Starting Chemo May 2008

Eddie - YAY!  The last AC!  I hope you have a relaxing trip at the waterfalls and that your next few days are easy and uneventful.

Rock - Who knew!  I know that drinking lots of water helps keep your veins nice and "plumped up" for easy access but I never thought about cold hands contradicting that.  Good to know.  Something to add to your More Tips perhaps?

Jeano - Congrats on the last AC!!  Woohoo!  Time to celebrate for sure!  So far so good on the Taxol.  Its early morning day 2...so far so good.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

~Adrienne

I think we should visit Volcanoe National Park in Hawaii. All this talk about eruptions makes me want to see a natural wonder of the world. Ha!

Anyone getting ready for radiation? I heard a tip that Aquaflor immediately after deters the burn. We may need to start a laundry list for rads as well. Rock, Otter? Any insight?

 Roxi

Kathy, I can only tell you what my onoc nurse said when I asked if I could get my shot earlier the day after tx.  She said if it was given earlier than 22 hours after tx, it would negate some of the the benefits of the chemo.  It wouldn't have been more than a few of hours difference, so I didn't change it, but I wonder how much is "SOME"?  I had my first neu on day 8.  Wonder if they would wait until Monday?

 Kristy - the first time I used neosporin.  After that I used baby wipes for sensitive skin and haven't had problems in that area since.

 Hope everyone has a good day and celebatory 4th

Lee

Woo hoo! Woo hoo! A/C DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE. Relieved? Yes. Neulasta shot is done 24 hours after in Seattle for the same reason Kristy (I think it was Kristy) said. However, there is a lot of guessing with this stuff and my guess is if your protocol is different, so be it. Enjoy not having to go back a second day and run with it. When we are all in our 80's and one of us dies first, we'll say...see, if only she had taken her neulasta shot the DAY OF ...or it one of the other of us dies first, we can say...see, if only she had taken her shot 24 hours after. Other than those who go at 86 and three days instead of 86 and four days, I think we need to just trust our oncs...I asked mine today the difference between taxotere and taxol and he said they were very, very, very similar. His experience is HIS patients seem to respond better to taxol, but I am sure some of your oncs experience is that her or his patients respond better to taxotere. It is all made from Pacific yew trees so in the end we are going to the same source. love the vestal (taxol) virgin analogy from Otter. Jeano....are you back yet? The waterfalls were good and nice and cool, but not cold. Played cribbage with a friend and opened lots of little presents from friends along the way and ate truffles between the A and the C. Bloodcounts were still very strong though slightly down from last time (no prob...this is cummulative). I told the bloody nose cancer story to the nurses and my friend -- they loved it. Okay peeps...I am loopy and a tad tired from all those drugs they poured into me.

For those of you who already started taxol, my onc told me to get gluto something at the health stor and to start taking it now in prep for taxol. I'll fill you in later. I am curious to know if any of you got the same advice. I am off to zzzz land for a while. Catch you later. 

OK, I'm back at home now.

Kristy, the advice you've been given about that sore bum is the same thing I would have suggested.  Mine got sore (sort of "scalded") during Taxotere/Cytoxan tx #1 because I had a really fluid, probably acidic, diarrhea for about a week.  I treated the sore area with Desitin ointment, which was way more comfortable and soothing than Aquaphor.  I prevented it with my remaining tx's by using mild, alcohol-free, fragrance-free baby wipes (Huggies--no joke!).

BBLady, I got all 4 of my Neulasta shots on the same day as my Taxotere/Cytoxan tx's.  That was the standard protocol at my cancer center.  I was not happy about that at first, because I had read the package insert and a lot of on-line info about Neulasta and they all said it should not be given on the same day:   "Neulasta^® should not be administered in the period between 14 days before and 24 hours after administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy because of the potential for an increase in sensitivity of rapidly dividing myeloid cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy" (http://www.neulasta.com/professional/pi.jsp).

Despite that statement, my cancer center gave Neulasta on the same day as my chemo tx, after the infusion was finished.  I did a literature search and found some studies comparing the effectiveness of same-day Neulasta with Neulasta given 24 hrs after chemo.  Most of the reports said it worked just as well if given same-day, but one or two said it didn't work as well.  Turns out, my cancer center participated in one of the studies; that probably explained why my onco used it on the same day as chemo.  One of the arguments for same-day use was that the 24-hr delay was based on a theory that had never been documented as true in a clinical trial.

Rock, the "anti-Otter"?  You can sub for me any time.  One thing that is so great about these discussion boards is the number of people who volunteer answers and suggestions.  The answers don't always agree, but that's OK because our oncos don't always agree.  We just offer what we know from our own experience.  I just read a lot in my spare time, and I ask lots of questions.  You know, it's an after-effect of my previous life in academia.  It's a habit.

Isn't it true that dark chocolate cures everything?

otter 

Dark chocolate is a food group in my home.

I love you guys (okay, gals). Remember how freaked out we all were just a couple of days ago? We are marching through. 

Roc,  as far as your feet go, I think we should cut them off...but just until they stop hurting then we can lovingly sew them back on when you are ready for them. I wonder if swimming would help?

Here is a good story for you all...though none will be as good as bloody kayaking. I went to yoga on Monday and demanded that we do a whole series of downward dog to plank to child pose....nice stretches. This is yoga for cancer (which is sort of like yoga for dummies, but I mean that in the nicest way and there is no way I'd be good in a regular yoga right now) Anyway, I demanded these stretches, of course, because usually  I am in there on the Monday after chemo where I am a total drip, but because I was on vacation this week, I was amazon cancer woman. So, the instructor says, "We don't usually do full downward dog because of the weight baring...meaning half of your weight is on your hands....but I push forward and we all agree we want to go for it. We all love it, blah, blah, blah. That was Monday. This morning, my wrists were aching sore and I couldn't figure out why until, (ominous music here) the yoga...aaaargh. Perhaps everyone in the class is suffering because I insisted on doing weight baring yoga stretches. My wrists cannot, it turns out, support me at this time. 

Robin, YIPEE. So does that mean you have four more or three more of taxol or of taxotere?

Ciao. 

Congrats to everyone who made it through chemo this week!  Jeano, Kristy, Eddie, Adrienne... I'm pretty sure those fireworks are really all about us, no?

And Linda, I missed your initial "bloody kayaking" post and was completely confused by people's comments. (I thought it was a metaphor...)  Having said that, I'm thinking perhaps you and I should team up to make a horror movie!  Seriously, though, I'm glad you had a sense of humor of it (what are our alternatives?!). I do wish someone had paused to say, "Are you okay, kayak-lady?"  Jeesh.

Okay, I"m calling it a night. I've spent much of the day off my feet and am hoping I'll be rewarded with the abilty to walk or jump rope without searing pain tomorrow.  (thanks for the offer of an amputation, Eddie, I think?)

G'night, rock

I get a neulasta shot to celebrate the last day of A/C and start building those bloodcells for taxol in two weeks. Okay, GROSS WARNING....

I am thinking you take the fudgsicle and put that in between the cheeks to relieve the burning. Okay....just a gross fourth grade joke late into the night. Seriously, all of the suggestions are good. We have a handheld shower and I make sure everything gets a good warm water rinse. Good luck and sorry for the grosss joke, but since I already offered amputation. Gotta go take the ativan and the dex and prepare for my shot tomorrow. My dh is accompanying me and I'm more worried about the comments he might make on my tummy flab when the shot goes in...hmmmm. Nice to concentrate on the little things. Happy fourth dear ladies, and again, if I offended you, I apologize but gross humor can be fun. Whatever you do, don't put the eggplant there. I think I'll get crocs too. Go for the internet. 

Hmmmm . . . the shoe store at the end of my street is having a 4th of July sale: maybe I can pick up some crocs there. 

Kristy, you have me craving eggplant.  I just hope I still have tastebuds when local eggplant (and tomatos, and peppers, and corn, and apricots, and peaches) start showing up in the market here.

Sable, LOVE the pipecleaner curls. 

No more bloody noses since my kayaking adventure. I've been thinking about all the things I was worrying about while I was out on the water:

1. Getting caught in a thunderstorm.

2. Overstressing my surgery-side arm and triggering lymphedema.

3. Developing a horrible skin infection from exposure to dirty lake water.

4. Developing a horrible intestinal infection from ingesting droplets of dirty lake water.

5. Developing a horrible vaginal or urinary tract infection from sitting too long in a bathing suit soaked in dirty lake water.

One thing I was NOT worried about:

1. Frightening small children by walking through the park with a blood-smeared face.

I still can't believe my neighbor didn't say a word when we stopped to chat.  There she was, wearing lipstick, a polo shirt, and freshly-ironed linen shorts.  There I was . . . well, you know.  All I can think of is, she thought it was one of my many eccentricities - like walking around bald or putting Democratic bumper stickers on my car.

Wishing everyone strong blood counts and weak SEs!

Linda

Hey all,

Okay, here's the scoop.  Apparently, instead of mouth sores, my body decided to go for genital sores...yup.  Then to make me feel better, she tells me that it is reallly only seem in children and teenage onc patients. Shse then tells me that I have managed to have the whole nursing staff there squirming in sympathy and they can only imagine the pain.  Scripts?  Vicodin (no thanks,  would like to not get loopy and constipated, just finished that phase), magic mouthwash (lol, trying to figure out how to swish and rinse there....) and tons of A&D before I pee.  Also, suggested all cotton panties (done deal) and wearing shorts to air the area out...my MIL came over and suggested going pantiless and wearing a long skirt.  Okay, did the mouth wash....worked but hurt like hell.  Then attempted the ointment before pee....yeah, right, seriously, can not get it on fast enough when you have to go...lol..

Will try using the water while peeing method, then mouthwash, not sure about the skirt, but I am thinking, its the 4th, the air quality stinks, got 4 good netflcks in the envelops, maybe I will veg in my room sans underwear and watch tv all day while sippin some low acid drink.......

 Bad part of this, the onc wants to cancel my 4th AC next week until this clears up.  That started me crying, I so want to be over AC and on to the next phase...so, she left it up to me and I will be swishing and airing all weekend in an attempt to clear this up....

Goood part of this , had a great visit with my brother.  Never mentioned the "C" or the air other than , wow, all your baby blond hair hung in and it looks great.  What a bud...love that guy.  Instead, he brought home In and Out for lunch ( got over 20 burgers and fries and all 6 kids scarfed them down) and then just hung out.  It was a 3 hour trip up here for him and he had to fight holiday traffic to get here and thm leave.  Plus, he then tell me that he has to leve at 6am today to go to his fiancee's house (2 hours away) and help her put up a fence. Made me cry the little bugger.....

Here's to a great 4th and enjoy the fireworks if yo have them!!!!! randie 

RanD --

JESUS GOD.  I wanted to type "when does it end?" but somehow that seemed about as wrong as my English friend saying "What in bloody hell--??" in response to news of my 'roids.

Mouthwash -- dear me but that sounds painful.  I'm so sorry. That is about the most useless thing I can offer, but it's true. (I am glad you had a good visit with your bro.)

 In a show of solidarity (and hopefully not of the warped variety that I've posted elsewhere!), I am going to hang out with MY netflix.  I'm putting my feet on ice all day in hopes they will heal in time for me to, I don't know, WALK at some point.  This is a heckuva way to celebrate our independence, no?!

For Linda (Because I feel badly for missing your original post)

Linda was slightly stressed as she paddled her kayak

And so the story goes

That is how it came to pass

She was bleeding from the nose.

[I hope I'm not offending anyone.  Anybody have any requests? "Yes -- Knock it off."

I'm in "I do not want to index and proofread my book manuscript" mode even though it is due on Thursday.]

We got a last minute invite to a friend's house where they can see fireworks from their porch.  The 9 y.o. is excited (we don't do much fireworks) and the 4 y.o. said "I don't want to see them" in the event they might be loud.

Randie - OWIE.  I really hope it gets a lot better and very, very quickly!

Rock - Cute poems.  And you can't work because it's a holdiay.  There.

Robin - YAY!!!

I started chemo in April and finished mid-June, but this is one of my favorite threads. There is so much creativity in this group (and care for each other too). Carry on.