April 2011 chemo

jackifp

Carla- deep sigh for you and port troubles. I was in the closet my onc calls a chemo room with a woman whose port would not cooperate, and she didn't speak any English and her teen daughter's Spanglish wasn't up to explaining, so I ended up being both translator and reassurance. Poor lady has very little understanding of anything that's been done, other than she's in pain and scared. My heart went out to her. Hope your port troubles are resolved asap. We just plain don't need no more stinking complications, do we?

Merilee

I had a nurse miss my vein when I went for fluid infusion and I had a huge bruise for more than a week. Next time I am asking for whom ever is best at getting ivs in to start me. don't care who is insulted. Then get better at what you do fool! Ug I hate hearing all this extra trouble we are having to deal with because someone is either incompetent or  not focused. GRRRR   I mean really?  If did something in my work that caused a huge bruise on someone I would be sued and yet these people just shrug it away.

louis13

true merilee. each infusion i have had massive residual bruises from the first attempts by either the novices who are learning or those who have lost their touch...and then they call in the nurses who get it in one. 

kg1234

Hi Ladies,

I've been missing in action, but reading your posts.  I'm having massive anxiety issues (which before BC I didn't have)....getting through each day has been rough even though my round #3 of A/C was better than #2.  

I had a complete mental breakdown, crying uncontrollably, and just didn't want to face treatment #4. Anyhow, finally called a survivor of 5 years and she kicked my ass and gave me great perspective at a time when I really needed it....so I've decided to go on.

If you've been suffering, as I have, you are not alone.  This is a shitty, scary disease and I always thought I was a strong person.  I have decided I am strong enough to get through #4.  I can do this for myself, for my beautiful boys (who turn 7 this week) and I want to celebrate many more birthdays with them without regret that I didn't do everything I could have to beat this.

Staying strong,

Kg. 

CarlaB76

I'm back home from #3.2.  Surgeon got access on attempt number one, even though he told the nurses he was doing it blind based on the outer margins of the port.  But he showed them how to do so.  He stated that part of the issue is not that the port is deep, but I have a lot of scar tissue over the port (umm, you think so, from the fact that I needed two surgeries to get this thing right?).  Anyway...treatment #3 is done and we're 3/4 way to half way home.

Kg - I hear you on the anxiety and feeling way on edge.  Hang tough lady.

Jackifp - indeed, we don't need any extra complications.  Stupid port.

Thinking of you all.

artiecat

Great news Carla!!!  You are a trouper!

I am off to #3 TAC tomorrow - I still feel nervous about it - not the infusion itself, but what the aftermath might be.

Got all my pre chemo errands done yesterday and today after work - and found Metro Mint water!!!

CarlaB76

Good Luck this morning, Artiecat!

Merilee

Articat, good luck today

KG- I have had to work really hard with a therapist regarding the anxiety, You are so right this is a shitty scary thing to have to endure. But a brighter day is coming.

Carla, thank God the dumb asses got the port right. I mean really? putting it over scar tissue?, what a bunch of fools! Sorry but that is ridiculous.

pawprintgirl24

i hope everyone is doing ok today!! i am off to surgen re check then my husband is getting pinned today since he made sergeant!! bad thing is i hope i can last that long in this heat!! i normally crash at 11 this thing is at 1!cross your fingers that i make it through without passing out on the cheif!!! lol but i really am proud of him! he was 13th out of 135 that took the test!!better days are coming for all of us!!

artiecat

pawprint - congrats to your husband - andyou!  Remember sunscreen, hat and hydrate!!!!!  Thank him for his service and dedication!!!

Sarah246

CarlaB76

Had the same problem with the port. Was suppose to go to surgeon but was sick the day of the appointment. Treatment in a week for 3rd chemo. I guess they will go through my veins again.

Why did they even put the port in if it's going to be this much trouble and none of the nurses can access it.

Someone asked about getting periods during chemo. Yes, that's me also. I have gotten chemo two times and each and every time my period came on after being off for about 7 months. What's up with that? Just weird!

 All you guys are so wonderful, I don't get a chance to post as much as I would like, but I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you guys to share with and read the stuff that you guys are experiencing.

Feeling better this week trying to enjoy every minute of the up moments.

scc218

Carla -- I'm glad they finally were able to get access!  Geez!  How frustrating!  As if we don't have enough crap on our plates.

Pawprint -- Congratulations to your husband!  Hope you made it through the ceremony without any problems.

I met with the radiation oncologist today.  She was really nice.  But I was devastated to learn that I wouldn't be doing the radiation at the same time as the Taxotere (I was originally told they would be done together).  No such luck.  So after I finish the A/C, I do 12 weeks of the Taxotere then wait a month (give the body some healing time) and then 6 weeks of daily radiation (M-F).  I was really hoping to get all this s*@t over with SOON.  Now it looks like it will be dragging on until mid to late November.  UGH!  Not much I can do about it except deal with it and MOVE ON.  One very long year.  Let's hope 2012 is much better for ALL of us!

RangerMom

Congrats Pawprint for standing by your man and for his making seargent! That's quite an accomplishment. YOu'll be so proud tomorrow you'll not feel anything but elation, then you can crash. Thanks for sharing. 

 I'm getting round #3 tomorrow. Hope its better than the 2nd and 1st. I see others here who say their 3rd was better. I'm taking Ativan prior to and then each night to see if that helps with the nausea and vomiting. Doing Emend andmore steroids too but just not where I'd like to be yet. The clots seem to be either smaller or moved on their way. My neck is much better but how I have a hoarse voice, what's up with that?

Have a super memorial weekend everyone and get lots of rest. Love to all, LindaJ 

Merilee

Linda J

Good luck with #3.

artiecat

Chemo #3 done!  Half way through!  Yay!

Merilee

Yippy Artiecat! I can't remember are you doing AC or TC?

artiecat

I am doing TAC.  Thanks for the good words!

CarlaB76

Yay Artiecat!

Hope #3 went well for you too, RangerMom!

pawprintgirl24

wishing all of you warm nice thoughts for your friday with no SE!!!! half way for alot of us!!! YAY!!!

i have lots of questions to ask just because i didn't ask my onc at the begining??? i found out that i am er+ pr+ and her2+ so what i want to know is anyone else that has the same could you tell me what your dr's plan is?? meds for 5 years after or what??i am confussed because my onc told me that i would get my period back and acted like everything in life would go back to normal  after chemo??

carabear

Pawprintgirl24-

I am also ep+/pr+/her2+. I am doing 6 cycles of Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin for 1 year. After TC I will start Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am surprised you won't need any more meds? Are you close to going through menopause? Maybe that's why? Congrats on being half way through. Had 2nd treatment yesterday. 4 more to go!!!

Take care!

Cara

artiecat

Does everyone know about this?

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

Merilee

I applied for cleaning for a reason and they said that all the providers in my area were all ready busy.

pawprintgirl24

cara i'm doing the same tch then herceptin for a year but she never said anything else...i am 37 and i guess not near menopause...still having periods now on the chemo...she told me that i would probably have a couple of hot flashes and then get my period back since i'm so young ! but that doesn't sound right! i need to ask her about this i guess. i wasn't so worrired about what came after chemo just the chemo! i know she has me doing rads after chemo but i never cared to find out how many...

i asked my sergen  yesterday what was my + - ??? and the nurse told me they were both + so... i'll just ask my onc next week....

CarlaB76

Pawprintgirl24:

I'm 34 and will be doing 5 yrs of tamoxifen after chemo is done because of the ER+/PR+ markers on my turmor.

pawprintgirl24

thanks cara and carla!

BernieEllen

hello to everyone, was off for awhile, couldn't remember my password and never did get the email reminder.  Finally brain came back to normal.  Chemo 3 next wednesday.  Wasn't too bad after 2 but the woozy head really gets to me.

Sarah246

BernieEllen

I have Chemo brain also, can't believe what has happened to my brain since Chemo started.

Getting ready for Chemo number three, is it more easier than Chemo, 1,2?

axtella

Carla -- It took the nurses 4 times to access my port and the only way they could is if I am laying down. My port has flipped or twisted somehow.

My # 3 was by far the worse. So bad my white blood counts and platelets are both low. Since mine is mop up chemo doc says he is dropping #4 AC...YEA!!!! In two weeks I will start #1 of 4 of Taxol.

Is anyones hair growing back? I shaved mine because it was coming out in clumps but it has been growing back. It is MUCH darker. I also didn't lose my eyebrows and eyelashes but lost the rest of the hair on my body. Doc says I am a strange one lol.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Anonymous

KG: I can totally relate. I've been off the board for a few weeks, totally wondering whether I even want to go on living at this point. AC chemo #4 is over, but I'm in for 13 months of more infusions plus 33 daily rads in there somewhere. I've cried buckets, and now I am just numb. I don't know the ugly hag I see in the mirror, and I can't envision ever getting my life back -- not that it was so great before I got cancer in the first place. I've never felt so low.

carabear

Pawprintgirl 24-

Your Welcome! I would definitely ask your onc about that though. Better to be safe and take charge of your health!

Have a great weekend!

Cara