February 2011 chemo pals

LisaGH

charlottesmama- glad you are home!

emilyinontario- I have the neuropathy too- I have TCH round 5 of 6 in 2 days (wed 5/11) and not back to baseline. Chemo is cumulative & I feel it every treatment! My muscles are stiff/sore too in my legs. I know it'll get better- it has- but not like before chemo. I am going to try to keep w/ the full dose.

I hope my hemoglobin will stay up. I was on antibiotics after round 3- for me round 3 of TCH was the worst so far for me.

I am dreading this week- almost have my taste back- able to work alot more (just tires me out walking but I can go further now than just a week ago).

Feels good to know that only 2 more. I do have such a dread of chemo- starts about a week before- and then a few days before...I get really anxious thinking about it again.

Hope all have a good week- we can do this! We are all getting closer to the end- as several folks said. 

Lisa

SpecialK

Hi LisaGH - I am thinking about you and dragonfly - my triplet buddies.  I know you are getting anxious about having to go, as am I.  I am more tired and my hemoglobin was 9.9 on Friday's CBC.  They indicated that if it was not back up above 10 this week they would use Procrit.  I don't want to have it so I have been eating STEAK, STEAK, STEAK and some spinach!  Just think by the end of the week we will only have ONE MORE!!!

mamaoftwo

Ruffolo1- I hope it went well for you today and not too many negative side effects in the days to come.  You are such a tough cookie to have gone through resp failure and allergic reaction and to still not give up.  Good for you.  Let us know how you do.

Divine Mrs. M- That lady on antibiotics at every round reminds me of me.  Well, I suppose she's in a worse boat; I'm "only" on my 3rd round.  Good luck on wednesday.  so great that you only have one more to go.

 Charlottesmama- that's so amazing that you sailed through surgery and are out of the hospital already.  Did you learn about the taxol issue?

Laura

LisaGH

SpecialK- Thanks! I am nervous. I haven't been sleeping as much the last few nights & I know it's dread of round#5! My MO doesn't do procrit- but transfusions. I was low in the 8's for a while- at 7 transfusion is mandatory per my MO for me. I agree- I eat much more protein, red meat, spinach, iron fortified cereal- special K cereal has alot- then drink Orange juice w/ cereal to help absorb. Just realized cottage cheese has so much protein too- and is low fat w/ the 2% kind- eating that w/ some fruit. I get really worried and nervous about my counts now- my WBC were almost zero once and I didn't feel different...then times I think hemoglobin will be low- it's high and vice versa. I can't figure it out!!! 

I hate the weight gain- I feel so bloated! Just part of it- will get back on an exercise regimen as soon as the TC is over- and just on Herceptin for the rest of the year.

I did feel that being more than halfway done has helped alot in the overall positive perspective for me. I felt that having 6 treatments of all of this was a big weight- one at the time now- and learning to manage side effects does help w/ each cycle. 

I have to have another echocardiogram next week one week post TCH round 5. 

I don't know how to not have the overwhelming dread this close to chemo- start on steroids in the morning..... telling myself one step closer to the end trying to be positive, positive!!!!

ruffy

Thinkingvof everyone this week, I hope treatments go smooth. I also get nervous the day before treatment. no fun, but once I get there and get underway, I seem to be fine.one more taxol to go!!! I can see the light !

Mamaoftwo, thanks for thinking of me- my treatment went great today, no reaction. I upped my steroids to 6 through the night and they gave me some by iv once at the hospital. PHEW! what a relief. I did have thoughts and tears about giving up, or seeing if there were other options but then I look at my 3 yr old and 14 year old and my dh and I have to keep moving foward. I do think I told the onc and the nurses that they had to be sure it wasn't going to happen again- I probably told them all 10 times, lol. I hope you're feeling better and getting some rest.

Charlottesmama, glad things went so well with you regarding surgery, you must feel relieved

LisaGh, good luck with your next chemo treatment and your echo, I hope you get some sleep. U can completely relate to your anxiety before chemo. We're almost done, hang in there!

Take care Friends,

Sara

ruffy

LisaGH, that should have said " I can completly relate". I think the chemo is catching up to me, that and I'm trying to type this on my iPhone while laying in bed. Time for sleep I think.

christina1961

EmilyinOnt, I'm not really sure if what I have is neuropathy or from the swelling of the taxotere (I've done 4 rounds of TAC) but my left index finger has remained numb since Round 3 and it worsens following chemo on about day 3.  I'm personally afraid to back off the chemo but I am triple negative and the tumor has shrunk quite a bit from the chemo.  But also- having said that, because it is unilateral I'm thinking it may NOT be nerve damage.  I'm going to a physical therapist for help with it in the event it is from the arthritis in my neck.

I hope everyone else is doing as well as expected with SEs and all - Special K, good luck with your presentation!

I finished round 4 with low counts again but strangely my red blood cell count is almost back to normal.  I've got a nice case of thrush, too but got some meds tonight for that.  I went into work chemo day (last Monday) and then the next day - by the end of the next day I barely was able to drive though.  Then on my back for a few days with pain pills for the neulasta and back to work today. Overall I felt better this round than round 3, though.  I could stand longer without feeling so weak.

The depression eased up today finally - I have a very hard time with that the week following chemo. Now I know the next time is the next to last time - and then the LAST ONE!  That's how I plan to psyche myself up!

SpecialK

christina19 - I don't have a presentation - fuzzylemon has one - I was commenting that I would be hard-pressed to do one!  But you are so sweet to wish me luck!  I have intermittent numbness in my fingertips and random nerve type pain in my right arm (node dissection arm) but like you I am not sure if it is mild neuropathy or edema from the Taxotere.  I can definitely tell that my legs are retaining water (the scale is telling me the same!) they just feel bigger and tight.  Make sure you are resting enough - the farther we go into this the more fatigue there is, so be careful.  Keep thinking about how close we are to being done!

Paula66

Its good to hear from you Michelle.  The drains were my best friends, they went with me everywhere, lol.  If you can shower the best way is wear a pair of panties in the shower and safty pin each drain to your panties.  It feels weird showering in your panties, but I found this the eaisest way to move around. 

I did have some problems with neutrpina and its been an issue ever since then.  Im wore out alot easier, but with time that will change.  I did have to do antibiotics because I had and infection somewhere and they put me in the hospital for a few days.  Other then that I made it thru the cold and flu season ok. 

Does anyon notice that there finger and toenails have turned black.  Most of mine have.  I also have black spots on the bottom of my feet.  The Onc says it normal, but it still is kinda freaky.  Anyone have this happen. 

SpecialK

Hey Michelle - glad to hear from you!  Hope you are doing well.  I showered with the drains looped onto a shoelace tied around my neck like a necklace.  Otherwise I just pinned them to a camisole/tank top.  Hopefully you will not have them long.  I only had drains for a week with both the BMX and AND.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Paula66 - are you complete with your chemo?  I have lost track!

Paula66

I have 1 treatment left.  I have it Friday then its on to Tomoxiphn.

KikiC

Hi Ladies,

 I was diagnosed in Jan 2011 and started my AC in February and finished in March. I just started on this site.  I have not been able to find support groups in my area.   I have had 5 out of my 12 Taxol/Herceptin treatments.  I go every week and look forward to the end of June.  My finger nails are turning dark and one of my toe nails has cracked vertically all the way down.  Does the taxol do this?  I have not experienced any of the neuropathy yet, so I am hoping I won't.  They just scheduled my bilateral mastectomy for July 18th.  I am sort of anxious since my onc cannot tell me exaxctly what stage I am or any prognosis.

 Question on HER2+, is it considered bad or good.  It is confusing I read both good and bad.  I had a lady ask me and when I told her I was positive she gave me a pathetic look. 

christina1961

Special K, I think I have chemo brain!!  I try to read through and respond and mix everyone up!  fuzzylemon, GOOD LUCK!!

Yes, we are almost finished, SK!  I do need to remember to rest - I am trying to keep working when I can but don't need to overdo it.  I am bloated and swollen feeling, too - socks leave lines on my ankles and anything around my midsection feels like a tight band.  Gotta be the taxotere.

Kiki, I haven't had nail issues except a few vertical lines and a little lifting - I just cut everything down really short to deal with that.  I think HER2+ used to be a negative before herceptin but now herceptin is a way to control it.  Some of the HER2+ folks will have to jump on here and explain, but that's what I've kinda picked up.   

dogeyed

I just read a page and a half of posts and I have no idea what anyone said!  Taxol puts my mind in neutral. I do recall Michelle is home now, so happy the surgery went so well.  And I recall the post about toes, both my big toes are bruised under the nail like a horse stepped on them.  I also feel like a horse stepped on me, too.  Smile  GG   P.S. Welcome Kiki

DivineMrsM

Those of you feeling anxiety prior to chemo treatments: you can get meds to help with that.  I am one to experience anxiety after the chemo. I found taking Ativan, altho perscribed to me for nausea, is also an anti-axiety medicine, and it helped me when I took it.  I must say, the combo of nausea and anxiety is one of the worst feelings I've experienced!  I think it's normal to have the axiety prior to treatment.  You should mention it to your onco.  

It's taken me several treatments to actually put a name to some of the feelings I'm having.  For example, the anxiety.  At first I just thought I 'felt bad' or 'sick' due to the chemo.  Then somehow I actually identified it as anxiety which was kind of like a break-thru for me because I could treat it rather than suffer with it.  I also at one point recognized I had some depression.  I believe that is different from anxiety.  I am going to discuss it with my onco tomorrow when I go for Treatment #5.  And my nausea is somewhat relieved a bit more if i take an antacid along with my perscription nausea medicine.

Sheesh!  By the time I'm done with the six treatments, I'll know what I'm doing....... 

dragonfly1

KikiC Glad you've joined us...As far as your nails. The taxane drugs are really hard on the nails. A lot of us have found that icing the nails during the infusions really helps to prevent nail problems or at least slow them down. I use ziploc bags with frozen peas on my nails during my taxotere infusions and it has really helped.

Re: your question about whether Her2+ is good or bad. Well, it means that the tumor is more aggressive but it also means that it can be targeted with Herceptin which is an amazing drug. If you haven't already checked it out, you should definitely join us on the "Triple Positive" thread as well since you have ER+/PR+/Her2+

Here is the Triple Positive link:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/764183?

SpecialK

KiKiC - have you been icing your nails during your Taxol?  If not I would recommend doing so, otherwise your nail situation could become worse.  If your center does not have ice mitts just use small bags of frozen peas and keep them on your hands and feet during your infusion.  Her2+ is considered to have a higher recurrence rate (aggressiveness) but with Herceptin that is more controlled.

Divine - so true - we become experts right at the end of the treatment!  That is why this site is so great - we have learned from the ladies who went before us and we can educate those coming after us.  I will be curious what your onc says regarding depression and what they suggest.  I found my BS more concerned about anxiety than my onc(I also saw him first) but he was very pro-Xanax.  I think he might own stock in it!  He actually spent quite a bit of time discussing how a BC diagnosis ranked on the scale of major life events and how important it was to recognize that it takes a long time to fully come to terms with its impact.  I think we move into and out of several phases as treatment progresses.

Paula - so happy for you to be done this week!

ruffolo - after this week LisaGH, dragonfly and I can all say only 1 more!  Yay for all!

SpecialK

dragonfly - great triplet minds think alike!

MamaV

KiKiC - welcome to the club no one wants to join. We are here for you! 

Everyone else - I can't keep up with all the posts, but will say I'm right here with you all - Taxol #4 of 12 on Thursday; anxiety increasing as I write b/c of upcoming tx; depression in full force - thankfully I now have meds for them both and seem to be helping.  I want this crap to be done and wish I could say 1 more like many of you!

On positive - my eyelashes and eyebrows are coming back in even on the Taxol.  Wonder if they'll stay of fall out again.  Just a little peach fuzz on my head - I feel like I will be wearing this wig forever!

The sun is shining here today (Chicago area) so I am going to rejoice in that and be thankful for the day! 

Hugs to all here - may you all feel the support from each other that I do just by sharing in this journey.

V-

KikiC

Thanks. I did use the icing mits for the first 3. The nurse said they were to prevent neuropathy and I didn't need them anymore. I will ask for them this Thursday when I go to Chemo. I will be half way done, yeah! I am also taking atavan for anxiety or I don't sleep at night.

MamaV

KikiC - I know about not sleeping - I have to take a sleeping pill or I lay there wide away and freak myself out!

My nails haven't changed colors but are separating from the beds - hurts a little

Melanie_Ann

Hi ladies! I feel like I haven't posted in a while! I'm alive and well. I've been keeping up with everyone but have been super busy trying to work, make it to physical therapy and doctor appoinments. I'm wondering if maybe I should or still should do FMLA. It's getting a little hard to manage especially since all of my appointments are at least 45- an hour and half away from where I live...but my last chemo is next Tuesday. So I don't know what to do.

Great to hear you're out of the hospital Michelle!

charlottesmama

Hi everyone! Finally got caught up on posts, and like GG, have forgotten everything. LOL! So, it's been a week since my surgery. Wow. Crazy. The morning of went very quickly. Last thing I remember was being transferred to the operating table. Woke up 9 1/2 hours later in recovery and my dad was there.

I was transfered to ICU where I spent the entire stay. They had to do doppler checks and vitals on me every hour for 48 hours and the room was kept very warm. No solid foods. Fine by me. LOL! All I wanted was gingerale and lots of ice.

I was on morphine with a pump I could activate when needed, but used it mostly to get a little sleep. The ICU was very busy, noisy and bright, so I got VERY little sleep the entire time. The bulk of my pain was really muscular like the team must have twisted my arms in pretzels behind my head to get them out of the way! Doc says MX went very well, with clean margins (skin-sparing mx) and everyone raves about PS's work (he was very modest, just happy flap was responding so well and I was feeling good).

I had some stomach distress (maybe due to the morphine), but the disgusting hospital food didn't help a bit. How can they feed people whose immune systems are so weak food that could clearly kill them?! The worry was that my abdomen was so taught after the surgery, the buildup of methane, ahem, was becoming painful. Docs really did notice the bloating and were concerned. Gave me something for it, and all I can say is bless the nurse who had to deal with the "fall out". LOL! The ICU has no individual toilets, just "commodes". I guess nurses have to measure everything going in and out. Ahem.

So, great to be home and eating real food! Steak! Salad! Coffee! Granola! Yogurt! It all tastes so good. I am down to Tylenol for minor muscle pain. See PS on Monday and Onc/BS next Friday. Can't wait to go back to work!

Oh, and ladies, my hair is growing in like gangbusters!!!!

Peace. Out.

m 

SpecialK

Hey Michelle - sorry about your troubles while in the hospital but so glad you are home, doing well and enjoying!  Yay for hair!!!  Hope to be joining you soon on that front!

charlottesmama

PS. Path report from MX sounded good. Still not sure about Taxol, but pretty likely. Oh well.

DivineMrsM

Charlottesmama, it is nice to hear from you since your surgery and thanks for the updates.....will keep your recovery in my prayers and nice to hear about your path report sounding good also.......hugs and prayers being sent out to you & up for you!

Paula66

Its good to see ya doing so good Michelle.  Its goood to hear you have clear margins.  I pray for continue progress for you.

I hear you on the food deal.  Omg when I got put in the hospital for nuetrapina they wouldnt let me have any fresh veggies or fruit.  I was ready to scream.  I always had a sick tummy from the AC but fresh stuff was so comforting to my tummy.  Heck I could order my weight in chocolate.  Man I was never so glad to have that lifted from my diet.

Well  all I hope everyone is doing well.  Take care all and ave a good night.

DivineMrsM

Heading out this morning for Treatment #5 of 6~

Paula66

Good Luck MrsM.

charlottesmama

On the food: My family thought when I got home I'd want nothing more than chicken soup and oatmeal. Are you KIDDING???? Bring on da steaks! Bring on da burgers!! Big bowls of salad with blue cheese dressing! Butter! Butter! BUTTER!!!!!! I AM eating plenty of organic yogurt to protect my tummy from the Keflex.

M