Starting chemo August 2014
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I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I thought today would be better, but it's wiped me out. Just can't do much of anything. Day 2 was easier and gradually gone downhill a bit. My throat feels like it's been scorched. Face still very red. Headaches not quite as bad. Just ache all over. It's hard to stay down, but this has kinda knocked me. Hope to go to work tomorrow at least for while.
Need something cold to eat but nothing tastes or sounds good.
Hope everyone is hanging in there! We will win this battle!!
Hugs to all!!
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Hope50, I'm so sorry you're feeling so badly.... I hope tomorrow's a better day for you.
Hugs to you
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Donna - I lived in NJ for years and I love pork roll. You can't find it here in CA. Not much sounds very appetizing but pork roll sounds delicious right now. You know thats all I'm going to think about and crave now. Lol
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hope50 hang in there! You can do this.Hugs to you!!!
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thank you for all your encouraging words ladies...
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Hope50 - I hope tmrw brings some relief. Day 3 was my worst and I seem to have the same cocktail as you. It got better for me. Hang in there!
Tried on my wig and head covers tonight to see how I looked. It is going to take some getting use to for me.
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i start Chemo Thursday so I have about 2 weeks left until I will shave my head depending on w it starts falling out. I have bought scarves and a sleeping hat and they are all nice but I want a wig and my family thinks its a dumb idea. I don't work. I just do household stuff and go to church but I still want the option to have hair w I go out. The family thinks I won't wear it and that I'm trying to please other people but the fact is I'm just a little self conscious about being a bald woman. I wish I wasn't. I would love to be brave and just go out bald or in a scarf, and I might get there but for now I want a wig. Any ideas on how to convey this to my husband and daughter? I don't care if I never wear it. I just want it there....sorry if this sounds silly, but I needed a place to vent and get ideas. Thanks Amy
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justamy - my sister told me that QVC had wigs on the other day for $59 -$99 that were very nice. Maybe you can look online and see if they are nice or not.
Also, can check with local BC ctr at hospital, they sometimes offer health and wellness program once a month or so and may offer a free wig.
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Thanks for thr ideas! I found one online I really like for $70 which is fine. I just don't know how to show my family that its important to me to get one. It just hurts me that they don't get it. They are so supportive otherwise.My hubby has arranged to get off work for every doctor appointment and will go to every chemo but when it comes to this, he just thinks I'm being silly...
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LOL Wizard! It's 1:30 AM and now I'm craving pork roll too! Don't know why I'm awake, I think I'm hungry!
Amy, there's a catalog/ online store paulayoung.com. My mom got her wigs there for years. Many as low as $40. I ordered one but it needs to be styled and cut. Headed to the wig store to try some in person. Try telling your family you want to feel normal. Depending on the situation, I want to blend in, not stand out. Perhaps share that angle. GL
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Amy you can get wigs under 20 dollars on Amazon. As far as your family goes just tell them. Tell them it's important to you and if they try to tell you it's silly, let them know they are upsetting you.
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Hi Everyone,
I am gearing up for a busy week. Starting with a mani/pedi and lunch with a friend today. Then echocardiogram tues, port placement thurs and 1st chemo Friday. I'm feeling nervous and anxious but all you stories of first experiences are great. I am also looking at attending a "Look Good, Feel Better class." For those of you who have, was it worth it? The next one isn't until Sept 8 which is right after my second treatment.
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Hi Amy,
If you and your family are out shopping at the mall for example and you are noticeably without hair, how will you or they feel if strangers come up to you to share their cancer experience? I have heard this does happen on occasion. I am sure folks have good intentions and some people may welcome the interaction, but others may not. Having a wig gives you the option to wear it or not wear it depending on how YOU feel.
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Hello all - I'm in day 5 past chemo and 3 past neulasta shot. I called the Dr. last night since my temperature was at 100.5 and that is the threshold. I hate getting sick on weekends, so I decided to call since it wasn't too late but since I'm not feeling chills or other serious pains yet they said to keep it monitored. I'm quite hungry frequently and had a craving for a burger last night. I just have to keep eating what I can, what tastes good and frequent small meals. I can feel my motor running so I'm trying to keep it up, plus tons of water. My mouth is a bit cottony/ mealy so I just keep washing it out with baking soda rinse. So far so good. Dr. said it was likely early for my WBC to go down far. I guess we all learn about ourselves through this process. My temp is down this morning and going to get a digital thermometer today (it takes too long). Also took an Alleve a bit ago to hopefully keep down the aches.
Hoping to get my hair cut today and so I took some selfies with my kitties. I don't usually do this but this makes me happy so here are the two. Jet is all black, and Jesse is the tabby. Both 1 1/2 year old brothers who aren't cuddly but very curious and let me hold them. Hang in there to those of you feeling lousy...it should pass but take good care of yourselves!! We can do this!
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Thanks for all the wig tips everyone. My family will eventually go along with me but I just want them to UNDERSTAND. Thanks for being here and listening to me. It helps so much because I know you get it.
Kellog: Good luck with the whirlwind of a week you have coming. Prayers that all goes easy peasy.
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hope, day 3 was the worst for me too.
For all of you struggling to eat, don't worry about nutritious or what other people say works good, just eat. If all you want is ice cream, eat ice cream. If the only thing that doesn't sound disgusting is bread, eat bread. If nothing sounds good make a smoothy, or soup, or eat something you don't have to chew, like mashed potatoes. Also, if you are puking, avoid rice.
My advantage, if you want to call it that, is having worked through the worst morning sickness for 3 months with each of my kids. It was bad enough the second time that I only gained 7 pounds, and he was an 8 pound baby.
My issues have been diarrhea and fatigue, after the bone pain and general aching subsided. I am afraid that I will feel worse with every chemo and eventually have to quit work and spend my life on the couch 20 hours a day.
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Amy,
My oncologist gave me a brochure for an organization called Cancer Action. They have wigs, scarves, hats and many other things for free. I got a free wig and several other things from them. I start chemo Thursday and am really dreading losing my hair, but seeing the wig everyday helps ease the anxiety for me. I found a wig that looks almost like my own and even my husband can't believe how close it looks to my own hair. Hope you have a great week. I will be thinking of you on Thursday. We can do this!!!!!!
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Hello everyone:
My name is Carol and I will begin chemo on 8/26. I go for my echo on 8/21, chemo education on 8/25 and then the fun begins on 8/26 with port placement and first round. Chemo will consist of 4 cycles of AC and then 4 cycles of Taxol.
I will get my hair cut short this Wednesday (I've always had short hair but we're going even shorter this time) and a pedicure on Friday. Do I really and truly have to give up pedicures until treatment is over?
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Jetgirl, your kitty is gorgeous! You can see from my screenname that I appreciate a beautiful striped friend.
(Editing to add that I just noticed Jet! My eye went right to the tabby earlier and I missed your other beautiful cat!)justamy, it must be so frustrating that your family doesn't get your desire to have hair. I am guessing that once they can see your demeanor, and how much better you feel emotionally with a wig, things will click. I hope so! Maybe in a strange way, this is everyone's way of trying to remind you that you are beautiful no matter what!
I imagine that for a lot of us, there will be times when we have to tell our loved ones, "Look, I know you don't understand this, but you have to just accept that I'm doing what I need to do." For example, it was kind of scaring my husband when I really needed to vent one day, because he's used to my being pretty upbeat. And he kind of dismissed my venting and reminded me to be positive and I said, "Hey, there are going to be days when I have to do or say something you won't understand, so just roll with it." And he is trying - like your husband, amy, he is wonderful support. But there are just going to be things they don't understand, at least at first. We just have to follow our guts and do what we must to make ourselves feel as good as possible.
So, I wanted to check back in and share a bit more about my first infusion (Taxol/Herceptin) this past Friday. As I mentioned, it was really uneventful. I'm on Day 3 now, and still feel good. My onc nurse said that today is the day I might notice some lower back and hip pain - and I think I do, a bit, but I'm thinking it may simply be that I'm back to work today and parked in a chair. I did a lot of walking over the weekend and everything felt great. Yesterday and today I think I feel the end of my tongue tingling ever so slightly but...nothing much.
I was so scared before the first session, but I say very gratefully that getting over the first one made so much difference. Getting past the unknown helps, even if it's something none of us wants to be doing. The staff were so kind and attentive that I didn't worry about anything going wrong. They were clearly on top of everything. (I have been thinking that just the very word CHEMO is so terrifying. They ought to start calling it Magical Fairy Elixir or something.)
I was there about 5.5 hours, and it flew by. Various people came in to check and chat: my onc, a nurse, a social worker (to offer any support resources I might need), a "Look Good, Feel Better" consultant who brought a bag of head covers and a wig stand - we had some fun with that, and she also offered make-up tips for when my eyes go bald (I know I will hate that!).
Then my husband and I just hung out, read, drank some lattes, ordered in lunch from the hospital cafeteria (!) (we had the Thai Cabbage Peanut Salad, or as we call it, the Cancer Special) and chilled. It was oddly relaxing and not bad at all.
I've not been sick at all. I was prescribed Compazine for nausea, and the nurse recommended I take it before meals for the first couple of days, just in case, so I did on Day 1. Don't think I needed it but don't know, really. Then yesterday I didn't think of it, so just plunged ahead and ate, and was OK. I have a little bit of gastro action at times, but nothing severe.
Weirdly, I seem full of energy still. Could I still be jacked up on steroids? Haven't taken any since Friday morning.
I'm told I'll start losing my hair around Week 5, and that it will be gradual thinning. So I'm going to get a super short cut this week and adjust to that for awhile.The other SE I can count on, apparently, is some degree of neuropathy. My onc says L-glutamine powder is fine, though she couldn't cite a study to support it. She just cautioned me not to take any antioxidant supplements because "I am trying to poison you." GEEZ! She is a kick and I love her.
I'm sending love and good wishes to everyone who is struggling today. We can do this. We ARE DOING this. Cancer, you are going down!
Angela
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Had my first chemo last Thursday and I am just now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was put on compazine and that gave me the worst anxiety that I had ever had. We called the doctor on Sunday and they switched me to phengran. It finally seems doable, but this weekend with that drug I was questioning how I was going to make it.
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Today was a big day at the hospital. I dropped off my cold caps to the "staging" freezer to get them cold, and then they will be moved to the deep freezer the day before treatments. Got my chemo and cold capping supplies ready, just need to pack them. Starting chemo in three days-- had my chemo class today. Feeling scared and emotionally bruised. I think I'll feel better after the first tx is over. The risk of cardiac problems and shortness of breath for years after the AC really scared me. This is some serious s@&$. Add to that the fact that I can feel my tumor everyday, and my boobs are aching from the pregnancy, and I haven't got imaging studies done of both breasts because of the pregnancy ( it wouldn't change my treatment anyhow) but I can't be sure if there is just one tumor or lots -- it was a tough morning. I am seeing my MO the day before chemo, and finally got ahold of my BS assistant to try and talk with BS re: timing of surgery. My OB says second trimester is best, BS wanted to do something week 31. MO just wanted to roll through AC, then weekly taxol. I would like to have a bit more of a plan, people! I'm laughing because my desire to plan is being thwarted every step of the way. Is there some sort of zen lesson here? BS will crash my MO clinic appt, which is fantastic. The assistant says she know I am "anxious". Uh, yes, I am a bit, since we have a shrinking window for surgery. Either the next eight weeks, or January. So yeah, I'd like some consensus. Sorry for the rant. I guess that's what the boards are for.
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update...after going back to vomiting again, called oncologist and they suggested thqt the zofran is making headaches worse, etc. Hadn't taken it since Saturday but still in system? Now taking compazine as needed. Hopefully they will figure out another anti nausea med that works for me. Cannot eat at all. Wondering if I will be able to work. Had originally requested 50% medical leave (I teach at a university) for the fall semester, but now wondering if I can count on myself to bounce back at all. The nausea and overall depletion from not eating is what's bringing me down. Maybe I will feel better as it leaves my system. Here's hoping.
Hoping that all of you are having better days! Especially thinking of those of you who had first treatment today. Hope it was manageable.
Xx jess
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CJT511
I was told, no pedicures. But, I think I'm going to do it this weekend anyway. I saw my MO last week and counts were great. I'm great, so I'm going. Good luck to you.
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Welcome Carol
and purrrana99 – I have added you to our list. Dive in and we look forward to getting
to know you virtually.Kellogg2006:.
I hope you had a great time today! I say indulge when we can as we go through
this journey!Hope50 -- how are
you doing today? I hope today was better
for you. Day 4 – 7/8 were the worst for
me.Pangtidor
. You are right despite what we are
going through at this time we still have so much to be grateful for! Hoping your day is uneventful and full of
support medical staff, family and friends! ((Hugs)).Jetgal – Jess,
et al.
Once I stopped taken the Zofran my headaches all but disappeared.Mullerin – like the Candy Land analogy that is I felt after
day 4 when a new SE would show up each day.Jess – I believe
we are on the same cocktail and having similar SEs. Hope you are on the upswing ((hugs)).
The first three days after
treatment were really a non-event for me but boii o boii what a difference d ay
makes on day 4 I felt like a semi-truck hit me and it was downhill from there
until late last week. I am just at the
point where I feel OK, about 80% and this is day 10/11? I say I will have a good weekish in between
treatments where I can get things done. Each
day I had to make call the Onc Nurse
with each new SE that was surfacing and they would make adjustments or add new meds to my arsenal.I am back to about 80% today. What a difference two days can make. I still can’t taste anything but I can eat and
keep it down. I have resigned to the
fact that everything will taste like cardboard, but just happy I can eat and
will enjoy every meal until my next tx. I began to take Compazine as a nausea medicine
instead of just Zofran which I believe
helped . I am going to take Random ‘s advice
and eat what I can and what settles.Hugs to all that are having SEs. Thinking of those that will start treatment
this week.Those of us that are on
the upswing from our first treatment - -enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and pamper yourself.Justy Amy -- I am finding there are some decisions and
stances I am taking that my support group may not get at first but they are supportive and then it
just hits them of why it is important to me.
So I say go get your wig(s), show it off and they will understand.--Taking One Day at A Time – And today it was enjoying a
good meal, sunshine and had a good night sleep last night --Hugs to All
-Angie
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thank you Angie ladyb123.....
I'm in the waiting room for my first chemo, will see the MO first. Port was in yesterday. All the medical staff has been good&supportive. I just hate the pitty looks . I will have to get use it. Lol.
Terry1975, I guess the worst days will be on the 3-4days post chemo? I'm glad you feel better.
JustAmy, in my cancer center there is a wig room provided by American cancer society. They will give one free wig or 3-4 crafts/hats. There is a volunteer lady in there, BC survivor , taking the measurements and show me the options. The website is tlc.org for the wig. The local churches made port mini pillows for the seat belts, small 'boopy pillow like' for post mastectomy care, scarves, and wool caps. I do really appreciate all the volunteers in my center.
My friends who work in the cancer treatment will show me the offers I could get from American cancer society. I will keep you informed.
Today will be a long day for my chemo.
Welcome Alicia.
Hope everything goes well with all of you guys.
Hugs...
Shirley
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Oh Terri...I know, I know!!! No pedicures/manicures!! I know the docs know best, but DAMN!!!!! I will have my final one on Friday with no color, just the other good parts...massage, etc! But DAMN!!!
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Good luck Shirley. Hugs for you. I'm terrified for my first tx in two days. Hope everything is going smoothly for you right now. Good thoughts for you, sitting in that chair right now. Almost done with number 1!
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Hello friends!
Today has been better. Went to work for about 7 hours. Really struggling to eat. Nothing tastes good at all. Nothing to drink tastes good. Not sleeping the best, but hopefully in time. glad to have a better day. Still get pains in my stomach but it's not as frequent. Still get a flushed face.
I go get bloodwork checked on Thursday. Hopefully it's doing fine. Did anyone have major problems with their blood counts?
Live every moment!
Laugh every day!
Love beyond words!!
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Hey y'all, well I see that all of you have had various SEs, and are dealing with them as good as possible. I had my port placement surgery yesterday in my left arm. It's very badly bruised but it really doesn't hurt. Chemo is in two days and I'm really nervous. Also I have mixed feelings on taking the steroids, but I don't feel I have much of a choice. I'm just ready for this ordeal to be over!! To all of those who started chemo earlier in the month, thanks so much for sharing your experiences thus far! It has been so helpful to know what can possibly be expected, and to know that I'm not alone in this battle. We are all fighting together!
One love,
Tp4ever
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Had the port placed in my chest this afternoon. My neck is very sore. Just popped a couple of Tylenol. Did anyone else have a good amount neck pain after their port placement and if so, did it go away pretty quickly?
Robyn
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