Anyone starting chemo in June 08

Jumping back in - haven't had much energy for much of anything the past few days. I have gone back to work and they are pretty flexible so I work 'til I 'm tired and come home to rest (sleep). I should have myself back by day 21 my next infusion.

I too have been very emotional - today the movers brought some things to us from my mom's and that was very emotional.

I haven't started losing my hair, but it's gonna happen soon, the hair itself is lifeless, so it's about to start. I tried on wigs on Monday and the people could not have been nicer. I found maybe two - the one I liked the front of it looked like they cut the front, but couldn't figure out what to do with the back. The other was just too much hair!

Hope everyone is doing well, will try to 'catch  up'.

Jo-Anne

Hi Sue, Sadly I have lost my taste for chocolate. Friends bring over cookies and they are not appealing. I had worried that I'd lose my taste for coffee. Thankfully it came back after day 3. I just have to drink extra water.

I have a question about mouth sores. Are they canker sores? Does salt seem to agggravate them?

I can hardly wait to try out your muffin recipe, if you'll kindly share it. 

 How many women go wig free? I really want to try and go the scarf route.  My 10 year old gave me grief when I tried to wear a college football rally rag as a scarf. I guess beer logos on mumma's head is not cool. Style is so personal.

Sarah 

Well.....did the Big shave......and it is a big relief........I posted pics on the "Road to Hell" thread.......it'll take to long to do it again so check em out over there.....actually had a good time......and post some pics already would ya!.........

Cheers

Jax

kija123  - I had a muga scan which is a heart scan , it was set up but my first chemo came a few days before so they gave it to me anyway which turned out ok. When I had the heart scan the heart wasn't pumping fast enough so all meds had to be changed because it is dangerous to your heart.  They took me off of AC and put my on TC instead. I am also haveing my second round changed which was supposed to be Herseptine and something else. They are debating on the hersepting and will be doing another heart scan to decide. But I do know the worst one is the AC because damage from it is not returnable but hersptine the heart can recover.  Hope all is well for you.

Bonnie

If you haven't gone to "The Road To Hell...." thread do go and take a look at JAX pics - they are really great - she looks wonderful

Thanks to all for the kind words........feeling a bit crummy........just a tad nauseaous.......same as last time........probably tomorrow too........haven't really gone very far with the bald yet.......went to the hardware store with the Dh......with a sarf/hat combo.......and already with the looks.......you're right Rover.......can't hide the cancer now........

Sorry to change topics but need some advice.  I'm on day 10 out of 2 tx and yesterday afternonn I started getting stomach cramps and got real 'gassy'.  Last night around midnight diarrhea started and has gone all night.  Didn't have anything like this the first time, and with it being so far out from tx I'm wondering if it is a s/e?  Is Imodium o.k. to take?

Thanks,

Kathy 

Thanks Jax - It's just one thing after another, isn't it!  BTW, loved your pix!

Kathy

Thanks Sue for the tip on head rash, I'll give it a try.  The disadvantage of being blue eyed, freckled and fair skinned - we're sensitive. 

Rover

Hi to the June gang!

I'm just stopping in from the April/May/Taxotere&Cytoxan threads, which was where I hung out until I finished chemo last month.  I'm now 5-1/2 weeks out from my last Taxotere/Cytoxan treatment and feeling mostly normal, although still bald and in the process of losing my eyelashes.  (Warning:  eyelashes and eyebrows sometimes don't go AWOL until well after you've finished chemo.)

I just have a couple of comments.  Some of you asked about wigs vs. scarves/caps etc.  I decided to go without a wig, since my only wig-buying expedition was a disaster.  That decision has worked out pretty well.  At home I go bare-headed; when I go out to eat or go shopping or visiting, I wear a bandanna, a scarf, or a cap.  Someone here mentioned that her hair/scalp gets sore from wearing a scarf.  That's one problem I've had--my hairline in front is rubbed by scarves and caps, and I'm worried I might be pulling out or traumatizing the newly growing hair.

Someone here mentioned a rash on her scalp.  I got that around day 8 of tx #2.  My onco said it was folliculitis.  She told me to switch from my "Finesse" shampoo to something mild, like J&J baby shampoo.  That seemed to work, because the bumps dried up, went away, and never came back.

BBLady, you should probably call your onco about the gassy cramps and diarrhea.  Taxotere can cause diarrhea--I had it for a few days with my first 3 tx's.  Mine came during the first week of each tx.  When it occurs so late in the cycle as yours (day 10) and is accompanied by bad cramps and gas, it could be Clostridium difficile colitis.  That can be serious, so it's good to talk to your doc about it.  Taking Imodium isn't always a good idea until you find out for sure what the problem is.

Anyway, I've been reading your thread and watching your progress, knowing you'll be going through the same things the rest of us experienced--and survived!

Hugs to you all...

otter 

Hope everyone is getting past this crappy chemo S/E stuff for this round.  It is very frustrating to have all these things creep up on ya.  Shaved heads, head rashes, head stares, nausea, cement elephants, running of the bulls or bowels(diarrhea), mouth sores, butt sores...bone pain...mouth ulcers, mad cow disease, water weight retention, depression, fatigue, etc.  List is too long.  I have so many pill bottles I am not intelligent enough to differentiate between all the pharmaceudical names so I have labled them PUKE 1, PUKE 2, etc, Sleep, Pain1 & 2, Cement elephant realease (just kidding), Antibiotic 1 and 2, Heartburn, Screw Off, F%$K Off, and others. Well, just hoping the rest of you are coping with all this.  Happy Sunday, HunkyD

Hello, I have chemo 3 tomorrow.  It is scheduled for the afternon but I hate waiting all day for it so I am going to call in the morning and see f I can get in earlier.  I have been very lucky and had few side effects.  I even went back to work part time.  Today I had some friends from my womens group over and had to tell them about my diagnosis since the scarf gave it away.  They are not ladies I spend a lot of time with so I had not told some of them.  To me the first telling is always the worst. 

 I wondered if any of you had joined any in person support groups, I want to somewhat more to have people to visit with than to cry about cancer if you know what I mean.  What experiences have you had with them?   Thank you,  Kelly

ps I would post my baldie photo but I have to wait for my teenager to show me how...      

This is the only support group I am part of also.......I do have great family and friend support at home.......so that definately helps.........How was treatment this time HunkyD?........I had my 2 rough days......Friday and Saturday...........2 more of this AC.......then on to the T.........how does the T compare?.......what have others experienced........or heard.........

Cheers

Jax

Hi Ladies,

I go for my 2nd TAC on Wednesday. It seems to me I read somewhere the second goes MUCH quicker than the 1st. Are any of you vets able to tell me how much quicker?

Thanks, Sarah