Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

Kelloggs

Jenlee - I feel your pain.  My side effects have not been bad either compared to some of the women here.  Don't feel bad about coming here to vent and complain.  That's what we are here for.  I'm sorry your MO added to your treatment plan...that sucks.  I go for tx #4 of 6 on Thursday and I think if I were told that they were adding 2 tx I would probably lose it!  Hang in there!

Baileybump

Jenlee - hugs to you as you struggle through some rough times.  I am on a 4 treatment plan (taxotere/cytoxan), but I can tell you that being "in the middle" was the worst place for me. The time between 2 and 3 for me was really emotional.  It sounds like you're in a similar place.  I will have my 4th treatment this week (Thursday), so I can see a light.   Your light is at the end of the tunnel, but your tunnel just got lengthened.   If they suddenly added treatments to me, I would be terribly depressed (and angry and every other emotion).   Keep your chin up and keep up with the therapist - I think that's a wonderful thing to have!

Kelly - we'll both be "in the chair" on Thursday.  Be thinking about you!

heatherb8

Jenlee..ditto to what kellogs and bailey said..hang in there..eventually this will be over..it just really stinks how long it takes to get there..

momof3boys

Joining some of you in the chair on thursday... My 3rd of 4. Going to miss my days of "feeling almost normal"

Good luck for everyone going in tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you.

seacretgardn

Thank you kind ladies for your good wishes. They did not admit me Friday night since my counts were pretty good. Took blood and urine cultures, had to use an iv line bed cause my port wasn't working either. Onc originally sent me concerned about port infection. Had iv antibiotics, port reopened, and sent home with new script.



Last eve woke with 102.9, terrified and like a zombie. Took it again after a bit, down to 101.7 so I took Tylenol. Chills and sweats that soaked me head to toe, temp was down to 97.1!



Called her today, temp has been in the 99's but she needs to know the source since all my cultures have shown nothing. So I will be admitted in the morning.



Gator I am so sorry you have suffered so on taxol. I feel your pain. My last AC was Jan 19th and I am still having mouth and throat SEs and rashes. The onc thinks my fever may be related to the SEs. And the severe inflamation. Ive already missed my first taxol.



I have lost 30 pounds since my surgery. It is difficult to eat and drink when your mouth feels so

bad.



I'm trying not to look too far ahead, 12 weeks of another chemo. She won't let me do DD, not after my AC nightmare.



Jenilee, I'm so sorry you have additional txs added, but sounds like you have a doctor with your best interest in mind.



Gator I sure hope the reduced dose results in less side effects for you.



Keep me in prayer and your good thoughts ladies, I will do the same for you.



Laura

Kelloggs

secret - sorry to hear about your continued troubles.  I hope they find the source of your fevers and get you on the mend so you don't have to miss more treatment.  Hang in there!

heatherb8

secret..sorry you're having so many issues..have you tried the magic swizzle for mouth and throat issues?  I had them after my first tx and it helped tremendously..they also gave me another one, but I can't recall the name of it..it tasted horrible, but it didn't numb your mouth quite as much.  you can swallow a bit of either one to get your throat.  it works wonders.  And if you do get admitted it's not too bad..they will take care of your issues and get you feeling better..I ended up in four days..but didn't miss a tx..  good luck

Today was my last infusion!  I'm so freaking thrilled I can't even tell you..However I'm not looking forward to the next 10 to 14 days of feeling like shit...i hope its only 10 to 14 I keep hearing the last one kicks your ass..I shall see...just glad I don't have to visit the chair and pray I never have to in the future!

Hope all of you are feeling well if not I hope you're feeling a bit better..Hang in there..an upswing is in the near future!

xoxo

Heather

Kelloggs

Congratulations Heather!  I hope the SE's stay away and let you celebrate the fact that you are done with the chair!

Kelloggs

Bailey - I'll be thining of you too on Thursday...good luck!

markat

Laura hope your fever goes away and you feel better. I've been keeping you in my prayers.

Heather congrats!! Hope you get through the next couple weeks without many se's.

I jokingly asked my onc today if I could quit after my 4th tx tomorrow.  She basically said no lol. I'm going to try and have a better attitude after my tx and see if that helps.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Kelloggs

Good luck tomorrow Markat - I would like to quit after #4 on Thursday also but I'm sure I'll get the same answer...lol

markat

Yeah Kelly it stinks but I guess it's necessary. How long are your infusions taking?  My last one was still taking around 6hours.  Ugh.  I have some problems with my port alarming the iv when I move so I think that makes it drag on longer.

Kelloggs

Wow, six hours would definitely suck!  Mine take around 3 1/2 hours.  So far my port has behaved....knock on wood!

heatherb8

Thanks Ladies..and good luck to everyone having tx this week..one more under your belt and being finished!!

Whatashocker3

Congrats Heather and Bailey too I think on Thurday for your last one. I would love to stop at 4 too but I got to go to six. I think being halfway is hard as emotionally between 3-4 it has been tough on me as well. I hope between 4-5 it is not as emotional. I am a monk and hardly go out, I have been off work since me diagnosis. I watch everyone else running around doing 'life' and I envy them. My family has been great and I am fortunate but when the tunnel is dark you can't see the light.....yet. I know it is coming. Who else in on here with six treatments? I am beginning to feel alone. Who is going to keep me company?

Mardibra

Whata - I will keep you company. I am scheduled for #6 of 8 on Thursday. Can't wait for this to e over!

seacretgardn

Hi ladies, thank God my fever was finally normal this morning and I wasn't admitted today.



I'm still breaking out in ugly rashes. Onc thinks I just had a terrible reaction to this last AC.



Thank you again all for your prayers and good wishes.



Heather and Bailey, congratulations on your last treatment. I hope your SEs surprise you by being mild.



Whata, I'll be getting chemo through April! Wow. So far away.



Is anyone else moving onto taxolx12? From what I'm reading on that thread it's not a walk in the park as they say, either DD or weekly.



A quiet peaceful evening to all, Laura

Mardibra

Laura - glad your feeling better.

GracieG

Laura, so happy you're not in the hospital and feeling a little better.  Hope it keeps up.  Heather is done, yay!  You must be so happy.  And Momof3 treatment #3 this week, getting so close to the end.  And Bailey, your last one this week.  Thursday will be a busy day in the chemo chairs!

 Today was my sleep the day away day.  Why do I seem to be having more and more of these?  How can tired can a person possibly be?  

Good luck this week everyone. 

markat

Whata my last tx should be near the end of March then surgery in late April/early May.



I'm all wired from the steroids tonight.

Kelloggs

Good luck today Markat. I'll be steroid buzzing tomorrow and in the chair with Bailey on Thursday!

3girls

Laura,  Ijust had 2nd tx of 12 taxol yesterday.  Initially was going to get DD but my dx changed when they forund a subset population of her2+  so they do 12 weekly taxol with herceptin.  I did well with the A/C and so far so good with the taxol.  A friend of mine had alot of bone pain but so far so good for me.  The weekly doses are smaller so I am hoping the s/e will be less.  I have still been able to work full time.  I am a nurse and work the overnight shift so my biggest complaint is the fatigue.  I had a dream last night that I crawled into bed with a pt. to rest!:)  Good Luck!!

seacretgardn

3girls, I'm so happy to hear you're doing well so far with the taxol and hope that continues for you.



My dance with AC was pretty terrible so I've been fretting the next step. I'll let you know soon, but try yo be hopeful that it's not as bad as the AC.



Are you taking any supplements or icing hands and feet?



Thank you, Laura

Gator65

Hey ya'll! I am feeling a lot better. I am so tired though. I go for #2 on Thursday. I hope the smaller dose will help so it not so bad this time.

So happy for the ones who have finished! Yea!!! I will be in the chair this Thursday too so it will be 2 down and 2 to go. I hope everyone has a great day!!

Laura, so glad you are feeling better.

See ya'll later!! 

markat

Finished with #4TCH. It went well, only took 4.5 hours. I'm pretty tired. Glad you guys are feeling better!

Whatashocker3

Markat what takes 4.5 hours? Is it the time with your oncologist, blood test and the infusion, or just the infusion? I have my first taxotere tomorrow and am getting worried.

markat

It's the time of my infusion day. Just check in premeds and infusions. What have you been on?

Whatashocker3

I was on fec prior and it normally takes just a couple of hours for the infusion.

markat

I'm not really familiar with FEC but I'm on taxotere carboplatin and herceptin. The taxotere should only take 1 hour. All of my infusions run for an hour but I get saline, emend, decadron and pepsid as premed infusions. Plus I use the bathroom a million times which drags out the process.



I love my infusion center but there are only 2 nurses and an aide to take care of 10 patients per section. It seems like a lot of people there aren't getting chemo but other infusions like iron, remicade and blood.

rachelvk

Whatshocker - The Taxotere part of my infusion is usually about an hour. Good luck on your taxotere. Do you plan to ice your hands? I don't know how much it helps, but supposedly it either helps protect your nails, or prevents neuropathy, or both.

Markat - So is that your last one?

Laura - I'm thinking of you. Hang in there.

Jennlee - Sorry to hear you have a longer road ahead, but it sounds as if it could be the right thing for you in the long run. It's all about beating up those cancer cells - it's just frustrating that they have to beat the rest of our cells up along the way.

Good luck to everyone with treatments on Thursday.

I'm back on an upswing - hopefully I can get my work done this week and maybe get ahead in time for #4 next Thursday. Not looking forward to that, but hopefully this time I'll be better at giving myself time to rest and recover.