Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

TexasRose

This thread has been quiet! Just checking in. My BP has come down with the higher dosage of meds. Basically, still no side effects from the Taxol. A little bone pain, but handled nicely with Tylenol. My poor bloody nose is my biggest issue. And I have a little sore throat. Not exactly sore really. Just sometimes hurts when I swallow. Tomorrow starts the cycle all again. Labs tomorrow. Chemo on Tuesday. Sure seems to roll around fast when you do it weekly!! Didn't I just do this?? LOL  Oh well, that is good. The time passes quickly! They skipped the Avastin last week because of the BP, so the plan is to give it this week. Best of all- my hair is most definitely growing back! My eyebrows have thinned, but my lashes are hanging in there! And I'm shaving my legs again too. Figures.  

Hugs to all of you starting rads. I hope it goes quickly and painlessly for you.

At my onc visit the other day, the first thing he said was, "Oh, you are getting a little puffy from the steroids." He's lucky I didn't smack him! I don't know why I like the guy, but I do. LOL

Hope everybody is doing well. Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary. I sure hit the jackpot the day I met him!

Still hotter than hell here. We'll spend the day in the pool.

(((hugs)))

Mary

AbuelaBoricua

Mary, congratulations on your wedding anniversary! 

I have my consult for the radiation on Wed. so I will find out what is happening with that part of my treatment. My finger nails and fingertips are extremely sore from the last chemo. Hopefully this will go away soon.

I hope everyone else is doing well!  Lost of HUGS,  Diana.

luvtheocean

Hugs to all of you!  I have had 3 radiation tx's now I use the Miaderm lotion 2x a day and Castor oil at night.  That is what my Rad-Onc gave me.  Oddly enough my scar from the lumpectomy is already really sore.  I don't get that since it isn't supposed to start getting irritated until the end of next week.  Helen-WOW! I wish I could get in and out in 15 mins.  Good for you!  I will say my tx on Friday didn't take as long but it was rescheduled twice in one day coz something was not working right with the machine.  Now there's a scarey thought, in a machine shooting radiation on your boob and it isnt working right?!  Makes ya wanna jump right up on the table.  Mary- SO GLAD you are growing hair back too! 

Well, thatis it for me tonight I am beat had a big weekend!

TomnDi

I've been out of town on business for the past week.  I timed the trip for the week of Diane's first Taxol treatment; that's usually when she's the strongest, days 10 through 14 following A/C.  When I arrived home Thursday evening, following the morning Taxol tx, she was pumped!  She thinks it's the steroids they filled her with; haven't seen her that full of energy for a long time!  Now, 3 days later, she's beginning to feel the effects; very tired, very sore feet, and, something I've not heard from anyone, a sore abdomen.  Has any one of you experienced that?  It's only our first Taxol tx so, other than the information you've all been so kind to share, we're pretty much flying blind. 

On the of the frustrations was the time it took for tx#1, nearly 5 hours (1 hour with the doc, 1 hour of waiting, 3 hours of IV).  She missed out on a day of work and was rather angry about it.  Unlike some of you, Diane is good for a day or two following each A/C treatment and THEN she starts to feel worn out.  So she likes to get the tx either early in the day or late in the day, allowing her to get a full 6 hour shift in.

She also informed me tonight that following tx#4 of Taxol, her onc will do a CT scan to test the three spots the pre-chemo scan found, one on her overy, one on her kidney, and one on her lung.  They found another one on her thyroid but the biopsy came back negative.  They want to make sure the other three have either disappeared or shrunk considerably before beginning rads.  We're headed to Tucson in mid-October to see the grand boys, following the CT scan but before rads.  We did the same thing before her surgery in May.  It's a nice diversion.

All the best to each of you, so many of whom are further down that ugly road we all seem to be traveling, either personally or from the sidelines.

deb6563

I have felt really lousy following this taxol treatment.  I have the bloody nose also.  I am  pretty positive I am getting the Avastin instead of the placebo because I have those horrible mouth sores again.  I have not eaten anything other than scrambled eggs since Saturday morning.  I am living on chocolate milkshakes.  I have also been  running a low grade temp.

Tom - I have the abdominal pain after taxol.  If feels like my ribs are being kicked. 

LoriR

Hi all - we have really slowed up lately - I had my first radiation today - I got up from the table and said to the nurses ok only 34 more!  It did go pretty quick - I was in and out in 15 minutes so I hope they all go that quick.  I am suppose to see the doctor every Tuesday so I know tomorrow will take longer. TexasRose - congrats on your wedding anniversary- that is awesome.  Luvtheocaen - how many treatments do you have?  seems like we should be done at the same time. 

Diana - sorry your nails/fingers are not doing well.  If your done with chemo hopefully it will go away soon

Deb - sorry you aren't feeling well - hopefully you can eat something soon!

TomnDi- good luck with everything

I had my last chemo on 7/22 and it seems like my hair is coming in a little bit but I am still loosing eyebrows. - UGH - when does that stop?

 We hosted a party over the weekend - I called it my Breastfest - to celebrate me being done with chemo.  We had a pig roast and about 50 people here.  We did all kinds of 50/50 etc and ended up raising $400 for the Pa. Breast cancer coilition.  It was a lot of fun and a great diversion away from all the cancer crap! 

Hugs to all

luvtheocean

Lori-

I am doing only 25 tx, it is some kind of high precision radiation.  I don't have to do the boosters because I get extra radiation to the lump specific area.  I think that is why my tx take longer, each actual zap is 16 mins.  I have a 2 min CT scan every tx and see my Rad Onc on Thursday's so that day is definately longer.  I didn't get to have my tx today because the thermostat in the machine was broken and had to be ordered and shipped overnight so lets hope that i get tomorrow in.  Everytime I miss one is just one more on the end.  As it stands right now I will finish on Wed Sept 16 and have already purchased tickets to FL! So, I told them they need to squeeze me in!!

Sorry for you ladies still going through Chemo....Keep pushing through........there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it IS NOT A TRAIN!

Becky

benisse

Hi May Marvels,

I had weekly Taxol 4 of 12 yesterday and it went well.  Following the last round, I had at least one very bad nosebleed each day.  I had been taking a claritin and tylenol at night and my sister suggested that I not take the claritin in case it was drying my nasal passages.  I began using Pretz nasal spray (saline with yerba extract, ask pharmacist for it but don't need an rx) and using a q-tip to put vaseline or Kiehls lip balm into my nasal passages.  Something I've done has helped...I haven't had a nosebleed since.  My oncologist said to use a humidifier in my room at night too.  I haven't done that yet.  I've had very bad sinus-like headaches too and she suggested I take Advil Sinus.  If that doesn't get rid of the headaches, then I'll have to have an MRI next time I see her in 3 weeks just to make sure.  Happy 23rd wedding anniversary Mary!!!  TomnDi and Deb - I too have rib pain but also had a bilateral mastectomy in March and figured it was residual pain from that.   Becky - here's hoping you get finished in time for your FL trip! 

Best wishes to our skeleton crew of marvels!!!

Titch

Happy belated wedding anniversary TexasRose.....

I hope you are all doing ok.

I restart chemo next week.... new drugs...... and more frequent chemo......so I am hoping I will be as well as I was on AC.  Zuzee I will be in touch via email..... I will be there in Hams on the 27th and the week after.... so will try and catch up with you for coffee or something.......  Be great to finally meet ya.....

Keep smiling you May marvels..... big huggles to you all

echosalvaje

I'm trying to get excited about going in for my last of six T/C treatments this morning knowing that I still have  two weeks of misery ahead. So, YIPEE sort of.

lassie11

Mary - I will be you on Monday! So looking forward to the end of this nonsense - and to getting out the PICC line. Of course there is still Herceptin and rads and hormone suppressants - but they won't compare (I hope) to this. I'm hoping to feel well before my daughter has her new baby due mid September.

Titch

Mary -and Lassie:    wahoo.... you ladies are nearly there....... the light at the end of the tunnel is very close........

I so remember my last Tx it was completion.  Now I have to go back next week and have new drugs and more sessions. (6) over a 9 week period......   I am not as anxious as my first treatments, but I am still worried that the drugs may affect me differently......I was so lucky with my first sessions.

luvtheocean

HI all-

Not too many of us posting these days.  I guess we are all talked out after months of talking....I finally had a treatment yesterday and today and makeup session on Saturday.  This is keeping me 1 day ahead of my FL trip.  It kinda sux because the original plan was to have me finish up a week before we left to give me some healing time.  Oh well.....we all know this is the way it goes.  Titch- sorry you have to have more tx....lets hope you are able to keep the s/e's at bay.

I hope all who are reading and not posting are feeling ok!

Of course I hope that ALL are having minimal side effects and are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and remember IT IS NOT A TRAIN!!

Hugs to All!

Becky

echosalvaje

Oh Titch, I am so pissed you have to go back for more, UUUGGHHHHHHH. I know that years from now when we look back at this it will seem like a little agony in the whole scheme of things, but GEEZ, enough already!

Leslie, my guess is that your daughter's new child will be what heals you. There's nothing like a new baby around to make us get out of our trials and feel hopeful for what this new life will get to experience.

OXO, Mary 

TomnDi

Since you're all further down the road than my sweet wife, have any of you experienced the skin on your feel peeling off?  Diane's feet are so very tender and sore, with blisters and skin just melting away.  We've finished 4 A/C treatments and are 8 days past the first of four Taxol tx.  After bathing each night, Diane sits at the foot of our bed and rubs lotion onto her feet while mumbling, "Help me, I'm melting, melting.  What a world, what a world. " (Wizard of Oz.) We try to laugh about all this whenever we can but her feet seem to be getting more sore and tender each day.

Tom

lassie11

I know that Taxol and Taxotere are not the same drugs but share some similarities. With Taxotere, I get ice mittens and booties to avoid troubles with feet and hands.

LoriR

TomnDi - I too had a similar experience but it was with my hands.  I did Taxotere and Cytoxin X4 and after my fourth one, the entire palm of both hands peeled.  Once they did, they were fine but it was very odd although it did not hurt at all.  Good luck to you

Luvtheocean - Here's hoping you get all your rads in before your trip!  I also have a trip planned once they are done - I gave myself 25 days between the scheduled end date and the date I leave.  I am hoping to be all healed up before I leave.  Please let something go right!  I am now 5 done with 30 to go. 

Lassie11 - good luck on Monday - Your last one - trust me it is a great feeling even tho you know you have all the regular side effects to deal with after the fact.  You will still feel better just by knowing that they are all the Last of it - congrats!!!!

benisse - hoping your nose bleeds are getting better:)

echoslavje - best of luck as always to you and your husband

TexasRose - Hope your Taxol tx go ok and that your BP and bloody noses get better

best wishes to everyone- hopefully we will here from those who haven't posted in a while.

Lori

shadow38

Hey TexasRose and benisse,

 I'm 4 weeks out from 12 weekly Taxols (mine was combined with DD Carboplatin).  I had issues with nosebleeds as well. 

If it's any consolation, within 2 weeks of the end of treatment the nosebleeds were gone.  Some people get mouth sores.  I got throat and nose sores and those caused the bleeding although they couldn't be felt.  Apparently they were higher up in the nasal cavity.  It hurt like hell.  The saline the doctor recommended didn't work for me either, but the humidifier at night absolutely helped.  Try that.  It seemed to moisten my nose, throat and sinus's and did help.  I also used an over the counter antibiotic ointment which also seemed to offer some relief and I noticed that when I drank even more water than normal, it also helped. 

For my throat sores and pain, I was given a prescription for Nystatin liquid which I'd swish and swallow.  That seemed to relieve a little of that pain.

As for the rest of the side effects, it was just control them as best as I could with pain meds and various other prescribed treatments.  I felt pretty good until my blood counts crashed around week 5.  From there on out, it was pretty crappy actually.    I had bruising and pain from head to toe and the fatigue was crushing.  Every bone in my body ached.  I was pretty much shot 5 days out of 7 toward the end.  It was a haul.  Now that I'm a month out, my blood counts are recovering nicely (Neupogen helped alot).  I'm still not in the normal range, but in some cases I'm close.   I'm taking B12 shots now. 

I didn't get the Neuropathy and I'm really thankful for that.  I also didn't lose my hair which apparently, is a miracle.  It definitely thinned, especially on top and I continue to lose a tiny bit of hair daily, but it doesn't look all that bad.  That definitely made a difference in the way I viewed myself over the course of the 3 months. 

Good luck to all of you on Taxol and Happy Anniversary Texas Rose! 

deb6563

I had a super crappy week.  Last Thursday I had taxol number #5 and on Saturday woke up with the horrible mouth and throat sores.  I have been using the Nystatin, Magic Rinse, Preventive mouth rinse, Biotene, water with soda and salt.  Nothing helped.  They finally went away this Thursday, just in time for taxol # 6.  I had fatigue all week and actually only worked 24 hours this week.  I know it is because of the Avastin that I get every 3rd week, because I don't get those SE's on just taxol. 

I too, have the peeling and cracking feet.  Nowhere else, just my feet.  My feet do get sore some days and I limp around.  No tingling in my fingers or toes yet, hopefully I won't get that.

I'm halfway finished, so I finally do see the light at the end of the tunnel and I KNOW it isn't a train.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. 

lassie11

deb6563  - you "only" worked 24 hours this week?!! That's phenomenal!

AbuelaBoricua

 I also had problems with peeling and bubbles of dry skin that will burst and then go away. This happened mostly with my hands.  My feet tend to hurt but I have had issues with neuropathy and I wonder if that is the cause.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Lots of hugs,  Diana.

debbie6122

Hi every one, it has been awhile since i posted, but i have been reading all of your posts, i miss talking to you all, i finished my tx a couple of weeks ago, and it took me some time to get over my SE from everything and with my counts being so low and all the extra shots in the tummy i had to have, but nothing like what you all are still going thru and having to have rads and more tx than i did, my heart aches for all of you, TITCH im so sorry that you have to have more tx, i wanted to cry when i read that, hang in there hopfully it will go fast and before you know it, it will be over with((( hugs))) love and hugs to you all, your all in my prayers

debbie

zuzeee

HI girls

Did not realise I have not posted for a while. Off to Hamilton today , to meet the girlfriend of my girlfriend whom I am staying with for the next 5 weeks. First rads on Monday 24th August. I had organised to play golf first so will have to dash off the course for rads at 3pm. So looking forward to meeting you Titch. I have resigned from my job!!!! Yipee. It was driving me nuts and into huge upsets. Is anyone else full of adrenaline and flying off the handle on a regular basis? I am finding it really hard to control my temper and it seems that every day I am provoked, I have even argued with my mother whom I adore!! Had first argument with the boyfriend, screamed at him and went to sleep in the downstairs bedroom!! Woke up in the middle of the night, totally confused and lost so made a hasty retreat back upstairs to his bed. Absolutely refused to apologise as I told him that what he had told me had threatened me and I reacted in the appropriate manner - fight or flight!! I ran away!!!!! Bloody lucky I didn't get the super glue or gun out!!!  but I don't want to spend my healthy years in prison!!!!! Keeps me vaguely sane when I think of the consequences of my actions and reactions. Is anyone else going mad out there? I so hope I am not alone!!!!!

Huge pink hugs to all of you

Susie 

mln8428

Well it's a happy day in America ~  I had my last chemo treatment yesterday.  I still have to contiunue with Herceptin for another 8 months but that's nothing comparitavely -   

 Today just trying to find something that tastes good - any suggestions?  Soup, cheese, eggs, and ice cream are all a no go today... I'm sure it will pass. 

 I'm hoping there's more of the May chemo starters that are done !

 Thanks - Marcia

rockbranchdeb

Although I haven't been posting, I've been "lurking," trying to glean as much info. & tips as I can. I always feel that everyone else on this board is so much wiser! You are all such great inspirations to me.

TomnDi: I, too, have the bottom-of-the-foot peeling, and my oncologist said to rub bag balm all over the soles of my feet & then put on socks. I always do this overnight, and if the peeling is particularly bad, I do it during the day (when I can), also. It really softens the skin, and so far it has kept my feet from becoming painful.

I am on the E5103 trial, so I have the same regimen as some of you. I have 5 weekly taxols left, and I started a new full-time job (I know, I know--the timing is terrible, but this opportunity was not going to present itself again for years!). So my big problem now is that for at least the next two weeks I must have my chemo on Wednesdays as early as possible (and we all know how long it gets dragged out), and then be on my feet by 4 PM to teach a class. And then another at 6 PM. I'm worried about pulling this off, but I'll manage somehow. My son gets married in 2 weeks, and then I'm hoping to move the chemo to Fridays, but the research nurse said she doesn't know if that will be allowed on this trial. I have no classes on Fridays, so that would be so nice. The chemo has also made me quite anemic, so I received my first ever "red" shot yesterday. Hope it gives me more energy. Do those of you on this trial all have the bloody nose? Do you think that is a side effect of taxol or avastin? Sure wish I knew if I were getting avastin!

Congratulations to all of you who are finished with chemo! You give the rest of us hope. There is life after tx!!!

Deb from Iowa

jabl1252

Hi May Marvels, I have been reading posts for a couple of days and thought I would say hi to you all.I will have my final chemo treatment on Monday,kind of excited but not wanting to feel the se again.My 4th treatment was the start of more severe se and the 5th was just as bad and I still haven't fully recovered from them.Oh well, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that this will pass and we will all be feeling great soon.Then on to rads, and herceptin until next May. yippee!!! Take care all !! ((( HUGS)))  Julie

Madge24

May Marvels -- The May Marvels are MARVELOUS.  I love reading everyone's posts.  I started chemo -- T/C x 6 -- and just had my last one.  It's a relief, time to move on.  I am being given a month break then start radiation in late September.

TomnDi-- it's funny you ask about the peeling feet.  Mine just started!  I attribute it to chemo drying me out.  I try to bathe every night and will now be more diligent w/ lotion or vaseline and socks at night.  This usually only happens to me in the winter.

Jabl1252 -- same w/ me on treatments, 4th got a little worse, 5th was the worst so far and had my 6th and final one Friday, 2 days ago.  I expect we'll be much better in about a week. 

Take care everyone.

Peggy 

TomnDi

Peggy - Diane bathes every night and rubs her feet with lotion.  Our daughter (20) occasionally gives her a real good foot massages that help.  She even uses a foot file to sand off the old skin.  Once she lathers on the lotion, she throws that socks on.  During the night, once her feet get a bit too warm, she takes the socks off.  Seems to help but they are sore.

Anyone experience blurry vision?  Diane's having a tough time with occasional blurred vision.  That, along with "chemo brain," makes it difficult for her to get through her stack of books.  Reading is her life.

Tom

lassie11

yes - I sometimes have blurry vision. Can't decide if it is the watery/goopy eye side effect, old age, or something else. It's on my list of questions for the oncologist tomorrow. 

zuzeee

Hi Marvels

Well rushed in to the hospital for first rads yesterday and Zee had forgotten to schedule it!!! Had the pep talk instead. I thought I could go swimming but I can't because of the chlorine, bugger. So first one is today. Played terrible golf and was physically wiped out, think my body is tired. So am going to go to the gym and reactivate it. Does anyone know how long it takes for the chemo to flush out of the body?I forgot to ask my onc.

Happy days Pink hugs Susie