Chemo Starting August 2018
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I have done 4 cycles of AC every three weeks...and now i will have 4 cycles of texotere 4 cycles
i will cmplt my chemo in mid january...cant wait to finish chemo :0 -
Elizabeth - I initially had some negative feelings about that bell, but then when someone rang it during my second round, I spontaneously clapped. I genuinely felt glad that they were done and now can’t wait to ring it myself. But maybe if the end of chemo was a long way away, I’d feel differently.
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Hi guys, hope all are well. I have a question, I’m on day 12 after infusion but seem to still get episodes of nausea daily. I went back to my diary and find I typically have some type of nausea through day 16 usually in mid-afternoon. Just curious if others have this issue this later in the days after infusion?
Thanks, hugs to all and stay str9ng
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I'm not on your targeted therapies, but on your same chemo and I do not have that. As soon as my digestive system picks back up, I feel pretty normal (if tired). I am very attentive to my digestive tract... pre and pro biotics.... that may help me or I may just be lucky... But to be safe call your oncologist and ask. No fun to be queasy!!
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Helli All, I haven’t written in a while. I had mixed feelings about the bell until I was close to being done. Then I couldn’t wait to ring it last Wednesday. But inside the true bell wouldn’t happen until all of the nasty SEs were behind me. Our clinic had a whole ceremony. They gave me a certificate signed by all of the staff, and a little bell to take home. I get what you are saying tho about the others listening with a lot more to go. I remember my first chemo and hearing it. The nurse explained what it was for, and thought it was a neat tradition. Radiation next for me.
MACTAZ, I still take anti nausea meds until about day 16 as well.
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Hello everyone, well my tumor has shrunk but maybe not enough for lumpectomy. They are reviewing my case today. I have a lot of abnormal calcium deposits in breast that may not give them clear enough margins. So I am just waiting for them to let me know something. Back to the emotional roller coaster. Chemo number 5 Friday. Will right more later. Good luck ladies, stay strong. Hughope1
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Im meeting w my surgeon next week... what imaging did you have? MRI?
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Santa Barbarian—lol. I needed that. Head butt that bell . . . ❤️ I am always emotional going into chemo. It just messes with my head. Makes me anxious. Even though the Taxol is easier than AC I think the AC made me like Pavlov’s dogs. I think of the onc’s office or even the Sunday before chemo and I’m a basket case. Now I have 9 Taxols to go so it sounds like a lot. 😩
Was going to have my eyebrows microbladed but I’m afraid I will look insane with black Sharpie eyebrows. Anybody get their eyebrows tattooed? The inside hair has fallen out only leaving an edge of eyebrow hair—an outline of eyebrows, if you will
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Jess, I would just shade them in with a light brown pencil... Those tattoos look scary and insane to me too!
I try to think of the chemo as my friend, going in to scour out all the nasty cells.... somehow I do not associate the chemo location with the bad feelings since mine hit me two or three days later when I am home! I associate it with the nice, kind nurses fetching and bending for me!
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had my 4th round yesterday, which means 2 more left. I cannot wait to have all my loved ones on the last one and to ring the hell out of that bell. Yes, I'll stoll have other treatments left, but in my head, nothing is worse than chemo
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Nisha,
Have you tried fasting-mimicking for a couple of days before chemo, and through chemo? It reduced my SEs a lot ,as my worst one was constipation and zero appetite and 2nd worst was the polluted feeling & metallic taste in my mouth that destroyed my appetite. "Hangry with no appetite" is a bad way to feel! An emptyish digestive tract leading into chemo is way less gnarly on your body and the fast also protects healthier cells... Might be something to try. ~800 cals/day clean eating... If you feel really low you can ask for nutritional IVs and those help hydrate you and dilute the toxic feeling. HANG IN THERE you are 2/3 done, and in a week you will be passing out of this low. I agree chemo sucks and that it feels like the main milestone to pass through!
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I’m having trouble shaking the tiredness with this round. All I want to do is sleep, It’s my first “T” chemo. It isn’t mixing so well with my arthritis and they had to increase my pain meds = even more tired.
I have to go for the SBRT rad on my spine Tuesday next week. They say that it will make me very tired. (Really worried about that... hard to relax with it hanging over my head.
I’m so tired that the Halloween candy stash just is worth sneaking for. Anyone else having more trouble with extreme fatigue and docetaxel?
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The Taxotere IS tiring. My red blood cells are low and enlarged and I get out of breath carrying groceries from the car. I am having a harder bounce-back than earlier (I have 2 more to go). But the week of the chemo is about the same for me.
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Kelly-Anne - I’m on taxotere (and cytoxan). The fatigue has increased with each round for me and I don’t seem to be bouncing back with this third round. I just feel bone-weary. Also, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth now. I always have before but things just taste too sweet to me. At least I’m past the yucky taste for this ounce, but that’s gotten worse each time, too.
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Wanderweg
Funny what you say about sweet. Me too. I had a tiny sip of gingerale last chemo (which I usually like) and it tasted like sno-cone syrup! Gag!
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All, I now also have an aversion to sweet, how strange. I use to love chocolate and anything sweet, now i just can’t eat it.
Wanderweg, I have also had a tough time with fatigue and it is getting worse. It took me 13 days to get back to “normal” but still in late afternoon I need to lay down for a short nap. My 4th infusion is next week, I’m not looking forward to it.
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Good morning everyone, off to chemo #5, I will write more later. Hope you all have a good day. Hughope1
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santabarbarian-
I read up on the fasting and asked my medical team, as well. My medical team said not to do it I just felt like it wasn’t for me because I wanted to eat while I could before the chemo. My appetite was so great, I wanted to take advantage of it. This time around I did constantly suck on ice chips during chemo so I hope that’ll help with the mouth issues somewhat. I’m also going in for fluids today. That always makes me feel well. Yes, I am 2/3 of the way done. Can’t wait till my last one on December 11!
I hope and pray everyone is doing well.
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Nisha,
What i find is that I am ravenous when my GI tract wakes up on about day 5 after chemo. Then I eat 6 meals a day till about day 10. I do not limit myself when ravenous and if nothing else appeals to me, I'll eat fries, toast, or whatever I can imagine eating. I think it balances out. I have lost 10 pounds every chemo but then I gain back 5. I am going to stay keto + nutrient dense carbs after treatment is done. I am going to fast 4 x per year for immune system benefits at least until I pass the window of recurrence.
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Hi santabarbarian, I’m dropping in from the Sept thread and wonder if you would share a bit more about the fasting mimicking you’ve been doing. I’m 2 rounds into 4 of AC and have had terrible nausea (though no vomiting) so wonder if fasting might help. I saw that it’s 800 calories a day. How long do you do it? Does it matter what you eat? I appreciate any info. Thank you!
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I am modifying it from the diet Dr Valter Longo of USC advocates (you can google him). Mine is modified to be low dairy, low red meat, and very low carb. Must be clean non processed foods.
Day one (2 days prior to chemo day) is 1,100 cals. Days 2-5 are 800 cals. I pick from veggies, nuts, healthy oils, and small amount of animal protein per day.... 3 whole avocados is nearly exactly what the Dr recommends in terms of % from fat, % protein, etc.... but that is too boring for me. A normal day might be: one avocado, a few oz of almonds/almond butter, 2 multi-vegetable salads, sauteed garlic & spinach, celery sticks... Or maybe an egg white scramble w greens, a cabbage salad w salmon or tuna on it, & veggie soup and nuts. That's the basic idea. And then on Day 4 or 5 your appetite roars back.
I am trying to stay keto but non-keto eating is fine for this diet if you respect the percentages and the calories.
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Thanks santabarbarian! I’ve ordered Longo’s book but it won’t arrive in time for my next round. Really appreciate you sharing!
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Good morning Ladies! I've been getting on here when I have time and catching up on your conversations. So much valuable info you all share. Thank you!
MoonGirlJess, I had my eyebrows microbladed before I started chemo. They were very bold the first week, but they have faded quite a bit since. I haven't lost my eyebrows yet, I will when I start Taxol mid Nov. but at least I have a line to follow and I have purchased water proof eyebrow products. I asked about getting my eyebrows touched up with microblading and they told me absolutely not until I am done with chemo. Cutting the skin puts us at high risk for infection.
I ordered some moisturizing products from Lindi products. They are made specifically for chemo patients. Even though I am drinking alot of water, my face is still getting some wrinkles around the mouth from the chemo. I am hoping these products help. I got their moisturizing lotion and face serum.
I do my 4th AC treatment Tuesday. With each treatment, the recovery and weakness and lack of energy become harder to recover from. The heartburn and acid reflux have been horrible too. I have to be very careful what I eat. The acid reflux makes me naucious at night when I lay down, so I have to sleep upright on those nights.
My appetite is all over the place! I couldn't eat fresh, raw veggies this time around. I do crave fruit. I crave things I normally wouldn't eat, like fried chicken and pizza. That was this last treatment, but it changes each treatment.
I have run 12 miles since this past Tuesday. My goal is 20 miles before this next Tuesdays treatment.
I will begin Taxol mid November for 12 weeks. They say it will be easier.
Hang in there ya'll! This is where our HOPE is found. So we can be there for our families!
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I am trying to feed myself like a racehorse, in general, but in post my chemo hunger surge, days 3-5 with metallic taste in mouth and no appetite yet, I will eat a little but of whatever seems appealing... even if a 'forbidden' food like toast or a potato. Just not too much-- and when my appetite comes back, I switch back to more pure eating. I seem to stay in ketosis even with few carb servings in there. I am in my last pre-chemo week and there will be zero carb foods for me this week & fast after Saturday. I have my last chemo in one month. (Two chemos in Nov...) I feel like I can see the finish line... A big psychological boost! Also boosted by having done my pre-cancer exercise routine over the weekend. I am hanging on to my fitness by my fingernails. I lean over, head down, heaving for air, at many rests. But hanging on to my normal routine is a fantastic boost to my mind.
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Good Morning my group, It seems like not many of you are writing lately. Day 5 past chemo #5, my bowels are pretty tore up. Still waiting for them to decide if I am getting mastectomy or lumpectomy. I have requested mastectomy due to the size of the tumor and the calcium deposits. I will find out soon enough, just hate the waiting game. Hope everyone has a good day. Take care Hughope1
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Good Morning my group, It seems like not many of you are writing lately. Day 5 past chemo #5, my bowels are pretty tore up. Still waiting for them to decide if I am getting mastectomy or lumpectomy. I have requested mastectomy due to the size of the tumor and the calcium deposits. I will find out soon enough, just hate the waiting game. Hope everyone has a good day. Take care Hughope1
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a couple of us are still here through Nov and Dec. Good luck to us!
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Had Taxol #4 yesterday. I feel a bit rough today. My husband just commented 'you should go lay down.' I didn't end up fasting as well as I needed to as my daughter had her bday party and dinner this weekend and I hate bring attention to me not eating like everybody else. Ugh, Now I feel like I drank a bottle of Fireball 🤢
Debert— shoot guess I missed the microblading. Needed to start before chemo. I regret that now.
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Hughope1 and moongirljess, sorry to hear you two your having issues, hope you feel better soon. I will be here through December also.
Debert, hope all goes well today for you and the SE's are more tolerable this time.
I am anxiously awaiting my #4 of TCHP on Thursday, not looking forward to it. Bloodwork came in good, numbers of course declining but still in range.
I didn't feel “normal" until Sunday, day 18 after my 3rd - got a whole 3 days to get ready for next round. Had some new SE's pop up this time - numb fingers and toes, tearing eyes, along with increased fatigue and all the other stuff. I've lost 10lbs so far, losing about 1# each time now. My hubby keeps trying to feed me, I appreciate his concern but he just doesn't get it. You don't eat because you don't want to, but you can't for a whole host of reasons. I usually lose about 5-6 # the first week I'm usually down and then the last week get back within range.
Good news is I get an ultra sound in the next couple of weeks to see if tumors are shrinking. It won't be able to indentify my DCIS, but since I'm getting UMX my OC is more interested in tumors decreasingso he can look at the taxotere dosage and reassess the amount to help me out with SE's. He said that is what is causing me most of the issues, I also had allergic reaction to it on #3.
I wish all of you the best, lots of 🤗 hugs. Wish me luck, I'm most scared about getting severe neuropathy at this point - being bald is preferable.
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MACTAZ
I’m sorry it’s taking you so long to pop back up. That’s brutal! I was down 11 out of 14 days with the AC. I sympathize. I am also petrified of the peripheral neuropathy. I’m icing hands and feet and taking lots of CBD and CBG. I hate the icing. I’m down 20 pounds now.
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