February 2011 chemo pals

sukie10

I'm up 12 pounds also. Almost all of it on my gut yuk! I had to buy bigger clothes now that the weather is nice. I've already changed my eating habits but the sitting around and napping is doing me in. Maybe we will have to start turning this into a supportive weight loss thread. It's tough to muster up the energy for exercise when you've been laying around for 4 or 5 months. I think about it all the time and then do nothing LOL.

dragonfly1

Sukie I'm with you on the weight gain. I'm up 10-12 pounds overall and I'm in my last cycle of chemo. I'm hoping that some of it is fluid but I don't really know. I've been so exhausted through this whole thing and I've had so much muscle soreness that I couldn't exercise even if I wanted to. I've been working all along and that's about the extent of my physical activity. Most days I'm doing good just to get ready for work, walk to my car and get through the day. I am really looking forward to my energy level improving at some point-maybe then I could think about actually exercising again!

pejkug3

I had such terrible diarrhea in rounds 1-3 of TCH that I lost about 40lbs.  But I have a feeling I'll be up about 5lbs tomorrow at my appt.  I have figured out how to control the diarrhea (I think) and I've been eating. 

TCH #6 tomorrow!  I feel like I should celebrate somehow.    But I feel nervous about it, too.  I've been praying though this whole experience that I NEVER have to do this again. 

My kiddos are home for the summer and we hit the zoo on Sunday and the lake on Monday.  We did pretty good with sunscreen - only mild sunburn - for being there for 5 1/2 hours.  Today we signed up for summer reading at the library.  In a way, I feel like I'm trying to cram summer into three weeks since I really don't know how bad I'll feel during rads.  And no wearing a bra!?  Yeah, I won't be going anywhere.  lol

LisaGH

Congrats Pejkug3- will think of you tomorrow. I am now day 8 post tch6 and feeling better!

Like all of you, the weight gain stinks. I mean- cancer, can't eat, and gain weight? What a raw deal we get don't we???!!! STINKS! 

 I had my last weekly herceptin today. It was so weird but GREAT! The doctor walked in and we talked about POST chemo stuff. Sincerely awesome!  My hemoglobin is up- he said he was really shocked that I had not ended up w/ a transfusion. I was on a progressively downward spiral in the 8's until I changed my eating habits after TCH#3 which was a rough one for me.

I'll be on Arimidex (I am a little intimidated by that I'll admit). He wants me though to have a 'washout' period. He said he'll start me on that after my TE surgery. (Which is still set for 7/6 if I can get the HGB up to 10). He said he wouldn't want to confuse any side effects of what was chemo, what was surgery w/ the medication.

 He doesn't do scans or markers unless there are symptoms. It's a bit scary, but honestly objectively if there's something small probably wouldn't show up now anyway having so much chemo.... he doesn't think it will return though. (If it weren't HER2 I wouldn't worry about it as much- but what can you do anyway? worry won't change anything...)

He does feel that exercise makes a positive impact in preventing recurrence. He thinks diet does but studies/research not great to support at this point- he did discuss w/ me. 

So, yes friends. let's help each other w/ diet and exercise support. I had an appointment with a nutritionist (it's a free service for cancer patients at my hospital's center- for anyone in the metro atlanta area) tomorrow, but had to change it. The one annoying symptom I have is fluid in my ears! MD said it might be the chemo, but fluid retention is not usually in the ears- usually in the lungs and elsewhere he said. But it's been going on for 3 weeks now and I can't hear well out of my left ear. So off to an ENT I go tomorrow afternoon...  (Isn't that weird? I haven't found it listed on anything as a side effect of anything? I do have sinus troubles and did prior to chemo- so maybe it's that?)

Anyway, just to say bye bye taxotere and carbo. Thankful for every drop of you to fight off any cells that might have thought they might be out there after surgery... but glad to not see you.

My MD said often the last treatment is the worst. Honestly, the fatigue/weakness was, but not as painful or as long as others. To me, treatment 3 was the toughest. Once I got to 5- I felt close and it was fine.

Thanks for the support- sorry for being so long... I appreciate you guys!

Lisa

Melanie_Ann

I've been exhausted as well. I spoke with my ONC about it and he assured me it was normal. He said to expect to feel some sort of fatigue for maybe 5 months afterwards. He said I wouldn't necessarily have it that long, but not to be discouraged if it did hang around. He also encouraged me to exercise. He said it would make me feel better. So I have been. Except my legs are crying out to me to stop..haha. So I gave myself a break today. Back at it tomorrow. I'm just walking for now. I ate better today, which I'm happy about. Not a lot of snacking but if I did, just some fruit. woo hoo!

I have noticed that I have a little more energy. I actually started cleaning on Sunday and today I did all of my laundry myself. It's been awhile...with being exhausted from chemo, then the onset of lymphedema, I had no motivation to do anything. But it's slowly coming back. I'm 3 weeks past my last chemo so things are starting to look up. 

 My ONC said that I could have a follow up PET scan if I wanted to, but he suggested I wait for about 5 months if I'm not having any weird symptoms. He said it really wouldn't be accurate if we did it right after RADs. So I'm ok to wait right now. 

We definately should motivate each other to exercise/eat better, etc. I do think it's ok though to give ourselves some time to get back into the swing of things. I've always been one to really push myself though when it comes to those things so it has been a little hard letting myself slow down. But I'm getting better at it. 

dogeyed

Thank you, Sukie, for weighing in on my question.  My chemo was neo also, my surgery will be about two weeks after the last Taxol, and doc said he'd take a few lymph nodes (I guess to test them), but I imagine he can visualize if they're enlarged, etc., I just don't know.  I know this, the lymph system is all over the body, in the breast, underarm, down the arm, up into the neck, everywhere.  I also have adenopathy in my armpit, reckon they'll get rid of that, too.  Then it's rads about three weeks following surgery, I do not know what doc plan is for that, length of time or what, guess depends on how the surgery goes, but I cannot imagine he won't do rads, my diagnosis included clinical IBC, but pregame radioactive scans said no cancer anywhere else.

I have lost a total of 25 pounds so far with chemo, which I really needed to get some weight off, and I expect I will lose more for the last month of chemo, plus during the surgery recovery period, too.  I began walking the beginning of June, I knew I was going to ramp up my physical fitness even long before being diagnosed with BC, becuz wasn't moving much from back and leg pain after car wreck.  I walk about every other day, sometimes two days in between if my joints or muscles hurt.  I can already tell my stamina is building, albeit not by very much.  But I had to pick a time to start, and was afraid if I waited until surgery, it would be hard to begin it afterwards.  That way, after a week of not being able to move, I should be able to climb back in the saddle fairly quickly as long as I duct-tape my arm to my body.

It's been a long time since I dieted, but best one I had was counting calories during week, low-fat, all vegies okay, plus extra exercise, and one weekend day I'd eat normal within reason.  Took longer, but lasted longer, too.  I found out sodas had to be diet, they can stack on weight, and obviously milk, too, so skim helps since I have to drink it.  I hadn't thought about dieting, am just going to increase exercise and not eat to full (very hard) for rest of summer. 

I go get Taxol infusion today at 11:30.  Want husband to run me by bank and pharmacy after, but I woke up early and am in so much pain.  The Taxol I think is building up in my system.  Side effect discomfort has varied, but it is definitely taking me longer to get over each infusion.  Anyhow, next day we take dog to vet for checkup in morning, hope to squeeze in groceries before that, and then maybe Saturday sit down and do my pile of bills, those are only days I can think straight.  GG

MamaV

dogeyed - I'm scheduled for Taxol #8 today at 12:30 and it is definitely building up in my system.  4 to go after today!  Still not sure I'm going to make it through it!

Melanie_Ann

Good Luck today MamaV! You'll make it!

Question for everyone..I am 3 weeks post my last chemo and I still get nauseous about every day. My ONC said it was ok for now, but to call him if I was still like this in a few more weeks...

Has anyone else experienced this? It's definately not as bad as with chemo, just kind of there and  persistent.

MamaV

Thanks melanie. I get nauseous from stress. Any chance you do too? Otherwise i got nothin' ha ha

LisaGH

Melanie Ann- I am 8 days post last #6 TCH- and I had nausea w/ round 6 and had none the entire 5 cycles before. I am ok now- but it was not fun. Hope it gets better for you soon.

I am really starting to feel better- except I have fluid buildup in my middle ear on the left-- went to ENT today. the MO said it might be taxotere but he didn't think so- never had any ear troubles before. Started on antibiotics and nasal spray. If not better- will have to have a procedure (fun fun) and have a tube put into the ear ot drain it. YUCK.  never boring....

I am so glad to be done- the last cycle wasn't as bad as I feared, but fatigue was. The taste changes haven't left yet- it's annoying! But walking- I am starting to try to move more to get the body moving post chemo. I walked just a little distance and wanted to sit down. It's going to take time to build exercise/stamina up.

I know I can do it- after all we have all been through....

Hope yall are having a good day.

Lisa

Braveheart

Hi my feb girls, I wanted to stop by and see how everyone is doing. I'm thinking of you ladies. You are my rock when I needed you the most. I'm 8 days post chemo now. Hang in there! You'll all be done with chemo soon enough. BTW, I added a new topic ..Done with chemo, now what?...stop by, would love to see some familiar faces. Sending you lots of {cyber hugs}.

pejkug3

TCH #6 - DONE!

WHOO-HOO!

SpecialK

Pejkug - Yay!!!!!

Melanie_Ann

Yay pejkug!!!!! Congratulations!

Dogbiskit

Congrats pejkug!!!

dogeyed

Melanie Ann, I can give you a couple tips for nausea.  Alka seltzer original will restore your tummy to it's normal pH, so whenever you feel it, take that, since you're done with chemo.  Also, try some probiiotics, they're in Acidophilus milk and Activia yogurt, use them for a couple weeks, and they also restore the intestinal flora to its normal bacteria levels that help break down waste.  You're already exercising, also helps digestion move better, just rest when you need to.  Lastly, for stress-related nausea, some deep breathing helps, you do this ten times:  Breathe in very deeply and blow it out, breathe normal a couple times, then repeat with the deep breathing and blowing it out.  It will lower your heartrate and therefore stress, too.  Those things, plus an ordinary glass of milk and cookie, will settle your tummy and you should be okay pretty quickly.   

MamaV, yesterday when I showed up for Taxol, I was SO tired.  I woke up at 3 a.m. the night of, which I did last time, and I was not very comfortable when I showed up, and for the first time when they asked me how I was, instead of fine, I said, "Fair."  I fell asleep within about five minutes of the benadryl going in and slept the whole 1-1/2 hours.  That helped, plus last night I fell asleep early and got up at 5 a.m., much better, feel much better.  Exhaustion is the main problem for me with Taxol, it just doesn't stop.  I was going to walk down to the gazebo yesterday and thru the yard, but I swear I just couldn't.  So, while it is hard, I hope yours isn't as bad as the AC, which I keep tellilng myself that, but on Sunday, it's ALWAYS pretty awful, and i did almost quit on AC.  So, just four more, I think you can do it even if you're dying when you show up for chemo, you get to rest and in the chair.  Be sure to eat all sorts of foods, munch on protein, I am having trouble getting protein down, but I do like my V-8 and milk, good electrolytes.

In about an hour I go get groceries, and finally I am well enough to go, then we take the one dog to the vet to check her over, she needs her nails cut, and I want him to doublecheck her back injury she got when she took a short tumble down the back deck steps, just four of them, took her in then back in Jan for it, and she is getting better since we put a gate there.  Still, I worry myself sick over her.  I taught her to talk,and I swear that dog gets to whining for ALL discomfort, be it needing to go outside, wanting a snack, needing help getting up, and I worry about pain, thus the vet.  Tomorrow bills, then I'm free until next chemo.  GG  WHY DO I ALWAYS MAKE GIANT POSTS?

sewingnut

Way to go Pejkug.....Let the hair growth begin  =;0)

dragonfly1

Pejkug3 Congratulations!!! It only gets better from here...hope your final round of SEs are kind to you.

Melanie_Ann

dogeyed- I guess you have a lot to say.

Thanks for the advice. I never thought about the probiotics. I'll try it. 

MamaV

dogeyed - I don't think I've ever answered "fine" when they ask how I'm doing.  I am brutally honest - I'm tired, I'm sad, I'm anxious, I hate this, etc.  The nurses are so supportive.  Taxol has been much better for me than A/C.  I go to bed at 9:30 every night though (even though I have to take Ambien, which only works for about 4-5 hours for me - then I take a Xanax and sleep another 3.  I'm probably totally addicted, but at this point, I don't care.  I just need to sleep!).  For me, the emotional exhaustion has been the worst! 

I've lost about 25 pounds too!  I just can't seem to eat.  The stress of this damn disease is not helping my recovery at all!

christina1961

One of the caboose members of this thread here - last chemo (TAC) on Monday.  I'm already getting anxious - I've had so much nausea that all I have to do is think about the chemo room and I get hit by a wave of nausea!  Oh well....thank goodness it is the last one!!!!   I refilled my nausea meds this morning!

SpecialK

Go christina!  You can do it!  You are going to be so relieved after Monday!

Melanie_Ann

Good Luck Chrstina! I had TAC too and the nausea was sooo bad for me. I'm now 3 1/2 weeks past my last one and filling pretty good. I won't say excellent but I'm getting there. Enjoy your weekend!

DivineMrsM

dogeyed, I too appreciate your advice on relieving nausea, and will be using some of your tips.

MelanieAnn, in addition to the anti-nausea perscription the onc gave me (compazine) I also take one generic Prilosec a day (its a 12 hour pill) which is an antacid. (generic cuz its cheaper).  The duo combination helps me with the nausea better than compazine alone. I think the antacid keeps me from getting what I call a sour stomach.  This was something I didn't learn until about my 4th chemo treatment, I was never one to take antacids in the first place.  But it was mentioned in the chemo-tips thread, and I found it helpful to use. I just take it in the morning and don't feel the need to take a 2nd pill at night.

I am a week and a half past my chemo and still get the nausea on and off. 

charlottesmama

Hi ladies. Quick check in and then I'll go back and read all your posts.

I went back to work on Wednesday and was so happy to be  there. The temp next to the air conditioner in my corner of the kitchen was 85! I had to take a few moments in the bar area to cool down.

Later in the evening I realized my abdomen was very hard and swollen. Hmmmm.... last poop? Maybe 4 days or more. Something I never thought about. UGH. Now I know to prepare next time. TMI, I know.

Nighty-night sweet cowgirls!

alison0415

Hi Everyone, I had my final TCH yesterday, so glad to be done with that!  The worst SEs usually don't hit until Monday and I am hoping this time is better than #5.

I saw a lot of discussion on exercise.  I was a running until I got cancer.  I also played tennis 3 times a week.  Even though I continued playing tennis 1-2 times a week and walked 4-5 miles once a week, I still managed to pack on 15 pounds.  My stomach is huge, especially right under my chest.  But I also indulged in comfort foods so I know it is more than just bloating.  But I do believe exercise makes a big difference in recovery and in your attitude and general mental health.  So just taking a short walk with a friend, or with your ipod helps clear your head and approach things just a bit better. 

 I am the captain of a Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Santa Barbara in September so we are starting our training next week, and I plan to stay on schedule with everyone else.  I do have rads starting up in a few weeks but I have already convinced myself it is nothing compared to TCH so I will be fine.

Maybe we should start a new thread on diet and exercise for those who are interested?

Alison 

SpecialK

alison - so glad you are done.  I don't know why - and I am afraid to question it too much - I feel nothing like I did on any other tx.  The worst of the SE's just never have shown up - I wish the same for you. 

On the diet/exercise front - I agree, we should start shifting our group, or those who would like to, over to whatever we can do to regain some normalcy.  Wish I could join you in Santa Barbara, love it there. 

dogeyed

CharlottesMama,  I love your new look, I can see how your hair is coming in, quite feminine with your makeup and the lighting.  If you have waste right there and ready to come out and it won't, get some BabyLax or PediaLax at the drugstore, little box of ointment tubes, squirt two in the rear, and it'll come out in minutes.  Then lots of water and a little more fiber foods, Acidopihilus milk on oat cereal for example, and you'll eventually return to normal. 

Allison, I'm with Special K, I would LOVE to join you in Santa Barbara, beautiful place.

MamaV, I wish you didn't have the sad part, I get it once in a while, food seems to help.  

All Else,  My dog is apparently doing fine, cut her nails, husband said she did really well late last night with her walking (I was passed out).  I messaged Fuzzy, told her husband how to get on here to give us a report if she is unable to use her machine, seems she had a problem sometime back with her computer.  Let us all hope she is doing better.  GG 

mks16

Hi girls!

 I am definitely interested in a diet and exercise thread! I know there's several threads like that on board already, however I find that the challenges I am facing so soon after the chemo are hard to match with others who have been exercising and dieting for months already.

I really need support of others otherwise I can see myself just giving up on both, diet and exercise. 

I still read this thread, although I don't contribute as much, it is always nice to hear how everyone else is doing. And GG's tips are always great to read!

xo

sukie10

Okay I think we are all starting to agree on the diet and excercise idea. I'm with mks, the other threads have been going for awhile and I'm currently just finding it a challenge keeping up with the reading. I'm the last out of chemo and then I still have surgery. I really don't want to let the summer slip by without trying to get out there. I'm going to start looking for excercises that are surgery and rad friendly for our specific set of problems. I'm worried about joining a regular excercise group where you get pushed into injury by someone who just doesn't realize what we've got going on. Lets all set a X-mas goal. I'm in for 15 lbs. Thats the 12 I've gained and 3 for good measure. It will look nice with my new hair. We have been a great support group for each other so far. I bet we can do this too.