Chemo starting October 2017
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HAPPY SUNDAY, everyone! Day 3 of my 4th AC treatment and feeling good, lots of energy. I think I'll be up to some Thanksgiving baking today. I went to a perfume blending workshop yesterday and was really happy that my sense of smell wasn't that off - a bit funny but not shot. Perfume is my major hobby and hope to enjoy it for as long as possible.
The only side effects to speak of are my hands and feet (peeling skin on fingers, tenderness on soles of feet) which are drinknig up moisturizer (using Vanicream and may change to Eucirin when this tub runs out.) I'm not sure if it's related to the chemo, but my damn sinus infection seems to have come back, though. I think I need another course of antibiotics since I really don't want anything settling in my chest again.
Hi, Stage2ire - Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your DD Taxol experience. I'm pretty nervous about the switch over from AC to DD Taxol in 2 weeks. My feet, toenails and hands are already feeling some SE's from the AC. I believe I'll still have steroids with my Taxol, too. They haven't bothered my sleep but have brought on a lot of food cravings so I'd rather be without them. The chemo nurse said I may or may not have to get Neulasta shots, depending on my WBC counts.
I really like this woman's tutorials. She is model with alopecia who has a youtube channel and blog, EyelineHer. It's a good resource for makeup tips and hard coverings, etc. This is a link to her EYEBROW TUTORIAL on youtube.
I hope your kiddo is feeling better soon!
Hi, LisaRx - My vote is for you to get the ultrasound yourself for your peace of mind, especially if you are afraid of new masses. Before chemo my tumor was humungous at about 7cm and it is now two MUCH smaller ones so I'm confident I'm moving in the right direction. If I thought it was going the wrong way I'd want a diagnostic US, too, for reassurance. You can't underestimate the toll that worry and anxiety take on wellness.
Hi, Scaligirl - Good luck with the wig!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend!
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ok ladies, here it is. I cut the bangs and length this morning. Just got back from the grocery store. It's weird feeling normal.
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Scaligirl looks good! What’s been your experience with doxetaxol so far? That’s my next drug. I’m worried about
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Scaligirl, looks awesome! I'd have never guessed that was a wig.
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thanks ladies!
Joy, I have been tolerating my CT regimen pretty well. They both slam me hard days 3-4 but I really couldn't tell you if it's the doxetaxol or the other, or the combo of both. The SEs are very similar so if you've already done Cytoxan you might have had most of them already. I mostly am just super tired (SE: fatigue and weakness) and want to sleep all day until that first week passes. I get it Mondays and am down until Friday, which makes for a long week in bed. Nausea isn't too bad but I do stay ahead of it with the meds. Other than hair loss I haven't really had other SEs. Fingers crossed for you!
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The Sunday night blues since Monday another round starts. Monday is blood work and office visit. Tuesday is chemo. This round has been hard because I haven't had any good days with this cold I am battling. Will be interesting to see what my blood counts are tomorrow
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Scaligirl,
You look great!! I does take a little while to get use to it. I felt weird the first time I wore my wig to work but I got a lot of nice complements that made me feel better. Just another hurdle we have to get over
.Sooooo glad my AC is over!!! Now on to my 12 Taxol starting Nov 29th I am REALLY praying for no nausea. My DO says it will not be so harsh. It looks like several of will be starting soon. I will let you all know how it goes. We can do this Ladies!!! Have a great week
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Scaligirl - you look great! I love it.
Jennifer - good luck with your treatments this week. Hope the blood counts are good.
DKK - yes, it does seem like a lot of us are moving on to Taxol. How many of us are doing the 12 weekly doses and how many are doing the dose dense, 4 doses, once every two weeks? I'm on the DD program.
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scaligirl- looks great!! I've been wearing my wig now for about two weeks and feel very comfortable. At first I couldn't even look at people thinking they knew it was a wig. Now I feel ok.
I have AC #3 tomorrow and I think I am going to ice as well. AgathaNYC- I have the same thing tingling in my feet. Hope the ice worked out for you. I will be getting the 12 week Taxol once a week. I am hoping the SE's will not be as bad. I always have this anxious feeling the night before chemo. Definitely think I will need an Ativan tonight.
Good luck to everyone this week!!
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I have my 3rd TC Wednesday. I asked if I could move it to Friday but there were no seats available until the following Wednesday. I just want to get this done. I'm trying to not be bitter about one less good day and destroyed energy and tastebuds for Thanksgiving. At least I'll feel better one calendar day sooner? Maybe I'll save myself a few Thanksgiving calories?
I'm really worried about what the chemo us doing inside me. I started swelling right near the end of my last cytoxan infusion. I loosened my tape and my iv popped out, spilling chemo blood every where. I'm fiercely glad I did. The chemo was leaking out of my vein.
I had an odd bruise, jutting off to the side of my vein. It stayed this way for about 10 days.
After the 10 days, the "bruise" spread out under my skin. I was still not alarmed. I've seen bruises spread and move. And then, the skin dried out, started scaling and peeling. I realize I have a chemical burn from the inside.
The other spot showing this kind of thing is one end of my lumpectomy incision. That was 2 months ago. The chemo is eating it's way through the new scar. At least, that is my fear. And fear of what is happening inside that I can't see.My chemo is "generally well tolerated". I feel like a wimo. A terrified wimp.
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Stage2ire - Small, short, quick strokes. It also helps to use a pencil and not a marker I think. I'm sure there are videos out there! I haven't lost mine yet, but I've practiced a bunch.
I was dragging and dizzy this morning. Felt sick to my stomach and took a zofran. My son's bday party was today and I didn't want to feel awful. I was finally hungry and went to get myself a McDonald's Biscuit sandwich. It was the only thing that sounded good. And it tasted ridiculously amazing. By the afternoon I felt a bit better. I headed out to the party with my new wig. Though it was roasting in there, I felt ok in the wig. I think I'll get used to it for events like this. Here's a pic!
Can't wait to see what my numbers are tomorrow. I'll be super interested to see.
I hope everyone has a good start to the week tomorrow!
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I love seeing all your wigs and beautiful bald heads! You all look great! I am doing cold capping. How is it going? I've lost probably a bit more than half my hair. Most came off the sides and top. You can clearly see a lot of scalp but I still have a lot of hair.
I cut it short when the large bulk came out. The tangles were too much to deal with. I may still shave if round 2 causes much more to shed. I should know right about the time of infusion 3, this Wednesday.
My hair was very long and I dyed it multiple shades of red, orange and purple when I found out the chemo would make it fall out. It was a lot of fun for about 2 months!
Most of the color washed out before I cut it. The color was semi permanent but that bleach was no joke! My hair is naturally medium brown. When the loosening strands started sliding down and giving me dreadlocks daily, the length had to go. I put it in a ponytail and my husband lopped it off. I stopped crying right away. It was a relief!
It looks pretty choppy, shorter in back and there is that scalp showing through a lot. This is what I've got now.
This photo is really forgiving. It's at the nap of my neck in the back, the wedge is longer on one side. Honestly, I'm sort of digging the angled cut and am looking forward to the fun things I can do with short hair as it grows out.
The social worker at the hospital helped me get a couple of wigs. I am dearly grateful for them. I went in directions opposite of my natural color. I am such a rebel!
Everyone likes the dark brown one more but the blonde is nice when I'm missing the length. I also ordered a couple of really cheap wigs off Amazon, one pink and one blue. I figure if I'm going to look like I'm wearing a wig it may as well be Halloween through spring.
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OMG I love all the fun wigs. I'm so boring.
Yesterday was a rough day for me. I was really tired and had no energy to do even the simplest tasks. Had to force down food. Mid-day I had a craving for KFC cole slaw, for some odd reason, which my husband went and got...and it was completely tasteless. I ate the chicken, too, which was greasy and awful, and then felt guilty for eating it. I know that it'll soon pass, but I hate that chemo robs us of so much.
Boo on feeling blue!
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Any of you taking the nulasta shot? I start that after round four. I’m kind of terrified. Am I worried for nothing?
Anyone else lose their hope when they come off steroids? Day 4,5,6 are rough for me.
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i had KFC after my infusion last week. Coleslaw and the gravy tasted like soap.
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JadeShiva - Thank you for sharing your photos. I hope the area that look so tender isn't too painful. All I can say is that I hope these chemo drugs are doing the real job they are supposed to do and kill each and every cancer cell in our bodies. It's scary though, isn't it. Good luck with the cold-capping. Hope you are able to hold on to what you have which still looks really nice.
Petey - The wig looks great! Glad you had it to try out at your son's party. My wig gets really hot, too. Especially when a nice hot flash hits ;-)
LisaRx - My tastebuds are slowly changing, too. Right now it is starchy things like bread and potatoes that taste really weird. That's OK, I shouldn't be eating them anyway.
Joyseeker - Yes, I've had the Neulasta shot after each of my 4 AC's. I get some bone pain in larger bones like my hips, thighs and jaw, but not too bad. Soaking in an epsom salt bath really helped when I was sore. Good luck with it!
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Jade - Those are really fun! I love the fun colors you got! I kind of wish I had gone really fun like that and done like a phoenix look or something wild. LOL
Lisa - My thing has been Chinese. Like I want it every single day. What is up with that??
Sara - Take Claritin for the Nuelasta starting at least a day before your injection if you can. I just keep taking it every day because I have allergies anyway. I've had a little pain. Like, yesterday my left leg and hip ached. But nothing too horrible.
I'm hoping they can recommend a certain eye drop today for my eyes when I go in. I was overwhelmed with the sheer number of types of eye drops at Walgreens!!!
I'm off to eat the Chinese I got at the grocery store that I probably shouldn't be eating. Have a good day gals!
~Sara~ "Wonders never cease if we never cease to wonder." -Ziggy
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Sara, Days 4, 5 and 6 have been particularly rough for me as I've come off steroids. I'm pretty much house bound, trying desperately to get motivated to go on a walk. Food tastes awful. I'm really struggling.
Here's to a better tomorrow!
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Lisa. I’m glad it’s just not me. 4,5 and 6 make me feel hopeless and depressed. I dislike these days a lot. Today is day 5. Hopefully tomorrow is better. So. Many. Tears. Ugh!
I hear I get more steroids with doxetaxol. Booooooo!
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Hi
I read with interest that most doing AC then Taxol. I started my 12 weekly Taxol with Herceptin/Perjeta every 3 wks in Oct. Today was #7/12. My oncologist plan is to followup with Surgery then AC.
For me, side effects from Taxol is inadequate sleep, wakes up 2-3am (about 5hr sleep), occassional gassy stomach n numbness in feet. All in all doable.
My tumor site has softened n I needed to poke deep in order to feel a small hard lump. Oncologist review is every 3 wks. On my last review (after #6/12), she can't feel the lump so she sent me for a clip insertion on the same day. The doctor who did the procedure needed ultrasound in order to insert the clip. I was disappointed when she told me that my tumor is about 3 × 1.5cm (original 3.6 x 2.1 x 3.2), not well defined. Was hoping for a smaller measurement. Well, at least it has reduced.
Cheers
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May I know AC treatment. Is it 4x DD AC? 2 or 3 weeks interval? Thanks
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Hello Peoy,
This is what I believe (and I could very well be wrong): Women in the US get DD AC every 2 weeks. This is made possible because we get a shot of Neulasta afterwards, which helps us recover from lost WBC (White Blood Cell) count quicker than we would on our own. In other countries, or if Neulasta is not covered by insurance, I think that the protocol is to wait 3 weeks in between to give one's body sufficient time to recover on its own.
I took DD AC every 2 weeks. It started fairly easy (I could work, etc) but ended harder, with a lot of fatigue and difficulty getting food and drink down, not because I was sick to my stomach, but because everything tasted so blah. Drinking and exercising really helps with the side effects, so keep this up as you're able. I'm forcing myself to go on a walk right now to try and get past the unpleasantness.
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Hi Lisa
Many thanks for your comprehensive reply.
Btw I'm 54 yrs Chinese from Singapore.
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agatha, I'm on DD taxol. Going in for 2nd dose wed. First dose proved easier than AC. Bone pain wasn't great but no nausea
I get neulasta after every dose. Bit of bone pain, but it passes after a couple if days. I found taxol and neulasta combo gives bad bone pain but it lifts after a couple of days
Loving the wigs! I bought one but haven't even worn it!!
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anyone experienced any delays with chemo? My second round of AC was delayed by 3 weeks. So basically 5 weeks between first and second doses. MO says no studies on impact of such a delay and we just keep going but it preys on my mind.
Also days 4,5,6,7 generally like falling into an emotional vortex for me. That's when the tears and the fear comes.
Has anyone's period stopped? Mine stopped after second dose of AC. I think the hormone change makes me crazy too lol
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Stage. I was almost delayed because of low WBC counts. MO says brisk walk before your blood draw will help stir up your blood. No sitting before blood draws. He told me that “if you’re delayed you’re not the first and not the last. And not special” lol
The steroid vortex. That’s a good way to describe how I’m feeling. Today is day 5. Hoping for more energy tomorrow. And a better emotional state. That would be helpful.
I had a period round one. Have not seen any evidence round two. Maybe that’s all for me?? Looking forward to days beyond 7 where I actually feel like I’m in my life.
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Blood counts are good enough for last AC tomorrow. My WBC were lower than ideal but Neutrophils within range (but on the lower side). So chemo on..
My worst days are always post-steroids too. I take them on day 2,3,4. So usually 5,6,7 are my days where I don't want to get out of bed. Or I end up napping for a few hours, awake for a few hours.
I had my period after AC round 1. Should have had my period last week and that didn't happen. I spotted once and thought it was coming. But that night (and the next night) I had a hot flash and woke up sweaty at 3am.
Met with a new NP today. She made is seem like Taxol will be easier than AC. I am getting taxol every 3 weeks (6 times). So I assume it a pretty big dose and that makes me a big nervous.
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Hi Jennifer522 - I started chemo in August, but I read a lot of the forums. Im als 45 and TN. I’m on weekly Taxol, doing #8 this week. It is easier than AC for me, but I do have an issue with my neutrophils. No delays yet thankfully. I will say that my hot flashes have increased on Taxol, but I find them manageable. I hope your SEs are minimal - good luck!!
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@Joyseeker- I take claritin for the neulasta. I start it with the steroid the night before chemo so I don't forget. I had some achiness in my bones the first round but compared to the other pain, it was bearable. 2nd round I just had a few aches in my large bones. I don't know if the claritin truly helps but I'm also not getting the runny/ congested nose I've seen some mention either. It's worth trying! Plus a lower risk of infection. Hang in there and put that fear away. At this point in our mutual horror stories, you've survived much worse.
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I was perimenopausal when I found my lump so my periods haven't been regular for a couple of years. I'll skip 8 months and then have a month with a bonus period or two. Good times!
I'm glad to see them go. My estrogen hungry tumor became palpable right after a period (I am glad for that) and grew in size after the last two. I haven't had a period since August and only had 3 this year.
I guess there is an 80% chance for me that chemo will end them for good. I find this a bright spot to this nightmare.
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