Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

FrancesC

Thanks jrh for your encouragement. I don't think I can keep ice in my mouth during I fusion as I am using cold cap and as it is I shiver throughout. I just have to deal with this metal mouth of mine for a few days.

rossileo18

Jrh1953,



Thanks for the hint. And congratulations on finishing the tx! I'm sure it seemed like forever which you were going thru this, but now it must feel great.

Anonymous

Rossileo - sorry about your mom - I know how it is - dealing
with my ailing in-laws; hiding my own problem from my mother-in-law.  Like I mentioned before, she is dying of ovarian cancer.  Hey the weird thing is that her hair is growing back and mine is falling out!  My father-in-law has Parkinson's and serious foot problems.  Getting old stinks. 

Francis - how are you feeling now?  Sorry about your dad - at least you have the siblings.  But I know you wish you could help out tool  My husband is an only child and his folks are in Europe.  We Skype with them - even though they are getting more and more confused and don't
really know how to use the computer we set up for them - they just know how to answer the skype call.  They have good medical care and help at home and all, but still. . .

Yesterday, I was much better than the day before (felt kind of hungover from the wee bit of nausea I had Tuesday evening after THE CHAIR).  Yes, yesterday I was flying high from the
steroids and was busy busy busy.  Today, I feel like a truck ran me over or maybe like I was run through a meat tenderizer.  So, I went to lunch with some friends and then went to get a massage.  Am I crazy or what?  Actually, I feel better.  Still wonky walking down the street back to
my house.  I went very slowly, like all my joints were loose.  On the up side - I do not have those weird bumps on my tongue that I got last time.   Yeah!  Oh wait - I think that actually my tongue feels like it was scraped with a rake again.

But I am still going bald and I do not like it one bit!!!!!  Today I sported a grey bandana with a purplish twisty scarf as decoration, and had my several strands of shoulder-length hair
sticking out.  I look like a pirate or a fortune teller.

Everyone - please have a pleasant weekend

FrancesC

Hi all, thanks for the well wishes. The senior doctors treating my dad now want us to make a decision on his liver biopsy. They have checked everything and all turned out ok except for two spots in his liver and they suspect liver cancer. His platelets keep dropping despite 6 infusions already and I am worried with his weak state he can't handle the operation. But doctors are insisting as they cannot do more now and also cannot discharge him if there is no diagnosis. Dad has agreed to the operation as he wants to be out of the hospital fast, come what may. getting old really sucks! Why can't old people just go peacefully in their sleep? Why must there be all these sufferings?



I am feeling much better now. It's been 5 days since chemo. Other than nasty diarrhea and sleeplessness, I am doing well.

Planning to go for a walk after my juice, maybe a little jog if I am up to it. Hope all you ladies feel great and have a fantastic weekend..

Paintingmywaythru

Rosaleo18 so sorry about your mom, and frances so worrisome about your dad and what a ctch 22, My hsubands father suffered for 3 years and was in a nursing home and it wasn't unril in his case we asked for ospice that he was able to get some peace. Your dad sounds liek a fighter and he seems to want to get things taken care of...my thoughts ot you both...

Susan

rossileo18

Thanks to all for best wishes for my mom. She's out of the ICU and feeling better. The docs just had to figure out why she's anemic.



Yes, what a roller coaster it is dealing parents and in-laws health. Even if it's good (like my mothers wasa) you know that eventually something will happen and you just pray that it will not be too drawn out and painful.



I'm doing well after this second round -- none of the fever I had first time around. Just feeling a little tired. Hair had sort of stabilized after first round, but I think it's starting to come out faster again. Still wearing hats and caps with my little bit of hair sticking out. My friends say it still looks ok.

Anonymous

Hi everyone - I am feeling much better than new!  Been eating all sorts of things this weekend.  Incredible appetite!!  Had to get Italian pastries and a quiche and gelato and some duck proscuitto, as well as all the usual vegetables at the farmers' market.  My taste buds are only a bit deadened.  Been staying hydrated - even tried some of that Honest Tea (unsweetened green tea) - but I prefer still or sparkling water.  I think I am going to buy some more bandanas.  Still brushing my hair out, but there is still enough to stick out of the bottom of the bandana and look "normal".  No one bothers to ask - why are you wearing bandanas?  Have a bit of tingling in my hands, but it is minor.  Mostly, I am still quite hyper from the steroids, the excitement, the fear (a little bit) of all this still very surreal experience.

Wishing everyone the best, and hoping we all have a pleasant week.

FrancesC

Wow Phillybird you are on a roll. So glad you are doing so well and eating too. I am also starting to have a good week this week and it all starts again next week:(

Anonymous

Oh Frances - you are going to do great!  You are going to have a fabulous week this week, and then, next week will be easy because it is old hat routine.  But, don't think about next week!  Your positive attitude has given me a lot of strength here.  Positive thinking is contagious.

Snoopy73

Hi ladies, hope you all had a good weekend with minmal SEs. Mine was nice, spent saturday with my kids, park, mall, lunch out, visit friends. I am still feeling good Thank God, BUT thursday back to the chair for my #3:-( uurgghh dreading the day but wants this to be over and done with. Will keep you posted. Have a blessed monday all.

FrancesC

Yes I will enjoy this week! Did a bit of gardening - repotted okras, planted lemongrass and turmeric last two days. Colleagues and friends coming over to visit me tomorrow and Thursday -all to celebrate my birthday which will fall a day after my 4th chemo next week. one of them bringing a sugarless chocolate banana cake! Planning to go out for a birthday feast with BFF and our respective families on Saturday too. Live life!

rossileo18

I think this is the good news board. Sounds like everybody is able to enjoy this week. Today was beautiful -- blue skies, temps in the 70's, sparkling lakefront water, so I jumped on my bike for the first time since I started chemo and took a little spin. The helmet hid my thinning locks. Gotta admit it was a little chilly on the scalp, and I do feel a little worse for wear, but it was worth it just to pretend all is normal. Savor the moment!

Snoopy73

Hi ladies, hope your day has started off good. Nothing major to report on my end apart from having this weird pain at the back of my right left, its like a cramp but not really a cramp, its just annoying. Anyone else experienceing this? Apart from that, been having good normal days, back to the "chair" on thurs for my number 3. Wishing you all a good day!!

FrancesC

I don't have this pain. My discomfort is overall muscle ache probably from taxotere and neupogen but I am used to this ache now.

Anonymous

No weird cramping pain for me either.  I had all-over "muscle-type" pain last Thursday/Friday, which I attribute to Wednesday's Neulasta shot.  Otherwise, I am feeling pretty good.  Went to the gym and did my usual lifting circuit and 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Gearing up to clean the office in my house.  What an incredible mess!  Papers, papers, and more papers, books & books, old files, my jewelry-making supplies, computer crap, bags of bags (never know when you might need a bag!), cardboard boxes (for shipping care packages to my mother-in-law - but - how many do I really need to have on hand?), framed stuff that I want to put in my new office. . . there is a futon in there too, but I can't even see it!  Maybe I should just light a match??  Ha Ha Ha  . . . .

Oh here is a funny story - I went for a drive to a mall along the Delaware River here in Philadelphia.  When I left, I mindlessly got on the highway headed EAST rather than WEST (toward home) and ended up having to drive over a bridge to NJ.  Then I had to drive back to Philly over the other bridge.  I felt like a tourist, the skyline looked really cool, though.  Is this the start of chemo brain, or have I always been a bit of a bird brain?

Rossileo - good for you going biking!  I have not taken my bike out since just before my surgery (June 20).  I am inspired and think I will give it a try soon.

Snoopy - good luck with this Thursday's CHAIR.  I know you can do it!!!

rossileo18

No cramps for me either, just really mild sporadic bone pain, but not enough to take anything to relieve the feeling. Didn't have it first time, but I didn't get flu-like symptoms this time around. Go figure.



Phillybird -- no chemo brain! You just have a lot on your mind.

Paintingmywaythru

Hi All,

I was hoping ot go up to 85% chemo  for my next treatment, but my oncologist said that because I got a new mouth sore the 2nd time around that she will keep me at 75% . This worries me...but she insists it could do more harm than good. My fear is of a reoccurence.I really want to knock this out. I guess I need to trust her. I will talk with her on Monday when I am in the chair. Not sure what to say. I asked about an extra round of chemo and she said it would do no good. So many people re getting scans, I ahve not had one and no one has suggested it...what are the reasons to ask for one?

THe fear is, could it be elsewhere and I know htat may not be logical.

Glad to see all the good news. I have been feeling fairly well as well!

Anonymous

Painting - you had negative nodes but an invasive, yet small, tumor.  That means you might have cancer cells running around in your body looking to make a colony.  That is why it was a good idea to have the chemo.  I had a PET-CT scan before starting chemo just to be sure there were no tumor masses anywhere else - given that I had positive nodes - meaning some cancer cells are likely wandering loose in my body.  You might get a scan after all your chemo is done; maybe not.  Don't fret, it sounds like you are in good hands.

rossileo18

Painting,



Sorry to hear that things are not going smoothly. The reason we are all putting ourselves through all this is just to ensure that all the stray cancer cells are killed, so i can imagine how upsetting it must be to feel that you're not getting the most potent treatment to make sure you are "clean". Still, I can only assume your oncologist knows what she is doing. Just make sure she explains to you why lowering the dose would do more harm than good.

I only had an MRI right after my diagnosis and nothing since. My nodes were almost clean, and they didn't see any other tumors, though my existing tumor was quite large. My understanding is that the scans will only show larger growths. They can't find the stray escaped individual cells that we dread. So, you are not being illogical in your fears, but you can't make it affect your approach to life. You just have to vigilant. I will NEVER think that this might not come back. I had DCIS 14 years ago and got complacent and didn't do monthly breast exams.



Glad to hear that aside from the mouth sores you have been feeling ok.

FrancesC

Going for chemo #4 tomorrow. Pray minimal SEs. Have been having rashes last two days, hope they go away soon and not worsened after this chemo.

rossileo18

Frances, hope all goes smoothly. You will soon be more than halfway there!

FrancesC

Thanks Rossileo18. Steroids in me today and am full of energy tonight:).

Anonymous

Hi Frances - I was away on the weekend and didn't check the discussion group.  Hope your time in THE CHAIR for #4 was uneventful and that you are feeling good.

FrancesC

HiPhillybird, am on steroids high now and can't sleep. The chemo went very well, port access this time was successful first try and I finished at 430 pm. However I had to wait almost 2 hours to see my onco after that to review my retest of my tumor taken out end June, it was tested to be TN then and in this new test result showed I am clearly ER and PR positive! Shucks! 4 chemos later and this result although onco did assure that TC is also for hormone receptive patients. He chooses to believe the 2nd results without giving me any satisfactory answer as to why and after much thought when I came home, I have just emailed him to ask for a third test, hopefully there is enough left to do it. If it is indeed positive, the chemo regime may change.

FrancesC

Spoken to my breast surgeon on the retest result. I am more relieved now. He also said that he will take the second test as correct simply because TN results can be technically flawed due to failure of testing kits. The method of determining if tumor is positive or negative is through staining and if the cells are stained then the results are more accurate. If cells are not stained, it could mean that the kit is not working. He said there is no need for a third test. He is also happy for the results to turn this way and has recommended to also do a FISH test to confirm HER2 so that herceptin can be added to my regime.

Anonymous

Frances - it is also good to be ER/PR positive, since tamoxifen will keep such cancer cells from growing by blocking the estrogen receptor.  With respect to HER2/Neu status, you would rather be negative, since high level expression of HER2/Neu is associated with a more aggressively growing tumor.  Yes, Herceptin is an excellent biologic that blocks the growth of HER2/Neu expressing cells, but you'd rather not have to take it and have the side effects from Herceptin or to worry about the more aggressive cancer cells in your body.  Breathe easy and relax.  Taxotere and Cytoxan block cell division and cause apoptosis through mechanisms unrelated to ER, PR or HER2/Neu.  You just might want to avoid (or cut down on) soy products - like edamame, tofu, soy sauce, and the like - since the phytoestrogens in soy products are believed to function like estrogen in your body and could stimulate the growth of your tumor cells.

Snoopy73

Hello laadies; I have been MIA for a while:-( had my #3 on thursday and day 3-5 it kicked my behind bad!!! Fri & sat was a little better, i even went to the gym on saturday, then i got my neulasta shot and all hell broke loose LOL... combining the SE from neulasta and the SEs from taxotere, i was knackered!! my body did not feel the same, aches, pains, shivers, yucky mouth, palpitations, etc etc... woke up feeling 80% okay yday and forced myself to come to work uurggh, dragged myself all day, by the time i got home, went straight to the couch and laid down till bedtime. Took some pain killers, lorazepan and had a good nights sleep, woek up this morning feeling much much better... fatigue has more or less gone, mouth still feels a little bit off, but i feel that i am heading to the positive SEs:-) Heading to DC & MD next week to hang out and spend time with my side of the family... looking forward for that... also looking forward to hanging out with my kids & hubby, with chemo, BC etc we have not had time to spedn some good quality family time together.

Hope you are all doing well. Sending you warm wishes.

Anonymous

Oh poor Snoopy!!  Glad you're feeling better.  Have a great trip!

rossileo18

Frances,

As phillybird said, it's actually good news that your er/pr positive. I am too and am getting TC. I've been wondering about the soy issue. I had also heard that we should avoid it, but I'm of Chinese ethnicity and LOVE tofu, edamame, etc. and would hate to give it up. How is your father? My mother was released from the hospital last week and is now in a skilled nursing facililty where hopefully she will recover enough strength to eventually return home.



Snoopy,

Sorry to hear that #3 did not go well, but happy that you are now well enought to enjoy time with your family and to travel. I'm getting cabin fever - this is the first summer in years that I haven't traveled.







I'm up for 3 next Wednesday and am crossing my fingers that it will be like my previous ones -- relatively uneventful -- but as I've read from others postings, that you never know.

FrancesC

Thanks PhillyBird and Rossileo18. Now I understand about HEr2 and hope I am negative. I have been and still am taking tamoxifen for my first cancer and so it would seem that Tamoxifen is not longer effective for me now. Onco did say he has to switch me to another drug eg Aromasin but he has to make sure I am 100% menopausal. Well I haven't had my menses for the last 5 years and I have gone through hot flushes so perhaps I am already menopaused???? Agree with you Rossileo that soy is a big part of our diet and I have not been taking very much of them since 5 years ago but I do sneak in some occasionally

Dad is unfortunately still in hospital and his condition has worsened and doctor has just done a bone marrow biopsy to confirm for sure it's leukemia. We are still waiting for the results, it has been very depressing seeing him suffer so much, tubes all over him. He can't eat now and is tube fed and is pumped in medication and platelets every so often until his whole body is bloated. My siblings have forbade me to visit him to minimize my agony and since I am also weakened by my DD chemo regime and so I have been getting photos and updates from them. As it is now, I cry almost daily and I can't imagine how I will break down if I saw my dad physically. I am concentrating on getting my chemo ivermectin so I can see him and he has also said that this is his last wish - to see me recover. He has accepted his illness and told us that he would not want chemo if it's cancer and so we will just have to ensure he goes with minimal suffering and peace. Life.....