Chemo in Nov 07

dexamethasone is a steroid in the same family (I believe) as decadron...

Karyll

I was surprised to find myself feeling more ill last night (tx was Mon.) Tummy was just not happy, and it lasted all evening & into this morning. I had expected any ill-effects to hit by Wed or Thurs, I guess, even tho I understand that everyone reacts differently. How has everyone else done? If you experience side effects, how quickly do they typically hit? I'm on a Carboplatin/ Taxotere regimen every 3 weeks with Hercepton every week. How's everyone else's experience with this going?

Hi all,

Karyll - so sorry you got delayed.  I had my second treatment on Monday, but I thought I wasn't going to get it because my white blood count was too low...and I was really upset.  Instead I'm having Neupogen injections for 5 days following treatment.  Isn't it ironic that we want something that is going to make us feel horrible? 

Sounds like it was for the best, and you're right...everything does happen for a reason.  Hopefully this means you'll be feeling really great for Christmas!

Is anyone else having problems with constipation?  Sorry...maybe this is just a little too personal?

Mia

Thanks Sharon,

I'm having a TERRIBLE time following my 2nd treatment on Monday. 

You are so right...whatever you do be sure to take all of the precautions you can to prevent constipation.  I can't believe what grief such a simple thing can cause.

Mia

Hi Karyll! So...how was that Christmas party?

So far so good with the TC treatment. It's day 2 and I feel a little spacey from the Emmend, I walk in circles due to the steroids (which means it takes me twice as long to do something because it's difficult to focus), I'm a little bit achey, and I still have that mild, lower GI cramping. Overall, I can't complain. I had visions of much worse.

I do have one side-effect that I'm actually HAPPY with...I have a nice rosy glow to my face and neck. Normally, I put the "P" in pale-face, so anytime I can get away with NOT wearing makeup, I'm happy as a clam. At first I thought I was coming down with a fever, but I seem to be lucky so far.

I'm putting together my shopping list this morning (prune juice...CHECK!). My husband is taking me to the store since the Emmend makes me woozy. We are also going to get a christmas tree. We've decided not to exchange gifts this year. We don't really NEED anything ourselves and the baby is too young to feel cheated by Santa. However, I know that she will love the lights and I think that a tree would lift our spirits a bit. It may take me a week or two to get it decorated, but it will give me something to do now that I'm not working.

God has been good to me and so have all of you! Thank you so much for your prayers. You all are my inspiration!

Be well!

Sharon 

Hi girls, Just started my Chemo Nov. 30, 2007.  I was terrified to begin, but kept the faith and it all went very well. Didn't notice much difference except that I was very tired the next day.  Today is Sunday and I feel much better.  Had some stomach aching and felt a little constipated, but even that is letting up.  I'm worried about the hair thing.  What can I expect?  And how soon?  I'm hearing 14 days out.  I'm taking 4 treatments of the t/c.  No lymph node invasion, but the small 1.2 tumor after the onycogene test proved aggressive.  So this is what my treatment was based on.  I have read your many posts and it's good to know we are not alone.  Thanks for any information that you think may help me through. 

Hi all im new to posting but have been reading here often.Let me give you a little bio of myself ,was diagnosed with dcis stage 2b in september of 07 i had double masectomy in october,where they surg did the sent node biobsy where 1/4 was positive so then they dexcided to take more nodes out and all came back clear nov 9 07 i have chosen reconstruction i had expanders in at time of masectomys im filling nicely a bit uncomfy but doable well on friday i had my first chemo session nov 30 my cocktail is tac for 6 rounds no major probs yet except that heartburn.but now got that under control ,i know its going to hit me just waiting hoping they all go this way but im realistic and know thats not happening.

prayers and hugs to all

pennie

Welcome katykat1, Mel, Pennie and sharont68! We're happy that you have found us, but, of course we wish it could be under different circumstances. Visit often, ask anything, share anything...we're all here for you.

Looks like we have a lot of us who started our treatments on November 30. Katykat1 and pennie...how are you doing today?

I think it was probably a combination of the weather and the sudden lack of steroids, but I felt very good until yesterday around 11AM. My grand plans of doing the weekly grocery shopping and buying our Christmas tree were quickly halted. I wasn't nauseous, but I felt like I had a brick tied to each and every joint. We decided to hold off on buying the tree, but the grocery shopping would have to happen. My husband volunteered to brave Wal-mart and Kroger on his own. I armed him with as much directional information that I could (turn down this aisle, top shelf to the left of the corn flakes) and off he went. What a man. In the meantime, I become one with the couch and drifted off to sleep for a few hours while the baby napped. I can tell that this is going to be the hardest part for me...learning that I won't be able to keep up my "normal" pace. I'm scheduled for the Look Good, Feel Better course tonight at 6 PM. I'll just have to see how it goes. 

Another thing I've noticed is that I seem to do better when I eat a bunch of little meals. When I was pregnant, I did that to combat the nausea, but I think it's more of an energy thing now. I was up at 3:30 this morning eating peanut butter, jam, crackers, a banana and a big glass of milk. I felt instantly better.

Cindy? Did you and your family get the tree up yesterday? I'll have to live vicariously through you until next week!

Prayers for everyone! Be well!

Sharon 

Jen44 (Jenny)- are you still out there??  I've been thinking of you and praying for you, hope all went well for your holiday and that you are doing well now "in between" the tx!  Drop a line if you can -

Janet 

OK...sorry Karyll...I was having a CHEMO BRAIN moment when I asked about your company Christmas party. I completely misunderstood. Sheesh.

Ginnyintx, Jenny, Mia and Jay66, how are you doing? Apologies if I've left out anyone. I'll chalk that up to the chemo fog too! Check in when you get a few minutes. 

(((((hugs))))

Sharon 

Cindy - my kids asked me everyday too.  Kind of funny.  Is your head really sore?  That might sound weird but mine was sore from about day 14 - 17...then it started coming out in clumps.  I pulled most of it out (I had already cut it really short), then used my husband's clippers to shave off the patches that were still there.

Sharon68...our dx are very similar, and within a few days of each other.  Good luck with your first treatment in December and please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.  I read a lot of the posts too before I actually started posting.  It's really a great group, very therapeutic to talk to others who are going through this too.  We are here for you!

Mia

One more thing ladies, my onc said that because I had the mastectomy I wouldn't be doing the rad. At my dx I was told that I would have 6 mos of chemo followed by 6wks of rad and  1 year of Herceptin. Is anyone else getting rad after chemo?

Thanks ladies.

So far, I am supposed to have rads after chemo due to my positive node status explained the Doc. I don't know really what the percentages are without it - but none of that will start till the New Year, so we haven't really gone and discussed the details. I should be done chemo end of January (providing there are no more delays) then I understand it is a 4-6 week break prior to radiation. I have to commute 1.5 hours each way for radiation daily 5 days a week for approximately 5 weeks and that is really all I know at this point.

I am guessing there will be a lot more discussion before that actually takes place LOL.

Karyll

Hey Janet - Sorry it has been so long since I posted.  It has been a rough couple of weeks.  I did really well the first two days after my treatment and then I couldn't hold my eyes open for almost three days.  I would literally be talking to someone and fall asleep.  Needless to say the kids thought that was a hilarious.  I slept through the Thanksgiving holiday.  Once the constant sleeping subsided the dizziness started.  That lasted for a couple of days.  I did have a good day on Tuesday, but that night my nose starting bleeding.  I was watching TV with my daughter and it just started to pour.  I hadn't sneezed, rubbed or picked my nose, and it just started pouring.  After about 45 minutes and no sign of stopping we called my onco who told us we needed to get to the hospital right away.  My nose bled for 2 hours and 20 minutes.  Needless to say it was a little sour.  The next morning while I was getting the kids ready for school it started all over again.  This time it last an hour and 25 minutes.  My onco got me into an ENT that day.  He told me that two veins in my right nostril had burst.  He had to cauterize my nose and I have to go back in four weeks to see if it has to be done again.  He told me my nose was in rough shape.  Unfortunately I have always had weak veins in my nose and the ENT said the chemo just made it that much worse.  Wait the fun hasn't ended, because of all the nose bleeding and not being able to blow my nose because of cauterizing it I got a sinus and upper respiratory infection.  I was put on antibiotics and I am feeling much better now.  Needless to say it wasn't a fun couple of weeks. 

Sharont68 - I am also having radiation once I finish with 6 rounds of TAC.  I had a double mastectomy with positive nodes on both sides.  My onco said she knows that I will have rads on the left side because the five positive nodes were, in her words "really yucky".  We are not sure about the right side, which had three positive nodes. 

Hey Susan - glad to hear things are going good with you.  My next treatment is Dec. 10th.  Isn't that the same as yours?  How is the hair.  So far I haven't had any signs of it coming out, but I am sure it is coming. 

Hey Karyll - I am sorry that you had to delay treatment.  Like you said, maybe it will turn out to be a good thing because hopefully you will be having a good week come the holiday.  I know it sucks that we have to try and find the bright side, but at least you are able to do so.  You have such a great attitude.  Like I have been telling everyone around me, "either we let the cancer decide how it is going to handle us or we have to decide how we are going to handle the cancer".  Here's to letting cancer know that it doesn't get to have the control!

Sharon - I just wanted you to know that I love that you have the picture of your daughter on the sight.  I smile every time I see her.  She is so cute!  Thanks for sharing her with us.

Well I hope everyone is having a great night.  You are all such wonderful ladies and I consider myself blessed to be a part of such a great group of survivors!

Jenny

Wow, it is amazing what a few hours can do on this roller coaster we are on.  Took my shower this morning and my hands were covered with hair.  So much for the hair doing okay comment earlier.  I am having lunch with my dad today so I am trying to keep my hands away from my hair, so I don't loose as much  I will probably go ahead and shave it tonight or tomorrow.  I swear it is driving me crazy how much loosing my hair is bothering me.  I mean loosing both my breasts, and I use to be a full D-small DD, didn't bother me as much as loosing my hair.  I know that it will grow back, but it is still screwing with me a lot.  I really hate that I can't seem to get past the sadness of loosing my hair.  I had already cut it short a few weeks ago so mourning the length has already been taken care of.  It just really sucks that it took me over 40 years to appreciate my curly hair and learn to love it only to have it taken completely away.  Oh well, I know I am not the only one that has had this happen and sadly will not be the last.  Just another thing to get use to.  At least I am around to get use to things.  Thanks for listening.

Jenny