Chemo Starting Sep 09
Comments
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I know I am late in joining, but I would love to be a part of this group throughtout the remainder of my chemo journey. I am also a part of the October and other Sept group, but you can never have too much support and encouragement.
I have just finished my last AC tx, and now I am about to start my DD taxatore/taxol tx. I will have 4 txs every two weeks. I am a little nervous about getting neuropathy, but gotta make sure this BC is defeated.
Anita
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Ohh My dear sisters,
Dark Dark Dark Days. My head is just not in a good place at the moment. Had a rough week with the Fhubby when I discovered that unconciously he may not be as OK with my new body image as he claims, Men can really do some stupid things when they're not thinking. Unfortunately it really ripped the bounce outta my bungee as far as standing proud as a Bald, Amazonian Warrior. Bought myself a nice knit potato sack to hide in for the winter.
Have Tx #4 today...Maybe (I picked up a nasty cold virus in Barcelona and it's still not shaking)
Hopefully they let me go through with treatment as I really want this over with for Christmas!
Love to you all from the Hole.
Mari
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Mari,
Men do say and do stupid things when they speak and act before thinking. I don't know how many times DH and I have been watching TV and he comments on some bodacious babes lovely boobies, while I sit here with just a couple scars and a smile. Soooooo, I bounce one of my foobs off the side of his head and tell him he was weened off the tit long ago, but if he still needs one to coddle, there ya go. Or, in more intimate moments, he reaches for the dead air space where the boobs used to be and I comment "more bonie than squishy now eh?" I'm sure it makes him feel about an inch tall. When I spend an hour trying to get the scarf on my head tied just right so I feel comfortable going to his class reunion as the only "sick" kid in the room, and he fidgets with the scarf as we are going out the door to correct some imaginary problem he has invisioned that truly doesn't exist nor would bother me, I wanna slap his hand and ask him if his mama ever tried to teach him how NOT to dress funny........but I don't. When he comments on the extra junk in my trunk I've put on since starting tx, I pat his tool shed and say "what's your excuse?"
Bottom line is, they are men, and we have dealt with what they've got to offer for YEARS without complaint, sometimes having to stroke their enormous male ego's repeatedly to convince them they can satisfy us, with only a smile on our face and the promise that we'll have to do it again next time they feel insecure, so now it's their turn. Our problems are only temorary. Hair will grow back, boobs turn into foobs with a little help, we will feel stronger and less ill once all this mess is over and, we'll have an inner beauty that only a true soldier mucked down in the trenches can know.
There is soooooooo much more to all of us than a boob or two, some extra pounds, a bald head, or bad SEs. If who you are and what you want to be is based merely on where you are now, then there is something far more important lacking in your life than boobs, hair, iron stomachs, and energy.
I'm embracing this stage in my life. Yea, HELL YEA I want my hair back. Yes, I wish with all my heart I had my pretty breasts back. I ache for the sensation in my chest to be as it once was. I want an arm that functions without swelling. BUT, I'm not ever going to have some of those things back. End of discussion. What do I do with this now? Climb in bed and wish myself to old age? Cry over it? Live in the past? No. I choose to move forward in this adventure. I will live. I will recover as far as I can. I will live each and every day looking forward to the next and watching the changes my body goes through to become the "new" me. It won't all be fun, but it WILL BE, whether I willing go with it or get dragged along kicking and screaming. If DH stumbles and makes breasticular faux pas along the way, I have to realize that he is in this adventure boat with me, and old habits die hard. Not entirely his fault, men being what men are, but at the end of this road, I cannot imagine going down it without him. He'll get a practically new wife out of the deal, and I get a whole new lease on life. A life that up until BC, I appreciated, but since BC, has had a new shine buffed into it.
So COWGIRL UP Mama........smile and take his face in your hands and silently tell yourself "men are idiots sometimes"
I love you, get out of that potato sack.
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Pamelajo is my HERO!!!
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Right On!
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Pamelajo knows the words!
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Pamelajo: brilliant post, one of your best ... and there've been many good ones.
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Pamalejo YOU ROCK!!!!!!
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After staying awake most of Monday night trying to figure out what to do, I decided to go to the hospital for my treatment, but I had rehearsed a "speech". I have my chemo at the hospital and the nurses there are great. When I got there I told the nurse I needed to talk and I told her how severe the side effects were, how I felt the onc. nurse did not understand what I was saying or did not relay it well to the dr. The hospital nurse said she had not had anyone have that complaint after Taxol treatment. (if you missed it, I had severe nerve pain bouncing around my body for 3 days - ended up having to use a cane just to walk - it all went away, but was scary for DH and me).
I had done my research and in like 1% there are severe nerve symptoms and what Taxol says to do is lower the dose by 20%.
So I told her that if the dr. would lower the dose, I would take the tx. Otherwise, I would refuse to take it yesterday. She did test my blood (all counts were great), and she got on the phone and told the onc. nurse that I was not a complainer and how I felt I hadn't been taken seriously.
Long story short, after an hour, the dr. decided not to give me the tx yesterday and I will be going to see her before the next one.
Thank you for your encouragement to be bold. I'll let you know how it goes.
And I can add to Pamela's advice about men - after being married for 37 years (today). I can say to mine - "men can be such jerks" and he gets it.
But sometimes we do have to cut them some slack. We've seen them weep when we heard the diagnosis, cry when they had to shave our heads, ache when we're in pain, and even though they didn't lose their breasts to cancer, in a way they did - when we lost ours. Yes, we are more than our bodies, (and my body has decidedly gone downhill over time), but my DH has been there through the decline and destruction and still tells me I'm beautiful.
Husbands - they're worth the effort : )
Vickilynn
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they are sooooooooooo worth the effort
even if you sometimes wanna kick them in the shin and yell IDIOT repeatedly LOL. I've stuck my foot in my mouth several times in the past with my DH, and luckily, I'm married to the male version of me, so we usually end up laughing hysterically instead of fighting. You always hurt the ones you love the most. Think about that sentence. It isn't because you mean to hurt them worse than anyone else, it's because you love them and they love you that the hurt seems enormous when coming from someone else it would seem merely a nuisance. Congrats Vicki on your anniversary and for finding your inner boldness! Glad you got some answers and someone to take you seriously. Hugs! And I'm glad you realize how blessed you are to have a great DH! Give him a huge squeeze from all of us.
You all are too much. You gals are MY HERO'S!!!
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Hello SOSisters.... over the hump day and so far so good at work this week.
Msmpatty - Welcome to our group. I had the dry eyes and then watery eyes during txt 2, but nothing like it for txt 3. Plain old over the counter eye drops worked for me.
ChinaBlue - I get really hungry with my herceptin txts. I think this is because about the time I get to the herceptin by itself my taste buds are back. I feel like I could eat everything in the house and probably would if there was anything really good!
Neece - good luck with txt #4. I will do txt 4 next week with 2 left also. I hope #4 is the easier of what we have done so far! You spring day in the garden sounded lovely. It is cold, wet and dreary here in NC today. We'll be thinking of you!
Scoobydoo - welcome. Yes, we need all the support we can get and we are a wonderful group for support, laughs and information.
Mari - yes, as a wife of 31 years on the 22nd I can honestly say men are sometimes just plain stupid. My husband did that to me not to long ago about one of my hats (happened to be my favorite) and just kept talking and making it worse. I finally told him to just shut up. This is a rare occurence in our house, but sometimes they just don't think. I'm sure your hubby would take back whatever it was in a heartbeat if he knew that he hurt you. No potato sack for you girl! I agree with Pamelajo. Hope your txt went well today and that is the easiest yet.
Pamelajo - you always know just what to say! I love your attitude and you are such an inspiration to all of us! How lucky we are to have you with us!!! You just keep posting - you make us laugh but you also make us all stop and think!
Vickilynne - good for you for standing up for yourself! I know that must not have been an easy thing to do, but if you don't take care of yourself who will? When is your next txt scheduled? Are you now going to be anxious between now & then? How is the pain? Is it better? My husband also tells me I'm beautiful which just goes to show that sometimes "love is blind". He's the best thing ever happened to me even with the occasional stupid remark! And I have been known to make an occasional stupid remark myself!
BarbAnne41 - how did txt 3 go? I want to go back and read the posts, it was yesterday right but don't want to lose what I have already typed. Hope you are well!
To all who haven't posted yet or I haven't listed, I'm thinking of you! Take good care of yourselves.
Thoughts and prayers are with you!
Jane
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Hello all of you dear women. I missed you, and I love you all. I had a crazy busy couple of days at work, and since this is my last tx week, I tried to get a lot done. I am taking the two weeks after my tx off, so I had to leave in a good place. Today at least I am having a Decadron-a-thon day. I got tons done, and I am only exhausted, not passed out.
Pamela, thank you for your loving, and down to earth lease on life. My DH can be a true a$$ at times, but I love him, and I know he worships me. They are men. Enough said, their brains just aren't wired like ours. Thank you for your insights!
Vickilynn, I am so glad that you stood your ground. I am sure you and your onc will make a good plan, and your tx will all work out. When do you see her?
Jane, I am glad you are doing well. I hope your next supply order is entertaining too. Supply orders should have a bit of interest now and then. It keeps work interesting.
Anita, thank you for joining us, you can never have too much support.
Mari, I am sorry you are feeling dark. The thing is you would be beautiful even in a real potato sack. That is just who you are. I hope the rest of the week brings you some joy. How is Jax?
Amy, Neece, Mary, Barb, Barbara, RonnieKay, Onty, flacracker (I love your picture), Chinablue, Melinda (I miss you come back!), and Toni (I love you even if you aren't posting just now), and all of those who's names I have lost in my chemo brain, I love you so much, and I want to have a party with all of you. I have my final tx tomorrow, so I will be thinking of all of you, and I know you are sending me good vibes too. If anyone else has treatments this week I hope all is well with you!
Love & Hugs,
Susan
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Bugger, bugger, bugger... was all geared up for tx no 4 today (no sleep last night, butterflies swooping in the old belly, etc) and it had to be postponed! Two nurses tried hrd to find a vein - firstly int eh crook of my elbow, which failed, then in the wrist which worked ... BUT when she pushed the anti nausea meds thru it stung a bit in the elbow and she said that was a sign that the vein puncture hadn't closed over correctly yet, and if the chemo drugs wnet in they ran a risk of the drugs going into skin not vein - possibly in worst case scenario causing great damage, possibly even leading to the loss of use of my arm! So it hs been postponed until next Tuesday now. Has anyone had this happen?
As you can imagine it put the wind up me somewhat. Right from the start I have been worried about my veins as I have horrible experiences in the recent and distant past, so I have been hugely relieved that up until now there have not been any problems at all. Now I am worried - at just the halfway point will this happen again? Is it too late to ask for a port?
And the most disappointing thing of all - I had chosen to have the full on three drugs in one regimen because I wanted the chemo to be over by the end of they year so I can have some time over January to recover fully before resuming work next Feb. I have had masses of time off work this year because of car accident earlier and now bc and was just hoping to return to work (to a new college I might add, so like a brand new job with all its learning curves and stresses) feeling maybe like a 'normal' person again. Because of Christmas /New Year hospital clinic closure even if next week goes smoothly I am looking at perhaps a mid January final treatment. Not what I wanted at all.
Anyway these things happen and I am feeling a little better tonight but I still feel disappointed and a bit like a cork tossed on the sea. I guess bc has that effect heh?
Pamelajo thanks for your lovely post. You are wise, funny and beautiful and I adore you!!!
I agree with all the comments that men are men and sometimes do or say the wrong thing. But a good man is hard to find too and sounds like our hubbies are those! mari I do hope you and yours can move through this stage. You may well find that his comments or reactions to you are much less about your new body and more about his reactions to the whole journey and struggles you two have faced with bc. It might just be manifesting like this rather than another way. Can you sit down and talk it thru? Or is there someone he trusts that he can talk to? Sometimes I think our men take it all on and don't look for support elsewhere the way we do as women.
My husband speaks of my two mastectomy scars (one old, one new) and reconstructed (and partially reconstructed) boobs as my 'badges of honour'. I sometimes call them my 'shark attack boobs' and he corrects me, saying 'no they are beautiful and I am proud of you and of them'. I love him for that. But he is having a hard time at the accumulated anxiety, uncertainty and ongoing dramas of this year for both of us. I guess they all show this in different ways and maybe we and they need to try to work out what is what.
Vickilynn I am so proud of you with your onc!! Go girl. I think this was a very good outcome. I hope you feel proud too.
Well I am going to cook some dinner and nurse away my disappointment and frustration at today's events... I guess the upside of this is that I will have an extra weekend when I can eat!!!
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Oops even without my chemo dose today I am still chemotarded - forgot to say 'welcome Anita!' Please do share your experiences with us here...
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Thank you for the warm welcomes!
Vickilynn - Kudos for you! The hardest thing for us women sometimes is to speak up for ourselves and put our health first. I know it is for me. That is just awesome. You will be an inspiration for someone else coming behind us and reading your post.
Neece - I believe it is never to late to get a port. From my understanding they can put one in at any time during the chemo tx. Sorry to hear you are having those issues so close to the end. It is only a minor setback and you will be off and running in no time. They can do the port and chemo on the same day believe it or not. So if they decide to do a port you should not have any more postponements.
Today will be my first taxol tx. I have already had my 4 ACs so I am at the halfway mark with chemo. I am nervous. I have already taken my 10 decadron pills 5 at 9:30pm and 5 at 3:30am. Dont feel any different yet from the pills and had a relatively good nights sleep (except for having to wake up at 3:30am). My experience with AC was pretty wild and I thought at times it was very difficult to get through. I have 4 txs of T to look forward to and then rads since I had a lumpectomy.
I look forward to getting to know all of you ladies and sharing my taxol experience with you. For those ladies undergoing tx today I am with you in spirit. We can all do this!
Anita
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Scoobydoo you are so lucky only 4 x Taxol!
My onc has me on 4 x AC and 12 x Taxol. We have a similar diagnosis. Hmm...maybe it is because I had DCIS and IDC. Oh, I also look forward to 6 and half weeks of rads. How about you?
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Hi All,
Neece, I am so sorry that you had all of that trouble. I go in today, and they had such problems finding a vein last time I am worried about it too. I had to hold my hands under hot running water for about 10 minutes yesterday just so they could draw blood. Last time I ended up with them running it into the exact same spot as tx 2, and I have a chemical burn on the skin, and you can see that the veins look burned too. I hope they find a good, different spot today. Since you still have a few more treatments, I am sure Anita is right, you could get a port. You mentioned a new college. What will you be doing there?
Anita, I will be in the chair today too, so I will be thinking of you too. I hope we both have great treatments with few side effects. Is your cancer IDC or ILC or other? I hope you are feeling wonderful.
Chinablue, I hope you have a wonderful day, and all is good for you.
All of you other lovely ladies, I'm not naming names, you know who you are. I love you, I will try to bake some cookies for you this weekend, and possible banana bread(it really is a great recipe, I should post it for all of you). My college girl is coming home this weekend with a friend, so they will have to be fed. But I will save some for you.
Love & Hugs,
Susan
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Have fun feeding your college girl and her friend Denver. There is nothing like being a mom.
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Neece, I did 4TX of AC without a port, but have one now because of vein problems and having 12 Taxol TX to go. I think they can put in a port in at any time, but it does take a while to heal enough for use. There is also something called a PICC line that can be put in much more easily than the port (nurse does it, no surgery). Downsides of the PICC line are that you have a tube hanging out of your arm and have to be careful about showers etc. But it apparently does make the infusions a lot easier if your veins are difficult.
Patty
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I had chemo within hours of getting my port and had no difficulty at all.
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Good Afternoon
At work today and it is cold windy and rainy in NJ (yuck).
Holly- The blanket so perfect.
Jane- Glad you are feeling good. We had to treasure these days.
Chinablue- I;m happy that you are not having any se's from the taxol.
Neece- I am so sorry you had such a problem with your veins. I worry about that too. I don't know what I would do if I went for tx and they couldn't do it. Hopefully next week they will come up with a solution.
Scoobydoo- All are welcome here. The first part of your journey is behind you.
Mamamari- Good luck with your tx today. I hope that bug of yours doesn't stop them from doing tx.
Pamelajo- Your posts are a treasure!
Vickilynn- I'm glad you are going to see the onc. before anymore tx's. He needs to see you face to face and talk it out.
Susan- Good luck today. I agree with trying to get as much done as possible whene we are feeling good because when it is not so good nothing gets done.
Sending all my POSITIVE THOUGHTS to all my SOS!
Catherine
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My MIL sent me a photo last week of me and DH a couple months before we were married. There I stood, very full breasted, in a mini-skirt (hey - it was the 70's!) with my beautiful legs and my long-blond hair and I was reminded one of the big reasons my husband was attracted to me wasn't my brains. I stared at the photo and was really upset she sent it to me...
But it got me thinking about how difficult this BC must be for those in new relationships and with more perfect bodies than my currently deformed and aging one. BC at any age/stage is tough, but I need to be a bit more understanding...
I meet with the onc. tomorrow morning to figure out what to do.
Isn't this the last tx for several of you today?
For those starting Taxol - I must say, other than the strange SE with nerve pain, I feel so much better than when I was on A/C... I can't believe the energy (relatively so) that I have and the loss of nausea is GREAT.
love and prayers to you all. Vickilynn
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Vickilynn- Thank you so much for sharing your taxol experience. I sure hope mine is as good as yours. I feel like it will be much better than AC...I hated AC.
DenverDiva - You know I am not sure. I think I am IDC. I need to pull out my path report to see. I had a really good infusion today, Thank you for thinking of me.
Chinablue - I also have to do 6 weeks of rads. I think you are receiving lower doses of taxol because you are weekly. So maybe your SEs will be less than mine. My Onc is doing Dose Dense on both the AC and T.
Catherine - thank you for the welcome. I feel very comfortable here.
Okay so today went really well. My infusion was really good, no allergic reaction. I am so happy that AC is over, because I did not have to suffer through sinus pressure and headache! Yay! I am on a buzz from the large dose of decadron last nigh...10 pills. So I hope the drop from it is uneventful. I was told by my RN Onc to take 100 mg of Vitamin B6 every day for a year. They got this information from a BC Onc at a major conference. They said it will help to minimize and in some cases stop neuropathy. So I am definitely going to try it. I painted my nails black and will keep them painted throughout this tx. I was told by onc today that another SE is bone and joint pain. She told me to take motrin to alleviate minor pain and if it gets severe to take percoset. I will let you ladies know how it goes as I know several of you are currently on or will be on taxol in the near future.
Anita
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Hi, everyone. I really hate when I have typed all my message and lose it when I hit submit. Now I have to remember all that I had written. Drat.
Vickilynn, sorry you were upset by the photo. I am not eloquent with words, but I think your MIL sent the picture to cheer you up; showing a time when you were happy and carefree.
Pamelajo, your posts are gems. You seem to say the right thing at the right time.
Catherine, yes, the blanket was perfect. I work with a great bunch of people. Today, I found out that some of my co-workers (they wanted to remain anonymous) donated their PTO (paid-time off) hours to me. I was given almost 2 weeks! I cried. I haven't baked in a long time, but there is a wonderful bakery close to my home. I will have to pick up a cake/cookies/cupcakes as a small token of my appreciation.
Susan, Neece, sorry you are having problems with your veins. I hope your next tx goes smoothly without any issues.
Anita, it sounds like we are on the same tx schedule. I had 4 ACs and I had 1 of 4 Taxol last Thursday. I have to say that for me Taxol was better than AC (so far). I did not do too well on AC. I had major nausea/vomiting with AC and did not have one iota of it with T. That alone makes me very happy. I had some aches and pains, but it was tolerable. You take decadron the day before your tx. Was that for this tx or have always taken them before each tx? I've never had to do that, so I was wondering what it does? My onc. told me to take Vitamin B complex; wondering if that is the same as Vitamin B6. My onc. also prescribed Celebrex and Claritin to help with bone and joint pain. I took Claritin, but since my ins. denied the Celebrex, I will have to talk to her about something comparable to Celebrex. What does painting your nails do?
Have a great weekend everyone. Quote of the day: Love 'em for what they are and forgive 'em for what they ain't.
Love, Holly
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Hello SOSisters... it is a rainy blustery day here in NC and cold! I'm ready for spring already.
Susan - good luck on your last txt tomorrow! Oh how I would love to be able to say last txt. I still have four more "bad" ones to go and another 9 months of the "good" (is there such a thing) one. I do the same thing before the bad txt and try to get as much done as possible. Hope you have a good time with your daughter home, but don't forget to rest and let them take care of you!
Neece - one of my regulars at my Thursday txt had her port put in the same day. Another one the day before and apparently you can have them put in at any time. I'm so sorry that you could not do your txt. I am thankful for my port, I hate needles! Sorry you are going to have to postpone going back to work, but as we all know everything happens to us for a reason. Maybe a better position at the new college?
Anita - hope your taxol txt went well today. You will have to let us know if you have any se's. I also will do 6.5 weeks of radiation starting sometime late Jan/Feb.
ChinaBlue - when will you start you rads? Looks like a lot of us are following the same path. I think that's great, we can share radiation just like we have been sharing chemo.
Patty - when do you do your treatments? We all try to follow each other and do pretty well except those weeks we are suffering from chemo brain.
Amyoo - how are you doing? How many txt do you have left or are you finished?
Catherine - I guess you probably have the same lovely weather we have, leftovers from Ida. I am enjoying everyone of these days and already dreading next week. They may have to get me in the chair by force, I can already feel a muntiny coming on!
Vickilynn - know you must be anxious about tomorrow. I will be there with you in spirit. I suspect your MIL just thought you'd enjoy the photo. I have a few of those mini skirt photos myself! I was a size four when I got married and now I'm a size 4 multiplied a few times. I can't imagine being single or in a new relationship and going through bc. How hard it must be! It's hard enough with someone you love and have know for many years.
Okay I am worried about Melinda. She hasn't posted since the 1st and not like her at all. Does anyone have her email address? Also we haven't heard from Toni or Ronnie Kay lately. Do you think we should have email addresses so we can check on each other? Just a thought.
For those I didn't mention, I haven't forgotten you just too lazy to pull out the list. Everyone take care, if you had txt I hope you have no side or minimal se's.
Thoughts & prayers are with you.
Jane
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All this talk of ports made me sorta sad I got mine pulled out today....NOT!!! Dang thing had the piping shifted over my collarbone and laying on a bunch of nerves, so it hurt each time I moved. AHAHAHAHAHAHaaaaaaaa, I'm portless but still portly!
It all went well, even the stick to get the IV started. They said I could have the IV in the port, but I'd have to wait twice as long to get it out because of the antibiotics they were required to give me. So this nurse........she was awesome, put a torniquet (sp) on really tight and got what has to be the only good vein I have to plump up all juicy, and waammmmoooo, in like flinn. Blood spewed everywhere LOL, but she got it, just one stick. Yay.
Unfortunately I am allegic to latex, and the tornequet was latex, so I have a rash up and down my arm where it touched, but I'll take that over being stuck umpteen times anyday.
Neece, my veins are burnt from chemo 22 yrs ago. Having a port won't keep your veins healthy, but it will keep you from being poked many times. Chemo will damage your veins, even with a port.
Now I'm home and hungry. Hurts to lift my hand to my mouth though LMAO. Maybe I can filter feed, or use osmosis. Wish I was a sponge.
So love and hugs to all you who are taking tx's this week. Gosh, I can't say I wish I was there with you, but I can say I feel for you, and I wish you all the beautifullest, most wonderest, super awesomest days ahead.
Vicki..........my SIL sent a barrett with barbie hair hanging off with my husband home to me yesterday. It struck me wrong. I was sorta pissed. I wanted to call her up and say "hmmm, barbie hair.......seriously. How bout I come over there and snatch your inconsiderate head bald sweetie, yea......how bout that?" but then I got over it. I settled down and decided I didn't get the joke. She called later, and she told me she sent it because if she could, she'd give me her hair, but since she couldn't, she'd send what she could. I felt bad.
It is my opinion that chemotherapy, along with the unimaginable stress of having cancer, repeatedly being poked and prodded, having strangers treat us like specimens, and don't forget that prescription for the cranial prostethis (gosh that was one of the worst prescriptions I've ever filled) turns us all into thin skinned sulking hunks of flesh now and then.......and it's ok. It'll just make us feel more empathy for those who come after us, and they will come, and they will need our wisdom and experience to get them through. So..........you and I should just thank our MIL and SIL for giving us yet another lesson in friendly gesture faux pas.
Hang in there love, you are still gorgeous! -
Jane - I don't start rads until the end of January after I have completed weekly Taxol.
I can't wait until Mid-March when I am done. I think many of may be done with chemo/rads by then. Won't it be wonderful?
I am off to my bookclub soon. It is a great time of womanly chitter-chatter, but when they ask "How are you/?" I will tell them, "I am doing well." because I want to be as normal as I can.
It is nice to know that I have each of you to share how things are really going.
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Jane- tomorrow I take #10 of my 12 Taxol, next is surgery in Dec., then A/C Jan and Feb, then rads (6 weeks?) with Herceptin 40 weeks............so it will be a while before I'm done
Thanks for asking
Amy -
Jadams - The large dose of decadron was for the taxol txt. I have been told it is to fight off an allergic reaction. As my txts go they will decrease the decadron. I paint my nails black to stop the taxol from making my nails fall off. Taxol is very sensitive to sunlight and the black nails block the sunlight from getting to the taxol. That is the thought at least. Can't hurt to try. Hmm I dont know if vitamin B6 is the same as B complex. Also you should check out L glutamine. They suggested I take that as well. It is a powder and they sell it in Walmart. It is also supposed to stave off neuropathy. Thank you so much for sharing your SEs from taxol. I heard that I will probably get some muscle and joint aches and pains. I am not sure what that will feel like. So I will let you know if that is one of my SEs. That is cool that we are on the same schedule, it really helps to know we are going through this together.
Jane - I will definitely keep you updated on any SEs. Today's txt went really well and was so much better than AC. I had terrible sinus pressure and headaches from the AC infusion. Yes I would love it if we could keep in touch even through the rads.
Anita
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Hey All,
I am wiped out so this will be a short post. All went well with my tx. The nurse was great. She got the IV started in one try, a first! Yay, and they gave me a card at the end and sang, "Hit the road Jack" It was cool. I saw my onc and she was good again today so I am keeping her. I think she is going to keep me going. I start Tamoxifen on Dec 15th, so I will let you all know how that goes. I love you all but I am too tired to post to everyone tonight. I have Melinda's email and phone number, so I will send her a message to check on her. I don't have contact info for Toni though. It would be good to have something other than this thread, just in case.
Love you all,
Susan
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