April 2010 starting chemo

JenC

Kelli - I have not gotten sores on my toung but I have had some really sore spots on it and some sores in the corners of my mouth.  I keep using lip balm on my lips and use the magic mouthwash a few times a day and it seems to help.  I am sure your onc can prescribe something for your to help with it.  Like Shygal said you should call them first thing monday morning so they can get you a script right away.  Sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time with this one.  Hope that they can get a good vein next time and you start to feel better.

kad22

Well I am getting the script for the magic mouth wash today - had to call the oncall doctor - o-well!

Question - has anyone gotton sores on your lips? I have about 4 and they really hurt with the mouth ones. If you did what did you do about these?

Thanks,

Kelli

kad22

Went to #11 Taxol today!! Only one poke!!

Only 1 left!!!!!! Yeah!!!

LauraM

Hi Ladies - I am taking a quick minute to check in and see how you all are.  I am back to work (from home), running kids to all their sports and radiation starts on Sept. 20th so my time to get online has been very limited.

Kad22 - have you tried biotene tooth paste? It helped limit mouth sores for me.

Hope everyone is doing well.

JenC

Hello everyone.  Has anyone had tooth pain with Taxol?  The last few days anything cold goes right through all my molars.  Like a huge tooth ach but all the back ones.  Not sure if this is an SE or if all my teeth are gonna fall out....

arubajan05

Hey JenC! I had that at the very end of my treatments of TC.  I noticed it one morning when I bit into a cold piece of melon.  I started using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. It seemed to help. Also, it has seemed to subside now that my chemo is done!

lexie5

Hey JenC - With Taxol, my gums and teeth got sore.  I'm still having issues w/hot food and I've been done w/chemo for 6 weeks.  Got some fluffy white hair sprouts.  I want the real hair to show up!  Went to a lymphodema consult today.  I have to wear a compression sleeve for 3 months.  Sucks because I'm training for a century bike ride in October.  That sleeve is going to be hot out on the road.  Gotta lose that six pounds one way or another.  1 week after the bike ride I'm going for the reconstruction.  I've decided to give up the other boob.  At least I'll have a matched set....hopefully.

shells43

Jen C - I had jaw pain with my taxotere treatments, and I think it is related to taxol. After my last tx it was more like shooting pains in the back of my jaw, mostly on one side, definitely in the molars area. Very disconcerting. It has almost gone away now, just a few twinges now and then.

marcy4

I have had sensitive teeth as well..the back molars. Had some pain before treatment started, so not sure if it a cavity or Chemo related. Going to wait until Chemo is done to have it checked out. I am just on Taxol now.

JenC

Thanks everyone on the info for the tooth pain.  I started using the sensitive toothpaste and see if that helps.  I will let my onc know at my appointment tomorrow to and see if there is anything that I can take.  This is really interfering with my icecream intake

dutchgirl6

I like your new picture Jen, your son is a cutie!  Kelli and Jen, I hope that your mouth issues clear up soon.  No ice cream, I can't imagine.  It was one of the things that I craved during chemo, not being able to have it would have been depressing.

To all of you still doing chemo, hang in there!  You are in my thoughts.

JenC

Well getting ready to head out for Taxol #8 only 4 more after today YEA. But of course bad thing have to come with the good right.  After two years of being migraine free I woke up this am at 4 with the worst migraine.  Had to take a Maxalt (prescription migrain med) and hoping that it wont interfere with todays treatment.  Figured that was better than taking one of my more potent Imitrex injections.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they still go forward with today and that this was a fluke migraine and not the start of the what used to be yearly clusters for up to 6 weeks every other day:(  Have a great day ladies and I hope you are all doing well.

Jen

JenC

Well, went for treatment today and my onc told me no chemo today due to the spreading neuropathy.  He is gonna play it by ear week by week from here on out and see if I can have treatment next week and if so they will drop the dose significantly and possibly not do the the full 12 or put it off another week depending if it gets worse or not.  I just want this to be over.  One thing after another.  I cant feel my feet at all at this point and my hands are getting numb.  Should have been done with everything including radiation 2 weeks before christmas now who knows depending on how things go.  I am so depressed today i have been just sitting here crying for two hours straight.  Thanks for listening.

Jen

shygal

JenC....so sorry to hear about both your migraines and your neuropathy.....thinking about you and sending you warm hugs from Canada.....is it possible that reflexology would help your feet/hands?  Just a thought....

kad22

JenC -- So sorry to hear about your neuropathy - that SUCKS!!  (((( HUGS )))) take care!

shelleyj43  - cute picture is that your dog?

Havn't been on in a couple of days due to feeling like sh**!! The funny thing is my lower front teeth and gums have been killing me the last 3 days - I thought I was going crazy! Only to get on here and see that others are having or had the same issues! Tylenol doesn't even help with the teeth/gums - UGGGG!

Then tonight had the worst runs ever go to the bathroom to see not 1 but 4 bowls of blood! (sorry to be gross) called the on call onc who happened to be mine and he is all aloft about it saying oh it's just a hemmroid that ruptured you'll be fine!! UGGGG! Why can he never admit that these drugs are causing huge issues with us?! Nose bleeds ... dry weather, back ache... my bed - didn't even want to tell him about my teeth he would probably say that I haven't brushed my teeth enough when it seems that is all I do lately with these darn mouth sores!!! Sorry to rant just had to get it out! Just keep telling myself only 1 more left, only 1 more left!! Just soooo tired of it all. Why do we have to go through this? Why is there not a cure??

Kelli

dutchgirl6

Jen, I'm sorry to hear about your neuropathy, and your migraines.  The delay in your chemo sucks, I hope that they get things under control soon.

Kelli, I'm sorry that you seem to be having such a rough time of it as well.  I hope you start feeling better soon.

((((HUGS)))) to both of you.

arubajan05

Jen~ So sorry you are having a hard time right now. I will pray that your neuropathy gets better and you can get squared away soon with your regular treatments! (Your pic is adorable!)

Kelli~ Gosh! I am SO sorry. Any blood always scares me... are you back at school fulltime?  Please don't overdo it. Give yourself a pass. We will make it through this!!!

((BIG HUGS))

JenC

Kelli - Sorry to hear about the issues you are having.  Just remember, 1 left then you are done and can hopefully get back to "normal".  My onc did admit that the teeth thing is due to the Taxol and that it will subside but there is not much that can be done about it in the mean time.  Nice hu.  But he also said the bloody nose must be due to "dry conditions in my house"  I have not turned my heat on and it has been raining.  How does that make for dry conlditions???  Anyway, hope you feel better really soon.

 Thank you everyone for the hugs.  I need them.  Three straight nights of migrains now.  Back to giving myself imitrex stat dose injection shots.  Yuck.

shells43

Yes, that's our dog Wolfgang when he was a puppy. He's big now, but I love his puppy pics. They make me smile and thought you all might enjoy His Puppiness!

Jen and Kelli - hang in there!

I'm off to Walmart for "radiation wear", ooh goody. Soft bras and tank tops.  Me thinks I'll be wearing my lab coat a lot for the next 5 weeks.

kad22

Thanks everyone for those encouraging words and thoughts! Yes only one more Taxol tomorrow!! Shelleyj43 - your avatar made me want to change mine to my dog celebrating Halloween - almost that time of year!

Made cookies today for a man at my treatment center who is terminal - not fun but he has such a good attitude and wanted to do something for him my last time! Hope it cheers him up a little.

So after tomorrow I have to seriously start thinking about going on a diet to lose these extra pounds I have a gained - yikes!

 JenC - can't believe both our oncs think bloody noeses are due to dry weather? ok so only us in the house with them and both of us on Taxol... hmmmmmm? Hope you are doing well. When do you go back to the dr.?

Have a great week everyone, Kelli

shells43

Cute, Kelli!

JenC

Kelli - Congrats on the final chemo.  I go back to the onc this friday so we will see what he sais. 

 good luck to everone getting treatment this week.  Hope you all have and SE free week.:)

shygal

Hi Everyone, hope your weekend was good and JenC and Kelli, hope you're both feeling better.

I actually went out for dinner and to a concert without a wig, hat or scarf on the weekend.  I'm 14 weeks PFC and decided it was time.  My hair doesn't seem to be growing much now, but I wore huge hoops, did up my makeup (especially eyes) and decided that it was a "fashion statement" instead of just a chemo patient growing their hair.

Using gel definitely makes me look too butchy (like your SIL said, ArubaJan....a dyke!) so I'm just letting it lie flat (although it's getting very wavy which I guess I expected but I've had poker straight hair all my life)

Some people stared at me, but perhaps they were just noticing how nice my earrings were?  ha ha.

Hot flashes, joint pain (knees) and no sleep are my continuing SE's from this lovely journey.  I booked my acupuncture appointment for the hot flashes but it's not cheap.  $99 for the first session and $88 for each one after that!....unfortunately my private insurance doesn't cover it.

Take care everyone.  Shygal

kad22

Hi Everyone!!

Once Catlady comes back on I would like my Smiley Face ASAP!!! I am DONE!!!!! Finished my last Taxol today! No more for me. My onc said I am in remission and to come back to see him in 3 months! YEAH!!!!

Now on to the reconstruction! Can't wait. Need to reschedule the appt. to see the PS to schedule the surgery!

Today my big toes are numb, side of face hurts, etc etc etc.... but I don't care because I AM DONE!!!!

I can't wait for everyone on this forum to be able to say that for everything!!

JenC you will get there!

Shygal Congrats to you on going topless! I can't wait to be able to do that. 14 wks PFC that is great!

As you can tell I am little hopped up on steriods right now but o-well b-cuz I am done!! He He LOL

Take care everyone have a SE Free Week! I am not going anywhere and hope you all aren't either because you all are now considered my sisters and I would miss talking to you!

Kelli

dutchgirl6

Yippee Kelli!!!  Congratulations on being done, it's been a long ride, but you reached the end.  I don't blame you for being excited, I don't think it's just the steroids.  Enjoy your chemo freedom, and I hope that the SEs go away soon.

saralmom

Kelli - congrats on finishing!  I love that word - remission!  Hooray!

Shygal I am so jealous you are topless!  I can't even imagine it!  So looking forward to that!

Hope you are all well today!

Sara 

JenC

Shygal - regarding the accupuncture.  See if you have any chiropractors in your area that also do accupuncture.  My friends insurance does not cover the accupuncture either but she found a chiroprractor that gives her an adjusement and accupuncture and bills the insurance somehow so that it covered under the chiropractic part.  Something you may want to look into.  I am calling that doctor soon and trying to get in for these migraines:)  Good luck

Jen

JenC

Kelli - congratulations on finishing. You rock:)

caltex_catlady

Congrats, Kelli!

I've been trying to add the smiley face to your name up top, but the "add emoticon" function is just adding the plain text version (which just says "Laughing") rather than the icon. Anyone know how to force it to show me the HTML so I can edit it that way? I'll keep trying, but in the meantime, I'll just let it put "laughing" by your name. I'm sure that's what you're doing, anyway!

Have I missed anyone else who's graduated from the chemo adventure?

I've been off having rads. Today was #18 of 25, so it won't be long now! I go back to work on Thursday for the first time in about seven months. I hope I'm not too exhausted.

I haven't started tamoxifen yet. The rad onc said he preferred patients wait until after rads. I guess there are some lovely side effects there that I have to look forward to. But at this point, I've seen I can make it through a lot, so I guess I can handle that, too.

There are some ladies at the rads place who are going through chemo at the same time as rads. I'm really glad I didn't have to do that.

Be well, everybody!

Karen

marcy4

Caltex-catlady

I finally finished my Chemo today.  My counts were too low to have my final Taxol, but my ONCO said I had had enough and could call it quits... It still hasn't sunk in yet.  I am contnuing with Herceptin every 3 weeks and RADS (6 weeks) should get started in Oct.  I feel the hardest part is over with and although there is still a lot ahead the end is getting closer.

 Congrats to all the other ladies who have recently finished and best wishes to all the rest of you who are still in treatment. It is a long journey, but the end will come.  I often find it hard to believe I even have cancer, let alone have completed a 6 month journey of Chemo. This is certainly a year I will remember!