March 2011 chemo-lounge
Comments
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I've been asked if the chemo is working (since I'm getting neoadjuvant, I can answer that), what stage I am and the results of my scans. I don't like being asked any of that. It was by my sister (and some others). It's not that I wouldn't tell them, but they ask me before I even had the results. I know it's stupid, but I don't like talking about things until I know what is going on, even to say I don't know yet. I just feel like you're jinxing yourself. I know that's stupid, but I don't like bad luck or charma or whatever you want to call it over you for talking about things that you don't know yet. And while I do think that people are concerned and want to know things like this, I think they should give you space to tell them when you're ready and not push you for info. I felt very pushed for information that I didn't want to give out yet. I need my personal space I guess.
Good luck on Thursday Suebee. I'll be following you on Monday, and I'm scared too. I would try the claritan. I haven't had bone pain with the Neulasta and that may be why. I did ask my onc about it. She said there seems to be something with Claritan that keeps the bone pain away, although they have no idea why.
Timerdog, so sorry for your experience. That is pretty crappy. I hope you're feeling better. I definitely would have lost it too.
BikeNYC, I'm sorry you're having such side effects. I hope it's getting better.
Maria, I have experience with the MIL too. We get along well now though. I've been married 26 years now though. (I did get married at 22.) We're a mixed marraige and I think that is why. She loves her other two DIL's, me not so much. She used to take the grandkids (including my kids, she never treated my kids differently) to a museum or something with the other DIL and out to lunch, but never asked me if I wanted to go. Just told me she would take the kids. I don't know if she realized how that hurt, but how can you not. Also, at every holiday dinner at her house it invariably comes up some how about someone's boy friend or girl friend or something and how well they're not Jewish, of course they won't marry them. Hello, I'm sitting right here, do you not know that is offensive to me? I've learned to ignore it and stopped bugging the DH about it. And I get along well with her now. I've never told her about how she's made me feel with these slights and things. I guess I do it for the sake of my DH. I think my kids are offended too, but they've never said anything. But you're entitled to your stance on it. I understand completely. Please don't think I'm saying the way I'm handling it is the right way. I don't. It's just right for me at this point. Just letting you know others have been slighted and offended by the dreaded MIL as well.
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Day 6 of TAC number 4 and just climbing out of it. Should be feeling more normal tomorrow. On the TAC plus Neulasta its kind of hard to work out which SE is from which drug, but like Chrissy and the DivineMrsM I am glad I have this stuff - also grateful to all those women who took part in trials which allowed them to prove the drugs. I take 4 hourly Paracetamol (not sure what you guys call it over there) on the days I get bad joint pain - seems to help.
My MIL is no longer around but I sympathise Maria - I had awful trouble with mine. I figured in the end its about being a strong person - they can cope with weaker women that they feel in control of, they just can't cope with someone strong. Well thats too bad. In the end though I just buttoned my mouth and was polite, I figured the conflict hurt me more than anyone so it was best to just let it go.
My uncle had colon cancer and developed an attitude that basically said - life is too short for dealing with idiots. If someone went round to visit him and they irritated him he would go upstairs and then come down in his pyjamas winding up his alarm clock. Not sure I am game to try that though
I am so lucky with my family - they even know which days not to call as I don't want to speak, and just send me encouraging sms and email messages.
lilylady - great to hear about the hair - gives me hope that mine might not take to long after this is over. I have told as few people as possible, but the hair really gives it away.
timerdog - sorry about the hospital - we should not have to get distressed to get treated properly. Maybe we should just start out by being bitches and not wait, sort of proactive tantrums.
Little brother's song is on http://www.billyneal.net/?page_id=4 and is called I believe. I like to think its for all of us.
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Timerdog- that's one crazy experience. Hope thongs go better with you.
MDG --- I get it. I don't mind people not liking me, but I don't want to hang out with them.
Maybe being connected through pain with her can evolve into something different. I don't know. Just a white wish for you, sweetie.0 -
PennyCookson--FWIW, paracetemol is acetominophen, or Tylenol.
lilylady--I still have hair hanging around and it's growing. The problem is that it's the old hair, not the new, soft hair. It's standing straight up and is about an inch long. And it's only the greys that clung on for dear life. I have this haze around my head if you look at me in the right light. Weird!
I guess I'm lucky in the MIL department. Mine defers to all of the kids and now even my kids, who are teens and tower over her. She makes no demands, criticizes no one, and only tells the little grandkids what to do. She will put everyone before herself and I wish she'd say what she wants for herself more often.
My own mom is nowhere near as accommodating. When mommy's not happy, no one should be happy. Her opinion reigns supreme. But she's getting to an age where it's not worth wasting time feeling bad. She is who she is for whatever reason. I'm not going to change her and life is too short to waste it being p*ssed at her.
I like PennyCookson's uncle's philosophy. You can't change the idiots; you can only choose to not waste time with them. I had a "friend" who ceased to be one rather abruptly. My fault really. But I realized after the fact that it had become almost a toxic friendship that made me negative about other people as well as myself. It took being cut loose to recognize the negative influence she had on me. I now see how that kind of negativity blocks positive influences from coming into in my life. I'm sad to lose a friend, but it's too hard to fight other people's negative energy.0 -
Penny, love the comical story about your uncle getting the pjs on and winding up the alarm--very funny visual.
MIL's--I've had my ups and downs with mine, too. You'd think a mom would be happy their son found a decent woman who created a wonderful life with him. My DH didn't end up with a drug addict,or someone who put him in massive debt or was a neglectful or absentee mother to his child, or so many other horrible things that I could have turned out to be. But my MIL always seemed a bit jealous of me. And of course I never measured up to her own daughters. Ah, such is life. Some times she is easy to take, other times she can get on my last nerve.
Ok, girls, I'm heading to the chair this morning for treatment #5 of 6!
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We're back from our horseback riding/camping trip and feeling good. DH and I sure needed the break from all of the cancer stuff. DH got to trail ride every day while I stayed in the camper and read a book, then we got to socialize around the campfire every evening. SE from TAC #4 didn't seem nearly as bad as those from #3. Maybe it was the distraction of being on a nice trip with wonderful weather.
I can sure sympathise with the MIL thing. Mine is gone now, but she was a traditional southern woman who believed that a wife should cook three full meals a day, no matter what else she had going on. She didn't think her son should have to pitch in with the house work under any circumstances, and was always making snide comments about my domestic skills, or lack there of, always out of earshot of her son.
And as for brothers, I have 5 and have heard very little from them since my DX. In fact the oldest hasn't sent me an email,card, or bothered to call yet. Can we just start a "men are asses" thread?
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Jules - glad the trip worked out - we are on the same and I also reckon #3 was the worst so far, #4 has not lasted quite so long - fingers crossed for the last two. There's nothing like sitting round the camp fire with good friends in the evening - can't wait to go bush when this is over.
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bikenyc- I, too had some bone pain. Mostly restricted to my knees (which are already bad),but it would move to hips and ankles too. It seemed to subside on day 5 post-taxol and my knees feel about normal today. So far, this taxol is taking it easier on me than the A/C. Let's hope it continues.
penny: I love your uncle! We had a family friend who when company was outstaying their time would announce "Barb, we should let these nice people go home and get some sleep." I wish I had the guts to be so direct. I have to say, this bc has certainly given me more courage about not doing things I don't want to do and speaking my mind.
DivineMrsM: good luck in the chairs today, and to all in the chairs this week.
Thanks for the better perspective on chemo. We are fortunate to live when there are so many treatments available, and I guess I should stop referring to it as poison. Maybe being done with that A/C will help me not to do so.
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well, ladies, my song for today is by the Beatles:
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.I am 41 today! I never thought a year ago I'd be where I am today. I'm thankful for all of you and your support during the past few months. Couldn't have the attitude I have without you.
I have minor issues with the MIL relative to some of you. My own mother had horrible issues with her MIL, my grandmother, but it is almost a Lifetime movie now. My mom has made peace wtih her and is her greatest support now that my grandmother is almost 99 and not doing as well as she once did. My dad's two sisters aren't as helpful as my mom to her. I hope that you can heal those wounds too, Maria.
I love the story about the uncle, Penny. I'lll have to remember that and the family friend, Maxine. I had a moment like that with my DH Monday. We met with MIL, FIL and some cousins of DH's for dinner. DH hasn't seen these cousins in 40 years adn didn't want to have dinner wtih them. Once we got there, he kept on going and going with the convo, even with awkward "it's time to go moments". My MIL, bless her heart, finally noticed that I was getting tired and broke it up. Only to have DH continue this in the parking lot. It was weird. Yes, I could go along with the "men are a$$es" thread sometimes. Mostly my DH is great, but sometimes not so much. I don't have a brother, but my sister is more than making up for it after her "Is chemo working" comment on Sunday. So, "family can be a$$es" thread?
Jules - I'm so glad you went on your trip. I knew it would be good for you!
Everyone going to the chair this week, thoughts are with you. Have a great day everyone!
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Happy birthday, Supersally! And many, many more!
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Happy birthday supersally! Enjoy your day! Today is my 3rd chemo cycles....hope to kick some cancer ass...:-)
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It's a beautiful day here in Detroit. Sun is shinning and it's almost 80! I can tell you this last chemo kicked my butt! I have been tired. Working out has been like torture but I have pushed through it as best as I can. I am getting stressed about returning to work in 2 weeks.....the anxiety is building. I am dreading it for sure. I am calling tomorrow to schedule getting my port out! Yippy! Can't wait to get rid of that thing in my arm before summer. DH has been out of town all week...missing him and he does not get home until Friday night. I did some retail therapy today and bought some clothes for work. Nothing fits after the weight loss and since I have to go back to work I better have some clothes. I may be stressed about work, but I will look good....
ChrissyW: You are done???? Yippy! That's great! I hope you are not knee deep in side effects. Let us know how you are doing.
Kay: Thanks for the MIL support. She's spiteful. I don't always feel like I am handling it right for my DH's sake, but right now I just can't deal with it. I am dealing with enough....... That is horrible that your MIL has been so unkind for so many years. It's sad that a religious difference can make someone behave that way. That's so rediculous. I wonder when the MIL's will realize that we are in this for the long haul and not going anywhere so they should start acting human....???
Penny; thanks for the MIL support. I LOL at the uncle story.....he he! I do think you are right that she can't deal with someone that is going to back down and let her do what she wants. I have figured out that the rest of the family (sons and daughter in laws) do allow her behavior eventhough they don't like it. I am done with that but she has done more crap to me and spent more time with us (we live the closest to her) so I am sure I got it way worse than the others. Plus my DH is the youngest son and our son is the last grandbaby. She's obsessed with our son more so than the other grand kids.
Cyborg: I agree...I don't care if she doesn't like me really - heck, I don't like her either. I just don't want her around either. Spending Xmas eve with her was torture...I had a lumpectomy and SNB the day before and my family did not know (we did not tell them of my BC until the new year to spare everyone the holidays). Thank God for vicodin....
Pasmith: You are lucky in the MIL department! Good for you. You don't hear that very often. I too "broke up" with a few toxic friends. It is a bummer to lose friends but if they bring you down and are so negative or mean, who needs them? I would rather choose to spend time with people where I value the relationship.
Divine: I agree with you. DH was married before to a woman that cheated. I am an educated professional with a great career that provides excellent benefits for our family. I would never cheat in a million years and am completely loyal to my DH. I have two degrees and was completely self sufficient before meeting DH. I owned my own house and have lived elsewhere and have extensively travelled for business and pleasure. He's ex was crap. You would think MIL would be happy that he married someone more his equal than a gold digger that cheats. I think MIL thinks I am too snooty or something because she is a bit of a country bumpkin type. She is not well educated either so I think she thinks I am above her. None of this matters to me at all.....I am accepting of all people - I don't care about that stuff. I just think she feels threatened by me because of all of this and doesn't like that I don't let her control our family. She always has to make a point that when we have food at our house she doesn't know what it is (because we are foodies)....making the point that we are too fancy or food snobs. DH is more of a food snob than me that's the funny part! Oh well....she's a nut. I guess we all agree on that! SO GLAD YOU ONLY HAVE 1 MORE TX!!!!! Great news. Let us know how the next few days go in the SE dept.
Jules: So glad you had a great trip! What a well needed break from the cancer crap!!!! I am doing that on Memorial Day weekend in Chicago with my boys. Can't wait! So glad your side effects were less. This last chemo has kicked my butt! I am dragging a lot more than usual. Oh well....I am done and don't have to do it anymore so I am not going to worry about that. I can't imagine having time to cook for DH 3x a day with my son and career. LOL! Your MIL would have not liked me for sure! Oh and she would cringe that my DH does all the laundry too! LOL! (yes, I know I married a good man since he is a fabulous cook and does laundry!!!!). OK someone is going to have to get gutsy and start the "men are asses" thread! We could do more than one....one for brothers and one for husbands....he he!
Maxine: So glad the taxol has been easier....that's great news!
Supersally: Happy Birthday girl! I hope today was beautiful! I am getting more direct about things now that I have BC. I just don't care so much anymore..I have not come downstairs in PJ's yet with an alarm clock though....Thanks for the MIL encouragement...maybe one day. I am just putting it on the back burner for now.....don't have the energy to deal with it at all. Are you doing anything special to celebrate your Bday? Oh I wish I was 41 again...I will be 46 this year. Yikes!
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SuperSally--Have a great birthday. I hope your peeps spoil you rotten.
mdg--Gimme a break! I'd love to be 46 again.
I feel old and decrepit today. Something isn't right but I can't put my finger on it. Can't call and whine if I can't tell them what's bugging me.
And yet it's a gorgeous day. It was sunny and got up to 20*C. It's so nice to ditch the coat and go out in shirt-sleeves.0 -
Happy Birthday supersally! Birthdays are a beautiful thing...
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Happy, happy birthday Supersally! Wishing all great things for decades to come!
So sorry for all the MIL aggravation many are experiencing. In general I am less willing to put up with cr@p treatment now, whether it's family or "friends". I think it's a good thing that we're all assessing what we will and won't deal with! Towanda!!
Sending hugs all around.0 -
Happy Birthday SuperSally! Hope you had a great day.
Hope your treatment went well Mrs. M. That is a very good point about being grateful their son is married to a good woman. I even put mine through school! But my MIL has changed with me. We are actually friendly now. I haven't been upset with her for a long time, except for some of the stupid things people say at holiday dinners. She's been quite supportive through chemo. Calls me after each treatment to see how I'm doing. It is not the relationship it was early on in the marriage.
Good luck to everyone else in the chair this week.
Had a really nice visit with some old friends from high school tonight. Whenever we get back together, it seems like we're still in high school. And it's been 30 years. LOL!
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Happy belated birthday Supersally. Gosh I just finished reading the posts had so much to say and now pooof nothing. hmmm. OK well hope you are all having a SE free day
Hugs Kymn
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Happy happy Supersally.
I confess I told my sorry-ass brother my BC friends were so ashamed of him for living off of me and not helping!! I asked him if he wanted to read the posts (knowing he wouldn't) and said this was an international site so people all over the world have talked bad about him. He does have a soft core and said I hurt his feelings and then he gave me that classic man line...
"ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS ASK!" Yes, I did refrain from slapping him.
Like he can't see the grass growing? Or instead of saying we are out of saltines-go to the GD grocery store and buy some? Since I am fairly certain you all know what I mean I will not go on. He has been really way better the last couple of days and has gotten a new job so he will be back on the road any day now.
Divine-hope your SEs are few. So exciting-almost done.Got my first real SE this week.Got so short of breath for 1 day I could hardly move. Had to keep stopping and put my hands on my knees to get my breath. It was also 90 degress and humid and I was trying to work outside. I had to take my cheap ass inside and turn on the central air!! I was just enjoying the low utility bill-hate to turn the air on already.We have had a heat and humdity wave that I think has felt fab-til I couldn't breathe. Hope it was just a fluke. I know 2 of my drugs cause shortness of breath. Rain and cooler temps are on the way so I have enjoyed it while I can.
Jules-so glad your trip went well. Even if you missed the riding this time at least you got out of town. Huge mental lift. Read anything good?
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Hello all - I've been sidelined for a while, and am trying to catch up. Round #4 of AC did me in, and I developed a nasty virus which turned into a bronchial/sinus infection right after it. Blech - misery!But I had my first round of T-DM1 today, which I will be getting every three weeks for the next year! So far, so good - I feel tired and a bit achy, but that's it. I'm planning to go to work tomorrow, so hoping for a good night's rest. Glad to read that Taxol seems to be easier than AC for many of you!0
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Hi All,
Happy birthday, SuperSally - I missed it - was in the chair yesterday and stayed over for Neulasta today.
Yesterday was my last chemo treatment and now on to surgery and to another 9 months of Herceptin (which I am told is not considered chemo). The H does not have as many side effects, including no loss of hair so I am looking forward to my new hair growth. Many on the TCH thread have reported regrowth during chemo. Heart problems are the biggest risk/ side effect of Herceptin which is why I got the TCH - no double whammy as my echo showed some valve leakage which was initially read as more severe than was subsequently confirmed so I probably could have had the AC.
Today is day 2 (neulasta day) and so far I have no side effects other than eye twitches and fatigue - the fatigue probably a result of not getting much sleep last night because I am still on the decdron. The first couple of days are usually not too bad because of all the drugs. Maria, thanks for asking.
Sorry for all experiencing MIL problems - it must be really so difficult to deal with. My MIL passed away before I met my DH.
My surgery is scheduled for June 1 which seems pretty fast. We had planned a one week vacation starting then because I thought it was at least a 4 week wait but I am happy to cancel because I just want all this over and done with. Still not sure the extent of the surgery as I have 2 different tumors - one is the BC and the other is ADH which is a marker for future BC and I have had different opinions as to whether it should be removed now. I am inclined to want to get it out but perhaps it would mean reconstruction whereas the BC is deep down by the chest wall and would probably not be cosmetically noticeable (or so I have been told). Did anyone else have ADH as well?
Hope you can give me some advice about the surgery once I have more info. I thank everyone for all the support - I truly would have been lost without this thread and i am certain that my side effects would have been much more severe without the advice, especially the tips about hydration and Claritan.
Hope you all have a great weekend with few SEs and good luck to everyone in the chair tomorrow. Sleep well.
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Anyone else get a rash from chemo? I had a rash a few weeks back (a week after chemo 3) but it was right after I was in a swimming pool so I assumed it was the chemicals. I had chemo #4 last week and wound up with the same rash again this week. I was put on steroids for the last rash (nothing like a week of prednisone) and now I am back on prednisone again. Ugh! I hate steroids! This rash is bumpy, super itchy and seems to really be bothered by heat. Ugh! At least the steroids are helping.....just curious if anyone had this. I know some of you had folliculitis but this has no pimple like things...more like small hives that spread all over. My legs are covered in bruises from itching.....just itching is make me bruise since my hemoglobin is low. Oh chemo is so fun. At least I am not throwing up so I will be grateful....
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MDG
Yes yes yes - I normally don't post but I began T & C treatment in March. I had a reaction during my 2nd treatment during the tax portion. They stopped it, pumped in more steriods and benedryl and then continued the t slowly without further incident. Anyway - 10 days following that treatment I began to get an itchy red rash. It was like hives, the the way that once I scratched a spot, it broke out - but looked like little white pimples - surrounded by red skin. It ran down my neck, to my chest and the inside of my arms. My onc told me it wasn't caused by the chemo - but exactly 10 days after my 3rd treatment - bam - rash again! same spots but also on my knee! I've never had this rash before so I have to assume it's something they give me on treatment day that comes back to bite me 10 days later. Very frustrating. I have one more treatment and am going to see if they can decrease dosage this time.
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mdg--I came up with a rash on one arm after chemo #2. It was at the end of the cycle, on day 18 or 19 (21 day cycle.) It started off feeling more like dry skin but was seriously itchy. It would be visibly red after being in the bath. It was contained to the one upper arm near my elbow and a bit near my wrist.
I mentioned it to the chemo nurse and she had the onc come and look. They weren't overly worried. I have no reaction during infusion. I got a corticosteroid cream from them and it settled down pretty quickly. I'll be watching for it pop up again this time.0 -
Thanks ladies. I am so frustrated. When this started the first time it got so out of control by Easter I had to page the med onc on call because I didn't know what they wanted me to do. He totally blew me off and told me to go to an urgent care or the ER. Nice. So I did go to the urgent care and got treated. It started this time again on Tuesday so since I see the PA at the med onc office on Wed when I get a blood draw I figured I would ask her. She blew me off...told me to see my internist or a dermatologist and said it's not from the chemo you must have some other skin issue. I use all organic, natural type make up, body care, health care, deodorant and laundry soap products and have not changed them for 2-3 months. So I saw my internist and she was so mad that the PA blew me off because she thinks it is not from the pool incident that it is from chemo. She told me to call my med onc and demand to speak with her and she put me on steroids so I could get some relief. I talked to my med onc today and she said "well if it is from the chemo you are done so it should go away...." She also said finish the steroids and give it a week...if it comes back see a dermatologist. OK - whatever....makes no sense. I am convinced it is from the chemo for sure. I hate how they all dismiss my issue and pass the buck and tell me to go see someone else. Like I really want to go see another doctor right now after all the appointments I have had. If the PA had just done her job she would have just given me the damn prednisone script and helped me. The PA's at my med onc office just suck...all three of them. I can't stand wasting my time with them. They are not helpful, give me lectures about exercising (remember that crap?) and neve answer half of my questions. I never see the dr on blood draw days...only them. Ick! Can't wait to be done with the useless PA's. OK - I am done venting. It is warm here today so now I have to go itch my legs again......So we can officially add "rash and itching" to the SE list for chemo. Thanks!
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I have been out of touch this week. Went to two concerts (yes I am quite the rocker! And not a rocking chair either!) tue night went to Bob Segar-husbands BD gift and that was a great concert even though I haven't been a big fan. Just that " old time rock 'roll" , but very late night. Wednesday we had tornado warnings and had 250+ MS/HS kids in two locker rooms when the sirens went off. Stressful but no damage or injuries. Then last night took dear daughters to Sheryl Crow was also good. However my family thinks I need a intervention-at the first had 4 wild guys sitting next go me smoking pot. They kept trying to offer me some. Tempting (ha) but no. Then DH went to bathroom and they said "is it your old man? does.he not partake? 'cause you are welcome to have some" OMG so funny. Then at sheryl's concert a fight between two women broke out! This was at a much nicer venue...usually they have plays and broadway shows here. Not really meant for talking, dancing, etc. Finally another's woman says to this gal, " shut the f&$@ up" and she kept saying " it's a concert!" ushers we're called then head usher then cops. Polled first gall out and she smacks the back of the head of woman in front of her that was complaining. So husband jumps out of seat and goes after her. What drama. My daughters say I must at track trouble. Hmmm...
I am in the chair today for chemo #5. one more hour to go. Had to be here@ 7:30 which is a 30 min drive, after getting home at 12:30 . had to do steroids at 4:00 so not a lot of sleep. Doing good. Chemo day for me is usually uneventful. It's days 3-5 that get me. Neuropathy continues so they reduced the taxol again. Hope that makes a difference. It really gets bad at night. 6 1/2 days od school left so end is in sight but lots to do. Just hope stupid principal helps like he said he would. He is retiring so am truly hoping next one is better.
Birthday wishes and get well wishes going out this week. IPad won't let me scroll up to name names...timer dog iknow you were hospitalized; hope you are on the upswing.
Sheryl sang this song last night which I had forgotten . Moved me to tears. With all the "men are asses" stories this might strike a chord (pun intended):
God, I feel like hell tonight
Tears of rage I cannot fight
I'd be the last to help you understand
Are you strong enough to be my man?
Nothing's true and nothing's right
So let me be alone tonight
You can't change the way I am
Are you strong enough to be my man?
Lie to me
I promise, I'll believe
Lie to me
But please don't leave
I have a face I cannot show
I make the rules up as I go
Just try and love me if you can
Are you man enough to be my man?
When I've shown you that I just don't care
When I'm throwing punches in the air
When I'm broken down and I can't stand
Would you be man enough to be my man?
Lie to me
I promise, I'll believe
Lie to me
But please don't leave0 -
I got a rash from being out in the sun from the chemo. The crazy thing is that it came when I was at the beach over Easter. It was chilly, I had long pants, a long sleeve shirt and a hat on. The only thing in the sun (and it was cloudy) was my neck and hands. But the rash was just on my chest, my upper back, around my nose and a few spots on my hands and arms. Pretty much the places you get the most sun. But these didn't get any sun since last year. The onc said it was a photo sensitive rash and it was from the sun and the chemo. She told me I have to stay out of the sun for six months after the AC is over or really lather up with sunscreen. I don't think the taxol has the same side effect. It goes away, but then it comes back. When it first came it was really itchy, but now it's not bothering me that much and is much less than when it first came. Lotion helps because it's really dry, but the onc said it wasn't anything to worry about. Not sure if your's is anything like mine or not. It's not pimples, just little red bumps and patches of really dry, pealing skin. The onc did say that this was skin that had been damaged by the sun in the past and that the chemo would actually cure it.
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If you may recall some of my earlier posts, I have had a terrible face rash at about day 10 following each of my prior 3 treatments. Day 10 is around when the WBC can go down - my onc nurse just reminded me of this on Wednesday. The rash is dark red with what looks like huge whiteheads - can't go out it is so unsightly and can't be covered up. It is not bacterial - had it tested and was given antibiotics which seemed to work or else i(and this is what I believe - it just runs its course of about 5 or 6 days when everything sloughs off. I was afraid that I would have terrible scarring but it is shocking how it just clears up. TX3 was not as bad but still came right on time. Sounds different from what others have but it is definitely a chemo SE.
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Oh, and today (Day 2 after TX4) I have a bright red face but it is not a rash. So glad this is my last treatment!
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Congratulations on being done Chrissyw! That is great!
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Just when I thought I was getting through #4 without too much trouble - temp of 39 deg, shivers , rigors, cellulitis all round the mastectomy wound.
Felt like when I had swine flu last year. They have put me on antibiotics and 4hrly panadol and slowly recovering. The whole infection thing is scary isn't it. I just lay there crying like a baby. Thank god for my sister who left work and stayed with me for hours.
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