Starting Chemo in February 2016?
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Ladies, I HIGHLY recommend getting your head shaved on day 14-18!! especially if you're on Doxorubicin (AC, AC-T, AC-THP, etc)!!
When mine started thinning wildly on day 14, I really thought I could handle it. But around day 17, when it started coming out in bigger clumps, and I started looking like a Chernobyl victim, it took a HUGE -- and hugely unexpected -- toll on me emotionally.
Now that I've been buzzed, and no longer look like a nuclear disaster site, I'm back to my zany, silly self! Yay!
Exhibit A:
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guess I'll be buzzing Saturday instead of short pixie! It will be the day after my 2nd AC treatment so about 15-16 days out! Will see what happens when my stylist starts to cut it!
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seejuliago
- gorgeous - and check out your eyes...holy cow they are huge...I see some make up fun in your future now that you don't have to devote all that time to "hair care"...lol
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So, it's hitting me how far I have to go and I know I shouldn't do this but...I feel like I've been fighting hard and doing great and I am exhausted....and I'm only on day 6 of my first AC round. I've only worked two days! And not whole days! And I don't feel like I'll be much use at work tomorrow. Today I noticed my mouth is sore and my belly is making really scary sounds (all day! at work!)nothing, um, untoward happened, but what is this? I'm afraid to to take anything, not even sure what this is??? I'm tired and discouraged and only just started. Waaaaaah.
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Hello Reflect
Give yourself a break. This is your 1st week after your first infusion. My stomach is a mess too and Im tired thru out the day but I am pushing thru. Next week at this time hoping for a slight improvement. Hang in there.
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Tomorrow is a new day. Immodium has been my friend for the rumbling stomach as I am sure the big "D" is coming soon.0 -
Day 3 of first AC. How long do the rumbly tumblies last? I don't care for them.
Since others have been taking probiotics, I decided to have a small amount of milk kefir with blueberries this morning. Seemed to help.
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Ladies on your first round - the first week is the toughest. The 2nd week is about mopping up side effects. The 3rd week you feel like yourself again. Rinse and repeat. :-)
The rest a lot...don't feel guilty,
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Thanks Imani, I'm looking for that Immodium now. I hope I don't end up constipated like the first few days though! (OY).
SerenitySTAT, I just got the rumblies today (Day 6). Can't say how long it will last but, wow, scary noises. ( Did you skip the constipation? )
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Two 14-day AC rounds now, and my SEs have been consistent. I don't know whether this might help anyone...
Day 1: (chemo day) normal
Day 2: (neulasta day) constipated (Colace, Senna at bedtime)
Day 3: constipated (Colace, Senna at lunch & bedtime) and achy (ibuprofen as needed)
Day 4: painful restroom break (but settles back to normal on its own) and achy (ibuprofen as needed)
Day 5: exhausted (yay, naps!)
Day 6: exhausted
Day 7: exhausted
Days 8-13: back to a queasy/normal version of myself
Day 14: Food tastes like food again!! And not like fishtank!
Just in time to start the next cycle. At least, I HOPE to have another yummy meal this time too!
Luckily days 6 & 7 are weekend days for me; I basically just sleep off and on as much as possible.
I needed fewer pain & nausea meds this time than last, although I have been eating Tums soft chews like they're candy. Mmmm. Calcium.
I only encountered the Big D once, after the first Day 4 "clearing house" adventure. One dose of Imodium cleared it up immediately.0 -
reflect - I believe I was pre-constipated.
I had taken Dulcolax the night before chemo started.
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reflect-Hang in there. I will have my 4th treatment Friday. My tummy is almost always rumbling but no noises. Knocking on my wooden desk but no real C or D yet. One day I had really loose bowels and I ate a grilled cheese sandwich . The next day I was okay. Tuesday I did not have a bowel movement so Tuesday evening I ate a fruit salad and today I was okay.
The top of my hands is red and really itchy. I still have swollen glands and a scratchy throat. I get a queasy stomach every once in a while but no real nausea.
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Aw, reflect, I know that feeling.
I've felt that way for the past week after my first treatment, too. I'm on day 8 now and I feel so much better. My stomach felt like it was on the verge of the D or the V, but aside from a short but I haven't had either. I'm still way tired, but if I stop and think about what's happening to my body, it's no wonder how much energy it has to use to heal us and kick this nasty to the curb. Have grace, it will be okay.
Elise😂, you're a goofball!
Oh, no, Prailine! I wonder if you're having the same reaction Chambo did? Chambo how are your hands feeling.
Healing, restful wishes (and end to bubbly tummy wishes) to all of you
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Love it Julia.. Gorgeous!!! You too Elise! Haha silly.
NY30 I never thought of my Neopogen (older form of Neulasta I read) only being for bacterial. I have a very strong immune system and thought if it raises compromised WBC count I will be fine. Hmm...will query about flu shot now. Thank you.
Twice this week after one win away, I went to see my ten year old compete in public speaking. I was told to be careful in crowds for an extended period but I'm feeling great. Anyway, she won all! I cried. There were some colds and coughs and hope I will be fine. I've had sniffles but nothing major. It's all worth it. This is my best feeling time at Days 10 to 12.
So Day 12 and anticipating losing my hair soon. Itching has stopped and no loss yet. I feel I will wake up soon and poof! I'm anticipating yes and think emotionally will be fine but my emotions have been all over the map!
You are ALL beautiful. Thinking of you all!
💗💕🌾🎀
Love and light...
Piper
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@reflect take comfort that you seem to be on schedule! I was told with my AC that days 4-6 are the most tough. That was definitely true for me and it only went uphill day 7 and on. You should fine real relief day 10-14. Hang in there it does get better!
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Piper lovely post - and congrats to your daughter I bet she takes after you. I have a 10 year old too. Am going to watch her play in her first netball match tonight, she is super excited! X
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love all of the new buzz cuts!
I started putting coconut oil on my head for moisture. I also read that it creates a healthy scalp and regrowth;)
Praline- definitely ask chambo about the itchy hands as I think she found a remedy.
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thank you ScotBird. All the best to your wee netballer! Enjoy. I am aScot by close family decent. Aberdeen. Cameron Clan.
MDP I was going to ask about coconut oil. Thank you.
Piper
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I wanted to second what Chambo said, if you're on a three week cycle the first week kind of sucks, the second week is kind of like after any illness you don't feel awesome and you're a bit weaker than normal but you can do what you need to, and the third week you are pretty well yourself! I literally count to day 7 because it always starts getting better then.
Through three cycles of chemotherapy, I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised how normal my like is for the most part.
Also, it's better than a Brazilian bikini wax for hair down there!
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I'm on weekly Taxol and Herceptin. I'm having my 3rd treatment today. My lips started getting severely chapped earlier in the week. I'm wondering if it was chemo-induced or maybe I'm allergic to some of the lip stuff I was using? I've been putting Aquaphor on them and that really helps.
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Piper - oh the itchy hands! Still haven't got it resolved myself, but some things are working better than others. Antihistamine (like Claritin or Zyrtec) plus a Pepcid AC taken together will settle the itch down to a bareable level for 4-5 hours. The problem is you can only take Pepcid AC 2x in 24 hours...so I reserve the cocktail for right before work and about 1/2 hour before bed for my calmer skin time. Topically, so far the best help has come from any creme that has lidocaine in it (I had some LMX left over from a procedure a year or so ago). I put a dab of it on and a dab of Cortizone 10 and lightly rub it in. After a few minutes, the worst of the itch settles down and I can function again. When it is super bad, nothing feels better than an ice pack or frozen peas to take the fire itch away. I've been doing a ton of research - it happens to people getting chemo in the taxane family (Taxol, Taxotere, etc) about 20% of the time. It usually starts on the thumb and first finger and then spreads out. but stops at the wrist. Some say it is just mild hand/foot syndrome but settling on the top of hands instead of palms - others think it is "dermal toxicity" that settles into the hands because cells turn over there faster than just about anywhere else, so lots of chemo circulates through them. Most the research suggest icing hands during infustions to help cut down on the itch. I'm definitely doing that next week! That's all I know so far...please share if you come up with something that makes the dreaded itch go completely away...my poor hands could use it.
Hairfall - so my Charlize Theron crew cut, just became Mad Max buzz cut last night as I got tired of the hairs everywhere. Then, as I was rinsing off the little hairs in the shower, I realized the pressure of the shower head was even causing what was left to continue to fall. I expect it will all be gone by the weekend - Kojack, I guess? Lollipop, anyone?
DeaconLady - my lips got bad during my Thrush phase. Is your tongue getting coated with a white paste like covering? If so, get thee on the phone to your MO asap. Otherwise, lots and lots of water and chapstick helps.
Cheers to Thursday, Ladies!
PS - have you figured out your St. Patrick's Day headwear yet?
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Good morning my friends!
Oh, itchy hands...I had this, too but it only lasted a couple days. I took Claritin, in fact, was already taking it for the Neupogen injections when the itchies came up. The dr told me to take Benadryl at night also. Not a good idea, I think I slept an hour that night and was wide awake, but it seemed to have helped. Now I have a fine thin layer of scabs over my knuckles that looks like dry skin flaking up.
I buzzed cut my hair to about a half inch on Tuesday after growing weary of the hair in my mouth, eyes, food, etc. That lasted a day when I realized it was still in my mouth, eyes, food, etc, but just smaller pieces. So, last night took the ol clippers and shaved my noggin down. I have a nice shaped skull, but it's sickly white. I look pretty awful, but have yet to put on makeup as I was letting the teenage boy acne try to subside a little. So glad I have a few cotton knit caps, it's amazing how cold it feels! I will have to say to those who have yet to buzz their heads..the building up to actually cutting it is the worst and maybe for a couple hours after, then I felt like it is what is it and it was time to move on and sport the new hats I had lined up for this.
Do any of you ladies have nose irritation? I have had it several days and have has some blood tinged clear mucus, but it feels like my nose passages are swollen and they are pretty sore and when I use a flashlight to look inside, the passages look very red. I just put a call into the MO to see if this is normal. I get my 2nd dose next Tuesday and don't want to delay. After Tuesday I can say HALF DONE! Woot.
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Good morning! So day 3 post second treatment and not too bad this time so far. Thx for the ice tips, no sores in the mouth so far! Nauseous and tired and can feel the achy bones but staying positive that the end result is worth it. Hardest part is my two girls seeing me in the bed.
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Itchy hands seem to always bother me in the evenings for some reason. Yesterday I used Gold Bond medicated cream. It worked.
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Dgail620 Yep, runny sore nose all the time. I figured it was lack of nose hairs. The blood has disappeared for now. I use Ocean Nose Gel which really makes it feel much better but it's still runny
Tomorrow is round 2 of TCHP! I have to admit this time Im a little scared about the SEs since they got so bad last time but I have an appt. this morning with my MO to go over what I can take and when preventatively rather than just treating symptoms as they come up. I am looking forward to 3 days of steroids. I get a lot of cleaning done!
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Piper- I'm glad you were able to get out for your daughter's event. My own kids have Science Olympiad State Finals this Saturday and I want to go, but I'm concerned. My WBCs were way down Monday 😕
Ha! Jill- that would make an excellent tshirt "My oncologist does AMAZING Brazilian Bikini Waxes 😂"
I 2nd Chambo, Deaconlady. If that's thrush, you want to smack that down. Thrush is no fun.
I'm on day 9 and feeling a bit better. Woke up this morning with tummy ick, but immediately took some meds and took a walk. That anti nausea med makes me sleepy 😴 Healthy thoughts to you all
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My MO called in a glorious mouthwash for me called "MAGIC MOUTHWASH " for thrush and mouth sores and it has changed my life.
It wasn't covered by my insurance but well worth it.
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Thanks, ladies. My tongue and mouth are fine. Lips are better with aquaphor. Just finished 3rd taxol and herceptin. First time with port. It was fine but the initial stick was a doozy. 😣 I will get the emla cream so that ought to help. Now if the itchy part would stop where the port is.
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Scotbird, I am a cold cap user and we are told not to put our hair in ponytails because it pulls at the follicles. Before chemo I used to wear my hair up all the time, take it down before going to bed, and always find hair on my pillow the next morning. Ha! You should have seen what my brush would look like after showers! my fiancé would always poke fun at how much my hair would shed. As I started preparing for cold cap use I stopped pulling my hair back and noticed an immediate difference! As soon as I stopped pulling it back my normal shedding seriously cut down. So maybe try wearing it down? It's hard when you are active but it really does help. The 3 no's for cold cap users are: no heat, no pulling, no chemicals. We are advised to use wide tooth combs and hold our hair at the base when brushing as not to pull. I'm happy to send you the more detailed hair care info they shared if you PM me
Suzted7, I had my 2nd treatment Tuesday and my hair started shedding like crazy the next day! I started to freak out but posted on the cold caps forum I've posted below and they lovely ladies stated that it is completely normal...That each of us will have an initial primary shed but that it will slow down. Hang in there!!! I've already started to notice my shedding calm down. I lost half of what I lost in the first 3 weeks yesterday but I still have a head full of hair.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topics/735873?page=506#idx_15180
❤️👊🏽❤️
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LTF- I just used that Brazilian comment to someone today!!! Too funny! It's a Brazilian wax without the pain!
The coconut oil feels so good on my scalp and it combats any dryness or itchiness.
I'm heading towards my second treatment next Tuesday and I'm sooo dry... Eyes, mouth, skin. I'm drinking tons of water too. My face is literally soaking up moisturizer.
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