Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Melia and Vicky, on the Taxol thing, they took it really slow my first time yesterday and I was in the chair for over three hours without getting Herceptin. My onc wanted to wait a couple of weeks and recheck my heart before starting the Herceptin. Today I just heard on the news that they have approved a new drug for HER2 that is even more effective and less toxic than Herceptin so I'm going to check that out. Better yet, it's in pill form. Re the back door trots (glad you guys got a laugh out of that) all the info I have indicates it is the NORM rather than unusual for Taxol; it's right on the handout I have from Oncology Alliance. The nurse told me to take Immodium as soon as it starts. They also recommend glutamine both to help with neuropathy and to restore and protect bowel function. Ten grams (3 and one half teaspoons) of powder form dissolved in juice or yogurt three times a day starting the day after Taxol and for five days, then wait til the next infusion to start again. It is not a prescription, you can get it at Walgreen's, GNC, or Walmart (where I found best price). Like RosannaDannaDanna used to say, "It's always something." - Skye

Mizsissy I'm sure if we all lived close to you we would be at your "DONE WITH CHEMO" party no matter what! Please know we are with you in spirit. I'll put cat pics up as soon I can. But I can tell you 2 are black and white and 1 is a tabby. Their names are Bessie, Callie, and Maggie AKA as Margaret when shes onrey. I also have a Lhasa apso and a yorkie. Just a little zoo.
It was 77! today I went outside and actually mustered up some energy to clean the winter uglies and dead stuff out of my flower beds. I figure may be my only chance, since weekly chemo starts Thurs. My only mishap is a blister on my thumb from pruners. I swear my skin is thinner than plastic wrap. And dry and crunchy too. I have been using Eucerin, but man am I dry! Has anyone found a miracle moisturizer? I wore a thin scarf outside and still got very hot. Made me think that summer heat might be tough with headwear. I've not gotten brave enough to go outside with just my baldness. I think I look like Uncle Fester from the Adams family. I freaked the other day sitting in my house all baldy and someone came to the door. I ran to my room like I was naked or something! LOL. Was also thinking about how long its been since I used a hairbrush, so weird! Sorry to be rambling, but I had a good day for once! Hope all of you had a taste of springtime too. Nancy

Good Morning Ladies,

My new posting time is now 6:45 AM DST..right after DH leaves for work...gives me a chance to see the sun rise!!!

It's so nice to see all your posts this AM..

Had a bit of a setback last night. Got real tired, sore throat, urinary symptoms were back, sinus never went away and I only have one day left of antibiotics. I am thinking, the way my doctor hates to prescribe antibiotics, I'll probably be left high and dry and back into full blown infections right about the time that we've spent lots of time and money getting ready for the party, but then I'm too sick to have it!!! Grrr!!! DH made some wonderful steaks for dinner last night; they sure perked me up. Drank a few quarts of water; that helped. Feel better this morning, and am going to try to get some more meds going today!!!

Jan, nice to get a long post from you. Where were you, in the hospital?!! You said you were on IV fluids for 3 days after chemo. Your onc sounds like a wonderful person; wish s/he'd move to Michigan!!!

Nancy, I wish you and everyone else could come to my Post Chemo party!! We'd have a blast!!! Hey gals, how about a BIG POST CHEMO PARTY FOR EVERYBODY next summer somewhere? Where?!!! There are a lot of people here from Canada and northern US. My house is kind of centrally located and I've got lots of space...or maybe we could rent a cottage in Maine!!! Or somewhere..

VLFR, congratulations on that fabulous weight loss. I'm jealous. I've gained and lost the same one pound about 5 times on chemo. We're looking forward to seeing you and Rita over at the Spa thread.

Caya, fixed your date, too bad it wasn't in April. When do you we get to see your picture!!!

Shorti...you've really been through a lot. You don't still have colon cancer do you? Is it OUT?!!! You know, I had a colon cancer scare this summer...a lot of bleeding but the colonscopy checked out fine. That was 4 months before I was dx'd with BC! Got the pix...thank you!!! I haven't seen them yet because I'm using an old clunker of a computer that doesn't know how to open jpgs, but I'll figure it out.

Melia, thank you for you sweet remarks!! How lucky you are to have a wedding to plan. What a wonderful post-chemo event to look forward to.

Hugs to all, Mizsissy

Congrats Robertin on the last AC. You have indeed rounded the crest of the hill. Have a great day!

Rita

Robertin, it's amazing to me how different treatments are in various places. I'm also having the Taxol 4 treatments spaced every two weeks, and of course had the first. But they still are giving me the steroid, Decadron, in the IV, and I'm still on Emends, plus they have me on the glutamine I described earlier. It's already helped with the trots SE which is a relief. And I am not noticing the numb toes and fingers (even lips) I had with AC. So far no nail color change. But overall I am feeling much less toxic, less all-out fatigued and no metal mouth tastes. I can't help wondering if SEs will intensify as the Taxol accumulates. I would definitely ask your onc about glutamine, however. The two-page handout I got from mine makes it sound very helpful for restoring proteins and bowel lining and function, and in fact recommends taking it all through rads and for a month after. This is not a commercial for any one brand but something from my oncology team. Also is supposed to help prevent long term neuropathy although they warned there are some patients who don't benefit as much. Me I'm willing to do anything they feel is safe that will give me a healing edge.
Mizsissy, I also can't wait to join the post-chemo group; I'll be there come April 23. Shorti I'm sorry you had the double tumor going. You DID have the colon one out, right? To everyone who is teary lately, well, who can have what we have without accompanying emotions of all kinds? And the emotions have to be vented sometime is what I figure. I know I always feel better if I can have a cry over something. And then to try and balance it with a laugh. Like a Jeeves and Wooster show as Robertin said. Happy Wednesday all - Skye

Robertin - I've heard that soaking your fingertips in ice water can help with the fingernail loss. I see lots of women in the chemo room doing this.

I finally got in touch with my aunt who is in the hospital in Toronto with leukemia. She seems to be responding to the chemo but she has so many mouth sores I could barely understand her. Sounds like she will be in the hospital for at least several more weeks. My 6 year old is starting to show a lot of anxiety about that - she knows that it is serious and has asked if her great aunt will ever come home from the hospital. At this point I can't honestly say that she will, which really stinks. I wish we knew more.

Jan, your avatar just now changed as I was typing. I love the scarf by the way. Where did you get it? I am switching from wool hats to scarves now that the weather is better.

I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. I have some relatives going through a tough time as well. I haven't mentioned it to my kids. I'm not sure they could take it right now, but feel bad leaving them out of the loop. It's tough.

Robertin, so happy for you to be finished with the AC. Sounds like you have a good handle on the rest. I know what you mean about tumor markers. My onc said the same thing. I wish there were a better way to find out if it's gone.

Amera

I think this is the scarf link: http://www.headcovers.com/moreinfo.php?id=10800. It's a red/brown paisley pattern. The fabric is very soft - which I am pretty picky about. I found some of my favorites on the headcovers site. I also like http://www.janasbandanas.com/ which someone else in this thread recommended. It takes a while to get them and the fabric is not quite as soft. But they are BIG which I love.

Hey Jan...I have a bunch of scarves from Janasbandanas...and if you think they are not soft enough, run them through the wash a few times. They soften up really well, and they wash without shrinking. I also like these from headcovers cotton woodblock scarves
They are really big and soft, and you can tie them the same was as the big triangles...but without worrying about having a bit of fabric "wrong side out".

Rebecca - I have one of the cotton woodblock scarves and it is absolutely my favorite! I'll try washing the other ones a few more times.

Hi everyone,
Today is day 7 after A/C and it had been tough. Mostly queasy stomach. I have tried special stomach ease tea with licorice and other herbs and ginger herbal tea and have tried eating smaller meals. but still queasy and gassy. Any suggestions on stomach gas relief. I have tried pepsid AC and my oncologist gave me a rx for prilosec, but that takes 14 days to start working. The growls finally subsided a little today. This is my 3rd treatment- one more to go and then onto 12 weekly taxols and herceptin. Oh the joy of it!!!!
There were so many posts while I was not at the computer and I guess I was not alone feeling crappy after this last treatment. There is an end- I just have to try to remain positive and strong.
Melia, I understand what you mean about husbands. Mine tries to be helpful, but he is not always--He means well, but---He tells me I should not keep thinking about my discomfort- but really??? I know he thinks he is trying to make me feel better, but sometimes you just need a shoulder to cry on. I just insist he give me his shoulder. It is hard for them to see us weepy and afraid. I try to understand, but this is my plight, and if I want to be bitch or weepy, he just has to deal. He does, but I think I expect more than he can give right now. I know it is really hard for him, so i just have to cut him some slack, and call my friends when I need to let it out.
Hopefully I will be even stronger and better by tomorrow. Sorry I cannot be more positive right now- maybe tomorrow.
Viddie

Viddie,

Welcome back after you tx. I hear you about the gassy. Don't mean to be gross or anything but the 4 or 5 days after my TC tx, all I can smell is the chemicals and it really gets me down. It's such a reminder of how crappy I'm feeling. I think I'll ask my onc about it before my next tx to see what he suggests.

RobbinJay,
It's such a personal decision whether to get more tx. For me, the chemo was about 11% benefit so there was not question. Personally, I probably would not go for more if it only gave me 3%. Are you ER+? If so, then the hormone tx will really benefit you so you might not be so worried about the 3%. For me, the chemo and hormone tx combined gave me a 25% benefit so again, there is not question in my mind. I went for a 2nd opinion at Dana Farber and the Onc there said that if he had to chose (which he didn't) between chemo and hormone therapy, he would pick hormone therapy. So if you are ER+, you shouldn't downplay the significance of the hormone tx.

Lynn

Lynn,

Quote:

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all I can smell is the chemicals and it really gets me down.

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I completely agree. I cannot stand to use the bathroom because it smells so badly of chemicals. It is really, really gross. I hold my nose when I pee.

It sounds like round 3 is the doozy. Dar, I'm so glad that round 4 didn't seem as bad for you. That gives me hope. I am feeling good 2 weeks out and dread knowing I will feel like crapola next week. Not a good feeling but at least it's the end.

Mizsissy, I hear you on the cleaning jag. I scrubbed both bathrooms top to bottom last week even while feeling yucky. Something freeing about a clean house.

Have a good day everyone.
Amera

Amera, I think it varies each time - or maybe I just got better at managing the SE. And I agree about the smells - YUCKY! To paraphrase my grandaughter, chemo is YUCKY! So glad we're nearing the end. I thought often of the nurse at my prenatal class (31 years ago!) who was faily honest about labor and delivery. She said, "just think with each contraction, that's one I don't have to have again!" It helped somewhat then, and it helped through this too. Only difference, then I got a beautiful baby for my trouble! But many more birthdays for me is certainly worth the trouble too. It is encouraging to read about women who had chemo first and SAW the tumor shrinking. Have to believe it did the same for me, even though there is nothing to see.

Mizsissy, Thank you for the boost. I'll let you all know how it goes. EWWW! I bet I did'nt sleep a wink last night for worrying. I have ativan, didn't take any though. My onc. doesn't want me to depend on them. Need to put that cream on my port and get ready. I know it's what I have to do, but it's like purposely going out and saying oooh gimme those aches and pains, and may I have some more, please. It's just sooo icky! But then again I Thank God for it! Oh BTW, my son-in-law's grandmother was diag. for lung cancer last summer (she never smoked) and at 78 she went through all the chemo and last week had a pet scan and no cancer!!! It's amazing and I cried I was so thrilled for her! God is good!