! I hope so..