Starting chemo July 2014
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Day 3 for me, feeling like crap. Head's in a fog, legs like spaghetti. So looking forward to coming out the other end, and knowing this part is done.
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Wow Jennliza you are so strong girl .,, God bless you ...
Well the 4 treatment it's being hard big c big D and pain all over my bones .., stomach pain and so hungry all the time .., hate these part. I'm just tierd today I fell like a flower without sun ... I don't have energy !!
Just to help my hubby was with my little girl at the beach in front of my moms condo and she got sting by a jellyfish .., my DH panic and I had to run to the beach and take care of her poor baby ..,
Not my favorite weekend ...;(
Hope the week is better to everyone
XO
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Puffin, I hear ya. And on top of the usual junk I'm super-sick and spent the night in the ER with a 102 fever. The gave me antibiotics and sent me home with more but I can barely get out of bed. Oof.
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Sorry to hear that things are still being difficult JenKay. I hope you are feeling better soon and the temp goes away.
Puffin, I think #4 was a bear.
I'm not using the word "tired" anymore, because in many ways, that's not it. I felt weak, spent, drained, totally powerless.
Today is day 11 and it was not bad. Tomorrow I begin the countdown TO #5.
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I hate that you ladies are going through these rough days, JenKay and Puffin and Mommymel. I have been struggling with insomnia again (did I say that earlier? I don't remember if I did) the past two nights, so I'm hoping to get some sleep tonight as tomorrow is steroids day again. Round 5 on Tuesday.
Feel better, get some rest, deal with the SEs, don't work too hard. Nini.
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Puffin -- Day #3 has always been awful for me too. Hang in there!
JenKay -- a night in the ER -- UGH! Hope you're feeling better today.
Mags -- I've been having insomnia, too, usually after 2:00 am. Let's just say that I watched way more of that Roosevelt documentary this past week on OETA than I intended (not much on TV after 2:00 am).
Mommymel -- it's hard to do chemo and be a Mommy. I just emailed my 15 yo DD and told her that I wasn't bringing her the softball equipment she accidentally left at home today. She is so pissed at me, but I have some D and am not driving an hour to bring her stuff she's responsible for bringing to school. AARGH.
Coyote -- glad to hear that Day #11 was "not bad." "Not bad" is better than awful, no?
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Hang in there, girls...
One radiation treatment down, 20 to go...
Rob Ford (our embarrassing and infamous mayor) just had a well-documented first round of chemo. Why, oh why won't just one person in the media give a small nod to all the others who are fighting, struggling, suffering, enduring the side effects and difficulties of chemo?
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Mumford -- we haven't been caught on tape, smoking crack or engaging in loutish drunken behavior.... You'll miss Mayor Ford...someday...at least he made politics amusing for a little while.
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Hi Ladies,Tomorrow is my treatment #4 and my last. I've tried to plan ahead and have all my "tools" ready to go: Prilosec for heartburn, Claritin for bone pain (not sure if they give the nuelasta shot after your last treatment), Dexamethasone (steroid) that I started taking today and will take again on Wednesday, plenty of water, apply sauce, Ginger ale, lemon hard candies and animal crackers (for nausea), orange juice for the L glutamine powder & miralax, and Prochlorperazine also for nausea.
Treatment #3 really taught me a lot. I wasn't prepared for how hard that treatment was going to be and ended up severely dehydrated and sick with mouth sores (in and outside my mouth). I hope to be ready this time around so that I can get through this and never look back.
Also, in early October I will go through a protocol as directed by my Naturopath (who works with the Cancer Center) to detox the chemo out of my system, prevent SE's from lingering long term and hopefully prevent a re-occurrence. I'll share more about this after the appointment in October.
Have a great day everyone!
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Coyote - love your new definition for tired. My DH, who has been really helpful, doesn't quite get it sometimes. Yesterday I told him my legs felt 1,000 lbs. each and he couldn't figure out why because I hadn't been doing anything. I said, it's the chemo....! It's hard to explain to others exactly the toll this takes on your body, and this was 2.5 weeks after my last treatment. Good summary!
JenKay - sorry you had to hit the ER again. You will get through this!
Despite the tiredness, it was my daughter's 11th birthday and she wanted to go tubing. It actually sounded like a lot of fun so DH and I took 7 girls, my 13-year old son and two of his friends tubing at Rainbow Springs here in Fl. It was absolutely glorious.
I sat in my tube for the whole 2 hours and just relaxed and enjoyed myself. My DH took over watching the kids. We both agreed we've got to do it again with no kids!!! It was a great chance just to do nothing, not think about my ills and veg. I highly recommend a day like that to everyone if they can get it. I wasn't about to let this stupid cancer steal away a birthday with my daughter.I hit chemo #4 on Wednesday. Much luck and love to all this week!
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Walle: so glad you were able to go tubing, what a nice memory that made for you and your daughter
redheeled: they gave me the neulasta shot after my chemo #4, , really don't want white count to drop and get an infection this round either. I'm very interested in hearing whatever suggestions your naturopath has to offer
chemo day 4 for me, at least today I'm dressed and I managed to slowly walk around my backyard with my walking stick for 10", though still got short of breath it's an improvement over yesterday
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Wallegator, Tubing sounds awesome! I'm so jealous. I was told to avoid rivers, the ocean, and public pools because of all of the microbes and bacteria and such. Not to mention the sun! Posts like yours make me wonder if I should just go ahead and do more stuff, but then I keep getting sick so I guess the answer to that is "no" haha. But I'd pretty much kill to be in the water at all at this point
Anyway, I'm glad you found it restorative!
Redheeled, I would assume they give you neulasta after your last chemo, as it's AFTER the treatments that we experience the WBC drop. It would suck to finish your last treatment and then go neutropenic!
Puffin, I've barely gotten out of bed today except to make tea and avocado toast. My mom is coming over in a bit to help with some chores, and I'm waiting until she's here to take a shower- just in case, because I'm still woozy. That said I think I'm feeling a *little* better, so there's that
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it's day 4 for me after AC. I'm a little tired and the indigestion, throat, etc....ugh. What's really bothering me is the tingly numbness in my hands getting worse. MO said this isn't usually associated with AC. If it's already starting with AC , how bad is it going to get with Taxol? They r not suggesting anything for it. Anybody feeling this?
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Wallegator that sounds so fun!
JenKay I'm glad you are on the mend. I miss the beach & swimming too, somehow my little walks around the block don't cut it but I'm too pooped for much else. I hope you continue to feel much better.
Dancingdiva, I had tingling & numbness in my lips and fingertips after chemo but it goes away after a couple days. I worry about the taxol too. Hope you feel better.
Puffin, glad you got out today and are feeling better.
Jennliza, how are you doing? I hope you're improving too!
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Walle -- sounds like you had an awesome day with your family!
JenKay -- I'm still swimming a bit. Nothing too strenuous, but I haven't really gotten any infections, so....
Puffin -- sounds like things are getting better!
dancingdiva and maidentired..... -- I just started Taxol last week. I don't feel any worse in terms of tingly numbness. Mostly, my nose seems runnier, my eyes seem gummier, and my stools are loose. Otherwise, I have more energy on Taxol than I did on AC, and I feel less spacey.
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Just finished my last AC! What comes next is still being debated. My MO is leaning toward 3 infusions of Taxotere, I am thinking 9 weekly Taxols. My hospital is expecting me to return to work by Nov 1st. I won't be in a patient care area, but I'm thinking lower dose, less SE? Either way, I'm halfway through this!
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Elaine...no kidding about the crack. One thing I won't miss is his mug...but I wish him well with his treatments.
Redheeled, please keep us posted on the post chemo detox. I'm very interested to hear all about that. Now that I've started radiation, I'm told no Vitamin C, E, Selenium or Beta Carotene (which tells me that these are antioxidants that I will be taking after all is said and done).
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Puffin2014- I'll make sure to report back what my Naturopath suggest and the protocol. I hope the SE's are not too bad for you this week.
Puffin2014 and Jenkey2001- Good point and i'll make sure to get the last neulasta shot.
Wallegator- Good luck on your last treatment #4. Be strong my TNBC sister.
dancingdiva- One of my chemo drugs is Taxotere which I'm told is a 'cousin' of Taxol. The tingling in my hands and feet was really bad until I took L glutamine powder. I also had minimal numbness in my lips. I've mentioned many times the L glutamine along with others on several threads because it worked like a miracle for us. I take up to 32g per day the day of treatment and the two days following as needed. And voila the neuropathy is gone. Some folks don't get neuropathy on either Taxol or Taxotere. Everyone is different but, I did experience it and it was awful. You might want to discuss the L glutamine with your ONC. The Regional Cancer Center that I treat at provides patients with a Naturopath (due to a large donation) as part of the treatment. The Naturopath recommended the powder. Good luck!
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Lots going on with everyone this last week-end. Overall not at all terrible! Funny how we are getting used to a bit of nausea, D and bone weariness. We are learning to cope - or lay-low for a week or so.
Yes, the post chemo detox is very interesting. It isn't anything I've heard about in my "plan".
Any issues with the treatment, Mumford? Are there many of us who are scheduled for radiation? I will be doing 6 weeks beginning 3 weeks after my final chemo, which is scheduled for October 23rd. (I'm going to ask to have that moved forward to the 21st so I will feel better on the 31st, our wedding anniversary.)
Kitkatmo: Nice to see you. Hope you are doing well.
Mags, I hope tomorrow goes well for you at your #5. With your July 1st start date, I always look at your chemo day as the beginning of all of our new cycles.
I worked at the studio today. My kitties were so happy to have me there. I didn't overdo, so it was a good day.0 -
Glad you had a good day CoyoteNV0 -
Hi All,
I was not able I go to work today.....and not going tmrw...maybe Wed.
I'm definitely improving....Saturday I couldn't walk a block without stopping. Today I went to my plastic surgeon 8 blocks away to check on my wounds. Then went to the health food store... Then my Onc's nurse called and when I had a ton of questions asked me to come to he hospital to talk to my Onc in person. I also had blood taken....my hemoglobin went from 8.4 to 9.8...so getting there. But 5 hours out and about wiped me out!!! I came home and passed out for 2 hrs!!
As of now I am doing Taxol on fri....I have to let them know if I want Carboplatin too by thurs. And yes...it's my decision. Actually my Onc would give me Taxotere if I wanted it. I may wait another week for Carbo....her suggestion.
JenKay- did they test your RBC or hemoglobin? Could also explain your fatigue? I hope you are feeling better. Another option like myself is to switch to weekly Taxol which is better tolerated... If you keep getting fevers and feeling fatigued.
Hope that all that are not feeling well...are on the mend. And those that are feeling great....keep it going...I hope to be joining you soon.
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Coyote, so glad to hear you're somewhere approaching normal. Boy is that a low bar or what!
Up late with steroids but my go bag is ready. This will be the earliest yet. It's after midnight here, chemo is at 8:45 for blood draw, and it's a good half hour drive with traffic that time of day. I'm going to try and get some shut eye. Nini Team July. The end is in sight!
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Jennliza, I'm anemic, so that has something to do with it. I'm also still really, really sick with whatever flu/virus got into me last week and won't go away, so I'm way worse than I normally am after treatment. I generally have a bad week, then steady improvement for the rest of the time until I pretty much feel normalish (still tired but normalish) for the last week. I only have two more treatments to go, so I feel like I can stick with the program as long as this is just an annoying setback
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Magdalene51- Good luck with treatment tomorrow. Wishing you the best!0 -
Coyote, because you asked:
Radiation is a breeze compared to chem.. I can't comment on what the onset of fatigue might be like (if that occurs) or the skin burn (if that happens), but the process itself is so easy. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you will have a simulation in a CT scanner where they will spend 15 minutes or so setting you up, doing a quick scan, then tattooing your chest (easy). The first treatment they spent more time talking to me about antioxidants (no Vitamin C, E, selenium or beta carotene) and asking me if I had any questions. They positioned me on the bed, took a quick image, came back in the room to make a small adjustment, then they did the zap. The actual treatment took less than 5 minutes. They handed me my schedule for the rest of the week and I was on my way...The tech's comment as I was leaving: "It's easier than chemo, isn't it?" Yes!
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Mumford, Thanks for the info on your radiation experience so far. I will have 5-6 weeks radiation after I finish TAC chemo in mid November. It's good to hear that it's easier than chemo! I was wondering if I could make it through the chemo but the oncologist lowered my Taxotere dosage this last time and it helped a lot. I was starting to wonder how the radiation would be so you answer is reassuring!
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chemo sucks
had #4 last Wednesday and am waiting to bounce back. The worst se is the fatigue. I can barely walk thru the grocery store or up a flight of stairs. I know I've been anemic and my onco told me that before I was thru I wolud need a transfusion so when I go in tomorrow, I'm gonna ask her if I can just get it now. I had my first real meltdown this morning and cried like a baby. I looked in the mirror after my shower and was shocked at how pale and bald I looked. It was like looking at myself for the first time, it was strange. anyways, I blogged about it and I actually feel better and it was amazing to just sit and bawl like a baby, it was very healing.
I know chemo is not the enemy but my body feels different. I'm not having the blurred vision yet and I'm surprised but I have chemo brain so I can't remember what day that hits.
Here is a link to my blog if you're interested. I used to write a lot and it's been very therapeutic for me.
http://redeemed1.wordpress.com/
Hope everyone is going ok today
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Oh pinkninja, you've been in my prayers lately, I knew since we hadn't heard from you that it was probably pretty bad. I know your DH and sweet Kiku are a huge comfort.
I am in the chair for round 5, I'm almost embarrassed to say I got another A+ on my labs which my MO says is almost unheard of at this point. I hate that so many of you are not having good reports.
Praying for each of you today. JenKay, how are you after your ER visit? And Jennliza, how did work go? Mumford, glad to hear rads are going well so far, keep us in the loop. I will probably start first week of November.
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I'm ok. Still sick on top of the normal bone pain and fatigue so not doing much.
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Pinkninja, JenKay, Jennliza -- hope you guys feel better soon! Chemo is no fun, and yep, I look pale and bald, too, Pinkninja.
Mags -- hope your chemo goes OK today. Like you, my numbers are always pretty good; not sure why I've been so lucky.
I'm so excited I'll be able to go to bed early tonight. In the past two weeks, I responded to 70 paper proposals, wrote two sets of exam study questions, prepared two quizzes/quiz keys, and then graded 70 quizzes. Of course, these tasks took twice as long as they normally do and I made some embarrassing typos here and there. But, I'm pooped! Thursday, the grading will begin again when my afternoon class will produce midterms. I'm glad I'm working, though. Keeps my mind off of cancer and all that.
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