Topic: March/April Chemo T/C x 4

Apr 11, 2012 10:27 PM onvacation wrote:

Likeachickadee - glad #2 went well, mine is tomorrow and hoping for equally good results!  Hope everyone has a good evening and minimal side effects tomorrow!

Apr 12, 2012 05:03 PM onvacation wrote:

#2 went fine, had a nice nap when I got home!  4 more to go and I am counting the days!

Apr 12, 2012 09:50 PM Catherine22 wrote:

Welcome Dianne! No one wants to be here, but we all find solace hearing that others are in it with us and understand.

Jeanne - I forgot about your cast, you are such a trooper. I remember reading your post about your bike crash and later that day, while I was waiting for my partner as he was in a store, I was imagining what it would be like to not only have chemo, but to have to have cast impairment issues as well. 

Likeachickadee & onvacation glad to hear everything went well. We're getting there bit by bit, together.

I had another reaction yesterday, but it wasn't too bad. Weird thing was it was to the Taxotere this time, whereas last time it was to the Cytoxan(?). Anyway, I guess I got myself flagged last time so they were all over it, in no time I was dopey and extra-steroided and they got the rest in. They said it was better to dope up and try or else they'd have to alter my chemo. Crazy thing is I thought - no, you can't do that I am part of a group experiencing THIS one! Ha, you never know how these boards are going to find there way into your thoughts (evidence of supportive company, so thanks.)

Janie - thanks for checking in on me. :)

Those of you who are experiencing poop pains, this is what I was told and so far, so good. Watch within the first 36 - 48 hours for any evidence of real struggle going to the bathroom. Then, if you know you are heading toward serious constipation take a Senokot-S that night. It is natural, you can get it at the pharmacy and it gently does it business overnight. The thing is you want to take it before you get too clogged up but not too early as you want to avoid softening things up if it isn't needed. Also, a three strain probiotic (refrigerated) from a pharmacy or good foods store will help to begin the restoration of the poor flora/bacteria that was slaughtered in our digestive systems by the chemo - that's the real story of what's going on in there! My tongue has NEVER been so clean - it looks like a pop singer's tongue when they are belting out the tunes (flora gone).

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the good artificially high feeling of those steroids! Took my last dose an hour ago. Many it only be overcast, and not stormy (in my body), this time tomorrow night when they have fully worn off. Fingers crossed.

Apr 13, 2012 08:41 AM janiemomof2 wrote:

slak - I hear you! I've been on an emotional roller coaster. Today is day 16 for me so we are pretty close to each other in the process. I started to get "down" while reading other threads on the boards about hair re-growth. Just how long it will take and how different it will be. But, what brought me out of it was my husband. We were talking and he said: "you know, when you come through all this crap to the other side you will have a lower chance of breast cancer than the regular population and that's pretty good odds". And, he's right. I have to focus on the long term b/c when I focus on the day to day I can get "stuck". kwim?

Also, I try to remember what my Oncologist said when she first layed it all out at the beginning of dx and tx. "You are going to have a really bad year and then it will be over and you have the rest of your life". So, basically 2012 is going to suck.

ONTO 2013!!!

hang in there xoxo

Apr 13, 2012 06:44 PM GeorgiaMom wrote:

Catherine- sorry you had a hard time again but glad they didn't have to alter your treatment (of course even if they did we'd want you to hang out here anyway). Once you figure out your SE's and when to expect them you don't want to start on something else.

Slak- I love that you named your wig! I'll have to come up with a cool name for mine sinec it will be a part of my life for a long time. I really like mine and find it makes getting ready in the morning so easy. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it from people who don't know it's a wig but I find it hard to just say "thanks". Today someone asked me where I got my hair done and I confessed that it was a wig. What's wrong with me? Anyone else feel weird like that?

And yes 2012 has been a crappy year so far but I'm hoping to have the best summer of my life. Will you all please remind me of that when I start complaining about how hot my "wonderful" wig is?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jeanne

Apr 14, 2012 09:40 PM Jaebon wrote:

Hello everyone,

I recieved my first treatment of taxotere and cytoxan on Friday April 13,2012. I also recieved the neulesta shot. I was given claritain before the shot.So far I can happily say i have not had any side affects. Thank you Jesus.  

I do not know what is to come but i will say i am a bit anxious/nervous about it. I do not think i am mentally prepared for hair loss yet. Ive never expierenced fatigue so that will be a new one for me also.

 How was everyone else feeling after treatment #1? When did most of the side affects begin? 

Apr 14, 2012 10:01 PM Jaebon wrote:

Thanks for sharing GeorgiaMom.  Yeah im not looking forward to the hair loss. So far so good on any kind of bone pain. Lets see what the next few days bring.

Apr 14, 2012 11:53 PM, edited Apr 14, 2012 11:55 PM by Jaebon

when does the metal taste start?  I have started a video diary of my progress and i also write down how i am feeling each day. Today wasa good day. I do feel kind of achy around my shoulders but other than that i have been good today. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

Apr 15, 2012 12:35 PM Catherine22 wrote:

I have a bad attitude today, though I am keeping it to myself and smiling to the outside world. I feel nickel-and-dimed shitty. I have indigestion, feel like a flat tire and my joints & legs muscles are acting achey - but I am not on Neulasta, so what could cause that? I can't nap and sleeping through the night is like staying 1/2 awake, but with my eyes closed.

Yeah, I'm in a poop place this afternoon. Don't feel awful, merely pathetic and whiny and low.

Argh. 

Apr 16, 2012 02:39 PM DianneNC wrote:

Thank you all for posting the real deal. I'm so sorry for those of your struggling, and I love the Kelly Clarkson lyrics! I'll be sure to keep that in mind next week.
One week from today is my first chemo. I'm scared, and spend all day reading threads to prepare myself. I went to the Look Good, Feel Better class this morning at the cancer center and really enjoyed it. What a great group of women and a huge bag of cosmetics to play with!!
I get my port placed Thursday....not looking forward to that either!

Apr 17, 2012 08:42 PM nfranklin wrote:

This morning was good full of energy no other apparent SE's. Could not eat or drink anything before fasting blood specimen at 12:45 today at the hospital. Took fruit, nuts, and oat bar and juice to eat after blood is taken. Had bone density test no pain at all 1:30pm, one of the easiest test. Visited with my MO 4pm, discussed the port. I really have only one good vein and they have had to stick me twice each time to put the IV in, he said that was not good so we are talking about the port sooner than later. Came home sneezing and with a runny nose, around 4:30 pm after sitting in a cold waiting room, and oh so tired again, all my energy is GONE, used up in the waiting room of the hospital. I am hoping for energy in the morning, I want to go grocery shopping, so my DH will not have to, even though he doesn't mind at all, but I like to grocery shop sometimes, it's been almost 2 months since I got to grocery shop all on my own.

I am ready for bed can hardly keep my eyes open, don't want to go to bed too early, because I will probably wake up in the wee wee hours of the morning and can't go back to sleep.

Have a good night every one.

Apr 18, 2012 06:31 PM onvacation wrote:

Jane - good luck tomorrow!  And congrats on graduating Nursing School - that is cool!

Apr 19, 2012 02:15 PM StayShiny wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Glad to find you. Thanks for starting Catherine. I had my first round of T&C on 3/28 and 2nd round yesterday. Going back for my Neulasta shot this afternoon. I am still a little ramped up on the steroids and didn't sleep that well even with taking a few melatonins.

Decided to try and get ahead of a few of the SE's this go around - at least that is the hope. Premeditated yesterday with Claritin for the bone pain. Last time I tried Ex-Tylenol + Motrin which kept it manageable but I'm hoping for better. Trying to get a jump on the bowel "funk" too.

I road the exercise bike after coming home from chemo to push through the Benadryl fog + hopefully help with fatigue. I mentioned that at my PT appt today and she asked if I had spoke to my MO about exercising right after chemo. No, I don't think I did but I thought exercise was good - right? Apparently some chemos need a few hrs in your system before being pushed out to be effective. Has anyone had that come up?

Keep positive!

Apr 21, 2012 09:44 AM StayShiny wrote:

Good Morning everyone,

For those that had a recent TX, hope you are having gentle SE's. I tracked my first round and if this time is like last, it will be my crash day. Last night I tried to stay up with my 11 year old but couldn't make it to 10pm. Oh well, at least the house doesn't look any worse this am.

Its a bummer when the coffee doesn't taste right and just when you really need that jolt. I don't want to jinx it but been brushing my tongue with a baking soda + water paste and it sems to be helping some. My MO had mentioned rinsing with salt water too.

Already starting to lose eyebrows and eyelashes. I thought that came later!

Apr 21, 2012 12:38 PM janiemomof2 wrote:

Kim - what a bummer! I'm day 3 post tx #2 and I remember days 7-11 being particularly horrible with the dio last time. I'm looking at my calendar to see when I will be there again. Unfortunately it's over a few day period that I really can't afford to miss school. So.... this raises a question for me:

Has anyone tried using Immodium for these particularly tough dio days that make it impossible to leave the house???