Starting Chemo December 2019

oh no Margo! Remember you can always call them to ask if you don’t want to wait til your next apt...hope you feel better soon❤️

Hi ladies, hope everyone is hanging in there. Just wanted to share a bright moment. (I'm on day 17 of my first TC cycle). Yesterday I felt kind of normal...lol...I got out of the house and went for a lovely walk with my sister and then lunch with my family and then even a little shopping. WOW....It honestly felt so good to just do normal things. I feel like I've been so immersed in everything BC & chemo related and my Neutropenic state on days 5-14 literally had me going stir crazy.

Does anyone else find just getting out and doing little normal things such a welcome gift? I know we won't necessarily feel up to that every day, so I'm just trying to appreciate the little rainbows as they come. And of course remind myself that when the dark clouds come, there will be rainbows to follow:)

Gearup52, that's great so hear. How many cycles total do you have? I am cold capping too and I have shed SO much hair but just hoping enough stays. I'm just accepting it is what it is. Any tips on how you've been caring for your hair? I just bought a snood on Amazon to try at night per someone else's recommendation.

havefaithtoday what does the snood do to save hair?

Hi everyone,

I am just checking in - I hope everyone is well and pushing through. I am still really struggling with nausea. We've tried changing and rotating meds and nothing seems to really kick it. Up next... my oncologist thinks I should go for an acupuncture consultation. I did some research and it looks like there is at least some evidence to support its use. Anyone have any experience with that? At this point I am willing to try just above anything, but I am pretty much tired of the pharmaceutical interventions... they don't seem to fix it, and then cause other side effects. I have one more round of AC to go on 1/15 (I've done 3 so far) and then on to 12 of Taxol and Herceptin. Hoping those are better for me.

Havefa... I am AA and have Sisterlocks. Not a lot of experiece to help me with the process so made adjustments to what worked for others. Because my hair is so thick I spray rosewater, plastic cap to hold moisture in and no sticking of caps. I arrive super early and start capping 2hrs before, during and 2hrs after. After is hard because I am extremely sleepy by the end of infusion. One thing that helps is that Sisterlock is a hairstyle that does not need to be combed or brushed. I literally maintain it with my fingers daily. BTW I am using Arctic system. This picture is after my 3rd cycle and AC so I am encouraged.

Hi Ladies, happy Friday. I just LOVE the encouragement you all provide! I have to go for an ultrasound today of my stomach because of all the stomach pain I experienced from the first round of chemo. It's subsided a bit since my Gastroenterologist put me on Protonix (a PPI) but I'm also on day 19 now so far from the initial chemo dose. Just praying it doesn't get really bad again with Cycle 2 next week.

Margo53, how are you feeling now?

JRNJ, someone else on here had recommended a snood, so I just ordered it on Amazon. It's like a hair net bonnet. I think it's supposed to hold your hair in place while you're sleeping so that it doesn't get all tangled and matted.

Bejeweled, sorry to hear the nausea is really taking a toll. That's no fun. Have you tried ginger tea or ginger chews? Also, my friend got a patch prescription that she said was very helpful with her nausea. Maybe that might work better for you? Praying that it subsides and you feel better sooner.

Eigna, do you think the body ache is from the Neulasta or just general body aches. I am going to try taking the Claritin the day before chemo this time as well as for 5 days after. Although I'm not 100% sure it helped, but worth a try. Prayers for you that you start feeling better soon.

Gearup52, you look fantastic and healthy!!! How many more cycles do you have? I'm doing the Penguin Cold Caps and they have to stay on for 4 1/2 hours after and changed every 25 min. It's definitely a project, but will keep trying....lol

Maryjv, I was telling myself the same thing, if the hair is falling out we know the chemo is working. Prayers for a smooth round 2 for you. I go for round 2 on Tuesday.

Remember ladies WE'VE GOT THIS!!!!

Hi everyone. I actually started my chemo the end of November. I just had my third round of TC two days ago. They had to lower the dose of my Taxotere this time because my liver enzymes were high when I went in. If they don’t come down, we might have to stop chemo all together. I’m supposed to have 6 rounds, so I hope I can at least get one more in. I had a reaction to the Taxotere yesterday and broke all out in a itchy rash! Benadryl seemed to help, but it freaked me out! Is anyone on here taking steroids in the days after infusion? I didn’t the first 2 rounds but I am now. Hope I don’t gain too much weight! I look forward to getting to know everyone

maryjv.... sorry about your mouth sore... I know that has to hurt! I have a friend who had sores in her mouth and throat after red devil... the MM helped her, also I have heard of rinsing with a little coconut oil.... I hope you find relief soon

Thank you ladies for your continued support, hoping this round is easier for you Eigna...I also got a rash on my face around day 10...very sensitive skin I just applied some cortisone cream and all gone! Cleaning and getting ready for round two on Monday! I also start taking the Claritin and prevacid on Sunday and take for 5 days to minimize bone pain...hope this continues to help..

Morning beautiful ladies. How's everyone feeling today? I'm heading in for cycle 2 of TC. Praying all goes well and with minimal side effects.

Good morning Havingfaithtoday! Wishing you good luck with your 2nd round! You can do this! 😘.

Hi y’all! Havefaithtoday... hoping your infusion goes well today! And hope everyone else is doing well with minimal SE.

So I had my third round of TC yesterday. A weird thing happened when they were drawing blood from my port. It flushed well but no blood would come out. They had me looking up, arm up in air, etc and I said. “ I feel really dizzy” and out I went! And Just like that I opened my eyes to 5 personnel standing over me saying “ take some deep breaths.”... I’ve never passed out before but my blood pressure was low for me 90/60. So they wheeled me back to the chemo room, gave me a bag of fluids and got the blood... said sometimes the end of the port can collapse... Great!! So my blood work came back good and I was able to get infusion! Yeah!! One more!

Off to take a nap and waiting for the Neulasta to start

Oh Margo! Glad you were able to have you treatment..were they able to use the port??

Hi friends, hope everyone is doing well today and that it's been a good day for all. My win for the day was that I did my 4th and final AC. My recovery from them has been rough each cycle, so I am not sad to see it go. 12 more cycles to go, but no more AC.

I am adding acupuncture this round to see if it help with the nausea, on the advice of my oncologist.

Anyway - moving forward. Have a wonderful evening!