Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
Comments
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Hi Miss Magic...I have the same thing going on....finished 3rd chemo 2 weeks ago and yesterday I noticed hair growing everywhere. ....no clue
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I'm not gonna hold my breath! I just find it rather weird!!
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ProfMagic, like Tangles, I never lost all of my hair during chemo and what little hair was left on my head kept growing. I had to cut those sparse hairs a couple times during chemo. We all react differently to chemo, but don't be surprised if the hair that is growing again falls out before you are finished tx.
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I had to shave my legs all through chemo, not as often, but definitely throughout. I also never lost all my hair, I did not shave it off at the scalp, but left about 1/4-1/2 inch and did not lose it all, I was never shiny bald. I did not lose all my lashes on the top and did not lose my eyebrows, both just thinned. All the bottom lashes did go about 2/3 of the way through chemo. My hair grew back pretty slowly at first, lashes came back thin but did not fall out again. Brows have stayed the way they were after chemo, did not thicken and I don't have to pluck any strays. I did not have an abundance of body hair prior to chemo, but I have less now and it is thinner, don't know if that is chemo related or from the aromatase inhibitors.
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I need HELP.... starting to go into ChemoPause ...aaahhhhhh HOTFLASHES...sweating like crazy, especially now at night...everything is too hot hot hot....any suggestions for calming this down?
Miss Chickenheat
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I took (and still do!) 10 mg of Celexa a day and it made my hot flashes much better...a few a day rather than 20-30 a day...some people use effexor. Talk to your mo or ob-gyn. Could be some supplements that might help instead of rx. My best to you!
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Thanks Miss Bailey....I am on Effexor...didn't know that helped the hot flashes!
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My onc has me taking 1000mg. vitamin E a day for hot flashes. It has helped me. I have fewer and the ones I do have are not too bad, but do seem to linger longer. You probably shouldn't take it while doing chemo, but you could ask.
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Stay way from spicy foods, alchol, heat. Get a fan by your bed. Buy one of those mine personal fans. Here are some baubles:
or make your own with a stocking and plastic ice cubes:
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lago, those are great! I have never seen them before, but I definitely could have used them during all my years of hot flashes!
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OMG...love the baubles....I can go to bed cool and in high fashion...lol
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They make towels now that you get wet and they stay super cool for a long time. They dont really feel wet on your skin They are about $12 at bed bath and beyond. They work really good!!!
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Too funny Miss Tangles.....just pick one up...frogg toggs
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Re: the hot flashes-I used a "chillow" during chemo and it really helped. You can find them on amazon. I slipped it into my pillowcase and by keeping my head cool it seemed to help a bit with keeping me cooler overall.
Some good news: I just got a call about my latest endometrial biopsy (second one) and it's normal/B9! Gyn says she will repeat the ultrasound in 3 months to remain vigilant while I'm on Tamoxifen. Whew! Another sigh of relief:)
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dragonfly - yay! So glad to hear this!
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Yay to the CHILLOW! Love mine!
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Lago, those are COOL! pun intended! LOL
Dragonfly, b9 is great!
Chick, so sorry you are having a rough time.
Much love to all.0 -
just click on the first picture and it will lead you to the site to purchase online. They come in 2 colors and different sizes.
Yay Dragonfly. We love:
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Hello all. I have been away for awhile and it seems I've missed alot. I have had a neverending chore of lawnmowing, a few birthdays to go to and a funeral to deal with. Happy & sad times.
I'll try to put some encouraging words towards some of the things everyone is dealing with. I won't remember who needs what, but I remember the topics. I've been reading for the last 30 minutes.
Hot flashes-I put an oscillating tower fan by my bed and that seems to help. I still have moments, but nothing like it used to be. Mine seemed to start the second I started on the Tamoxifen, but it has lessened significantly. I have seen the chillow advertised and am very interested. I'll have to pick one up. My neck seems to bear the brunt of it.
Hair- lost all of mine except for a few wisps here and there. I have been taking Biotin ever since. My last Herceptin was July 12th, and I already have enough hair that I don't need a cap. I have never been so happy as when I packed up the hats and put them in the back of the closet. If anybody needs some, please let me know. I'm happy to share. I've got the head scarves and a few other cuties for these hot summer months. I also have some fun ones for the cold, so if anyone is interested, IM me. I'm happy to send them out. I have about and inch of growth, but have also been for my first haircut already. There were a few uneven spots, but it's all good now. lago described my hair predicatment very accurately...Friar Tuck. Yes, I stayed bald on top longer than the sides, but do not fret, it will return. I decided, since it feels so good, NO MORE CHEMICALS. After trying a bottle, I have stocked up on Kirk's Castile Shampoo & Conditioner. I love the way it smells and it's all natural. A little goes a long way. I was familiar with their bar soap, which I see all the time at the store, but didn't know about their other products until I received a catalog in the mail. If anyone is interested, it's available through their site, or cheaper at Vitacost.com. I didn't think I lost my lashes, looked thin but there, and then one day, BOOM. Gone. They're back now, a little short but full. I was never an eye make-up wearer, so I let that part go to do what it was gonna do. lago explained the pushing out of the old hairs to make room for the new, so I waited it out.
Eye twitching- yep, had it. I never really had to do anything for it because mine would last for just a few seconds and then go away. It only did it sparingly, but when it did, I just closed my eyes for a moment and waited for it to pass. I did have to get some artificial tears because they felt very dry at times and I found myself rubbing them to pieces.
I had my port out on July19th, and, to me, that was the worst !! I am unusual in that I have a very low tolerance for pain, or anything that looks or feels like it could be painful. The Lidocaine for numbing was excrutiating for me, and I could feel every tug & pull getting it out and stitching it up. I had a cold compress over my eyes and face before it was all over to keep me from throwing up. I did o.k., though.
I do have a question for those of you on Tamoxifen. I was told that one of the side effects could be ovarian cancer, among other things. I don't ordinarily think about it, but last night, I had a strange occurrence. It started out with my hoo-hoo hurting. Not inside, on the outside. It was like a throbbing sort of cramping type of feel. It then moved around to my hind end. It left here, and moved its way to my stomach/ab area, and THAT was a weird and uncomfortable feeling. It's not like a stomach ache, it's not like cramps, it's not like gas pressure, I just cannot describe it. It's the second time that part of it has happened, but the first time was worse, so I was already familiar with the feeling. Anyone have anything bizarre like this? It passed and I didn't worry about it anymore until a light bulb went off later this morning and I thought ...ugh.....O.C.
I'll be more diligent about keeping up with everyone. I feel bad as I don't have too much to offer, as now that I am on the back end of TCH I realize that I must have gotten off easy. I didn't experience the troubles some of you seem to be having. Of course, at the time, what I did experience was just awful, but nothing compared to some of you ladies. I wish, I wish, I wish I had some significant words of comfort, or better, yet, I wish I could make it all go away. Just remember, in time, it will. All I can do right now is send lots of hugs and say lots of prayers for us all !!!
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Rickysgirl: the pain you are describing sounds exactly like kidney stone pain. It starts in the groin (on one side or the other for me) and then moves up through the stomach until it hits the kidney which results in severe back pain on one side or the other. The severe pains come when the tube is totally blocked by a stone and the urine backs up into the kidney. If the pain is not severe you may be experiencing a partial blockage at this time. Kidney stones are more prevalent during the summer. Drink lots of water to keep the kidneys flushed and see if it goes away.
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Heidi9256, thanks. I am the worlds worst when it comes to drinking water. I'll change that TODAY as kidney stones is not something I want to deal with. I used to work in the radiology dept. of a hospital and saw numerous people come in with them. They never looked too good. Thank you for telling me about that. I would have never thought it, so I'm going to start in on my water. I drink too much tea, I know.
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Hi rickysgirl. NIce to see you
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You, too. I thought of you when I was having my port taken out. I used your image as a calming influence since I knew I'd be freaking. And freak I did, but I think it would have been worse had I not had your words to fall back on. Ah, my savior. You have done SO much for me through this. I sure do appreciate you !!!
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Rickysgirl, glad you did so well. And I think Heidi is right. Drink lots of water. And if its real tea you drink, just make sure its a bit on the weak side. I drink a lot of iced tea. I drank it through tx too. Even when I was in renal failure, I just kept it weak. But it tasted better than just water. Much love to all.
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Yes, my tea consumption is out of bounds. I guess that's what us southern folk do. I never drank this much tea before, but I guess it's better than soda. I spoke with the onc's office about my little experience, and they came up with going to the gyno and getting a colonoscopy. I think I'm going to take a pass on each one of those for now. I had my yearly in May and everything was fine, and the colonoscopy, well, I just don't even want to think about that. I'll keep an eye on things and see what happens. Thanks !
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Anyone get a vaginal yeast infection during chemo? I finished my last TCH a week ago and have a lot of itching going on. My first thought was yeast but... as a side note, right now my kids both have perianal strep (vaginal/rectal strep- same kind of strep like in your throat but in your genitals instead) that is itchy. It's extremely rare in adults so unlikely I would have that...although with a weakened immune system who knows?
I'm not sure whether to call my PCP, OBGYN, or ONC about this question. Does this fall under a chemo side effect or a regular yeast infection that I would treat over the counter? Just thought I'd ask if anyone had a yeast infection as a result of chemo. Thanks!!
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Monkeymom, anything to do with that area I would see an obgyn. It may be related to chemo but last time I checked there were no stirrups in my oncologists office.
I did get some type of infection after my first round of TCH. I researched the symptoms and used a baking soda douche and it cleared up.0 -
I would call your OBGYN. BTW my home remedy. I buy Acidophilus capsules (not pills but actual capsules) and use it as a suppository in my vagina at night. You'll still need to wear a panty liner but not as messy as the OTC. I can't use the OTC because I find they all irritate me.
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when I started to get a yeast infection during tx, I used AZO yeast tablets over the counter from the pharmacy. Lago, I think acidophulis is one of the ingredients. They worked for me. I use them til I don't have any symptoms then for a week affter take just one a day. Before I was dc with diabees, I would get a trmendous amount of the dam things. Until I got my glucose under control. But even then, those silly tables worked.. good luck.
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Yeast infections can be a sign of diabetes. Yeast loves sugar so if there's more sugar in your urine it can cause problems. I know back in my 20's I had a problem with chronic yeast infections for a year. Had one almost every month. My gyno tested me for diabetes even though I didn't have a weight problem (both my grandmothers did have adult onset but due to their weight). Eventually my flora got back to normal. Only time I will get one is if I'm on antibiotics for too long (like after BMX). I'm almost never on antibiotics thank goodness
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