I START MY CHEMO ON TUESDAY AND HAVE SOME QUESTIONS

kandyxxo
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hELLO TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS.i GOT MY MAMMO TODAY AND IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY BECAUSE IT WAS MY FIRST ONE EVER SO I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND THEY KEPT FINDING SOMETHING THEY DIDNT LIKE SO I ACTUALLY WINDED UP GETTING 3 MAMMOS TODAY LOL.THEY GOT THE PIC THEY NEEDED AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND SAID MY TATAS ARE ALL GOOD.MY ONC GAVE ME THE RUN DOWN ON CHEMO AND ALL OF ITS GLORY.I WILL BE GETTING FOUR ROUNDS OF ETOPOSIDE AND CISPLATIN.DID ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE THIS COMBO AND IF SO WOULD THEY SHARE THERE STORY WITH ME WEATHER GOOD OR BAD??ID LIKE TO KNOW HOW BAD THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE AND ALL OF THAT FUN STUFF.MY ONC ASSURED ME WITHOUT QUESTION I WILL BE LOSING MY GOLDEN LOCKS.PICKED OUT MY SEXY ASS WIGS AND IM READY TO GO.ANY INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.THANX GUYS!!!-KANDY GURL

25 replies

Marylou1

Hi Kandy:

I did not have the same combo you are going to have but I did lose my hair as well. I think I mentioned before that when it started to come out I cut it myself and then got hubby to give me a buzz cut.

To be honest, besides being very tired for about 10 days and having some diareah, I cannot complain about the chemo. I was never sick to my stomach but I think that is because they give you the Decadron to take the day before, the day of, and the day after the Chemo. My Onc also gave me an RX for nausea pills and I did not have to use them.

Altogether, I had 4 rounds of Chemo and after that 4th round my hair started to grow back super fast. I have always had long hair and it bothered me a lot to cut it, but I did not want my little grandson to get upset, so we had a hair cutting party. He got right into the groove with it and then we had "the parade of the wigs" around the living room.

I just told him that Granny was tired of taking care of all this hair. He asked his pop pop to give him a buzz cut too, and we all laughed. That was in March of 2007, and my hair is growing like crazy. It started to grow right after my 4th round of chemo.

I got 2 beautiful wigs through Paulayoung.com and was very happy with them. I did not wear them in the heat though, or just around the house. They were easy enough to grab and put on when I wanted to go out. I bought one my natural shade, and one a little lighter. I liked my natural shade better and wore it whenever we got dressed up to go out on the town.

Kandy, I know the hair is a gal thing but it is a small price to pay to get rid of any traces of the beast. Please keep us posted.
*Hugs*
Marylou

joe_s17050

KANDY,
PLEASE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT LOSING YOUR HAIR...YOU WILL ALWAYS BE BEAUTIFUL......GOD BLESS.

susie2

Hi Kandy
I had 4 months (1 treatment a week) of Navelbine and Cisplatin and never lost my hair. I am now on my 3rd line which is working and still have my hair. You just never know!
Hope it goes well
Susie x

BrendaMousey

Hi Sugar:
Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, and we ALL think you are beautiful!
Great big hugs
Brenda

VJoan06

Kandy,

I have not had the same chemo as you are going to get. I was DX 2 yrs ago and have been on constant treatment since. I have tried several chemos. My first round was carbo/taxol. I did loose my hair. When it started to fall out it was messy so I had my husband shave my head. I wore hats, scarves and a wig. Around the house it was more comfortable to go bald. I got my first wig free from the chemo clinic store. I had to get a new wig since my first one didn't like the hot oven!! I was taking a pizza out of the oven and my bangs melted. I didn't realize it until I took it off before bed and they felt crunchy!! I had to pay for the second one. It is just like the old one. After 6 rounds of that combo my hair came back. It was the same color but it came in curly. After several cuts it ended up straight again. I had Alimta, Tarceva, and Gemzar and never lost my hair. NOW.......I started Taxotere and two weeks after my first treatment my hair started to fall out again. I have thick hair and it gets very messy when it falls out and the top of my head got very sore. So......last Saturday night my husband shaved my head and it felt better right away. I now have been wearing my DENVER BRONCO hat when I go out. I will start wearing my wig again also.

Kandy it might be tough to loose your hair but it will grow back. I hope and pray your treatment works and all your hair comes back beautiful.

Vicky

MOM20CATS

Hi Kandy: Didnt have quite the same thing. I had carbo and etoposide. Carbo is less strong than the cisplatin. Hair got THIN but did not all fall out. No N/V from the meds but I was pretty heavily premedicated. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHEN AND WHERE YOU ARE HAVING YOUR PATHOLOGY SLIDES SENT FOR A SECOND OPINION???????
You DO need to do that, you know. Best.............................M.C..

RiaRia

my dad had 6 rounds of etopiside and carboplatin - his condition when he started was very deteriorated and the carboplatin (sibling of cisplatin) is gentler. I am sure you'll do great kandy, just make sure you tell your chemo nurse or onc if you are experiencing anything unusual. Keep us posted.
maria

D1

Kandy,
My husband was supposed to get 4 infusions of carbo/taxol, but he was only able to get 2 because he developed neuropathy. (The onc. decided the risk was greater than the reward). My husband's hair started to fall out in clumps on the 15th day after the first infusion. It was emotionally devastating when it started to fall out. Your hair is lovely, but I would suggest a really short haircut NOW; so, that the hair falling out in clumps is not as devastating. Also, NOW is the time to go get a really nice looking wig, if you are going to get a wig. They can help you out better if they see your real hair. That's not to say you have to wear a wig, but you may want to. My husband did, and at least it got him out of the house. Four mos. after the final chemo, his hair started to grow back. By 5 mos., he could go out with his real hair in a very short, almost military, cut.
This, too, shall pass.

D1

INSURANCE

Kandy, most health ins. pays for one wig up to $300. Your onc. has to write a prescription for the wig in order for it to be covered.

Check your policy. Push them a bit; they are not always forthcoming with this info.

meadowbreeze

Kandy:

I didn't have the combination your going to have but I did have the cisplatin. I never lost my hair from that. I had cisplatin/velban and I did get very sick from the cisplatin. My doctor gave me Emend after the first time I got really sick and that was my miracle drug. Did not get sick after that.

Good luck with your new cocktail. I'm sure you will be fine. Just make sure you get the right anti-nausea medication. This will make you sick. Ask for the Emend. It's only 3 pills. You take one the day of the infusion, then the next day you take another and on the third day you take the last one.

God bless you
Linda

kandyxxo

Thank you so much for all of your responses.I just ordered my wigs on Monday and they are really cute,I pick them up on Thursday or Friday.My doc ordered me 3 different types of anti nausea medications so he says its almost impossible for me to get sick with the three medications combined lol. I think im ready to get this chemo business on and quickly over this way I can move on with my life.Thank you all again for such wonderful support!!!-kandy

jadams

Kandy I had the same coctail and it wasnt all that bad. No neasua at all.
Fatigue didnt hit me until 3 round and I was doing radiaition at the same time. Hair fell out around the 17th day. Go cut it short now, it'll be easier. They did have to lighten the drugs the last 2 rounds because it got a little rough. I was a little worried about it not be effective. He said there is no one shoe that fits everyone.
Good luck
Julie

Shellygirl

My husband had the same cocktail and did fine with it. Toward the end, he got tired but made it to work every day. He did loose his hair. I recommend you buzz it off at the first signs of a tingly scalp. He waited a little too long and it was not pleasant. Don't worry, it comes back. His hair was originally grey but came back a nice shade of brown. Looks much younger, so that was a plus. You'll do great because you have youth on your side. Remember to eat healthy. Lots of fruits and veggies. My prayers are with you.

malisu1255

Hi Kandy,

I have small cell renal cancer. It's extremely rare with little history to go on so they treat it the same as SCLC. So, I had the same recipe you're getting. I had 4 cycles, every 3 weeks and 3 days each time. I had intravenous steroids and Emend to deal with the nausea. I still had occasional nausea but I was prescribed compazine and 1/2 pill usually did the trick. After the first round I had terrible pressure in my chest, enough to send me to the ER. Onc prescribed Prilosec OTC 2X day and that took care of it. After the 3rd and 4th cycles I was really fatigued for about 10 days. Walking across the room made me tired. Once that passed the energy came back up pretty quickly. My chemo ended 7-9. On 8-27 I started 10 rounds of PCI and TODAY is my last treatment, YEAH!!!
Now, about that hair! I had very thick, wavy hair. My hair began coming out by the handful exactly 2 weeks after my chemo started. On that first day I stood in the shower and bawled for about 10 minutes. By the 4th day there were very noticeable bald spots. I picked up my wig and went to my hairdresser and had her buzz me and trim the bangs on the wig and we were good to go. I wear the wig to work and church. Other than that I wear a baseball cap. The wig is hot and itchy. When chemo ended on 7-9 I had a very little bit of peach fuzz. But, within the last 3 weeks I have literally been watching my hair grow back and it's exciting. My grand daughter lifts my cap and rubs my head every time she sees me. Unfortunately, because of the radiation, it's going to fall out again within the next week or so and I'll have to start all over again. My son is getting married on 11-15 and I was hoping to have a cute, short do by then but it looks like I'll be getting more use out of that damn wig!
Good luck to you.

Sue

JustLisa

I had cisplatin and taxoteer, I can't figure what was what as to the side affects but they gave me emend for the nausua and that was the best.. take plenty of water or gatorade and don't get dehydrated, that is the main thing..after a few days you get tired just lay around and do little things around the house.. you feel a little fatigued but be sure that you watch for major side affects, fever or infection.. oh yeah a getting the runs.. than you need to call the doctor.. you will be fine.. just drink, drink and keep eating sometimes food taste bad but you need to keep up the strength.. so eat and try different foods,, after a week you will be as good as new and then a few weeks off? and then you get another dose..
I am praying for you..
God Bless
Lisa

peyz33

Kandy - I had Cisplatin - that's the strong one - drink ALOT of water - keep yourself full of fluids. Also - get some Emend from your ONC. for the "dry heaves" - you will not really feel the effects until the 3rd round or so then you will be VERY tired - just go with it - sleep a lot and rest (like you'd have a choice). It also causes constipation - take Sennocott (2) each night before you go to bed - trust me! You'll be fine.
Karen

robinwd

Kandy, I had the same combo plus radiation at the same time. The nausea was treated w/ Emend, decadron and phenergan...it wasn't bad at all. Never vomited even once! Only two single episodes of diarrhea throughout the entire time. I have always been a heavy drinker (iced tea, plain), so stayed well-hydrated, but did have some constipation problems...a generic stool softener works great.
The fatigue was the worst part...and I think the Neulasta made it worse..when onc changed it to Neupogen, it wasn't as bad. The peripheral neuropathy was a killer but pain med and Neurontin helped a lot. The hair loss...well, it is what it is....it grew back! What scared me most was when I developed a couple of black spots under my fingernails...a possible side effect...I take the greatest pride in my beautiful, natural nails, so I was more upset about that than anything...but it didn't "spread" and I just wore darker polish until the two spots grew out. My appetite was ravenous throughout....even tho' some things didn't have much flavor...I also craved salty things, probably because it gave it more flavor! Did have trouble with heartburn, but he gave me Prilosec and that helped. I gained 15#!!! Good luck. You'll do fine. Just drink, eat, REST, take prescribed meds, and roll with the flow!

lorbethm

Kandy,

I had that treatment exactly. Remember RIGHT NOW, that you are a sexy cancer SURVIVOR. The next three months are going to be TOUGH, but you CAN do it. I did it. If I did it anyone can. it's going to suck, and I think I know you well enough to tell you that. But you can do it. Get your wigs ready and scarfs. I had an Army hat my brother gave me that I lived in. LOVED that hat and I've since passed it on to a friend fighting breast cancer. You are going to need help from your family, so let them know that now. They'll give you the antinausea meds that you need. I will make one recommendation for you. After my 2nd treatment, they started ending the treatment with a bag of Benadryl. This really really really (I can't use enough really's) helped the nerve pain in my legs AND helped with the nausea. It makes you tired and sleep, but let me tell you, staying awake from the steroids is highly overrated. I much preferred to sleep on those nights. ;)

Feel free to read my Caring Bridge site. Start around the November posts. My chemo was from the beginning December until February 14th. :) I talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of going through it, but it will be a real perspective. My site is at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loriemitchell.

Please, Kandy, if you have any questions, PM me or email me. I'm here for you.

Huge hugs, girlfriend. :)

Lorie

PhyllisW

Kandy,
My husband had the same exact chemo treatments for sclc, and then there was a slight change (from etoposide to irinotecan), and he has been told that he's clear of cancer now. He just needs some preventive cranial radiation to be sure nothing gets into the brain down the line (this is common after lung cancer). He also had 30 radiation treatments (twice a day) while undergoing the first two rounds of chemo, back in Dec. He did lose some hair, but not a big deal anyway, and had some diarrhea, but all treatable and NO vomiting, thankfully. He had Decadron and Emend and when he had a LITTLE nausea, he used another pill, but only once or twice.
You should do well, and the hair usually comes back thicker and healthier than before!!! Keep in touch, lots of luck,
Phyllis

kjmader

Hi Kandy,

My dad had the exact same treatment as you in October/November. He lost almost all of his hair with the treatment, but he handled the drugs very well. I highly recommend that you take your antinausea medication before you leave for the treatment, since this combo is very potent. They told us that it was the strongest chemo available without being hospitalized. The only time my dad got sick was the day he decided that he didn't need to take his antinausea meds. He didn't realize that he wasn't getting sick because of them. He took them after that every time. You should do fine. Don't worry about the hair, it will grow back. Dad has a full head of hair now.

Good luck!
Kelly

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