Starting Chemo October 2009

snuziq

Hi ladies, updating from the infusion room.   I start Abraxane today so we shall see if it makes for a shorter day than the last 2 times.  Right now I'm starting the pre-medications.

MaryNY - thanks for the luck and the reminder that I will be 1/2 way!  Woot!

lainieo

Today is  a holiday from school. It is so nice to have a day off in the middle of the week.

Scoobydoo I live in the DC area too. Good luck on Thursday. 

I am having acupuncture later today.  Ihope it helps with  my stomach issues. My insurance doesn't cover it, but many plans have a healthy choices option and you can get 25% off of services like acupuncture and chiropractic. 

Hopefully everyone is having a good day

Enjoyful

Hey lainieo and scoobydoo...I'm in the DC area also.

I'm just starting to feel well again which must mean that I'm due for a chemo session.  :-)  Treatment #3 (the halfway mark!) is scheduled for next Thursday.  I've noticed odd lumps in the veins of my left hand which must be from using them for the first 1 1/2 treatments (they moved the IV from my hand to the crook of my elbow during treatment #2 because of pain).  I'm hoping the new site works and that I won't need a port or PICC line.

By the way...I sucked on ice chips during treatment #2 and maybe got one mouth sore in the days following treatment.  Plus, my taste buds weren't as confused as on the first go-round.  So use the ice chips if you can - it really helps!

 Regarding the black nail polish - do I need to leave it on all the time or just during treatment and perhaps 48 hours afterward?

Hope everyone's having a good day.  Dismal and rainy here in MD/DC.

E

Hopbird

Hi all...

Enjoyful, I think you got the dismal/rainy that came through Atlanta yesterday.  Sorry.

SnuziQ, I had Abraxane with very few side effects.  In my case it didn't make the day much shorter because the drugs took forever to mix.  However, I thought one of the benefits to taking it over Taxol was that you didn't need as many pre-drugs.  I took Oral Compazine and then they just hooked me up...no steroids, nothing.  What pre-drugs are they giving you?

Michele...I'd try the scarves.  Johnny Depp is awfully good looking!

Honestly, in line with what Juannelle said, the scarves are much cooler.  If they slide around I put a knit headband on to hold them...tip I learned in LGFB.  Headbands are also easier to wash than the scarves.  You may not be concerned about being warm now, but if you get the chemopause hot flashes that I'm getting you may change your mind. 

I was told I "might" need radiation afterward as well.  I'll be watching to see what you guys find out about all of that.  Marie, the only way I know they can see if the chemo is working is to do pre-adjuvant chemo, which is what I'm getting.  Long story, but the cancer that they found in July has not been removed by surgery yet.   They did a scan before they started chemo and then just did one Monday...I'll find out the results next week.  It's part of a study, but they're hoping to see that the cancer is smaller.  The chemo nurse told me she has patients who had tumors they were able to feel actually tell her they can feel the tumor getting smaller....wouldn't that be something! 

Scoobydoo

Enjoyful- what tx are you getting.  The ice chips is for the andrimycin (sp?), but the black nail polish is for Taxol.  That is so cool that a couple of us are in the same area.  I am a fed govt employee.  I am so blessed because I am able to work from home the entire chemo tx and am on the voluntary leave program. 

Lainieo - You must be in college because MD public schools were in session.  Does acupuncture hurt?  I am so scared of that.

Mary - thanks for the information.  I will be watching your thread on radiation to see who posts.

Snuziq - congrats on the halfway mark.  I dont get wifi in my chemo room.  that is cool that you can conversate with us during infusion.  I heard Abraxane has much less SEs than taxol.

Anita

micheleboots

I have a time slot for the H1N1 this afternood...yah me..my kids are going as well...my daughter will hate that.

joanneasiata

OH now i get it deerrh ,i wish i was more wittier some people saying funny things it  just comes of the top their head, not me ,  im the type whom if i tell a joke i tell it wrong and end up ruin it .

Well to everyone .hope all goes well with TX ill be doing my #2 TX TOMORROW

JOANNE

MarieK

Hi All!

I see so many common threads on this group - maybe that is why we all get along?

I was a programmer too, I like Star Trek and watched it when it was first on and all the subsequent movies, several of you live in the DC area (I do not but I live in BC), and now we all have breast cancer....

Michele - be forewarned my arm still hurts from the H1N1 shot.  It actually feels like there is a lump or hardening under the surface where the injection went in. 

My doctor gave it to me in my non-SNB arm as he said he didn't not want to make my remaining lymph nodes "angry".  He was just joking but I appreciated that he was trying to minimize effects to that arm.  Unfortunately my right arm is suffering badly from TX #1 "flare" and bruised vein, PICC line dressing irritation and now H1N1.

He advised me getting the regular flu shot but I forgot to ask him if it's ok to get it in the same arm as my H1N1.  My drs office was out but I will book it as soon as this H1N1 spot clears up.

STUBBLE QUESTION:  I still have stubble on my head from when the kids trimmed me.  I have some areas that are smooth but for the most part my hair has stopped falling out.  If I don't completely shave it off will the stubble stay or will I eventually go smooth with chemo? 

My underarms I shaved and the hair has not grown back.  The nether regions still have some hair but very thin - don't dare shave down there!

I don't mind the head stubble it helps keep the hats and wigs on (like velcro).

Also when do the eyelashes and eyebrows fall off?  I noticed that I haven't had to pluck any strays lately so I think the hair has stopped growing but they don't appear to be thinning.

It is a stat holiday here (Remembrance Day) and I am enjoying a very restful day (doing a bit of laundry) but mostly just hanging around home.

I hope you all have a restful day today or at least find some time to rest and reenergize!

Marie

joanneasiata

HI MARIE

Happy remembrance Day ,i have prob got this wrong but for the eyebrows Ive been told thats its around the last part of the 3 rd treat - the 4 th that eye brows and eye lashes come away ,and the stubble will eventually come away, some of the ladies use tape to pull them out i think thats funny , and the growth part has stopped  have a great day

JOANNE

lainieo

 Scoobydoo  I teach in Arlington and I am so happy we had the day. Acupuncture does not hurt. I just got back from a session. Will have to wait and see if it alleviates any of my issues, but the doctor was wonderful, very knowledgable, supportive and I feel very relaxed.

jeanl151

Hello ladies, I am back from quite a week. I went to the hospital on Saturday not feeling well. They gave me fluids and an iv antibiotic for cough and fever. I felt better and went home with a few prescriptions.  I was sick all Saturday night and ended in ER on Sunday. After many tests they found my WBC was 1.1 and I had at least 2 infections. One was upper respitory the other was from an infected old root left in my gum from some years back (who knew!). They took the root out yesterday and gave me oodles of iv antibiotics.  I am home now and my WBC is back to 4.9

     It was all quite an experience and a bit funny.  The hopsital was so crowded that I was in ER for 30 hours. They found a little glass room in ER for me to keep the germs out but I had to walk through the germy halls to get to a bathroom. Lots of masks later (and after my onc pulled some strings) I was sent to the only isolated room they could find. I was in the penthouse!! The room was bigger than my living room with mahogany doors and marble sinks....go figure I have found where the elite go when they are sick !!!!!!!!!!!!  I spent the days looking at the skyline of Boston.

   On top of everything else, while I was in the hospital my hair started falling out.  It has been more than I could handle.  Lots of crying yesterday.   I just went in to my bathroom and gave myself a pixie haircut. I figure it doesn't matter if it is even, it won't be here long.  maybe I will buzz it in the next day or two.

   Well girls, thanks for being there. I missed not being near a computer while in the hospital,

Jean

MaryNY

Oh Jean, what a terrible few days you've had. Good to know they were able to find the root of the problem (literally) and were able to fix it, but I'm sure you could have done without all the drama. Then to lose your hair while your were already on a low must have been a real punch to the stomach. I know we all fear losing our hair but can at least have it happen while we are on home ground.

Glad to hear your WBC counts are back in the normal range. Did you get a Neulasta shot after your first TC treatment? I did and found that my WBC count from 4.1 K/mcL prior to my first treatment to 10.3 K/mcL prior to yesterday's treatment, so it definitely worked for me. On the other hand if you did get a Neulasta shot it might have masked the infection OR helped you fight it better. But good anyway that they found the source of infection and it can't rear its ugly head again during the rest of your treatment.

micheleboots

Jean, wow that sounds like quite an adventure...Glad to hear you ended up with a delux suite in the end....got to make you wonder who gets those great rooms...I am glad you are on the mend again...stay heathy..

I got my H1N1 shot today...I thought I would be sitting for hours...they give out arm bracelets here in the mornig that tell you when to return.  I though I would chance it and pop in mid afternoon to see if they had any left...turns out they had lots and my family only had to pop in after school and we were out in under 30 minutes...All the media hype made it sound like hours of wait...glad I went.

Well I am off to bed.  restfull sleep to all..

ReneeJean

Ladies, I have a lot of reading to do to catch up.  This working while doing Chemo is great, but it leaves me exhausted at the end of the day.  But I will be off for a 4 day weekend so I will catch up then.  Hope all are doing well and staying as healthy as possible. 

I had TREATMENT #3 today.   Went as well as can be expected.  Half way there (or 3/4 if I decide that 4 are enough--SE will tell).  

Again, I pray for all of you to have a good night and wonderful Thursday!  Hugs! 

MaryNY

ReneeJean: You earned another happy face . Hope SEs aren't so bad.

Good luck tomorrow to:

Juanelle (TC #2)

Dee (AC #2)

Scoobydoo/Anita (T #1) 

*REVISED* AND of course JoJo who's always a few steps ahead of the rest of us (FEC #2)

joanneasiata

AND ME TO!!!!!!!

MaryNY

Sorry Jo Jo. I silipped up there. I had you down for Friday, but of course you are almost a day ahead of us in the US. Hope it goes well for you.

RaiderDee

Thanks Mary,

I'm hoping we all have a good day tomorrow.  Tx #2 is a lot less daunting than Tx #1 was.  I did so well with the first one that I'm almost superstitious going into the second one.  I'm drinking the same gatorade to hydrate myself, taking the same Clariton tablet in the morning even though I'm not getting my Neulasta shot til Friday.  You name it, I"m doing it just hoping to get the same results.  I even had dinner tonight with the same friend I had dinner with before my first chemo.  Crazy, I know. I'll check in tomorrow or Friday to let you know how it goes.   As always, hang tough ladies and be well.

Dee  

unklezwifeonty

Jean,

So sorry to hear you had to visit ER. Hope things go smoothly for you here on.

azdiva

Jean - WOW, sounds like you had quite a week.  Glad you are doing better!

It seems like we all are settling into the chemo routine!  I have to say I really haven't had ANY s/e's this go 'round (aside from mush mouth and constant steroid eating).  Now that I've said that, I'm doomed for tx #3, I'm sure.   But like Dee, I am going to stick to the same routine just in case.

Unfortunately, I've found a new addiction and it is that silly Farmville game on Facebook.  I cannot believe how much time I've spent on it today.  And scheduling my day tomorrow around when I need to harvest my crops!  At least it keeps me away from the refrigerator!

Talk to you all tomorrow!

Laura 

micheleboots

Laure.  That facebook can be addicting..I have avoided Farmville because I know I would be hooked...But I do love FB..

MaryNY

Feeling a bit down today. My onc called me last night about extending my chemo treatments. I'm currently on AC x 4, now she wants to add four doses of a taxane onto this. If Taxol, the doses would be every two weeks, if Taxotere, the doses would be every three weeks. So this would mean an additional two or three months of treatment.

The reason for the change in plan is new information that came to light. The hospital where I had my lumpectomy provided path slides for independent review by the pathologists at my onc's site. They found a discrepancy between the original path report and their own review. The original report found a tumor in a single lymph node but this new review found a tiny tumor (less than 1mm) in an additional node. So now my Dx is 2/6 nodes. I don't believe this changes my stage but now onc want to increase the blast of chemo.

In normal circumstance, even without this information, most oncs would have put me on TC or AC-T to begin with. The decision not to give me Taxol/Taxotere was because I have an underlying condition, transverse myelitis, which may make me more susceptible to the neuropathy which is such a common side effect of the taxanes. I had an accute attack of transverse myelitis a year ago which left me paralyzed to the waist in a matter of two hours. I'm one of the lucky ones who has made a full recovery except for some minor residuals.

Now onc wants me to see a neurologist to advise on this issue. Ultimately the decision will be mine, but I'm not sure what to do.

MeredithK02

Mary, I'm so sorry, that must be devastating to feel like you're close to being done, then have this sprung on you.   We'll be thinking of you...good luck with this awful decision!

txstardust

Oh, Mary, that's a difficult decision to make.  I don't know what to say, except to give you strength in making your decision and peace in your heart.  

Jean, being in the hospital is no fun, I know!  I'm glad they were able to discover what the problem was and to fix it.

marie, I've got the same stubble question.  I wonder if I will end up "shiny" bald or if this stubble will hang around?

Laura, I love FB as well, and Ihaven't started FarmVille for the same reason, Michele...I know I'd end up becoming obsessed with it!

I had a hard night last night, bone pain setting in later than they said it would from the Neulasta shot.  I ended up crying in bed until I fell asleep.  Those are the days when I question myself whether I want to keep going with this.  But I know I will - I want to be around for a long time for my kids!  Sometimes it seems like the treatment is worse than the disease.

Peace to all... 

azdiva

Oh Mary!  I am thinking of you!  Taxotere has not been bad for me, but I don't have the same issue as you.  What about Abraxane (sp?)?  I think someone else here is on it because she had a problem with the Taxotere.  I know it is a taxol as well, but maybe it wouldn't have the same effect?

Please take care!

Laura 

MaryNY

Thanks Laura. I think Abraxane is given when there is an immediate allergic reaction to Taxotere/Taxol. AFAIK, Abraxane is mixed up fresh and doesn't have preservative or something that's likely to cause the allergic reaction. I'm not sure that there's a link between that and neuropathy. But I will definitely check that out.

Shelby, did you take Claritin or Tylenol for the bone pain? My bone pain last time was very minor, I did take Claritin a couple of days. I had my second Neulasta shot yesterday afternoon and so far no bone pain from that.

unklezwifeonty

Dear Mary,

Abraxane has the same exact  risk of neuropathy as Taxol. The only advantages to Abraxane are the virtually no chance of reaction and hence quicker infusion time.

MarieK

Hi All!

Mary so sorry to hear of your dissapointment but look on the bight side (I'm an optimist can you tell?).  At least they are reviewing your chart and looking out for the best treatment for you!  That can't be bad now can it?  I'd like to think that I could do all I can now rather than find out later I should have done more...

Laura - GET OFF FARMVILLE!  It is a time sucker.  You are very smart Michele not to start.  My son is addicted and is constantly telling me he HAS to go on (you know in the prepubescent whiny voice).  Laura they are just virtual crops NOT REAL so what if they die!

Jean - what an experience you have had!  Sorry you had to go through that. I'm glad that you are home and all the wiser to see how the other half get treated in their POSH accomodation!

Sorry ladies I'm not very good at updating on everyone but I'll try to do a better job.  I do read all the posts and think of you ALL daily.

Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine wherever you are!

Marie

Hopbird

Jean.....WOW...sorry you had to go through all of that.

Mary, sorry you have to face more chemo.  Here's another positive thought, at least you're finding out now, and not in a few months when your hair was starting to grow back.   Still, it must be cruel to see light at the end of the tunnel and then have the train go backward.  Hopefully the doctors can figure out something else for you.  I took Abraxane.  What the girls said here is true, the difference has to do with what the delivery method.  They do think some of the Taxol SEs have to do with the solvent the drug is usually delivered in.  I had not one bit of neuropathy.  However, I talked to someone else on my same protocol and schedule a week ago and she had quite a bit.  I know, doesn't help.

So, I got some good news today.  I think I've mentioned that my chemo is pre-adjuvant (before surgery.)  I had a PET before I started and then I was due to have one after Abraxane to see the results.  The coordinator called me today about my schedule and said she'd seen that I had a good report on the PET.  Said the radiologist said "favorable response to treatment."  YIPPEE!!  I'm pretty sure that means the cancerous area has gotten smaller, and it was pretty small to start with.  I'll learn more when I see the doctor on Monday, and still need to hear how my heart and liver held up, but I'll take "favorable response" to chemo as a starting point. 

valeriekd

Congratulations Hopbird ! It is so nice to get good news! Love that- I always feel that if people respond well to the pre-adjuvant that if the unthinkable happens (recurrence) you now KNOW that you respond to chemo! I have an older friend who has lung CA and she is not responding at all - its awful soooo yippeeee!

Mary man oh man How does one make a decision like that? I guess you need all the info u can get and once the emotion of it settles then that is the time to think. You are a brave and kind woman - thankyou for starting this thread - we are all right behind you.

Got my "cranial prosthesis" today and it looked surprisingly natural and was comfortable. I have a job interview next week and I really did not want to scream "chemo" when I walked in but sort of work it into the conversation later so good timing.

Jean Hope you are still doing well on the mend.

Where r u 1L Hope u r ok.

Have a nice evening ladies! Valerie