Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.

Starting Chemo June 2014

1192022242534

Comments

  • Agent99
    Agent99 Member Posts: 73
    edited August 2014

    Hi chicks! 

    I'm feeling positive tonight, I had treatment 4 of 6 today and I have been creative!

    image

  • CanuckMom
    CanuckMom Member Posts: 143
    edited August 2014

    OK Thanks for the info IslandMama!

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited August 2014

    Hikingandhorses, i feel for you as i read.. as i felt similar at the initial stage. If you want privacy by all means do.. there is absolutely no need for you to have people over to clean the house.. deliver meals etc.. just accept whatever help you're comfortable with and be firm.. sometimes there might be people who'd mean well, but if they add to your mental stress by meaning well, then tell them to stay away for now.

    Are you on nausea meds? Usually doctors don't prescribe it for TCH, because it's usually not needed.. i only felt slight nausea and didn't need the pills (though had some)... also, if you're losing weight, do speak to your oncologist to see whether you need your dosage adjusted.. i had it bad the first round, and with an adjusted dosage, was quite normal most of the time (besides the first week).

    And i had slight cracks on my fingers on the 3rd and 4th (final TCH)... because of drynes.. i have been moisturising continuously.. yes, continuously.. what would normally last months disappear in weeks because i just kept lathering moisturiser especially after washing my hands.. and somehow, due to germ-phobia, wash my hands very frequently too.. plust with 5 dogs at home, every time i touch one, i wash.. LOL!!! 

    hope this weeks gets better for you..drink plenty of water.. it helps and also exercise.. i felt like dying (literally) and totally disoriented and as if i was going to stumble and fall and felt hazy as i walked even one small interupted walk with my dogs on my first chemo session and praying i won't fall each step of the way.. yet after the walk and a shower, i felt good.

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited August 2014

    Agent99, if there's a "like" feature on this thread, i'd superLIKE the drawing you posted! Awesome!! :)

  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 211
    edited August 2014

    CanuckMom, drink plenty of water.. which somehow i think you might already be doing.. just keep drinking.. i drink at least 10 liters a day especially the first few days.. maybe it helps clear the toxins.. so usually by week2, i'd be pretty much my "normal" self.

    RadicalSquared, wish i can help, though not sure if icing fingers and toes will work for the adriaymcin, it's good for those on taxotere/taxol. 

    wishing everyone a good day of minimal side effects.. and hmm.. it's chemo brain cos i can't remember everything i read on a long thread.. lol! hence have to keep scrolling to read and write..

  • Agent99
    Agent99 Member Posts: 73
    edited August 2014

    hiking---I told my mo today about my hands peeling and she said I needed to reduce taxotere so she did and she reduced my steroids because of weight gain and gave me LASIK for fluid

    I will let you know if those things help

  • sugar8
    sugar8 Member Posts: 27
    edited August 2014

    Agent99

    I feel your pain. Has your oncologist adjusted your doses? I felt like you after my first tc-h but after my onc lowered my dose from standard to 75% and stopped my filigrastim injections, I was on top of the world. I gained my independence back, didn't feel that I had been deliberately poisoned and managed to take a walk every day, get on with household chores and even went to work. It felt like heaven!

    I am having my 3rd tc-h (taxotere, cyclophosphamide and herceptin injections)  cycle on the 20th Aug and I feel so much more positive.

    Sending you hugs 

    Sugar8

  • sugar8
    sugar8 Member Posts: 27
    edited August 2014

    lovely drawing Agent99

  • sugar8
    sugar8 Member Posts: 27
    edited August 2014

    yensmiles 

    Plenty of water is good for you but too much can be  harmful. Read this interesting link :http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/ 

    For my water intake I downloaded a water intake app called 'water your body' on my phone where you put in your weight.It then tells you how much water you should drink daily. 

  • Bow1965
    Bow1965 Member Posts: 107
    edited August 2014

    radical, I hear you on the nail beds, holy cow! Mainly my big toes, I can't even handle the pressure from my sheets. 

    Agent99 looking beautiful! And very talented!

    Had acupuncture yesterday to mitigate my Neulasta pain and apologized for my last waterworks session of tears! She said she probably hit my suppressed emotions with a needle lol.

    I'm upright, just sore hips no waves of pain so off to work for a bit. Moving and standing helps, even though I feel like going back to bed. Happy Friday.

  • hikingandhorses
    hikingandhorses Member Posts: 50
    edited August 2014

    Agent99 you look great!!

    I have a port and with numbing cream, I can hardly tell I'm getting poked.  It's less maintenance than the PICC but sometimes I can feel it "pulling" when I move and it's right where the shoulder harness from my seatbelt hits my chest.

    Anyone experiencing worsening eyesight?  My need for stronger reading glasses has increased exponentially.  My arms are truly not long enough now for me to read anything.  I was told it was another SE and that it should get better once I stop chemo but....I feel blind up close!

    My gut finally settled down - I feel like the phoenix rising from the ashes!  What a drag mentally when my gut doesn't like me.  It's gorgeous here today in Virginia - I hope everyone has a good Friday!  Thinking of you all! 

  • anothernycgirl
    anothernycgirl Member Posts: 821
    edited August 2014

    Hi All!

    I started treatment in May, and have been reading these posts, but I am new to posting.   Thank you to everyone for being here to turn to, at any hour of the day!    It surely helps to have people there who understand and are sharing this 'journey'.

    Agent99, - are you done with taxol now?   did you have 4 of 4?

    I had first taxol on monday, and neulatsta on tuesday.    Taking claritan for neulasta SE, but still have headache, back and hip pain (from taxol i assume?)

    Also very tired.   

    My oncologist said the taxol side effects most likely wouldnt last more than 3-4 days.   Is that true?  =/

    Wishing everyone a good weekend!!

  • Agent99
    Agent99 Member Posts: 73
    edited August 2014

    Hi NYC!!

    I am on TCH, but I know several of the other ladies in June are on taxol, I think Island mama for one.

    I am so looking forward to being done with my chemo in Sept so I can go on my annual girls trip to NYC in the fall!

    Take care, these ladies are SUPER DUPER!


     

  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 350
    edited August 2014

    no icing for me on Taxol. I sucked on ice chips all through AC and swore I would do that and at least my fingers for Taxol....

    Problem is, the give me that 50mg of Benedryl and I'm out like a light! No ice chips for me! I didn't really fully wake up until the next day!

    The good news is my nail beds felt better by last night. The bad news is the tummy issues have started and I feel pain in my hips and legs. Also my skin is so dry and itchy...I've become a lotion addict and I'm constantly putting in eye drops.

    Is it weird for me to wish I was back on AC????

  • anothernycgirl
    anothernycgirl Member Posts: 821
    edited August 2014

    Hi Agent99 and Radical   Smile

    I, too, am using eye drops and lotion  =/

    My port and expanders are more uncomfortable since taxol last Monday, too.  Sad

    Anyone else?

    THANK YOU, and all,  for your thoughts and suggestions!

  • KimmyD78
    KimmyD78 Member Posts: 40
    edited August 2014

    Had my first Taxol yesterday. I was originally going to try icing, but my chemo brain made me forget to pick up the bags of frozen peas when I was at the grocery store the night before. Turns out it wouldn't have worked anyway. My appt was at 8:45, and by the time they started dripping the Taxol it was around 11:30 or so, and lasted up almost 3. Not to mention the Benadryl knocked me out, too. It was a long day yesterday, that's for sure!

    My doc is keeping me off Neulasta as of now. My counts were never too horrible with A/C so we're going to see what happens this round. I'm just happy I didn't have to go back today for a shot! I'm also happy I'm not having to pop pills like crazy today - no Claritin, no Zofran, no Emend. Love it.

    No SE really to speak of yet, with the exception of my thumb nails hurting like hell. Toes and all my other nails are fine, but the thumbs are sore as all get out. 

  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 350
    edited August 2014

    another,

    My expanded hurt more too...didn't even think of it as a SE! My stomach hurts too...and my hips and knees. Not like the Neulasta kind of hurt, but achy!

  • anothernycgirl
    anothernycgirl Member Posts: 821
    edited August 2014

    Radical, - my stomach hurts, too .    I wasnt sure if it was a SE or not, but maybe it is?

    Kimmy, - my white count was way down on the adriamycin, so that is why I had neulasta this week.   Dr will see if i need it next round of taxol.     

    I hope everyone has a good weekend, and feels better each day!

  • Mompv
    Mompv Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2014

    my stomach hurt as well, but it was the muscles that hurt. Finally off the hydro/acte as of Thursday nite. My legs and hips still hurt. Fingers are numb and sore I can't open pop top cans! Big toe is sore as well. Let's see, lol oh yeah my eyes are still watery! I am weak though better than on Sunday Monday and Tuesday, I needed a cane to keep from falling over! A cane!!!!! How just, no words describe how I felt needing that! 

    I did manage some chores today! But now I am tired. 

    All in all I much prefer taxol to AC. I hope everyone is having a lite SE day!!!

  • anothernycgirl
    anothernycgirl Member Posts: 821
    edited August 2014

    i did some laundry and 'swiffered' the kitchen floor - now back hurts and i am pooped .   

    ugh, this stinks Sad

  • Bow1965
    Bow1965 Member Posts: 107
    edited August 2014

    Mompv you sound like me! Today is day 5 (Taxol Tuesday/NeuNasty Wednesday) and my big toes, hips, legs are still pretty sore. My mood is blue, tired of feeling weak and in pain! One more.

    Are your nails turning dark? Mine did with AC but doesn't seem to be getting worse with Taxol. The nail bed pain is for sure worse. But hair, so that's a bonus!

    Hope all is well with everyone this weekend!

  • Mommato3
    Mommato3 Member Posts: 468
    edited August 2014

    For those of you doing weekly Taxol, are you able to drive yourself to treatment?  I'm seeing some drowsy ladies due to the Benadryl.  I've driven myself to the AC treatments so I'm a little concerned about these.

  • Bow1965
    Bow1965 Member Posts: 107
    edited August 2014

    mommato3, I am on dose dense Taxol but the Benedryl doesn't seem to make me sleepy and I am driving myself. The infusion is about 3-4 hours for me and I have worked/surfed the entire time.

  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 350
    edited August 2014

    mommato,

    I do dose dense, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was falling asleep before we even got to the Taxol. I then slept the whole 3 hours home!

  • Mompv
    Mompv Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2014

    Bow,

    My nail beds are just slightly darker on the bottoms. I do have some faint white lines through some. I feel blue as well and just tired. I should be walking for some exercise but just don't feel like it and I tire so easily. I just want to be done. I think this is the first time I am looking forward to winter. That is because this will be over!! Your getting hair? I still have only a bit of stubble in a couple places nothing on legs yet or armpits. I also never thought I would look forward to shaving or fighting my curly hair lol! 

    Have a good night

  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 345
    edited August 2014

    OK, so it isn't just me with everything hurting.  Yesterday my back and hip started hurting.  This morning I woke up with acne or a rash on my face, can't tell yet which it is.  I was full of energy earlier in the week, but now I am tired.  No energy for anything.  

    I was told that I will be weaned off benadryl.  First time was 50 mg, next one will be 25mg, then 15 and then 10.  With the 15 and the 10 I know I will be ok to drive, but not with the 25.

  • KimmyD78
    KimmyD78 Member Posts: 40
    edited August 2014

    Apparently the SE's from Taxol took 2 days to kick in. My hips, knees, ankles, etc. pretty much everything from my waist down hurts. I have no idea how I'm going to get to sleep tonight. Please tell me it goes away soon. Has anyone not doing Neulasta tried Claritin to see if helps on the off chance?

    I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd rather be on A/C. At least I just slept a lot through the aftermath.  

  • Mompv
    Mompv Member Posts: 57
    edited August 2014

    Kimmy

    I broke down and called for a pain pill. Motrin and Tylenol did nothing for me. My dr gave me hydro/Tylenol combo pill. I was able to sleep. The pill does take time to work. I would call and get something we need sleep to heal physically and mentally. 

    Here is another plus though, my taste buds are slowly coming back!!!!

    Hang in there everyone 

  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 350
    edited August 2014

    Kimyd,

    I was wondering if Claritan would help too. I didn't use it because I didn't get Neulasta. I'm thinking pain meds might be the only recourse from what I'm reading though. I had my Tacoma Tuesday. Here I am on Sunday morning and I still have pain in my ankles and knees. It's nowhere near as bad as it was Friday and Saturday, but it's there.

    So strange how the pain moves! One minute I feel like I must be in kidney failure (back pain) and then that pain is gone and my pelvic bones are making me think I was in a car wreck I don't remember having! It's like waves of pain in different places.

  • Dixie1
    Dixie1 Member Posts: 39
    edited August 2014

    Add me to list of hurting all over.   Tylenol seems to help but doesn't make it go away.  Mommato3 I would have someone go with me the first time on the taxol.  Everyone reacts different.  I slept thru most of my transfusion and most of the way home.  Mompv I was told that my taste could take weeks after chemo to come back.  :(.  It's sad when even chocolate doesn't taste good.