Starting Chemotherapy March 2018
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I haven't noticed any loss of brows or lashes. My pubes are at about 50% and holding, and my leg hair doesn't seem to be going anywhere so I'm still shaving. Really sucks considering I cold capped and couldn't hang on to the hair on top of my head!
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My brows have thinned a bit, but my eyelashes are still OK. I'm about 2 weeks past my 2nd infusion, so I've been worried that they would fall out this week - sort of like how my hair started falling out 2 weeks after the first infusion. I'm only shaving about once every 2 weeks, and I'm bummed that I still have to do that, but I won't complain if it means I can keep my brows and lashes. A few weeks ago, I bought my very first brow pencil, but I'll be happy if I never have to use it.
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hi, everyone
Checking in and give some update. I am on TC cycle 3 day 12. Started to having some bad SE few days ago, end up in ER twice for chest pain and rash all over, swollen hands and face, eyes etc. itchy like hell. hard time swallowing. Chest pain was chalked up to severe acid reflux, the rash and swollen face were said to be chemo SE, but a delayed response.
My first two cycles were trouble free. First 9 days of cycle 3 was ok, a bit more fatigue than normal, than last 4 days have been crazy.
Having hard time wrap my head around this delayed response. If I am allergic to chemo, why didn’t I have the symptoms when infusion was given.
Or is this my body fighting chemo ?
Anyway. They gave me steroid at ER for treating chemo allergy. Now I am on reduce dose of steroid at home for 5 days. And Benedyrl every 4 hours to control the itch. I am also using ice packs to help with itch.
MO said this is rare. 1%. Now I am just waiting for the swollenness to go down. Hope no new area of rash or swollen shows up.
Hope everyone else is doing well. :-)
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NVDobie, take care of yourself. We’re thinking of you
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Hello ladies
Just stopping in to catch up. I'm doing good if u count the side effect from chemo being the underpaying issue start arising when you immune system is down. I had tooth pain when ive got a crown! Went to dentist today and mhm root is inflamed/ slightly infected. So he wanted me to use aleve . However aleve with screw with platelet counts, so I cannot take.. no fever...I texted doc office and now I'm on antibodies for 7 days. I have blood work tomorrow and 3rd infusion Thursday.. staying positive that i shall get thru this bump...
Bec-ky, I've not noticed eye lashes or eye brows but I'm shading eye brows in so nobody notices if they fall out..
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hi everyone, thought I was in the clear after round 2, but then Friday night (day 8) I started to have a headache and a pressure feeling behind my nose and it didn't subside until Sunday night...but feeling better today...yesterday I noticed my nailbeds on 2 nails are tinted slightly blue and sometimes my vision gets blurry....I keep telling myself I'm half way there and this will be done in no time...
Nvdobie - strange that you got a reaction after 3rd infusion, the nurses told me that usually if you don't have a reaction after #2 ...your in the clear...will the MO be lowering your dose for your next infusion? I hope you Feel better soon
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I have a new side effect I'm a little bit worried about. I'm post menopausal, and haven't had a period in 3 years, but today I noticed a brownish discharge. Could it be due to low platelets? I've had a bloody nose almost daily that I've attributed to the low platelet levels, but this discharge is new. I'll be doing my labs on Thurs in preparation for my 3rd infusion on Tues, so I guess if anything is too off, I'll hear about it.
In other news, I signed up in Dec to sell at a craft fair that is coming up this Friday evening and all day Saturday. The fee is non refundable, or I would have cancelled. I've been feeling well enough, and it does fall right at the time when my immune system should be at it's strongest, so I'm hoping it will be OK. My hubby will be there too, and while I'm usually the one who does most of the talking and selling, I'm going to let him know that he needs to interact more with the customers, so I can hang back and not interact as much. If Friday proves to me too much, I might cancel Saturday, but I'll see how it goes.
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Marla, I think as long as you are just mainly talking it will be just fine. Just have some hand sanitizer handy for if you touch too many things that would be high germ traffic. But like you said your immune system is probaby strong enough by that point, and as long as you feel well, it really should be fine. It's my opinion of course. But talking to people will not be dangerous.
About the discharge.. That's hard to say. I would imago it has something to do with your ovaries COMPLETELY shitting down? I know you said you haven't had a period, but maybe there's something related...?
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MarlaM - could be the bloody noses and brown discharge are both symptoms of the chemo wreaking havoc on your mucous membranes. I'm also having bloody noses, and there is definitely some damage down below b/c last time I had sex it was rather painful. My platelet levels have been testing fine and my bloody noses stop pretty quickly.
May - sorry to hear about your troubles. I get really annoyed when late SEs pop up. My most common late SE is swelling in my ankles and/or feet. It's usually cured by sleeping with my feet on pillows. I also had the blurry vision at my first infusion (haven't had it yet this time) and the nurse said it was a side effect of the steroids, which can stay in your system for a while. I think also at my age (41) my vision starts to go a bit blurry any time I'm tired, which is often these days.
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Thanks Bec-Ky and hapa for your responses. I hadn't thought about the discharge being connected to my ovaries. Also possible that it is related to my mucous membranes, considering the bloody nose. My platelet levels have been fine. The discharge seems to have stopped for now, but I'll mention it to my MO next visit.
Good idea Bec-Ky about using hand sanitizer at the craft fair. I need to pick some up. I normally like doing these shows, but interacting with a bunch of people is not something I'm looking forward to right now. But, once we're there and set up, it will probably be nice to be doing something so "normal".
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Hi All,
I have been putting Latisse on my eyelashes and Eyebrows since a couple of days before my first treatment. Oncologist was okay with it. We are doing our own little trial. I am so fair, I really don't want to lose those. Not sure if it will help anyone to start mid cycle, but, probably can't hurt!
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Hello everyone,
Nvdobie sorry to hear about you SE hope you continuesly be better. Friday is my 2nd cycle but will have my CBC tom and it will depend there as I got a week delayed because of low platelet .
My nails also started to have a tint color on it might be on of the SE's of chemo.
Hope y'all be doing good.
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Tlow--I am not technically part of this group but have been reading this thread for a while. I'm doing my own experiment too (I am very fair!). Last fall I learned about Lilash and have been using it ever since. About a week ago I ordered Librow, the companion product for eyebrows. No idea if they'll help through tx but it can't hurt. ;-)
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YangSainst, what considered low platelets?
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Hi ladies!
Tomorrow is my last chemo. It will be round 4 of Taxotere and Cytoxan. Had bloodwork done today - WBC was actually high, but that happens because of the Decadron (steroid) that I take.
I am excited and oddly a little apprehensive - hard to believe that much time has gone by since I started this thread - and how many amazing women have joined to share a similar journey!!! I am not going anywhere - sometimes I feel like this forum is the only place where people really "get" what we are all going through, regardless of the wonderful people and support in our daily lives. I know sometimes I want to talk, or vent, and wonder if the person I am talking to, despite a good face and listening ear is secretly thinking "OMG, are you ever going to talk about anything else?" Even though of course, we all talk about other things a good part of every day.
After recovery it's on to radiation. Had a preliminary consult yesterday. But then it's several weeks away.
Best to each one having chemo tomorrow or Friday!! We're all closer to the finish line.
Wishing everyone a great evening!
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Hi Wildcolonial girl,
Sending you lots and lots of good wishes from NZ. I am so happy for you.
I started in April, I come by to this group to find more about how I will be holding up in the coming weeks. Since, I am on neoadjuvant chemo, I am no where near my finish line. But it will happen.
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Wildcolonial girl, congrats so happy for you. How long until u do radiation and what kind of schedule is radiation.?
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Yang-good luck with your labs! Keep all of us posted!
Wild-i am extremely jealous of you having your last chemo!!! Give me your overall experience in a nutshell.... I love to see how people sum up their chemo by was was the most memorable SE's and etc...
Hope everyone is doing OK! I'm 2 weeks post 2nd TC and feeling. Overall ok.. Just tired the last couple days... I napped today and I'm really not a napper...
I'm still eating terrible too... But trying to make better choices. If I didn't have such a great Appétite and seemingly bottomless pit, I'd be good. And it doesn't help that my husband is so supportive. I say chocolate, and he's already in the car going to get me some practically... 😂
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Hope everyone is having a fabulous Wednesday
I am one week post infusion #3, half way done. Today was supposed to be the first night of golf league - rained out after 1 hole. I was glad I was able to hit the ball. I am trying to keep as much normal as I can - cancer is not going to take any more from me than it already has.Lower eyelashes are thinning - I see some gaps. May look into the Latisse - thanks for the suggestion. Brows are OK. I love Anastasia brow powder to fill them in and define them. My MO told me lashes and brows are the last to fall out and the first to come back. My pubes were the first to fall out, I wonder if they will be the last to come back....
Marla - regarding your brownish spotting - any bleeding more than a year after your last period should be reported to your doctor. It may be due to atrophy (further thinning of the lining, causing some slight bleeding), but they will want to make sure it is not caused by hyperplasia (thickening of the lining). I am an FP doctor (certainly not a cancer expert), but I would recommend an ultrasound to evaluate endometrial thickness and go from there, possibly consider an endometrial biopsy vs D&C.
Urdrago - Low platelets are technically anything lower than 150K, although you are unlikely to notice much as far as bruising or bleeding unless it falls below 50K. Under 10K you are at risk for spontaneous bleeding, and is considered critical. For most of us, our nosebleeds are likely from mucosal ulcerations. Mucous membranes are some of the tissues with rapid cell turnover, which are most affected by chemo. This includes our mouth, GI tract, and vaginas. Using saline nasal gel helps, and using personal moisturizers/lubricants help, there isn't much we can do about the GI tract, but that is what usually causes the wonderful diarrhea before the zofran induced constipation kicks in.
Congrats to those who are finishing up their chemo - I can't wait until I am on the other side of this as well. For the rest of us - stay strong. Be good to yourselves.
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Pernickety, thanks for the clarification. I keep watching mine fall and wonder if I will start noticing any changes. I work full time with the exception of the day of infusion.
Wishing everyone still getting infusion mild SE's and and restful weekend. To those finishing this chapter , Congrats!!
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urdrago71,
According to the lab the normal is 3.98-10.4 my was 5.21 its in the middle Doctor said its OK now I can proceed to #2 chemo..
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Hi all,
I'm back at work today on day 8 of TCHP 3/6. I feel like this round was better in some regards and worse in others. The big D is absolutely killing me...it started earlier this time and the new rx meds couldn't even fully control it. I got fluids on Tuesday morning and I felt like I lost all of it by Wednesday morning. Luckily my sis-in-law was still at our house and could drive the kids to school yesterday, I don't see how I could have made it. Today my tummy is gurgling, but I'm doing okay so far--hopefully I am mostly back in control now. I'm scheduled to go in for hydration again on Friday.
The Claritin must have really helped this round or my body has just accepted the Neulasta because achy legs while standing was pretty much my only SE from that this time. My eyebrows are thinning and my lashes have a few little gaps now, hoping to keep most of them but I guess I will shop for some new makeup in case.
Cold capping is still a success for me so far even though I feel like I have lost tons of hair and lost more in the shower this morning. It feels so thin to me, but all of my doctors and nurses keep telling me how impressed they are so I guess you can't tell. I can't imagine much more can fall out before I get bald spots, but I will deal with that if it happens.
WCG I'm jealous, but so excited for you! Please keep us posted on how you feel as you put chemo behind you and how your other treatments go.
Yang I'm glad you are feeling better and able to resume treatment. I hope the next round is easier on you.
My taste buds are toast at the moment, but thanks to all the posts about Taco Bell I now really want a burrito and nachos for lunch. I'm thinking Moe's lol.
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Moe's is the BOMB!
SPEAKING OF FOOD... all the bad junk food and pizza and BIG Macs I've eaten... Not to mention all the ice cream and chips and omg... Everything that is edible basically...
I have gained almost 10 lbs. I used to be 155, and now I just weighed in at 162.4.... And mind you that was AFTER I went to the bathroom. Omg.
So then I just ate a big bowl of honey nut cheerios and a hashbrown and a - chocolate almond and dried Cherry trail mix pack...
Why!!!?!?
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I am late to join this forum but I began chemo in early March. Monday will be weekly infusion #10 of Taxol/Herceptin. Last week I suddenly became weary of it. Not the physical fatigue but mental and emotional. Today I feel it setting in again leading up to tomorrows lab work for Monday chemo. I am mentally trying to talk myself into how much I need it, but wow it is a definite battle. I am guessing I am not the only one to go through this, so it would be great to hear other members experiences.
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Becca if you'd care to give a quick synopsis of your journey so far (how bad have your SEs been??), those of us over on the May 2018 thread would be interested in hearing. Sorry about the treatment fatigue but the end is in sight!!
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Becca.... I found myself super positive and all happy at the beginning... Like excited to get this taken care of.. And now I feel a little more, Idk... Anxious... and this is feeling like it's taking forever... And I worry it's Going to come back.... I feel like I just want to complain all day but I don't, because who wants to hear that??! I am slowly feeling alienated, even though everyone has been SO supportive... it's just I miss life before all this.
I'm so worried that once all my treatment is done... Life is changed as I know it. And I'm not quite ready for that. Of course I'm happy for being treated and being ALIVE .... I just am not ready for the anxiety to stay... And cutting all this junk out of my life and being so, Idk.... Do everything differently because it could cause cancer? Ugh.
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Hi Becca, you are definitely not alone. This is a long, hard journey and I feel my anxiety building further in advance of each treatment. On the days when I feel good I can stay pretty positive and focused on doing what I need to do to beat this. On the days when I'm sick I get really down and I just feel sad and useless and I just wish this wasn't my life.
We're going to get through this and we will feel so much better, stronger and braver because we did. Hang in there girls!
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Question.
Why do I need to have radiation after chemo?!
Wouldn't The chemo take care of anything radiation would have if I just had radiation?
I didn't have any lymph node involvement, so not sure if that matters, but why both? I would imagine that. Chemo will have taken care of all possible cancer Cells..
And if not.... I don't understand? Why did I go through a systemic type of treatment it does not get those cancer cells left?
Thoughts?
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Bec-Ky--others will provide much more educated answers but just for me, I was always on board with the radiation. I like the idea of zapping the shit out of a misbehaving hooter--I feel like maybe it's more directed at cells that might have been missed through the surgery? And the chemo is for the rest of the body? I had a much harder time processing the need to do chemo. Doesn't it presume there are cells elsewhere in my body? FWIW, radiation is just <relatively, of course> not that big a deal, SE-wise.
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But I would imagine the chemo works for whatever was left behind from surgery too?
I understand it's local.. and chemo is systemic, but I guess I don't understand why they need both?
I would hope the chemo is strong enough, but seeing everyone needs radiation too, if they haven't had it before, then it tells me that there's a chance chemo doesn't kill the cells?
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