Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

mmliv

Don't know about the rest of you, but I sure will be glad to quit feeling like a mad scientist's medical experiment! Day 6 - and as in the past - days 4 through 6 are the most uncomfortable. This time the fatigue is less but I think I am now experiencing what many of you have had.... neural pain.

Mary - thanks for the update. I start radiation on the 18th and am to start Femara at the same time. How many radiation treatments are you getting? Any SEs from the AI?

Mary L 

Mandy1313

Hi Texas 357

As zuffa said, it you have thrush, you will need to have a prescription mouth wash for it so call your onc.  

I have the white coated tongue thing after chemo.  I think it has to do with the garbage in our system because tongues can show alot about the rest of our body.

I had mouth sores after my first tx.  I realized that two things were changed....1. I had not taken any vitamins at all. So I started taking a multi vitamin with the oncs permission. 2.   I personally do not like Biotene mouth products. I am using a Tom's of Maine natural tooth paste which actually cleans my teeth (my mouth felt mossy with the biotene products)  And I use salt and warm water for my mouth rinses and when I had the sores, I gargled with it too..  For some reason these work better for me than the Biotene.  

I hoep you feel better soon.

mary5454

Mary L- I am doing the dose dense radiation - so doing 20. I just started the femara Friday so only on day 3. If you read the discussion boards- the SEs sound terrible but i am trying not to focus on that- I figure the women without SEs aren't posting!! I am getting together a list of recommended vitamins/supplements to take - have e-mailed the Onc dietician with what i have heard so far. 

 Good Luck! There is a February rads board.... 

LindaBusEd

Divas,

Haven't posted but have read, read, read! Congratulations to those that are finished. For we ladies, who are still on chemo, we will be there!  Today is Day 7 from #4. I have mainly been sleeping all day. I stay up an hour then go back to bed for about 3 hours, then I start back over. My mother was in the hospital twice in the last 2 weeks. I need to get some energy and go over to her house and pay her bills and make sure her medicine is right for next week. I am only about 10 minutes from there.

Thinking of all of you!  Linda

Texas357

Thanks for the info, ladies. I just assumed that a white coating and funky taste was thrush but hopefully it's not. I'll call first thing Monday morning.

LindaBusEd

Those that have finished chemo--how long do you have to wait before you can go to the dentist and eye doctor. I am going to ask onc. when I go for my 5th tx in a couple of weeks. I have to go have a colonopsy also sometime after all this stuff is done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!!

sdavis

morning all, its a sunshiny day here in the U.P. and it is glaring off the six foot snow banks. lol

 Well I have #4 today at 11:20am, why do they keep calling to remind me of appt. I will admit that my brain has some issues about short term memory but I am not likely to forget my appt.

with number 3 i had horrible neuropathy in my fingers and couldn't type for the first week. I do come on and read up though as we have a great mouse with a spin wheel and I don't have to push hard on anything. Week 2 I developed an infection and they put me on bucko antibiotics which of course them made me feel like crap. week 3 I was tired. even yesterday I was just worn out. My legs feel like jelly most of the time. Cant stand for any period of time and any exertion and I am sweaty and need to lie down a while. Trying to continue every day life but its so hard when all you want to do is go to bed.

Okay enough of my bitching. hope everyone else going in today has an uneventful treatment and may our side effects be minimal.

Sue

EleanorJ

Sue good luck today. I'll be sitting in my chair at 11AM for tx #4. I hope this round treats you better, #3 wasn't so bad for me. I feel like I'm getting less & less SEs with each tx, making me wonder if my body is actually fighting chemo and not letting it work? Is it possible?

mmliv

Sue, Caroline - wishing you do well with treatment today. I've discovered that I manage the SEs better... though with an infection you would be miserable!!!!!!! 

Day 7 TC #4 - Energy level is building back up tho I am not doing much this morning. The neural issues are abating (first time I had those!) and have stopped taking Tylenol. Lathering on lots of lotion and frequently rinsing out mouth; and of course drinking approx 3 quarts of liquid a day.

I am looking forward? to the next round of treatment..... moving down the cure highway - sometimes the road is just bad. Sue am thinking about your drive to Marquette; I hope you have close parking for chemo patients!!

Mary L 

swest

Good luck to everyone having treatments today.  I wish you no SE's!

 This Friday is my last treatment and I am excited but yet scared.  Since I am triple negative, node negative and had a MX there is nothing left of in my treatment plan.  That scares me!  While in treatment I felt like I was doing something.  Now what????  Where do I focus my energy.  I guess reconstruction.

As always, thank you ladies for always being there!  Have a wonderful day!

Sonia

Brenny

Okay - now I have just quit looking in mirrors - my face is all puffy and round and red and I have gained at least ten pounds (which I already was too heavy) and look like a huge blimp - and I know this hair is fake and I am just plain disgusting looking. Yuck! Ugh!  And now I am going to move on to radiation and burned skin and itching....it just doesn't get any better, does it?? And the sad thing, I am so depressed, I just can't get out of my own way - I just dont give a darn -- I will go home from work and watch a movie and eat...right now that's the only thing that give me any pleasure....

mmliv

Brenny - Imagine a hug from all of us!!!!! You are beautiful!

What will you watch? If I have it I'll try to watch it too and we can watch a movie together!

Mary L 

CindaD

Brenny, it sounds like you need a HOT FUDGE SUNDAE!  With EXTRA, EXTRA FUDGE.  I'm telling you it will chase the blues away!  The rest of this is just temporary CRAP, keep that in mind and pamper yourself today!

I myself am wondering what I will do when tx is over, I use it as an excuse to buy art supplies, believe I don't NEED another thing, but that doesn't stop me from buying!  My husband have a heart attack if he knew!  I guess it's better than being in a bar drinking away my blues!  Wouldn't work because I'm not much of a drinker! 

I'm having a hot fudge sundae tonight!  on top of a brownie!

lovemyfamilysomuch

Dear Brenny,

Sending you hugs and support, you are doing everything you can to get through this and that is to be admired!  Hang in there.

Ellen

BonnieK

(((Hugs))) to you, Brenny!!  -bonnie

mombos

I am finally back home with my family after 6 days of staying away trying to avoid the flu. I entered the house to the strongest smell of Clorox I have ever experienced. If it didn't move it got Clorox or Lysol. If it was a piece of clothing or bed linen my DH washed it in hot water. I don't think my house has ever been cleaner. The tubs, the bathrooms and the kitchen all clean. The windows were open to the 75 degree Texas breeze. It felt so good to sleep in my own bed last night.  Both kids and DH seem to have recovered well.

Pam

Lainey64

Brenny - *HUGS*  I know how you're feeling today and I'm sorry!  Just remember, this is going to pass and you're gonig to be a stronger person because of it. The little things we used to stress about are going to seem so small and insignificant after all of this.  I was feeling pretty gross yesterday.  I chalked mine up to hormones and tried to move past it but it sure is hard.  Enjoy your movie and dinner tonight.  Eat something good!!

Sonia - I am having the same thoughts as you right now.  I am also triple negative and it's very scary when I think about it so I usually don't.   I just trust that my doctor's are doing everything for me now and it's up to me to change my lifestyle to do everything I can to stay healthy.

I'm feeling ok today.  A little fatigued but my cold is over.  Thank goodness!  I have my next TX on Friday and am looking forward to getting it done.  I am having some muscle aches still but not too bad.  No nausea at all and I'm able to eat just fine. I just wanted to pop in and say "HI". 

Love, Elaine

Brenny

Awww shucks, thanks everyone!!  I am seriously considering the LARGE hot fudge sundae at Dairy Queen and catching up on three weeks of 24 tonight. 

 Oh, and did I mention that my nails (which always were pretty awesome) are broken and short and my feet are dry and disgusting????  *smile*  That's it for today, I promise!!

  You all are the best--only you can understand that you sometimes just can't smile one more smile and say "I'm doing fine, thanks!!"!!!!

EleanorJ

Brenny Enjoy your LARGE hot fudge sunday. You deserve it

Just go back from tx#4. Found out that my WBC was 600 last Tuesday... oops! Back to normal today and onc gave me the option for the Neulasta since it was so low last week. Opted out of it since I'm back to normal and I'll just be super careful about sick people & germs. February is usually the worse month for Flu isn't? If I can make it through Feb than the next 2 tx should be fine. My thinking is, if I didn't go for my blood count last Tuesday, we would have never known it was so low and we would have kept going without!

swest

Elaine - you are right.  I have to trust the doctors.  Thank you for your response.  Sometimes I just need to hear things from others going through the same battle.  I had fatigue and muscle twinges with every CT treatment.  If I remember correctly you are on Taxaotere now right?  My onc. said as long as I was not running a feaver I could take Tylenol for the muscle twinges.  I'm glad to hear you are feeling better.  

BIG FUDGE SUNDAE'S TO EVERYONE!!!!!

Firni

Caroline,  They say that even tho you don't get SEs from the chemo, it still is working.  SEs have nothing to do with the efficacy of the chemicals.  Be happy it's getting easier.  I hope #4 is easy.

Sue, I'm so sorry your having such a hard time.  My Tx 3 didn't have as hard SEs, but they lasted until yesterday.  I finally felt more like me and had some energy.  Now I have Tx 4 on Wed.  Three good days for that cycle.  What is you onc saying about the neuropathy?  

Mary, I agree that it is easier managing the SEs that are consistently there. I am better at anticipating and stopping some of the minor stuff.  It's the new ones each cycle.  But steroids seem to be the answer for everything.  

Brenny, I know exactly how you feel.  I've gained close to 30 lbs with about 10 lbs of that being from edema and I'm sure the excess steroids.  I have jowls growing into my neck to make another chin. My face is rashy and getting bad wrinkles.  There is not enough moisturizer in the world to save my face.   My clothes don't fit.  I don't know what I'd do if I had to go to work.  I can pretty much live in sweats.   My only salvation is that any food with fat or sugar in it tastes bad to me.  So I'm eating fruit, veggies and lean.  Lean but a lot!!  Haven't tried drinking yet.  Maybe if I did I wouldn't care what I look like   But like Cinda said, it is temporary.  Once we're done with all the little cancer eaters, we'll return to our normal selves. So enjoy your movie and snacks and cover the mirrors.

Linda, I think the standard to do anything after finishing chemo is 6 weeks.  Dentist, invasive tests, exchange surgery.  I hope your mom is doing ok and you've got the energy to do what you need to for her.  That's got to be hard. 

Has anyone asked their onc how long the chemo keeps working in your body each cycle?   

Jeeze I wish a brownie would taste good.  I love brownies.  With walnuts. 

mimiwhite

Miss Brenny I am sending you a huge hug!!   Some days just suck!  I'm glad you vented. 

xoxo,

Mimi

P.S. anyone have their eye twitch?  Mine has been twitching for a few days.

Firni

Mine started twitching the past 3 days.

mimiwhite

Thanks Firni, we can twitch together. 

mmliv

OH you all!!!!!!!!! I just wish a hot fudge sundae could taste good.  :-(  Firni you and I have similar taste bud issues...... except add that salt is DETESTABLE!!!!!! I have gained 7 lbs and my jeans are tight. So some serious work outs for me in the future...... cause I was on my way to lose 25 pounds before this all started and I had lost 15. Oh well, rather lose the cancer than the weight.

Pudgy Mary L

Bold

Hi all I have not posted for a whild but have read daily. I had my # 3 today. My list of SE for onc was mild neropathy. I take B6 and she gave me a prescription for Glutomine 1 gram po TID. I also got the same recommendation from my Eastern DR. Wanted to pass that on. I also am having headaches. I hoped it was sinus or my eyes or stress or SE from Herceptin or Brain Mets. She assured me it was not the mets.(WHEW) I new it was not but still you drift to dark side and then quickly recover.

Congrats to everyone that is finished. All you lucky gals that only have to do four. This 6TX is going to be a challenge. I have perfect white counts every thing is super on platelets and red. But my glucose is high and and liver function a bit dodgie, among other things I guess it is normal abnormals. No one seems to care but me.

I have gained 7 pounds but it seems to go away and come back. Weird but I feel rotun also.I feel that when this is over I will be the time to take charge of my weight and habits. I feel that we need to make our internal environment more conducive to a better immune system. So when people feel helpless after treatment that is what you focus on. It is more powerful than any drug. I've made a list of goals physical, emotional, occupational and spiritual. Now thats a lot of work and you do not have a team doing it for you.  it can be done slowly and strongly. Anyway I am on Steroids so a little to weird and tired. Sorry.

Thank you all for you caring beautiful self's.

CindaD

Brenny, I hope you stopped for the Hot Fudge Sundae, I had one in your honor last night!  I wanted to eat one while I could still taste it!  YUM, it chased all my troubles away!

Hey girls, so what if we don't look like cover girls at the moment, we're putting up a good fight and kicking some major butt!  We can't be expected to kick a** and look like beauty queens!

Brenny

Drug my sorry a** back into work this morning...it was sooooo tempting to stay home in my funk.  I did have the hot fudge sundae AND then later pepperoni pizza and did catch up on 24 (ever notice that Jack Bauer never goes to the bathroom nor does he ever eat???). And even if I know it's not going to taste good later or cause heartburn (chocolate) -- I still eat it and then regret it later (pitiful).

I also have the eye twitching thing mentioned and sometimes watering 

I think I may stop at DQ again tonight for another sundae - it was perfect!

Hugs

Brenny

zuffa

lainey64, swest -- I, too, am triple negative, Stage lll  My tumor was very large and my chemo is neo-adjuvant.  Next comes the surgery (mastectomy).  The tumor has shrunk about 80% after the first 3 treatments.  My 4th was February 4th and I still have 2 treatments left) -- so my oncologist has not assessed the result of treatment #4 on the tumor yet -- hopefully, it will keep shrinking.  I also had a very large lymphnode, which has disappeared.  So the chemo seems to be effective against my particular cancer -- and hopefully, against any little bits that may be floating around elsewhere in my body.  After the surgery, I will have radiation. My side effects, fortunately, have been minimal to date -- even with TAC (the T is Taxotere).  I try to focus on the wisdom of my medical team -- having the support of others who are triple negative is very important to me.  I wish you both well and hope we will stay in touch via the board as time goes by.

Catrenae

Good Morning All,

 I had tx #4 last Thursday. Doing ok I guess. Just the usual SE's for me... I'm so tired that all I want to do is just sleep. Made it to work yesterday and managed to make it all day. Back at it today but it was very hard to make myself get up and get dressed. The only thing that saves me is the fact that I don't have to drive. I have a wonderful friend/neighbor that has been driving me to work. She is a life saver! (Our commute is 45 min. to an hour each way.) How lucky that she lives and works so close.

I am glad to be through with the AC rounds and will start my weekly Taxol in 2 1/2 weeks. Glad to have "danced the last dance with the Red Devil!" (We took pics of my last tx and that's what we named it.) Onward and upward with it we go...

 Wishing everyone a happy Tuesday!

Cat

P.S. I will definitely be having a hot fudge sundae tonight!