Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

Harley, I'll be praying for you today. I did yesterday, too, even though I didn't post. I spent the better part of the day looking for my brain. (I could have SWORN i left it on the kitchen counter. I'll check under the sofa cushions today.)

Hang in there - and let us know how it goes. You're right...HALFWAY THROUGH IS NO SMALL VICTORY.

Kaye

Hi Everybody,
I feel like I've been on a space shuttle. ("Ground Control to Major Tom...")
I'm seeing a definite pattern here. Six days post tx#2, I'm lost in space. Period. Yes with the fatigue, yes with the headaches in the back of the neck threatening to become migraines - but mostly just no brain. How can I have a headache when there is nothing in there (like a brain) to hurt???? I’m just grateful I’m not nauseous.

Francinehay - Welcome!!! I'm sorry I didn't welcome you right away but I appear to have stepped out of the universe…(see above paragraph.) Enormous Trans-Oceanic HUG to you! How did it go yesterday? How are you doing today?

Alishar/Irma - Also welcome! ...I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, and You're right: bc has a very high survival rate. And we're going to add to the statistics!

Ggma, thanks for the kind words! Realize that I live vicariously through you all, too! And happy 31 years anniversary next month! That’s huge! (So is the concept of “moving” during chemo, but that’s another story…)

Nash – I’ve been short of breath too this time. Intermittantly. And decidedly dizzy. I wonder what that’s all about. Probably the lung cells are fast-replicating cells, and they have to get jettisoned with everything else. It does seem better day by day.

Lorene (CTLMom) – What a creative way to describe it: “taking off your hair”. Poor little guy. It’s hard for everyone…My 21yo son came in to the kitchen a few days after original diag. and said he’s still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that moms are mortal. (It was no small feat to re-enforce that mothers are NOT mortal, and to TAKE THAT TRASH OUT OR ELSE.) I read on a post here somewhere, a young mom said she plays a game with her pre-schoolers called “draw the eyebrow on mommy”. I laughed so hard I almost made myself sick.

Jackie – my scalp got tight, and tingly and strange too. It still is. Sometimes I feel like I have a skull cap that is one size too small. I try to rub my head, and I feel it in my HAND, but not on my HEAD. Pretty sure I’m numb from the neck up.


Re the hair issue…little story: I have a friend whose 81yo (at the time) mother was diagnosed with a high grade, stage 4. They hit her with everything they had. With one of the drug treatments they assured her she would lose her hair – and she didn’t. Then they assured her with the next type of drug treatment that she WOULDN’T lose her hair – and she DID. Ya just nevah know. (‘Till clumps are falling down your back and you’re freaking, thinking it’s a bug. Yeah, that was me.) The end of the story for my friend’s mom, is that she’s fine now 3 years later. The doctor’s are kicking themselves that they didn’t put her in a study, but the bottom line is that she’s fine.

WIBeaglemom…you sounded a little melty…you’re about a week post tx1, right? We’ve all been there. How are you today? Are you able to rest? When I get fatigued, I get discouraged. It’s hard to balance.

Today is day 6 post tx#2 for me, and I FEEL GOOD. That "chemo week" is the worst. I think I can think. (i THINK i can, i THINK i can, i THINK i can...)

I'd love to meet all you girls, too. Wouldn't that be fun someday?

Hi Everybody,

Hey Harley - That all sounds pretty darn good...I'm so glad you will be able to get the Neulasta tomorrow. You and I did the same wbc nose-dive thing the first time, and I got Neulasta this time...I feel a lot safer now. I know it still has se, and you STILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL 7 TO 14 DAYS LATER. It just won't drop AS LOW, or stay down for AS LONG. Remember what you need to do? No fresh fruit or vegetables (cooked only) no raw or undercooked meat, no gardening in the dirt, no cat boxes, stay away from people, watch any cuts VERY carefully...I wore a mask to the grocery store today cuz i'm just now going into that. Today was the real start of neutropenia for me. Neutropenia will happen, even with Neulasta, what we want to avoid is getting an infection of some kind.

My resident internet medical authority and brilliant husband found this for me, so I'll post this for everyone:

According to the Vanderbilt U. Med Center: You should call the doctor if you have any of these symptoms: Fever higher than 100.5, shaking chills, flushed skin, sweating, frequent urination or burning when urinating, redness, tenderness or pain anywhere on your body, general feeling of tiredness or flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest discomfort.

How we can prevent ourselves from getting infections is: Check your temp three times a day when you're neutropenic.(7 to 14 days after chemo) If your temperature is 101.3F or greater ONCE, or if it is 100.5F or greater two times in 24 hours, CALL YOUR NURSE OR DOCTOR. Take Tylenol ONLY on your doctor’s advice.

I hope the Relpax works for you. I’ve been using it for 4 years and it seems like the only thing that works for me with these chemo headaches.

I was more tired this time, too. I’ve heard it happens that way. If it’s any consolation, I felt like I had a little more energy today (day 6). I’m looking forward to two good weeks before tx #3!

All in all, it sounds like things went really well – I’m so glad. That’s exactly what I was asking for.

Regarding Neulasta: This is a Quote from Jackie: “i had my 1st treatment on 8/15/07, got neulasta shot the next day. did fine, except for fatigue--but one week later I got reaction from neulasta. it started with lower back throbbing and discomfort, low-grade fever and then aches all over my joints. i panicked myself because i did not know it could react that late. it lasted one day and my onc's office said to take advil and drink fluids. just wanted to give you a heads up just in case because i really got scared. now that i know what it was, it wasn't that bad!”

I read about Neulasta on this board, and called a friend who had had it, and the reaction to Neulasta was mild for most of them, so I took a chance with it. So far, so good. I’m SOOOO glad you posted that, Jackie, now I’ve been prepared. Today when I felt a “twinge” in my lower back, and my joints started aching, I didn’t freak out, I had been expecting it. We’ll see about tomorrow, but I think it’s going to be fine. Advil & Take-It-Easy. I can do that. Thank you SO MUCH for posting that. (I love this board!!!)

Emg326 – Your first tx is tomorrow, right? I’ll be praying for you – and I’m not the only one. Drink a lot of water, it flushes all that stuff out of your body! And take something fun to do. (And a snack? Ok…that’s just for fun.) Let us know how it goes. We all care.