Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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I'm on day 20. Thankfully, there are more good days than bad. Keep on! I may not post much, however I do try to read all of the posts.
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kudos to the sisters holding down full time outside the home jobs! I don't know how you're doing it.
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the metal taste kicked in today. Now I understand why you should not eat your favorite food during this time. I may never eat roasted turkey again.
I fought with the insurance company over my wig. I can't buy locally, have to order from 3000 miles away. So frustrating! At least I have a few hats and scarves when it all comes out.
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Hey everyone. Appreciate all the well wishes with this port. I don't feel much pain yet at the actual incision. My neck feels sore, and weird, but my shoulder blade hurts. Not sure why my back would be sore. Maybe they tossed me around. LOL. Didn't need extra pain meds when I left the hospital, but I just took some Norco or whatever it's called.
I guess we have a mixed bag of people feeling better and some feeling worse. I wish we could all just sail through this, but no such luck. I do appreciate all of these detailed posts so whichever way it goes, I feel better prepared with all of your comments and tips. Welcome to all the newbies, and hugs to everyone!
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Just checking in to say I've been reading all your posts and appreciate all your updates! I get my port Thursday, have chemo class on Friday, and start chemo Monday. I am thinking positive thoughts and sending the same out to all of you! I started a part time teaching job today and wore my wig so they won't all be confused in a few weeks! It was hot and itchy (I'm in Phoenix!) but not too bad. My insurance wouldn't pay for the wig either mom2boo. I just went ahead and got one on my own. I also got cold mitts and socks but nothing else. Gotta figure that out over the weekend. Cheers to all of you!
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Thank you for the welcome.
My first time I had horrible mouth sores. The next time They suggested I suck on ice through the first 10 minutes of the of Taxotere and Carboplatin ( not the Herceptin) this worked when I tried it an restarted Chemo 8 weeks later. I will let you know how this round goes as I sucked on ice today.
Also the first time I had terrible terrible bone pain so the next time I took Claritan 10mg two times a day 12 hours apart starting the day of Chemo instead of once a day last time. I had very little bone pain just an ache in my ankles. I talked to the MO today when I went in for my next round and not only was he fine with it he said He might recommend that dose to other patients as that wasn't a significant amount.
The day I had to shave my head was just plain awful. I had a friend who is a stylist come in late when her shop was closed and do it. I think I chose 14 days after Chemo. I cried a lot but something good did happen. I went home and put on my makeup I had been given at the "look good feel better" cancer class. I dressed up and then saw my kids when they got home. They were so supportive. My daughter (11) ran to get her earning box to lend me something cute to go with my new look. My son (8) just looked at me for awhile and asked " Mom are you wearing lipstick" We all laughed and I felt so much better. It is kind of a nice memory that I have now. It turned a really hard day into something I cherish with my kids and husband. We have to find little moments of joy from Kindness through this journey. This was especially true after my hair finished thinning to nothing and I had to wait 8 weeks for my next chemo.
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i hope tessu is doing ok. I had a sore throat and kept obsessively taking my temperature. This time of year I think illness is inevitable. I've gone through 2 bottles of Hand soap in a week.
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SouthernCharm-- So happy for that clean scan! I know that made your day! So glad your first day wasn't so bad. Happy for your daughter and glad she was there with you to help pass the time. Fingers crossed for good days ahead!
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Southerncharm you are beautiful, congrats for daughter engagement and even bigger congrats for negative scan.
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Southern Charm, YAY! and good heavens are you adorable.
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I am wondering about this steroid thing... I start low dose Taxol on Thursday. I know they will be giving me Benadryl but didn't know about the steroids. How do you manage them? Does everyone lose their hair on Taxol? I have almost shoulder length hair and yes, it is a vanity thing.. One of my best friends is my hairdresser. She has shaved heads before for chemo unfortunately. I guess I am ready if need be. Have hats and a synthetic wig. All my best for easy side effects for all of you on chemo this month.
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Yay SouthernCharm! So glad the day went well: nothing better than planning a wedding, so congrats on that, and congrats on the clean scan! WooHoo!
Octogirl
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Hi Judi1952: No one said anything to me about steroids before treatment but I asked MO before treatment started, and yes, I got them, in my drip and a Rx for three days after each treatment. At end of day three I thought three days was overkill and was thinking about asking for a reduction with round two, but now that I am at day five I am not sure. I had a relatively easy time days one through three, so why mess with a good thing? (Day four, on the other hand, wasn't as great but that was after steroids). The biggest problem with the steroids is that I couldn't sleep and got really sleep deprived. I'd ask your MO for suggestions on how to handle that (I haven't heard of anyone not getting them in some form or another; they are supposed to reduce nausea, I believe, and I have also read they reduce likelihood of infection, though I don't know that to be true), and also take that into account in scheduling stuff. I am working full time but the worst of the sleep deprivation was on the weekend so that piece of it didn't have a huge impact on work. That said, my work is desk work: I really wouldn't have been comfortable doing anything truly physical while I was sleep deprived.
Slept like a baby last night, though I am sure that the Ativan I took (an optional RX from my MO) helped with that!
Hugs
Octogirl
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Day six post round one: Today was much better than yesterday! No queasiness at all, and I do have very slight stomach issues, but nothing that kept me from putting in a full day at work. Yesterday was the only work day I didn't work; I do find work and staying active to be distracting. The neuprogren pain is just about gone, and the fogginess that I was getting from being sleep deprived from the steroids also seems to be gone.
Biggest problem remains a very slight but annoying headache I've had since Day One, and the metallic taste in my mouth that others have also mentioned. Linda mentioned that vinegary stuff tasted most normal: that is also true for me. If I could survive on pickles, I'd be fine. Anything sweet tastes awful. Meat, chicken, poultry has little taste at all. Everything else tastes of metal. Unpleasant, but not insurmountable, and a small price to pay!
My hair is feeling limp. Still there though. Sure that will change.
tessu, hope you are feeling better today! AnnieB43: hope you are resting when your body tells you to do so! It is exhausting! How is everyone else? Summer fun, did you start today? Good luck to everyone and I hope everyone has a good night's rest!
HUGS
Octogirl
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Hi ladies
Just checking in to see how everyone is doing.
I got my port today. Went shockingly easy and no pain. I had twilight sedation so no nausea that I usually get with regular anesthesia (thank God!) I haven't taken any pain meds, but might take some Tylenol preventatively before I got to sleep.
I start steroids tomorrow and chemo on Thursday. Nervous about SE's....
Question: those of you who got wigs and are happy with them, what brand did you get? I've been looking at them online and don't know where to start.
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KatieJones523: Good luck with the start tomorrow and welcome. Will put you on the list...Hugs!
Octogirl
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I was at least one of the ones with the flushing and "sunburn" look. I'm not sure which drug causes it but I've seen it blamed on the steroids and the Neulasta. The good news is that it went away by about day 6-7. 😉
And what in the WORLD was that nurse thinking?!0 -
hello my warrior friends! I agree with several of you that so far, 6 days post first chemo, was the worst. Neulasta shot caused really bad head ache and major neck pain. Yes, up peeing 3-4 times a night, not sleeping great but did feel better this am. I try to walk at least 10K steps a day and it really helps. The mettalic taste is there so lemon drops are my friend.
I tried a snack this afternoon of unsweet applesauce with ginger cookies crumbled in. Very tasty and seemed to calm my icky stomach.
CarolinaAmy I am so sorry your port is causing you problems. I guess I just lucked out with mine healling quickly. Sure hope yours will be better soon. We live so close! I am in Winston-Salem area.
LindyC maybe I will try a salad tomorrow. I've had slight D so was reluctant but I am a salad fiend. For protein I like a slice or two of deli turkey wrapped around cheese with spinach leaves.
Sorry for those of you debating the anti-hormone treatment. Being 66 it's not a consideration for me however, I do wonder if 8 years on HRT may have triggered my BC. Plus enjoying my red wine!I have always been very healthy and fit so of course like others, I have wondered what i did to get the C. Can't go back so just do better going forward!
Wishing you all comfort and a good nights sleep. We can do this!
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Annie, I laughed about your comment about Disneyworld because I know exactly how you feel! I was so tired on day 5 that I couldn't even get out of bed to pee! I am on day 11 (exact half way point) and happy to report that I am 95% normal. Energy is back. Mouth sores are gone. Finally pooping like normal again!
We can do this girls! For those a few days behind, be strong. My SEs were brutal and I got through it and have come out the other end, still fighting. You can too!
By the way, I got a stat referral to a gastroenterologist (going tomorrow) to work on getting my digestive system under control (the worst of my SEs were related to heartburn). I will let you know if I get any new information that might help others.
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Edwsmom, as soon as I found out I was having chemo I went to a wig shop to get a wig. I was totally surprised at how cute some of them are. I bought a sysnthetic one that matches my hair perfectly. Will post a pic. tomorrow I have my head buzzed and my stylist is going to trim the wig. I have professional obligations and really did not want to do the bald look. I have also found so many cute ideas for tying scarves in to turbans so am certain that will be my go to approach. By the way, my insurance covered the cost of the wig (cranial prosthesis RX)
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My wig is a Noriko brand. It is the only brand I tried on so I can't compare to others. I have read that the Raquel Welch wigs are high quality. I'm dreading the hair loss but the wig shopping was a little fun. I will say that you really need to try them on if at all possible.
End of day 5 for me and I'm still hanging in there. Very tired and achy, dry mouth, heartburn. Yesterday was hard to drink fluids. Today I mixed Gatorade and water and that went down better.
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I met with my oncologist today. Still no start date, but he is thinking it will be this month. I need to have another biopsy, plus PET scan and EKG before we start. Chemo will be 4 drugs. 3 week cycles and 6 rounds of chemo, so 18 total weeks. I was thinking about working through the first round, but with cold and flu season coming plus shifting my work because I can't handle my normal samples while immunocompromised, I may just use short-term disability.
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I'm glad those of you who started a few days ago are doing better. It's so good to hear! Does everyone get those shots that cause the bone pain? I guess I will find all of this out when I go to the "class."
I also got a wig already and you do need to try them on. I have a very small head so it was good to find one that fit. It is not real hair. Make sure to take a friend along! Here is a picture of the wig:
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glensea starting chemo 9/23
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glensea 9/23/15
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I just joined the website and would love to join. Starting on 9/17...
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Good Luck to all you September 2015 girls, I am from the September 2012 girls, I had a lumpectomy, AC and herceptin and am now just finishing my third year of Tamoxifen...it is wonderful to share on a forum like this with ladies going through the same stuff..you will come out the other side and probably be friends for life...
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start chemo today with steroids taken yesterday. Slept an hour and a half (with klonipin help I think). Now wide awake with achy/restless legs and mildish headache. Nothing horrible--just the fun starting0 -
Welcome Glensea, Rosevilledawn, and Jabe to the Community and to the Chemo group.
We hope y'all are finding your way around the boards.
Best of luck with your upcoming treatment, We'll be thinking of ye!
The mods
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