Topic: Starting Chemo September 2021

Sep 19, 2021 02:57AM oldladyblue wrote:

Hi all, looks like my chemo won't start till October. Getting a 2nd opinion from the head of oncology on Sept 30th, then the port put in if I am still getting AC chemo and not the other (TC).

Melander8117 be aware there are many types of THC and many blends of those types. Some will NOT put you to sleep, some will. My husband gets medical THC here in FL. He has drops for nighttime to help sleep that are different than his daytime drops. My VA docs will not talk to me about THC since it is a federal organization and doesn't recognize that this state legalized THC.

Sep 19, 2021 11:24AM swimgal wrote:

HummingbirdAZ, I'm sorry you're dealing with a moth sore. Are you rinsing your mouth with a salt and baking soda mix? If not, do that 2 or 3 times a day. One-quarter teaspoon baking soda and one-eigth teaspoon salt to one cup water. Hope this helps.

Sep 19, 2021 02:42PM - edited Sep 19, 2021 09:51PM by Spades2525

melander I have lots of anti nausea meds and seriously couldn't imagine how I would feel without it. Day #3 is worse than day 2.. super tired, lightheaded And nauseous. Thank goodness for my mom's homemade vegetable soup!

Sep 20, 2021 03:46AM Melander8117 wrote:

Oldladyblue- I'm sorry to hear about the delay, I hope your 2nd opinion brings clarity and that you are comfortable with the plan. And thank you for the additional tip on the THC. I'll do more research on kinds that will be good for sleep.

Spades I had the same experience days 3-4 as well. Thank goodness for anti-nausea meds and homemade soups!!

Hummingbird I'm so sorry about the mouth sore. I really hope the tips here help clear it up fast! My oncologist also said she can prescribe mouth washes that help numb your mouth so it is easier to eat when you have sores. In addition to the tips here maybe that could help as well.

hope everyone has a good start to their week

Sep 20, 2021 09:27AM - edited Sep 20, 2021 09:29AM by oldladyblue

Thanks Butterfly47 for posting on your journey so far and for the tip and pic on the mouth spray. I will buy it for sure, as I already have trouble with dry mouth! Thinking of you and your appt today and chemo Weds. and Melander please let me know what you turn up with your sleep THC research. I already have pretty bad insomnia so if it gets worse with chemo I won't be sleeping much at all.

Sep 20, 2021 12:41PM AMG2 wrote:

Has anyone else had a racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath that goes on for several days while going through taxol + herceptin chemo?

Sep 20, 2021 03:22PM mindthief wrote:

AMG2, I would definitely reach out to your oncologist or go straight to the hospital if needed. Those symptoms are on my treatment summary under “talk to your medical provider right away or get emergency help.”

Sep 21, 2021 08:23AM Ernnelson wrote:

Hi All! I am on day 4 after 1st treatment and so far so good! Super tired and achy with very little appetite but minimal nausea. Trying to work (I work from home) and had to stop midway to take a nap - but I got 8 hours in yesterday!!! We will see how today goes!

Has anyone had issues with headaches? I have a headache every night since Friday when I go to bed and it is there all through the night but when I wake up it subsides.

Also, any issues with nose bleeds? I am going to TMI here - blew my nose and the tissue came away with blood. Not just a little but it wasn't dripping down my face and it did stop.

I am so glad that I found this forum - all of you are helping me stay positive about feeling like I have the worst flu in the world and the tips are great!

Sep 21, 2021 11:21AM mindthief wrote:

Ernnelson, glad to hear you're feeling okayish :) I've had a headache on and off ever since the first treatment. It's on my list to discuss with my MO. Hoping yours resolves a lot faster!

Spades2525, I hope you're feeling a bit better by now. I was told days 3-7 are typically the worst on AC, although my own experience was a bit different.

AMG2, how are you feeling? Were you able to reach your MO?

DebbieM, enjoy your good days! I'm not sure about where you are, but the early Fall weather has been beautiful here. I'm on the paranoid side and haven't had indoor visitors since the start of the pandemic but have been doing outdoor visits with vaccinated people, well distanced and/or masked as appropriate.

I'm gearing up for cycle 2 on Friday morning. Trying not to think about the previous one or the next one and just get through whatever this one holds. My sister is coming over on Thursday to give me a buzz cut, as I'm pretty sure otherwise I'm going to be losing chunks just as I'm at my sickest this weekend, which sounds truly miserable. So far I only have two soft beanie hats and probably need something else but not really sure what. I'm not a stylish person and am not working right now, so many of the scarves and headwraps seem far too fancy for me. I haven't decided definitively against a wig but I feel like in the end I just wouldn't wear it. It will be cold in Ontario soon and I may ending up wearing a regular winter hat full time, pompom and all. I'm always cold anyway.

Sep 21, 2021 09:22PM Spades2525 wrote:

Hi everyone.. Day 5 after treatment 1 … lowest function yet. Aside from the expected fatigue, muscle weakness, and nausea, is anyone else getting skin sensitivity to touch? I feel like I have bruising or a sunburn almost all over my body. Very unpleasant. My brain also slowed down today.. hopefully in a few days I’ll start to feel more like myself.
I am feeling lucky that it is getting cooler here because I plan to rock super soft winter hat looks … Pom Pom’s here I come :) I do have a scarf and wig… without work or really any social life, I’m not sure how much they will be used… but we’ll see

Sep 22, 2021 08:56AM - edited Sep 22, 2021 09:01AM by DebbieM1958

Ernnelson - yes, I am also getting nosebleeds, my nurse said its normal. The mucous membranes inside your nose are affected. Mine have been on and off daily for the last 3 or 4 days. You have to be super gentle and try to prevent blowing. Annoying, huh? I now travel with several kleenex in each pocket, just in case.

Mindtheif - I am in Sacramento, California and although the temps are still in the 90s we have the promise of cooler weather in the 70s coming soon. I love Fall.

Hummingbird47- I also lost my taste about Day 4 or 5, ugh, everything was horrible, the texture very repulsive with no taste. But now on Day 14 I have regained some taste again and enjoyed dinner last night. I find the more seasoned the food is the better it tastes and my husband fortunately is a whiz at cooking and only wants to make me stuff I like. I expect it will go again when Cycle 2 starts.

Spades2525, yes about Day 5 was pretty rotten for me too - just know it gets better as the days move along. By Day 7 I was feeling so much better.

Happy Fall everyone!

Sep 23, 2021 03:02PM Sarah_78 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I have to admit I wrote in September 2019 chemo thread and then i was wondering why no one was answering. *face palm*. Started chemo brain before even receiving the chemo it seems!

I am starting with TCHP tomorrow on Friday, 24th of September. I will receive it for 6 times with 3 weeks in between.

Feel like I am late to September club and early for October one.

Heard first admission is very long, hope I can pass the time. I will be receiving cooling for hands and feet through the machine at the clinic. They don't have cooling solution for hair yet so I ordered something online yesterday night, it has some gel packs inside a cap, hope that works and doesn't induce headache. I can do without one more side effect.

Yesterday I went to the hairdresser to cut my usually very long hair. It doesn't look half as bad as I thought it would be, hoping to keep a part of it at least for a month or so, not planning to shave, but if it starts shedding too bad, I might have to change plans.

Just had a soda with lemon, trying to remember, am I not supposed to eat any citrus fruits? Orange, lemon etc. I google and see conflicting information on those, some say eat it daily, some say avoid.

Wish everyone the best with your ongoing treatment.

Sep 23, 2021 03:50PM DebbieM1958 wrote:

Hi Sarah_78 - welcome!!!! Your treatment plan is exactly the same as mine. I have the same meds every 3 weeks and did my first cycle on Sept 9th, next one coming up Sept. 30th. It was about 6.5 hrs in all at the infusion clinic, but the time went really quickly so it didn't seem that long. Take a good book or your tablet. I also did the feet and hands ice, not the head thing. I felt pretty good the first few days and not terribly bad the next 4 or 5. Lot of runs to the bathroom and lots of naps seemed to be my thing. Also my taste disappeared so that was very weird. Applesauce, bananas, toast and ginger ale were my friends on those days. Now on Day 15 I am feeling so much better, almost normal. Energy back as of Day 10, appetite back, no naps needed. I hope your #1 goes really well for you and minimal side effects. Drinking lots of fluid is key apparently.

Sep 23, 2021 09:03PM DebbieM1958 wrote:

Sarah_78 - funny you should mention the hair. I had been "bragging" to my my sister yesterday that I had no signs of any hair loss - and then this morning when I was brushing my hair I noticed quite a bit more than usual in my hairbrush....ugh.....guess it's beginning. My hair is super thick so it's not noticeable yet. We'll see how it progresses. Have a great evening.

Sep 24, 2021 10:07AM 1982M wrote:

AGM-Thanks for the update! I’m glad it’s slowed down and your feeling ok. There is a YouTube channel I found “All for the girls” with a person who is on the same regime as us. If you watch her first chemo video she did have similar side effects as you did! So your not alone!