Who is starting chemo in September 2016?
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CC2016 - what a great story! I love hearing about people doing well and meeting milestones and moving forward through their process successfully. I just had round 3 yesterday and counting the days until chemo is done-- Half way there!!!. I had a great conversation with another chemo patient yesterday that one big milestone for us will be port removal as that will definitely has some finality to it after the year-long Herceptin treatments!
NotTheBoss- I have had "chemo flu" almost constantly during treatment. I have to carry tissues with me at all times. My nose will just random drip (totally gross) when I bend over. I haven't found anything to really help (tried allergy meds and sold meds). I also get an occasion headache, but nothing too bad (and I got those without chemo).
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
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Hello everyone.
I have another delay. I have c diff and low wbc. its going to push back my 3rd treatment for two weeks as I take meds for the cdiff. lucky me lol
xoxoMichelle
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Been offline a while between SEs and computer issues. Rounding out to 10 days since treatment #3. For last two rounds, I've had a fair amount of queasiness with occasional vomiting. Started after 5 or 6 days the second round, this round it was only 2-3 days after treatment. So I guess that may be par for the remaining rounds, even though nausea wasn't something I saw at all the first round. Took the Zofran Rx this time pretty consistently, not sure what impact it had. It was close to a week before the queasy feeling stopped yesterday. For next round i'm planning to ask if there is something else they can give me. Also still seeing D issues most days, running nose, and some of the weird oversensitized feeling in my fingertips.
Still grateful for no dramatic scary incidents, and that this round makes me about half way into the process which sounds great until I realize I won't be finishing out SEs from round 6 til close to Christmas.
I seem to be the only one on TCHP whose center automatically gives IV fluids for 2 sessions after treatment to mitigate effects. It's been a pain going in those two extra days but if it is helping to ward off worse effects I should be happy to do it I guess. This past round or two, I've been feeling it must be worthwhile when I've been having trouble keeping food down and not up to drinking all the liquids they recommend (or keeping those down either).
Someone asked if any of us are noticing effects from the treatment. For about a month I have not been able to feel the nodule that was in there at my mammagram and biopsied. My gyn did not feel it either when I had a check-up with her a few weeks back, even when I showed her where it was. I haven't wanted to put too much significance on that without hearing from the MO. For one thing since the nodule I could feel seemed to be a lot smaller than the 2cm the scans measured for the tumor dimensions. the MO said he would do a clinical exam halfway through, which will be at the end of this month if he sticks with that plan. I will be interested to see what he says, I have not mentioned to him I think it may have reduced already in size. Or at least changed configuration if that's possible.
I'm hoping to get back to work Monday. With feeling nauseated and the d issues and lack of energy, I wound up taking off Tuesday through Friday in unplanned leave. This has been more disruptive to my job than I'd hoped, but I don't feel it's a great thing to be in the office trying to work with people if all I'm thinking about is whether I'm about to get sick or not
Best wishes to all, and nice to see some of us can see the end in sight for this phase of treatment
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Michelle, oh, no! My mom has battled c. Diff without cancer and was miserable and in isolation at the hospital. I can only imagine how charging it must be with chemo added into the mix. I'm so very sorry.
Misslil, sorry that your tummy is being uncooperative. The IV fluids must be very inconvenient, but it sounds like they are a necessary evil.
Lyn
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I noticed a difference awhile after my first treatment, but mine was quite large. I had an appointment with my MO last Monday and she said it was loads better. I had tried not to put too much on it until I heard it from her. I hope that it continues to shrink.
I am sorry that some are feeling poorly, I do understand completely! I am going to go in for extra fluids next time and I hope that will make a difference.
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With all my whining above on the SEs, I forgot to note that the port did work for my treatment day after an hour or so on the CathFlo agent. And it kept working without need of any more intervention the following two clinic days for the IV fluids. So that was a very good development vs. having to worry about doing a port study and possibly replacing the thing.
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MBella...."ouch" lady sorry about the c. diff..and the delay of two weeks on top of that..:(
Misslil...super glad you had no port problems this time b/c believe me I know all about them port problems..lol
I am very glad that you ladies can see and feel a difference of your tumors while on treatment:) that is super great news:)
I had my 4th A/C treatment yesterday...and...it didn't start off good...my original appt. was at 11:15 am..but the nurse called me on Thursday and said that my appt. time was wrong and that I needed to be there at 10 am instead..i said ok...I get there at 10:15..lol go to do labs..a lab tech comes and get me..and mind you I have never seen her before...so I go back reluctantly...she is just so talkative..i am like just like put the needle in and hush pls..the other lab techs know how I am when I get back there..short talk and stick me once and send me on my way..lol..not her just a talking my head off...when she goes to stick me...I hear "uh oh...I didn't get it in..ummm let me see..i thought I was sticking it where they stuck it last time...in my head I am like wtf!!!...one of the other lab techs that I know walks by and says hey lady how you doing...I said not Good!! She hurried to where I was and the other lady was like I need help..i thought was sticking where it was last time..the tech I am used to looked at the other lady like she was crazy..i then said I need you to do it or that other lady to do it b/c she know what she doing...I did now care about no hurt feelings...lol..the lady I am used to said I gotcha...she to the new lady where to stick and it worked..the lady kept apologizing...I am like what ever...thought to myself..you need to stop talking so much and do your job correctly...b/c I ain't got time for that..lol
I go up to see that Nurse Practitioner..when I get up there the ladies at the front desk say...you not scheduled to see that dr. today..you just scheduled for infusion today..i said no....the nurse called me yesterday and said to be here at 10 and see the dr. today then infusion...she said well your not scheduled that way...you need to go to scheduling and see what is going on..i said I will not...I am going to have me a seat and call back there...I call back in that office and a nurse answered..told her my name and dob...then I went off....I told her that I am out front waiting....and they say I am not on the schedule..i proceeded to tell her that one of them called me yesterday and told me to be here at 10 and everybody in this building need to get on the same page and yall are upsetting me..and when I come here I don't need to be upset...I need come in with no problems and get my treatment and go home..this is the second problem I have encountered since I have been here...not going good...she then says well who did you speek to...I get even more pissed..i said well now I see when one yall call me from now on I am going to get your name and dob and write down what time you called...she said ok...let me put you on hold and I apologize...she gets back on the phone and kept aplologizing and said someone was coming to get me to bring me back...the ladies up front said to me you got it taken care of I see ...I said yep...I then thought yall slack up in here today.
I go to the back to see the NP...and my nurse navigator...I started talking to my nurse navigator and told her my concerns regarding me not seeing a difference in my breast while on chemo..i told her everything looks exactly the same since before I started chemo...she typed everything I was saying and said she was going to find my dr. and tell him my concerns..so she left the room and I started telling the NP my s/es and how the other treatment went last time..you know yadda yadda..lol..my nurse navigator came back in the room and told me my dr. is setting me up for another MRI so we can see whats going on inside since there is no change outside...I said great...so in two weeks I am having another MRI..which I hate..but I am going to do it...b/c I need to know that the chemo is working.
but so far so good far as s/e's after this last treatment...I been taking my nausea meds round the clock...no "chemo flu" this time..Thank God!!!...just sleeping all day and night since yesterday...my neulasta injected while I sleep today...not ready for the bone pain I always get even when I take the claritan.
hope everyone has a good weekend...glad it is finally fall..its sucks I can't go to Fall outing they have here every year:(
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Good grief, Nayda. I know they have tons of patients, but it is frustrating to comply with their request only to have the timing messed up. Good for you for taking the anti-nausea drugs to stay ahead of that SE.
Lyn
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thank you VLH
They trying to make me crazy at that center.. Lol
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Ware-what was the final results for your 3 periods? I was told mine would stop during chemo, but got one on 10/2...and it seems I just started again today!? Ugh! That's not fair!
Michelle-so sorry to hear about C-diff. I have had it twice and was/am terrified the chemo will give it to me again. Did they say that is why you have it? Or did you pick it up from someone?
Had chemo #3 on Thursday...and even with new MO orders of sodium IV drop after chemo, regular blood draws to check levels, & salt pills...I wound up in ER late that night due to hypa& then admitted until sodium got back up. At least it wasn't AS low as the first 2 times, but a pain either way. Because the hospital doesn't have neulasta...I had to get it today, day3, instead...hope that doesn't present other SEs due to the day delay.
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Ohmigosh, Kdtheatre, not again! I'm so sorry.
Lyn
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I had my second TC dose on Sept 26 and I noticed for both infusions I had vision problems on days 4-6. To the point I wasn't comfortable driving. Then It starts to improve. I asked my MO about it prior to my second treatment and she said she was not concerned. I'm planning to bring it up again since it happened again. Anyone else have this?
My symptoms mostly followed the same pattern except I had more stomach and D issues this time.
I have some hair left as I've not shaved my head, letting it come out on its own. The shedding slowed but I'll be day 14 Tuesday so expect what's left to come out next week.
I'm overall sore with body aches but find the Claritin taking the edge off.
I can't do random things with my fingers. For example can't put sheets on the bed. Can barely open my make up and putting in my daughters pony is getting tough. I've noticed my nail beds are swollen and the nail is slightly raised. I basically blame any ailment on chemo at this point.
For the good, I am on the upswing of symptoms and look forward to a "normal" week before my next treatment.
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Nayda...I have a story too. I had a new onco nurse access my port and this time it hurt. I was like dammit...let me have a real nurse take care of me. I'm still sore and itchy and that was just hydration
XoxoMichelle
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I just came across this board, as I've mostly been following the Cold Capping message board. I started AC X4 on 8/31 (I know, technically not September) and had my last AC this week. So happy to be halfway thru, and hoping that the dose dense Tx4 will be easier to manage. The first two rounds werent too bad and i really thought i was kicking chemo's a$, but i picked up a cold after round three that i am just getting over. Kept me in bed for almost 2 weeks. Lingering cough still.
As part of my cold capping regimen I have to drink a gallon of water EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It is quite difficult- i LOL'Ed at the drinking from a puddle comment. I use a 32 Ounce mason jar with a straw and fill it four times- it's easier To keep track. A slice of lemon seems to help
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Nayda- i heard that! You know it's unfortunate with all we already are going thru we have to deal with scheduling issues and other mess. I remembered MO said I want to see you after your first infusion. Nothing was scheduled I sent an email and was like I know im suppose to see you before this 2nd Infusion and i received a call giving me my aopt. I think the nurses just forgot. I can give some passes, but not when it comes to all this.
Hang in there!
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Kdtheatre the MO said 3 periods not from the chemo. I go to see gyno on Tuesday. I will let you know what she says.
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So my hubby just shaved my head I couldn't wait any longer. I had hair everywhere. This makes things very real for me now. But I know the chemo is working and I will make the best of it just like everyone else. And I never realized how big my head actually is. Oh and my 3 dogs won't leave my little stretchy hat alone. The all keep trying to take it off my head. I have my 2nd treatment Thurs!!! I'm ready!!! Have a great week ladies and any gents out there!!!
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Mbella......when we get in that chair we need experienced ppl that know what they are doing...we ain't got time for no oops!:)
Hayln....we already have a lot on us...something simple as an appt. shouldn't be a problem..you know.:)
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Nayda, no kidding, No time for BS
xoxoMichelle
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Good morning!
Hope you all had a good weekend. We sure did.
Have any of you noticed any changes in your fingernails? Emily goes in for her 3rd round on Wednesday and hasn't had any problems with that yet. Maybe it depends on which regimen you're on.
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Hi Sam, I'm on the same schedule and the same chemo as Emily and I have had no fingernail/toenail problems. I do have a touch of neuropathy, though, in my digits.
Edit: Sorry, I just realized that I'm NOT on the same chemo as Emily. Ugh. Sorry about that.
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Hi! I am on the same as Emily and Bagsharon and I have not had any nail issues. I have had some shooting pains in hands and feet but that is very seldom, thankfully.
We had a good weekend too! Nicklas' last football game for this season and a family gathering. It was very nice to see family that we haven't seen in a long time.
I get my new port tomorrow, I hope this one works better and heals better too!
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So sorry for all scheduling/inexperienced nurses problems. That's definitely not what you need on top of everything else. And colds and c diff. No fun at all. But then, none of this is fun, is it?
Went out in public today with a shaved head and just a baseball cap. (If you count the gas station as public, which I do.) I also wore a pair of yoga pants that made me feel nice and skinny from losing a couple of pounds on the chemo diet. Brilliant strategy on my part.... instead of focusing on my head, I was focusing on how well my pants fit, which made me feel better! The real test will be tomorrow, though, when I go back to work amongst people I know. Maybe I need to see if I can fit into an old "too-small" pair of jeans. That might make me feel better.
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I'm on the TCHP plan. When i went in for a check after round 1, the MO thought he saw early signs of nail problems on my hands. After round 2, he wasnt sure. Looking at my hands this morning in a boring meeting (made it back to work for a partial day today lol), I'm starting to wonder. Will ask him next time.
What I have definitely been noticing is sensitivity on my fingertips. Feels like skin is thin at the fingertips, a little rubbery on the finger pads. No signs of anything I've seen or felt on my feet.
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I'm getting my 2nd treatment Thurs. I'm wondering if anyone on TCHP noticed any differences as their treatments went on. Did the SE stay the same or get worse? I feel so good right now I hate knowing I may feel bad in the next few days. Even though it wasn't horrible I hate being sooo tired and run down.
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Hi everyone, I have noticed ridges on my finger nails, and I have started covering them with one layer of strengthening clear polish and dark wine color (this is just me ) and keeping them trimmed short because they split. Tingling and neuropathy pain were more pronounced and uncomfortable after 2nd round and lasted a whole week. My eyes are dry and the skin needs constant moisturizing and my nasal passage is dry and occasionally bleeding, so I use simple saline nasal spray. I am in the "normal" week now leading up to my 3rd infusion next week. Mostly it's sensitivity in the scalp where the hair is still thinning. It feels though the remaining hair is standing on its ends and the roots hurt and are tender to touch. The best part of being hairless is getting under a hot stream of shower and letting the water calm the scalp ... Wishing you all the best.
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Lynn - Emily is getting her 3rd TCHP infusion tomorrow (blood draw today). The 2nd one's SEs were similar to the first, maybe a bit easier. The first time around, she had a few days with pretty bad stomach pain with C & D. This time, very little pain, no C, and almost no D. We were told the fatigue would be cumulative with each session, but that didn't happen after the 2nd one. The main thing she is dealing with is her scalp started breaking out pretty bad after her hair fell out. She got that under control with an antibiotic cream prescribed by one of her nurses. That has healed up pretty good, but her scalp is really itchy now. She's going to try Argan oil to try to counter that.
Hope your 2nd one goes well for you!
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Thanks sam13. I'm hoping I have an easy time too. My huband shaved my head on Sunday. Very romantic I know lol. And my scalp is sooo sore. I've heard people say this but it really hurts. It almost feels like sunburn to me. Best of luck to your wife!!!
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It seems like I'm missing a prime opportunity to come up with a kickass Halloween costume while being bald.
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Hi Sam
I believe Emily and I are on the same regimen. My thumbs at the base are turning darker. Been keeping a eye on it.
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