Starting Chemo May 2008
Comments
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Roxi-I am every 3 weeks, so my #3 is not until NEXT Tuesday (the 17th). I feel so great right now, it's scary! #2 was definitely better than #1 for me. I hope the next 2 follow the same course. Thanks for keeping track!
Sharon
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Roxi - First let me say, you did great! What makes it a little confusing is that some of us are every 2 weeks and some every 3. Sometimes we overlap and sometimes not. So it is a bit confusing. But it seems like you got everyone for this week. I think next week may be larger because I think it's an overlapping one. We should start gathering schedules soon. And I will start writing them down!
Dana - Love, love the picture!! And, no, I was not menopausal. Like you, regular, on the dot, 28 days. And I'm also triple neg, so I'm not getting anything for estrogen. I also noticed today that I'm feeling a bit sore, as if I had been horseback riding (but I don't have a horse...and none of those other "activities" recently that might cause soreness). It's also just rather irritating. And Diane/badboob is on Xeloda - she posts frequently on the bitch 'n moan thread.
Angels - Love your new avatar! Very relaxing...zzzzz...oh! I really hope your counts are good. Mine were starting to slip on Friday, I'm going back tomorrow to check again.
Eddie - You are a hoot and we will forgive you for not having a daughter named Katie!
Kristy - Mine is also legally Katherine, but tells me she will change it legally to Katie when she's an adult. Hope you have fun on your trip. I understand the short trip thing - we were supposed to go for a week down to San Diego at the end of this month, but NOT. So we're also going to try a couple of one or two nighters.
O.K., I've started making a list ("and checking it twice...") for next week. It may take me all week to get it right, so if you're scheduled for next week, let me know.
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Christine, put me down for next week's list - I'm going in for my first Taxol on Thursday, 6/19. (And thanks for taking this on.)
My "Look Good Feel Better" class was a bust. Four attendees (one bc patient who I'm guessing was a little younger than me, two lung cancer patients who I'm guessing were a little older), but no instructor. We hung out for a while, watched a cheesy video, received periodic updates from the Gilda's Club staffer who was trying to track down the ACS instructor, and finally went home with instructions to come back next week. Not sure if this was a fluke (we did have major storms move through here Sunday night, and a lot of people are without power), or if it's a sign that the entire program is a wee bit disorganized. I mean, how tough would it have been for the volunteer to call that she wasn't going to be able to make it?
I felt terrible for one of the lung cancer women, who has brain mets and can't drive. It seemed really unfair to make her come out for nothing.
We didn't even get any snacks!
(Speaking of snacks . . . this fourth and final AC tx is messing with my appetite for the first time. I still have my tastebuds, but I just don't want to eat. Or more accurately, I don't want to eat anything but ice cream, which I've developed an insatiable craving for.)
Linda
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Hi May ladies... I am actually a June lady.. just had first treatment onJune4.
I have aquestion concerning the white blood count. I was given the neulasta injection but I need to know, how are you finding that you feel..they say between day 8 to the 20th. Are you concerned when going out about picking up something. I am feeling a bit paranoid about this. How have you coped with this??
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
best wishes to you all, Karen
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Karen - check out Page 14 of this thread. Otter has posted a graph that might answer your question.
I'm not sure that anyone "feels" anything but bone pain, from the Neulasta. After my first tx, I had a bloodwork follow up on day 7. At that time, my wbc was beginning its journey back up. Still below normal but not as bad as it would've been without the Neulasta. I am careful when I go out, as best I can be. I carry hand sanitizer with me. You can't avoid everything but you can try your darndest.
~Adrienne
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I'd echo Adrienne. The insidious thing about white blood counts is that they can fall very low and you won't notice a thing (unless, of course, you develop an infection . . . and even then, your body won't marshall as full a response as it normally would, which is why even a low fever is cause for alarm). So I think the best advice is don't be paranoid, but do be careful. Make like Lady Macbeth, and wash, wash, wash.
Will you be getting midcycle bloodwork done? (I have labs on day 8 of each 14-day cycle.) If so, that should set your mind at ease, at least a little.
Linda
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Thanks for that. No, I am only going for blood work the day before my next treatment which is June 25th.
What I don't want to miss is my sons graduation from grade 12 which is happening that same day. It is at a convention centre with a ton of people... that is my biggest concern. I dont want to miss is but I am nervous about going.
K
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My experience with Neulasta is that by day 8-10 the counts start to climb. My bloodwork 7 days after chemo still had the low point but by the next week's bloodwork, I will well up into the 4000-5000 range, by the thrid week when I had chemo again I was almost 8000. I still try to be careful around days 6-10 but after that I feel normal and act normal (washing hands etc of course)- but I dont feel the need to hibernate. I did hibernate my first cycle and still ended up in the hospital (pre-Neulasta).
I got back to walking today on my regular routine- 30 minutes at a time. I had only made it about 10-15 minutes at a time since chemo last Thursday so hopefully I will start my treadmilling again going into chemo #4. I managed to walk 90 minutes a day the week before this chemo and definitely think it has helped with the Neulasta leg aches. It is also making me lose weight during chemo!
Kristy
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Karen - My daughter graduates this Saturday. I am pretty comfortable going considering it will have been 1 1/2 weeks since last tx. I'm pretty confident that you will be just fine by that date.
I will tell you that 14 days after my first tx, day of tx #2, my WBC was well within normal range.
~Adrienne
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Thanks Linda, Adrienne and Kristy. I feel a lot better now about this whole thing. So, I would think the Neulasta is doing its job so I will just wash my hands and stay away from sneezers.
Enjoy her grad and I will surely enjoy my son's.
You guys are great.
Karen
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Karen (KKing), the low point of your white blood cell count depends somewhat on the type of chemo you are getting. It falls earlier with some of the drugs than with others; and there even seems to be some disagreement among oncos about exactly when the lowest point will be, especially if Neulasta or Neupogen are being given.
I am on Taxotere & Cytoxan, every 3 weeks. According to what I've read, the low point with Taxotere should be around day 7 or so; but the low point with Cytoxan (and with Adriamycin, if that's what you're getting) is later--it should be around day 11 or 12. My onco nurse and chemo nurses have said repeatedly that my lowest point will be between days 10 and 14, which is later than I expected it would be. Maybe the Neulasta shot (which I get each time, too) protects better against the earlier decline than it does against a late decline.
Anyway, they didn't check my wbc mid-cycle--they just checked it the day of my next chemo treatment, to make sure it was back up. During my 3rd round of TC, I started running a fever (100.6) on day 12 or 13. When I called the onco's office, I was told it probably was due to a low wbc, and we decided it must be a mild sinus infection. They just prescribed an antibiotic for a week. The onco said it was so late in my chemo cycle that my wbc should be back up to normal really soon, which it was I guess because it was fine 7 days later for my final tx.
This is all kind of confusing, but one thing is for sure--the Neulasta and Neupogen shots are keeping many of us out of the hospital these days!
otter
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Otter
I am on 3 cycles FEC and then 3 cycles Taxotere every three weeks. Had the first june 4. Have you been out and about during the cycles?? or do you stay in certain days??
another question concerning Taxotere, did they put icepacks on your wrists during the treatment?? Myonc nurse said they do that here to help prevent nail problems.
Karen
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Karen, if I feel OK I go out during the first 6 days or so. On this TC regimen, day 3 (which is 2 days post-infusion) has been really good for me each cycle--I've felt "normal". I could have done anything. I get a bit more ouchy after that, and usually by day 5 or 6 I'm not feeling up to traveling or shopping. I also get more cautious by then--I try to avoid crowds.
What to do after the first week is a bit of a mess. I would love to say that I usually feel fine, which is true; and I go anywhere/do anything after around day 8, but that's not true. I guess deep down I'm still a little worried about contracting an infection.
For instance, there is a retirement reception this Thursday for someone I used to work with. I would love to go--the food will be good, there will be lots of people I know, and I want to wish the person well in his retirement. But, it will be day 9 of my chemo cycle and I just don't want to risk shaking hands with someone who will give me strep throat or a cold (or salmonella, heaven forbid).
There are other women who go back to work and live their usual lives during those same times, though. I think the key is just to take common-sense precautions.
As for the ice packs, my infusion center didn't believe in anything special. They did offer me a can of juice and a cup of crushed ice each time I went there, but that was just for refreshment and not to prevent sores. I don't know how much real scientific evidence there is that the "cooling" techniques actually help prevent hair loss, mouth sores, nail problems, hand-foot syndrome, etc. For instance, how cool would the blood in your hands have to be, to keep the Taxotere from messing up your fingernails? Does anyone really know the answer to that?
One thing I have been doing is trying not to "overheat" my feet or hands on the way home from my chemo treatments or during the next couple of days afterward. Those drugs flow through our bodies for a day or two before they are eliminated, so the tissue damage can occur even after the infusion itself is finished.
otter
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Otter
Thanks for all that information. I was told to be more cautious about 8 days after the treatment which sounds like what you are doing. I will just keep that in mind.
I don't know who came up with the ice pack on the wrists idea during treatment but they advise it. I will decide when I get there.
All the best to you
Karen
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Linda,
Eat papaya. That'll make you feel better.
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My second a/c treatment is this thursday.. yay for me. The first one was horrible. Mostly cause of my anxiety I am sure. Hoping for something a bit better this time around.
To top things off I am working on a yeast infection, my hair is slowly coming out, I have the poops and giggles and I'm just plain cranky. Ok that felt better just to say it lol.
Thinking about taking the LGFB class.... only offered in july here. I just hope they don't make me look like a tranny. I had that happen once at a mary kay party. I think I'll take along my own stuff as well... just in case.
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Christine,
Did you see the post from Sharon? She's every three so she'll be on next week instead of this. Day #2 after tx3 and I feel great. Found out from my Onc that I have one more AC and then I'll have taxotere and herceptin for 4 rounds every 2 weeks. Should be done with chemo by August!!! Yeah. Then it's herceptin for a year and rads in September. Hope evryone is experiencing minimal SE's today.
Roxi
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Sable,
My second a/c was better...less anxiety and just a little more ready. I cut a couple of ativans which also seemed to mellow me out. I am thinking of you and wishing you well. Two weeks ago today were by really bad days...the Tuesday (then the Wednesday) after round one. I wish you well. Roxi, I think we are similar. I have four AC then I think either txotere or taxol and hecepting for four rounds every two weeks to be done by August if those blood counts stay up...then herceptin for 40 more weeks. Fewer se for me this time thanks to all of you who suggested biontene last time. You all rock. I drove home bald today. Felt good. I think I will try to duct tape the rest of my hair out tonight.
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Ewesterman
My 12 weeks (4 A/C treatments every 21 days...first one today) will be followed by 12 weeks of once week treatment of Trastuzumab (Herceptin) and paclitaxel. Those 12 weeks will be followed by 40 weeks of once a week treatment of Herceptin. Total 64 weeks in all. I have a feeling my follow-up will be the rest of my life. They gave me 7 to 10 days before I'm bald. Two days ago I did a preemptive cut of 8 inches all over my head. So I'm close to bald already. After breast cancer in 2005 I grew my hair to donate to Pantene. In 2005 I only needed 7 weeks of radiation. If I can fi
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Interestingly, as we talk about WBCs and Neulasta/Neuopogen, guess whose WBCs tanked today?!
Actually, I pretty much knew last night just as I got in bed. I started feeling chills and my forehead was hot. Now, it has been in the high 90s here and we have the a/c on all the time. But I'm bundled up in bed and then later, throwing everything off. I don't think the fever got past 100 but I was too tired to get up and use the real thermometer. Just used the baby one on my forehead. So this morning, I had a slight headache, my eyes hurt and I felt sooooo tired. I went straight to the hospital where I do my bloodwork. Yep, I was at 2.5. Called the onc's office and they said come on in for your Neuopogen. I picked up dh (he's an RN) so they could watch him give the first one. So now I have an unplanned week off at home because I work in a germ-infested cesspool (sounds nice, huh?) and the only place more germy is my dd's preschool class. Yipee.
Linda - Got you for Thursday. Sorry your LGFB class was a bust. I was the only person at mine, but I got great stuff! In fact, that's what I did today in my spare afternoon. Sat at the table and went through all my make-up, threw out all the old stuff. The volunteer who did mine told me not to use my old stuff as it could have bacteria on it and only use new products during chemo. Time for a shopping trip (when the count comes back up)! And I think you should just eat all the ice cream you want!!
Sable - I also was starting to get a yeast infection about 4 days after my first tx. Did you call your onc? I think it might be the Cytoxan since that's the only one we're both on. They prescribed two rounds of Diflucan for me and that seemed to work. Good luck on Thursday!
Roxi - I did see Sharon's post. And glad to hear your feeling great - hope it continues!
Eddie - I have heard that a lint roller is "kinder" than the duct tape.
I guess being at home won't be so bad, except that the last day of school is tomorrow. Aaacckk. I banished the little dd (who sleeps with me every night) to Grandma's tonight. "Whhyyy?" "Because mama isn't feeling well." "Ooookaaay." So far, the neuopogen is hardly noticeable. Except the injection site is still sore. Does anyone else miss Rock?
Alright, I'm rambling - Good night.
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Roxie, I am going in for my 2nd tx on Wednesday (tomorrow).
Dana, I am on TAC now and the hair is flying off. I thought they were joking but no day 16 I think was something. Did your se after you first treatment continue on the same pattern with regard to days you felt bad etc? Also if the first was okay (with hangover, chemo brain), will it stay the same pretty much? I am just trying to get a handle on this. Any advice would be great. thanks
Julie
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Cris - So sorry to see that your WBC took a dive. I hope the Neupogen does its job quickly! And Yes..I do miss Rock! I hope she is having a great time...even if it is a working trip.
The cold that I had last week, that I thought was going away, developed into bronchitis. yippee. So now I'm on antibiotics and other meds to help get rid of it. Like we aren't already torturing our bodies with enough drugs. Luckily I have no fever, so I imagine my wbc is fine. When I went in for treatment last week it was actually high (12.2) so my body was trying to fight it before I ruined it all with treatment
. I hope these meds do the trick in the next day or two. My daughter graduates high school on Saturday and there is no way I want to postpone my last a/c next week. I want it over with! That will be the halfway mark.Eddie - I use a lint roller...or rather my dh does. He gets a kick out of rolling my head, the goofball. Duct tape sounds a bit like torture.
I hope everyone is staying cool.
~Adrienne
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Good morning everyone,
Havent posted in a bit. Going for my 2nd tx this morning. More anxious than the first one I think. Guess I am worrying the se's will start getting worse, for the 1st tx the se's were pretty mild. Still have hair and its day 14 so expecting it to go any day now, know I will be emotional when it does.
Well better get ready, I hope everyone positive thoughts that are having tx this week. Will check back later
Have a good day.
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Becky - Hoping all goes well today and your se's are no worse this time.
Good thoughts also to Lenny, Keri and Sally today!!
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ewesterman~ doc put me on 3 rounds of diflucan. yuck! But I guess that's better that all the cream junk you normally have to take.
My overall treatment is 4 rounds of a/c then 4 rounds of taxol/herceptin all 2 weeks apart. They did want me to do a study that would last for 18 months worth of chemo. Without any guarantee that it would be any better my husband put his foot down and said no. Mainly cause I have horrible anxiety about needles and he couldn't stand to see me go thru all of that... me neither for that matter. If they had said "yes this works better than the traditional" then we might have gone that route. The doc said traditional has been proven to work and he would just do dose dense to get me thru it even faster. So now I am down to 4 months instead. More doable especially having a young kiddo to take care of.
side note: man my spelling is horrible lately... yikes oh mighty
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Roxi-
my next treatment is tomorrow, thur.
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katiesmommy - Good luck tomorrow - wishing you minimal se's!!
Calling all on the schedule for next week - I need updates before I start posting the list (which I will then have to update). I'm sure I don't have everyone for next week yet, so please either PM me or just drop a line here so I can get you on.
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Ladies,
I am sad that the wbc is low for some of you. My little guy, Adam, is throwing up so I am staying away. Who throws up in June? People in Seattle where it is colder today than Siberia. Okay, I am not complaining as I get that chemo is harder in hot climates. Two weeks ago today was my BIG PANIC day. Today, I understand why. For me, it seems the Tuesday and Wednesday after chemo (I have done it twice so I am VERY experienced) are the hangoverish, weirdest, fuzziest, least together days. However, I am NOT in a panic today for many reasons --the biggest is that I have found you all. So thanks for that. Good luck to those who are stepping up to the bar. We tried packing tape and the duct tape does work for hair and it's not torturous --it's just funny. Tomorrow, we are moving on to the lint brush. I wore just a hat today . . . no blue hooligan stocking cap. It felt fine. Lovely ladies, feel better those who are aching (I took Tylenol today to mask a headache), feel calm to those who are nervous and for those losing hair...join the club...my nose, she is running without those nostril hairs to keep it all together. Too much information? Hope not. Ciao!
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Hi Cristine,
My chemo #3 was changed to Tuesday the 17th....thats if they give me the go ahead according to my blood work, wont know that till monday.
thanks for doing this!
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Christine-I think you saw mine, but I am on for tx#3 next Tuesday
(17th) and then tx#4 on July 8th.
Katiesmommy-Good luck tomorrow!
Eddie-Sorry your son is sick! It stinks that you can't help him out.
Becky& Julie-Hope it went well today...let us know!
Adrienne-Sorry about the bronchitis! Take it easy and don't overdue.
Otter-So glad you're doing well this time, and it's OVER!!!
Take care, all!
Sharon
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