Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Lynn12

Robbin and Amera,

I'm a bit older (just turned 46) and I think somewhere I read or was told that I have a 93% chance that the chemopause will be permanant. I also find the hotflashes are worse at night and seem to be getting stronger as I move through chemo (not finishing until May). I had an endometrial ablation right before my dx of bc, so my periods stopped anyway, but I sure wouldn't mind going back to premenopausal and getting rid of these hot flashes. I can't even imagine how it will be in the summer.

TPPJ

Thanks for the congrats.

Lynn, good point about maybe he's not doing scans because of no positive nodes. My dr. used to work at Dana Farber too. I see you are there too, Viddie. Small world. Anyway, I feel good being in OH seeing as though my dr. is from "home". Lynn, I see you are celebrating your b'day in Ft. Laud, my second home. I was there ten years before OH. I miss it.

Viddie, re: taxol.... I found it eeeeeaaaaassssssy compared to A/C. Mostly because there was no Decadron to take for four days afterward. I hated that stuff. Totally wired me. I only have the slightest bit of numbness w/the taxol, that hit around treatment 7. Side effects are barely noticeable. Small price to pay, I feel. I just wish someone could tell me "hey, all of your efforts paid off...it's worked!" I heard the after chemo period was hard to adjust to and I guess I'm beginning to deal w/that. (Probably speaking too soon... I'll still be doing Herceptin through Jan. 08. And I have Tamoxifen to begin.)

RobbinJaye, I see you and I are on EXACTLY the same "chemopause" path. I haven't had a period since Feb. 6 and I'm having hot flashes too. No sweats, thank God. Seems so strange for having just turned 41. I do like not having my period though... and I'm done having kids, so I'm all set there. I wonder if I'll get it back. Probably.

Dar1

Hi all. We are definitely winding up on the chemo - yeah!
Someone mentioned eyebrows - I can do nothing with an eyebrow pencil, but Sally Hansen eyebrow powder is great. I didn't lose all my eyebrows at once, but without the powder they are invisible. I find the powder really easy to use and looks pretty natural.

tlc60

I don't believe it. I just looked in the mirror and it seems my eyelashes took a bit of a vacation! Just like that! I have managed to get through 3 months of chemo, with lashes, and now they are GONE!!! I was thinking because of chemo brain I may have misplaced them with the remote, but I'm afraid they are gone.
Any idea how long it takes to get them back?

keep smilin'

tlc

mer1957

I'm in Rochester/Shelby Twp area. We loved Ann Arbor until our sons apply to U of M and didn't get in even though they had good grades. Go MSU!

mer1957

I don't think you'll need the emend because there is usually no nausea with Taxol. If the Aleve, Tylenol or Motrin don't work, ask for Celebrex. That has really helped me. It is a different kind of anti-inflammatory and you can still take Tylenol with. I did take 1/2 of a Vicodin (they break very easily) a couple of times and it took all of the pain away but it also made me very tired and I don't think you should drive with it. The Glutamine and B-6 are for prevention of neuropathy (numbness in the toes and fingers). My last taxol is Thursday and just this week I started with a little numbness in my little toe on the left foot. I think the Glutamine (6 tsps a day or whatever the pill equivalent is) and B6 helped but obviously it didn't prevent it from coming to me totally.

Happy Passover!

On the CT scan question, I am getting one to check a small spot on my liver that might be a blemish or nothing or could have been cancer which the chemo should have taken care of it. While I am glad they're checking, the other part of me is very nervous for the results.

Anonymous

Mizsissy thanks for keeping the list up to date. My last chemo is May 11 (FEC)

Lynn12

Hi Ladies,

So I get out of the shower and drying my feet and noticed my right foot/ankle is really swollen. I didn't hurt it on anything and think it's from the Taxotere. I looked at the side effects and fluid retention is one of them. Anyone else get this? Geesh, I hope it doesn't get worse. I looked at chemocare.com and it gives some suggestions to manage it. I'll probably call the Onc in the morning just to make sure. Also took my wedding ring off the for the night just in case.

Mizsissy, my last chemo is now scheduled for 5/8.

tlc60

I had some swelling in my ankle too with my first Taxotere treatment, but it went away. What hasn't gone away however is the purple toenail (my big one, very attractive)that is also from the Taxotere.

tlc

robertin

Well, I'm recuperating from my first Taxol, which I got last Tuesday. Wednesday was so great. I had energy and felt so good, and thought "this is easy." Then Thursday came along. Everything from the hips down hurt. The bottoms of my feet were burning and I still had that metalic taste in my mouth. I didn't work on Thursday and Friday, but did go for walks - slowly. And since the nausea was gone I was able to drink water, although it tastes gross. I developed high blood pressure shortly after the first chemo and have been coughing like crazy. Finally the oncology switched bp medication, because one of the side effects is coughing. It was so bad I would throw up. Well, I'm still coughing and throwing up on occasion. Sunday the pain in my feet subsided and turned into tingling. It's also in one thumb. Today it's pretty much gone, and I think I'm set for the week. 3 more Taxols to go. Yeah. Although I do believe that Taxol is easier, I am down for the same amount of time. Am still losing weight - 15 lbs so far. I would like the 2 lbs/week for radiation. I really neglected myself during grad school. I guess this is the year I bringing my body back in shape.

sharon56

well i made it through the day and the steroids are keeping me "alert" . I have not had any swelling of my ankles and fluid retention is a SE of the taxotere , the clinic nurse advised me to call them if this happened , also told me to walk around in bare feet for the first 5 days . I too took my wedding rings off just in case . My nails are doing ok so far . My biggest issue is the muscle and joint pain , advice was to take the Tylenol 3 if the pain got worse to call and get a stronger script .
My blood counts have been normal nothing out of the ordinary . For me taxotere has been alot easier than the FEC . So one more left April 23rd .... almost there !
Also had a ride today from a cancer society volunteer and am going to have them drive me to rads it's alot easier for me , no parking charges , no gas charges , plus if i am tired i can sleep . The volunteer does not have to pay for parking at the hospital and she will wait for me there and drive me home .She is a retired lady whose husband died from prostate cancer , the Canadian cancer society here is a godsend for cancer patients .
I also picked up a free wig today at the clinic ,its cute and it makes me feel better when going out . So i just have to get some batteries for my camera and i will post some pics .
Starting to feel better hoping that the next few weeks do not pose any surprises !
Happy passover Caya , Rebbecca and Vidy take it easy this week .....

horsegal

TPPJ -
You say you're from columbus, OH - me too! Where in Columbus if you don't mind me asking? I will finish chemo (AC) next Monday - no Taxol, on to rads. I will find out next week what my follow ups are - I certainly hope they involve some sort of tests to check for mets!!!!

Where do you go for tx? Funny if we were in same place!

Jen

Caya

Good evening ladies,

The taxotere is taking its toll on me - I was totally whacked out today, slept about 2 hours this afternoon, did not make it to my seder - the thought of getting dressed, putting on the wig, makeup etc. was just too daunting for me. I sent my DH and 2 DDs and just vegetated on the couch watching "Deal or No Deal" - felt better as the evening progressed, hopefully will be better tomorrow to make it to my brother's house for seder #2.
shorti - interesting that the nurse told you to go barefoot - today is my fifth day so this time it won't do me any good. I have Tylenol #3, which I may have to take, as the muscle sensations are no picnic.
Lynn, I also read about the swelling being a S/E - probably nothing, but you are right to check it out.
Robertin, my DH also had a BP medicine with the S/E of coughing, he also switched and it went away.
Mary, Mizsissy, I have a ton of family in the Detroit area - West Bloomfield, Birmingham, we visit there alot, however while I'm in treatment I doubt I'll be crossing the border.
Another S/E - water is awful to drink, and my tastebuds are starting to disappear - YUCH!! A couple of mouth sores, using the vitamin E oil.
Regarding scans - my onc. did a bone scan, trans vaginal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, all the blood work before my mastectomy, all were clear. I had a CT of my brain(clear)at a different hospital because I had shingles on my nerve in the face before the mastectomy and I think the ER doc. there was just ruling anything out.
Viddie, Rebecca, any other Passover ladies, I hope your seder went/will go well.
And happy Easter next weekend for the rest of the group. Hopefully we'll all have some nice weather and be able to enjoy a bit of spring!
Caya

Lynn12

Hey Girls,

I came in 2nd place in the office NCAA March Madness pool! YAY! Even though it took me an entire 2 minutes to pick the teams...I have no clue about college basketball! So I get 25% of the pot! Won't make me rich, but hey, everything counts. Sometimes it's just luck of the draw!

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Maybe we could have a Michigan or Ontario get-together after chemo...Mary, Caya, Shorti, NancyAB, IowaCindy, Skye (did I miss anybody)???? Meet here or maybe even Ontario. A weekend at Stratford might be nice; see a play, or just a weekend (my house is huge)!!! How about it? Would LOVE to meet yall!!!

I also feel a special kinship to the women in Massachusetts, because that is my birth state, and where I spent most of my youth. I'll be in Maine in August...perhaps a get together there?!!!

It would be nice to get out west too...

BTW, I got the list updated, it's back a few pages...

Mizsissy

TPPJ

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TPPJ

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TPPJ

Congrats on winning the pool, Lynn. I wasn't much into college sports of any kind. Growing up in N.E., you're just into pro sports. Anyway, Columbus is like a giant cult for OSU. It's unreal. EVERYWHERE you go people wear OSU logowear. It's actually nice to take a trip and get a break from seeing it. I saw a guy in a store last night with a B.U. sweatshirt and it was exciting for me. I must be becoming brainwashed though, because I went online to see who won this morning. I'm fine w/the Gators as my heart is really in Florida... won't say that aloud out here.

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

TPPJ, Nice to hear more about you, I don't have any of your chemo data...but we know your last day is tomorrow!!!!! Please send me more info.

Everybody...there's a better way to do this. I could have a web page set up like I do for the Post Chemo spa gals, and then it would only need to be published once and update it, and we could add photos. We could also have more info about dx, path, stage, etc., where we live, etc., extra photos, etc. Here's the table from the Spa & Shape thread as an example:

BC Spa Gals

We could have different kinds of data for ourselves...what do you think?

Mizsissy

skyedivine

Melia and Caya, I've mentioned this a few times way back when on the topic of mouth sores. My onc team gave me a sheet recommending rinsing and gargling with a mild salt solution after every meal and before bed, starting on the first infusion day. It's one half teaspoon of salt (I use the milder sea salt) to two cups of warm water. It's messy and a bother but I have not had one mouth sore in over three months of AC and Taxol. Also, slippery elm lozenges you get at a health food store are very soothing and coat your mouth too. They taste "barkey" but not too bad. But the salt water is worth a try.
TJJP- big congrats on finishing!

TPPJ

Regarding scans - my onc. did a bone scan, trans vaginal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, all the blood work before my mastectomy, all were clear.

Caya, that's good peace of mind.... that's what I'm looking for I guess. But my onco. insists that it's bad for me mentally, should anything show, because I'll stress out and ultimately, nothing changes healthwise. I'm very Type A...I need to know. Now!

TPPJ

Thank you, Skye! I am psyched to be done. It's surreal.

TPPJ

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TPPJ

I tried to cut/paste a picture of my daughter and I from Snapfish but it didn't paste. ???

TPPJ

I am so surprised at how many of you are vomiting. I didn't have a single day of it, thank God, because for me, nothing's worse. Amera, I saw they didn't give you Emend until well into the process. That stuff is AMAZING. I had it from day one. Why wouldn't they just give that to everyone right off the bat? There is just no reason to suffer like that when Emend exists. My onco. specializes in minimizing side effects and so far, he's done well.

NOLONGERREADINGORPOSTING

Getting pictures up is complicated (except for avatars); you need to first post them on a web site and then put a link to the photo.

If you need a place to post your pictures, send them to me. I have a website with loads of space. My email and website are at www.lindaswift.com.

Mizsissy

skyedivine

Hi Viddie,
First the glutamine, I'd ignore your onc on this one. I do think it's helping me, it's something our bodies normally produce but cannot on chemo, and the handout sheet came from my Oncology Alliance. What the nurse told me is that it doesn't always help EVERYONE. That's a big difference. Not only does it say it "may decrease the duration and severity of peripheral neuropathy adn mouth sores associated with some chemotherapies," it says it "may also promote bowel recovery following chemotherapy or radiation therapy." It says to take 10 grams ((3 and one half teaspoons) POWDERED glutamine mixed with 6-8 oz. juice or other beverage or in yogurt, etc.. Taking it with Taxol: take 10 grams powdered glutamine 3 times a day for five days, starting the day after your Taxol treatment. For radiation, take 10 grams 3 times a day for your entire course of radiation therapy and 28 days following. People with end stage liver or end stage kidney disease where protein is restricted should avoid glutamine, also people with allergy to corn should avoid it.

Anyway to me it is worth trying. My nailbeds have stopped hurting since I've been on it and I don't have numb toes or fingers either although I still get the leg pains and weakness associated with Taxol.

As for the Taxol side effects, I find them pretty daunting but not unbearable. It starts hitting me day 3, with 4-6 the worst. The fatigue is very deep-seated, both body and mind, and the leg and bone pain varies from mild to excruciating. I just take extra strength tylenol but I know I could get something stronger. I've been avoiding putting extra drugs in my system because my book was due yesterday and needed to stay sharp mentally. ( I did get the manuscript in, woohoo! But I still have ten illustrations to do and a bunch of paperwork to finish). Next time I will definitely take Vicodin. But Viddie, if your dose is smaller then you might recover faster, too. I'm getting all mine in just four doses spaced two weeks apart so that might make a big difference.
Hope all that helps.
Yesterday my brother gave me a HUGE present and volunteered to have Easter at his house so I don't have to try to clean and do all that for once. For joy, for joy! But today, I have to do taxes. As Rebecca would say, Blech! - Skye

skyedivine

Mary, on the Taxol and Emend question, I am still on Emend with Taxol and do feel I need it. My onc just automatically prescribed it. Also still getting Decadron for that, too. In fact, I have a persistent ongoing queasiness that I did not have with the AC, and find myself needing lorazepam (sp?) at night to sleep. I also have another one I can take in the daytime but makes me drowsy so I usually don't. As long as I'm not too sick to eat or not throwing up, which I haven't done yet once. Anyway, everyone's different but that has been my experience. - Skye

TPPJ

Yesterday my brother gave me a HUGE present and volunteered to have Easter at his house so I don't have to try to clean and do all that for once.

That is huge... this past Thanksiving and now on Easter, I am going to dinner at our neighborhood country club, which we reluctantly joined due to cost. But the pool has been great and my kids have had a blast. I met more people in one summer than I had in five years here...just in time too..right before my dx. These people have been invaluable dince my dx. Anyway, except for x-mas, I'm taking it easy on the other holidays and going out.

TPPJ

Wow, Skye, that's so odd that you are having the nausea on Taxol. My onco. told me it pretty much wouldn't happen. They didn't give me Emend for it. I do get Decadron via IV in my pre-meds, along w/Benadryl.

Love my Ativan. I actually forgot to take it yesterday...I took Lunesta at 9 pm but it didn't totally cut it. I had such a fitful night's sleep...I wonder if it's because I skipped Ativan yesterday. Took one this am w/my coffee and I'm feeling human... as evidenced by my bazillion posts.