Anyone starting chemo in June 08

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  • sarahsewer
    sarahsewer Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2008

    Collector, Congrats on having chemo behind you. What is Femara?

     Sarah 

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  • Kellke
    Kellke Member Posts: 424
    edited July 2008

    Now that I have read the posts, I might ask about going without the dexamethasone for my last AC treatment.  I wonder why with taxol it is not an option to go without.  I have 12 weeks of that coming up weekly after the last AC.  I will ask on Monday when I go.

    Does anyone have a horrible dry cough?  I can not sleep because as soon as I recline a tiny bit I sound like a seal barking.  Last night I went into the guest room so my husband wouldn't be up all night with me.  I have been given all sorts of prescriptions for codeine containing meds but they don't really work for me, so far the best thing is "sleeping" with a cough drop in my mouth.  That really hurts your tongue after a while and not great for your dental health.  I seem to be susceptible to coughs even previously to the cancer and they took three chest x rays and they were all clear.  Any ideas?

    PS   I also painted my daughters bed and room and redecorated while on the dexamethasone.  Organized closets are an excellent side benefit of the meds.

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  • Rovergirl
    Rovergirl Member Posts: 194
    edited July 2008

    Kellke -

    I often suffer from a dry cough and it's due to allergies - I'm allergic to pet dander, dust mites, etc. and I have 4 pets which I refuse to get rid of.  As for taxol and dexamethosone ..... many people have allergic reactions to taxol and dexamethosone is given as a precaution - can be in a pill form or by IV.  I'm currently on taxol and have not experienced any serious reactions so my doc. reduced the amount of dexamethosone I receive but did not eliminate it.   

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited July 2008

    Kellke, here's what it says on the www.rxlist.com website about giving dexamethasone to prevent allergic reactions to Taxol.  This information is listed under "dosage and administration," and also as a black-box warning on the first page of the listing:

    "All patients should be premedicated prior to TAXOL administration in order to prevent severe hypersensitivity reactions. Such premedication may consist of dexamethasone 20 mg PO administered approximately 12 and 6 hours before TAXOL, diphenhydramine (or its equivalent) 50 mg IV 30 to 60 minutes prior to TAXOL, and cimetidine (300 mg) or ranitidine (50 mg) IV 30 to 60 minutes before TAXOL."

    There is a similar black-box warning about allergic reactions and steroid premedication with Taxotere, but the recommended duration of the steroid administration is longer for that drug than for Taxol.

    I cannot fall sleep with a cough drop in my mouth, because I am afraid it might slide down my throat and into my trachea.  Cough, cough!

    otter 

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  • collector
    collector Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2008

    Sarah, thanks.  It feels good to have the visits over for that part of treatment.  The Femara is the aromatase  inhibitor that my onco wants me to be on for 5 years after I finish radiation.  I believe there is a good section on this site that explains what the three AIs are and who they are suitable for.  I do not look forward to taking it.  The onco talked about fatigue and bone pain as the major side effects.  From the reporting on these boards, there are many more sometimes temporary and sometimes permanent side effects all of which contribute negatively to quality of life and many of which require yet more medication to get through the day.  I know I have to give it a try but have many reservations.

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  • Vinogal
    Vinogal Member Posts: 439
    edited July 2008

    Off I go again tomorrow.......have the first appointment time......so hopefully that will make for a shorter wait........fingers crossed.......good luck to HunkyD......and anyone esle getting treatment tomorrow!

     Cheers

    Jax

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  • hunkydory
    hunkydory Member Posts: 1,241
    edited July 2008

    Vinogal, I am on the three week TAC.  I don't go until next week.  I'll be thinking about ya though.  Good luck..!  Wish I could be done faster.  HunkyD!

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  • SanDeeLou
    SanDeeLou Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2008

    Hi all,

    I've had my second tx of AC on 7/3 and will have my 3rd on 7/31.  I have been on another roller coaster ride.  My onc was on a 2 week vac.  The NP and partner thought I was developing an infection because of redness and heat to the surgery sight.  Wth symptoms would come and go.  I was on keflex for 5 days and then my 2nd tx was postponed and put on levaquin for 5 days, dr returned and put me on vecamycian iv drip for 7-10 says,  when administered less than over 2 hours I developed RED MAN SYNDROME.  after 10 days of the iv I saw my surgeon again, who said I hade RED BREAST SYNDROME.  and It may or may not go away after chemo.  the surgeon says she sees it alot after surgeries.  it's because the lymp drainage form theneck has to drain upward when you are sitting or standing and when you lay downit flows naturally.  O well, I know I won't be laying down that much.

    Anyhwo, blood work today, My WBC and ANC are down, doc was already gone for the day  so I have to wait untilam to see if I have to take the neuprogen shot.

    Lots of Hugs

    Sandy

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  • Rovergirl
    Rovergirl Member Posts: 194
    edited July 2008

    Last week I had a mid-treatment MRI to evaluate the effectiveness of the chemo and I got my results today - both my tumor and lymph nodes are shrinking - yahoo!  Tomorrow is taxol infusion #8.

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  • Vinogal
    Vinogal Member Posts: 439
    edited July 2008

    Congrats on the shrinkage Rovergirl.......nice to hear some good news......sorry HunkyD.......I guess I just assumed you were on the same shcedule as me..........I'm really dreading this tx.....not sure why......I guess I was just so busy these past 2 weeks........it seems to have flown by.......and feels like I just got to feeling odd.......oh well.......vacation to look forward to on Monday.......kids are super excited........so just have to make it through my bad weekend.......and the off we go......

    Cheers

    Jax

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  • hunkydory
    hunkydory Member Posts: 1,241
    edited May 2011

    Rovergirl:  The one time shrinkage is good!!!  Yahooo

    Vino:  Hope your treatment went OK today.  I snuck out of work an hour early cause my a%s was dragging my tracks out.  Hope you have a great time on your vacation next week and that the nasty SE's don't pack up and go along with you.  I don't have to hook up with the IV bag until next Wednesday and I am not looking forward to it even now.  Got an appt with my surgeon too next week.  I am going to have a little chat with him about the effects that chemo and radiation have on lymphedema.  So far so good on that issue for me, but I am scheduled for radiation after chemo. I guess I really need to get on the Lymphedema group and do some reading.

    I just hope my counts are good enough for chemo this next week.  I have felt kind of drained these last few days.  Don't know if its cause I've been working every day or what.  Here's to all the June group....hope this Wednesday is finding everyone OK.  HunkyD

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  • Vinogal
    Vinogal Member Posts: 439
    edited July 2008

    Home again......feeling good so far.........dreading the weekend.......kids are going to the SIL's for a couple of night so they are excited about that......and it will give me time to be grumpy without them.......and to finish packing for the vacay.......I did start already.......figuring I'd get as much done during my good as possible.....if I left it up to the Dh.......we'd all end up with a bowl....a hat.......and maybe an outfit.....lol......so chewed ice during the A again.........it's worked for the last 2......so fingers crossed for no mouth issues this time.........

    Cheers

    Jax

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  • Wyoming
    Wyoming Member Posts: 381
    edited July 2008

    Hunkydory:  I get hooked up next Thursday and I go every three weeks, we are close to the same schedule. I'm also scheduled for radiation after chemo. So far I have not had any issues with Lymphedema but am concerned when radiation starts. I have researched Lymephedema and exercise may help so I am doing weight training with low weights and walking as much as possible.

    Rovergirl: Congrats on the shrinkage!!!!

    I'm off to the Big Horn mts. tomorrow morning can't wait. It will be nice to get away, smell campfire, and the coolness of mountain night air.

    Everyone have a great weekend.

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  • hunkydory
    hunkydory Member Posts: 1,241
    edited May 2011

    Wyoming:  Hope you have a great time around the campfire.  Wish I could do that too.  I am right next door to ya in Idaho.  About my lymphedema......I think maybe I have lifted a little too much in the past few days....my mast. was on my right breast...thus right arm which i am right handed just out of habit gets a little bit more use.  On the camping note.....Cook a hotdog for me....please melt cheese on it when its done. P.S.  From experience...don't eat oreo cookies in your sleeping bag at night....husband thought I had gone sleepwalking (alcohol enhanced) into a cold firepit and fell down in it when he we woke up the next morning and saw the slightly blackened sleeping bag mess...HeHe!  HunkyD. 

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  • Vinogal
    Vinogal Member Posts: 439
    edited July 2008

    Wyoming have a great trip........HunkyD......thanks for the tip about the oreos.......I can totally see something like this happening to me.........getting some more packing done......while I feel good......really looking forward to this vacay.......we are going to Darien Lake with another couple......and their kids........as luck would have it......my kids best friends...........we rented 2 trailers side by side.....so should be a good time........will fell like camping.......but with the added bonus of a real kitchen.......private bath.....oh yeah.....and a bed!

    HunkyD......take care of that lymphedema.........haven't had any issues with that but it sounds like a big PIA......

    Westie........how's it going for you?.......haven't heard from my neighbour in a while........give us an update........

    Cheers!

    Jax

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  • KKing
    KKing Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2008

    hey.. vinogal and wyoming ...enjoy your vacations .

     So happy for you Rovergirl, hope it continues.

    Sandy,  honestly never heard of that..hope that does go away.

    Well, my question to everyone and anyone.. do you find each treatment harder to get over??  I had #3 last Wed and I still find my gut is churning.   My state of mind makes me friggin angry all the time.  I feel like I could rip somebodys head off.    Just wanted to get that off my chest.

    Anyone else??

    Karen 

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  • hunkydory
    hunkydory Member Posts: 1,241
    edited May 2011

    KKing, I am finding myself a little more tired than the first one.  That could possibly be due to the fact that I went back to work a lot more than I did the first round.  It is a very emotional time for me indeed.  I find myself wanting to cry more than rip someones head off.  Although.....I have wanted to do some major head ripping many times prior to my cancer diagnosis and chemo.  I did take a lot more nausea meds this time I believe too.  Hope you get a little more comfortable.  Sucks Doesn't it?

    Camperettes'  be careful out there.  I don't know if you've heard of "Bigfoot".....but I think if he steals one glance at a bald woman he is going to go on some kind of bad ass rampage.  Either that or he might go into a catatonic state of sorts. Heck, maybe one of you can get a picture.  Anyway, have fun.  HunkyD

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  • Kellke
    Kellke Member Posts: 424
    edited July 2008

     I am never sure if the tiredness is just regular life or the effect of sebsequent chemo treatments...  One thing I have noticed is that I am so forgetful, I have never had a great memory but now I am completely useless...   And the worst thing is that I forget to put my scarf back on,  I take if off and go bare headed at home to keep cool but then if I get in the car I sometimes have to run back in and grab it...  Kelly

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  • ggrose
    ggrose Member Posts: 64
    edited July 2008

    I usually post on the Taxotere/Cytaxin thread but read here also.  I saw Karen's question and wanted to respond.  For me, fatigue and bone pain got worse with each TX.   The docs told me that exercise would help with the fatigue but I'm just too darned tire to exercise!  New SE's also popped up with later treatments.  TX3 brought on constipation and terrible indigestion.  Had to add prolisec and senekot to my list of meds.  I waited a long time to treat the new SE's and really suffered for a few days.  Prolisec takes a few days to start to work but it will knock out the indigestion.  If that doesn't work for you "churning gut" the oncs can write you a script for something stronger.  Hope this helps.

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  • sarahsewer
    sarahsewer Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2008

    Kelly, Perhaps you can treat your scarves like those el cheapo reading glasses. Have them all over the place- glove compartment, purse, coffee table. While you risk your darling daughter wearing them, or dressing a doll (like mine does), you just might find one at the right time.

    A friend called me yesterday to say she an old bald guy driving my car. Yup, it was me.

     Sarah

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  • hunkydory
    hunkydory Member Posts: 1,241
    edited May 2011

    Kelly, I think the tiredness is definately chemo.  I felt great pre cancer diagnosis...walking, getting a lot of exercise..etc.  Now, It strains me to go a full day at work.  I forget stuff too and have made it a point at my job to enter a lot of simple things I am supposed to do on my computer calendar.  Sometimes, even driving to work I find myself wondering if I stopped at a stop sign.  Crazy stuff!!!  I hope it isn't permanent. 

    Sarah.....really funny about the bald guy driving your car......HunkyD

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited July 2008

    Sarah, I'm just stopping by from the May '08 and Taxotere/Cytoxan threads, and I read this:

    "A friend called me yesterday to say she saw an old bald guy driving my car. Yup, it was me."

    You really need to post that over on Rockthebald's thread, "The Road to Hell .... or, Laughter is the Best Medicine."  Look for her "Laughter" thread farther down the list on this Chemo board.

    Kelly, I've been getting really careless about my caps.  I go bare-headed ("bald-bald") all the time at home and when I'm driving or riding in the car.  (Now I'm thinking about that bald guy, though.)  I will get out and check the mailbox, or change drivers with my dh (we're traveling right now), or go to the back of the car to grab a soda from the cooler, etc., bald-bald.  Normally I even get out of the car and rummage around the back seat for awhile, bald-bald, trying to find my cap.  I've decided I just don't care anymore.  I like not having to mess with my hair in the morning, but it's a small pleasure.  I really hate being bald.

    What I think I'm hating even more is the fact that all my lower eyelashes have fallen out, my upper lashes are 2/3 gone, and my eyebrows are about half gone and very patchy.   None of that began until about 3 weeks after my last of 4 chemo treatments (Taxotere & Cytoxan).  Just when you think you're all done....

    <sigh>
    otter

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  • Kellke
    Kellke Member Posts: 424
    edited July 2008

    That is so funny, my husband made the same comment about having a scarf everywhere just like my mother has reading glasses in each room.  You two must be on the same wavelength  :)

    I am really not looking forward to losing my eyelashes but I am feeling even worse about losing my eyebrows.  The hair thing I have to say has been the worst for me,  I think because it makes what would be my private matter so open to everyone.  Although one patient today asked me if I had shaved my head for fun...  really do 30 something women do things like that for fun?  I am so conservative in my real life that I just about fell off my chair laughing when she said that.    :)

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  • SanDeeLou
    SanDeeLou Member Posts: 96
    edited July 2008

    That bald guy he

    I was at a deli counter earlier today and the gentleman behind counter said "can I held you sir?"  In a higher than usual pitch I said "Yes".

    Also,   a couple of weeks ago I had to have a picture ID taken and took off my cap forgetting all about no hair.  My dh says I have no shame when it comes to my bald head.

    Lots of Love

    Sandy

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  • Bonnie02
    Bonnie02 Member Posts: 193
    edited July 2008

    Hi to everyone,

    I had the AC chemo the first time and then found I could not have that, I am now on my 3rd round of TC this Thursday. As a lot of you have said I think each time gets worse, or it is your mind not sure which. I am physically better this time then last as they cut my dose by 25% because I was so sick last time and ended up in hospital for 5 days by myself with very little company you would have thought I had some very contagious disease although I do understand that when your white blood cells are at 0 this is a high chance of picking up some diseases.  This time I am much better although I am really hating the thought of next week. Just when you are starting to feel like half a human their going to get you again. Oh, well what can you do. I  also am finding myself running around with a bald head a lot of the time and almost went out once without my wig, scarf or cap. That would really bother me. Went out the other day and before I left I said now let me see do I have everything - teeth, hair, boob, shoes, purse (although I never take out my teeth) but one of these days I am going to forget something!  Has anyone out their had any problems with skin peeling I sure have, my feet, hands, arms - hope nothing else.

    Everyone have a great day and keep your chins up there is always a positive side to everything if you look for it - (no hair) don't have to curl it everyday.

    Bye for now

    Bonnie

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  • KKing
    KKing Member Posts: 425
    edited July 2008

    Hi all

    Thanks ggrose for your info.  Exercise would probably be a good idea...if I could get my a** off the couch.   I keep planning on starting each day because I have read that it could alleviate some s/e's.   I have been out walking the dogs each day but that is not enough.  Iwill work on that.  I will talk to the onc about the digestion constipation issues as I start Taxotere next treatment.

    I have come across the same as you Sandy.  I was sitting in my car waiting for hubby with a hat and scarf on and this guy looking for change for the bus says.. excuse me sir.. I look at him and he says  oh  I mean mam..  he sure didn't get his change for the bus.

    Sarah.. that was funny.    My dh has a bald head..so I said to my neighbour.. if I walk out with my bald head you better not say morning Ray.... she says  Ohno..  you have the bigger tits.  LOL...  people are too cute.

    Glad to see everyone is doing alright.  Have a good one.

    Karen 

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  • Wyoming
    Wyoming Member Posts: 381
    edited July 2008

    Back from camping. Had a great time. Saw a lot of wild life, moose, elk, and deer. It was cold during the night, had to turn on the heater in July. Now comes the hard part, cleaning the camper. I have my 3rd treatment this Thursday. Hope it goes as well as the the last one.

    Bonnie, my skin is very dry. I pile on the lotion all day long.

    I go bald all the time. If I have to leave the house on goes the wig. There are times I wish I had the confidence to go bald everywhere but I'm not there yet.

    So far I've been pretty lucky as I'm not too tired except the first week. I'm a teacher so I have had the summer off. I start back August 19th without students, they start the 26th. I may get more tired once I start work. My school is on a 4 day week, so I should only have to miss a couple of days as my treatment will be on Thursday.

    Hunkydory, what part of Idaho are you from? I have relatives in Sand Point.

    Have a great day.

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  • sarahsewer
    sarahsewer Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2008

    Hi All,

    I am off to try a THIRD time for my 2nd infusion with BRAND NEW oncologist ( mine was on loan from another clinic). I can't help but feel edgy and crabby. I don't want to get sent home yet again. I want to get these chemos over and done.

    Please send positive WBC and ANC vibes.

    Sarah 

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  • sarahsewer
    sarahsewer Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2008

    News Flash!! I was taking bird seed out to the feeder and I found a four leaf clover. I am sure I will sail through chemo today. I love good luck!

    Sarah 

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  • hunkydory
    hunkydory Member Posts: 1,241
    edited May 2011

    Good luck Sarah!  

    Wyoming:  Sounds like you had a good time camping.  I am going for my third TAC tomorrow.  Good luck on yours.  I am from Southern Idaho.  Funny to hear you mention dry skin.  Bonnie, my legs were so dry they peeled.  Not due to sun exposure either.  That was the only thing that peeled. Onc didn't seem concerned.  I too slather on the lotion.  HunkyD

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