Breast Cancer

Hi loreey. The truth is, even with the exact same drugs in our systems, many of us have had very different experiences. Hair loss is pretty universal. I tossed on a ball cap but many friends got beautiful wigs and no one ever knew. I had great anti-nausea drugs and never threw up. Unless you don't respond to any of a number of drugs available (and I have 1 friend who didn't) you can usually avoid throwing up. My greatest inconvenience was exhaustion. Even with neulasta shots for white blood cells and aranesp shots for red, I still became very run down. Listening to my body, I napped whenever I needed one. Friends of mine worked throughout their chemo butI took those months off. Sometimes taste is affected. I ate anything and everything put in front of me but I know the taste of food changes for some. Try to eat healthy but, if you have to, eat what tastes good and keep your strength up. Drink plenty of water before and after chemo. It flushes the toxins out of your body. Don't be surprised if your urine is tinted a reddish color, it's the drugs and will pass. Avoid the sun as much as possible during those hot hours and cover up with lightweight clothing, hats, sunscreen, etc. if you have to be out. Chemo makes us especially susceptable to burn. I know how scary it all seems but my experience with chemo was so much less terrifying and miserable than I imagined it would be-a great relief. Bald wasn't my best look but I found it very liberating. Don't be surprised if eyelashed, eyebrows and body hair in general thin (no legs or arm pits to shave for the summer). There's a Look Good Feel Better program available in most communities that deals with makeup, hair, etc. It's free. If you're interested, contact your local American Cancer Society. Throw away all face makeup you're currently using. It contains bacteria that you will be very susceptible to during chemo. Look Good Feel Better provides new make-up free along with experts to help you look great but you can purchase your own if you prefer. Remember to laugh with friends, hug family and let them all help when you feel you need a leg up. It's no walk in the park but I remembered to thanked God every day that there was chemotherapy I could take. You will definitely get through this. I'll keep you in my prayers. Best of luck!
terri

I think one of the things I saw through my treatments was that I wasn't sick to stomach but felt crapy all the time and there for eating was a difficult thing to do, who want to eat when feeling sick all the time.
Eating sometimes takes energy we just don't have so drinking ensure can be a really good way to get the nutrition we need. I found it was only the only way I could get something in me and yes I had to work to keep it.
You have found a good place with plenty of experiences to help you face all you must.
Be good to yourself always,
Tara

Hi Loreey, When I first started my treatments it was over 14 yrs ago, so alot has changed but one thing I found out was that I had to drink everything room temperature, due to I could taste it then, your taste buds will disappear,and I also got to the point I had to eat jr baby food, that was the only thing that I could keep down. Alot has changed and new medication has came out and they have so much more , I just thought that I would give a little help to you also. I washed my hair after the first treatment due to my hair was coming out and I did not want just a little at a time to come out. So my best friend and I washed it and it all came out, I wore scarfs due to the wig my fellow workers bought for me broke me out. I lived in FL at the time very hot. Love ya and take care, Callie

Loreey: Being that you have never had chemo before, you will most likely get 4 treatments with adryimicin (which is actually a very strong antibiotic) and cytoxin. I experienced fatigue due to low blood counts, a couple of sinus infections due to the immunosuppresion, and foods just didn't taste right to me. But I was never nauseated. I, too, was careful with infections, I didn't eat anything raw unless it could be washed and peeled (I limited salads to cucumbers, carrots, onions, peeled fresh tomatoes), and drank and drank and drank water - that's improtant, because the chemo is toxic to your bladder, so you want to be peeing a lot!
I lost every hair on my body, and you may not know this but your scalp can get sore (feels like a sunburn) when the hair is falling out, and again when it grows in...the first hair to come back was my chin hair, of course! I had some mouth sores, but my oncologist gave me a prescription to have the pharmacist mix up this stuff called "Clack's Solution", and it took care of the sores within 24 hrs each time - it's a crazy mixture of benadryl, peptobismol, lidocaine, and I think a little bit of a steroid, and it worked wonders for me. The taste isn't great, but you just rinse your mouth and don't have to swallow it or anything. Good luck, it won't be that bad, and the time goes by quickly.