For those starting chemo in June

rlswkndr

I have my first treatment of Taxotere tomorrow. They will be every 3 weeks since that was how often A/C was. I tried for dose dense, but guess that won't happen.
I'm a bit nervous looking at those side effects some of you have had, but keeping positive thoughts. I will let you know how it goes.
Renee

mary1220

Hi Girls,well got through my first shot. I frooze and my husband was here carring on let him do it. Ha!!!!!!!!!!! This is a man that they actually chase around the room to give a shot.He hates needles and is scared to death of them and is not gentle sorta speak. He would of cramed it through my leg, and I'm certain his eyes would of been closed. I did get it done and I guess its easier giving them to other people cause you aren't going to flench if it hurts and jab it in deeper. I did have to stick myself twice because I got all excited and forgot to purg the air so had to withdraw and go in again.I did it nice and slow and didn't have any burning like at the clinic!Well girls back to work for me. Jannie, You must be talking about Jax Fla. I lived close to there for a year 27 years ago. My husbands parents were from there.Gee! You may have to get your treatment in a makeshift tent!

PJB

Hi guys. No. 7 of 8 tomorrow! I'm not sure if it's the new shoes or the B6 I started taking, but my feet feel a lot better — plus all the other aches and tingly fingers are gone! So, I'm definitely thinking this Taxol is better than AC.

MaryKB, isn't it great to have great friends? I have friend coming up from Austin tomorrow to sit with me. I told her it'd be a boring 5 hours, but she insisted. So we're ordering in pizza at the clinic. (I'm now making some chocolate chip cookies. Gotta get my tasting in before tomorrow night.) I'm amazed you and Mary1220 (and probably lots of other brave women) can do it yourselves.

Janie, glad the first one went well. I hope your hair comes in fast and furious.

Renee, good luck tomorrow. Keep us posted on how things go. It takes a long time, so plan on taking something tasty to eat! Be decadent!

Hope Tine, Sandy, Nancee, JoanneJ, and everyone else is doing great.

mary1220

good luck PJB, I am so happy for you, almost done!!!!!!!! enjoy yourself and indulge tomorrow 1 more left. Hugs, Mary

PJB

How many of us go on to rads after chemo? I'm not sure yet when all that transpires, how long after chemo? Anyone?

mary1220

PJB, my onc told me I would start 4 wks. after chemo when I was going to do every two wks. Someone said on here they were going in a wk. after as they were doing every wk.chemo so I may start the wk. after I am done.My onc. hasn't said since I changed to wkly. and hes been gone 2 wks. but I am going to ask next Tue. Mary

janie44

I'm doing weekly Taxol and was told I would start rads one week after the last Taxol. He said "We want you to be finished by New Years." Of course, Herceptin is scheduled for one year starting at the same time as rads, but I hear it is a piece of cake.

PJB

Just when you thought it was OK to take Taxol..... I got a new side effect today that might put me in the insane asylum. My hands itch/sting like crazy. Hope my onc has an answer for THIS one... I can see me now, gimping down the street on my hurting feet and scratching my hands and grumbling. I see people keeping a wide berth!

PJB

You know what? I hadn't taken my B6 yesterday (bad girl, I know, but with the Decadron and iron pills, etc., I waas pilled out) So i had the mean itchies this morning. I took the B6 and within an hour the itching pretty much stopped.

Saw the onc today. Everything looks fine but he's puzzled that I'm still "blue" from the SNB dye almost 4 months after surgery. Just lucky I guess. He was a little concerned aobut my feet and we'll keep an eye on them, but I don't know whwat they can do.

No. 3 went fine. Had a great old friend up from Austin and it was really fun. Most of the folks in he chemo room in our satellite clinic are older, so they probably weren't too sure about our choice of movies: True Stories by the guy who leads the band the Talking Heads. But they were good sports about it.

Going to the bookstore tomorrow to get some good weekend reading as I plan on spending most of it (when I"m not going in for shots) in bed. My husband has to skip dove hunting this weekend, I'm afraid.

Hope you all are fine. Mary, do you also use Biotene toothpaste/mouthwash?

janie44

The joint pain has arrived. I was expecting it tomorrow. I had treatment Tuesday. I hope that doesn't mean it will be worse tomorrow. Had a rough day at work anyway. The pain didn't help. My back bothers me a lot anyway and it was greatly enhanced. Tylenol only helps a little while. May switch to something stronger tomorrow.

PJB

Janie, sorry to hear you got the pains. i was hoping you'd skip that part of things. warm baths might help some.

i'd get the stronger drugs. i can cope during the day with the pain, but i need the bigger drugs at night so i can sleep. Vicodin helps me some.

my second and third days of pain are the worst. talked to my onc today and he says he "hopes" my foot pain will go away. great.

Just try to take it easy on yourself. Walking some helped me a little to get rid of the pain, altho i don't get to do much now. I recommend the B6 for tingly/numb neuropathy if you get it. and if you can, let someone else do the heavy lifting workwise for you at home while you have the pain.

the good news is that usually after 3 days of the pain, the rest of my time is pretty normal except for my feet. i even get my taste pretty much back by about day 4-5. (the only thing i can really taste much during the drag days of no-taste is tangy stuff like lemonade and, oddly, vanilla ice cream. not bad if i had to choose. better than just being able to taste, say, brussel sprouts.)

so if you can just make it through the next few days, you'll feel a lot better. are you weekly or 2 weeks?

mary1220

PJB, you have chemo brain today. I always can't spell after chemo. It sounds like you had a good time on chemo day. Well today was my second shot and I am having weakness and pain. It usually comes on Fri. but its a day early. Being weekly tax. I only get one day of taste now and thats chemo day. It was 3 days of taste but thats gone.My fingers even ache. My knees feel like they are going to fall out from under me.The only thing I have for my mouth is miracle mouth rinse which is steroid, benadryl, nystantin, and something else but don't know what.I got use to not having the Nup. pain and I don't like it! I have two more shots left oh boy!My pain should end in time for my next treatment and shots. Maybe tomorrow it will all be gone you never know with this sh%#.Hugs, Mary

PJB

Mary, I hope you get some help with the pain. Do you have something other than over the counter stuff?

Also, I use something called Biotene toothpaste (which i use about 5 times a day) and mouthwash that I've used throughout and haven't had any mouth problems to speak of, just once i had a copule of sore spots on my tongue, but they went away after a couple days.

Man, you're right about my spelling. I hope it clears up tomorrow. I work laying out and editing stuff at a newspaper and have three sections to do tomorrow, and it looks like i'm a danger on the keyboard right now. I'll have to proof extra closely... and have a couple other people work behind me! my greatest fear is leaving the L out of the word public.

mary1220

PJB,LOL,LOL,thats a good one. Please don't leave the l out, but it might make some interesting reading. We pick out the mistakes in our local paper sometimes, they are pretty funny. Do I need a script. for Biotene? I've never heard of it. My mouth crap is script. but I have some bumps on my tongue and they are sore. My poor tongue has suffered the most. Hugs, Mary

mary1220

PJB,Thats funny. About the wide berth.I have itching on my hands and face, but it comes and goes and isn't bad yet but I have read about the itching and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. The onc always asks if I have any yet. YET the key word but he said some people don't get it and its sometimes not as bad on the weakly. He doesn't know my luck so I have been waiting for it.Gosh just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. I still have to use my mouth meds. swish and spit as my mouth gets ickey. Thank God its almost done.Hang in there kid, we are like a Timex we take a licken and keep on ticken.Just repeat after me "ONE MORE LEFT." Saying a special prayer for ya and good luck.Came home for my shot and back to work. Hugs, Mary

PJB

Mary, no script for the Biotene. It's just in there with the regular toothpaste. It's a little pricey, but either it works pretty well or I've been really lucky. I brush with it several times a day and use the mouthwash 2 or 3 times. (I only had to fix 3 typos!)

mary1220

Thanks PJB, What kind of mouth wash do you use?I have been using salt water and the script crap. My onc did tell me the tongue thing was an allergic react. when I was getting the A/C.It's a little different with the Tax. but it still is sore.I am home to take my shot and do some errands for my boss. I have to take my dad to Springfield for a prostate biop. He gets them a lot cause his P.S.A. is always high.I hope I don't get a lot of bone pain this afternoon like I did yesterday. I know its the shots. Better get running so I can leave town by 1:30. His apt. is 3:15 its a 45 min. drive what the heck. I guess we will sit and wait. He will no doubt want to eat at an all you can eat place. You know parents.I can't taste so I don't actually care.If I am in pain we will come right back home.Hugs, Mary

PJB

Mary, hope the trip with Dad was quick and painless. Also hope the Biotene helps. Let me know.

Dawnt

hi!! I finished chemo august 3rd.Had my tattoos put on 2 weeks ago & waiting for a date to start rads.I stopped my period a month ago & dr doesnt know if it will come back.I do get the nite sweats now.First I'm cold then I'm hot.It makes it hard to sleep.The hair that I had on my head seems to be growing but I havent seen any new hair yet though I check everyday.Good luck to everyone

PJB

Dawn,

Congratulations! Wow, what a relief that must be. How is your energy level? Leftover side effects of the chemo? (Well, besides the hair thing) I've got that night sweat thing, too. And I don't seem to sleep very deeply, I guess because I have to be putting on the sheet, taking off the sheet all night... wonder if that'll get better for you any time soon.

How was the tattoo thing? Do they also do some kind of 3-D model? I don't get mine til Sept. 30 and start rads Oct 4.

Dawnt

PJB
Most side effects are gone,I really didnt have too many anyways.I feel really good & all my energy is back,The tatoos dont really hurt.They put die on you & poke you with a pin.The set up took about 2 hrs.They have to get everything positioned just right.It will be 2 weeks on Monday that I had this done so on Tuesday I'll call if I dont hear from them.I cant wait to get started & get this over with

mary1220

CONGRADS Dawnt, thats so great to be done with the crappy stuff.Pjb, They think my dad does have prostate cancer and of course said its no doubt the slow cancer so don't worry. I was not back there with him or I would have said SCUSE ME!My her/2 came from someone. I will be getting my moms path report in a week or two and I am going to see where this came from for my familys sake.If dad has to have surg. we will find out who has it I guess. We go through this biopsy thing often but his P.S.A. is 18 this time so its too high.Hope its a fluke, that happens a lot with the P.S A.We had a good meal and enjoyed spending time together we don't get to do that much.Hugs to all, Mary

PJB

Dawn, Hope they get you going quick. I'm with you, let's just get this done so we can get on with the rest of our long lives! I know my onc wanted me to wait 3 weeks after chemo to start. I told him, no, I don't feel THAT bad, how about 2!

Mary, sorry to hear about your dad. I'm glad you got to spend some good time together today. Hope they can get him cared for ASAP so you can rest easier. And I hope that Biotene helps you out.

Janie, how are you doing?

mary1220

PJB, I just went to Wally and I got the Biotene tooth paste and mouth wash so I am going to give it a try. Thanks so much.I take it you use the Biotene mouth wash? Gotta get ready to go to the Dr. with my dad an hour early.What is it with parents? We wont get in till an hour late? Geesh,We will be there in case all the afternoon pts. call and cancel then we might get right in.My dad is always late any other time. When I go with him he has to be early.My siblings will pay for this.I hope he lets me drive.Anyone got valium? Hugs and thanks again ,Mary

janie44

Dawn, Congrats on getting this far.

Mary, Sorry your family seems to be having more than its share of health problems.

PJB, I still pretty much hurt all over. Friday was not a good day. Was hoping Saturday would be better. Is 3 days the usual length of time for the pain? This is actually harder on me for trying to function than the AC was.

PJB

Janie, Yeah, I usually have about three days where it's hard to function. I agree. I appreciate not feeling that low-level nausea i felt for a few days on AC, but the pain of Taxol is worse to deal with, in my book. Just can't do the day-to-day stuff I'd like to and the no-taste thing really makes it harder for me to want to eat.

Take heart, tho. It wasn't QUITE as bad the second round for me and I'm hoping this one will be even a little less. (knock on wood, I'll start finding out today...)

mary1220

While anticipating my injection I read what the shot was. Anything to put it off and it doesn't hurt a bit. I know why we hurt so bad from the Nup., It is made from e-coli. That makes me want more.Today is my last one so maybe the bone pain will get better mon.just in time for Tue. treatment and I am going to ask for one shot and get my pain out of the way all at once instead of this everyday crap. Thank God my onc. will be back Tue.Hugs, Mary

Tine

Hey ladies,
hope you are doing well.

You know after reading all your posts, I am almost glad I am on the FEC.
Don't know how you do the weekly chemos or even every two weeks.
Hugs to you all.

My arm with the line is finally back to normal. Slight pain but nothing mega. the bleeding finally stopped too, despite the blood thinners. So I am very happy I stuck it out. But had to go in every day to get the line checked out and cleaned. So glad that I get a week off
Had my tatoo for the radiation last week. But was never measured. They did a ct scan but that was all.
Is there more?? Also, someone asked me what type of radiation?? is there more than one??
And another lady told me about a pill plus radiation that is supposed to increase the survival rate. Anybody heard about that??
I start 4 weeks after chemo and get 25 rounds.

My hair started to come back in, just so it could start leaving me again. Kind of bummed out about it. Was so happy to see some fluff on my head.

Anybody still getting their periods?? Mine are heavier than normal. I started with the last round of chemo and because of the blood thinners never stopped since. Getting kind of frustrated. It's been two weeks now. They are reducing the blood thinners so here is hoping.

Also noticed that my finger nails are getting a slight orange tint. Will see what will happen there.

Other than that doing great. Feel good, feel actually quite normal. Will be going back to work soon. Have no choice. Running out of money. Plus I am getting really antsy and hope that this will keep me focused. haven't told the onc. yet as he wants me to wait till after chemo is done. But he doesn't pay my bills with either. And it would be part time for the beginning.

Will see what happens

Well have a great long weekend
hugs to you all

Tine

PJB

Tine,

Glad to hear you got that line straightened out and all's well. That has to be a relief. Sorry to hear about the periods. That's gotta be somewhat of a drag to have that continually going on. Mine have stopped. Also good to hear you're feeling well. So your hair started coming back and then started coming out again?

I didn't know there was more than one kind of radiation. Haven't heard anything about a pill. Maybe I'm just not eligible for whatever that is.

My nails are also taking a beating, a little discolored. Onc said the white lines on them are just like tree rings. Sure enough, there's one on each nail for each Taxol treatment I've had. He said that's the good nail back there and that the top of them will probably start splitting. Oh boy. Can't wait.

I'm pretty miserable today. Trip to Target was my big effort of the day. Oddly enough, though I can't taste anything GOOD for me, toll house cookies taste almost normal! Talk about your miracles!

Take care everyone. Maybe we'll all be feeling well enough to have a good Labor Day.

NancyNY

PJB
I feel as if I am right behind you. I have Taxol # 2 out of 4 Tuesday. Taxol is definately easier to tolerate, though this metallic taste in my mouth is terrible. My hair is still growing back. I have peach fuzz and it is brown,, not white.
also, don't know if it will last, but my nails, even during AC are stronger than they've ever been. weird huh? Does taxol accmumlate in your body like AC or is each one a new experience?