Starting Chemo October 2009

connieray

I was diagnosed on the 28th of October. Invasive/non-invasive Treatments: 1X every 3 weeks for 4 weeks, then 4 weeks 2x's daily of radiation. 

I had a lumpectomy and Sentinal Node Biopsy on the 2nd of Nov., 2009. Dr. was very pleased with results. Had good margins and no lymphnode involvement at all. I had my first treatment of Taxotere & Cytoxan one week ago today, 12/18/09.

The most difficult phase of this for me so far has been the steroids which I take the day before, during and day after treatment. THAT was AWFUL!! I dread taking them more than I do losing my hair - and that was a big step to climb for me!

I followed the very excellent advice about what to do, what not to do during treatments,  from my older sister who has been battling CLL for almost 19 years. She's been through just about every kind of treatment you could imagine in all those years. Her advice worked beyond expectations and I'm doing so well I have to remind myself to be careful and pay attention to my body, not over do which I tend to do. Proper nutrition and sleep has me feeling very normal 7 days after treatment day. No pain or serious side effects except to the steroids. Going to talk to the Dr. about those that's for sure!

Also - I did have the new (?) test - oncotypeDX - which they use to decide if chemo is really needed..... mine was. The recurrence factor without it was  47% in 10 years.

Blessings to everyone!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and we're ALL going to have a fabulous New Year - right? 

one-L

connie, glad to hear you are doing well after tx.  I have just finished my 4th tx today and am finished.  I am on to radiation, which will start next month.  I am glad that you have someone to help you deal with the SEs.  I have really had an easy time, except for the 3rd tx, I have been fatigued since and I have had to have shots for my WBC, RBC and I am retaining water which makes it hard to breath.  But other than that I have tolerated the drugs very well.  It is very doable.

Juannelle

valeriekd

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

To my unexpected companions -

God bless you all- You have given me and my family such a unique and special gift - Partly it is understanding but part has no words to describe it  - just thanks.

Much love, Valerie 

JustmeAlicia

Popping in to WISH all you of WONDERFUL, Strong, AMAZING ladies a very HAPPY HOLIDAY.  I know in my heart 2010 will be a better year for all of us.

Hugs !

Alicia

Sido

Hooray Juannelle!  WOO HOO!  I'm so glad you've finished and so proud of you for making it through.

I wish all my chemo sisters a peaceful holiday filled with love.

Sido

one-L

Thanks Sido, it was a wonderful day, just knowing that I have finished with one thing.  Now on to rads.

Have a wonderful  day tomorrow.

Juannelle

txstardust

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!!!  I look forward to a better 2010 for all of us!

Peace,

Shelby 

Anonymous

Merry Christmas to all ....with wishes for peace in your souls and hearts full of love today and always!  Thank you to all you strong women - only you all understand "the walk" and do it with grace and often needed humor! 

with love...

one-L

Thanks for all the support and comfort that you amazing dish out.  Our journeys would be much different if we were all alone with no one to turn to.

Merry Christmas and I hope Santa is good to everyone.  I know he was to me.

Juannelle

unklezwifeonty

Dear 1L,

Hooray for finishing your last chemo!

JustmeAlicia

Juanelle ~ I really could not imagine going through this breast cancer without the support system of the wonderful ladies on this board !!!

Big hugs everyone !

RaiderDee

Merry Christmas everybody!  Mary, I know your probably busy but when you get the chance, can you give me another smiley face for completing TX #4?  Thanks!  No more AC, on to Taxatere.  Have a great day ladies.

Dee

unklezwifeonty

Hooray Dee, hopefully you will also find T so much easier to take than AC. Its amazing how much GI issues bring you down.

micheleboots

Juannelle...You go girl...so proud that you are done...you rock

Happy Holidays girls.

MarieK

Merry Christmas to all my Breast Friends!

Congrats to those that are finished with chemo, to those that have finished another treatment and those getting through their SEs this week!

I have my 5th (5 out of 6) TX on Tuesday morning - I was waiting for a spot and got a morning appt which conflicts with my ONC appt but apparently he will come see me in the treatment room.

I want to ask him about my referral for radiation.  The rad onc's office called  me yesterday to book an appt for a consult on Jan 15th.  I'm keeping my fingers, toes and eyes crossed that the radiation will not interfere with my planned family vacation (hoping it will be all done or can be postponed until we get back).

Michele - I Googled Walmart funny photos and was shocked to see that such a thing existed.  I'm so hoping that my "floppy foob" incident will never appear on that site or on YouFoob (thanks for that laugh Enjoyful!).

Have a great day everyone!

Hugs!

Marie

unklezwifeonty

Dear Marie,

The phrase 'bosom pals" takes on a new meaning here :-)

jeanl151

Merry Christmas to all my new cyber-friends.

   Wishing you a peaceful and very merry Christmas

Jean

joanneasiata

MERRY CHRISTMAS

TO all my wonderful new found friends ,its funny how we have never met but we are knitted together in a strange way something that i will never forget you gals have been one of my biggest strengths through this cancer and i love you all for it ,you all deserve to be blessed this Christmas and the years to follow with health ,peace and loads of love

Well on another note i don't know whether to worrier about a swollen gland in my groin or not ,its not sore to touch just on occasions it will ache and a  dull heavy pain will go down the top of my leg , when i first started chemo i developed a sore around my pubic area some of you might remember it was from the chemo in my urine had burned me as i was UN aw-ear of washing my self  down after every visit to the loo ,i went to doctors and had 2 causes of anti biotic it cleared up but my gland is still up should i be worried .

I'm having do able SEs just really tired  a bit foggy in the head but can still manage  to do a few things around the house, Sam gave me my Nulasta today so ill just sit back and wait for the achy pains to kick in .Hope all are having min SEs as well  

JOJO JUST

unklezwifeonty

Dear Jo Jo Princess,

Merry Christmas!

Get your doctor to examine the swelling please. It may be harmless or it may be not.

azdiva

Merry (Belated) Christmas to All!

I have been MIA for a few days.  Feeling pretty good, but was furiously working to get this holiday together!  We had a great time. My prime rib turned out beautifully.  I did one with a creole rub and another with garlic, thyme and olive oil (with a salt crust).  I seared them for 15 minutes and then slow cooked at 200 degrees for HOURS!  The roasts were medium rare pretty much all the way through, which is perfect for us.  On the bad side, we have few leftovers and I cooked 23 pounds of meat!!  Took the kids to see The Blind Side last night after dinner.  Highly recommend!

All in all, a very nice Christmas!  I hope everyone had a wonderful day.

Laura 

Claire_in_Seattle

On having some remaining hair....  Yes, that is true of me, and I did notice some trying to grow back too.  Even funnier is that the longer hairs stand up straight when I get a bit of a chill, so I know what it is like to be a porcupine with quills!!!

But the whole hair thing is minor as know it will be growing again in about 5 months, once I am done.  I have two more AC treatments to go as getting 6 total spaced two weeks apart (I am part of a global study, so get more than normal).  Monday is chemo day, so will be on the home stretch then.  Then on to Taxol.

I am off cycling with a friend in a few as sunny and glorious here.  Went cycling yesterday prior to Christmas Dinner.  Have been walking big time this week to get my bone marrow in gear to rebuild red blood cells.

I have been more tired than normal this week, but realized this was also due to the mishap with implant crown which was finally redone on Monday.  Now that the tongue swelling is down, and cheek is healing, I can tell that my upper and lower jaw are still sore.  YIKES!!!  At least I could eat and talk this week.  I should have known when it took my dentist 4 tries to seat the base properly that I was in for a rough week.

Anyway, looking forward to celebrating the New Year in style, if with Elderflower Cordial as opposed to champagne.  This will come later when I can celebrate life in style.  Will make pate to share with friends.

Determined to celebrate even if it means eating the whole bag of candied ginger (a lifesaver BTW).

valeriekd

Wow Laura and Claire You guys put me to absolute shame. I woke up and started to cry (done so on and off ALL day) because i had such bizarre feelings in my legs and hips and hands and feet from neuropathy. I have been sitting here with a big a$$ pitiful party. BUT I took the neurontin and have definitely got relief from the physical but the emotional - ugh- still sad, Oh well. I know it is best to be active but man its hard to move around alot. Do you guys make yourself do it or is it not too hard? Anywy, I am impressed and keep up the good work!

Hi Princess Jo Jo Tell the docs about everything- you are too precious not to.

Be well, ladies- Valerie 

joanneasiata

HI VAL

Boy i feel the same, where do they get their energy from ,and i feel so down and depressed as well, it really stinks  i haven't even got the energy to have a shower or just to walk around the house I'm feeling sorry for my family putting them through all this crap it makes me sad , i have found a thread on depression it seems ok . be strong it will all lift of us soon and we will have some good days , I'm with you sister  .And yes ill go to my G.P this week .

JOJO JUST

joanneasiata

VAL Sorry that thread is called extreme  fatigue  i think they go hand in hand !!!

Claire_in_Seattle

Hi Valerie,

I think part of the answer is that I came into this experience used to getting tons of exercise and therefore crave it.  I also need to get outdoors this time of year or I just go nuts.

That said, there are days that I really am dragging, but I force myself to walk and/or do crunches/weights.  Make sure I do a minimum of one mile of walking per day, and weights/crunches five days a week.  I almost always feel better.

I am determined not to lose my muscle tone and bone density and maintain as much cardio function as possible.  One of the other major benefits is that I get deep sleep.  That goes back to the "where do I get the energy?" question.

Today, I was able to go cycling with one of my friends....same spot as in my pic, but glorious sunshine.  Tired now, but that is OK.  I will sleep.  I am also recovering from a dental mishap which required redoing a crown over an implant, so mouth hurt big time this week.  So glad that is almost behind me.

One of the things I read going into chemo that really helped was that the "worse I feel, the more important it is for me to exercise".  So I just suck it up and get moving.  I always feel better later.  This is true even on the days when a one mile walk is all I can manage.

The person who helped me figure this out was Anna Schwartz.  There is an article by her on the American Cancer Society website.  I found it beyond helpful.

JustmeAlicia

Valerie ~ so sorry you are feeling so bad.  GLAD that pill gives you some relief.  Have you tried a warm bath?  I have heard that helps to some degree..... 

I have my first Taxol tomorrow am and am so scared!  I dread it ~ I too have been just exhausted and depressed like you Princess JOJO.  Biking Claire?!  Your amazing.  I was sitting on my recumbent bike for 15 minutes a day up until #3.  GAME over - no energy and feeling too sick. 

So tonight I start swallowing the decadron and praying for no allergic reaction tomorrow.

I hope you girls have a good SE free SUNDAY ~

Hugs !

Alicia

MaryNY

Alicia: Good luck tomorrow. I think most people here have found Taxol easier than AC. I hope you do too.

Claire: Thank you for the reminder about exercise. I was good about walking during the first weeks of treatment but gradually slacked off. I have been more depressed since that and I know exercise will help with that. After a day of constant rain yesterday, today in the NY area it's sunny and a mild (for this time of year) 47C, so no excuses for me today. I found the article you mentioned Q & A: Should You Exercise During Cancer Treatment? It's well worth reading. 

Valerie: I've thrown a number of pity parties for myself this week too. After other treatments, I blamed the steroids which I had to take for three days but with this treatment, I was only given steroids on the day of treatment. I have neuropathy for a prior medical condition and the symptoms worsened while on AC. This week the onc suggested that I start taking 50mg of B6 a day to help with that. Just wondering if this might help you too. 

I finished up my four rounds of AC and had my first CMF treatment on Monday of this week. I was promised that this would be a "cakewalk" after AC. But it wasn't. I felt nauseous even before I left the treatment center. Tuesday morning I threw up. This was the first time I vomited since starting treatment. I spoke to the nurse on call and she told me to continue taking Zofran and to go on a liquid diet for the day. On Wednesday I was still nauseous. One of the ladies on the CMF thread said there is evidence to suggest that Zofran doesn't work in some people. Not sure if many of you have had the CYP2D6 test, which checks to see if you can metabolize Tamoxifen. This test showed that I'm an intermediate metabolizer (heterozygous for the alleles involved) of Tamoxifen. And thus likely not to be able to metabolize Zofran. I again spoke to the nurse on call and they called in an Rx for Compazine. After taking the Compazine, I was able to eat, but I've been doing so cautiously. Today is the first day that I've felt sort of normal this week.

unklezwifeonty

Dear Alicia

Good luck with Taxol.



Dear Mary

Sorry to hear you had nausea and vomiting on CMF. I hope Compazine does the trick and you have an easier time from now.



I'm spending a relaxing time today while the sun beats down in NJ. Maybe I shall head out and check on clothing sales.

Claire_in_Seattle

On nausea.....   Crystalized (candied) ginger is a life saver.  My local supermarket has it in the bulk foods section, and I keep some around.  Have been able to get by with only two days of decadron with AC  No other anti-nausea meds except when they give the infusion.  It also opens up my lungs from depressed breathing.  Relief is immediate....as soon as I take a small bite.

Still sunny here in Seattle, so off cycling as soon as it warms up a bit.  Planning on 20 miles of flat (not enough energy for hills) today on the Sammamish River Trail.  5 of 6 AC is tomorrow so want to be well exercised going in.  As it is a weekday, will mean my weights/crunches regimen.

Mary....  Glad you red the article.  I am sure walking will help, and I do it every day even when the weather is foul.  Just put on rain gear or bundle up.  That is, unless I cycle.  Major mood boost.

I will be doing Taxol starting in 4 weeks.  I have a note to get Glutamine powder as it helps prevent nerve pain and tingling.  I was wondering if this is standard treatment or particular to Group Health.  Passing along just in case.  I will be visiting Super Supplements prior to Taxol, to be sure.

MaryNY

Onty: checking out the sales seems like a good idea. Anything for a distraction. Yeah, it feels like a Summer's day today after all that rain and the freezing weather that preceded it.

Claire: I loved anything with ginger in it prior to starting chemo. But I tried one cup of ginger tea after Tx #1 and it turned me completely off ginger. I still can take ginger ale, but nothing that really tastes or smells strongly of ginger. I agree with you on exercise as being a mood booster. Rain gear might do the trick in Seattle but around here we need to be majorly bundled up to brave the cold. Still there is really no excuse, a couple of the local malls have "mall walking programs" where you can park for free and walk on weekday mornings. About supplements and neuropathy, I got a lot of advice in that area when I thought I would be given Taxol treatment, see Taxol/Taxotere and neuropathy. L-glutamine was one of the suggestions but there were others too.