Starting Chemotherapy March 2018
Comments
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Moth, will u send the reference as of the 31st I will be starting taxol so anything is appericated to become wiser!!
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urdrago - the abstract is here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21766161
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Moth, thank u for sharing. Is there anything special we should tell a massage therapist before we proceed with massage. I would consider just for my SE’s of pain, now I’m all in.. I’ve got a bizillion place that need to be rubbed out.. lol
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urdrago - have you ever seen a massage therapist before? Registered massage therapists take a quick case history at the first appointment and find out about your health issues. Definitely tell them about the cancer and your medications and mention you might be neutropenic so they can be extra careful. If you're super worried you can wear a mask while you're face up, just in case. Lying face down is nice and safe.
You tell them where your tense areas are, any symptoms such as headaches or pain in the neck or shoulders or arms falling asleep at night or lower back pain etc. and then they just do their stuff. I find it takes a few appointments to really get relief. It's different than massages you get at a spa which are all about relaxation. For massage therapy, if you have muscles that are tightly knotted and not functioning well, they need to poke around to try to release them. Of course you can always tell them to ease up the pressure. Also sometimes you can be a bit sore the next day while your muscles get used to the manipulation. Hope that helps!0 -
Thanks ladies, I'm definitely looking into that to get me thru. I haven't been to massage before so I'm going to try now. Anything to give me relief ..
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Sidalee-checking in on you. Did the change in treatment plan help or is it too early to tell?
I had TCHP Thursday and am just battling fatigue and horrible reflux/hiccups/gag reflex so far. Stayed in bed all weekend, but back at work today. Constipation is always my next concern followed by the D once things get moving.
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Cocooncat, I am going to call my doctors office tomorrow and try to find out that recommendations for massage. You’ll have to let me know how yours goes.
May 07, I’m Struggling with the headaches as well this time I’ve had to take Tylenol / Benadryl as I’m trying to keep them at a minimal. I also stayed home trying to recover from my last dose of AC. Wishing at the minimum a great memorial day weekend
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Update: I made it through 3 TCHP treatments. Treatment 1 went ok, 2 showed more side effects and 3 imploded me, sending me to the ER, then on to 4 days of hospital stay. Massive diarrhea led to dehydration and the kidneys shut down. My electrolytes were all over the place and 2 weeks later my magnesium is still low. Due to the hospital stay and the fact that my MO had already reduced the dosage of the TC, his advice was to go to surgery rather than continue with the treatments. I had a very good response to the treatment, node in my armpit was reduced 60-70% and the breast mass 50%, but the side effects were just too hard on me. Tomorrow I meet with the SO to discuss options.
Question, I still have some bouts with diarrhea, will this ever end? I am almost 4 weeks out from my last treatment and am becoming concerned that I have permanently damaged my intestinal tract.0 -
Hope everyone is improving and those with SE are doing better.
Bec-Ky - Hope you are feeling better and the rash is clear?
Jstarling - Hope your platelets improve soon and this is only a bump.
holliewood - Chemo is tough, some folks cannot tolerate it well or at all. Sometimes a side effect for one treatment is just that one treatment. I was only on Taxol and Herceptin and had some rough weeks. The kidney issue is concerning. I hope you are on the mend. Good news on the response. As for the big D, MO told me yogurt, yogurt, yogurt. Different types have different active probiotic strains, and it worked well for me. My GI tract was seriously messed up after the surgery due to the antibiotics, then chemo sent it over the edge. It hurt from beginning to the end.
Well yesterday was week 12 of 12 on Taxol/Herceptin. The T went well past 60 minutes, as in 12 minutes more. I asked the nurse what was up and she said sometimes there is a little more in the bag. What?!! Preparing to pack the cold caps in their return containers. Yesterday I noticed they stink. Gag! I cleaned them off after each use, but the smell was overwhelming. I have some hair remaining. At this point I suppose I would do it again, but hope that is not a decision I have to face. Speaking of which, I almost feel as if I am jinxing myself throwing out the frozen peas used for icing and returning the cold caps. Now anxiety will rear its ugly head, moving onto Herceptin every 3 weeks. Good thing this time of year is so busy with the kids end of school activities. Somehow they need to fit in everything, and they suddenly realize there are only a few weeks remaining! MO appt is Thursday and, as usual, I am full of questions and concerns that need more than the 15 minutes.
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RAY RAH BECCA!!! Awesome news. Good that you have end-of-school-year things as a distraction. Seems like you ought to be able to get a little breather from the all-consuming BC. Congratulations on finishing this part of your journey.
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Becca - the rash just lasted a couple of days and thankfully just disappeared! I was so worried that I would be struggling for months! Thanks for asking!!
All is well otherwise!! No SE right now to report... But now that I just said that I'm sure I'll get a headache or something! 😜
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aruss1--thanks for checking, things have been much better with the Big D so far although it's only Day 6. Overall, I had hoped for an easier time this round and it didn't seem much different despite only getting TH this time. Yesterday morning was the only time I was home alone and of course I ended up getting super dizzy. Unfortunately, I passed out in the shower and fell, but I guess I went down easy and I'm just a little sore today. I called the NP and she said to hydrate more aggressively (I seriously don't know how, but I switched from water to Gatorade) and rest. Spent all day in bed after that and today I feel somewhat better. I'm supposed to go in for hydration again on Friday. Hoping to get back to work tomorrow.
Becca--so happy for you, congrats on finishing this step!
Glad to hear most of you are feeling better again, praying for everyone having a rough time.
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Sidalee-falling in the shower is so scary. But I'm glad you're mostly ok. I hope the Big D stays at bay.
Holliewood-Yuck so sorry you're having such a hard time. I'll be anxious to hear what your SO says.
Cocooncat-working makes life seems somewhat normal for me and my staff makes life pretty easy for me. Luckily I have a private office with a private bathroom so I've got it good. I do feel somewhat forgetful, but I don't think it's effected my work too too much.
I'm also seeing my SO but not for another week (June 1). I'm anxious to get scans done and move forward with a surgical plan. I hope to know whether it will be lumpectomy or mastectomy after I consult with her. I have mixed feelings about which one I want. Now that I see light at the end of the tunnel for chemo, I'm ready to figure out surgery.
An update on my SE's since TCHP on Thursday-I almost feel back to normal. Little bit of a side ache and a little fatigue, but much better today. I am getting weird little stripes on my fingernails to mark each treatment (I don't ice anything.) I feel like I need to knock on wood after saying that because I could take a nose dive anytime I know. But this one has been the easiest yet, and for that I'm thankful.
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Hi all. I just wanted to pop in and say hi. I met with my surgeon yesterday and looks like surgery will be scheduled for sometime in mid-July. I wish I could do it sooner, but she said we need to wait for about 6 weeks after my final infusion.
As far as SEs, I'm having a pretty good week. I remember the week following my first infusion, I was worried I would feel that bad the entire time and thought I'd never make it through 4 treatments and still be able to work. Now, with my final infusion coming up next week, I can look back and realize that it hasn't been too bad, especially reading what some of you have had to go through. I generally know what days I'll be feeling bad, and take them off work. I'm also lucky that I have an office job, where I sit on my butt all day. I met a waitress last night who told me she had to take 9 months off work while she went through treatment.
Thinking good thoughts for you all!
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MarlaM , congrats of seeing ur way to the next step of recovery. Are u willing to share what opinions ur looking at and what the doctors say about the surgeries.
I just started looking into surgery they gave me another 3 to 4 week recovery for surgery after my last infusion. I don’t know what the standard as far as ur recovery after last infusion… Or does it depend on what type of infusion drug you’re being giving? I did find out from the surgeon office I spoke today, that they only work in a group of two specific plastic surgeons that I can go to. I can’t go outside of that group that was a little disappointing about possibilities all locally for the fat transfer to create natural breast. I still have the possibility of breast reconstruction /surgery down in New Orleans. Next step looking into local would be U of M for surgery.
Wishing all a lovely Wednesday evening, we are almost to our long weekend
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Hello ladies! Hope all is well with everyone!
I just wanted to say.... I miss my nose hairs.
🤣
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bec-ky, bahaha ......Drip, drip...lol
Everyday for me and I never know when....plus perfumes I can't stand and theres so many different things that smell amazing.. candles, flowers, clean clothes , ect... but I can't handle it.. I walk past someone and hold my shirt over my nose bcuz of smells..good and bad!!
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Agree about the smell thing, both good and bad. Taste is also hard with water being the worst. I try adding splashes of grape or cran but still it is not palatable. But did discover a new love for chocolate milkshakes. Had my 3rd (of 6) TCH last week and MO is considering lowering the taxotere if platelets remain low and the headaches don’t let up. Happy to be halfway but so ready for this all to be done
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I still have most of my nose hairs (I keep checking up my nose to see if they're still there), and my lashes and some of brows too. I'm just waiting for my lashes and brows to fall out any time now. I've been getting itchy spots right where the lashes are attached to my eyelid, and I think it means they are ready to fall out, but they keep hanging in there.
Urdrago - I'll be doing a bi-lateral with reconstruction and implants. The plastic surgeon will be there to put in my expanders during the surgery. My breast surgeon works mostly with one plastic surgeon, so I'll be using him. I met him at the beginning, when I thought I'd be doing surgery first, and I liked him well enough. I live in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, and there are probably more plastic surgeons here than anywhere else in the country, but my breast surgeon has lots of confidence in this guy, so I'm putting my faith in both of them. I'm excited and scared for this surgery. I want it to be over, to let the healing begin, but I'm worried about the pain of the expanders and implants, infection, and the drains. I've never had a major surgery in my life and dealing with something so big is daunting. But, I am ready to get it behind me.
My hubby mentioned trying to get a camping trip in, since I'll have a break between chemo and surgery, so now I'm getting excited, hoping we can plan something. I'd been thinking that camping would be out for this year, since I haven't wanted to go during chemo, and I'm sure I won't want to go again until I'm completely healed.
I hope you all have something fun planned for the long weekend! Can it be Friday already?
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Hello Everyone,
I didn't posted anything much about my 2nd chemo but it was rough because of the stomach pain and acid reflux hand a slight diarrhea too and my period to top it all.
Today is my 3rd schedule don't know if I will get it or not it depends on the CBC result but after reading all your SE's for 3rd and last shot honestly I feel scared. Well I was feeling it anyway for the past two weeks recovering.
Hope you all doing good Ladies.
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CocoonCat - Yep, I had a breakout of welt like hives on the top of my left foot after Taxol Herceptin #2, then it flared up again after #3. MO said it was the Taxol. I used a bit of hydrocortisone cream on it. A week later it was gone but the scars remain due to slow healing on chemo.
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CocoonCat - Thanks for the info. I will order some of that. I am in the same boat with the red scarring from about every little leg ding and a hand burn all during chemo.
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I didn't have Taxol, but I did get a rash on my head. I used aloe gel and it really helped. I tried cortizone cream, but it didn't do anything.
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I had a rash that came on I think 5 days after my TC infusion. My 3rd one. But it lasted 2-3 days and disappeared. They were itchy!
I also had a few other wierd things happen around the same time though. A fever for a couple days that proved to be nothing.. And my armpit had a huge ball in it right above my Sentinel node scar... And was sooo sore.
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I get small rashes with every infusion. First was on my chest near my port scar, the second was two spots on my right abdomen, this time they're on my hands. The first two were itchy but I haven't scratched the ones on my hands. I showed them to my onc nurse and she was like "meh, I don't know".
I hope everyone has a nice long weekend. It's my pre-chemo weekend and my sister is coming to visit with her husband and kids. Looking forward to doing some stuff for a change. Last weekend was a rushed red-eye trip to Ohio b/c my grandmother is in hospice and my uncle said she had quit eating and it's "just a matter of time". Got there and the nursing home staff was like, "she's been like this for months now and we don' think she's going to die anytime soon". I watched her clean her dinner plate two nights in a row. The nurse said she cleans her plate at least once a day and eats very well in general. WTF Uncle Jeff????
Work has been crazy busy and quite frankly it's been nice to not have a moment to think about cancer or feel sorry for myself. Went for a trail run this morning. There's a lot of walking involved in my trail runs these days. I'm still trying though.
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I am left with streaking red scars at the site of needle insertion after every infusion but thankfully they do fade...just takes time. Some of my nails are turning blue at the nail bed. The MO did say that will grow out. I have been walking for exercise and noticed my heels hurt after a while I'm going to bring that up to my MO at my next and final infusion...ugh can't wait
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I had my first taxol infusion yesterday and it feels 10x easier than the last 2 AC's were. A couple of hours after the infusion I was actually able to drive and do some errands, I was a little achy by the evening, but nothing compared to extreme fatigue/body aches/headaches/nausea that I experienced with AC. Today I felt almost normal, took the dogs for a long walk, shopping, drove the kids around---just have a bit of a stomach ache now from indigestion/constipation. Food actually tasted normal and I think I ate too much yesterday and today, with AC I could barely eat the first few days. I didn't have any reaction during the taxol infusion, really didn't notice feeling any different. However the IV benadryl they gave me made me fell terrible, so I will take it orally an hour before next time.
Cocooncat You could try the benadryl cream or benadryl orally for your rash as well.
MarlaM I'm getting my tx in orange county, is that where you are at?
Udrago I also had a lot of headaches with the last 2 AC's and ibuprofen helped a lot. I also had such a terrible aversion to smells and certain foods-- they would bring back the nausea and awful feeling I experienced on my worst days even on my better days. I even couldn't look at the zofran bottle without getting nauseous! Thankfully all that seems to be passing now, no nausea at all with the taxol
They told me the first 6 taxol tx should not be bad but then the cumulative effects start to add up. Im looking forward to having a few weeks where I feel better with more energy, really appreciating this now after how the past month was.0 -
hi ladies. So I'm git a rocky patch. Went to bed last night with a little cough only to wake up at 2am with a horrible headache, vomiting, and fever of 100. Needless to say I stayed home from work. I called my MO they thought it's a sinus infection and I've got antibotics. Thru the day I've been sleep and sipping on flavored water. Finially can keep down baby aspirin and half of chuck of the antibotics. Bcuz the horse pills..Stopped vomiting. Still migraine, and fever. Any suggestions ??
My MO says if anything gets worse goto urgent care..but I want to get rid of fever. .
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oh, poor you! I hope the antibiotics kick in quickly. What's your MO's fever threshold for going to the hospital? Mine is 38C. I was told that if I was sick & had any fever I wasn't allowed to take any fever reducing meds until they ran blood tests to check neutrophils. I think all you can do is cold compresses on the head and keep taking your temp.
gentle hugs!
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Yours is the same for calling my MO. I'm at 100 f.. I had blood work done on Tuesday so maybe that's why she is not asking for it again. She didn't want me to go to hospital bcuz of germs, so I'm suppose to goto the urgent care. I don't understand all this...but if it get worse I will call my MO again..
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