Adriamycin is kicking my butt!

camul
camul Member Posts: 2,537
in Breast Cancer #1

I knew it wouldn't be easy.  However, I thought that getting it weekly it might be kinder.  I had my 2nd push on Thursday, was so hyped from the Decadron on Thursday and Friday that I went from 8a to midnight and had to take Ativan to relax and sleep.  Woke up Saturday morning saw everyone off, and couldn't wait to crawl back in bed, where I have been until 7 tonight.  Now I am showered, went to grocery store and feel better. Frown but nowhere to go!  And about 17 lbs heavier since the 26 day steroid treatment and decadron...  hopefully this will be it.  I am feeling like the pillsbury dough girl.  Even the nausea is not curbing my appetite... that is scary.

My sister, bil, nephew, his wife and 2 young boys came Thursday and left Saturday morning from Minnesota, enroute to California.  I am so glad they were here those 2 days as I was really able to keep up with them.  We didn't leave the house except for dinner Friday night.  I felt so bad that they were leaving when I went to bed Friday night, but woke up Saturday morning and was completely depleted!  I went back to bed when they all left and other than using the restroom and getting something to eat, I was in bed until 7p tonight.  I would wake up for an hour or so, go on the computer and then fall back asleep.  Took Zofran Thursday and Friday which helped, but was nauseated and dizzy 

It is day 12, and every hair folicle hurts!  This will be #4 bald if it falls out.  Lost it on A/C,  lost it again when I went on Abraxane, it  had grown back about a half inch when I started on Halvoran and lost it again.  It grew back on Erubulin and is about 2 inches long now. Actually got a trim a month ago to even all the shaggy ends. Now, I am keeping my fingers crossed, but have a feeling I could even cross my eyes and it will still be gone!!  This time it is harder and I don't know why?

Comments

  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #2
    Sending you comforting thoughts and a hug

    for the lack of words. You have been through so much. Where is the darn cure....

    I am so glad you had some quality time with family. Keep us updated and come

    pour your heart out.

    Love,

    Ayse

  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #3
    Sending you comforting thoughts and a hug

    for the lack of words. You have been through so much. Where is the darn cure....

    I am so glad you had some quality time with family. Keep us updated and come

    pour your heart out.

    Love,

    Ayse

  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #4
    aysemari said:

    Sending you comforting thoughts and a hug

    for the lack of words. You have been through so much. Where is the darn cure....

    I am so glad you had some quality time with family. Keep us updated and come

    pour your heart out.

    Love,

    Ayse

    Okay

    What you need then is some pretty bed sheets:)

    xoxo

    Victoria

     

     

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    aisling8 said:

    Okay

    What you need then is some pretty bed sheets:)

    xoxo

    Victoria

     

     

    I HATE HATE HATE - that you are going thru

    any of this .. my beloved Carol.  I pray that our Lord provides you with Strength, HOPE, and Energy.  Sending you cyber hugs -- my dear, dear, dear, sweet Carol.

     

    Vicki Sam

  • MsGebby
    MsGebby Member Posts: 659
    #6
    Hi there

    Surprised  So sorry this is being tough on you this time.  My goodness, you've been through enough already!  

    If you have the strength , you might want to get online and order up some pretty bed linens and maybe a nice new nighty.  It could help improve your spirits.  At least, that is what I am hoping.  

    Hugs and Love being sent your way

    xoxo

    Mary

  • jamiegww
    jamiegww Member Posts: 384
    #7
    Carol

    I'm so sorry you are feeling bad.  Adriamycin was hard on me and I changed oncs after the first dose because I didn't have enough meds to prevent nausea after telling my onc that I could handle anything but nausea and vomiting.  That was the only time I have had to go to the emergency room.  My new onc prescribed Emend and it was wonderful.  I also had and still have a topical cream to apply to my wrist whenever I feel nauseated.  I wish there was some rule that we can only lose our hair once but "yeah right!".  My hair is growing back since my onc stopped the Ixempra and started me on Xeloda by itself.  I dread getting a PET scan next month because I think I will be starting back on some type of chemo infusion which will most likely take my hair again.  I'm trying not to get too attached to my hair but I wish I could at least keep my eyebrows and eyelashes.  I'm praying for you and hope the chemo destroys the cancer cells with fewer side effects for you.

     

    HUGS!!!

    Jamie

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #8
    jamiegww said:

    Carol

    I'm so sorry you are feeling bad.  Adriamycin was hard on me and I changed oncs after the first dose because I didn't have enough meds to prevent nausea after telling my onc that I could handle anything but nausea and vomiting.  That was the only time I have had to go to the emergency room.  My new onc prescribed Emend and it was wonderful.  I also had and still have a topical cream to apply to my wrist whenever I feel nauseated.  I wish there was some rule that we can only lose our hair once but "yeah right!".  My hair is growing back since my onc stopped the Ixempra and started me on Xeloda by itself.  I dread getting a PET scan next month because I think I will be starting back on some type of chemo infusion which will most likely take my hair again.  I'm trying not to get too attached to my hair but I wish I could at least keep my eyebrows and eyelashes.  I'm praying for you and hope the chemo destroys the cancer cells with fewer side effects for you.

     

    HUGS!!!

    Jamie

    Sending positive thoughts

    Carol,

     I hope you are feeling better today. I am very hopefull for this new Chemo for you. I thought that you are having Kadcyla™ this a conujegate with Her2, a new drug recentely approved?

    Jamie,

    I am glad that you are tolerating Xeloda well.Oral med is much earsier to administrate. Hopefully PET will show improvement.

    Hugs to all 

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #9
    Treatments

    Carol,

    You have been through so much, that is why it is harder.  I feel so badly for you and even when I complain, I have no right to considering all you have been through, going through.  

    Thinking kind thought, I don't know what else to say.  I had a treatment today, I hate them more as each week passes by.  I sleep a lot also.  Am done working, I was awake 8 hours out of 24 and I am doing this most days.  Fatigue is awful, I thought it was because of my age (First wave of the Baby Boomer born between GWB - Bill Clinton).

    Hugs to you, very gentle hugs,

    Doris

  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #10
    Carol... I am sorry you are

    Carol... I am sorry you are going through so much.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.  Hugs.

  • gagee
    gagee Member Posts: 332
    #11
    Carol.
    I don't usually write

    Carol.

    I don't usually write to you on here but.... want everyone to know how true and strong your are... from someone who knows you.  You give me strengh when I think things are to hard to handle.  Wish you lived back in Calif. and we could see more of each other. Know that **** and i are praying for you. 

    Love and Hugs,

    Diana and ****

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #12
    thanks everyone
    and Diana i wish O was back there also. I go again at 10a. and cant get to sleep. Hair still hurts but hasnt falpen out... so maybe it will just thin. Always hoping.

    .. Love you all, Carol
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #13
    camul said:

    thanks everyone
    and Diana i wish O was back there also. I go again at 10a. and cant get to sleep. Hair still hurts but hasnt falpen out... so maybe it will just thin. Always hoping.

    .. Love you all, Carol

    Hair Hurting

    Carol,

    My hair hurt all last weekend.  I never had this happen as this is my first time and didn't know what to expect.  I have a huge amount of hair and it's still coming out.  I feel like taking a good brush to it until it is all out but I just can't.  I now have a turban that holds it in.  Donna's beautiful hat is being saved when I leave the house which is for doctors appointments and treatments only.  My blood is still low WBC 2.2 and Neutrophils  1.3 so I don't want to go grocery shopping.  My son offered to do this for me and I am letting him.  

    The oncology nurse inquired yesterday, how much I sleep and I said a lot.  She said that is ok, sleep if your tired which I am all the time.

    I hope the heck it works for you this time around, (you have worked so hard and it's time for one of those nice things to happen to you),

    Best,

    Doris

     

     

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #14
    SIROD said:

    Hair Hurting

    Carol,

    My hair hurt all last weekend.  I never had this happen as this is my first time and didn't know what to expect.  I have a huge amount of hair and it's still coming out.  I feel like taking a good brush to it until it is all out but I just can't.  I now have a turban that holds it in.  Donna's beautiful hat is being saved when I leave the house which is for doctors appointments and treatments only.  My blood is still low WBC 2.2 and Neutrophils  1.3 so I don't want to go grocery shopping.  My son offered to do this for me and I am letting him.  

    The oncology nurse inquired yesterday, how much I sleep and I said a lot.  She said that is ok, sleep if your tired which I am all the time.

    I hope the heck it works for you this time around, (you have worked so hard and it's time for one of those nice things to happen to you),

    Best,

    Doris

     

     

    Carol--you remain on my nightly prayer list

    I ask that God help you to feel better, manage your pain and get good results.  I am really hoping that this round works miracles.  I also hope you are getting the rest you so need right now and finding comfort from family and friends.

     

    Hang in there, my friend.  You are a real inspiration to many of us here.


    Love and hugs, Renee

  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #15
    missrenee said:

    Carol--you remain on my nightly prayer list

    I ask that God help you to feel better, manage your pain and get good results.  I am really hoping that this round works miracles.  I also hope you are getting the rest you so need right now and finding comfort from family and friends.

     

    Hang in there, my friend.  You are a real inspiration to many of us here.


    Love and hugs, Renee

    I am so sorry i hope your

    I am so sorry i hope your body adjusts and you can plan around your good and not so good times Hug

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #16
    aysemari said:

    Sending you comforting thoughts and a hug

    for the lack of words. You have been through so much. Where is the darn cure....

    I am so glad you had some quality time with family. Keep us updated and come

    pour your heart out.

    Love,

    Ayse

    thanks Ayse.
    I got double positives. The darn cure wont be here until the funding is diected to advanced cancers. The phama do what they do which is to create chemos to give some extra time using theirm product.... and giving them mega profits, which is really sad that they profit off teminal illness.. somehow when trying to get more onfo on Afinitor I got on the wrong site, it was for their company newsletter stating with Afinitor now being used for bc, they were expecting someting like a 1.5 billion net profit on the drug in the first full year. There is no incentive to find a cure for cancer when they are making such huge profits. Or that is how I look at it. So chemo is still our best option so far.
    Thanks Aysefor the love and comfort all the time. Hugs.
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #17
    gagee said:

    Carol.
    I don't usually write

    Carol.

    I don't usually write to you on here but.... want everyone to know how true and strong your are... from someone who knows you.  You give me strengh when I think things are to hard to handle.  Wish you lived back in Calif. and we could see more of each other. Know that **** and i are praying for you. 

    Love and Hugs,

    Diana and ****

    Diana
    Love you guys and thank you. You do know me best and afyer all these years, we all still enjo eachother.
    Love Carol
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #18
    missrenee said:

    Carol--you remain on my nightly prayer list

    I ask that God help you to feel better, manage your pain and get good results.  I am really hoping that this round works miracles.  I also hope you are getting the rest you so need right now and finding comfort from family and friends.

     

    Hang in there, my friend.  You are a real inspiration to many of us here.


    Love and hugs, Renee

    Thanks Renee. You all are in my prayers
    I think we all need them and I too wish that there was more options than chrmo, and everyday I hope that instead of just treating us for the duration, that cancer which kills over 500+K per year. That is a lot of people that are dying which should warrant more funding for a cure, not just to externd for months.
    Good news is my hair is thinning and folicles are tender but it is day 16 and I was sure it would be gone. I have not slept all night took another ativan to try and counteract the decadron it is like speped antarted on something like prolesix for reflix acid. Hopinfg a second ativan will knock me out.
    Hugs and prayers are right back to you! I hope y
    ou are doing well also.



    ee
    CarolDu
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #19
    camul said:

    thanks Ayse.
    I got double positives. The darn cure wont be here until the funding is diected to advanced cancers. The phama do what they do which is to create chemos to give some extra time using theirm product.... and giving them mega profits, which is really sad that they profit off teminal illness.. somehow when trying to get more onfo on Afinitor I got on the wrong site, it was for their company newsletter stating with Afinitor now being used for bc, they were expecting someting like a 1.5 billion net profit on the drug in the first full year. There is no incentive to find a cure for cancer when they are making such huge profits. Or that is how I look at it. So chemo is still our best option so far.
    Thanks Aysefor the love and comfort all the time. Hugs.

    METAavivor Needs to Know

     

    Carol,

     

    Is there any way you can copy and paste that newsletter and send it to METAvivor? 

     

    Dian CJ Corneliussen-James

    Director of Advocacy

    Past President 2009-2012    I don't have her email address.

     

    Bet she would have a hay day with it.  The nerve of them to talk about us like chips.

     

    METAvivor or MBCN need to know about this information.  info@metavivor.org   

     

    Damn them!

     

    Doris

     

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