Chemo Starting Sep 09

BarbAnne41

Holly, I agree with China, cupcakes are wonderful and thoughtful.

msmpatty

Barbara - good luck on your first Taxol.   They'll watch you really closely the first few minutes to make sure you don't have a bad reaction.   Take some extra reading material or whatever...they drip it really slowly the first time so you'll be in the chair for quite a while.  Or, after the Benadryl, you may just have a really nice nap!   I get my TXs every Friday morning.  And yes, I'm definitely fuzzy on the head now. Hope it hangs in there through my remaining 7 Taxols.

Domegal - thanks for the eyebrow advice!

Vickilynn - Yahoo!  Done!  It is clear your body said "enough!" and luckily your Onc listened.  I can't wait to hear what getting back to normal is like.

Holly - congrats on your last treatment this week!  I think the cupcakes are a great idea.  I've certainly never turned one down.

China Blue - I'm on my 5th week of Taxol and have just started to notice some occasional  numbness in the fingers on my left hand.   I plan to let my Onc know since he told me he would adjust the dose if nueropathy becomes a problem.   He also told me..."Side effects are called side effects for a reason.  They aren't the goal of the treatment, we don't want them to happen and we have ways of making them better.  So always let me know."   I immediately said "Okay..how about some hair?"   He replied "Uhh...sorry, I can't help you there."  Drat.

Patty

positiveme

Good Morning All

I think of all my September Sisters every morning and can't wait to see how everyone is doing. For me slowly getting back to "normal". Walking and jogging for about 35-40 mins a day about 6 times a week. Trying to get back in shape.

Vickilynn- Congrats on finishing your tx's. No dr's until April sounds wonderful. I will be seeing mine once a month for awhile because of the tamox.

Holly- Hope your DH is feeling better. I had a SNB and was able to sleep on that side after 2 months with no problem. Cupcakes are just fine.

BarbAnne- Good luck tomorrow with your taxol.

Patty- I'm getting so fuzz up top too! Can't tell what color it will be but I'll take any color at this point.

Hope everyone has a good day.

THINK POSITIVE

Catherine

msmpatty

Catherine - I was looking at my fuzzy head this morning and it struck me that as "baldies" we all sort of look alike.    Sisterhood of the bald heads.  HA!   I also can't tell what color this stuff on my head is, seems an odd mixture of white, blonde and (horrors) grey!  But like you, I'll take it.  Excellent work on your exercise program!

Patty

barbt0323

Good Afternoon.....just a short note.  Brain quite foggy today.  Thanks for everyones advice on my blotchy skin from Taxotere.  Yes, you were right it was from the steroids.  Went away in a day or so.  Also, thanks for info on Mastectomy options.

I thought I was doing pretty good on first Taxotere treatment.  Had infusion on Thursday shot on Friday.  It did not kick me in the butt until Sunday night.  Bone and or joint pain that was excruciating.  Seemed to hit all parts of my body.  Took Advil but that was not enough to deal with it.  Up most of the night.  Did not go to work on Monday -  exhausted.  It is now Tuesday and I am at work and having a real hard time typing.  The major aches are gone. 

Thanks for listening - I can't wait until we are all through this!!!!  Better days will come.....have to keep telling ourselves that.

Love to all,

Barb T

chinablue

Sending you a big hug Barb.  Yes, better days will come...better days will come...better days will come. 

chinablue

I had my sixth Taxol today and spoke with my onc about the tingling sensation I feel in my toes and fingers.  He said he wanted me let him know if it got worse.  He said it is related to the Taxol and may or may not resolve after chemo.  He wanted me to let him know if it got worse.  If it got "much worse", he would consider reducing the amount of Taxol.  He is very reluctant to change the amount of Taxol I am getting.  I guess it is just wait and see.

jadams1264

Hello SOSisters... finally feel half way human again.  #5 has been ugly but only one more to go!  I have spent a lot of time on the couch, the Food Network is my favorite channel.  Not hungry at all, but like to watch them cook.

There is no way I can post to everyone, wish I could but definitely have chemo brain this am.  Hope everyone's txt went well with few side effects!  

Take care.

Thoughts & prayers are with you!

Jane

msmpatty

Chinablue - we seem to be pretty much at the same point on Taxol...I have #6 on Friday.   I've just started to get on and off tingling in my fingers (mostly off),  so I'm curious to see how it will be after #6.   I wonder how bad it has to be before they reduce the dose?   Guess we'll find out.

Jane - Hang in there!   Just think...a couple more weeks and you'll be done!

Barb T - Sorry you are having such pain.  Is it the Taxotere or the shot?  Or both?  I hope they can find something to help!

Patty

Scoobydoo

Hi ladies.

Been struggling with excruciating bone and joint pain from last taxol tx.  Percocet has been my friend.  It doesnt take all the pain away but it keeps it manageable.  Still having neuropathy in feet and hands but bearable.  Just wanted to check in.  Off to fake more pills then hopefully nap.

Anita

chinablue

Scoobydoo - So sorry to hear of you troubles.  Remember Barbara's words ...better days will come. Sending hugs and a reminder to that percocet is constipating.  Try to be ahead of it.

BarbAnne41

Hi Ladies-

 Jane sorry to hear you are having such a time- hope the upswing is good and you are feeling better soon.

Anita- Sorry about all the pain-is it the Taxol or are you getting a shot too? I hope you feel better soon. 

China and Patty- sorry about the tingle. My onc says that if the tingling starts to impede with buttons, turning pages, typing etc.. it is time to lower the dose or quit all together, I don't know if that helps. China are you taking any B complex? Patty recommended it and according to my Onc and chemo nurse it has been prooven to help reduce nerve damage and neuropathy in diabetic patients, which is from sugar, but same has the same effect. Anyway i hope the tingling goes away soo-how many more china?

BarbT- sorry about the butt kickin' it will get better soon, there is always an upswing-keeping you in my thoughts.

Catherine- Good job on the exercise, I can't wait for this to be done and I can get my exercise and taste bud back on track.  Thanks for the well wishes

Patty- I will be thinking of you Friday, and hope your course stays all good. Thank you for the well wishes.

Taxol went fine, no reaction. I felt sleepy but only dozed in and out. It isn't like being at home so it is hard for me to sleep. It is so refreshing to not feel horrible the day after. I just sort of feel a little worn out. Oh and the Pumpernickel bread that got me through AC suddenly tastes horrible, go figure. I will have to go onto another bread, but I could have worse battles!

Thanks for all the good thoughts and well wishes, hope the next few days are as good as today.

Take care and i am keeping you all in my thoughts.

love and hugs

Barbara

Pamelajo

Hi Ladies,

Two months past my last TX.  I have 1/2" of hair of an undiscernable color.  It's itchy when I wear my scarves but it's too dang cold to go without one now.  I have had to start shaving again, and do to my Tamoxifen, I am now growing a nice beard.  Hmmm, not so happy about that.

My energy level is still in the toilet.  I go to work everyday, but it's a struggle to get through the 10 hour days, and I've been signing up to work another 10 on Friday for leave so I can have enough to take off for reconstruction surgery.  I still have to put up with the biological warfare woman who has announced today that she was off the last week with explosive diarreha...ya, that's what I wanted to know.

I'm low.  I want to feel better.  I should feel better.  I'm not looking forward to Christmas......it seems like too much work at this point.

I won in court against my ex.  I knew I would but that's been the highlight of my month.  He is such a douche.  His attorney told me that if I had only called her, we could have worked something out on the phone.  I go "did it cost him for you to come here today?" and she said it did, and I said "well, my work is done"  hehehe, I'm mean. 

I love reading how all of us are nearing the end of this long horrible journey.  Hopefully in less than half a year, we will all feel far more energetic and well than we do right now.

I adore you all and wish you se free days and Merry Christmas's, and Happy New Years, and Hannukahs? (sp) and Kwanza's (sp) or Happy Holidays......whatever you celebrate.  Try to enjoy it, even if you don't feel like it........I'm going to try really hard to take my own advice.

hbowser

Hi ladies,

I had my lab work done today and met with my onc.  Tomorrow is my last Taxol txt and I am done with chemo.  YEAH!!!!   I will need a MRI done before my appt. with my onc. on December 30.  She is going to call the imaging center to make the appointment since they are booked and she would have a better chance of getting me in. 

Chinablue, Patty - Make sure to tell your onc. if the pain worsens.  I told mine last time (3rd tx) and she lowered it.  I told her today that it was worse, that it is now persistent in all my toes and especially the first two toes.  She didn't want to stop the txt since I only had one left, but she is lowering it a little bit more.  I have been writing to a BC survivor and she said she took 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid (?) and she swears that helped with her neuropathy.  You might want to look into it.

Pamelajo - great, are you telling me that I have a beard to look forward to on Tamoxifen?  I have this vision that when all my hairs start to come back, I can weave my ear hairs, nose hairs, chin hairs and wrap around my head, since it looks like I have little hairs growing on top of my head, but not in the back and sides.  I have reverse male-pattern baldness?!?  I am sorry to hear that your energy level is still low.  I am glad to hear that you won against your ex in court.  You're not mean, he should have never dragged this into court.  Christmas is hard this year since I won't be going home.  I think I get into the spirit by being around all my nieces and nephews and watching their excitement and anticipation.  Since it will only be my DH and me, it isn't the same, besides my husband is Jewish.

Jane - I thought I was the only one who watched the Food Network.  My DH just shakes his head whenever he comes into the bedroom and sees that I have the food channel on.  Even though I can't eat half the stuff (I'm a vegetarian), I just like watching.

I know I didn't post to everyone, but know that I am thinking of all of you and wishing us all well.  Try to enjoy the rest of the week, everyone.  Take care.

Love, Holly  

Neece

Pamela go girl! So happy your stupid court stuff resolved at last. I went thru 3 yrs of family court battles when my son was a pre-schooler (my alcoholic violent ex wanted my son to live full time with him from FROM AGE 10!! - couldn't take care of himself let alone a precious child) and I still remember how stressful and eroding it was. I am sorry you are feeling low. I think energy levels just take some time to refill to 'normal' and if you are working 10 hour days that is huge. I can barely make it to the clothes line and back. Be gentle with yourself and if your taste buds are back, find something YUMMY to eat on Christmas Day and enjoy it.

Your beard story is scary. One of the upsides of chemo is no facial and body hair for a while.

Holly I am vegetarian too! It's funny at Christmas time isn't it, all the magazines are full of colour glossy photos of ham and turkey. I am not bothered too much about food this Christmas though, still can't taste anything.

Ditto the advice to China and Patty re reporting numb and tingling hands/feet to Dr. I saw my oncologist yesterday and as I have ahd failry continual numbness since treatment 5, they are going to reduce the Taxotere in my final TAC infusion  next week. I am really glad about that and hope it might ease some of the other continuing se's such as bloody nose, burning lips and dry mouth and eyes.

Had my final te  'fill up' on tuesday. Feels & looks like I have half a melon on my chest. I was hoping to get 'evened out' (had earlier reconstructed breast using te on my right side in 2002) but lo! now my left side is bigger than my right. Sigh. If I remember correctly they 'overfill' a bit to give the chest skin and muscle a good stretching out, then correct it in final surgery which I hope will be around March / April next year.So it should all even out in the end. Just a bit tired of being lop sided.

Vickilynn as our founding mother of this thread I think it fitting that you are finished tx now - though sorry to hear of your awful rash. I do hope it settles quickly.

Happy Christmas / festive  preparations to all.

positiveme

Hi All,

I had my yearly appt. with the gyno dr. He did a vaginal ultrsound and said I will have to have one annually from now on. He recommended 2000 mg of vit. D everyday. He said there have been studies that it can reduce the chance of reaccurance. Anyone else told this?

THINK POSITIVE

Catherine

BarbAnne41

Catherine- My gyn said the same thing. She said Vitamin D, and our lack of getting it from sun exposure (sun block/fear of skin cancer etc..) has caused a deficiency that some studies have linked to cancer and reocurrence. I don't know for sure, but I added D into my diet.

Pamela- glad you won, sorry about the beard though, and the tired. Hope you feel more like yourself soon.

Holly- Congrats on the final Taxol, yea!!!! I am also a vegetarian, just like Neece, and I have always been obsessed with Food Network, but it really ramped up when I started chemo. Even in the chemo room at the hospital the areas with individual tvs you can hear food network on, so we are not alone. Congrats again!

Neece-Congrats to you on your final fill, hope it all levels out soon. Hope you are feeling better.

Love and Hugs

Barbara

jadams1264

Hello SOSisters.  I think I'm back among the land of living.  I'm still tired but my energy level is now about 60%.  Wanted to let you know that I received my scarf today from goodwishes.com.  It is absolutely beautiful and has a good hope fairy made out of swaroski crystals on it.  They sent it along with a card signed by all of the staff.  What a wonderful gift!  You should check out their website.

ChinaBlue-I also have the numbness in my fingers and they keep telling me that it should resolve itself after chemo stops, Haven't had any tingling or numbness in my feet.

Patty - good luck tomorrow. Hope you have a noneventful txt and no se's!  

Anita - sorry you are having such a hard time.  Hang in there, it will get better!

BarbAnne41 - are you taking a B vitamin?  I'm just taking a multi vitamin and vitamin D.  Been taking the Vitamin D for awhile now, mine was almost nonexistent my last annual exam.  I could tell the difference in how my bones felt after taking it for awhile.  Glad your taxol went okay.  I haven't found a bread I like since starting txt.  I'm think in my case this good be a good thing!

Pamelajo - sorry you are feeling down.  I had a spurt of energy for about 20 minutes yesterday, sort of reminder about what I use to feel like.  That Christmas spirit will come, we all have so much to celebrate, we're finished or close to finished.  Glad court went well, we've all been rooting for you!  My hair has started to come back but it is white, not gray or brown but absolutely white.  Sounds to me like you need some time off to relax (and bake us some cookies - ha).

Holly - good luck tomorrow, yeah the last one!  I can say that next time (12/30) and I am so ready!  Yes, I love to watch the Food Network even though when I'm on the couch watching I so don't want anything to eat.  Lost 9 pounds this last week.  Love to watch them though even though I don't like to cook.  First week I was out I sent my poor husband to the store for all sorts of stuff that didn't even taste good!

Neece - glad you are doing okay.  I'm with you on the beard story.  While I know we all want our beautiful heads of hair back, I'm sure we are in agreement that the rest can stay gone.  My chemo partner today had lost most of her eyelashes and her eyes were watering like crazy.  I only had that a few days but I've definitely had the bloody nose and dry eyes.  

Catherine - yes, my gyn started me on Vitamin D my last check up.  Mine was abnormally low and I could tell the difference in how I felt once I started on it.  My onc also said that studies show this helps reduce recurrence.  I think there maybe info on this website.  I admire your motivation to exercise, I would love to have enough energy to start - or maybe if I started I'd have more energy?

Barb0323 - I hope you are feeling better.  I had a bad time with bone aches with txt #4, so far I have been okay with #5.  They are all different!  Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel ( or so they say).

To all I didn't mention, know I'm thinking of you.  Hope everyone is se free and getting ready for next week.

Take care.  Thoughts & prayers are with you.

Jane

DomeGal

Good Afternoon Ladies:

Finally starting to come over to the "feel good" side after last weeks Taxol tx.  Thankfully, I only have 2 more and then chemo will be but a blurred memory.  Hope that you are all doing well and having few if any se's.  We are having a "bowl" party tomorrow for my bf's b'day, so I am looking foward to adult company and football.  Hope you all have a great weekend!!

unklezwifeonty

Those starting rads in January, please join me on:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/745061?page=2#idx_51

msmpatty

Ladies,

Thanks for your sage advice about keeping my Onc informed of my tingly/numby fingers.   I don't see him until Monday, but today I told the chemo nurse what was happening prior to my treatment.    She talked to the chemo pharmacist about it.  The pharmacist called my Onc and he immediately reduced my Taxol dose by 20% for this treatment and the next six.  The pharmacist told me that Taxol dosages are regularly reduced and it doesn't reduce effectiveness against the cancer cells.   She also said that the nueropathy I currently have probably won't go away until I'm done with chemo, but that the dose reduction should keep it from getting worse.  So...lesson learned...it is essential to report side effects!

Holly - A few weeks ago my chemo nurse told me she attended a seminar where the benefits of  Alpha Lupoic Acid for nueropathy were reported.   I think I'll get some.   Thanks for the reminder.

I Goggled Vit D and learned some interesting things.   It is the UV-B rays you need.  The article said if you live north of Atlanta you definitely need Vit D supplements in the winter because the sun doesn't get high enough in the sky to let UV-B rays penetrate the atmosphere.  In the summer you can enough Vit D through sun exposure if you spend 10 minutes/day in the sun in shorts and a tank top with no sunblock.  This isn't a great recommendation for us chemo people...especially you Neece with that darn hole in the ozone layer (Slip, Slop, Slap!).  The "experts" recommend D supplements of  2,000 IU/day..  

Seems like that as we move toward the end of our treatments we are all feeling a little worse for wear.   Throw in the holidays and a court case or two and it's no wonder we are tired and out of sorts!  

As part of my "keep Christmas simple this year" campaign, our outdoor decorations were limited to a wreath on the front door and three lighted deer in the front garden.   It took 5-minutes and, admittedly, looks a little lame.   Last night when my son and I pulled into the driveway I facetiously commented on how fabulous our lighted deer look.  My 13-year old responded "Yeah right. Maybe we should add lights that look like a hunter sneaking up on them to put them out of their misery." HO HO HO

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Patty

hbowser

Good evening ladies,

Patty - I am so glad you talked with your chemo nurse and got your dose reduced.  I have to say that my fingers feel pretty good, only a little bit of tingling.  My feet are feeling better too, so reducing it did keep it from getting worse.

Jane - Welcome back to the land of the living.  What pattern did you choose?  They are beautiful aren't they?  They look like something you would wear even if you had hair.  I chose the black/white zebra print one.  Whenever I wear it, I get a lot of compliments on it.  It makes me feel pretty.

Anita - I hope you are feeling better every day and that your muscle/bone aches are gone.

Onty - I am not sure when I will start radiation, but if it is in January, I will definitely join you.  Please keep us posted on your progress.

I had my last neulasta shot today.  I tried to talk my onc. out of it, but she wanted to make sure WBC continued to stay up.  So now I am experiencing the muscle aches, usually starts across my shoulders and my stomach.  I think I will take pain meds. before I go to bed and hopefully tomorrow won't be so bad.  I have a question, when are we not considered immune suppressed?  Is it after chemo or are we still immune suppressed through radiation?  Also, when can we start taking vitamins and supplements again?  I forgot to ask my doc., but will write it down and ask her next time.

My DH and I went out to dinner tonight and then ran to the store to stock up on food.  I guess they are predicting a winter storm for our area.  We have a winter storm warning from tonight until 6:00 am Sunday.  Supposedly, we are expecting 14" to 20" with some areas getting over 20"!!

To all you ladies, have a wonderful weekend!!

Love, Holly

jadams1264

Hello SOSisters...to all of you north of me, I hope your cupboards are full and you have your Christmas shopping done.  I so do not miss New Jersey!  I definitely need to go back to work, not tired enough to sleep through the night so I'm going to share my imaginery letter to Santa with all of you.  I have got major chemotardedness!

Dear Santa,

I really only want one thing for Christmas, not only for myself but for all my sisters too.   We need you to bring us PEACE OF MIND!  We need to know that all of the chemo, radiation, surgery, tests (already done or yet to come) has done what is suppose to do.  We need to know that all the nausea, hair loss, nasty tastes, bloody noses, numb fingers & toes, constipation, loose bowels, bone pain - all the nasty stuff has been worth it.  We need to know that there are no stray cancer cells lingering around, waiting to pounce at an unexpected moment and throw our lives back in turmoil.  Yes Santa what we need is for you to bring us Peace of Mind, that we will know in our hearts and minds that this journey was worth every single step and that we are CURED.  100% no if's, and or buts!  So Santa make your way to each of us and let our hearts and minds believe.  That's all we really need for Christmas!

Sincerely,

Jane

BarbAnne41

Bravo Jane-I second your letter to santa.

Thank you-

Barbara

chinablue

Merry Christmas,

I never in my life wanted peace of mind more.  I was sobbing after I read Jane's letter.  Peace and love to all of you.

china 

barbt0323

Jane - thanks for your words to Santa.  I could not agree with you more.  I am wishing for a Happy Healthy New Year for all of us.  Better days are right around the corner!!!

Love, to you all!!!!

Barb T 

Neece

Darling Jane - I cried when I read your letter. And i copied it and emailed it to all my 'support group' here at home, just because you have said it for all of us.Thank you for expressing our deepest wish so beautifully.

DomeGal

Hello Ladies!

Jane:  Great letter to Santa.  I too am worried all the time and hate it when people tell me that I don't have cancer because my breasts were removed!  I had 4 lymph nodes involved...who knows where the cancer shot off to while I was blissfully unaware that I had breast cancer.  I have had a real hard time being thankful for Christmas...it is just going to be different this year and no matter how much someone wants to "sugar-coat" it, it is what it is....am I thankful to be alive, yes.  Am I thankful that I have no breasts?  NO...I will never have what I had, I will never have the sensation back...I will have fake ones, but they will be useless to me.  Short work week for me thankfully...just so tired all of the time and tired of trying to be "jolly"....Hope that you all have a good Christmas, or whatever you celebrate....

positiveme

Good Morning All

We finished digging out of all the white stuff yesterday! When I think of snow I only think of WORK! I hope we don't get anymore anytime soon.

Jane- Your letter to Santa says it all. Thank you for posting it and made me cry also.

THINK POSITIVE

Catherine

vickilynn

Just checking in.  Thank you, Jane, for putting into writing what many of us are feeling. 

Been watching the weather for you in the east and you really got dumped on!  We've just had rain and are expecting sunshine for Christmas.

Christmas will definitely be different this year.  Thankfully I have 4 +1 grandchildren (10 and under) who will really have my focus this year.  My sister is hosting a bigger family get together on Sunday afternoon - 31 of us (my siblings and most of their offspring).  They haven't seen me bald, and for some reason that bothers me.  I think I'll buy a Santa hat for the occasion.

3 weeks since my last chemo and just now getting my taste buds back - but i still get sores on my tongue every time I eat!

Good news - tomorrow I get the port taken out.  The onc. said, "This is easy - 10 minutes in their office" but pulling a tube out of my body just doesn't sound easy. 

May you all have a peaceful and joyful Christmas.

Vickilynn