July 2020 chemo club

Hi. I started the same treatment regimen as you also on July 1. We’ll have to compare notes. You are so young to be going thru this. I am an ancient 65 but very healthy for my age until this hit. No prescription meds other than the biodentical hormones I was on.
So far I’ve had minimal side effects. Slight Constipation, slight diarrhea, and of course tired.
I didn’t have the Neulasta shot my first go round and at 7 days my WBC was below normal but not dangerous. Came down with a rash on my face day 7 which started going away on day 9. I’m assuming when my WBC started increasing again. Then after feeling really good I come down with a low grade fever on day 9 which I still have. I’m reading that is common with Herceptin but I’ll give them a call tomorrow to make sure.

Hope all is going well for you.

I read that keeping your nails painted dark during chemo can help keep them healthy. Not sure if there is real science behind it or not, but I'm trying it anyway lol.

I have what is either a rash or acne all over the back of my neck and my nose and chin. Its driving me nuts and I feel 15 all over again, lol. I hope the onco nurse can prescribe me something tomorrow when I call.

The hairloss is what is weighing on me most. My sister in law will be shaving hers with me next Sunday. A big part of my identity is my hair (it's always been very long and healthy) so I am trying to get over not making the decision to cold cap. I just have to accept I'm going to look sick for a while. Thankfully my SO doesnt seem to be fazed by it at all. Thank god for good men.

Hi Ladies, glad to find a group here. I am 42 and live in Australia with two kids age 12 and 8. started chemo on 2nd July. Other than the first couple of days it has been ok. I manage to have daily walks and 5-6 hours sleep every day. Now I just feel a bit dizziness during the day and my heart beat is a bit higher (90bpm) than my usual. Occasionally I feel soreness from where the tumor is which worries because I don’t know whether it’s growing or it’s the chemo working Does anyone have the same feeling??

“Hi!" to the new posters, AnnaTheBrave, BSJones and Evergreenman.

Sharon, I did check with my onco and she said it was fine as long as I didn't have them done at a salon or use gel or acrylic. I did have her call in a prescription for a topical cream for this crazy rash/acne I've developed on my face, back of neck, and head of all places. As if I don't feel crappy enough about my looks right now, lol.

Did anyone see the news of Kelly Preston? Oh my gosh did that send me into a tailspin. So sad!!

For what it’s worth... I asked my onc nurse and mo about mani/pedis... as that was the one thing I have done for me time. I work on a ranch, and having acrylic nails and a gel pedi was something I have treated myself to for years. I was fully prepared to give it all up after my diagnosis... but they both said it was fine. The tools used at a salon are disinfected every time...and the mo said that the chemo I am on can cause some color changes in my nails...but I could keep on getting them done. The hot rock massage and parrifin dip on my legs is just heavenly...and it’s going to be my treat the day before I go in for infusions.

I am ready to not feel bad. I have had stomach pain and a sore throat and cramping for about 3 days. Which I think is acid reflux...and I’ve taken the otc meds, which helps, but am quickly maxed out on those... I thought I was tough and I could get over it and tomorrow will be a better day. But I’m tired and it’s not getting better. Currently waiting for my mo to call me back with hopefully some type of magic relief I haven’t tried.

My mama brought my mango cherry popsicles. They are a refreshing relief. Who says 38 is too old for your mom to bring popsicles. Ugh. Trying to find the positives in this battle gets daunting at times.

iamloved, are you commuting for your infusions as well? We are staying overnight and making the 2.5 hour trip home, then will just do day trips for infusions

AnnatheBrave, anti-anxiety are perfectly fine to take. If fact, my MO prescribed me some when I couldn't sleep or get a handle on my emotions after diagnosis. I now take Ativan everyday. It is also a second line defense for nausea which is helpful. I'm going to ask for some in my IV for my next infusion.

Iamloved, I am thinking about you today. Good luck on your first day of chemo. Try and think of it as golden nectar put into your body to kill any cancer cells that tried to escape. It l has a very important job to cure you.

Remember that chemo doesnt need to stay in your body to work, so drink more water than you think is humanly possible to flush that golden nectar out right away!

Thanks for all the feedback about anti-anxiety meds! Great to hear they are fine (and encouraged!).

Met my MO today and loved her! Hurray!! Starting TCHP next week, though I don’t have a date yet.

Wishing everyone well!

Iamloved - glad to see another gardening enthusiast! We live in a townhouse community which has feral cats that poop anywhere you dig up soil so I'm limited to pot gardening. I grow grape tomatoes (in my experience they require frequent watering but the upside of that effort is that the plants are prolific and you'll have a good harvest in 60 days if you've been feeding them and have manure). I also grow basil, thyme and rosemary.

While most people fantasize about winning millions my dream is to move to a lower cost of living area with good weather and buy a home with 1. to 2 acres of outdoor space for gardening, a modest fruit orchard and a dog. I'd love to grow zucchini and potatoes. Maybe next year I'll grow sweet peppers which I've successfully grown in pots in the past. It's nice to talk about something fun for a change and I'm looking forward to reading more about what hobbies people are starting/maintaining for peace and contentment and mitigating depression.

I have found this topic encouraging to read, thank you everyone.

I am actually getting a port added and starting chemo in a couple weeks for the 2nd time. I didnt quite get to experience my 1st time like everyone else here because it happened so fast but it is encouraging to know we all have anxieties and there are other hopeful and supportive people. I am going to cope with and get through this hopefully as well as I did the 1st time! Good luck everyone.

Hi Ladies,

How is everyone doing? Sounds like most of you are powering through well. I'm sorry to hear that some of you are dealing with anxiety on top of everything else - hang in there!

I'm on day 6 now. The first few days weren't too bad, meds worked well for nausia. Day 4 was the hardest so far, bone and muscle pain, tender stomach and a lingering headache. I took claritin after my fulphila (same as neulasta) but didn't feel like it was helping at all. Only tylanol is my friend. I felt like it was getting better last night and then got my period this morning, so now I have craps and lower back pain from that too. But dry mouth is better, and so are the muscle and bone pain. I'm hoping by tomorrow I will have a little more energy.

Some things I found that helped me over the last couple of days, maybe it'll help you too - I'm finding out that soup/broth is the best food for me these days. Chicken soup, vegetable soup, any non-heavy soup really. I'm definitely going to be making a big pot of soup before my next chemo cycle (This cycle we have my mom staying with us - which is a huge help). Also water, lots of it. I walk around the house with a water bottle and just sip from it all the time. I've also found that lying around too much is not helping me, only makes my back feel achy so I walk a little in the house and outside, just to let my body move.

Now I'm hoping to get stronger everyday until next time.

mtspacekace - I know what you mean about the stomach ache + acid reflux. It's tender all the time and cramps painfully before every bowl movement. I'm going to talk to my MO on Friday and ask if there's anything I can do/take for it.

Sending good energy to all of you!