New to Site & Forum

tspick84

I was diagnosed w/ Stage IV TNBC April 1st (LOL). I've had a lumpectomy, 12 nodes removed that were all +, & my bone marrow is > 95% filled with cancer.  I been on the dynammite coctail of ACT since June & will receive 6 treatment to be followed by weekly chemo of Taxol, Avastin & Zometa for an indefinite period of time. I'm 45 & prior to this event have been very healthy & active. I've notice that the most difficult side effect to deal with is the fatigue. Functioning like a 90+ yr. old is hard to wrap my brain around. Have most of you found that exercise regardless of how you feel is the best way to help ourselves?

zschweeb

i am so sorry for what you are going thru....i dont usually respond to the new posts  out here because it seems like the women who have been out here longer  are so much more eloquent than i am.... you have come to the right place these ladies are amazing they have helped me through alot...they will be by your side, answer all your questions and help you through treatment....i sdidnt find this site until i was done with tmy chemo but have been here thru rads and have been helped by many...the fatigue was hard but i got thru alot of people suggest a little exercise that the more you try to move the better you will feel...wishing you the best

FloridaLady

Welcome tspick,

You've had a hard time, but I can see your spirit is  good.  Sorry you had to join our little group.  As for a answer to your question...I have found diet and supplement very important.  We can only live on chemo so long before it destroy's are body's. I found "blending" (not juicing) fruit and veggies and having a glass a couple time a day.  Help me with fatigue and many other issues. Please try this for a week...you will see a difference.  I also take supplement to help cleanse by liver and rebuild my blood.  I know I sure be worried about how this effect my chemo...but chemo is not doing much for me any way.  I'd rather have a balance of quality of life and hopefully keeping bc under control.  In other words.. I want a life in the middle of bc.

Light exercise is still important for heart health and keep fluid from building up in your lungs when we want to lay around for days.

Glad you joined us...other will be along with there input.

Flalady

CalGal

Tspick -

Sorry you've had to join us here.  I'm also a trip neg with mets.

To answer your question, YES!   Exercise, more sleep and a nutritional diet! 

As one who was always athletic, and then worked out my entire adult life, I figure that being dx'd with bc and later, bc mets, would be the worst time to quit!   Even before bc, I always felt better when I worked out.  At that time, it was 4-5x/wk at the gym. 

So, yes, I've worked-out throughout everything, doing what I could (eased up on upper body post-lumpectomies and in late May, after I got a port, which req'd me to significantly drop the quantity of weight and even a few exercises, which I've recently been able to add back and am still increasing the weight to what it was before).   That said, fatigue does take a toll and I adjust my work-outs as needed.  Sometimes, I just go on a 2 mile walk with my DH.

On my current, weekly treatment regimen, I try for 2x/week at the gym, 3 if I'm feeling better than usual.  While I'm still strong with the weights, the cardio really took a toll. 

As for ACT (Adria, Cytox & Taxotere)?   I've done all of those, but AC, then Taxotere & Carbo.  Now I'm on Abraxane, Avastin, Gemzar & Zometa, which has tired me out more than the other combos or rad'tn.  The taxane family includes Taxotere, Taxol & Abraxane, but for me, I really prefer Abraxane as it does not require the steroid Dex (decadron or dexamethasone), which has it's own ugly SE.

Best to you,

CalGal 

tspick84

Thanks for your help. Yesterday I discoverd that I need a transfusion d/t low red cell & Hgb.  Procrit didn't increase it enough.  I'm worried about receiving bad blood.  After receiving bad news on a weekly basis for tha past 4 months, this would really piss me off.  Has anyone else had a transfusion with success?  Also my BP has dropped to really low levels (80/40).  Between the low red cell count & low BP I can manage everyday stuff, but adding exercise had been tough. I guess the transfusion would make me feel better, but for the first time I'm actually scared of the treatment. Suggestions?

Roya

Tspick,

I was triple neg and will begin chemo on 8/8.  My onc advises light exercise during chemo. She advised me to at least get out and walk a bit everyday once I start chemo.  If I don't feel like it, then  a little is better than none at all. This is what I have been told. I haven' t  started chemo yet so I hope I will be able to do this.  knowing what to do and doing it are 2 different things .

Thank you for the info regarding how your BP dropped.  I am on BP meds for HTN and  am concerned about this.  I  will bring this up with my doc.  Maybe my meds should be adjusted while I am on chemo.

lemonld

tspick84,

I too have expereinced a drop in my BP after I receive a taxotere tx.  When my BP is low my heart rate is fast.  They tell me that the reason for this is I a dehydrated.  have you asked your onc about this?  You might need some IV fluids to help with the dehydration and getting your BP back up.

Hugs,

Linda