Chemo Starting September 2018
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Beeline, hi just dropping in from April Chemo Group. I choose to get steriods at infusions and not take them at all while I was home. My doc. knew Said I had them if I needed them. Nauses I was the first three days on AC so took nauses pill and back up pill and no problems at all with Nauses on taxol.
Hope that helps..
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Thanks urdrago71 - really appreciate you sharing your experience and advice!
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Hello!
I have not posted yet. I began chemo 9/18 and have had two AC treatments so far. They have knocked me down. I have started losing my hair, though I shaved it about a week ago. I have not seen any reduction in the size of my tumors. The primary tumor was 8 cm to begin with and the lymph node was about 3 cm and both still feel huge. I can see them through my skin and can easily grab them. Ugh. I guess I hoped to see some progress by now as brutal as the chemo has been.
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Good morning, ladies. Checking in on day 13 of AC #2. I've been feeling really good. The only side effect I've had this week is a bald head. I hiked my favorite mountain Saturday and did some Obstacle Course Race training yesterday. (Climbing ropes, jumping walls, swinging on rings, carrying heavy buckets, etc.) It was sooo good for my psyche! After completing my first Spartan race in May, I signed up for two more this year. Both much longer races than the first. I had resigned to miss them, but I am now planning to do the short version Oct 21. I'll be on day 11. I may walk most of it, but I'll get from A to B eventually. The prospect of it has given me new energy and hope. Fuck cancer!
On the travel topic: We missed my brother's wedding in Cancun in March '16 because of my mastectomy in January. My kids were really bummed! I promised them that when I was able, we would go anywhere in the world, and we would continue annually. We spent a year spinning the globe and researching destinations. We ultimately decided on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera for '17 and had a blast. So much so that our '18 trip was to a place we visited on an excursion from the cruise, Yelapa, Mex, a tiny fishing village near Puerto Vallarta with no roads that is only accessible by water. (so peaceful!) Being in this position again has only strengthened my resolve to show them the world while I can. Not to be morbid, but my chance of recurrence after a first recurrence is over 30%. I know my days are numbered. I don't plan on missing '19 so we are in the process of planning, and we won't miss a year until I am physically unable. It's my silver lining to cancer. We did very little traveling prior to cancer, but it is a priority now.
Anyway, sorry for rambling. I'm truly sorry for those of you who are struggling with SEs. I count my blessings every day that I've been able to function mostly normal after day 3/4. I'm hopeful that I've figured out what got me the first time, but I know each one is different so still bracing myself for infusion #3 on Thursday.
PNWCyclist, welcome. Praying that you see results!
Peace and love to all of you.
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Hi Ladies,
Can anyone please describe exactly the bad days of chemo? Is it like having a flu...body aches, tired etc. Any feedback you can offer as far as the level of each would be appreciated. Thank you and God Bless.
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I live in CA and want to go somewhere tropical other than Hawaii. Already been there. I like the Aruba idea.
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Hi All-
3rd AC this morning. Started talking to my doc about Taxol-dose dense versus weekly since dd would give me a good week like I’m used to with AC and would get me done before Christmas. He said it was up to me. The efficacy is the same either way, but possible SEs are lesser w weekly. It’s a hard decision.
PNWC-I had my surgery before chemo (similar ex), but I struggle with the “is this working” because I have nothing to measure against. Are there other positive nodes in there? But I’m trying to put my faith in the science of it and hope that I forever remain on the good side of statistics after this unlikely cancer debacle! Hopefully your tumor just needs a little more time before the chemo starts “dissolving” it.
Robyn-for me I would describe it like mild morning sickness for a few days-no puking, but things taste wrong or smell wrong and I just don’t feel “right”. And I’m more tired than normal. But I’ve had no aches and pains. For the most part I just take all of the meds like they tell me to and by the time the week is over I feel like myself again.
My daily escape is fantasizing about travel. We spent 2 weeks doing Yosemite/Monterey and San Fran this summer, just days after my dx. It was amazing and exactly what I needed to process this life change. We do a big family trip to the Outer Banks of NC every other year (parents, brother and family, cousins aunt and uncle-we’ve grown to 17 people) which is scheduled for summer 2019, but hoping to escape to the Caribbean or Mexico for some winter sun after chemo. The girls did so well city-touring in SF that I think they are ready for Europe-we’ve been waiting until we were post-stroller! I would love to see NZ and AU but getting there seems a bit miserable w kids...if only business class were cheaper, lol! There is hardly a place I wouldn’t go given the opportunity! My bucket list is almost exclusively travel-food and wine and foreign places ❤️
I met a friend in NYC on Friday night and we had tapas at a cheap neighborhood bar and went to a concert and walked around like we didn’t have a care in the world. It felt good. These good weeks are so good, and I am so thankful. Hoping that round 3 is as manageable as the first two, but definitely felt the sadness and anxiety creeping in yesterday. Sending love and manageable SEs to all!
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Piksie, I took my kids to London when they were just a little older than yours look. We had a week and it was amazing! I took them out of school so that we wouldn't be overwhelmed with tourists, and they wrote reports for their teachers and brought them gifts back, so the schools didn't object. I later realized I didn't spend any more money than I usually did on our condo-at-the-beach trips. Those memories are incredibly important to create. I personally think they give kids the beginnings of ideas about how they might want to raise their own kids, you know? Have fun planning! But I can highly recommend London!
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Robyn, I've had a really hard time with chemo SE. The morning after chemo I wake up with intense nausea, and that nausea stays (if not adequately medicated) for about 11-12 days. I haven't thrown up this round, because of the special patch I've been using, but I stay so nauseated that I don't want to eat and often really can't. Like I KNOW I will throw up if I eat. There is a metallic taste in my mouth that changes the taste of everything, including my beloved coffee. Also, after a few days my nose starts running and I develop blisters under my nose, I guess from the chemo still in my body. I haven't had diarrhea per se, but my gut is extra sensitive and often just burns, in spite of my anti-GERD meds. I also have chemo-brain...just can't seem to recall even important things. And I'm very tired. Not sleepy-tired, fatigued-tired. For example, I unpacked a box of toys and scratching posts for my cats yesterday, put them together, and HAD to sit down for an hour. I was just exhausted.
However, I'm on different types of meds (including Herceptin) from most people apparently, and the doses are high, according to my onc. Most people seem to have very little nausea. So please don't let this discourage you. I'm clearly an outlier.
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Hello Ladies! On day 14 after first TC, I am feeling back to normal. going to office and enjoying this time as much as I can as round #2 will be on 16th. Son's 7th bday is coming up on 25th and after first round until 10th day I was still feeling bone pain. So on weekend went for his bday shopping. Test buds are also back to normal and I am eating Taco, pizza, Panera soup/sandwich everything!!! Just hoping that after 2nd round bone pain would not be as painful. Have appointment for wig tomorrow. My hair are already thin and short, so will keep those as long as those will stay. Have a party to attend on 10th, hoping there will not be any drastic changes in next 2 days. But still worried for son's bday party.
PNWC, I also keep checking the tumor and I feel mine is shrinking. But mine is around 2.4 cm. So sometimes I feel the shrinking effect could be psychological too. Will know more after they do respective testing. I will ask MO on next round if they plan to check it before 3rd round. Did you ask MO about it?
Piksie, Obstacle course race sounds exciting and hats off to you for continuing these training. Wishing you the very best for next race on 21st. As long as you are enjoying it, nothing else matters.
Robyn, it really depends on which SE are hitting you. Bone pain was worse for me and started late on 5th day and continued next 3-4 days. Best approach is to note down the SE and let MO know and then keep track of what worked for it. I was taking Tylenol along with Claritin as I was asked to take Tylenol for any pain handling. I wasted a day between without calling MO. But when bone pain did not subside, called Mo and she mentioned it could be inflammation due to Taxotere for which Advil works better. Advil helped me, so in next round going to take that beforehand.
KK, I like the idea of fantasizing about travel. Automatically brings smile
We are thinking to go to Hawaii!!I have couple of questions -
1. Are you taking claritin throughout the treatment or only in the week of chemo? I have TC once in 3 week. So, this week as I feel fine, should i still continue to take claritin as preparation for next week or should I start taking it from Sunday as round #2 will be on Tuesday?
2. I have to utilize this time to decide Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy. Surgeon said, it is my choice as it does not affect survival or recurrence rate. How did you decide which one to go for other than the fact that removal of whole breast vs. local surgery? I am not sure what all points should I consider in this decision.
Thank you ladies for the continuous support. Love and hugs to
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PNWCyclist - Welcome. Did your MO say how long it normally takes a tumor to start shrinking? I'm sorry the rounds have been so rough. You look much better than I'm sure you feel! I buzzed my hair down before it started falling out and now I have just fuzzy bits like a baby bird.
Piksie - I love your plan. Pre-divorce we started traveling with the kids when my youngest was 6 (and the other 9). They got to see the Serengeti, the rainforest in Costa Rica and sail in the West Indies as well as SF/Yosemite, and after divorce their dad took them to Yellowstone and I took them to Nova Scotia. I think traveling really changes kids. Now that mine are grown, I'm trying to go somewhere every year myself.
Robyn - It seems to vary so much by person. And my first round was different from my second. The first one I had bone pain, but I medicated it second time and avoided it, but the second round I had nausea. I think what has struck me is how much more tired I am this time.
KK - Travel, food and wine - me, too!
BeingPositive - I was already taking claritin daily for allergies and still had bone pain the first round. HATED that, so second round I took claritin twice a day starting the day of chemo through day 7, and also took aleve during those days. Not a hint of bone pain that round. I'm hoping it will work again when I have my next round this Friday. The lumpectomy vs. mastectomy is a tough one. Such a personal decision and my breast surgeon wouldn't even offer an opinion since survival rates are the same. The slightly higher chance of a local recurrence scared me and radiation also scared me, so I went with a mastectomy. But I was most influenced by my mother's history - she had a local recurrence after a lumpectomy, radiation and chemo and ended up having a mastectomy after all. But obviously that doesn't happen to everyone. I wish you luck making a decision that feels comfortable (as much as any of this can feel comfortable) for you.
Any one else get more tired the further in they get? I feel like I'm walking through mud by the end of the day.
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In proof that life does go on, I had a great job interview this morning, buzzcut and all, ahead of AC #2 later today. It turns out life is quite genuinely too short to stay in a soul-sucking job, so I just decided to go for it and see what happens.
KK, Piksie - glad to hear you are still doing well. You're my personal role models with few SEs -- hoping to be more like you one of these rounds! Piksie, also glad to hear you are going for it on the obstacle race. I was going to do my first trail marathon in February but have scaled back my expectations considerably and am now looking for a 5-10k. I think it will help me psychologically to have it on the calendar.
PNWC - so sorry you've joined us here and that you haven't had any shrinkage. Like KK (and all of us, no doubt), I wish I had a way of knowing if this is working or not!
Robyn - I suspect you may be on different chemo drugs than I am since you're HER2+. I'm on AC and have found it remarkably like a bad hangover starting on day 3 except without any of the fun stuff beforehand! The nausea is quite bad for me, but so far I haven't thrown up and the worst of it is only 3-ish days. The steroids are no picnic and the bone pain from neulasta which I got on days 7-10 was really something, but the claritin def helps.
I am always dreaming of places to travel and used to do quite a lot. I moved to NZ from the US 12 years ago, and then moved to London for 3 years when the kids were really little. For our next trip I really want to see my brother and his family, but I think next year the kids will start to be old enough to enjoy Europe or the US roadtrip I am really want to take them on. For me, I've never been to Asia. I'm surprised work hasn't taken me to China yet, but if I was planning a vacation it would be Japan or Vietnam/Cambodia. So many things still to do in this life! KK - if you ever do decide to head to New Zealand, let me know!
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Piksie,
I'm curious. You said you have a 30% chance of recurrence after having a first recurrence so therefore your days are numbered. Why would you say that? I would say you have almost 70% of no recurrence
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Fairchild - My resting heart rate did go up from mid 60s to 80s since chemo started, and I noticed my heart rate goes up much earlier in my runs. I guess this is something we just need to watch out for? I do wear a Fitbit so hopefully it can help me find patterns.
PNWCyclist & others - I asked my MO about tumor shrinkage and she said sometimes the cancer cells turn into scar tissues that feel just as hard, while other times the tumor may get holes and look like Swiss cheese, so it is hard to tell whether it's shrinking just by feeling it. Given our high tumor grades the fact that the tumor is not growing is already good news and that's pretty much what they check for. Also for me personally I didn't feel any shrinkage until the end of week 4. I remember feeling the tumor very distinctly the week before and then all of a sudden couldn't really find it. When they did an ultrasound I could see one side of the tumor now has a hole eating into the center.
KK2018 - I’m on weekly Taxol (Abraxane) and I feel more easily tired and slightly nauseated on days 1-3. I still work and get things done so honestly I don’t feel my life is really impacted by it. My mom took Taxol years ago and had it every 3 weeks I believe, at a higher dose. That was really tough on her as she developed neuropathy early on.
Finally shaved my head and noticed for the first time in my life, a slight dent on the top of my head with a thin curved line going down the back of the head. Hmm... Maybe I should question my older siblings, “OK, which one of you dropped me?"
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Hbluv,
I live in CA also. Never been to Aruba but the best place tropical so far has been Belize. The island of Ambergris Caye. I hope to go back there with my husband when the chemo and radiation is done! Looking forward to trips is what keeps me going
Ginger
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Beeline-I too have been contemplating a career change since dx - I have been doing the same thing for the last 15 years and it was great through the whole early childhood years but I'm not sure I want to continue. On one hand the flexibility and what I get paid for it is unrivaled but on the other - I am working for my husband and his business partner and I'm tired of having all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak, and I know my husband agrees - but I don't know if he really understands how much different things would be around here if I worked for someone else as far as children/school/after-school/etc. Going to have to just put my feelers out I think.
As far as physical activity - I shuffle around doing my normal activities but I definitely need to kick it up a notch. I don't particularly enjoy exercise in theory but I always feel better when I have done it - but going to a germ-infested gym isn't high on my priority list.
BeingPositive - I start Claritin (actually generic loratadine bc I'm cheap) the night before chemo, so I have a couple days worth in me before my neulasta on pro goes off. And then I take it for a week with nightly advil for god measure. So far, so good. I might be occasionally achey - but I'm still dealing with sleeping awkwardly with these damn tissue expanders and continuing my lifelong poor posture from being in front of a screen all damn day. As far as lumpectomy/mastectomy goes - lumpectomy was not an option. My tumor was too big. And I honestly didn't hesitate with choosing bilateral because I didn't want to worry about recurrence in that "good" breast (happened to a friend 10 years after her original dx so she had to do the whole rodeo twice) and I have some fantasy that I may have relatively symmetrical frankenboobs when this is all done? As much as my large- breast-fed for nearly 4 years- breasts weren't what they were when I was 25, they were pretty damn symmetrical and that really matters more to me than size does when this is all said and done. Reconstruction is often on my mind (bc of these uncomfortable TEs) but I really won't know what my true options are until I finish radiation and determine whatever damage that has done.
Fairchild - my friend went through the Her2+ regimen and her SEs seemed similar to yours. I believe it really does a number on your digestive tract and with that effects fluids and potassium, etc. I'm sorry that you have to go through that extra-tough portion.
Day 2 so far has been uneventful and I am getting a full day of work in. Always start to dread what may come up days 3-5. Carb-loading has been the most effective at managing my nausea - bagels, cereal, pasta. I haven't lost or gained a pound so I'm going to roll with it. Not how I normally eat but at least by next week I can load up on protein and veg!
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hbluv, those stats are only for recurrence. They don't account for 18/18 positive lymph nodes from my ALND. There is a 90 percent chance that there is cancer in my Level III nodes, but even so, the thought of cancer being my cause of death doesn't cause me anxiety. Part of my emotional journey this time around is contemplating why I'm so calm, because I certainly wasn't the first time. It has only strengthened my resolve to do great things with/for my boys now, not when it's more convenient. And who knows, I just might be wrong.
Fairchild, a castle tour of England is in our top three at the moment, along with Japan and Spain. (We live in beachy tourist-ville, so I'm going for culture.) Japan has to wait until my boys are a bit more mature, so it's England or Spain... or the easy button - a cruise. What 10 year old can resist free-flowing soft serve ice cream?
Beeline, congrats on a great interview! My fingers are crossed for you! I'm considering doing the same in the next couple of months. Going from contractor to Gov't Civilian. My biggest concern is making the medical insurance transition. Finding a PC, getting all the necessary referrals, approvals, etc. in the middle of chemo (or radiation if it doesn't happen before Jan). And good luck on that 10k!!!
BrinkOfEternity, I've had the same HR effect. The first round, it dropped to mid-40s to mid-50s; not sure of the cause. But this time, my usual resting HR of 58-60 is now high 70s. We'll see what round 3 brings!
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Finished my first ACT today. One down, 3 more to go (followed by Taxol). I feel incredibly nauseous. Bad. They gave me two different anti nausea medicines in my port. Emend and something else. For the steroid, they said they will go ahead and give me the full dose and see how it goes. I'm wondering if the steroids are making me sick? I'm trying to drink as much water as possible and the nausea doesn't help at all. Ugh. I hate to be a negative post in the sea of good posts in our group. This has really knocked me down. Aside from the nausea, I feel kinda ok. Tired so I close my eyes but then my body won't sleep. They gave me scripts for zofran and if that didn't work, they gave me another for something stronger. I just took that one because zofran isn't touching it. Praying for it to work.
Other than tha obsene level of nausea, today went off without a hitch. Received a neulasta box that will go off tomorrow afternoon. When did medicine get so progressive??
Did anyone else have EXTREME nausea the day of treatment? How did it get resolved?
Trying to be strong and not lay in bed. And it's taking every ounce of me.
Thanks to everyone for listening. Hugs to all. Hoping everyone's SEs are being gentle to them or nonexistent.
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Hi All! My morning treat, running late today, treat is catching on what you've all posted overnight. For once the time zone difference is a positive.
Sadlynew2018 I did have nausea and actually really uncomfortable swallowing after my first AC session. It's been much better the next two. I dropped 3kg and I think got pretty dehydrated and generally felt awful. I do have steroids the first 3 days of my fortnightly cycle and I think they help a lot. I also have Emend and something else (chemo brain) with my infusion for nausea. The addition I think has helped most has been Somac 20mg (pantoprazole) which is for gastric reflux which is not a normal thing for me, but has pretty much gotten rid of that horrible lump in my oesaphagus feeling and uncomfortable swallowing. Suggestions on what to eat and to keep up your fluids - green tea, warm not hot, soups, and I really craved protein. Sips of water, or whatever you can manage - not the time to be strict on food. And here's the motto my sister and I use when things are tough: "This too shall pass". And don't forget to call the doctor/ nurse for suggestions. Fascinated by the neulasta box - I get a take home injection.
On the wonderful subject of travel, we might reinstate the trip we were booked to take this September! NYC for a week and a half, then a few days in Boston, driving tour up the Maine coast to Camden for a few days sailing on an old wooden schooner, across to NH to a cottage by a lake a la On Golden Pond, then some inn to inn walking in Vermont's Green Mountains...... and back home. Any of you in New England - maybe we could raise a glass of cider. Some friends are also keen to join us in Croatia - little stone house by the crystal Aegean water, walk into the village, outdoor grill, great food. And there's a plan to walk some camino sections. And so much of Australia we still haven't seen. Although in Australia we are high on the list of average working hours, we do have four weeks annual leave!
Hey, hbluv, you might be able to tick the GoT and beach vacation boxes by choosing Dubrovnic where lots of scenes were filmed. It's an amazing, beautiful place, wiht swimming spots right outside the city walls. And amazing food, plus the odd shopping opportunity. Much warmer than Belfast.
I hear Japan is really child friendly, and one of my daughters is planning a trip there when her two will be 6 and 3.
Fairchild, although I've been feeling better, I've been more tired than I expected after the second cycle. 3rd AC was yesterday, so it will be interesting to see. I think the upset about my return to work took it out of me a bit. I'm not quite my usual extremely resilient self. when I did go in on Monday, it was all very welcoming and lovely. Glad to have sorted it, and I'm sure nobody would have any idea how much it cost me emotionally. One of my employment benefits is confidential access to a counselling service, so I'll make an appointment (another one:-) to offload to someone not involved. I think I owe it to my family, who've been so wonderful, but don't need to have me venting every day. Like any busy family, there is a LOT going on for everyone, including the birth of grandchild number 9 this afternoon!!!!!!
Wow, such a long post, sorry all. And I will one day share a photo of my daughter's cat Max, currently resident at our house, and of my amazing head scarf repertoire. I can't believe they actually stay on all day.
Love to all, and prayers for your resilience and fewer SEs, and of course your job interview outcome, beeline.
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Sue- Where do i sign up for that New England trip? It sounds wonderful
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hbluv - doesn't it! Just cobbled together from what I found from too much time on the computer! Let me know if there are any particular bits you'f like to know about.
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Thank you for the tips, Tigerlily318! Thanks to you, I googled antioxidants and chemo and it looks like you are right. Seems they are still more beneficial than not. So, upping my coffee intake. ha. Great tip on the coconut oil. I too have a big jug in the bathroom. I'll start using it on my cuticles and hope for the best.
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Question: I have my third TC round on Friday and I still haven't lost all my hair. It's pretty sparse - I look like a cross between a very old man and a baby bird who fell out of the nest before it got its feathers. I call it hatchling head. But shouldn't it all be gone by now?
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Wanderweg, AC#3 tomorrow, I have the same hair! My guess is that it's the newest hair on our heads when it started falling out. They would have the strongest hold. I expect to be shiny within a week or so, but who knows.... I really hope it doesn't stay like this.
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piksie - I know! I think full-on bald wild look better.
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Got acupuncture for the first time in my life, during infusion, and it seems to have helped with my nausea. Tried icing my fingers during infusion as well and so far my neuropathy hasn’t gotten worse either. Halfway done with my T now!
I did notice fast heart rate as one of the side effects of Taxol, and really felt it today during and after my run. Now I have to limit my exercise to less cardio...
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Hi Ladies,
First time posting in here-- hoping to go back and read the first 16 pages of this thread so I can "meet" everyone. Sorry to be late to the party! (Worst party ever, booooooooo. I thought the infusions would be alcohol!)
I started my first infusion Sept 10. 6 rounds of TCHP, every 3 weeks. Just had #2 on October 1, so while I'm glad to be 1/3 of the way done, I can't wait to be done done! I'm working through the whole process, as I'm lucky enough to work remotely, and just try to schedule any face-to-face client meetings for the days I feel well enough. Weirdly, I'm the most productive the day after chemo, probably because I'm still riding on a high from all the pre-chemo drugs and 'roids.
Dx at 33, which is a giant bummer, but luckily(?) I have a friend who went through BC (and came out the other end, and is kickin' ass!) a few years ago who's been my rock through this entire time, and also the one I also PM when I have weird bodily function-related SE questions. My husband has been really supportive, and my dog has been her usual bratty self, so really, all is as good as it could be.
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Brink - I just noticed your info about being weakly ER+/nearly TNBC. Same here. It’s a weird borderland place to be. Will you be doing endocrine therapy after chemo and surgery?
MTKushmore - Welcome to the club no one wants to be in. I do well the day of/after chemo until aboutSundsy evening. I can feel myself starting to sink a little at that point. It’s so helpful to have a friend who’s walked the path before you. I have two who have been super supportive. I don’t know what I’d do without my friends being there for me, along with my husband and sons. My cat, like your dog, doesn’t give a damn. :
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Wanderweg, thanks for your input. I will start taking Claritin in the week of chemo then and will continue with Advil as finally that worked for me the first round. Wishing you the very best for third round tomorrow. I hope this round goes easy. I am hearing stories of recurrence scare with lumpectomy too. Your experience helps me understand it better, thanks again! Only in this third week I am feeling better, else until last week I was getting tired towards end of the day. Will see how it goes for second round next week. I have started losing hair in lumps. If I comb, bunch comes out. Have stopped combing! And the roots hurt too. Not yet decided when to shave. Did not find a good wig yet for my hair type
Beeline, you too are in the line of piksie and KK in being inspirational. It is awesome that in this situation you went for interview and rocked it. All the best for the positive outcome. I too have to look for opportunities. But after chemo, have surgery and possibly radiation, so can't join new company now because will not get those many leaves. My company got acquired and soon will come to know how many of us are being let go. It sucks, but I am counting my blessings that my husband is in a position where I can get medical insurance for rest of the treatment though the cost is going to be higher.
Brinkofeternity, thanks for the info on tumor shrinkage. I am going to check with MO too. And I like how you are being humorous about shaving head and observing the dent. I am approaching that stage too. I hope I can be as positive as you. Good that acupuncture helped you this round. Congrats on being halfway through!
KK, thank you for your input too on Claritin and surgery. These actual experiences help a lot in toughest part of this journey that is decision making. Hope days 3-5 are not too bad and SE are manageable.
Sadlynew, sorry to know that you are facing extreme nausea. Call your MO and they should be able to prescribe something that works. Hoping that as days pass by, you are feeling better with nausea. Did you try ginger candy? I hear that helps. May be you can try acupuncture too as Brinkofeternity mentioned.
MtKushmore, Welcome to the group that none of us wants to be part of but all of us are trying our best to get through. You too are a superstar as you are continuing the work, best wishes for remaining rounds. My second round of TC is on 16th and I am thinking I will be 50% done then! Human mind is so resilient, we find some reasons to keep going on. Yes, it will not be possible without family and friends. Those are our real blessings.
Wishing all of you a good weekend and strength to keep moving forward in this process.0 -
wanderweg - I read somewhere that endocrine therapy for weakly positive doesn't affect the outcome at all. I asked my MO at dana farber and she didn't think it would help either. When i went for 2nd opinion at MGH they said they would still recommend endocrine therapy though. But since I'm only 5% ER-positive with a family history of ovarian cancer I'd really prefer not to stimulate/mess with my hormones.
BeingPositive - Thank you! My friends and family have been very supportive, buying me hats and attachable wigs, so that helps. Since I can work from home most of the time it does make things easier too. The other day I accidentally activated my webcam during an online meeting and that was scary! Thankfully it was pointed to the side of my neck... I've put a sticker on the webcam now, no more accidents!
Sadlynew2018 - I don’t get extreme nausea per se, but acupuncture did help with my mild nausea so that I didn’t need to take zofran this round. Hope it can help you too..
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