Starting Chemo in November 2017
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Iris...Every time I look in the mirror, I look a bit older! Hoping and will be praying your scan shows stability!
Kat...Sounds like you had a fun evening last night!
SDK...So sorry to hear of your FIL's passing....much too young. I have a hard time with water also. One thing that helps me in the evening is (when watching TV) taking several gulps when a commercial comes on. One of the chemo nurses suggested this. Oh my! You would be amazed at how much you drink. And, like Iris suggests, the caffeine free herbal teas are a good change. I was told not to drink anything with caffeine, as it is dehydrating.
rjls...One of the best foods to raise your platelets is pomegranate. I buy the Pom Juice. My platelets dropped to 116 one week. Since I've been drinking the juice...just a couple ounces a day...mine have stayed well in the 200-300 range. Vitamin A & K foods are great too.
Have a great day!!
Hope
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Kivans - I have the exact same feeling about doctors, techs, nurses, poking and sticking, looking and who knows what they think - or whether they really care about you. Most of the time I feel like a guinea pig being used for some kind of experiment. When my treatments end, I’m going to go on a trip far away from here!
Nonahope - hope all future scans are good. I’m glad you are taking the taxol well. I often wonder if I ever had a recurrence, if I could take any treatment as well as you. I don’t think I could do it since I failed with my short treatment plan.
Proudtospin - hang in there! What a thing to say to you by a doctor, but I laugh to myself when I know I look tired, or don’t feel well, and someone says - “well you look good!” Yeah, right. Actually, if a doctor did say I look tired, I’d feel they would know I’m suffering a bit. However, if you were feeling good, then it’s kind of an insult for sure. I always look tired as old age just makes me look tired!
SDK8 - So sorry you're having to deal with a death in the family while you yourself are suffering. I’m sure your husband is worried about you too, and it’s a double stress to him as well as you trying to give him more space. Time is the only thing that will ease things out, but take it a day at a time. Maybe bring up the humorous things the father in law did, or said to ease the pain felt by your husband. When my mother died years ago, as we cleaned out her house, we’d come across objects that just cracked us up. It’s a melancholy time to deal with. Anyway, hope those hot/cold flashes eventually stop - hadn’t had those in over 28 years!
Rljes - Sounds like chemo 5 was a killer. How many more are left? The fatigue and pain combined is the hardest thing about it. It’s no wonder you can’t think straight. I hope the end to this is soon. I think your hip may be an ongoing pain like my back. Now my pain is off and on. I actually had to take another Advil in the middle of night last night.It’s always there, but it’s worsens off and on. The chemo must have damaged my muscles or nerves - just hope not permanently.
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blair, your rite that the med team can say some dumb things. A few years ago i was at a visit to my urologist and the nurse mentioned that she used to work for my mo but transfered, turns out the stress of working us cancer folks just got to her. Guess they must be a bit special people to work the job.
Oh well, dreary rainny day so far my only appts next week are my pt stuff, maybe an easy week for me!
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Hi everyone,
I haven’t posted for a while but I’ve been reading everyone’s posts. Rljes, I had chemo #5 on the 19th and I feel like this is the worst so far as well. I almost didn’t make it walking around the market today and just walking a short distance down the road last week I was short of breath. First time in my life for that. I’m happy to report I’ve finally come up with a good routine for constipation. 2 days before chemo and 3 days after I’ve taken a dose of miralax in the morning and night and 2 SenakotS at night and I’ve had no problems! My stomach continues to feel jumpy and I burp all day which makes me a little nauseas and probably makes anyone that hears me feel sick as well. I’ve been taking ranitidine 2 times a day but today I got so Prilosec and I’m hoping that it works better. I also had a little issue with my oncologist who ordered cipro the last time my wbc dropped and her PA ordered it a second time when my counts were low again. She literally jumped out of her chair saying Cipro and methatrexate are very dangerous to take and who ordered that. Telling her she did seemed to make her more agitated and she blamed the PA. So, I wrote down my chemo drugs for my pharmacist so they can flag any drugs that interact. I wished I had thought of that before. Now my oncologist has cancelled all my blood work in between treatments because she said we know it will show very low wbc.
I still feel awful with my stomach issues and tiredness. Hopefully I can make it to work tomorrow. I had the whole week of chemo 5 off for winter break. Good thing.
Kate
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Kate- I use the Prilosec and it has done wonders for me. I feel you for the tiredness and worrying about how you are going to feel at work. I feel like crap today but I’m trudging on, now I have someone who says oh they can’t close tonight, so someone has to do it and I’m afraid it’s going to be me. That makes a 16 hour day on top of feeling like crap. This has definitely been the worse tx with the tired and Short of breath. Couple more days and I will perk up but I have just been exhausted all weekend. I wish I would of brought my steroids to work, I would of popped one just to give me a little energy. Just keep facing forward and thanking God this was my last one and I don’t have to deal with this any longer.
Tina
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Kate and Tina I'm so sorry you two are dealing with tiredness, stomach issues and shortness of breath on top of working. I had shortness of breath for the first time at my last treatment and it was weird. Prilosec and steroids sound like they can help. I wish I had more to offer than sympathy. May you both get through this soon.
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Good morning...
Blair....Cute picture!!! As for me tolerating treatment so well...you just do what you have to do. I have been more fortunate than some. But knowing my treatment will "never" totally end does put a damper on things.
Kate...Good to "see" you, but so sorry you are having such a hard time. Isn't Cipro an anti-biotic? That sounds strange to take for a low WBC. Thank goodness your pharmacist is on the ball.
Tina...I don't know how you do it! There is no way I could or "would" work a 16 hour day Happy you've had your final treatment and hope your current side effects are history soon!
Have a great week!
Hope
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Hi Nonohope,
The Cipro is a very strong broad spectrum antibiodic. With low white blood counts you are very susceptible to everything. So in theory it made sense to me. The oncologists reaction to me saying I was on cipro again for a second time and telling me to stop immediately made me look up the interaction with methatrexate. What I read was scary. Not only does it interact, but it could cause your body not to show the typical signs of infection like runny nose, headache, temperature and it can cause antibiodic resistant issues. I think my pharmacist would have flagged this if she knew I was taking the CMF drugs so I dropped off a list so they would be in my record. I think it’s one thing to trust your doctor, but they make mistakes and this was a serious one so I am always going to do my own research every time there are changes in my treatment. Lesson learned!
I’m hoping the Prilosec works. I’m headed to work now still feeling crappy. Have a great day everybody.
Kate
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yeah, i look up stuff on line and read the info given to me about my chemo med, it creeps me out at t.imes but d o think it is good to do.my chemo d,rug is known to cause a bad skin reaction, those are the exact words, any how think i hhave the start of it, supposed to use strong moisturizer on hands and feet. My hand is getting very red so i am slothering on the cream
So far i have a light week of appts, only pt which has been helping so hoping nothing else, last week was brutal
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SDK8 I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your father in law. It must be a hard time for your family. I'm sure your presence comforts your husband. Take care of yourself.
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Good morning, all. Sounds like a lot of us are having a rough time with the current round.
This was 5 of 6 for me and I myself have been extremely tired and much queasier than usual. Have managed it fairly well by getting extra sleep and taking Zofran whenever the queasiness hits. But nothing tastes good so I haven't been eating much and feel generally weak. Also have a tooth that has become sensitive. I've put a call in to my MO's office about that since she told me she prefers no dental appointments during chemo. (I had already postposed a scheduled cleaning until after my final session.) It's not excruciating at this point but I cannot see doing nothing about it for another month.
Huge props to those of you who are working during all of this. I don't think I could manage it and am very grateful to be able to take disability. My plan is to return to the office full-time about 2 weeks PFC. I may continue to use intermittent disability for my every 3 week infusion days if the appointments are more than a couple of hours, because with travel time factored in I wouldn't manage more than a half day for them anyway. Another thing I've asked my MO's office about....
Going to put in a load of laundry and do my PT exercises. Am going to try to have lunch in the neighborhood with my girlfriend who is visiting a little later if I can muster both the energy and appetite.
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Thank you all for the water tips! I will try them this week. I met a girl on the weekend who had triple negative Breast cancer. She just finished her radiation. Her plastic surgeon couldn't believe how wonderful her skin looked at the site of the radiation. She was ready for reconstruction 2 months earlier than scheduled because of the elasticity of her skin. She told me she used "Bag Balm." It was traditionally used for cows teets. But can be purchased at most pharmacies. She said it will stain and ruin pajamas so wear an old shirt of my husbands at night and coat the bag balm on the radiation site and breasts. I am going to try this and hope it works for me as well.
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For those of you going through so many treatments- it sounds like how I felt just on three! That awful weakness, can’t eat, can’t drink with my head spinning was awful. I too don’t know how in the world you girls can work a job. Kudos to all of you! My concentration was gone for a long while. The fatigue was so over whelming. I’m still not 100%, but I can think better. I would freak out if I couldn’t breathe. Today my back seems better, but tomorrow who knows. That low grade fever finally went away. I’ve gone three days without it, so I don’t expect it to come back. The back is still sore. I’ve lost 3 lbs - just can’t eat as much, I don’t know why. My cough is finally pretty much gone - it may be allergies from all this warm weather we’ve had. Hurts my back to cough!
I did not have my first radiation today. Last Friday night, after my shower, I noticed I had a suture smack in the middle of my nipple! (Since October) I thought - oh no - so - had to see my plastic surgeon to remove it this morning. But they had to cancel my rad appt. My nipples are inverted, so this thread was way down deep. The doctor had a time getting it, but it’s gone,and didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. The nurse even thought it was bizarre. I told him he was in trouble for leaving it in there, but I was just kidding. So - tomorrow is my first day for rads.
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Chemo #5 (of 6)
Hi Everybody - I did the ultimate Brain Fog Goof this morning - Let Truman out and forgot to raise the Doggie door so he could come back in. THank goodness it wasn't raining Nor too cold. With Chemo 5 - I've been nauseas and taking more Compazine. This is a first. (being Nauseas) MO told me to take Zantac for my Acid Reflux. Another First.
Nonahope, thanks for the Pom Juice suggestion. Its on the list next time I get enough energy to go to the store.
BLair - you added a picture - very Nice! I'm hoping as well that all my bone pain will go away when I finish Chemo (one more Chemo treatment - then just Herceptin for another 8 months)
How did your First Day of Rads go??????1950-1952 - I used to take Methatrexate before DX - and it made my legs cramp and bone pain, but on a MUCH lower scale.
SDK8 - is that a new photo as well? Looking good! Sorry about you Father-in-law passing.
Magari are you having Rad after your last Chemo?
Tina, did you say you had your last Chemo? are you too going to have Rads ?
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rljes- I am supposed to do rads next but I am still weighing my options. I have an appt in April and I will decide by then.
Tina
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Hi Girls,
I’ve been blabbing away on the February radiation blog site, but checking in to see how my chemo buddies are doing. Finished my first week of radiation. It was kind of uneventful. After I had that hidden suture taken out Monday, Tuesday it took the techs several minutes to position me. My gown was in the way so I said, “let’s tear this thing off!” So off it went as it kept getting stuck under me as I was to slant a bit sideways into my prone position. They put a wedge under me that helped. Wednesday and Thursday’s treatment went much faster. All I can say is that the TrueBeam external machine reminds me of a dinosaur with a flat round head and long neck. It creeps under you slowly and circles around to my side (my head is slanted so I can watch this thing move), then stops to shoot a beam that I imagine is the closest one to my chest. Kind of scary as I don’t trust it much. However - you don’t feel a thing, just hear noises. They play music in the background - I think catered to your age. Music I listened to back in my college days!
Today I had the external done and my first look at the Accuboost machine. It only took a couple of X-rays. It smashes you just like a mammo, but not as hard. I guess the doctor will calculate what that machine needs to do next week as I’ll have both techniques done for a week and a half, then it’s just externals my last few weeks. I’m going by my monthly schedule they gave to me. I still wish I knew how these beams were hitting me. No breast irritation yet.
I also saw my chemo oncologist. I complained to her that I still had my backache. She still does not accept the idea that the chemo drugs caused my pain. She more or less said that I would have to see another doctor for that problem. I reminded her that this pain had a pattern with each of my treatments, but she said she never had a patient complain of back pain before. I said you do now. Hum, there’s blogs of people who have had back pain with chemo treatment. If these drugs cause muscle pain, - why not in the back muscles? It may be rare, but I’m not changing my mind about it. She is a very young doctor, but I find it strange she has never read of back ache side effects. That’s the only thing that has really disappointed me. I never had back problems before I started these drugs, and I didn’t do anything to cause my muscles to be so messed up - other than chemo. It would always cause me severe pain 6 days after each treatment- just for some reason the pain stayed after my third one.
Anyway, glad most of you are finishing up the worst. I don’t think radiation will be near as difficult as chemo. Sunburn pain won’t be fun, but I’m hoping the fatigue isn’t as bad as chemo was.
Thanks on the photo - it’s my new old lady greywig hat. Thought I better get use to grey as my natural hair will become this, but probably not as silver. I still show no signs of head hair, but my leg hair and nails are growing again.
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hi ladies, long time about this beautiful board but I was too sick last month.
now I'm in Taxotere, forth treatment after FEC-T protocols, DID you hear someone feel the tumour become bigger with taxotere? I feel like it's become big and circle, too much pain and the first time I watch my nipple goes inside due to change in the tumour location! or maybe new tumour is appearing! I'm afraid sisters, tomorrow my appointment with the doctor to see me and I will told him all history. did anyone can explain the possibility of tumour to grow more?
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Everyday my left eyebrow gets thinner. I shaved my legs today for the first time since mid-November. Could my hair please work this out? I am OK with hairless legs, but want my eyebrows.
I canceled my standing salon appointment for next week, but kept the one 7weeks away. Told my stylist when it gets about 1/2” long, I might want to color this white translucent stuff, so people can see it. it’s still only 1/16” in front. Maybe 1/8” on the sides.
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I've heard other people say their eyebrows and eyelashes thin for awhile after their final chemo. I'm waiting for it to happen to me. It sounds like you are making progress with your hair overall. It never happens fast enough though. I don't have any sign of hair growth yet. It's frustrating. Hope you are feeling well overall.
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I’m almost two months post chemo and no signs of head hair growth, however my leg hairs are beginning to grow. They have thinned out over years as I don’t seem to grow hair on the back of my legs anymore. I have noticed my fingernails are growing healthier than in the past - makes no sense
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hi everyone! haven’t been posting much in the boards.
hair on my head has started to grow, 4 weeks post final chemo session. eyebrows and eyelashes have also started to grow back.
i am scheduled for surgery on march06 in the morning HKT. by the time you wake up on the 6th, it would already be hours after i’ve had my surgery... UMX no recon (yet)... will wait until a year after rads for recon if ever.
had to look for a new surgeon 2 weeks back and was able to find one. have gone to therapy the past two weeks and currently on medication (miniscule dose).
please say a short prayer for me and my surgeon that all goes well.
I think of each of you often. please be well. i will check back in after surgery once able. sending out positive energy to everyone!
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I'm jealous that you're getting hair growth at four weeks. Prayers said for you and your surgeon. Positive thoughts for you.
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Good morning...
Hope99....I hope your doctor gives you answers.
Kat...Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, as always!!
Hope everyone is doing well. My eyebrows are gone! I never lost my eyelashes or eyebrows years ago when I was on the Cytoxan and Taxotere cocktail. But, this Taxol has taken a toll. Do any of you use a stencil to pencil in your eyebrows? It takes me forever to do this artwork!!
Hope
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hope, sorry the brows are gone! I am getting my back but very lite. Actually my maniccure place is now doing a brow dying thing, it lasts about 2 weeks and have considered doing it but not enough hair back.
Seems my med is causing a darkening of certain areas of my feet and hands. It is listed aas side effect of the med soo not sure if i should call onc or not, she warned me about it and told me to use lots of creams
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My eyelashes have been jumping off since around the 4th treatment. Nothing left on the bottom that is visible, and bald patches on the uppers. Eyebrows have been thinning, but hanging on. Not really any other body hair to speak of. Haven't shaved my legs since the end of November. I'm good with that!
Had #5 on Thursday, and I now know why my fatigue has been ridiculous. Hemoglobin is low. If it gets down to 8 (it's 9.8 now) I will have a blood transfusion. Hoping that won't be necessary. In the meantime, I am napping when I can, and working from home to conserve energy. Getting dressed, driving, walking into the office, walking around the building... I can use that energy to sleep! I'm a girl with priorities.
Thinking of all of you and our journey together. Sending positive energy for healing for us all!
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Hi everyone!
Good luck Kat - we all will be thinking of you tomorrow during your surgery. I hope it goes well. It’s a major accomplishment on your journey!
Hope - sorry you lost your eyebrows. Mine thinned out some. I tried a very light brown eye pencil, and very, very lightly brushed lines into them. I think the trick is to do it softly so it doesn’t look like you drew lines and keep thepencil very sharp. I have no arch or definition to my brows, so can’t use those stencils.
Meow - don’t know how you can work and deal with chemo drugs in your system. I couldn’t think well, and fatigue was too strong for me. It sounds like you have it all under control - I admire that. Hope it will be soon over for you.
Had my first Accuboost today. I will have this for this week and half of next. It is more intense than the TrueBeam. It is focusing on the tumor cavity, whereas TrueBeam zaps the whole breast. I have a feeling I’ll be red hot by next week!
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I'm getting 4 boosts. I assume they are at the end of treatment but I'll have to ask. I don't know if they are on a different machine. They sound kind of intense.
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surgery done surgeon says i can go home tomorrow and also offered if i wanted to be discharged today. therapist also saw me and she was happy to see my disposition after surgery.
thank you for crossing your fingers or thoughts and prayers
will be catching up on reading posts while recovering back at home. cheers to you strong ladies for going through what we’re going through. 💕💕
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Kat...So happy your surgery went well. Rest up and keep us posted!
Hope
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Yeaaay Kat - so glad you made it through. Just relax, sleep, and let your body heal. You’ll be just fine!
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