Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
Comments
-
Ack Artista beat me to it. Lol what she
0 -
This taxol tingling has hit my feet. I'm walking around in gel filled sockettes (not sure how else to describe them) and its helping. Just wondering if reflexology would help. I've never had it before. Anyone know?
0 -
I don't get massages regularly.
I'm doing neoadjuvent chemo so I haven't had any surgery yet.
I know I'd need to have them make adjustments for my port, but wondering if I just had them do a light relaxation massage if it would be ok. I hate hard massages so I've always told any masseuse that my goal is relaxing, very low pressure
0 -
I would think reflexology would be good for neuropathy. Can you check with your doctor
0 -
Acupuncture is what's recommended for neuropathy.
0 -
When I started Taxotere I had tingling in my feet and hands. The dietician gave me some printouts and recomended 10 mg of L-Glutamine 3 times a day. It helped significantly I haven't had any nueropthy for some time.
I have read that Taxol is higher in Neuopathy than Taxotere. i think it just depends on the person
The taxoids: paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere).
0 -
my nails have thickened and have ridges. They grow out fast but they are hard to cut. I also have white lines started to grow in from the bottom. It's gross. Like really old people nails. I hope it goes back to normal after chemo.
0 -
Artista - I finished fourth found of A/C this past Tuesday. My first of 12 weekly Taxol treatments starts Nov 17. (I don't know if Taxol is the same as Taxotere.)
0 -
Lisa- Did you have more good days on AC than bad? The nausea is the worst as is the head crap feeling.
0 -
And back to wanting to cry: prednisone steroid seems to have helped hives and appetite but now Big D and Imodium. Which lovely drug is causing this? The chemo or predisone? I have 4 more days of prednisone so I'm praying it's not that. So freaking frustrated! I was having an excellent day!!
0 -
LindyC I tried b complex vitamin for neuropathy and it's working to help with the tingling. Mo office said I could just do b6 or b12. They also said glucosamine or I think it's L glutamine. Haven't tried that yet but will if it gets worse after DD taxol #2 next wed. I felt better after last weekend
Hang in there ladies, we've got this. A lot of us are at the half way mark or almost there. And those that just started we will be here thru it all for one another.
0 -
Shopgirl..thanks, i will try any and all if necessary. Fingertips look like sausages ready to split. Holding onto ice packs for now. Typing isn't too bad with my hard long fingernails taking pressure off the fingertips
and the weirdness continues.0 -
what are you ladies running on your RBC/hemoglobin/hematocrit?
Mine are all low, 3.76, 11.1, 34.4.
I'm so tired. Is that why? Or just cancer/chemo?
I had my third AC on 11/2. Only real SEs tiredness and constipation
0 -
what are you ladies running on your RBC/hemoglobin/hematocrit?
Mine are all low, 3.76, 11.1, 34.4.
I'm so tired. Is that why? Or just cancer/chemo?
I had my third AC on 11/2. Only real SEs tiredness and constipation
0 -
Your rbc is low. That alone makes you anemic imo. Check with your doc to see if you need to up the iron or something. I just got done with 3 rounds of it last week and feel better.
0 -
artists -3 rounds of what? Iron infusions? Thanks for posting.
0 -
Yes, iron infusions. Took a few days after it was done to feel the effects, but man I felt better after them. I had it Mon-Tues-Wed an hour each time. You need iron to kick the bone marrow to produce red cells. After that, the hg and crit should follow upwards.
0 -
Artista - I had more good days than bad over four rounds of A/C. My worst SEs were either short/addressable (ex: nausea that compazine + steroids eliminated) or were manageable (ex: mouth sores, fatigue).
SEs, especially fatigue, seem to be cumulative. So I have bounced back more slowly with each round. (I stupidly expected all rounds to be like round 1.)
Be proactive about combating SEs constipation. Ask your MO or nurse or PA for advice if you're struggling with an SE. A/C is tough but do-able. And you're tougher than the A/C. Keep us posted as you go.
Hazel - My most recent values: RGC = 3.75, HGB = 12.4, HCT = 36.8. They are all low but within range. The fatigue may just be the chemo running roughshod over our bodies. (For me, being sleepless-on-steroids until last night didn't help.) Hang in there.
0 -
Minnesota- thanks for the reply. I am impatient to feel better.
0 -
RBC = 4.38
HGB = 13.2
HCT = 39.7
These values were right before my last infusion. I don't have blood work between infusions.
0 -
I also recently completed AC and am on day 3 post DD Taxol. Am taking B6 and Glutamine to ward off neuropathy. Steroids wore off last night. Neulasta shot yesterday too. Feeling ok this morning so far. Drinking buckets of water. Ugh. No tingling feet or hands yet.
Its do helpful to hear how others in this stage are doing. Makes me feel less alone. Thank you so much for sharing!
So happy for everyone who is completing AC. Hang in there! You are strong.0 -
Hi
My numbers for wbc rbc hemog. Are all a tad lower. Below average. We're trying to help these with diet/exercise and right before dose #3 we were improving but yesterday right before ac dose#4 jello shots the counts were lower, constant battle but I'll take it. Frustrating but we'll beat it.
I wonder if taxol dd will be as harsh on the blood counts?
0 -
Shelly...you and I are on the same treatment plan, right down to the start date. Wish I had thought ahead for taking B6 and glutamine beforehand...neuropathy is present but not a big issue. I will get those supplements when I can. Both my DH and me were hit hard with a cold and not moving around much today.
0 -
For those struggling with fatigue and have the low rbc, doesn't hurt to ask about iron infusion to you dr, esp if insurance will cover it. Best thing my mo did for me before starting chemo.
0 -
Hazel, my counts are slightly lower than yours. My MO said that the low RBC is probably why I'm still tired. I was anemic when I was pregnant, and iron supplements didn't agree with me (my first experience with severe constipation and hemorrhoids). So I'm staying tired and being monitored because chemo has reunited me with constipation and hemorrhoids. I think the MO said that Taxol wasn't as harsh on blood counts as AC, but that might have just been WBC.
I'm trying to muster the energy to go to a hog cooking an hour away. Family, good music, and good food (that I can't taste). Getting out of the house will be good, right
0 -
My counts just before AC#4 last week were 3.48, 10.4, 31.1....doc says they are low, but acceptable.
0 -
Here are my labs from 10/9 that got my MO to get me iron infusion. Didn't see if it's in range but I'm glad she did or I'd probably feel more fatigued.
..........11/2.......................10/9
WBC..... 7.6...................... 9.7
RBC.......4.54....................3.9
Hct.........37.6....................30
Hgb........11.5....................9.5
0 -
LindyC I was hit with a painful UTI 2 days after taxol #1 so I actually felt worse on taxol than AC for the first few days. I had bad pains in my knees and legs. I had neulesta and usually get neck/back pain so I knew the other pain was from the taxol. Also learned that I needed to drink a lot more water on taxol than I had been doing on AC and not just juice. Feel better.
Shelley glad you are doing ok on taxol. Most post I see on other threads are for weekly taxol not DD so glad to see another DD gal to compare notes with.
MinesotaLisa yup the fatigue adds up. My mo said its the top SE that he hears from his patients.
0 -
so ladies I did it today... I went bald in public. Today is my 6 mo cancer anniversary since I was diagnosed on May 7th. And the bald outing happened because I was having a hot flash in a store shopping for a bday present for my sister. I had gone to the bathroom and took off my buff because I was dying of the heat. I went to wash my hands and saw how red and sweaty my head was and said to myself to heck with it... I am too hot to care. So I finished washing up and went out bald. Funny thing was I got less stares bald than I did with a buff on. I think people were too surprised to look and stare. Or maybe they just didn't want to look at me.
So after that I didn't put back on my head covering unless I was cold. I realized that I was covering up not for me but for other people. I will now cover up if I am cold and to heck with everyone else. This is what cancer looks like to those who stare or look at me and do the sad smile or tilt their head and do the pity look.
Plus I actually felt better bald headnaked and that's all that matters most.
0 -
Shopgal - Good for you!! Your story of going bald is inspires me.
Speaking of iron deficiencies.... I just wolfed down 6 ounces of sirloin hubby grilled to perfection. At four days post-A/C, my taste buds are about 75% back. That steak tasted like the best thing I've ever eaten.
Scotland - I hope your roast was a visit to Hog Heaven.
0
