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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
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Just a note to my beautiful FCC's. I hope everyone is doing well. Please add me to the Tues. bar. I have chemo every Tues x 12 weeks. Today was dose 3 or 12. Nothing unusual. I get a metalic taste in my mouth at first. I am losing my hair. Not everyone on Taxol loses their hair, but I am one of the "lucky" ones LOL. It is coming out about one handful of stands at a time. I will get a really short haircut for the duration of "shedding". I have wigs and scarves, so I am ready. It is part of the deal. I have been taking one step at a time for the duration. I, too, couldn't believe I have breast cancer. But I do and I can't change it, so decided to accept it with a positive attitude. I can already see where I have been blessed by my circumstances. I am still anemic and required another procrit shot today. So far no nausea. Just joint and back pain. Taking hydrocodone for that and it works well. Take care and hugs to all. Welcome to all the new folks, with my chemo brain not remembering names real well. But I send my thoughts and prayers to all of you. Thanks for your concerns. Chemo trumps cancer!!!!
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Update from this week's bar drinkers: An OK means that we've heard back from them.
Monday: Phyllis (OK), Dawn (OK - as per chat room conversation) and Melanie (OK)
Tuesday: Jen (OK), Catherine (OK), Tropicmom, Ronnee07, SammieKay (OK) Hillary (OK)
Wednesday: Theresa, Marsha, Karen, and Wendy
Thursday: Tracy, Melody, Pat, Leah, and Kim
Friday: Maisy
Virtual hand-holding to Theresa, Marsha, Karen, and Wendy. I actually stuck a list of fellow bar attendees in my pocket so that I would know there were there with me, since I didn't have my computer with me!
SammieKay -- Sorry I missed you earlier, but you're back on the list for this week!
Catherine -- They mean 30% of the total calories that you eat should be protein. So, if you eat an 2100 calorie diet, then 700 calories should come from protein. Protein is really important to rebuild the immune system. The protein gets broken down into amino acids in your stomach, then goes through your blood stream to where it's needed. Most of the amino acids are stored as proteins in your muscles. During need, your immune system can break down non-essential proteins and readily access those amino acids to build antibodies. OK, probably more information than you need, but I am a biochemistry professor! (We've got to have someone other than IT folks on this thread!).
Now back to calorie intake -- we should not be trying to lose weight during this process. Best is to eat calories that will allow us to maintain weight. You can probably get a meeting with a nutritional counselor who specializes in cancer patients to discuss your total calorie needs.
Sybil -- I was giving the option of taking my neulasts shot at home, too, but I declined. The first one really stung. I figured if the wonderful chemo nurses had the effect, it would be horrible for me. I'm still too drugged up on Wednesday to drive myself, but I've lined up some wonderful friends and neighbors to drive me. I've done this in the past to a colleague who needed to get to treatment and I know that it makes them feel good to be helping out in a tangible way.
Well, the steroids kept me up, and an ativan only gave me about 8 hours of sleep. I did have a 3 hour nap yesterday, so I'm probably OK on sleep. I'll try to nap again this morning, as the neulasta shot is this afternoon.
{{{{{Hugs}}}}}} to all of those attending the bar on Wednesday.
-- Hillary0 -
Thanks for the support ladies. Kaiser is pushing the hubby's surgery through ASAP so hopefully the chemo won't have to be put off as long as we thought. We see his surgeon tomorrow and I suspect they'll operate within the next week.
Here's wishing you all good vibes and happy cocktail days that are uneventful. Glad to see that most of you are still doing ok and out shopping etc. It's just too bad as it goes on the tiredness gets worse and worse. Makes it kind of hard to be any kind of normal for moms and women.
Angel0 -
Morning All.
Jen - LOL at the hat, wig and boots - pls post that pic.
Hillary - I posted Tuesday morning after my Monday tx. Yes, very uneventful. Was going full-steam again Tuesday. Hair coming out in clumps tho - guess it's time to buzz.
Terry - not a clue as to why the Zofran throws regularity into la-la land. I had severe problems after the first tx - once I got things moving with Senakot-S taking it morning and night, I kept taking it (2 per night). The night of my 2nd tx, I took 3. No problems since. My daughter's a nurse and she says they give it daily to patients who are in the hospital for months, so I'm not gonna worry about addiction. I figure if I get addicted, I'll deal with it when I'm finished. It's not cheap - after purchasing at Walmart (30 for $15), I ordered 2 bottles online (60 for $22). Much better.
On to the next page . . .0 -
Morning Again - sorry for the 2nd post but I can't remember crap from page to page and then I lose my post when I bounce back and forth.
Kim - good to hear from you again. Was wonder where you were.
Linnie - ditto on the sleep problems. I was noticing I'd fall asleep and sleep well for a couple hours, then wide awake. I asked for Ambien CR and they gave it to me but it's not on our formulary so I had to pay $80 for 30 pills. Then I asked for Marsha's drug - Restirol and that was really cheap. So, I take the Ambien CR while I'm on the decadron and 2 days after (since it stays in your system for 2 1/2 days), then switch to Restirol for a couple days, then to Tylenol PM.
Catherine - good news from you yesterday. Glad all went well. I think we're all adjusting very nicely. It's so great to hear all the good 'uneventful' stories.
Sybil - I give myself the Neulasta injection - I mentally mapped out 2 boxes in the abdominal area - need to stay 2" from the bellybutton and also 2" from previous injection sites, so I moved straight to the right 2" for the first one, then yesterday I moved 4" to the right. After the next one, I'll drop down 2" from the last one and then move over 2" (2" below the first one) for the next. For the 4 Taxols (don't know if we need the Neulasta for that or not), I'll do the same on the left side.
GI Jel - pls keep in touch.
Melanie - I've checked our lists and I'm not seeing you on. Could you check - maybe I missed?
Angel - wishing you and DH well. Hope things move along quickly for you.
Marsha, Theresa, Karen and Wendy - we're there with you today.
Hugs to all,
Phyl0 -
Good morning FCC!
Back to the office today for what I'm hoping to be a full "normal" day. Feeling pretty good right now, so watch out!
I was curious if anybody had any weird SE's out of the blue? I woke up yesterday (day 6) feeling pretty good. Started feeling queasy around 11:00. By 1:30 had to reach for a compazine and took about a 30 minute nap. Felt better, but exausted - the ol' hit by a bus feeling. Got a great nite's sleep and it seems to have passed. I'm sure it's to be expected but it took me a bit by surprise....
Marsha, welcome to the dose dense deck of the cruise! Maybe we'll redo the list to show DD or not, and on what days everyone goes. I'll have to see if that's a bigger undertaking than I think it will be.
Have a great day all - see u all tonite. 0 -
Carynn --
I had the same SE from compazine. I felt so dizzy and hung-over that I was afraid to drive. I've been switched to Zofran for this go round.
-- H.0 -
Sybil,
Theresa is getting the neulasta at home on Thursday. It will be injected by a RN friend of ours that has been watching out for Theresa along the way. We DID have insurance issues getting the neulasta at the local pharmacy instead of going back to the onc office. Through a rapid appeal process it is cleared up and approved. We persued the local pharmacy route to save us another 2 hour drive roundtrip to onc office for 5 minute appointment. Hope this helps.
Have a great day.
Scott0 -
Hi Phyl and Sybil,
I certainly will be here with all you ladies through the process. I couldn't jump ship at this stage.
Hang in there ladies, you are doing great.
Prayers and best wishes coming your way.
Jel.0 -
Yikes - hair update! Day 17 - coming out by the handful.
Phyl0 -
Hi! To make day 2 after treatment even more fun, I just got my period!
Phyl, my hair only lasted until day 15 -- morning of second treatment! I got it buzzed. I know that I might have to get it buzzed again, but at least I won't have to deal with picking up hairs everywhere LOL!
-- Hillary0 -
Praise the Lord I don't have to deal with that too! Bless you Hillary. Did you go completely off or keep 1/2" or so (oh, yes, I'm back to the hair)? Just wondering if I should put one of the 'restricters' on the clippers. Someone mentioned it being jaggy when it was completed shaved.
Wonder how our Wednesday gals are doing?
Carynn - I surely hope you're getting a full day in today
I'm afraid that would be quite an undertaking to get in the DD and 3 weekers - almost have to get it started and let folks copy/paste and update themselves. Too bad we can do a spreadsheet somehow - name/location/regimen/start date/frequency/significant SEs per tx, etc. that we could each update as we go along. You know how IT folks are - gotta have a project plan!
It's about time for me to take a nap - last day for the Zofran for this time around. Think I'll go do my mileage during lunch - maybe it will take the sleepiness away. Tempted tho to wait till the sun comes out - it's still only around 34 deg.0 -
Phyllis -- My hairdresser buzzed it completely off, with just stubble. He's doing it for free and the salon is only a 7 minute walk from my house. I'm lucky to live walking distance to a nice little, non-commercial shopping area so that I can get most things I need (assuming the weather is OK) without driving. I'm on so many meds right after treatment that driving is not suggested!
-- Hillary0 -
Hillary, thanks for the info... I have quite a few nutrition books here (a constant interest of mine for years), I'll revisit the protein contents of various food items. Are you still teaching? What a fascinating field to be in (in my next life, I go "math and science" instead of latin-greek-russian and other linguistic/literary pursuits, which brought me a lot of pleasure and adventures, but I am definitely missing the other side -- my husband is a physicist and engineer by training, plus software development, and I am blessed to benefit from his expertise when I need it for my technical translations).
For those who lose their posts: do regularly a control+C to copy what you already wrote, if you loose the text, go back to the reply box and past (control+V)... saves some time... we all learn the hard way.
I went for my Neulasta shot today, a bit more of a sting this time, but nothing to write home about... Feeling rather normal... can't go walk, though, it's snowing too hard...
Will be thinking of all of you being infused today while plucking my hair... my cute buzzed haircut will have been short lived... but i now know that the way it will be in the Fall... relief...
You have all the best possible day,
Hugs,
CatherineH0 -
Sorry for the late check in. First tea party yesterday (Tuesday). The actual tea party was uneventful with the exception of it taking 4 1/2 hours (labs, seeing the onc, getting set up, etc.) My dh went with me and we watched a movie together during the chemo process. (We watched The Last Waltz which is the film documentary of The Band's last concert). I'm sure by referencing this I am definitely showing our age. This was our dating music and we actually saw them in concert - years after The Last Waltz when of course that got back together and did another concert tour. It was actually enjoyable and made me feel close and comforted by DH. I felt fine throughout the process and even felt generally good, picked the boys up from school, made dinner, took my compazine but by 8:30 I was slightly nauseated, as directed took and Ativan. Unfortunately by 10:30 I was very nauseated and throwing up. I took an Ambien at about 11:00 and luckily went to sleep. Slept soundly until around 4:00 a.m. and then tossed and turned after that. Today I'm just trying to keep ahead of the nausea with compazine. Mostly feel tired and have a low grade headache since yesterday. I go in for the Neulesta shot this afternoon and will talk with the nurse about any better management. The onc. agreed with me yesterday however that we will stay away from any oral steroids (will only use those they administer IV before the chemo). I have historically had very bad reactions to steroids and would like to avoid them as much as possible. So I may have to find other ways to deal with the nausea. All in all I am doing okay.
Thanks for all the kind words. You are all such inspirations. Marsha great news on joining the DD crowd!0 -
Here's the running update for the week ...
Monday: Phyllis Dawn and Melanie all checked in OK
Tuesday: Jen, Catherine, Ronnee07, SammieKay, Hillay all checked in OK; still waiting to hear from Tropicmom.
Wednesday: Theresa, Marsha, Karen, and Wendy
Thursday: Tracy, Melody, Pat, Leah, and Kim
Friday: Maisy
I just got back from my second neulasta shot -- much less painful than the first. I think I had a better nurse. Also, taking 1 mg of ativan an hour before probably helped! (I've arranged for friends to drive me, as dh has to teach on Wednesday afternoons).
Although I have my wig, I decided to wear a funky look at, as it wa only to the cancer clinic. I have on a purple skull cap, covered by one of my silk scarves (I am a scarf person). Over that I have a black bowler hat with turned up rims that I wear low over my far head. Add some funky earings and I look "artistic". I don't think that I'll be able to go topless, but I certainly be adventurous between wigs and hats, etc.
My only SE effect this time seems to be a headache, which the chemo nurses seem to think comes from the zofran. So far, compazine makes me dizzy, zofran gives me a headache. I guess next time I try ketril (sp?). Any one have any experience with that!
Waiting to hear that Theresa, Marsha, Karen, and Wendy have survived their day at the bar!
-- Hillary0 -
Ok FCC girls, home from my 2nd cocktail. And this time I cannot say it was uneventful! The cherry martini went down smooth as silk, was served a cheeseburger fries and carrot cake (yummy). Here is the eventful part, and I swear I am not making this up, my friend Mary was with me:
Each room has 3 chairs that face the nursing station. One chair had Eric, Tattoo guy. LOTS of tattoos and one of those earrings that strectch the lobe to make the hole bigger. He was getting straight "C". We chatted awile. Then I turned to the other man, Jack. Late 60's guy, getting a blood transfusion, some other kind of auto immune thing. Told me he should have been dead about 6 times already. He then asked what I had and I said I don't HAVE anything, I HAD breast cancer since the surgeon had just cut that size B right off. He said, "You're too young to have cancer" I said "well cancer didn't seem to think 45 was too young haha". He told me I didn't look 45, not even 35. Well now by this time I love Jack. He then said "your size C's look nice to me" I go, 'No Jack, size B". He said "I heard you, size C". OK I'm thinking he is hard of hearing so in a loud theatre voice I finally said "Do you know what a size B looks like Jack or has it been too long for you?" He laughed admitted it had been awhile since he had seen one. By this time, everbody is listening and smiling at our exchange. I said, "Well Jack, today is your lucky day" and preceded to reach inside my blouse and pulled out the prostisis and showed it to him. Jiggled it around, tweaked the nipple. He said 'Is that silicone? Can I touch it" I said sorry, not with your germy fingers. The entire Infusion Dept is now in front of the nursing station literally laughing so hard they are holding their stomachs. Tattoo guy is making funny gagging sounds. My main nurse and tech said they had been working in there since the place was built and they had never seen anything like that. Chemo was done, I put 'The Jack" back in her bra pocket and that old man was smiling the biggest smile you ever saw. Told me I had made is year and wanted to know what day I come back. LOL
Now I know my stories sound like some kind of Drama Queen thing but I can't stop myself. Just have a need to laugh my way through this. Not for other people but for ME. If I get one giggle out of one person every day, I'm a happy camper! Drinks all around! Hugs and giggles are on me! Love to all, Marsha0 -
lol -- Marsha, you are an absolutely delightful person with which to share this cruise! You're giving all of us giggles everyday, and everyone knows that laughter increase the immune system!
Lots of love,
Hillary0 -
Ok,Just sayin hey iam here.Had chemo on monday still a bit blughh and tired but here.
dawn0 -
Chemo Cruisers I'm jumping ship.Gave my doc notice the side effects outweight the benifit for me. So on to rads set up next week for the right side, left side is alerady set up since Januarary.
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Marsha - ROTFLMAO!
Jan - best of luck to you.0 -
Day #2 did not go well, in fact did not even go at all. Arrived to my dr. telling me I looked horrible-personally I thought I looked OK. My port incision site is red now, as of yesterday, so they decided it is infected. My eye is red. I think it is because I have this darn cold and head congestion but of course they think it is infected. So they sent me home and told me to come back next week. I see an eye dr tomorrow and continue the antibiotics they already gave me. Guess I am a bit depressed now. What else can go wrong? Karen
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Wow! Jel, Jan & Angel. Even tho you've all decided to jump at port of call, we sure hope you check in often and let us know how you're doing.
Talked to my "chemo" friend at work today, he also had the unexpected SE on an odd day now and then. Like I said, it wasnt the worst, but made me think maybe I better travel with compazine rather than leave it home, no matter what day it is.
Marsha, I busted a gut on the thought of you handing Jack, Jack! I bet he's stopping total strangers to tell that story too!
Dawn, glad you are feeling well. My only SE from the cocktail was a reaction to one of the anti-nausea meds (the infamous 4 day headache). Wasnt fun, but do-able. Wish you smooth sailing..
Hillary, glad the shot didnt bother you too much. When I got mine, they gave it in the back of the arm about midway between the elbow and shoulder. It really wasnt too bad, stung a little after, but much eaiser than I've heard others report. Granted, I was taking pain pills for the headache later that day, but I never got the bone pain others talked about (knock wood!) BTW..I think you should post your artist look avatar for us.
Ronnee, let us know what they change the anti nausea meds to. I have no doubt the right cocktail is out there for ya. They have come so far with these treatments!
Good day for me today except for being tired. Hope you are all doing well. Who's going to th bar with me next week?
Hugs!
Carynn0 -
Here's the running update for the week ...
Monday: Phyllis Dawn and Melanie all checked in OK
Tuesday: Jen, Catherine, Ronnee07, SammieKay, Hillay all checked in OK; still waiting to hear from Tropicmom.
Wednesday: Marsha (OK), Karen (delayed a week), Theresa, and Wendy
Thursday: Tracy, Melody, Pat, Leah, and Kim
Friday: Maisy
And we now have three women overboard ... don't forget to visit us. Some of us will catch up to you at rads. I know that I start in July.
Hey Caryn -- I'll take care of the bar the week I go, and you can do the week that you go -- is that a good division of labor. I feel bad that you also take care of the passenger manifest.
-- Hillary0 -
Greeting FCC's. Theresa's #2 tx today went very well. The day started with a fill at the recon office. From there it was off to Starbucks to enjoy a white chocolate vanilla latte. The cinammin dolce latte is better, IMHO. Next was the labs at onc office. The labs were perfect and wbc was excellent so ready for full steam ahead. The onco suggested a recipe for allowing her to sleep better the first few nights after tx. Suggestion was to use the Anexsia about 1 1/2 hours before bedtime then use the Ambien CR right at bedtime. Hopefully it will help.
We had a great opportunity to give another gal a boost at the infusion area today. She was in the recliner nearby. It was very obvious to us that she was terrified. We learned that she too is fighting bc. It was her first visit. We will be first to admit that we do not have all the answers but I do believe that she was a bit relieved by the time she left. It was good for all of us.
Marsha, your humor is contagious. Imagine the boost you gave the folks in the room with you. It therapeutic for yourself and for those around. For a little while, Old Jack will forget all about his own condition.
To those that are jumping ship, we want to wish you well in your next course ahead. Be well.
Scott0 -
Today is the first day I really feel good. Went to work on monday and had to leave when I smelled food cooking. Work in a halfway house. Kitchen right across from my office. I was so nauseated. Called the oncologist and asked him for some more anti-nausea medicine. I actually begged him. He commented it is probably liking walking down the hall in a school and smelling cafeteria food. I don't have the name in front of me what he gave but it seems to work. It has benedryl, ativan, and something else in a capsule. Go for my 2tx on March 8th. Hope I don't get the headache this time. Am going to ask for them to slow the drip down.
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I'm checking in after my first dose of AC. All went well and am feeling good - just a little tired and I have a bit of a headache. It sounds like that is pretty normal. I wish I could tell you something funny that happened. (Marsha, that had me laughing!)
I will be going to my daughter's swim meet on Saturday (I'm a swim mom too!) so I hope I feel good. Afterwards it will be wig shopping. She is happy to help and I value her opinion (she's fifteen).
Good luck to everyone tomorrow and Friday!
Wendy0 -
Monday: Phyllis Dawn and Melanie all checked in OK
Tuesday: Jen, Catherine, Ronnee07, SammieKay, Hillay all checked in OK; still waiting to hear from Tropicmom.
Wednesday: Marsha (OK), Karen (delayed a week), Theresa (OK, and Wendy (OK)
Therefore, all accounted for but Tropicmom!
Let's get virtual hands ready for:
Thursday: Tracy, Melody, Pat, Leah, and Kim
Friday: Maisy
Day 2 for me is usually OK. I anticipate slowly disintegrating over the next few days, so don't worry if my posting decreases ....
-- Hillary0 -
I will count on the virtual hug. Am feeling a little off balance, and so will lean on my fellow cruisers a little extra this time. Thanks. Will check in on Friday a.m.
Love to all you angels.0 -
So happy to hear everyone's feeling (mostly) well!
Wendy do NOT make the same mistake I did and let that headache get out of hand. If tylenol/aspirin doesnt kick it, call your onc!! Trust me! My chemo buddy hit the nail on the head with me. My headache wasnt from the speed of the drip, but one of the anti nausea meds they give prior. I'm supposed to talk to the Onc about Kytril (?) next time..
Piper, I'm having food smell issues too - but not real bad. My first day back at work (I have to walk thru the breakroom) someone was cooking a bagel. My favorite! But the smell just about sickend me. I had compazine with me and had to take one. I could still smell it all day until people starting cooking their lunches! It hasnt bothered me since, but that really was a rough couple hours.
Scott/Theresa - more fellow Starbucks fans. I make it at home all week, then ususally treat my self to a Cafe Mocha on Fridays. Well, I'm also having some issues with cream so I've been doing tea for almost almost 2 weeks - prior to surgery. Dont know if it was will or what, but I stopped this morning for the Mocha and it sure was delicious!
Hillary, you got a deal for the bar! Next Monday I'll try and list who's going for the week.
Have a great night everyone!
Carynn0
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