Starting Chemo October 2009

Enjoyful

One-L...I'm optimistic that the roid cut will head off the rage and I won't go "breast cancer" on anybody's butt.  LOL.  That was hilarious!

Glad the fatigue is getting better for you.  One more, baby!

one-L

enjoyful, I am glad  that the roids  have not had that affect on me.  Mine would be a case of road rage.  Each day is better and better, until  the next tx.

Sido

tx stardust - as a snorer myself it took antihistamines and sleeping on my side (and quitting smoking) for my poor husband to get uninteruppted sleep.  Now we only have problems when I have a cold.

One-L:  Hooray!  I'm glad you're right behind me.

 Of course I started celebrating before the se's kicked in, but I only have two more weeks to feel icky before I will really feel finished.  Looking at the Cytoxan/Taxotere thread reminds me that the black nail polish may have to stay even longer, and the eyebrows and eyelashes may (will?) still go before everything comes back.

I go in for my staging for rads next week and start treatments the following week. 

Be well everyone and keep warm.  It is bloody cold in central Illinois!

Love, Sido

unklezwifeonty

3 cheers for Sido. Hip Hip Hurray!!!!!!!

joanneasiata

GOOD EVENING ALL

Hope everyone is taking care of them selves , Ive been feeling soo good these last few days so I'm out enjoying life, today my daughter whom i get on so well with ,she is 20, and i went secondhand shopping , had so many laughs then an hr or two down the beach and met up with my two boys we were swimming and lying in the sun and having such a good time  and my kids weren't at all worried to be with me being bauld and in my cossie down the beach and a lot of their friends were with them,  i was so proud of them my eldest son was even rubbing my head with his hands saying how much he loves it and his friends were with him , one of those moments that i will right down in my special book , I want to make the most out of my good days .Oh i haven't worn any thing on my head when going out for days now  i love it   Ive been converted .!!!

I was shocked when i found out that i was given roids as well with my drip before  the fec, onco said it was for nausea ,i do get a passion with food have put on 2 kg but no anger problems maybe cause I'm on an anti depression tablet which i think helps heaps .BUT if i did have roid rage i think it will be on the road  and in the supermarkets  I'm sure id make the evening news for it .

PRINCESS JOJO

JustmeAlicia

HI girls, just checking in.  Thanks for the well wishes.  TX #4 is tough already and my worst days are usually the end of the week.  I am up and able to get the kids off to school, shower and get dressed all to usually head back into bed after that.  I hope everyone is feeling good.

Off to check my hamburger buns for seeds.  LOL

too funny ~

I hope everyone has a good day with little or NO SE's.

Hugs !

Alicia

txstardust

Alicia, I'm sorry you're having a rough time.  I'm going for TX#4 today.  I'll just be happy if I don't end up in the hospital yet again.  Ugh.  

Jo, I almost went to an appointment topless yesterday, but I chickened out.  I did take the hat off inside the office, but not in the waiting area!  Baby steps, I guess.  But it's kinda chilly outside today (42 F), so I don't think today will be the day.

Sido, I'm so glad for you being finished!  

Everyone, have a terrific day.  I'm doing my holiday baking tomorrow with my mom - I hope the smells don't make me ill!

Peace to all... 

Scoobydoo

Shelby- Wow, you look absolutely gorgeous!!!!  Congratulations on your new marriage.  May it be filled with health and happiness.  Your family is beaufitul as well.

Anita

Scoobydoo

Hi Ladies.

Had a really tough 5 days after tx.  Bone and joint pain galore.  I am finally starting to feel some relief.  Just getting back into the swing of things and have a lot of posts to catch up on.  One more tx to go!!!!  Seems like every tx gets more difficult to overcome. 

Anita

lainieo

Hi Girls

sido congrats hope all goes well

Glad you are feeling better Scoobydoo. 

Feel better Alicia

A late happy birthday Jean

Princess JO JO WOW what a beautiful story. What great kids and connections. You are blessed. I feel the same about my own kids.  

 Been hanging low. Day 5,6 and 7 seem to be when I am most tired and fatigued. Roid rage wasn't quite as bad this time, but I think that is because I was home and alone  most of the time. DH had some travel for work, but he has been better and supportive. Sleeping is difficult coming off the roids.  I head back to work tomorrow. Our school gets off on the 23rd and then we are off until Jan 4th. My kids will be home for the holidays and I can't wait.

Happy day

txstardust

Finished with tx #4!!!!

Yippee!  Neulasta shot tomorrow, then wait for those side effects.  I was a little anemic, but they went ahead cause it wasn't too low.  I've got everything crossed that I do NOT end up sick yet again.

I told my onc about the on-call doc never calling me back when i got that fever a week and a half ago.  He gave me his personal cell phone number and said I could call him directly if I needed anything.  Isn't that just great?  Hopefully I'll never have to call him!

Lanieio, hope you are feeling better soon.  How great that school is only another week!  I can't remember - did you say what grade you teach?

Sido - glad the bone/joint pain is subsiding.  It really can be debilitating.  Hope you're back on your feet soon!

Peace and love to all.... 

JenXX

Hello all:

I just went through tx 4 of 6 of the TCH.  I had a horrible reaction to the 1st one so they reduced by 25%, but the 4th one for some reason was almost as bad - and in some ways, worse, than the 1st.  Could it be because it was delayed by a week while I was out of town?  Anyone having a worse reaction to TCH as time progresses?  I was hoping my reaction would decrease each time.  I've been really sick and super naseous for the last 6 days since the treatment.  I'm thinking of just calling it done with 4 and not doing the last 2.  Any thoughts?

Oh, also, I've also been dealing with a blood clot, chest port discomfort, and got a bad cold or flu and ended up in the hospital with a fever of 102.  I would like to be  DONE with all this!

Thanks,

Jen

jeanl151

Jen   - just a thought but I just had #3 and it was worse than one or 2.  I wonder if our bodies are recognizing the medicine and not tolerating it the same each time.  I am on TC (no H) and have 3 more treatments to go ...not looking forward to them.

    Jean

Enjoyful

Jeanl - I'm on TC as well and my doctor warned me that the fatigue would increase with each treatment.  I just had #4 last Thursday and I STILL feel awful.  We're almost done, though. 
We can do this.

one-L

Jean and enjoyful, my Onc said that the fatigue would get worse with each tx.  So I am anticipating at least a week at home after I come off the roids for my next tx which is scheduled 12/24.  I am still not recovered from the low RBC.  I can hardly catch my breath and have to stop and rest when climbing a flight of stairs.

Sido, I am going to ask if I can go  ahead and make my appointment for my simulation tomorrow when I go to the doctor.  I want to get this started.

jojo, your stories never cease to amaze me.  Your kids and their friends must be extra special.  I am so glad for you.

alicia, hope you get to feeling better, in this weather the best place to be is in a nice warm bed.  Hugs.

anita,hope the ses will go away and let you have a nice restful weekend.

lainieo, well at  least you don't have to work very many days before the holidays.  Hope you continue to feel  better and better.

jen, sorry you are having to deal with so much.  I asked last time how long I would have my port in and they said could be up to 2 years.  I don't think I can stand it that long.  What are we girls to do?

shelby, glad  that the low RBC didn't stop your tx.  I don't want anything to delay mine.  That is why I am having it  on 12/24, I just want to get it over.

Hugs to everyone and hope you get all your Christmas shopping finished.

Juannelle

Enjoyful

Just curious - does anyone else have horrible meat cravings the week after treatment?  I'm talking mega-burgers, buckets of Kentucky-grilled chicken, entire turduckens, schools of fish, LOL.

E

one-L

enjoyful, yes I am having meat cravings.  I want fried chicken, mega burgers and if it is good for me I don't  want it.  Went and had a two lb foot long hot dog last week, boy was it good.  It must have something to do with the treatments.

Enjoyful

It must!  Maybe our bodies are craving protein to repair the damage done by the chemo?

Two-pound hot dog.  Ohmigod.  We have the BEST place for foot-long chili dogs nearby and now I want one!

one-L

I would  assume that is correct that we need to eat more protein.  Enjoy your chili dog, I know you will go get  one now that it is on your mind.

MaryNY

Jen: Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. I've heard the herceptin on it's on has few to no side effects so I'm guessing that it's the TC part that's the issue. I'm on AC rather then TC, but found that the SEs got progressively worse for me with each treatment cycle. They say the doses are cumulative. #4 which I had last week was definitely the worst and I'm only now beginning to return to normal. Next week I move onto to CMF which is supposed to be easier.

I'm not sure whether to be envious of those of you who are lusting after meat or not. In my case, I can't bear the thought of meat, much less the taste of it. I have only been able to eat really bland foods the first week after treatment and am very conscious that I'm probably not getting enough protein. Also my hemoglobin levels are low and best way to boost it is by eating animal protein. I met a nutritionist yesterday who encouraged me to try to eat fish and eggs during my good weeks. 

Enjoyful

Mary - I didn't want anything when I was on AC either, at least not until the week after treatment.  It must be the TC?  I think One-L and I are both on the TC regimen.

Sido

OOOH meat!  I crave burgers, chili dogs, eggs, but I'm also all over carbs (and shakes) becuse of the fatigue.  I'm on the TC regimen too, so it must be something to do with that.

Juanelle, I'm glad you're asking about staging earlier.  My onco was mostly concerned about how I healed from the surgery, and just said I needed at least two weeks after my last tx before I started rads.  I was frankly surprised we were getting started so soon.

JenXX, I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time.  I found each one a little bit harder fatigue-wise, though now that the se's are no longer a surprise I seem to weather them a little better.  Maybe your onco can do something so you aren't suffering so much, especially if you have to continue your treatments to the full six.

 To everyone else, be well and minimal se's!

Sido

valeriekd

Hi Mary I am vegetarian so never crave meat but a great protein and easy and bland is Amy's lentil soup mixed w/ your favorite kind of rice and - voila- you r protein happy w/ no soy! Also, brown rice w/ vegetarian baked beans is good all this besides fish and eggs has kept my iron pretty good.

Tx #4 tomorrow- so far not hearing alot of good stuff but I am going to ask onc about leucopezin (sp) someone mentioned this and there is good stuff on web about MUCH less fatigue w/ this combo of 15 chinese herbs - I'll see what he says.

Good luck ladies and stay warm in our hemisphere! Good night - Valerie 

micheleboots

Did any of you ladies have taxotere?  I will get that on Fri and the onc put me on decadron starting tomorrow and for three days...did you ladies get that..it would take me two days to read back enough to get the info..

Enjoyful

Hey Michelle -

Quite a few of us are taking Taxotere.  I was taking 8mg decadron 2x/day, beginning the day before chemo, skipping chemo day because I got decadron IV, and then the two days afterward.  The withdrawal from decadron was awful, though, so my onc cut the dosage in half.  Make sure you talk to your onc if you have depression and/or roid rage after you stop the dosing!

snuziq

Sido, Sido, she's our gal

despite SEs she got through it some how!

 Okay, so my cheer is not the most inventive, but it does show how happy I am for you that you have reached the end of chemo!   The best thing about radiation is that it doesn't cause hair loss or  nausea!

snuziq

Ladies, you have again saved my sanity.  I have been tired and nauseous for almost two weeks since treatment 4.  I come home from work and just want to rest.  The worst part is that I can't seem to sleep.  I lay down when I come home and maybe lay down for 30 minutes or an hour and then I can' t seem to get to sleep until after midnight.  The first 10 days I felt a bit nauseous most of the time.  The constant little tummy flips were wearing me out.  The last couple of days it's been better but I still have bouts.

I say you have saved my sanity because I was beginning to think I was a hypochondriac.  I guess with my luck at feeling okay a few days after the first few treatments, I feel like I have been sick for ages this time.   Reading the recent posts about the fatigue, I feel a bit better knowing that I'm not the only one experiencing it.  Thanks again.

 Okay, now I'm going to go find some cheese for this whine....

suz45

Jennxx

Im also on TC (#5) and its definately getting worse each time. I was physically sick for days as well as so tired I slept almost all week. Also my taste budds went out the door... nothing was edible for days. Funny cause i tried some soup yesterday that I couldnt eat a few days ago and it was great... go figure. My energy is really slowly returning. Hugs hun

Shelby

You look absolutely radient in your pics. Thanks for sharing it. Yea 4 down!! 

So I met with my plastic surgeon today and got the same news... absolutely no reconstruction for a full year. So I just have to get over it and move on. She says I dont have enough of a belly to do a tram flap , so thats out. What she is recommending (cant remember the name of it)  is where they take the skin and such from the back and then use expanders till size is right. The pics I saw looked soo mish mash and pieced together  but she said once you get the nipples and tatoo's done the color difference isnt as noticable... hmmm is anyone else having this done. I really had my heart set on immediate reconctruction. It was difficult seeing all these before pictures. But I have to try to look at the big pic, and thats living a long life.

Hmmm all this talk of christmas, I had better get my but in gear. Might be what I need to take the gloom away

Love and Hugs Suz

txstardust

Hi Suz, your PS is probably talking about a tram flap.  Before I decided on lumpectomy, that was the procedure I was looking at as well.  Now, after lumpectomy, I'm still going to need some reconstruction as my boobs are lopsided - I look the opposite of cross-eyed...one points out and up, the other straight ahead, and probably a cup size difference .  I have heard on the boards about waiting at least a year for reconstruction as well, and of course I'm not having to face the same issues as you with a mast., but it seems like such a long time!

Fatigue is my constant companion these days, but then I have the same issues with difficulty sleeping.  Hey, it's 4:30 a.m. right now as I type!  I think that's the most difficult thing to deal with for me now, because it seems like I get about 3 good days with some energy right before treatment.  Ugh.

Michele, I am on Taxotere right now along with my AC.  My doc has prescribed 4 mg of Decadron for the 4 days following tx, as well as Dec through the IV on treatment day.  Seems like the dosage varies a lot between patients, not sure why that is.  It is supposed to minimize side effects.  I was actually talking to my onc nurse yesterday about allergic reactions to Dec, and she said it is very rare, and that they have reaction kits at the ready just in case, and everyone she's ever treated with one has come through well.  Try not to worry too much!  

Val, I love those Amy's foods!  I'll have to try the lentil soup (one of my favorite kinds of soup).  Thanks for the tip!

Well, I'm going to attempt to go back to sleep; I've been awake for an hour.  Oh...I wanted to share a website that a friend of mine found that is full of wonderful stories, kind of like the antidote to FML and MLIA if you know what those are.  It's called www.givesmehope.com.  If you are feeling down, just read some of these stories and I guarantee you'll feel better, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying.

Peace to all... 

Enjoyful

Does anybody know what treatment they'll be on following chemo and rads?  My doctor mentioned the AIs but Faslodex looks promising without having the bone-chewing effects of the AIs.  Does anybody know why one class would be prescribed above another?  I'm ER+ and post-menopausal, so both should work.