March 2011 chemo-lounge
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Hi gang - quick question re night sweats. Mine are getting worse by the minute. Have to change my clothes 3 or 4 x a night. Any tips to help alleviate? My onc mentioned drug that would help this but I immediately dismissed since I like to minimize my meds. Think I'll need to revisit that conversation! Thx for any input. Will chime in sometime this weekend on everyone's updates.
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lilylady, this is such good news, you have truly made my day. News like this gives all of us hope for a bright future. You are so strong, I know you will make it through this. I will think of you when I am feeling a little weak and vulnerable.
ksmatthews, welcome to the board. I live in E. TN too, south of Knoxville. I am on TAC and have just finished #5 of 6. I am being treated in Knoxville, how about you? I can relate to the tasebuds. I have lost 8 pounds because nothing tastes right.
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Jules59-I am in White PIne, my dr is from Knoxville but comes to Morristown to treat me and others. Huntsinger is my onc. How are you feeling? I feel pretty good most of the time, feel like I am really blessed!
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Jules, Have I mentioned I have family near Knoxville also? My aunt and cousins live in Clinton. We were down there at Easter and got to see the water comingover the top of the Norris Dam. Only 2nd time in 30 years they have let it off the top. it was wild and lots of people there taking pictures. It is my lifelong dream ot have a second home there on the lake. We are headed back there in later June between chemos for me. Just had #4 Friday and will have all my surg appts coming up so we figured to leave the next day after my next tx. my best days are the ones immediately following. My bad days start at day 7/8/9. Just too tired to do much of anything.
Welcome ksmatthews. Small world this BC business. Imagine you and Jules that close. I have made contact with some localadies thru this site also-we are planning to meet in the near future. Funny enough they are all stage IV also AND long term survivors. They have amazing grace with their issues and have been a big inspiration to me.
Can't wait to hear from husker to see how her high school chaperoning trip is going.
Need to get off here and get busy with picnic food. Since i have had all this news it is like in the beginning. I can;t seem to shut the laptop down because of all the research. i am bouncing between the net and this site. The amount of info about every part of this is overwhelming. like to read the net then read what a real person has said.
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Jules, Have I mentioned I have family near Knoxville also? My aunt and cousins live in Clinton-north of Knoxville. We were down there at Easter and got to see the water comingover the top of the Norris Dam. Only 2nd time in 30 years they have let it off the top. it was wild and lots of people there taking pictures. It is my lifelong dream ot have a second home there on the lake. We are headed back there in later June between chemos for me. Just had #4 Friday and will have all my surg appts coming up so we figured to leave the next day after my next tx. my best days are the ones immediately following. My bad days start at day 7/8/9. Just too tired to do much of anything.
Welcome ksmatthews. Small world this BC business. Imagine you and Jules that close. I have made contact with some localadies thru this site also-we are planning to meet in the near future. Funny enough they are all stage IV also AND long term survivors. They have amazing grace with their issues and have been a big inspiration to me.
Can't wait to hear from husker to see how her high school chaperoning trip is going.
Need to get off here and get busy with picnic food. Since i have had all this news it is like in the beginning. I can;t seem to shut the laptop down because of all the research. i am bouncing between the net and this site. The amount of info about every part of this is overwhelming. like to read the net then read what a real person has said.
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Silia, my hot flashes began when I went into menopause at the start of chemo. Someone referred to them as "power surges". Thats how it felt, they would come on like slow twinkling lights that got brighter and brighter (hotter and hotter) and then start to recede only to begin back again many times a day and night.
Using the ceiling fan in my bedroom helped. So if you have one, or have a portable fan you can place by your bed, use it, it will help.
On a seemingly unrelated matter, a couple of months after my dx, I could not pull out of my depression and began taking generic prozac. What I discovered is that it stopped almost all of my hot flashes. Who knew!?
So consider revisiting a medical solution to this problem. I know lots of ladies on here hate all the medicines we have to take, but life has more quality when you are not subjected to steady streams of hot flashes, night sweats or power surges......
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Hi ladies,
I know you are all chemo vets now, maybe some halfway through your treatments. I wanted to let you know about a contest I'm running on my blog. There is nothing in it for me but I really, really want somebody going through chemo to win it. (My last contest was for a cookbook for cancer patients and a person who had never had cancer won it.)
The product is for a water that helps with metallic taste. You can get a free case of it by commenting on my blog and liking the company on facebook. You can be entirely anonymous if you like, I don't require a log in. At the end of the week I'll take all the entries and pull one from a hat and the winner will get this water.
I'm sorry to intrude on your thread but I really want a chemo patient to win. I did six rounds of TCH and then a year of herceptin. Finsihed chemo March 31 and herceptin this past December. I truely believe that drinking a lot of water got me through treatments with minimal side effects, as well as eating a high fiber diet. I was very disciplined about it.
My hair grew back before I was done with my last treatment - I had spring fuzz early in april! And, one year later I have a full head of thick hair. I want you to know that you will recover from chemo pretty quickly - after two weeks, I felt a lot better and then it just got better and better each week. I gauged my energy level by how I could walk up the stairs to the onc's office. I did it every single time but by my last chemo I was gasping and pausing on each step. At my next appointment, three weeks later, I was again able to walk up the steps only slightly winded at the top, and then by my next, I could run up as normal.
Good luck to you all!
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Lilylady, the term you were wondering about might be oligometastatic.
I have been reading the March, April and May chemo threads from time to time and started my first treatment in late May.
Best wishes to you all!0 -
Thanks for the update coolbreeze its alwasy so nice to hear from someone who has made it through and encouraging us that it will be better soon.
hope you all are having a wonderful weekend
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Hi ladies. I can not believe how long it has been since I posted and I apoligize. I had so many pages of reading to do to catch up, will try to do better I promise. Lilylady: I am so sorry you have to do more surguries but as the sisters are saying you are strong and Im sure they feel you will be cancer free afterwards and that will be just great. I know that is a fear in the back of our minds as chemo gets closer to the end, I know it is in mine, where will it come back at and will they catch it in time. I don't truely believe after all of this in our minds any of us will qiut being scared of these facts. As for eyebrows mine to have gotten really thin. I was watching the shopping show qvc one day. They had a eyebrow kit on made by Mally. I got it in taupe and it is magical. Any of you ladies who cant keep yours on, check itout. It around $30. But so worth it even in the humidity.. Its not coming off till you take it off. We finally took our car to a regular subARU garage yesterday. The mechanics are out until Tues. If it would cost an arm and leg to fix we may trade it just have to play the waiting game. I like the rest of you have been real tired I have 6 taxol/herceptin down and 6 to go. than big surgery in July than of course herceptin till next April. Will be glad when taxols over but must admit I am kinda getting anxious about dbl masec. My sister was in from Ga all weekend went back today, Was nice to see her. My sister that lives close to me usually goes on my journey every Tues. to Ohio and stays in the hotel with me and goes to chemo with me on Wed, than home. We have gotten quite closer thru this. I wish I could plan a vac. for me and Dh but money wont allow it plus our animals who are our kids would not allow it either. ha KYMN: So sorry you are still havin it rough with chemo praying brighter days ahead. Have a nice Memorial day girls. Will try to keep posted better.0
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Amazing to see the east TN connections on this little thread. Lilylady, I sincerely hope you are able to fulfill you dream of owning a home on the lake in TN. It is a beautiful part of the world. Also hope you are able to enjoy your upcoming vacation. My Tx's are knocking me down for about a week now. Funny, after the first 2 I thought this was going to be pretty easy. Now I am praying just to get throught it all.
Happy Memorial Day to all.
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I know what you mean Jules about thinking in the beginning this wouldn't be to bad and now just praying/hoping to get through. Not that AC was easy, but it was doable for me. And then the onc said Taxol/Herceptin would be easier. Famous last words.
Happy Memorial Day from the hospital! I do have a room with a really nie view. And I think they finally figured out what was causing the fevers. I hope that means I will get out today, but the latest tomorrow.
Enjoy the last day of the long weekend everyone!
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Good Afternoon ladies, first day back at work today, feeling tired and overwhelmed with everything that needs to be caught up on . And what is with the wobbly legs?? I feel like a new colt today, first day having that hope it doesnt last the remaining of my treatment.
Kay heres hoping you are released today, hard enough to be recovering from all this but not even having the comfort of your own home would be tough. I havent had to make a hospital visit yet, fingers crossed it stays that way.
Lorenar, thanks I hope the doc finds a way to fight my sickness too.
hope you are all having a SE Free monday
Hugs Kymn
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Hi March ladies. I've recently joined this club in may 2011 and look forward to having this behind me as I am sure many of you are in the home stretch. I've been reading this thread to give me an idea of what to expect in the upcoming weeks.
So far I've gone for my first treatment of tc x 4 and am day 7 post treatment. So far I've been doing very well SE wise. But I wonder, as the treatment goes on, do the effects become cumulative? Does the chemo build in the body as the treatments continue?
In addition, My onc does not inject neulasta unless necessary. It seems to me most women are going for injections. This has me paranoid about leaving the house and unnecessary exposure. Don't know if I'm worrying unnecessarily.
Hope all is well for you guys and cyber hugs to all. Keep smiling!0 -
Kymn, you and the other ladies on this thread who are working through chemo amaze me. You are my heroes. I could not do it. Some days I can barely put one foot in front of the other.
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DebRox,
Getting started is the worst part-not knowing what is coming. I just had tx 4 of 6 TCH. I have been 1 of the lucky ones and have few SEs. First 3 have been like clockwork arriving on days 7/8. mostly fatigue and the big D. i have learned to pace myself-better to take a few sit downs then try to push thru it and kill the whole day. It really is an individual thing. Some of the ladies have had a rough time. Many of our March girls are finishing up or getting close.
I have never gotten Nuelasta. my onc doesn't give it unless the blood counts are down. Most of the ladies get it with every tx but not all. I got chemo on fri and it is the first time my counts have not rebounded to almost pre tx levels. I am going in a week to repeat bloodwork. If they haven't moved I will get transfusion. Onc did not seekm overly concerned probably due to my good health and tolerating the treatments.
Drink lots of water-also include some kind of gatorade or Powerade. I had some dizziness issues last week causing me to fall several times-including down my stairs.Turned out I was dehydrated. i knew i was drinking plenty of water but my electrolyes were messed up. I hate the taste of most of that stuff but am chugging it down now. Take a walk or do some exercise if you can also. Anything to get those chemicals moving thru.
You have probably heard this before but it will be over before you know it. I measure my life in 3 week chunks now. Good week-not so good week-then normal week-then start all over again.
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Debrox I didnt get the shots either I have had 4 rounds and have 2 left to go. I also work week 2 and 3 inbetween treatments and other than a cold I havent picked anything up. I unfortunetly am one of the ladies with SE.
. Hope you dont but I was on a different chemo cocktail than you too.Jules thank you for the encouraging words
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Hi Ladies,
Well, I am almost two weeks past my last chemo. Feeling so much better! Went to the gym today, first time this month as I had a very very hard May! I was feeling weak and out of shape. Man this chemo really kicks it out of you. Plus, I am having horrible night sweats. I found the gym to be uncomfortable and hot. Hoping I have a better time tomorrow. My cardio has suffered bug time with chemo.
Derox, I did have the Nueprogen shot which is the Canadian version ( probably cheaper ) of Nuelasta but only because I ended up in hospital with Neuprogenia ( fever on chemo ). Like I said, it has been a rough month!
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timerdog--neupogen is the multi-day version whereas neulasta is the single shot version. Neupogen is covered in Ont but you need additional insurance to cover the neulasta. I was asked to find out if I was covered for neulasta before the onc decided which to give me. A single neulasta shot costs $2700.00! I still can't believe how expensive it is.
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DebRox - I did 4xAC and am 2 into 4 T+herceptin. My doctor gave me nuelasta each round of the AC (think my C is diff from your C..yours is carbosomething right?) and said I wouldn't need it most likely during the taxol because it doesn't hit your blood counts as hard. So far he's been right and I've had MUCH more energy and fewer SEs on taxol than adriamycin/cytoxin. I do have leg and joint pain for a few days and general aches for a few days after than but it doesn't seem to be cumulative. As far as infection...my onc said you have to worry more about things within your own body growing haywire much more than catching stuff from someone else (I did have very bad cellulitis that put me in the hospital...but it wasn't something I caught). I live in NYC and he told me to go ahead and take the subway...of course I use my fatigue as an excuse to take too many cabs. Just wash your hands a lot more than you ever have. If your WBC counts get really low, I'm sure your doc with be on top of it. Low RBCs/anemia was something I've have a problem with but mostly just when I was on AC.
Silia - I am also sweating like crazy at night. It's more a cold sweat than a sweaty sweat. My baldy head especially sweats incredibly during the night. I wake up and my pillows are damp...I have to rotate them throughout the night and will probably have to pitch them all when this is done. It's very weird....can't figure out why it's at night and not during the day. The only other time i've had cold sweats in my sleep was post surgical or when I had a big infection.
pasmithx2 - I saw how much the hospital billed my insurance for one shot of neulasta and it was almost 16k! that's 3 times more than my chemo drugs. but I guess it's the game changer that allowed them to be able to give people dose dense treatment instead of every 3 weeks. but still...
Think my head might be getting fuzzier. It's hard to see as my formerly dark brown hair now looks almost clear, but it def feels like there's something happening up there. It can't come quick enough. NYC summer in a wig is not going to be pleasurable.
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Hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend (relatively speaking given the circumstances) with minimal SEs.
I am headed down tomorrow to the hospital/treatment center to take care of some pre-op items. Will have the dye injected for the lymph node, followed by a scan. Will stay overnigh nearby as I live far away and my appointment for the surgery is very early on Wednesday. This is all new to me - have not had any surgery yet including lymph node removal. Surgery is on Wednesday with an overnight stay. I am so anxious to get this over with, although I have to think that the chemo was the worst part.
Good luck to everyone in the chair this week.
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Pasmithx2- I too am Canadian and I am taking the Neulasta shot but before I got the prescription, the hospital gave me the phone number for the company that makes it. We did a conference call with my husband's work insurance. They convinced my husband's insurance company to cover 90% and the company that makes the drug (Victory, I think) is covering the other 10%. How awesome is that when you're talking about a drug that costs $2700??!!
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bikenyc--that's $16k per injection?! Yikes! I thought $16k for the 6 shots was insane!
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pasmithx2 - i had looked into getting it to give to myself at home vs going back to the cancer center on the day after chemo. the copay if i got it through the drug part of the insurance co was like $2700 (or $0 if I let them give it to me/nyu billed for it). i figured i could haul my butt into the cancer center again for 2700!
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Hey ladies! I am back from my Chiago weekend. It rained horribly but we managed to have some fun and good quality family time. It was nice to spend the weekend with my DH and son - just the three of us. For parts of it, I felt kind of "normal" again but then your mind reverts back to all you have gone through and are going through..you just can't shake the BC thoughts no matter where you are and how hard you try - you know??? I go back to work tomorrow - I have been off since Jan 27th. I know so many of you are working through chemo - I commend you. I could not have handled the stress of my job during tx. This should be interesting.....it's going to be a long week eventhough it's only 4 days! The good news is I have my exchange surgery on 6/23 so I will be out again for another month. So I only have to work for 3 weeks right now....I think I can do that.
For those of you getting nervous for surgery...I have to say it was not that bad for me. Don't get me wrong, it was not fun, but it was less painful and easier than I anticipated. I was on the pain meds for about 5 days and then I was done with those. I got my drains out in a week. They did not bother me too bad but when I got them out I realized they were kind of a pain in the butt! I managed OK with them. As far as cammie tops with drain pockets - check with your hospital or surgeon, one was provided to me and given to me on my pre-op appt. I did not buy any - it was covered by insurance.
Silia: my nightsweats started about 3 or 4 weeks into chemo...sometimes I got about 10 a night. Now the nightsweats have lessened but now I have hot flashes during the day. Oh this is fun. At least I am sleeping better - that's the bright side. I have read execise, diet and a few other things help but I was already doing all those things and still having them. I had several hot flashes today already.....it stinks! I hope they lighten up for you...wish I had better advice. I do know that some meds for depression can help with hot flashes but I have opted to wait until my body gets use to tamoxifen to see what happens before I seek meds.
Lilylady: I hope you got your picnic food done and have found some good information about your surgeries. I know it seems like a lot, but they would not do surgery if you were not responding. This is hopeful......that is good news.
Divine: I am going to revisit the prozac thing once I see how the tamoxifen goes and if it gets better or worse. It would be nice if I had no hotflashes..................
Lorenar: Glad to see you posting again. I hope that darn car gets up to speed for you...it sounds frustrating. I am done with chemo and I am scared just trying to "live" with the idea that it could come back. It's strange...for the last 6 months I have been so focused on biopsies, lumpectomy, bilateral mastectomy and chemo I have been pushing those thoughts out of my mind. Now I have no treatments to focus on and the scary thoughts are creeping in my mind again. I need counseling....really. I don't know how to do this....anyone else? I love the eybrow idea! Thanks. I am hoping mine will start growing soon before they go completely. The L side is worse than the right....hoping I see sprouting brow hair soon!
Jules: I too thought I would skate through completely...my fatigue was worst a few weeks after being done with chemo. I thought I would not have that. I still have chemo legs....you know, burning thighs. I still have to stop half way up the stairs most nights when I go up to bed. Oh well....it has to get better soon. I hope you blow through the rest of the treatments easier......how many more??? I too find so much courage through the group on this board. I feel like what I am dealing with is easy compared to so many of the gals here.......I gain strength from each and every one of you on this board. You motivate and inpspire me every day! I can't imagine doing chemo without you guys...I could not have done this!!!
Kay: HOw are you feeling? Are you going to be able to go home soon? Please give us an update.....we are praying you get some rest and go home healthy soon!!! Hugs!
Kymn: Glad you are out of the hole. Gosh I hope you get a break from the SE's! I have the chemo legs.....burning thighs on a daily basis and I got done with chemo almost a month ago! I wonder how long this lasts. I hope you regain some strength on your break in between chemos.......hugs!
Timerdog: Good to hear you were able to hit the gym! That's great! Listen to your body...some days it's easier than other days. I just do what I can when I go. One day I am going like crazy and the next two days I am slow as molasses. Just be kind to yourself...you will get your strength back in time. I too am dealing with night sweats and hot flashes...in fact I am hot flashing right now...gross, so gross! No one should just bead up with sweat out of no where while typing on a computer! Wrong...so wrong! In fact I have my laptop on my lap now and I think it is going to slide off my sweaty legs....gross! (I only shared that tidbit because I know you can relate
Chrissy: Good luck with the SNB and surgery. Are you doing MX or lumpectomy? I can't remember...sorry! I had both...feel free to PM any last minute questions. You will get through this....I know a million thoughts are racing through your mind. I did take my IPOD with relaxation music with me. I wore it the entire morning before surgery and until they took me to the OR. It kept me calmer....as calm as I could be. Please keep us posted. Saying prayers for you tonight. Hugs!!!
Suebee: That's great you got the drug covered!! Good for you girl!
I hope I got everyone....so much to catch up on while I was out of town. You girls are busy. I hope everyone in the chair this week is SE free.....saying extra prayers as I know this is getting harder the longer it goes on. Does anyone else get done this week? We need to start celebrating each person that gets done in our group! Can't wait til every one of us is finished!!!
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i have treatment #4 tomorrow. I also get the Neulasta shot, I get it the same day. So far I too have been able to keep working through chemo. I am very Blessed! Good luck to all.
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I get the hot flashes during the day and the cold sweats at night too, also constantly flipping my pillow. I will definelty be buying new ones when this is all done. this is also the first month for me without a period. I had two so far during chemo but this month nothin. I have fuzzy hair growing back too some dark some grey lol scary scary scary some just black spots on my head wonder why some of the hair is growing and some is not. sigh. Have a good sleep all
Hugs Kymn
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Hello ladies, I hope you all had a great weekend.
timerdog and kymn: I have been getting sweaty at night only recently. I thought it was just these new hot flashes. Do you think that's the same thing? Also, it's my head sweating like crazy. I had the air conditioner running last night, and my poor dh is getting sick...developed a fever in the night, so he was FREEZING.
crissyw: the surgery isn't nearly as bad as you are dreading, I am guessing. Good luck to you, I hope all goes smoothly.
That neulasta was crazy expensive. I think they billed my insurance around $10K, and I thought that was bad. 16K is even more ridiculous. I, too, returned to the hospital to cut down the cost.
For those with the metallic taste, I started adding those packets of powdered Propel to my water, and they are awesome. They're like gatorade, so they add some electolytes. There are also the Crystal Light packets that are pretty good. They are usually in the soda or juice aisle of the grocery store.
Both of my kids have been sick in the last week with fevers, sore throats, coughs, and now my dh is coming down with it. Has anyone had to postpone a treatment for illness? I got the impression that you have to be REALLY sick to delay. I am scheduled for treatment #7 on Thursday (#3 Taxol), and I really don't want to postpone this. I am so anxious to be done.
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MaxineO-How did you appointment with the radiation oncologist go? What kind of schedule will you be on? You and I have been pretty much on the same schedule so far so I'm curious. I have Taxol #3 on Thursday too, so I'll be thinking of you. Let's hope it's not too bad!
ChrissyW-I hope your surgery is smooth and your recovery goes quickly. I hope you check in with us when you can!
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MaxineO- I went in for my 5th treatment with a bad cold I had had for 12 days. The onco gave me antibiotics and told me to come back in a week for my treatment. i refused and had it anyway. Nothing is stopping me from finishing June 23rd!!
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