Starting Chemo April 2016
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hi everyone, does anyone experience rash during their chemo? After my third round, I started to have patches of redness on both my inner thighs. The OC gave Nystatin but that didn't help. I just use coconut oil and apple cider vinegar. Oh and I also now have mouth dryness , and one spot swelling in my mouth? Does anyone else use anything different? Thanks.
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Do you have to have a prescription to get glutamine ? Do you get it in a pharmacy ?
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HOUSTON - For about a week after my 3rd round of AC I had a few pin size red dots on my thighs and stomach area and under my breasts. They only lasted about a week and are almost gone now. Mouth dryness and bumps and lumps in the mouth are very common. Biotene is a good mouth wash for that.
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CJ - Maybe a nice braid?
Houston - The Biotene toothpaste, mouthwash, and spray really help the bumps on my tongue.0 -
Numb - I just ordered my Glutemine off of Amazon. It's a supplement, so easy to get here in the States.
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Houston: Try oil pulling with Virgin Coconut Oil helps with mouth sores a lot, check out a video on YouTube.
Cj glad your hair coming back, Taxotere from the same Taxane family is also very drying, infact I had brown lines on my back. Used Virgin Coconut oil on body as well as Cerave to counter the dryness.
Last of 4 Thp on Friday and then on to the AC on 21 st.
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Hi CJ. Are you taking it for the first 4 days after each round or continuously? Also, how are you able to fit in exercise. I am struggling with trying to get to the gym. The 3rd and fourth rounds of AC were all consuming to get iv fluids and control nausea and fatigue. Feel normal now, but am starting weekly taxol this friday. A little nervous to feel sick again. Also working full time and trying to be a present mom.
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I take it daily. Figured it would be good to have it in me at all times. I've been working out daily on Taxol as it's a lot easier on me than AC. AC I ended up working out about 6 days out of 14. It was so hard. I honestly have had no nausea and feel a lot more energy with Taxol.
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Houston The chemo nurses told me about the sale-baking soda rinse for the mouth. It is cheap, doesn't have any extra chemicals and works like a dream. It's 1:1 baking soda to salt. Put a teaspoon in a small glass of water and swish.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil can actually be drying for skin. Seems strange but it is true. Better to do a mix of coconut oil, Shea butter and a liquid oil such as avocado or almond. I have a recipe on my blog to make a body butter out of it. If you need it, private message me and I will be happy to send you the link.
Houston: Rash, yes, very common. Mine shows up like hives. A couple here, a couple there. One of the first questions they always ask me is if I have had a rash. I am using aloe Vera jell and it works like a charm.
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Thanks ladies for all the great tips. Yes I have tried salt with baking soda in the beginning but I will check out Biotine, is this name of a mouthwash. My Dr. said no alcohol rinse. For the rash I went to my follow up today and OC said its fungal (ringworm) so she gave some cream for that. Yes my Dr. also said Taxol is easier than AC, they don't give you steroid or Neulastin, of which both give me problems. I'm hoping things are much better with Taxol.
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I get steroids with taxol. It is highly allergetic.
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Houston: I have the mouthwash, toothpaste, and spray!
https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=biotene0 -
I am feeling back to normal today. It is great that so many people find Taxol easier than AC. It is probably the people who just did Taxol and didn't do AC that think Taxol is hard. I guess it also depends on whatever other health issues a person might have, e.g. if a person has arthritis then Taxol might exacerbate aches and pains. I do think that getting 20mg of Dexamethasone sounds like a huge amount and I am wondering if you are tapered off that as the days go by or what ?
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I am not a big poster but do try to keep up to date with the board. I am halfway through chemo and it seems each round has affected me differently. The first round was the worst because they gave me double doses of some of my drugs. Round 2 was much better than R1...nothing I couldn't handle. Round 3 started off fantastic...but now the SE seem to have kicked in a week later!! Anyone else have this experience?
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TRBAllenTX - Welcome to this group. I am not on the same chemo as you are but I can tell you that Round 3 of AC floored me. As the effects are cumulative it would seem that each round gets harder. You will come out of it in a few days though, so don't panic.
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Hi all, I have not posted in the longest time... it's been hard to keep up with all the posts. I am still following along best I can and trying to use Facebook a little more too. Tomorrow I have my 4/4 AC infusion (last one). I cannot wait until this is over. I'm tired of the routine of it, quite frankly. But, in 3 weeks, I will start weekly Taxol for 12 weeks. While many say Taxol is easier, I sure hope so, but will not know until the first round. I'm preparing for anything at this point.
Each of the AC treatments have been very different for me but with some small similarities. The first and second ones were hardest for me. First, because of the specific anti-nausea meds that gave me the worst migraine I've ever had and the second, because of having my period at the exact same time and then the fatigue wore me down. This third round, I have been better energy-wise, but have had weird pains in various places and now have a big knot in my shoulder on my upper back opposite of my port. Not sure what that's from, but I'm getting it looked at today by a chiropractor. I think it's just a pulled muscle or pinched nerve. May not be related to chemo.
I wish you all well as much as you can be during this process. It is something that I'm sure none of us expected to be going through. The best thing we can all do is learn from this (in any way). I'm doing more reflecting and figuring out what I need to change in my lifestyle or with friends/family to help keep my stress level healthy and not ever go down this path again. Hope you all have a great day!
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Cant say enough positive things about the nutritionfacts.org website that susanbp recommended. It is empowering to read about how nutrition can help treat breast cancer and help to keep it at bay in the future. Also loved the Anticancer: a new way of life. Both helped me turn around my feeling of doom. I think susanbp recd that as well. Starting my first Taxol tomorrow. Nervous, but excited to get this going. Actually looking forward to surgery. Take care everyone.
Susanbp: I would love to read your blog if you don't mind posting it.
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Today I go in for TCHP round 4. To all the Taxotere/Carboplatin gals, hang in there. We're getting through this. I think I've got my routine down now: I spend the first week in bed and watching Hulu. I eat lots of simple foods the first week and it helps me avoid the big D. I gradually add activity in week 2 and feel so tantalizingly close to normal right before it's time to go back in and...
But as I said, we're getting through this. Hang in there.
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good luck bagger!
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Hi everyone,
I hope to be able to catch up with the thread soon. Thanks for thinking about me! I'm feeling soon much better, better rebound that I had with round 2.
Here's the list of what I did for the heartburn and nausea:
Peptobismal (that made me hurl on day 4)
Zantac (helped)
Pepcid daily
Zofran (hate the taste, it triggers a gag
8 mg, 2 xClorperizan or something like that
Lorazepam - that also helped the first time I took it.
What a crazy list! And now I am going to add CBD oil (approved for medical marijuana for nausea). I will work on a better routine like starting the prilosec. I feel like I'm just destined to vomit on Day 4 and it then is a turning point. I'm just so glad to feel better and feel my energy.
Yesterday, when I was working on my schedule for June and July (I'm done the last week of July with chemo screamo) I felt the stirrings of the end of the tunnel....AND today is hair wash day!
A
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hi everyone - I don't actively post these days because I'd like to limit my use of net becaus it takes me to many dark places and just makes my mental well being worse. Anyways, drinking any probiotic (kefir) helped me a lot in GI issues. Before my second round, I was warned to take Imodium right away to stop the big "d" since I lost. 8 lbs. well, I did when I hit 3x then I got constipation.
Preparing for my 3rd round next Thursday and I'd like to start asking my MO with stuff regarding follow-up care - test, scans, meds, Any suggestions would help me prepare my "list". I am Canadian and there are tests that are not covered or even mentioned for early stagers. I'd like to proactively seek out anything that will help me assess recurrence.
We are all superwomen and armed with faith and will to survive, we'll beat this! Have a wonderful weekend
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First Taxol today. No issues except the iv benadryl knocks me on my butt. Came home and slept for three hours and going to bed early. Hopefully they can reduce the dose. So far better than AC. No immediate chemo brain, nausea or bad taste in my mouth. Hope everyone has a good weekend.
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Good luck Kat! Looking forward to hearing how you do. Taxol was easier for me.
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That's great that those on Taxol are finding it easier. Could someone tell me what meds you get when going on Taxol. I am aware of the 20mg the night before. What's the Benadryl for ? What meds do you take the following days and do you take dexamethasone on the days after Taxol ?
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Numb - I didn't take anything the night before. I got 10mg of steroids first. then Benedryl and Pepcid AC. The Benedryl is there because a lot of people have an allergic reaction to Taxol, and they are being proactive in including an antihistamine in case. They do tell you to be very aware and if you have any tingling in the throat or trouble breathing to report it at once. It can cause back spasms, so be aware of that, too. I was fine, and took no meds after what was in the bag. Taxol is not known to cause nausea, and I just never took the additional steroids.
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So I will be starting Taxol on Monday. She decided on dose dense so it'll be every two weeks. My son graduates high school Friday so I'm hoping I'll be good then. Although all I really need to do is sit there!
Numb - I'll be taking 2 4 mg. of dexamethasone the day before but no more after. I realized that I seem to have been on less steroids than most of you after the AC rounds. I was only taking 2 4 mg for 2 days after. I did it for 3 days the first round but since things went well, she cut me back to 2. Everyone else seemed to be on higher doses. I think my premeds the day of Taxol sound similar to CJ.
The past couple of days, everything I eat that's dry (like sandwiches for example) taste ashy. I seem to only do well with things that are liquidy or saucy. I managed to not have the metallic taste this round but I might as well be eating sawdust! I've also had issues with irritation on the roof of my mouth. I've been doing the saline rinse or Biotene and it has cleared up some but not all the way. My doctor prescribed something called GelClair to use. It's a goopy liquid you mix with a little water and swish. I've only used it 2 days so I don't know for sure if it'll work but it tastes awful! You're not supposed to eat or drink for 30-60 minutes after either.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend!
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JLB - I am Canadian as well and some tests are only available if you meet the criteria to be authorized for them.
I'm not sure what tests you've had but I'll assume you have had bone imaging, and CT?
I paid for a private PET scan ($4000 and clean result) and asked about an oncotype test. The oncotype is only done (as explained to me) if you there's no lymph node involvement. They would do it to decide if you need chemo. It's another $4000 test performed by only one company in the states.
That's about all that I've come across. I'm in BC and things vary throughout the province and country. Let me know if you come across something useful.
On another note this is morning 2 of 4/4 AC! Hit the halfway mark! Wahoo. Only 7 more shots of Neupogen this week. Numb, you'll appreciate that. Next up, Meeting with radiologist and 12 rounds of weekly taxol
I hosted 11 people for hubbies bday for dinner last night and hoping the 4 yr old bday party and family dinner are doable tonight. These first 2 days are usually good. Knock on wood. Perhaps an antivan before the bday party would help. They are having a rescue society bring in tarantulas, snakes, spiders, bugs, skunks, raccoons, turtles etc) oh my!
Have an great day everyone !!' 💟💟
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Hello ladies glad to know all are doing well. Finished the 4/4 of TaxHerPerjeta yesterday and now start the AC on 21 June, working the other way around and hoping its not too bad as it sounds. So far other than the first cycle the others were not so bad.
Happy weekend to all.
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positivepower11 - glad to hear part of your treatment is done. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you on the 21st.
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Good morning, April women. I wanted to drop in to say hello and wish you the best as some of you begin to wrap up this phase of treatment. This time last year I was in the chair getting my last infusion. It doesn't seem like you'll ever get there, but you do, and you move on. I'm thinking of you!
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