First cycle of chemo doesn't go so well..

Hi to all.....

Well...my first round of adjuvant docetaxal didn't go as I had hoped. I had it a week before last Thurs. Though I was extremely anxious the day of, the procedure was pretty uneventful. It did take about 5 hrs counting the blood draw and consult with MO. I returned the next day for a neulasta shot and proceeded to go through my weekend feeling pretty good. Super bowl Sunday went to a friends and watched and ate as if all was normal,you see that was the problem. The fact that I was not feeling the effect of the infusion yet , I just ate my usual unhealthy diet. (I mean I deserved it right since the crash was coming).

In the later part of the evening I began to feel pain in my feet,and felt bit queezy so we returned home.
By mid night I knew my crash was upon me . I had muscle and bone pain and could not get comfortable all night. I had taken my anti-nausea meds and had lorazapam to take as needed. Really I was experiencing most of what I expected the first 2 day of the crash.

By Wednesday I was fatigued and had started to get diarrhea. Thinking it would pass and the fact I had no temperature I felt this was normal. I was most concerned with spiking a fever.
By thursday evening I called my MO ,who instructed me to be at his office first thing Friday morning.

My mouth was very dry and and I was pushing lots of water. I ended up getting an infusion to boost my potassium and electrolites which took about 2hrs. That night I began to feel more strength coming back and took the weekend taking it easy.

What I now know is that I need to change my diet . I'm eating mostly chicken and fish ,with rice or pasta.No fast food and more raw veggies . No hot or greasy foods, low sugar intake and no dairy.

I'm hoping that by doing this I will have a much better outcome next cycle. I'm also exercising more.

I'm a stubborn old mule but the past week has humbled me into trying to do more of the things taht are recommended of me.

I have mostly learned things the hard way in life....what can I say. I just don't want to go through last week again.

Also lost 10 pounds and my hair is starting to thin out quite noticeably, won't be but a few days and I'll be shaving it I presume.

That's my story....I hope not to repeat it or stick to it......

The Artistic One - Mark

PS my PSA continues at .02 which I'll take but am hoping that it will get down to<.01 eventually.

Damon, I too have a messed up mouth. Tast is much different and I have a very dry mouth. I drink a lot of water. I have been taking loratadine anyways. I have chemo brain from HT but with on top of it , I hope it doesn't get worse..
And yes the bone pain does come from the neulasta.

Thank you for your input and the best to you also.


Mark

Awesome work, Mark! I know it can be hard, but everything you stated seems within range- taste should come back quickly, the GI disturbance is normal and will continue to some degree each round as the epithelial cells in the small intestine slough off (they are always growing, so they get hit by the chemo as well); sounds like the diarrhea was enough to deplete your potassium as well- I included a bottle of gatorade in my hydration routine for the first 3-4 days post chemo-

i gotta say that my hair grew back with BODY (got some curly goin'!)- and I look so darn handsome in the mirror now (my opinion anyway)- total new look for me that I really like-

round one down and you landed more punches than you took-
and you have good reason to expect that PSA will drop more-

way to go!
here's to fightin'
rf

Hello Artist Mark,

You have my support, right at this very moment, as I read your post about your first round in the "boxing ring" with chemo treatments.

Yes --- I found it was best to eat healthy foods in the days following a chemo treatment --- stay away from the fast food and drive-up window, until your body rebounds. Comfort foods, sure ! Just keep things on the healthy side !

Continue to drink water, before and after each infusion, just as you have been doing. No substitute for that! The water can really help your body tolerate the chemo, process the toxins, and help you recover after each chemo round ...

Stay active, as best as you can ... even a simple walk around the block is better than nothing ... rest and relax as needed ... but try to keep up with your usual routines and activities. Sure, there's the physical toll that chemo can take ... but staying active helps with the emotional aspects of undergoing chemo. Best advice? Stay active ... physically and mentally !

Make sure to chew on ice chips during each chemo infusion ... it really helped me to preserve my sense of taste during chemo treatments. A "chemo comrade" of mine forgot to do this and went to a Mexican restaurant a few nights later and couldn't taste the food ... I believe that the ice chips really helped me preserve my sense of taste ... no harm, no foul in giving it a try, right ?!!

Yes, I also went for the buzz cut a few days after my first treatment, when my hair started falling out in the shower one morning while getting ready for work. I had never had a buzz cut in my entire life ! Soon thereafter, even the buzz cut started falling out, so I got out the clippers one night ... and then went hat shopping that same evening.

Meanwhile, there's tips and strategies to help you navigate 'cross the stormy seas that a series of chemo treatments can bring into your life ... just use the search bar at the top of your screen and type in TAXOTERE SIDE EFFECTS and you'll find a bunch of first-hand experiences from our "chemo comrades" here to help you navigate through your series of treatments.

Along the way, I'd invite you to add your own "chapter" with chemo experiences onto the TAXOTERE SIDE EFFECTS thread --- it is set up to help other fellows down the road, when they embark upon their chemo treatments.

You have my unwavering support and loyalty, as your treatments continue, Artist Mark !

Handshake, brotherhood, support ~ from across the miles,
"Cyclone" ~ Iowa State University