beginning Adriamicin

Hi Sue. I echo what Betty said about eating small amounts of food throughout the day. It helps with the nausea, although since I went thru this last May, they have come out with better anti-nausea medication so perhaps it won't even be a problem for you. The hair thing is most likely inevitable. Overall, I felt like I had the flu for 5 or six days after each treatment (I took it with cytoxan). One thing I've learned from going through all this is that each person reacts differently to the same drug. Here's hoping you get thru it with minimal side effects! Good luck.
Susan

Hi Sue, I finished my 4 rounds of AC in May 2003. Hair loss, that I so dreaded, wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. As a matter of fact it was reassuring to me that the drugs I was taking were so effective at killing rapidly dividing cells. It was also freeing to throw on a baseball cap and head out the door. Like everyone else, I stuck to small meals, sometimes only saltines but chicken noodle soup was always a favorite. Drink plends of fluids, especially water since it helps rinse the Adriamycin out of your kidneys. My urine was tinted red for the first day or so after every cycle. Nausea wasn't really a problem, although there were days when I had to force myself to eat. I took Anzamet ($100.00 a pill) for the first 3 days following each treatment. Thank God for insurance! I also needed Neulasta to help my 54 year old body rebuild white blood cells but have friends who didn't. Mouth sores would start but a warm salt water rince and gargle always took care of them right away. The truth is, the loss of strength was the hardest on me so I did what everyone suggested and rested when I needed to, even though it's not in my nature. Listen to your body and you'll do fine. Best of luck and remember we're here for you.
terri

Hi there, I too had adriamicin. Drink lots of water!!!! Before during and after. This willhelp the adirimicin flush well through your system. Also, for the mouth sores. Daliy chew three or four vitamin e capsules. (spit the capsule part out) The vitamin e then coats your mouth thus letting you avoid awful mouth sores. Do this religously..... NO SORES!!!! Hope this helps.

One who has been there....sassy

Hello my name is Marilyn and I had a new breast cancer last year in my left breast and I went through a total of 4 chemo treatments one of them was Adriamicin Rubex called red devil now I see why they call it red devil because I lost my hair .I was also on cytoxin. I had to have antinausea medication because I did get sick at my stomach and smells still get to me . Ask your doctor for Kytril it is an antinausea medication . Also what might help is take along a tape recorder and listen to music. I still had to have some thing before they gave me my treatments because I started getting sick during the treatment. You will also loose your hair but don't let that scare you . What you are going through is a Storm in your life right now and it is alright to be scared during the storm always keep your trust in the Lord. I also experienced getting nervous and I still get depressed. That is normal chemotreatments are hard stuff. Make sure you drink lots of liquids very important so the chemo does not stick in your system you want to flush it out that is what my Mom who is a nurse told me to do also suck on popsicles if you can. As for mouth sores I gargled with a teaspoon of baking soda and a Teaspoon of salt in a warm glass of water. That helps alot. I started loosing my hair the day before Easter last year and I came unglued so I called my husbands Mom I don't know how many times because we were in Artesia Dog sitting . The thing that helped me was we watched a true movie on easter Sunday that night about a doctor in the Artic who had breast cancer she went through chemo treatments and lost her hair they shaved it off. I had my hair shaved off the day after easter of last year. You are in my Thoughts and prayers and I'm here for you if you need me .
Marilyn