Starting Chemo September and October 2024 Support Thread
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hope your chemo goes well tomorrow xx will be thinking about you x
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Sending hugs to All! 🤗
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Thank you everyone! Funny I've felt the most like myself from last Friday until today, and tomorrow will mess that all up. :-) But I'm thankful for the good days, and everything has been manageable so far.
Did I even post that I had my hair buzzed yesterday? The first pass through with the clippers was scary but after that it just felt good and I feel totally okay with my not quite bald yet head. :-)
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how did it go today ?
Been thinking about you xx
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I’m here at the cancer center waiting for my first drug. My bloodwork looked perfect.
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I’m sorry I keep forgetting about the time difference xx it’s 7 at night here xxx
well done on the blood work that’s fab xxx hope it goes smoothLy x0 -
@mamarog I hope things go well (went well? time difference ha ha) today!!!! Let me know how it went.
Things went fine for my infusion and I'm doing much better today on Day 3 then I was last cycle when I was in bed all day. However the constipation is worse than ever and I am MISERABLE. I even took a stool softener the day before chemo and I didn't last time. However this time I'm taking my anti-nausea meds more regularly. So they're helping with the nausea but I don't know what's worse, nausea or constipation. UGH.
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hi x
Currently feeling awful too xx I have something prescribed this time to help with the constipation so hope it works x doctors said you need to keep taking it x and drink loads of water I mean loads
We can allow ourselves a few sad and poorly days x then we will bounce back my friend x so moan away and I will moan right back
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Sorry you're feeling "poorly" too! Actually I finally "went" mid-afternoon and I feel much better. I just went for a 35 minute slow walk outside. I'm not going to take any more anti-nausea meds until I'm really "moving" again. (I have talked about POOP so much today with my sisters and family it's crazy!) and then I'll see where my nausea is at. Currently it's very mild so I hope I don't have to take any more. I CANNOT do this again next round though, I am going to talk to my oncologist for some ideas.
Keep me posted, hope you feel better soon!
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Good morning- Eastern standard time.
Newbie- ER/Pr+ HERS-
S/P bilateral mastectomy 9/10/24 for ICL 3a (16cm tumor!!) L breast and of course they found some in my “good” R breast as well…5/8 positive nodes on L side. Oncotype is not reliable as there were more than 3 positive nodes but was a 9 with a 40% chance of recurrence after 9 years. Scheduled for port at noon today and start C/T on Wednesday.
I’m an emetephobe so absolutely terrified of the nausea and vomiting. I have told my team this but of all the things to be scared about with chemo, this is my biggest issue. Which is idiocy I know- I feel very childish.
So anyway- I’ve read the boards but still looking for some reassurance and helpful hints. I know everyone is different, the fear of the unknown is real!
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hey xx
This whole experience can be so overwhelming but if it helps at all although I have felt sick I haven’t actually been sick and my advice is to keep taking the anti sickness medication to keep it at bay it does work !! I also have found that a small piece of toast or regular small amounts of food have helped with the sickness part x
Good luck for Wednesday I will be thinking about you and I’m now on round 2 so I promise you once you’ve done the first it will get easier xxx
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@meinu2 - Welcome to Breastcancer.org. We’re so glad you’ve found us here, though we’re sorry for your diagnosis.
Many in our community have felt the way you feel right now, and we're sure you'll get responses with helpful tips for managing nausea and vomiting. Also, you may find some helpful information on our site, here:
Wishing you all the best for your port procedure today and your upcoming treatment, and we hope you find lots of reassurance and support here!
Sincerely,
The Mods
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@meinu2 . We can't always help our feelings. You are certainly allowed them here.
I'm sure they told you they have meds to handle the nausea and vomiting. Did they mention to push water? 8 glasses a day or more of clear liquids. It really does help. Till you feel waterlogged. 😒
What helped me the most though and I don't hear anyone else mention it is to use digestive enzymes for bloat and nausea. I use the ones from 21st Century I think. A square white bottle. 1 a day. Pharmacist suggested it. Dr said use prilisec but it's not an acid issue. The digestive enzymes are natural.
Good luck
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@meinu2 Welcome. As long as I take the anti-nausea meds, the nausea isn't bad and is nowhere close to making me feel like I'm going to throw up. However, those meds cause constipation and I've struggled with that big time, wondering what is worse, nausea or constipation. I stopped the meds a few days ago because I was absolutely miserable, but now the nausea is quite bad. I guess the meds do work! So I'm back on the meds and doing other things to hopefully combat the constipation. I hate this struggle. Other than this issue none of the side effects I've had are unmanageable.
@gailmary I would like to know more about the digestive enzymes. I'll see if I can figure out what you are referring to.
I'm doing my absolute best to drink water but it's so dang hard, especially when I'm nauseated. I can manage about 40 ounces a day without a problem but they want me to drink 64 ounces and that feels nearly impossible. I think I got that much one day but day after day after day, ugh.
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I should clarify. I didn't take the prescription meds. Not sure it was nausea. No vomiting Just bloated and a gushy upset tummy. 1 of these only a few days each week for me.
This is like lactaid for lactose intolerance but there are others. Some say 2 or 3 or with each meal.
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Thanks for sharing @gailmary ! We're thinking of you All!
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@gailmary I'll take any suggestions that help with tummy troubles whether it's nausea or constipation or what have you :-)
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Hi Eileen
Just checking how you are feeling xx
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@mamarog Thanks for asking! I keep meaning to check back in here but I keep forgetting. :-) I am feeling pretty good, of course that will change soon since my 3rd chemo is tomorrow. Yours will be Friday then? My two main issues last round were constipation and a rash on my face. I had both the first time. The rash was worse this time but it's gone now. I am determined not to be constipated this time. I started on Senna S (stool softener and laxative in one) and Miralax yesterday. I'll continue with that and hope that keeps it at bay this time. Also not taking Zofran for anti-nausea this time which is supposed to be the worst culprit and will only take Compazine. My port bothers me almost 24/7 now, it seems to have moved closer to my skin and it just feels yucky. The surgeon said that is normal, especially since I am on the thinner side. Otherwise doing well. How about you? What were your worst side effects last time?
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hi x glad you’ve been feeling better x it’s awful that just a we pick up another round hits x I you have struggled with constipation so I might ask if there are any other anti sickness tablets I can try x I didn’t experience the bone pain as bad having my injections in the morning and taking ibuprofen x think I need to drink more water too.
Will be thinking about you tomorrow ? Were your bloods ok again ?
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The two anti-nausea prescriptions they give us here are Ondansetron (brand name Zofran) and Prochlorperazine (Compazine or Prochlor are some of the brand names). Does your doctor have you get any prescription meds to take at home? They also put Palonosetron (brand name Aloxi) in with the chemo meds. I think that is the med that gives me the headache.
I don't get my bloodwork done the day before - tomorrow my bloodwork is at 12:15, then I meet with my oncologist's assistant at 12:40, then start the chemo drugs at 1:15. Last time my bloodwork was good. Some levels were off but only what would be expected for 3 weeks post-chemo. So I'm hoping for the same. I feel good so I hope that means my white and red blood cell counts are good, and my platelets. I'll find out tomorrow and let you know!
I'm working really hard on drinking more water. I'm getting around 50 oz which is really pushing it for me but I'm doing it. I'm just praying hard for no constipation this round!
Let me know how things go for you!
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@eileenmk64,
Most patients in treatment are offered prescriptions for anti-nausea for home use, including Zofran, Compazine, and Ativan. Aloxi is in a similar drug family as Zofran, and unfortunately, headache can be a side effect, especially when taking Zofran doses back-to-back. Try to keep up with that hydration — If water intake is difficult, try electrolyte drinks, broths, and also hydrating fruits, such as watermelon!
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Well, two weeks post chemo #1 and as they told me - my hair started falling out in clumps yesterday- so husband and I shaved my head today. It’s been feeling like goose bumps for two days prior and I am much more comfortable (physically) bald. Got some cute boho soft hats that are good for inside. I’m having a visitor today which is making me anxious unfortunately- she’s been through cancer with her husband so this isn’t her first rodeo. I just don’t know if I can leave the house!!!
The ?Aloxi ? Controlled the nausea beautifully until it didn’t lol- one episode of fall to my knees nausea - had to get hubby to grab the compazine and I sat on the floor until it started to work. So now I know- Saturday take compazine prior to getting out of bed!
my sense of smell is ok, my sense of taste however, I cannot stand sweetness, especially artificial. Bonus I suppose since I need to lose weight in order to have reconstructive surgery. This third week is much better- feel almost myself again. Of course next Wednesday is #2 so here we go again - at least I have a general idea of what to expect this time.1 -
once you have gone through the first cycle you learn how to try and better manage the second.
I have my third tomorrowBut after this one I switch onto a different drub which I will have weekly for 12 weeks.
I too felt much better when I shaved off my hair and gave now wet shaved it with a razor and it’s much move comfortable than the spikey short hair
Enjoy this next week of feeling more normal and I hope your second round goes well xxx
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@meinu2 My hair started coming out on Day 13 post my first chemo. I had it buzzed to about 3/4". I still have some hair on my head but not much. I haven't lost any more hair anywhere else though! I had my third chemo yesterday. I let people that I love and care about see my without a hat. My husband says he's used to me like this now ha ha. If I was completely bald I probably wouldn't mind going out in public uncovered but with my sparse hair it looks silly. Plus it's getting colder outside.
I've actually gained a few pounds because I'm always hungry! And not always for healthy things. But I'm doing pretty good. Last round my taste was off just for a day or two. This time my mouth feels funny but things taste pretty normal. I am only taking compazine this cycle for nausea, that plus the Aloxi I got yesterday is keeping the nausea at bay for now. Plus I'm taking Tylenol for the mild headache I always get and that is going well too.
@mamarog My pre-chemo anti-constipation regimen WORKED! I'm having no issues with that. The first two cycles BAM right away the second day after chemo I started getting backed up so I'm THRILLED that I conquered that issue. Let me know how things go tomorrow! Oh and also my bloodwork was good. Some things were off of course but nothing they wouldn't expect. I hardly slept last night, I guess because of the steroids, and it's late afternoon now and I'm not even really tired. I'll probably sleep like a log tonight though, I did last time. At least I hope so! So anyway so far so good with side effects but they usually kick in more tonight or tomorrow. But with no constipation I feel like I can conquer the world! HA HA HA HA.
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