Advice on what has helped everyone get through chemo?
Comments
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side effects
Hi and welcome to the site. I had 3 different chemo drugs and also on Herceptin. It would help to know what chemo you will be taking. I am assuming Taxol or one related to it because of your node involvement.
Taxol for me caused bone pain the first time. I had it four times, all four caused me to be tired. I work weekends from Friday afternoon straight til Sunday morning(sleeping at night of course) at a group home. I did go to work on Taxol but did not do as much work there as usual. I have a great boss and co-workers.
On the other chemo, A/C I did worked every other week. Stayed home the week of chemo.
Let us know exactly what you will be on and I will tell you more.
You will be glad you have a port.
Kim0 -
Debbie......
Hello and welcome. I'm so happy that you found this board.
I know that you will receive many responses to your questions.
I finished chemo in mid-December 2008.
Regarding side effects, in my case I did not suffer any nausea. However, I was given anti-nausea meds IV before each chemo and I also had a prescription at home, which I took for 3 days after every chemo. Easier to try & prevent it than to try & get rid of it once you suffer nausea.
I also had bone pain...sharp, jabbing pain...which I took steroids for.
If you will be taking drugs which cause you to lose your hair, some of the best advice I got was to have my head shaved when the hair started to seriously fall out. Otherwise, your scalp will sometimes become painful during that process.
I also had/have some peripheral neuropathy...numbness in hands, fingers and feet. Some of that is easing as time goes by, and I am hoping that at some point down the road, it will disappear completely.
I got a few "funky" fingernails and toenails, but they have since grown back normally.
One side effect, which seems to be pretty much universal is fatigue. Be kind to your body and rest when you can.
There are many side effects attributed to chemo drugs. You will NOT get all of them and any that you do encounter, may be very mild.
Your onc will be able to help you out with many of them, so be sure and report any discomforts to him/her.
I do not work, but many here do, and I know that they continued to work while undergoing treatment. I'm sure you will hear from them.
Hugs,
CR0 -
hi
Debbie,
Sorry you have reason to be here, but welcome.
This is a good place to come to hear the voice of experience. Your Dr. and chemo nurses can help too. I have a book, "A cancer Journey" from the American Cancer Society online bookstore that has been very useful. Chemocare.com is a website you can go to to look up your specific drugs and see what the common side effects are. Each person's experience is different, but many people (including me) do work full-time throughout the chemo experience. It depends on how your body reacts to the drugs, what kind of job you have, what other stress factors you have in your life, how much help you have, etc,etc. You may do this already, but if you don't, start writing down any and every question in a notebook and carry it with you to the Dr., then write down the answers. It helps to have someone you trust to help make sure you have the information correct.
Live as well as you can for as long as you can, seof0 -
Chemo
Hi, I'm sorry you are on this site. I'm just glad you found it early in your journey.
I had neo adjuvant chemo-thearpy (chemo before surgery). I worked the whole time during chemo partly out of necessity and partly to keep my sanity. I had 4 cycles of docetaxel and gemcitabine for 4 cycles and AC for the next 4 cycles. My dr. gave me anti nausea drugs before each chemo. They really helped alot.
I needed to take 3 days off from work each cycle. I was fine the day of chemo but felt terrible for 3 days after. Fresh ginger really helped me after chemo. I would boil fresh ginger root in water and drink it through out the day. Coke syrup over ice helped me to ( I channeled my grandmother on that one). You can order it through your pharmacy.
My hair started to fall out after my 2nd cycle. I shaved it after my 2nd chemo. It's really not as bad as you think it's going to be (not like the movies).
I would imagine that the chemo was shrinking that evil tumor in my breast and nodes. It did. I had surgery in April and what was left of my tumor was mainly scar tissue and my nodes were clean. I only had to have 4 nodes removed.
Everyone's biochemistry is so different. Listen to your body and keep your sense of humor.
Good luck
Trish0 -
HI Debbie
I had Taxotere and Cytoxan Chemo treatments starting February 27, four treatments three weeks apart (last treatment April 28). I also had a Neulasta shot the day after chemo. I, of course, was going to be one of those super women who would not let the treatments affect my work, unfortunately, my body did not get the message. I had treatments on Tuesdays, and felt perfectly fine until the next Sunday when I developed shooting pains from my hips and up through my back - I mean body-stopping, bending-over pain that felt like electric rods shooting up my back. I ended up calling the doctor who was not concerned and told me to take up to two of the Hydrocodone I was prescribed from my surgery. These worked, but I had to take them about every hour for the first twenty-four. Then I developed a fever of 102 so on Monday I spent a lot of time being poked, prodded, and x-rayed for any infection - never found one. I was back at work on Wednesday. After the second and third treatments, they reduced the Neulasta shot by half and the next Sunday the pain was much less, still needed the Hydro to help manage pain. This time I didn't return to work until Thursday. Not so much for the pain but from pure exhaustion. It was like having the flu without the temperature, I came to call Sunday my crash day. After the fourth treatment I didn't go back to work until Friday, still fatigued and with a slight temperature, but so frustrated from sitting on the couch like a blob all week, I needed to feel useful. I heard the fatigue was cumulative and that is pretty much how it happened. I was lucky enough to be able to do a lot of work from home.
The only other issue I dealt with that really bothered me was eating. Since my taste buds were killed off, everything tasted like cardboard so I didn't eat much, although I was hungry. My teeth also became very sensitive towards the end so I couldn't eat or drink anything cold - so there went my favorite - ice cream!! And I would get a thick layer of dead skin on the sides of my mouth that I scraped off continually for a few days. I would rinse my mouth out with a solution of salt, soda and water that the Cancer Center recommended. That helped my mouth. After the first treatment I did get diarrhea that lasted a couple day. Nausea never bothered me as I took the meds they gave me religiously.
Other side effects I developed were slight tingling, numbing of my toes and fingertips, bumpy fingernails, loss of hair exactly 12 days after first treatment (it bothers me more now after four months, I am tired of having to wear something in public - it's been 60 days since my last treatment and I have a thin layer of black and white hair. There is actually a good u-tube video of a lady documenting her hair growth after chemo.) My eyes hurt a bit and I would develop a slight fever - 99-100.
But from the research I have done, everyone reacts different, but it's also nice to learn that others had the same reaction so you don't feel so isolated.
I kept a journal to document my symptoms and how I felt. This helped me deal with my emotional feelings.
I wish I would have discovered this site earlier in my treatment. It is a great source of comfort. Although my husband and friends are very supportive,it really helps to have someone who knows what you are going through.
Good luck Debbie and I hope your treatment goes well.
Sheri0 -
Hi Debbie
Glad you found us. You will find a lot of different types of chemo and different reactions from everyone. I had four rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxin then four rounds of Taxol. Both were fairly decent to me, just slightly queasy with the first group, and bone pain with the second. I worked every day about 70 hours a week while I was doing chemo and radiation. Only took off on my chemo days.
Let us know when you get your cocktail, but it still does vary with every person. Hope it all goes smoothly for you
=^..^=0 -
I will be meeting with the Onco on Thursday, and probably getting the information about which chemo at that time. I do not have the plan yet because the first time I met with my Onco the pathology had not come back. (The not knowing was so difficult.) I did not want to look up info until I had more facts, so today is the first time I am searching, and I'm glad I came upon this site. I didn't know about the bone pain, and it looks like that is common. Thanks for the info. It will help to know that if I experience bone pain it can be a normal side effect of chemo.confused123 said:side effects
Hi and welcome to the site. I had 3 different chemo drugs and also on Herceptin. It would help to know what chemo you will be taking. I am assuming Taxol or one related to it because of your node involvement.
Taxol for me caused bone pain the first time. I had it four times, all four caused me to be tired. I work weekends from Friday afternoon straight til Sunday morning(sleeping at night of course) at a group home. I did go to work on Taxol but did not do as much work there as usual. I have a great boss and co-workers.
On the other chemo, A/C I did worked every other week. Stayed home the week of chemo.
Let us know exactly what you will be on and I will tell you more.
You will be glad you have a port.
Kim0 -
Thanks for the info about shaving your head, and for sharing your experience. I will take the suggestion about shaving my head. I'm happy I found this board too. Thanks!CR1954 said:Debbie......
Hello and welcome. I'm so happy that you found this board.
I know that you will receive many responses to your questions.
I finished chemo in mid-December 2008.
Regarding side effects, in my case I did not suffer any nausea. However, I was given anti-nausea meds IV before each chemo and I also had a prescription at home, which I took for 3 days after every chemo. Easier to try & prevent it than to try & get rid of it once you suffer nausea.
I also had bone pain...sharp, jabbing pain...which I took steroids for.
If you will be taking drugs which cause you to lose your hair, some of the best advice I got was to have my head shaved when the hair started to seriously fall out. Otherwise, your scalp will sometimes become painful during that process.
I also had/have some peripheral neuropathy...numbness in hands, fingers and feet. Some of that is easing as time goes by, and I am hoping that at some point down the road, it will disappear completely.
I got a few "funky" fingernails and toenails, but they have since grown back normally.
One side effect, which seems to be pretty much universal is fatigue. Be kind to your body and rest when you can.
There are many side effects attributed to chemo drugs. You will NOT get all of them and any that you do encounter, may be very mild.
Your onc will be able to help you out with many of them, so be sure and report any discomforts to him/her.
I do not work, but many here do, and I know that they continued to work while undergoing treatment. I'm sure you will hear from them.
Hugs,
CR0 -
Thanks for the resource information. I will check them out. While everyone's experiences are different, it helps to know the possibilities. This information is appreciated.seof said:hi
Debbie,
Sorry you have reason to be here, but welcome.
This is a good place to come to hear the voice of experience. Your Dr. and chemo nurses can help too. I have a book, "A cancer Journey" from the American Cancer Society online bookstore that has been very useful. Chemocare.com is a website you can go to to look up your specific drugs and see what the common side effects are. Each person's experience is different, but many people (including me) do work full-time throughout the chemo experience. It depends on how your body reacts to the drugs, what kind of job you have, what other stress factors you have in your life, how much help you have, etc,etc. You may do this already, but if you don't, start writing down any and every question in a notebook and carry it with you to the Dr., then write down the answers. It helps to have someone you trust to help make sure you have the information correct.
Live as well as you can for as long as you can, seof0 -
WorkTrishyG said:Chemo
Hi, I'm sorry you are on this site. I'm just glad you found it early in your journey.
I had neo adjuvant chemo-thearpy (chemo before surgery). I worked the whole time during chemo partly out of necessity and partly to keep my sanity. I had 4 cycles of docetaxel and gemcitabine for 4 cycles and AC for the next 4 cycles. My dr. gave me anti nausea drugs before each chemo. They really helped alot.
I needed to take 3 days off from work each cycle. I was fine the day of chemo but felt terrible for 3 days after. Fresh ginger really helped me after chemo. I would boil fresh ginger root in water and drink it through out the day. Coke syrup over ice helped me to ( I channeled my grandmother on that one). You can order it through your pharmacy.
My hair started to fall out after my 2nd cycle. I shaved it after my 2nd chemo. It's really not as bad as you think it's going to be (not like the movies).
I would imagine that the chemo was shrinking that evil tumor in my breast and nodes. It did. I had surgery in April and what was left of my tumor was mainly scar tissue and my nodes were clean. I only had to have 4 nodes removed.
Everyone's biochemistry is so different. Listen to your body and keep your sense of humor.
Good luck
Trish
I am hoping I can work at least some of the time too, for the same reason...sanity and normalcy. There is good support there too. I work in a healthcare/nursing home and it is also helpful to have nurses around. I'm glad that you had good results from the chemo prior to your surgery. Thanks for sharing your experience.0 -
Journaljourneyon said:HI Debbie
I had Taxotere and Cytoxan Chemo treatments starting February 27, four treatments three weeks apart (last treatment April 28). I also had a Neulasta shot the day after chemo. I, of course, was going to be one of those super women who would not let the treatments affect my work, unfortunately, my body did not get the message. I had treatments on Tuesdays, and felt perfectly fine until the next Sunday when I developed shooting pains from my hips and up through my back - I mean body-stopping, bending-over pain that felt like electric rods shooting up my back. I ended up calling the doctor who was not concerned and told me to take up to two of the Hydrocodone I was prescribed from my surgery. These worked, but I had to take them about every hour for the first twenty-four. Then I developed a fever of 102 so on Monday I spent a lot of time being poked, prodded, and x-rayed for any infection - never found one. I was back at work on Wednesday. After the second and third treatments, they reduced the Neulasta shot by half and the next Sunday the pain was much less, still needed the Hydro to help manage pain. This time I didn't return to work until Thursday. Not so much for the pain but from pure exhaustion. It was like having the flu without the temperature, I came to call Sunday my crash day. After the fourth treatment I didn't go back to work until Friday, still fatigued and with a slight temperature, but so frustrated from sitting on the couch like a blob all week, I needed to feel useful. I heard the fatigue was cumulative and that is pretty much how it happened. I was lucky enough to be able to do a lot of work from home.
The only other issue I dealt with that really bothered me was eating. Since my taste buds were killed off, everything tasted like cardboard so I didn't eat much, although I was hungry. My teeth also became very sensitive towards the end so I couldn't eat or drink anything cold - so there went my favorite - ice cream!! And I would get a thick layer of dead skin on the sides of my mouth that I scraped off continually for a few days. I would rinse my mouth out with a solution of salt, soda and water that the Cancer Center recommended. That helped my mouth. After the first treatment I did get diarrhea that lasted a couple day. Nausea never bothered me as I took the meds they gave me religiously.
Other side effects I developed were slight tingling, numbing of my toes and fingertips, bumpy fingernails, loss of hair exactly 12 days after first treatment (it bothers me more now after four months, I am tired of having to wear something in public - it's been 60 days since my last treatment and I have a thin layer of black and white hair. There is actually a good u-tube video of a lady documenting her hair growth after chemo.) My eyes hurt a bit and I would develop a slight fever - 99-100.
But from the research I have done, everyone reacts different, but it's also nice to learn that others had the same reaction so you don't feel so isolated.
I kept a journal to document my symptoms and how I felt. This helped me deal with my emotional feelings.
I wish I would have discovered this site earlier in my treatment. It is a great source of comfort. Although my husband and friends are very supportive,it really helps to have someone who knows what you are going through.
Good luck Debbie and I hope your treatment goes well.
Sheri
Hi Sheri,
I already started a journal of the whole experience/trauma so far as a way to cope with it. For me it has helped to write it down, have a good cry, and then go on with my day. I hope I will get through it and be able to help others some day. Thanks for sharing your experience.0 -
Workcats_toy said:Hi Debbie
Glad you found us. You will find a lot of different types of chemo and different reactions from everyone. I had four rounds of Adriamycin/Cytoxin then four rounds of Taxol. Both were fairly decent to me, just slightly queasy with the first group, and bone pain with the second. I worked every day about 70 hours a week while I was doing chemo and radiation. Only took off on my chemo days.
Let us know when you get your cocktail, but it still does vary with every person. Hope it all goes smoothly for you
=^..^=
Wow, you work a lot of hours! It is reassuring to hear that some people have been able to work at least some of the time. Thanks for the information.0 -
trecsdss,
Welcome,though I'm sorry that you have to be here.
I know this might sound strange,but have your teeth cleaned(dental appointment) before you start chemo.Depending upon the drugs your oncologist is going to give you,one of the side effects might be "dry mouth" where your salivary glands don't produce as much saliva as they used to. This can kind of take a beating on your teeth and gums. And chemo usually makes you anemic,so your doctor won't want you to see the dentist while you are being treated.
I don't mean to scare you with anything-treatments are a tough road for a lot of us,but you will get through it! And it affects people differently,so your experience might be different from others here.
Keep in touch with us-we are here for encouragement,advice....and laughs!0 -
Tough Roadoutdoorgirl said:trecsdss,
Welcome,though I'm sorry that you have to be here.
I know this might sound strange,but have your teeth cleaned(dental appointment) before you start chemo.Depending upon the drugs your oncologist is going to give you,one of the side effects might be "dry mouth" where your salivary glands don't produce as much saliva as they used to. This can kind of take a beating on your teeth and gums. And chemo usually makes you anemic,so your doctor won't want you to see the dentist while you are being treated.
I don't mean to scare you with anything-treatments are a tough road for a lot of us,but you will get through it! And it affects people differently,so your experience might be different from others here.
Keep in touch with us-we are here for encouragement,advice....and laughs!
I am going to make a dental appointment. Thanks. I want to be as healthy as I can for the chemo, so I appreciate your advice.0 -
bone pain
Hi Debbie... Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but if you keep your spirits up and don't be afraid to lean on friends and family it will really help with how your treatments go. I finished my chemo Sept. 08 and what I found that helped reduce the achiness and bone pain after a chemo session was soaking in a bath with epsom salts. I still do that when my muscles get sore. I drive school bus so luckily I finished my chemo just as school started back up last year but I was told not to work while on chemo due to being around children who might have recently gotten vaccinated. So it really does depend on what profession you're in, whether you should work, my employer was really good about helping out also. I still mowed my lawn and did regular every day things during chemo. I had my treatments on Wednesday's and the following Saturday was a down day, I would sleep the whole day away, I could not stay awake. I found that attitude and knowledge goes a long way in helping heal and never be afraid to ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Hope things go as well for you as they did for me.0 -
Thankslunytunz68 said:bone pain
Hi Debbie... Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but if you keep your spirits up and don't be afraid to lean on friends and family it will really help with how your treatments go. I finished my chemo Sept. 08 and what I found that helped reduce the achiness and bone pain after a chemo session was soaking in a bath with epsom salts. I still do that when my muscles get sore. I drive school bus so luckily I finished my chemo just as school started back up last year but I was told not to work while on chemo due to being around children who might have recently gotten vaccinated. So it really does depend on what profession you're in, whether you should work, my employer was really good about helping out also. I still mowed my lawn and did regular every day things during chemo. I had my treatments on Wednesday's and the following Saturday was a down day, I would sleep the whole day away, I could not stay awake. I found that attitude and knowledge goes a long way in helping heal and never be afraid to ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Hope things go as well for you as they did for me.
Thank you luntytunz68. I am very glad that I found this site. All the information helps. I am in the process of doing tests before chemo, and it is a roller coaster ride. I have good support, and I know I have to try and keep my attitude positive. I will ask my MD about work, since I work with people in a nursing home. Glad to hear that you got through chemo, and are doing well!0 -
Thank YouKylez said:Hi Debbie! I just want to
Hi Debbie! I just want to welcome you to the site. You will find lots of information and support here! I didn't have chemo, but, I wish you good luck!
Thanks Kylez. I appreciate your well wishes. There really is good and needed support here, and I appreciate it.0 -
Appreciaring the SupportJeanne D said:Hi Debbie! Just welcoming
Hi Debbie! Just welcoming you to this group of very supportive, caring
bc survivors! Good luck to you!
Thank you for your kind words. I am reading all the discussion boards that apply, and it is really helpful. There is a lot of support here.0
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