Starting Chemotherapy March 2018
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Well here it is
. Apologies in advance from the pre-selfie generation!
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Wildcolonialgirl I love it! You have such pretty facial features, you look great bald! 😊 I probably only have a few weeks before my stubble is gone and I’ll then have a shiny head too! 😁
Add me to the “broke down and had some wine” club! I agree it just feels great to have some normalcy with everything we’re going through!
I’m wearing my wig for the first time today to work and my students all just think I’ve been to the salon...lol. I have to say I can’t wait to get home and take it off...it’s certainly not the most comfy thing and it’s giving me a bit of a headache...
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Wildcolonial- very beautiful!!!!
Steph... Show us your wig!!!
My hair is now shedding so I'm right behind you ladies!
❤️
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Hi Ladies, I'm on Day 6 of second round of TCHP and feeling quite a bit better today despite the Big D rearing it's ugly head and making me make one of my girls late for school this morning. I have recovered a couple of days faster this round, a testament to resting and not doing too much too soon this time. I feel a bit like Wil E Coyote climbing up the side of the boulder that fell on me after I climbed up from under the anvil...I already see the train.
I'm also doing the Dignicap Cold Capping and so far I am having success with it even though I feel like I have shed a lot, you really can't tell so far. Most of my body hair has fallen out or pretty much stopped growing so I'm okay with that. Just hoping the eyebrows and lashes hang in there.
I love the selfies, you ladies look great!
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urdrago71, have you taken a look at your labs? Just wondering if a low red or white blood count could be causing some of your symptoms. I've been watching my RBC drop steadily with each passing week, and it's now below the bottom of the normal range. I think that explains the mild weakness I'm experiencing, and am going to try concentrating on iron-rich foods from now on. If at all possible, I'd like to avoid a transfusion or another drug.
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Becky—the wig! I love it, but felt sooooo good to take it off!
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Steph and Wildcolonial, you both look great! Gives me a little bit of hope for when my time comes. Steph, the wig is so cute!
I lost a lot of hair in the shower last night. When I was working the conditioner through my hair, I had to get out of the shower and stand next to the trash can, so I could throw it away as it was coming out. But, I have a lot of hair, and today, even though I continue to shed, you can't tell. I'm not sure how long this will last, but I'm keeping the hair I have for now. I think by this weekend, I'll have to shave it. I'm hating finding hair everywhere. I got several caps and scarves from Headcovers Unlimited and also Amazon, but then I found an Etsy seller - can't post a link, but her shop is SnipRipHooray - who also donates a lot of caps and scarves to a cancer center, so I ordered a few items from her too. I've thought about it, and I'm not going to wear a wig. I'm going through menopause, with hot flashes, plus I have sensitive skin on my face, so I feel like it would just be too hot and itchy for me.
I'm still having some big D problems - not terrible, but annoying. I am having occasional pain in the tumor area and in my lymph nodes. I mentioned it to my onc, but he wasn't concerned. I told him it felt like the chemo was attacking it, so I was taking it as a good thing. Up until today, I haven't felt any sign of neuropathy, but I think I might be getting some slight tingling in my toes. I hope it doesn't get any worse than this.
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Ladies, thanks so much! I never thought I would post a picture like that, truly, but being part of this incredibly supportive group is giving all of us a lot of strength.
Steph, that wig is AMAZING!
Marla - I used Headcovers and Amazon for turbans and hats - good pricing and lots of options. If you want to try turbans Amazon offers 2 different color sets for $23.99, for 12 turbans. Assorted colors and very silky (all I wear in the house). Going to glam one up for chemo tomorrow.
Sidalee glad to hear the cold-capping is going well.
Sillyoldrabbit - my onco said the same thing today - try an iron rich diet to help.
Wishing everyone a great evening!
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Wildcolonialgirl- you look fabulous,hoping I can make myself look as great!
steph74 - love the wig cannot tell that is even a wig. I did read that putting a lite weight turban under the wig might help with discomfort. Have not tried Wigs yet. So far just waiting on my turban.
Sillyoldrabbit- got the labs and my red blood counts outside of the low end. The platelets & hemoglobin are low, it seems everything is all over the place compared to my before labs. I did use the Neulasta, maybe it just takes a bit for everything to kick in.. Left message with doctors office waiting to hear back. I also believe in lots of veggies, so I juice a cup of veggies with fruits a day. Replaces one glass of water and actual taste better! Agreed, if I don’t have to I don’t want any more drugs!
No hair loss yet, I give a gentle tug in the morning to see if this will be the day.
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wildcolonialgirl - I googled Tegaderm and that looks like what they put on me. I also noticed that it's made by 3M and when I used some 3M tape that my husband has it was a bit irritating, though not nearly as bad as the Tegaderm.
I'll ask about rinsing my sinuses at my next appointment.
One more (possible) side effect: I've been feeling like I can't get enough air when I run. Not that I'm breathing heavy, but that I try to take a deep breath and can't get enough air in. Not sure what's up with that b/c my resting heart rate is low so it seems unlikely that I'm having lung issues. I wonder if I'm just paying more attention to my breathing since the infusion and causing the problem myself.
It also looks like hair loss is starting. I'm seeing a lot of hair in my comb today and it falls out every time I run my fingers through my hair. Seems a little early for this.
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Steph-your wig is beautiful! Can't even tell its a wig and as far as I can see in your Itty bitty profile picture... It looks just like the hair you had before! ❤️ Love it!!!!!!!!
I have had curly hair my whole life so you bet I picked out a straight wig.... Lol! Mine is a longer Bob and when I shave my head and etc... I'll post all the before and after pics! And then wig pics.
I also ordered a long... LONG curly wig off of ebay that mimics my hair length back when I was in my 20's. LOL That was just a fun purchase, but maybe I'll get lucky and it will be halfway decent.If not, maybe I can wear a hat or scarf over it.. Idk. It was only $50. I'm so super excited for that one, because I have only always had long hair. My other straight human blend wig was $850, but thankfully insurance picked up all of that.
Urdrago- I totally tugged at my hair this morning and there was nothing, and then about 11am I took out my pony tail and there it was.. All coming out as I ran my fingers through.. Crazy.
As much as I mentally prepare for it.. Im still not quite ready to shave it!
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Wildcolonialgirl and Steph74 - you both look amazing!
Just wanted to let you know about a class called Look Good Feel Better from the American Cancer Society - http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/ It is a 2 hour class that gives you makeup tips, tips for wigs and ideas for scarf tying. You get a full makeup kit with great products and learn how to apply...it's like a mini makeover. I really enjoyed the class and got some great tips for creating real looking eyebrows as mine are thinning.
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Wildcolonialgirl & Steph74 you both look amazing!!
The smiles on your face give me so much hope. My skin coloring is patchy with dark circles under my eyes so I'm a little worried how I will look bald. So far my hair is still holding strong. 🤞🏼I have purchased a real human hair wig $1200 but insurance should pick up a good bit of that. I wanted a curly wig since I have naturally curly hair but was told curl hair tangles and matts up a lot.
Has anyone started to deal with swelling of your feet an hands? I have a bit of neuropathy but the swelling is starting to hurt.
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Kanona7795, im sure you will look marvelous! It's really great news insurance will help with wigs. I was suprises when I read that earlier. I m going to check into that here in Michigan with blue cross..
Maybe a little more details would help? Which chemo treatment are you on now and how long? Hope you can get some answers. Ive just started AC, and learning about all the side effect as I have them as well..
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I attended the Look Good Feel Better class that was recommended to me by another lovely lady from this site and I'm glad I went! I highly recommend it!
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All of my info is in my signature... Except more details would be I have 4 treatments of TC.. AND will have 3-4 weeks of radiation after that. 😊
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undrago71, thanks for the words of encouragement!
I'm doing 12 weekly Taxol treatments with Keytruda added in every 4 wks. I know neuropathy and edema is a side effect of taxol. I just didn't think it would start after my 2nd round. I just had my 3rd treatment today plus my port placement so we will see what happens.
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Bec-key-- thanks sharing more ..and yes most of my information is in my signature as well. I was hoping that Kanona would respond and she did.. so others could help her!!
Kanona- port I can talk to and so far mine is been great. The first 24 hours on my left side where the port is was placed, i felt like I was kicked in my jugular.. Pretty brusied. .I had my first infusion 2 days later.. I'm 13 days from port placement just healing with that green yellow tinted skin coloring. No pain..Cannot wait for the day I no longer have to shrink wrap the area to keep it dry..
Sillyoldrabbit - u were right on!! I'm going to take a daliy multi vitamin for more iron per the office. And the rest of my labs look good as I'm still bouncing back..
Thanks ladies you inspire me to grow and become even stronger !!
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Kanona - I have patchy skin and dark circles too.
I'm thinking about fasting for my next round of chemo. Is anyone doing this?
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I eat really light (2 eggs ) an hour before I went to my first appt. And drink a bunch of water.
Hapa- what happens if I was to have a fuller stomach?? Or fast and don't eat??
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I am not a big eater and I find my appetite has been very big! I keep eating, and guilt free hehe.I think it's a side effect of the steroids...I can't imagine fasting now. They had a hard time getting my vein for first treatment so lots of water for me next round a couple of days before chemo.
There is a time of day I become absolutely exhausted (around 4-5pm) and then I lay down and it goes away. Then when it's time to sleep, I can't. Anybody else experiencing this?
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I've also experienced dizziness with CMF. At night, when laying in bed, the room will sometimes feel like it's spinning. I've tried to take it slow when getting up out of bed and when walking up and down stairs. Other than that, I haven't had any other major side effects. I'm on round 2 out of 8.
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May07 I'm having the same problem with mid-afternoon fatigue to the point I have to just go lay down for an hour or so when I get home from work and then I can't fall asleep at night. I'm off all of the medication again (except Immodium) until next round so I don't know why I can't sleep when I'm so freaking tired!
Is anyone else experiencing big weight fluctuations? I lost 15lbs in 4 days after chemo #2 and so far I'm not getting much of it back because of the Big D. I know we are supposed to try not to gain weight during treatment, but I worry that I might be losing too much.
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I have stayed about the same weight through the last 2 weeks.... I am surprised I am not putting on tons and tons with how terrible I'm eating.
Sidalee-I am sure most of that is from the D but make sure to keep replacing all the fluids you lose. Just keep on chugging!
I didn't hear we arent supposed to gain weight, why is that?
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Bec-Ky I was told by my oncologist that weight gain increases recurrence risk and that I should do my best to maintain my current weight. I had intentionally lost about 25lbs over the course of 6 months right before I was diagnosed and she was very happy about that. I am triple-positive and body fat makes estrogen so that is a concern.
Here's a couple of articles with some info although it seems that healthy weight after menopause is more important than pre-menopause:
https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/HealthyWeightampDiet.html#Maintaining-a-healthy-weight
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/lifestyle-changes-result-in-weight-loss
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Oh, yes, I did read that before. I guess I was thinking during chemo only, is what you meant. I understand now
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I have been working out like crazy the last 2 years and had reduced and very little body fat and I still got a recurrence!! I had a trainer and I was doing strength training/cardio 3-5 days a week...I became very toned and had great muscle definiton and a flat as a board stomach....I ate a high protein lean meat and vegetables diet...no/minimal carb intake....
Now I'm on chemocation...I'm eating what I want when I want until chemo is done...and I'm doing it guiltfree lol
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May-
Amen!
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urdrago71 - I don't think anything would happen if you went to chemo on a fuller stomach. As for fasting, there have been some studies done in mice that show fasting makes chemo more effective and the side effects are less debilitating. Some clinical trials were reported to be starting, but I've seen absolutely no results. The "science", if you can call it that, on fasting during cancer treatment is scant and limited to animal studies and anecdotal evidence in humans. But that being said, fasting is easy and free so I figured why not give it a shot? I was so freaking hungry for the week or two after my last infusion that I doubt weight loss will be a problem.
My hair is falling out quite a bit today. I'm on day 15. Still seems early, which makes me worry what is to come.
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Nothing reduces risk of primary cancer or risk of recurrence to zero. There will always be a risk.
This is all about probability and odds. We know certain things increase risk, certain things decrease risk.So just because a healthy person did all the right things & still had something bad happen to them, doesn't mean we should all throw up our hands and stop doing the healthy things. I mean, you can if you want to, but that's not a rational evidence based decision.
On that note, I'm not so gung ho and relaxed about alcohol. Alcohol is a known carcinogen and the WHO says there is no known safe level of consumption. Mother Jones has a story out now about alcohol and breast cancer https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/04/did-d...0
