Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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KathyL- Glad you're almost done, hopefully se are still less than #3 I am hoping to experience the same-- i was wondering looking at your bio why you waited 2 months before starting tx from time of biopsy
goldilocks- I hope your foot turns out ok with the antibiotics
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Hi all
I first wrote to this forum the night before my first treatment (3/17). What a help you all were! Week one afterwards was NOT FUN--nausea, tired, flu-like symptoms, bad taste, no appetite (never thought THAT would happen to me!)...But it seems like I turned the corner and started feeling much more human around day 9. So I'm hopeful that the rest of this week and next week will be much better.
Question for those of you who are farther along: How predictable is the start of hair loss? And how long does it take? (monday will be 2 weeks after my treatment)
Again, reading all these posts is helping me a lot! Hope I can be of help too as I get farther down the road.
Barb H
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Hey Barb! 2 weeks after my first treatment, I got some hair out when I ran my fingers through my hair. 3 days later my head hurt so bad! I knew that if I took a shower and washed it, it would come out, and it did! I had the red bumps too! Now I have 1/4 inch of fuzz and the bumps are gone!
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Thanks Lou
Did you get your head shaved or just let it come out? I'm not sure what to do....
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Goldi: Hope your foot gets better.
BarbH: My hair started coming out around day 15, then clumps at day 19 which is when I decided to shave it all off (it was a mess-- much easier to clean up when it's little pieces!). My hair started regrowing about one week after round #3. I finished chemo last week and have about 1/4" of patchy,very soft, light hair now.
40 something mom: I was dx in August '07 (biopsied about 8/15 and dx with DCIS). I had a lumpectomy the end of August (found DCIS and IDC this time). Got the results in Sept. that my margins still had DCIS in them, so I had mastectomy 10/05 (my PS said b/c I was small breasted I would not have a good outcome with a second lumpectomy/re-excision). I was told no chemo needed b/c of the small tumor size and negative node status. I saw an onc at UPenn in Nov. for a second opinion on any additional tx b/c of my age (I was 36 when dx). They did a special dye study and found my original 4mm tumor actually had several 1-2mm areas of IDC mixed in the DCIS area (they call this multifocal IDC). B/C of this finding, my age, and the fact that I am ER-/PR-/HER2+ (an aggressive BC), he recommended chemo. I didn't get this info until early Dec., so by then I figured I might as well wait until after my birthday, and the holidays to do chemo. They told me it was not urgent b/c all the cancer was removed with the surgery in August and my nodes were negative. Chemo would be my "insurance policy". And here I am now! Sorry for the lengthy explanation, but it is hard to tell it shorter! It's been quite a journey so far. My biggest fear at the beginning was chemo, and somehow I've made it through.
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Barb - I think I was like most people with the hair. After about 16-17 days, the hair starts to come out in big ole handfuls, and it just becomes easier to deal with it to shave it all off. I still have little bits of hair, maybe 10% that I shave back down every now and then. It seems like it doesn't come out 100%. You'll just have to see what happens to you and do what makes you feel the most comfortable.
Good luck with that!!
CHJ
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My onc told me I was not going to lose my hair!!! so I did not shave it. It was more traumatic, because it came out in large handfulls, and some stayed on, and I looked like a fall out victim. I really would suggest cutting it very short or shaving it!
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Goldilocks - good luck with the foot - just what you needed - something else to worry about.
BarbH - I had m head shaved on day 13 & still haven't lost all of it (10 weeks now). But I was glad I did it anyway. From all my reading here it looked liked the hardest thing for everyone was seeing their hair fall out. So I missed that experience & glad that I did.
Kathy - chemo is insurance for me too - my dx is similar to yours. I hate this chemo stuff, but as a friend said to me when I was trying to decide "how would you feel if it came back & you hadn't done it?" A lt worse than theside effects - that's for sure!
susan0 -
C-babe my heart goes out to you...way to hang in there
my hair started falling on day 12...shaved it on day 14 real short...then after the 1/2 marathon, a bunch of those came out
I too have the red bumps now...
Chemo 2 was better than 1, really pretty much normal now
Blood work was good today - yea!
A friend from college came down from Delaware....we are going to visit another college friend tomorrow...who is at young life camp near here...that should be fun...
Sharon
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Patricia - I saw the same stuff about tea tree oil. My onc didn't seem to know about it so I'll ask the nurses when I have tx #3 on Wed.
C-babe - You have really had to much to deal with! I hope you have some family/friends who are offering support.
Goldi - hope your foot is doing better.
Has anyone else gotten cysts/big pimples/abscesses? Yesterday I went to my PCP about a painful bump on my back. She called it an abscess and told me to see a surgeon. Fortunately I found one whom I can see on Monday. But now I have something similar starting on my upper thigh (of all places). I showed the back one to my onc on Wed., but she didn't think it was related to the chemo. Now I wonder. I'm upset to have to take 2 more hours of sick leave next week on top of the 5 hours I have to take for chemo and neulasta. Plus, I got an antibiotic that I'm supposed to take 4x/day for 10 days (preferably 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating!). I haven't kept to that schedule and don't seem to have any nausea, etc, but how do they come up with these regimens? I'm glad I don't have to give the meds to a kid, but I'll have a hard enough time remembering to take them myself over the weekend.
Hope everyone can relax and enjoy the weekend!
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Goldie, so sorry to hear about your foot :-< Hope the antibiotics kill the infection quick.
C-Babe, warm hugs to you...
Hi Barb, i think my hair started to fall around the 3rd week. But I already buzzed it before that happened, so it wasn't too bad. The scalp was so sensitive for about 2 weeks. I had my 3rd TC last week, and my head is smooth and shiny!!!! One thing for sure, it's a lot easier to manage in the morning hehe.
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Kathy- thank you for sharing your story, wow, good thing for second opinions, you should post on one of the sites for women wondering whether to do chemo or not, that second opinion may have saved you from recurrence
bee- the abscess sounds horrible- sorry to hear you have to take more sick leave
thank God for the sunny morning here in MI
-patty
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40somethingmom: Yes, I feel like it was a sign. "Someone" pointing me in the right direction. I didn't realize there was a thread about chemo options. Do you know what it's called? I could definitely post that and maybe help someone else.
Guitargrl: That's exactly how I view chemo now. I would hate myself if I had the option, didn't take it, and my BC recurred (especially since I'm told that if my BC recurs, it does so usually within the first 2-5 years). At least now I can say I did everything possible regardless.
Have a good day everyone! It's sunny and beautiful here in DE!
SharonS: Where in DE is your friend from? It's such a small state-- who knows, I may know her!
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Morning all,
Thanks for all the prayers and good luck wishes. It is helping. This morning my foot looks and feels better. The antibiotics seem to have kicked in. I do plan to stay off of it as much as possible over the weekend to help in the healing.
Beegirl: I am just like you. Every time I have an appointment I get hit with having to schedule sick/vacation time to go to the doctor. We have no short term disability so this BC is using up all my time. The part that gets me is I even have to use my vacation time when I run out of sick time. Of course, if I didn't have that to use I would have to go fmla w/out pay. Get to keep my Job, but it is difficult without the $'s coming in. I did go w/out pay when I ran out of time in December, and am just now recovering from that. I am very careful how I use my time. Yesterday when I had to unexpectedly see the onc the supervisor didn't have me complete the time out sheet. She stated that I was not gone very long, so to just consider it my break time. That was good. I am glad that the onc is just down the road. I was probably gone only 20 minutes. So, I'm not complaining, it is good that there are some people who have a heart and don't hit my sick/vacation time every single visit. I have scheduled my blood work for my lunch time, and the neupogen shot I take the time at the end of the day, miss my afternoon break and use it to get the shot. Just doing the things necessary to conserve what I have built up in the event of se. I have had a few and have been out seems like every other Thursday.
My head is also doing better. The red spots are no longer "glowing".
Believer: I have the same thing happen to me after each treatment, my fuzz is on a couple days after treatment. It's funny, I have fuzz when I get up, then after I shower, it's all gone. I have also been using the lint roller daily as suggested to keep the prickly feeling down. It does work wonderfully. Dh just laughs.
Weather is dreary here today, but we need the rain. Dh and I are going to meet some friends for lunch and then home to play beauty shop to the dog.
Have a happy Saturday.
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Hello Sisters
I finished round 4 2 weeks ago. I still have achey hips and other achey parts. Thank god I'm done with chemo. I am 51 does anyone know how long these wonderful side effects last? I still have chemical taste but can actually taste. Radiation is a breeze. I think round one and two were my worse chemo treatments. My hair is spikey fuzzy stuff bald in areas. I keep it shaved. www.baldisbeautiful.com My sister gave me a book called Crazy Sexy Cancer tips which is awesome. Sheryl Crow along with alot of surviors are featured. Worth reading. It is quite humourus in dealing with people. I feel like I have completed a marathon. Hang in there emotions are a roller coaster. My biggest comfort is God, family and laying in the sun. I am quite tan. You cannot expose the radiated part to the sun. But it sure feels good and is quite mentally uplifting.
Good Luck to all and keep positive.0 -
Emeral...Congradulations on your completion. Yes, the sun does wonders for your whole being. Would you please send some to Wisconsin???
KathyL...I'm really amazed your hair came back after #3 and didn't fall out anymore. Would anyone know why, if the chemo is still being infused and stays in your body for weo know how long??
Just curious. Still feeling great. Had the leunasta shot this mornign but I'm READY for it!
Blessings and have a wonderful weekend Everyone, Artsee/Evie
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Artsee: I know, it is strange why it didn't come out. Or it could be that it did and I just didn't notice b/c it wasn't a lot. My brows are definitely thinner-- so maybe the chemo picked on them instead.
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What's uo with the red bumps people seem to have on their heads? Is this linked to possibly having hair folicles trapped under the scalp? I didn't buzz or shave my head, just cut it relatively short and then wathced the hairs come out days 19-21 after my first Tx. Scalp itches some times but rarely has hurt. Days of hairt loss were a bit rough in the shower - each time I touched my head there was another slew of hairs coming out. I just kept reminding myself that that meant the drugs were doing their thing. Still have some hair thats hanging in there but mostly it is the scalp that I see.
KathyL - Don't believe I mentioned that I lived in Dover from 1987 to 1992.
What advice have people been given about being out in the sun? I have two trips coming up to warm weather locations - with one at a beach-type resort (DH conference that I always attend). How light-sensitive does chemo make us?
Joan
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Joan, I live in southwest Florida and my oncologist advised not to go out side without a 30 SPF and reapply regularly. The chemo does effect our skin. Even with the sun screen I still get pink cheeks etc with very little exposure and I've lived in Florida almost my whole life.
Tammy
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Emerald: Congradulations. Are you planning on anything special to celebrate having accomplished every single dose of treatment? I plan to, but not planning it yet. 2 more to go.
Jisman: The red bumps are a se to the treatment. They came up after I had lost my entire head of fuzz. I was slick and then the bumps appeared. I asked about that same thing, and the onc nurse said that some people get this as a side effect. Odd, they dry up like a case of acne. My head also has been peeling. I found that using corn Husker's lotion helps exfoliate, so I don't scarch my head.
Joan: From the last time I went through this the doctors all said that sun is good in moderation. The vitamin C is great to help with our mood and our bodies. They actually gave me sunscreen that was 50 proof, and said to cover up after an hour so as not to risk any burns. I pretty much stayed in the shade, but still managed to tan. This is Texas, the heat and sun is different everywhere depending on altitude ect. So just be careful and enjoy yourself. Sounds like fun.
Have a sunny Sunday, looks like rain here. Oh, feeling much better.
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Jisman: I was born in Dover and lived there until 1979. Family moved to PA where I stayed until college in 1988-- went to UD and just stayed here in the state for good.
About the sun-- I was advised to avoid it, and if unable-- then use LOTS of high SPF sunscreen.
Hope everyone is having a good day with little SEs!
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I am 2 days from final tx and my hair is very thin & patchy I'm hoping blond or is it gray? strait sticking out less than 1/4" looks weird-
like you emeralcoast -I am very achy with lower back into my hip pain that has lingered on much longer this tx than others-- the heating pad is helping a lot as I can not take most pain relievers with the high liver enzyme counts
Tuesday Last TX!! I'm drinking up a storm/H2O that is
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Hi all - Had a good weekend...Kathy L my friend Cindy is from Wilmington..we went down to Goshen and saw another friend from college who was there with her daughter...beautiful place and we had a great visit....
We had this huge thing of baked spaghetti...we had some last night and then put it in 3 more pans to freeze, my mom and dad came yesterday and brought spaghetti sauce and my brother and his mom just came and brought you guess it spaghetti sauce.
oh yea...my rbc was good Friday....guess all this red meat may keep it that way.
emarald coast - I read Crazy Sexy Cancer tips everynight before I go to bed...
Have a good week all. SHaron
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I love that book, Crazy, Sexy, Cancer tips. I read half of it before I could put it down!
I start chemo T/C this Friday 4/4. I figured I'd start laxatives, drink lots, stock up on popsicles, soup, etc., buy hand sanitizers, L. Glutamine powder, B complex supplements. Take a sleeping pill the night before, Xanax the morning of. Did I miss anything?
Will I gain weight? I have a prescription for Decadron.
I'll get my husband to shave my head 2 weeks later (more Xanax.) It sounds like I have it all together, but I'm scared to death.
Karen in Maryland
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Welcome Karen Looks like you will be starting your journey as I am ending mine. You can get through this one day at a time. Sounds like you are prepared, make sure you drink a lot of fluids. Use this thread to help you though, these women on this site have been so helpful for me. Hoping we both have minimal se in the next few weeks!
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Hey40something...you are sooo lucky to be heading into the last.Good luck.I had a #%*: of a time this time. Wrote about it on the other thread.( Feb.chemos I think) This can't go quicke enough and hope it doesn't get worse every time.
Say is your hair growing back already or didn't some of it fall out?
Think I'll lurk. No ambition..
Love, Evie
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Welcome to these great boards, Karen, just read thru all these comments and every lady will give you tons of information. FYI, don't take the laxatives before the chemo, see what will happen, all our bodies are different. I have not had any constipation, have finished tx 2 last week. Just eat bland food the first few days as to not disturb your system. I also keep tums and chewable rolaids for occasionaly heartburn. Good luck, you will do fine.
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Hi Karen (fellow Marylander) - As lotodgs said, everyone is different. No one can tell you if you'll gain or lose weight, have constipation or diahrrea, or have any of the myriad of side effects you have read about!! Any of the terrible side effects you read about have knocked some women out, and totally bypassed others. It's just nice to know that when you experience something, you are probably not the first, and you'll know what other women have done to deal with whatever it is. You will find (as has been said over and over and over again) that the anticipation is probably worse than the actual experience. Just go in with a positive attitude (you CAN do this) and an open mind. Be sure to drink a LOT (you can't go wrong with hydration) and eat healthy. It's not necessarily going to be a breeze, but your experience will be unique, and hopefully not nearly as bad as you fear.
My chemo fog (from tx Wednesday) is lifting - Sunday was better than Saturday, and I'm hoping today is even better. It's dreary, and I wish the sun would come out, but it's almost spring!
Take care today, all my TC buddies!
CHJ
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Okay, I'll try to relax and see what side effects I get. At least I'll be prepared.
I love this website, thanks for all the advice!
Karen in Maryland
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Morning, ok so I do my best to post daily-in the morning. That is basically due to having a clear head for the morning hours. The swelling on my foot is down and am still attempting to keep it elevated. The antibiotics made me nauseated, but have pills for that.
Karen: Welcome, and to any other new arrivals. We are all here to share, complain, cry and fuss about what we are going through. As it has been said, Positive attitude and never quitting is what has helped every single one of us. We are here to share and make our journey less stressful than going it alone.
Suppose to rain again today, those of you that have sunshine..enjoy.
I'm wanting to put my pic on here, but as silly as this sounds can someone please either share here or email me how. I somewhat know my way around the computer, but can't wrap around this. Thanks!
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