Starting Chemo in July 2017
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Jen I'm pretty sure it's the steroids. I had this happen on AC but much milder, called in and MO said not to worry. Then with Taxol, my steroid premed was higher than AC, plus I got an extra dose due to a reaction. Then yesterday at 3pm I felt my face get just hot. Look in the mirror and I'm just scarlet red. I thought, great this will be hard to cover up if it doesn't go away quickly. It hung around through the night, still there in the middle of the night when I made a trip to the bathroom, but by morning I was back to normal. Thank goodness.
Hope that's all it is for you too!
Theres
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Teese - shall we call you red face 😂😂😂
How can you sleep with these steroid??
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Yes you can and it's red again, ugh!
I've had no trouble sleeping. I guess we all react differently
Theresa
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teese, thanks so much... that makes sense. I vaguely recall my neck getting a little red after A/C. Having a higher dose would explain it being a little more noticeable. It's not uncomfortable .... I just worried for a moment because of the cellulitis I had a few weeks ago. When I saw it was equally on both breast though, I figured it had to be related to yesterday's infusion.
Paulette: I had an awful time sleeping last night. I took an Ativan around 10:30, fell asleep, but woke up again at 3 a.m. and was up until 4:30 a.m. I debated taking another Ativan... it says every 4-6 hours, so I thought it would be safe, but I didn't want to have trouble waking up. *sigh*
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I was also red in the chest area on AC. I remember my neighbor remarking that I looked "tan." LOL.
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Hi all the Red Ladies will join you gals soon. 😂
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well my sweet neghbor stoppd by yesterday let me know he was heading to supermarket and would pick up any thing i needed cept he ,made a point of telling me he didnt drink coffee fancy couldn't buy any of that.
He had told me in advance so i was prepared with my little list, nice guy. Wonder if his macho could buy my herb tea? I am out my ginger tea
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Good morning,
Yup, too bad varying shades of red isn't so very attractive. Thankfully last nights flush lasted only a couple hours.
Proudtospin,haha, yup, I can see him now in front of the teas scratching his head and wondering, which ginger, the one in this box or the other, the cheapest or the more fru fru variety, maybe the prettiest box is best. That's my hubbies struggle, he'll call 3-4 times with every grocery run. Sigh! But your neighbors a god guy, glad he's doing this, every little help is so appreciated.
The weird pains with Taxol started last night around 9pm. Took a couple of Advil to keep it in check cause I was heading to bed at about 10. It wasn't bad, annoying is more like it. While awake and occupied I could just ignore it. Once in bed it was more difficult. However I meditated with my rosary and must have fallen off pretty quick cause I didn't get very far.
For me it's like a quick throb on my ankle, then my knee, then my other knee. It jumps around and occasionally my leg or foot will jump. Very weird. Movement helps a lot, so I plan to be up and around as much as possible. Wondering how long this will go on, from others it seems to last 2-3 days, hope I'm no different.
Hope you gals have a good day,
Prayers and hugs to all
Theresa
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Teese- your description of moving Taxol pain is similar to my joint/bone pain while on Taxol.
It would jump from joint to joint, too. And the pain was worse for me during the first few Taxol treatments than the later ones. I think moving more helped a lot and taking Aleve when symptoms first appeared helped
I didn't have DD Taxol though
Good luck thru this part of your journey.
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Dodgersgirl, thanks it helps a lot to get input from others. It's a strange to be sure, but still manageable and I thank the Lord for that.
Do you remember how many days it lasted?
Thanks
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Theresa and DodgersGirl - I think you should tell your Onc about the leg pains, I spoke to the nurse from my insurance yesterday that's what she told me to do. She said the leg's pains we wouldn't feel it while having infusions usually it comes few days afterwards.
Dodger how many treatments have you had
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Paulette, it has been 4 days since infusion and my MO did warn me it would happen about this time frame. Not sure what the nurse at the insurance co is referring too. Thanks for the info though.
Edit to add, these are joint pains, not numbness and tingling like neuropathy, it's like when you get aches and pains with the flu but more intense I think. My MO also warned that I might even get a sore throat and low grade fever with the pains. I had a slight sore throats last night but it passed so quickly I'm not sure I may have invented it. No fever though
Theresa
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It's so weird starting the new drug ... waiting to see what (might) happen. I've got my Aleve ready to go. Have been walking every morning. Sounds like it's usually "hitting" on Day 4. Do you ladies count infusion day as Day 1? (Thinking aloud, that puts my "time" for potential joint/bone issues at Friday!)
Teese - did you get Neulasta with your DD treatment? I found I got the sore throat thing after the Neulasta while on the A/C. I won't have Neulasta with the weekly Taxol; they said if my numbers dip too much they'll give me a Neupogin (sp?) shot.
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teese-- my joint/bone pain usually started on Saturday ( infusion day was Wednesday) and lasted thru Sunday night/ Monday morning. The pain was like a flu joint pain.
My MO didn't expect that I would have any bone pain with Taxol since I had no issues with Neulasta. The Aleve twice a day made the joint/bone pain easier to sleep thru.
Paulettek- I had 12 rounds of Taxol. (5-31-17 thru 8-16-17) . The joint/bone pain lessened as Taxol went on to the point I didn't take Aleve at all the last few infusions.
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Good afternoon ladies!
Theresa..thank you for the kind words. You are an inspiration to me as well. And thank you so much for sharing Taxol info so far....I start DD next Thursday.
Doctor and nurses believe I will tolerate DD taxon well since I did "fabulous" (my drs words) with DD AC. I am still nervous. I have had some mild bone pain with my last 2 neulasta shots. I believe mostly because I have been a bit more forgetful about taking claritin the last 2 rounds. I did reach out a friend who sells Young Living Essential Oils. There is a blend to help with neuropathy. She is going to mix it up for me and drop off. I also have started nightly Epsom salt baths too with some peppermint essential oil for muscle fatigue. Willing to try anything to keep SE's to a minimum.
I am feeling very well again this week...last AC was a week ago. Exercising, normal routine, cooking for my family, (which I love) working full-time. I love these good weeks. Mentally I am not doing as well. My sister in law who is also one of my best friendswas dx with late stage pancreatic cancer about 4 months before my breast cancer diagnosis. I had been so consumed with helping her and doing what we could for her and their family, my dx was very unexpected and frustrating. I have a lot of anger...I don't want to worry about myself I want to focus on her. I think that is partly why I am doing so well and so determined to just get thru this and not dwell on what I am going thru. There is also a lot of guilt. She is on a different journey than I am. I am fortunate to say my cancer is gone, my treatment is so it never returns. In January after radiation, I will be able to start putting this behind me. I am looking forward to the new year and doing everything I haven't gotten to do these past months. She has spent the past months doing things with her children and family as time is precious. She is struggling right now and could also use some prayers. I truly hate cancer.
Hugs to all of you...I enjoy keeping up with how everyone's doing. Some days it is harder to come on than others and I just need to stay away. But I think of all of you often.
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Jen, I'm continuing neulasta with Taxol. Never had a single ache on AC from it. So I'm pretty sure this is the Taxol.
You're right though, this waiting game on SE is interesting. However the aches could ease off with later infusions if I'm lucky as Dodgersgirl, so I hold out hope. Honestly it's more annoying than anything. It hasn't slowed me down yet. For me, the worst part of Taxol was the fear of an anaphylactic reaction during the infusion. No lie, I was quite worried about that. Once I had the little episode and everything calmed down I was so relieved.
Dodgersgirl, I can handle a couple days, thanks for the response. How has post chemo recovery gone. Extremely interested in any hair regrowth, energy levels, lingering SE. Thanks.
Theresa
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So, oddly enough, I never lost all of my hair (knock on wood). I'm 4 down on DD AC and one down on DD Taxol. It was coming out in clumps so I shaved it down to .25 inch and it hasn't moved since then. We'll see what happens on the rest of the Taxol. Eyebrows and eyelashes are holding.
How about everyone else?
I'm in between chemo weeks and my energy level is normal.
My eating habits were so horrific on AC I put on 10 lbs, though. That's been my biggest complaint. Anyone else been a fast food junkie on AC?
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Dodgersgirl: thank you for coming back here and sharing with all of us. I am a planner
so it's helpful to read what others have gone thru. Sunnyjay: let me know how you like the LiveStrong program. I am looking at that too. Need to find out when the next session starts and get signed up! There is also another free program at my gym...I get 6 free sessions with a personal trainer (2x/wk for 3 wks). I am definitely going to take advantage of that too!
Purplestargazer: I shaved when hair started coming out in mid Aug. I have thick hair and it was a MESS! Right before 4th AC, I lost most of my stubble...but have new growth that is very light and hard to see but I can feel it!
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runnermum, woot hair regrowth, amazing. I still have stumble from the shave, no growth yet, but checking daily.
Theresa
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Teese its very short and not growing but there. Once a wk I still have to shave my legs!!! Not armpits though and never lost any hair from my arms!!
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kinda same hair story here - lost the majority of my hair on my head, but what didn't fall out has been growing (slowly). My legs need to be shaved 1x week, and still have arm hair, brows and lashes.
And yes to the junk food ... I was awful in A/C. I'm trying hard now to kick the sugar and crap habit. Not easy to say the least.
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Ok, I'm jealous
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Thank you for all the taxol information so I can get ready for tomorrow. I'm debating should I do icing on my hand and foot tomorrow?
Teese - I think the nurse tried to tell me to communicate with my MO if I don't feel well.
I have been good, haven't have junk food, problem with my appetite I don't feel like eating much, kind of lost interest in food. My hair is not growing 🙁 My eyes brows are getting so thin hope it will stop soon or else no more brows for me
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Hi All!
Teese - I hope the minor aches are your only SE's while on Taxol. Sounds like you're doing well, overall. I can't remember if you're doing this, but I've been using Opi Nail Envy (and did get two rounds of Taxotere before switching the cocktail). My nails have, honestly, never looked better (knock on wood!). I think the Opi Nail Envy saved them. I do a fresh coat once a week, and every day I put on a new coat (over the existing).
Runnermom - I'm glad that you have been doing well on treatment, and am so sorry to hear about your sister in-law. I had a friend with pancreatic cancer a few years ago, and I think about him a lot, especially now as I am on my own cancer path. I will send good thoughts to you and to her and her family.
purplestargazer, JenRuns - I did cold caps for the first two infusions, then stopped using them. Was told I'd lose my hair. I've lost a lot, but not all, and while it's still shedding, it also seems to be growing! So, will be interesting to see what happens over the next month, after my PFC (next week). I shaved it down to 1/2" because it was getting too messy as it shed. I actually think I'll end up keeping my hair short after all this! My eyebrows thinned a lot, and I've lost some eyelashes, but I do see some new brow growth, I think. I really won't know if I won't lose them all for a month or two PFC, based on what I've read here in the forums. They can fall out well after PFC, so we shall see! Still have hair on my arms, and my leg hair appears to be growing a bit. And I never lost it all on my private parts (but thinned, a lot!). So... who knows!
Today was my second to last Abraxane treatment. One more next week!
I'm on the Neupogen shots for a few days after my infusion due to my WBC getting very low a couple weeks ago. This past infusion was the first one that included the shots (which I self administered, and it wasn't too hard to do, honestly!). Well, every shot was worth it, as my WBC are back in normal range (5) and my Average Neutrophils are back up to normal range, as well (2.2). Yay!!! So, I'll continue the shots, and hope to see this continue to go up or at least stay where they are (the drop from the Carboplatin last week should be hitting this weekend).
Got home from the infusion and took a one mile walk. Now I'm relaxing and eating small 'meals'.
I hope you all have a good night and that SE's are minimal!
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lojo, I agree... OPI Nail Envy has been awesome. I put a new coat on every week, and use a cuticle oil every night.
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Morning ladies
Paulette, Good luck on your infusion today! Prayers said for an uneventful one. You've got this. For me it's been so so much easier than AC.
Purple, yes on AC my appetite and what appealed to me was all over the place, particularly the first 7-8 days. Unfortunately I ate things I would never ever have eaten before chemo. Burgers just appealed to me something awful. The remaining days of that infusion I ate healthy as I could. Taxol is so much easier, I've eaten very healthy from day one and no more junk snacks. Each infusion is different so I hope this holds up. My energy level also is normal, it feels so wonderful to feel good, I find myself thanking the Lord continually for this change and asking for it to continue. However I know fatigue is a thing and will most likely catch up with me.
LoJo, I started nail envy with AC and have continued. I agree that stuff is amazing. My nails are growing like crazy. Love the stuff. I can't get over how high maintenance I've become, between nails, mouth rinses, slathering on lotion, skin checks, gloves on to wash dishes or anything at all with household cleansers let alone pulling a weed from the garden. I think twice about whether to eat out because someone in the back touching the food has a stomach ache or a cold. I'm counting the days to being my old self. Sigh.
Jen, last night my aches started easing off, today I haven't bothered to take anything as it's not too noticeable. How are you doing?
Proudtospin- praying hard for good scan results today, hugs
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Teese - I'm so happy to read what you said about taxol. I hope I am going to have an uneventful infusion. I prayed God to look after us because we have suffered enough. I actual still go out eating a lot and we ordered food for dinner from time to time. I picked the restaurants I think they are clean (I hope)
Will report after my Infusion now I need to get ready to go.
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So far, so good on the SEs, though I'm a little worried I might have a bladder infection
I started feeling a "twinge" in my right side late last night, and thought maybe it was the infamous bone pain, just in my pelvis. Took an Aleve. But as the day has progressed, I've had to use the bathroom with more frequency, when my bladder is full I feel the twinge more, and my abdomen feels "heavier" in general. So now I'm waiting for the MO office to open after lunch and will see what they say. Really don't want to deal with an antibiotic, but also don't want to go into the weekend and potentially regret this tomorrow. Especially since we're heading to the cottage for the weekend. 0 -
Jen - I usually drink cranberry juice for bladder infection, for me I go to bathroom a lot lot more now. I can't hold much and it could be my old age with water. Good luck
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Thanks Paulette. I'll probably leave work early and pick up some of those cranberry capsules and cranberry juice ... that might be enough.
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