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Starting Chemo June 2017

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Comments

  • pink_is_my_colour
    pink_is_my_colour Member Posts: 265
    edited June 2017

    Susie 🤗🤗🤗 one day at a time.

  • ml1209
    ml1209 Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2017

    Susie - the baking soda and salt with warm water helped lots. Plus just gets that yucky taste out for a while. I found lime popcicles tasted really good and my husband and kids made me snowcones :). Prayers for better today! Were you sick when pregnant? My MO told me that if you were, then chemo often has the same effect..... and of course pregnancy always did a number on me.

    Kim - so glad you are doing well!

  • speedyteach
    speedyteach Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2017

    Well Friday was round 2 of DD AC chemo. It went much smoother than last time. Even though they got me with one stick I've changed my mind and decided to have port put in which is scheduled for Monday. Just feel it will be one less thing to be anxious about.

    Side effects from Friday are finally wearing off. I too think most of my side effects are from anti-nausia meds and neulasta. I just feel so fuzzy headed and dizzy with them but they keep telling me its better than being sick so keep at it. I may ask them about spacing them out a little more too.

    Yesterday was a crap storm. My 13 year old daughter woke up with a stomach bug then my hair starting coming out in clumps. Between trying to be hypervigilent with washing hands and disinfecting everything, had to deal with shaving my head. My 8 year old son had to veg out on cartoons. Somehow we got through the day. My husband had to finish a job (we own our own business) so I tried not to call him. My daughter is feeling much better today and it seemed to be a one and done type of thing so really hoping no one else gets it.

    And oh Popsicles, I will have to grab some, thats a great idea! Remember reading that on another thread and totally forgot. The nasty dry mouth taste is horrible! I had been swishing with biotene which helped but still had that nasty taste.

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2017

    Wendeez today will be chemo Ac #1. Yesterday scan results and bld results were excellent so except for a bit of a stuffy nose the mo says I'm good to go.

    Will report back later. To be continued...

  • susie_2017
    susie_2017 Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2017

    ML I was very sick with first pregnancy, not so bad with second.

    I'm gargling the salt water today. I think I got the start of a mouth sore. My own fault, I had something stuck in my tooth and I scratched it, should've known better. Trying to stick to moist foods with this dry mouth.

    I'm at work now, feeling queasy but manageable. Keep up the good fight to all of you!!!

  • klt5817
    klt5817 Member Posts: 32
    edited June 2017

    Hi Wendeez,  good for you to ask your hubby to help.  After all, We did take the vowel "in sickness and in health", right? And tonight, if your MO gave you Xanax or Ativan, take it so you can sleep peacefully instead of worrying about tomorrow.   I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.  God Bless!

    HugsSmile

  • MsLin
    MsLin Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2017

    Day 5 of DD AC #3 for me today. This round has seriously been kicking my butt. I decided to have family and a few friends over after infusion to celebrate my birthday on Saturday. I loved it, but I was soooo tired. Sunday was a little better. Monday and Tuesday were awful. I spent most of the days in bed just sleeping off and on. I couldn't concentrate on anything and it was difficult to even read anything on the computer. My stomach was in knots most of the time. Food still tastes bland the first few days of the round, but this time I was so thirsty I drank copious amounts of water. Yesterday was the opposite of constipation. Yikes!

    This morning I'm feeling a little better. I'm starting the food journey with little bites this morning. So far so good. Now if I can stay upright and not sleep the day away I'll be a much happier camper

  • hhuey
    hhuey Member Posts: 121
    edited June 2017

    Just wanted to mention on my first round of AC I had terrible foggy brain like my head was attached to a sting floating around..I went and got accupuncture and it made me feel much better..if you can afford it I would recommend it..some cancer centers even have them available in house or can recommend one


    Also good luck to all the ladies starting your first rounds of AC today..keep your head up..there may be a few days feeling ugh but it will pass

  • pink_is_my_colour
    pink_is_my_colour Member Posts: 265
    edited June 2017

    I started the beginnings of mouth sores Monday night but I got on it right away with salt water rinses. I rinsed with the salt water after every time I ate and then every couple of hours throughout yesterday. Not sure if that's what did the trick but no mouth sores today.

    Feeling a bit more human today.

    Has anyone noticed a change in the color of their complexion? Just the past couple of days mine seems to look for lack of a better wording much like a dead person. That kind of yellowy grayish look.

    Still waiting for the hair to fall out! Good times! 😔

  • CurlyN
    CurlyN Member Posts: 18
    edited June 2017

    Hugs and prayers to all of y'all dealing with these yucky side effects! Thank you for all the tips about mouth rinses - will keep that in my back pocket.

    AC #1 was a success yesterday. Thanks to my wonderful port I didn't feel a thing. Had to get a Lupron shot to keep my ovaries from producing more estrogen "fuel" but it was fine. Didn't really care for the Neulestra at first - the initial "snap" was a little jarring! But haven't noticed it since. Spent last night a little foggy from all the meds, but felt good today and went on into work. Opting for normalcy wherever I can get it.

    I am using so many of your tips ladies. I feel somewhat fortunate to be at the "end" of this month board so I can learn from your experience. But also happy for you all that you're farther down the treatment path and even closer to being done with this! ThumbsUp

  • pink_is_my_colour
    pink_is_my_colour Member Posts: 265
    edited June 2017

    Thanks HapB, I was beginning to think something was seriously wrong. It is as you say "horrible". I did expect it but a little further down the way.

    My side effects so far haven't been too bad. Mostly manageable. But some days I don't think I can do this. Then I pick myself up, dust myself off from the side effects and take another step forward.

    Just breathe, it's going to be okay

  • ciaci
    ciaci Member Posts: 315
    edited June 2017

    Thanks for the kind thoughts, ladies (any gentlemen here?) - but I just came back from the consultation with the Radiology Oncologist, and am facing another detour -- right back to chemo! He did a complete workup, but decided that since I have no active tumors, he would prefer to treat more aggressively - which means AC chemo first, then a followup with radiation and hormone therapy. He said that would give me a much greater chance of success. If the spot on my back was an actual tumor, or if there was evidence of tumor activity in the breast (nothing shows there since the lumpectomy), he would radiate first, but since there isn't, we're heading to chemo after all. I have an appointment Friday to get set up - info session and scheduling - then chemo will start next week. I am READY!

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2017

    Getting chemo as we speak. So far no we except a bit of grogginess from the premeds. Peeing red already!

    5 min left! They pushed the doxorubicin through then iv with the cyclophosphamide over 30 min

    We'll see how I do when it settles in my body later tonight.......

  • CurlyN
    CurlyN Member Posts: 18
    edited June 2017

    Sounds like you've got a good plan Ciaci!

    Tpralph hope all goes well for you tonight. You are just one day behind me. I felt groggy and queasy last night, so started taking my Compazine immediately. Made a huge difference and I've had good energy on day #2.


  • thebrave5
    thebrave5 Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2017

    Hi all...I haven't done a lot of posting but I check-in for words of both experience and honesty--I appreciate you all. I recently finished 12 weeks of Taxol which, although had a lot of SE for me (bone pain, fatigue, insomnia, chemo brain, hair loss and others), I found I was still able to live a semi-normal life and keep up with the things that were most important to me. I started AC last week and find it's really been tough in comparison. Can anyone tell me of your experience between the two and/or AC in particular? One of my closest friends finished her AC about 6-8 weeks ago and she's still dragging and unable to do much of anything because of the major fatigue. This is a woman who is typically a beast in life with working out and busy all day with major physical activity. I'm finding myself pretty down lately knowing that the cumulative effect of the next 3 AC treatments are probably only going to be tougher. I have possible surgery after 8 weeks of AC and then 6 weeks of radiation. I'm trying to stay active but feel like I just can't do much of anything without it kicking me in the teeth! Also, I'm not typically a real emotional person but I find I cry so easily--good Lord!

  • susie_2017
    susie_2017 Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2017

    Pink, HapB That is funny you bring up your complexion. I went to the bathroom today and while washing my hands I looked at myself in the mirror. I thought I looked like a corpse! Then I blamed the lighting! I feel like I look gray! On the brighter side i took a nap at lunch. I felt wonderful afterwards and finished my day at work feeling like my old self. I even came home to a wonderful prepared dinner by my husband and I was starving! I may have turned the corner! God is Good!

  • susie_2017
    susie_2017 Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2017

    theBrave I started with A.C. mine will be every 3 weeks for 4 treatments. Then I move on to Taxol. The A.C. has kicked me down for the first 5 days. I'm not an emotional person either but I found myself crying if someone just asked how I was doing. It's a physical and emotional toll on the body for sure. Best advice i can give is what i got from here: listen to your body. If you're tired take it easy. It's ok to say no if you aren't able to do something. And drink lots of fluid, the headache from dehydration takes forever to go away and hurts like hell.

  • susie_2017
    susie_2017 Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2017

    Tpralph I hope your evening is side effect free from chemo!!

  • TWG
    TWG Member Posts: 9
    edited June 2017

    Susie 2017, how did you get oncotyping if you are ER-? I am ER- and they said they couldn't do once dx as they are only licensed for ER+. Thanjs

  • MsLin
    MsLin Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2017

    Thank goodness! I think I've finally turned the corner on this round. Granted it's fairly early in the day, but I'm feeling much more like myself. I was able to eat a substantial dinner last night and woke up starving. I always know it's going to be a better day when I wake up hungry. With any luck. I can spend most of the day OUT of the bed rather than IN it.

    Hoping for a relatively SE free day for everyone today

  • thebrave5
    thebrave5 Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2017

    susie 2017 Thank you for your words. It helps to know that this stuff is real and not just all in my crazy head! Listening to the body is what I will do and know there is light at the end of the road. Have a beautiful day!

  • pink_is_my_colour
    pink_is_my_colour Member Posts: 265
    edited June 2017

    Tpralph: when my nurse was injecting she said you'll notice your pee will be red. She barely finished before I had to go and it was already red.

    Have a great day everyone. The sun is shining here, the rain has stopped for now.

    Today, create your own sunshine!

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2017

    Mslin I had my first Ac session yesterday and all went well except last night at 10 I started to get a bit if numbness in the tip of my right thumb and two middle fingers then an hour later my right great toe. Just very slightly. Freaked me out and both lasted for about 2 hours.

    Did u get this SX? Or anyone else?

    I did also take emmend Zofran and dexomethasone before chemo. Chemo ended at 4 pm

  • KimPossible818
    KimPossible818 Member Posts: 287
    edited June 2017

    MsLin, I am glad you have turned a corner! I have a friend in from out of town and she has kept me busy! I am actually glad but a bit tired. Round 2 for me tomorrow. Hair still hanging on! :)



  • susie_2017
    susie_2017 Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2017

    TWG Good question. Here's the answer. When I had mammo and they found suspicious area they scheduled me for biopsy with ultrasound. That test came back positive for invasive ductal carcinoma. The nurse said I was ER+, PR+ and Her2-. Therefore my tumor was sent out for Oncotyping. Here's where it gets tricky. My BS says she considers me triple negative because they were both "weak positives". The Oncotyping score actually confirmed her diagnosis labeling my specimen a triple negative with a score of 44. When I asked how they got a positive in the first place she said the biopsies are dropped in a blue dye and it's read by a human. There is room for error. She said I'm a triple negative and that's what I should go by.

  • susie_2017
    susie_2017 Member Posts: 142
    edited June 2017

    I have a question. I'm headed to the beach tomorrow. It's a much needed vacation. With me having my first chemo one week ago do you think it's safe to swim? I'm usually a swimmer in the ocean and pool but now I'm thinking there's potential for bacteria and infection. I got tons of sun block ready. I googled it and got mixed answers.

  • LTWJ
    LTWJ Member Posts: 118
    edited June 2017

    When I was in 9 th grade high school, our teacher made us memorize this poem, then he would yell Invictus at us anytime he saw, anywhere and we would have to recite it. I still remember it and its perfect! Thank you :

  • MsLin
    MsLin Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2017

    Tpralph - I do have a bit of an odd sensation with the tips of all of my fingers. I think it is mostly a little swelling and very dry skin. I do have a bit of trouble gripping a pen or drawing a straight line. I find that very frustrating because one of my hobbies is pointed pen calligraphy and lettering. I'm hoping it's temporary. I'm odd in that I don't like to use lotion on my hands unless it's really bad. For some strange reason the feeling of lotion makes me have hot flashes and I dont need any more of those than I already have. So I can't tell if the strange finger sensation would go away if I just simply moisturized my hands.

  • Tpralph
    Tpralph Member Posts: 281
    edited June 2017

    Mslin I use hand moisturizer every day as I am Prone to eczema. Only had the sensation the evening of chemo but linky lasted a couple of hours. Left a message for my mo. Yiurs may be different If they are numb all the time. What about Vaseline in your hands and putting them in cotton gloves?

  • ciaci
    ciaci Member Posts: 315
    edited June 2017

    Susie, my onc. told me no going in the water ANYWHERE - including my own pool, that I keep well sanitized. He said you can't control nature - bird droppings in the pool, bugs, worms, etc. No way to control bacteria = no good!

    Hope you can enjoy the beach, at least!

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