Chemo starting March 2019

pokyspider - I also have trouble with water for the first week after my infusion. I have been able to drink coconut water and LaCroix. Hope you find something that you can drink.

I usually eat toasted french bread with butter and I have smoothies that I make at home with fruit and greek yogurt. For me, I only struggle for the first week, then I can start eating again for about 12 days and then I get my infusion.

Hope everyone finds something they can eat, but the taste buds have definitely changed.

Jean - How are you? Did they find a combo . that works for you? How are the SE's with the new medication?

Hope everyone is having a good week and enjoying time with family. Rest when you can! Remember we can not do everything right now - But this too shall pass....

Hugs to all - Sheila

Kamboka- I had the same issue with things I had during my first chemo including ginger candy. The thought of it makes me nauseous! Even looking at my chemo bag can make me nauseous 🤢. I have been using Biotine mouthwash and ACT lozenges for dry mouth.

Any type of dry food like cookies and bars are like cardboard to me! Smoothies and salty things have been my go to. And for some reason a good seasoned steak has been so good! I also like fizzy water over plain water. When I drink plain water I add cranberry juice to it. It seems to help. Staying hydrated is key!!

Pokeyspider- my head felt so much better once I shaved it. The wig and even the hats were irritating when I had hair and stubble left.

Hope everyone has a beautiful Easter weekend!!

Poky that does look painful! I hope they can give you something to help! We have enough side effects to have to worry about extra ones! Hope it feels better soon!

hi ladies. I’m with wondering for those that finished AC— how long was the break before starting taxol?

Hope all is well

My break is three weeks between AC and Taxol. Having Four treatments every three weeks. My MO said maybe every two weeks between but have to see how it goes.

Hey all! Round 2 sucked also, but nowhere near round 1. This time I took claritin in the am and Zyrtec in the pm. Still had awful bone pain but at least it fell into the closet to tolerable scale. I can only stand plain water or grape sonic slushes???? Weird! Food is disgusting. But I did find something that had helped me some.. outshine frozen fruit bars and yogurt bars. They are from real fruit and don’t appear to be terrible for you. I really don’t care as long as I get the hydration as a few calories! And I can stand Texas Roadhouse rolls.. just couldn’t eat the rest of the meal! Thankfully only two rounds to go! I may die of the fatigue before then though. Maybe if I had seen the dr in October when I first started being fatigued, it might not be so bad. But that dang 7.2 cm tumor came from nowhere during the busiest time of the year For pharmacists and i got too run down. Good luck all

Adhoney: Originally, I was planning on Taxol but have neuropathy already. I thought Taxotere might have fewer side effects. How has it been for you? Do you ice your hands and feet? Doing Taxotere will add more time to this already long chemo months but if there are less side effects, I'll do it.

I'm also noticing that water is tasting bland and I'm not rushing to drink. I still seem to get my 6-8 glasses in but it's nauseating to get it down. I've also found that some carbonation helps. I have been mixing my water with juice with Fresca with lemon/lime juice and crystal light. That is helping to get some fluids that's not just water.

Happy Easter to everyone.

The mosquito drank some chemo blood... he won't know what hit him!

I did think of that actually. At least I got revenge! Lol. Hope if doesn’t turn into mega mosquito. 😅

Hi everyone,
Glad to hear updates, seems we are all dealing with similar things. I finished my AC on Friday and am finally coming out of feeling horrible. I found this round somehow emotionally the hardest - when people say “yay half done!” It really does not feel manageable, like so far from both the start and the end and the thought of 4 more times seems like way too much. I am moving on to 4 times of taxol in a few weeks.... after round 2 I also had a situation where they suggested lowering the dose since my levels were off. Ended up not needing to since they came back to normal after fluids but it was explained to me that it’s not an exact science and the doses are often played with to work for each person (not sure how reassuring that was but for whatever it’s worth!) hope everyone can enjoy the good days and see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!

I finished my last dose of AC today. Yeh! The 3rd round was very hard with cumulative fatigue from anemia, BP problems and mouth sores. The doc is bringing me back in five days to get some fluids since my intake has been lowered iwth the mouth pain. I start Taxotere in two weeks and am actually more scared of it than AC. I already have some neuropathy before treatment and do not want long-term neuropathy. I plan to ice during treatmetn but might have to make the tough decision to discontinue if it gets worse.

Hi everyone!

I haven't posted in a while, but I just finished my Taxol #6 so I'm halfway through! I'm doing chemo prior to surgery so my surgeon and oncologist decided to do imaging yesterday to see how the tumor is responding. The radiologist could no longer find it! So in a way, it makes all of this worthwhile.

I'm starting to have issues with slight neuropathy in my fingers, and I'm going to bring this up to my oncologist when I see her on Tuesday.

Best wishes for everyone!

Chickywicky, congrats! That's great news. I have my 2nd Taxol today. I had an ultrasound when I finished AC and my tumor has shrunk 50%. I'm triple positive so I get HP every 3 weeks and the Dr is hoping that will shrink it more. Just knowing the chemo is getting results makes this whole awful process worthwhile

That is great news chickywicky!

It’s good to hear that the chemo is shrinking all those lumps so significantly! I have an appointment with my Breast surgeon in a week, I’m hoping she’ll do an ultrasound to check out my lump. Im also doing neoadjuvant chemo & i can tell that it’s smaller & softer after 3rounds of TCHP.

I go see the plastic surgeon on Thursday to discuss reconstruction. This is such unfamiliar territory.....I work in healthcare but this world is foreign! I’m taking a coworker that had breast cancer & reconstruction herself with me so I’ll know what questions to ask.

Side effects from last weeks chemo are still hanging around: funky taste buds, diarrhea, sore nose—but not raw & scabby thanks to Aquaphor! Fatigue is getting a little better each day, thank you Jesus. Hoping next week is a lot better.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend with as few side effects as possible.

~Angi