March 2012 chemo

Options
1…100101103105106…132

Comments

  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited June 2012

    good luck on #6 Lost!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012

    kltb04 - living vicariously!  I love that white sugar sand scrunched in my toes - until I had to clean it up out of everything.  thanks for the pics!! 

    Lostinmo - Good luck with #6! 

    Januaryice - hope you are doing better today, too.  

    Weather mellowed out here - hopefully not so humid today.  (90 percent yesterday, rare for us).  At least it is probably putting the damper on the forest fires.  I just could sure do without the hail.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TrailGirl
    TrailGirl Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    Well I thought I was doing much better with the vertigo, but woke up again today with pretty violent spins. Seems to be calming down again after taking the meds.



    January...I am very careful when getting out of bed and moving around in general. DDP had to go to work today so I can't afford a fall. The dogs would be no help except to lick my bald head like a lollipop!



    Question...What methods do you use to fall asleep at night?

    I go to bed at 9pm, but don't actually fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning. I just lay there tossing and turning for hours while DDP and dogs are snoring away. I don't really want to take anymore pills, but all suggestions would be welcome.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited June 2012

    Hello ladies and gentlemen about to do their first Taxotere

    You may get a nice surprise!

    I was terrified of starting 4 x Taxotere because of the risks of an allergic reaction and bone pain, as reported here, on other sites and on the Sanofi website.

    However, I had no side-effects whatsover when the infusion was going in!!!

    Kind regards

    Alice

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited June 2012

    Hello ladies and gentlemen

    It is fair to say, however, that the onc told me that I have small pulmonary emboli (small clots in the lung) that may or may not have been caused by the chemo (previous rounds).

    It could be that I have always had sticky blood (forms clots easily) but never knew about it.

    He has put me on daily Tinzaparin injections until the end of chemo on August 31, followed by three months of Warfarin tablets. Then he will review and decide whether I can stop taking the tabs. It could be that the clots have been caused by chemo.

    I am feeling a bit fed up about this development but forwarned is forearmed!!!

    It could be that this info will help prevent clots developing and stop a stroke or heart attack happening. On the other hand, it may be that this would not happen anyway. Swings and roundabouts, I guess!

    Best wishes

    Alice 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

    I'm home!  Had a very nice benedryl induced nap, little over an hour.  Good new is the DR had a hard time finding the bad lymph node!  I thought he was going to push his fingers all the way to the other breast trying to find it. And I can take Ibuprofen for the pain. The other nurse said not to but the Dr said it's fine. I also have stronger meds just in case.

    TrailGirl sorry you still feeling bad.  Get better soon!  When I can't sleep I get up and play mind numbing solitaire on the computer.

    Today was interesting.  We get a questionnaire to fill out every time before we start our chemo.  the first question is "Have you been feeling confused?' I was answering my yes to a question my DH had asked and accidently circled yes on the paper.  Having no eraser I x'd through it and circle no.  My DH was looking over my shoulder and asked "Did  that question confuse you?  Maybe you had it right the first time." We got to laughing so hard that I think we had the attention of everyone in the room.  Of course when I was taken back to the pod the nurse asked if I was confused and I had to explain what happened.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • journey4life
    journey4life Member Posts: 517
    edited June 2012

    Hi Marchers!

    Lost - I love your story! I am laughing out loud and needed to do that tonight.

    Ladies, please pray for a long time family friend of mine who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer less than 8 months or so ago and has just recently been given 2 months to live. She was admitted to hospice yesterday. She's 52. It is so incredibly sad and unfair. I am just heartbroken...

    I HATE CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MichelleMassey
    MichelleMassey Member Posts: 213
    edited June 2012

    Lost-lol! You gotta love those moments when you can laugh like that.



    Lisa- sorry about your friend. That is way to young. One thing about cancer, it's not picky about who it chooses. And it just seems that it's getting younger and younger on who gets it.



    Hope everyone has a good weekend with little SE.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited June 2012

    Baldeagle

    So sad re your news re your friend and ovarian cancer.

    So unfair. Just 52...So sad.

    I'm sure you'll do everything you can to help if you are up to it.

    Best wishes

    Alice

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited June 2012

    KCB, Trailgirl, ladies and gentlemen

    If you wonder why you're all doing this, why not have a look at:

    http://www.predict.nhs.uk/

    It's an online tool launched by the University of Cambridge and others in August 2011 and takes into account the benefits of third generation chemo and others as well as immunotherapy such as Herceptin.

    Much more positive than Aduvant Online!

    Best wishes

    Alice

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012

    Alicethecat, thanks for the sharing your experience with Taxotere!  I start mine on July 12 and I'm a little nervous; just can't help thinking that since I haven't had much trouble so far with A/C, that the other shoe will drop with the Taxotere.  I'll try to keep thinking more positively.

    Baldeagle, so sorry to hear about your friend.  I turn 52 on Monday and yes, that is far too young.   Cry  Wishing comfort to you both.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

    Baldeagle so sorry about your friend. Nothing I can say, but know that your both in my thoughts.

     New experience for me last night. Woke up so fricking hot that I would have walked into a walk in cooler if I had one. Kicked off the blankets and was still sweating. Colder weather may become my friend. I used to work as a para at a school and I could always tell when I came in after one of the other women because the window would be open and the kids in coats. LOL this was in the winter when it was about -15 outside.  Now I understand why. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited June 2012

    Lisa - so sorry about your friend - there are no words.

    lost - that sounds most unpleasant...especially during hot summertime.  Too funny about the questionnaire!

    Alice - glad to hear the first Taxotere went smoothly.  How are you now as far as SE?  I start tomorrow - much more nervous for this than I was for A/C just because of all the horror stories of Taxol/Taxotere.  Sorry to hear about the blood clots but as you said, a good thing that they are caught now so they can be controlled.  

    TG - sorry to hear you're still feeling badly but I had to laugh when I read your comments about the dogs.  At least they would be that interested.  My cats would probably just look at me like "well, I'll be damned, what's wrong with her" and then walk away.  ;)  RE: sleep.  My dr prescribed Restoril - it's supposedly milder than some of the other sleep aides.  Sometimes I take it, sometimes I don't.  I hate taking it when I take pain pills because I am afraid it is going to be all too much together.  My mom (who has Sjogren's/autoimmune disease) takes it nightly and religiously.

    Indigo - hope that weather has gotten better - it was so lovely/low humidity when we were out there last July - I can't imagine that high humidity there!  

    Well, we are home - after a looong car ride - straight through from there to here should be about 10 hrs but we got a late start, got caught in traffic and rain and stopped twice to eat so it took us more like 13 hours.  Yesterday was youngest DD's birthday.  She knew we weren't planning a party until after we got back but she had seen a Webkinz she wanted at a Cracker Barrel on the way down.  So I told her I would get her that for her "real birthday"  We stopped at every CB in FL, AL, and MS and no luck.  So I had to order it today online.

    Unpacking today - there was a washer/dryer at the condo so I managed to not have too much dirty laundry to do but just lots and lots of sorting, folding, ironing.  DH gets all of it inside and through the front door but his part ends there!  I shouldn't complain - he already ran to get cereal and milk and is going to the grocery store later.

    Ideally I would get all the unpacking done and my house clean before tomorrow but I don't know that it is all going to happen.  

     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012

    kltb04, welcome home.  The laundry never ends, does it?  I remember so well the people I met in the laundromat at the hotel we stayed at iin Orlando because I had so much laundry it seemed like I was in there for hours!  And that was in 1999! 

    lostinmo, I keep thinking about ordering some of the wicking pajamas online, but they sure are expensive.  I usually just sleep in a T-shirt, or cotton tank and pajama bottoms.  I always used to love sleeping in a cool room because I love to snuggle under a pile of blankets.  DH has always been the one who usually ran "hot" and kicked the covers off in the night.  Now we both do it.  He has sleep apnea and for years has used a CPAP machine.  It blows out air sometimes if his mask comes loose.  I told him that in the past I used to have to pull the covers up to my ears if he faced me because I'd get so cold (he doesn't sleep all that well as a rule, so I usually don't have the heart to disturb him), but now, it's like my own little personal fan.  

    DS#2 put a bunch of new songs on my iPod, and I actually felt good enough to walk twice as far as I've been able to do, and my legs didn't get tired!  Of course, I cried at Stronger (Kelly Clarkson) and Wherever You Will Go (The Calling).  He also put on some happier, upbeat ones that I had requested, including Happy Happy Joy Joy (yes, Ren and Stimpy - that song is the ONLY thing I ever liked about that show!!!).  I figure, whatever makes me smile.  

    Hugs and purple energy to everyone today!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited June 2012

    Indigo - great job on the walking!  I have K Clarkson's Stronger on my iPod too!  When all this started, I made a playlist of "Kick Cancer's A$$" songs and it's mostly older stuff (Aerosmith, Queen, Def Leppard) but I have a few newer things on there if they pertained to fighting or strength.  Also have Kayne West's Stronger, lol.

    LOL on the CPAP - have a feeling that is in our future too - DH needs to go for a sleep study - we are waiting to get to 100% coverage on our insurance before he does it though! 

    Got all unpacked, clothes put away, and gave the bathrooms a half swipe.  DH vaccummed, cleaned the kitchen and went to the grocery store.  About to go read and watch TV for awhile and try NOT to think about tomorrow.  I will have to drag the kids out of bed at 8 to drop them off with my dad while my mom goes with me to TX.  They have gotten used to sleeping til mid morning.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012

    kltb04, good luck with Taxotere #1 tomorrow.  I feel like you've been my trailblazer since you are on the same regimen - you do have 4 Taxotere, right?  Anyway, I'll be thinking of you. 

    I am so not adept at iTunes - but I decided I wanted to make a couple of playlists, too.  I'll have to figure out how to do it.  I am ashamed to admit it but so far, either DH or my sons have been in charge of putting songs on my iPod!  I am scared that I'll delete everything.  

    I hope they let your DH do the home study - they sent mine home with this contraption that we were able to use here and take back to the clinic.  My coworker had to do a sleep study last winter, and she had to go in someplace.  They let her take a sleeping pill; I can't imagine how she could have slept in a lab with electrodes on her otherwise.  Anyway, assuming they do prescribe the machine for your husband, it sure helped my DH a lot.  He's had to use one since I think he was in his late 30s or early 40s, and it does help.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

    ktlb- good luck with your tx! great job getting stuff done when you got home. I usually don't.

    Indigo-yay on the walking! I've been trying, but not getting far.

    So far so good today, the pain hasn't gotten to bad so hoping this round goes better!

     Happy Monday everyone! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited June 2012

    Indigo

    Good luck with your first infusion of Taxotere tomorrow!

    I'm still doing fine after mine - a tiny bit of ankle swelling and feeling a little more tired than usual - and am absolutely amazed after reading some of the side-effects some ladies have been having. I do think of you all!

    If it is any help, I didn't get any reaction when the infusion went in whereas with FEC, the Epirubicin was a little itchy and I got a small headache when the Cylophosphamide went in.

    You might be lucky with Taxotere like me!

    Best wishes

    Alice

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lanagraves
    lanagraves Member Posts: 596
    edited June 2012

    Hi everybody! I've been off the boards for a few days, but wanted to drop in and say "hi". I lurk and read everybody's posts even when I don't have time to post myself.

    So sorry to hear about your friend, Lisa.

    kltb: Glad you have a good vacay! Should've given me a yell when you were passing through MS girl.

    Well, Thursday is to be Taxol #3. Number 2 has been much easier than number 1, so I'm hoping the trend continues. I still had some pain, but not nearly as severe. Having some bouts with numbness and tingling in hands and feet, but it seems to pass pretty quickly. No nail issues yet.

    kltb: Your rib issue is contagious. I've had a tender/sore area in my ribcage for a couple of weeks now on the side opposite my BC. Just figured I had pulled something or ran into something (I'm clumsy) and forgot about it, but it doesn't seem to be going away and I think actually may be getting worse. So I'm freaking out about it now.

    Had a good weekend thought. Took DH to Texas de Brazil for Father's Day Saturday night. Sooooo good but it should be illegal to eat that much food. Had a couple of drinks in the lounge at The Peabody before dinner and walked around downtown for a bit after dinner. It was a very nice day.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Westwoodmom
    Westwoodmom Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2012

    Last chemo today! So excited to be done. Good luck to anyone having treatment today!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

    Way to go Westwoodmom!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TrailGirl
    TrailGirl Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    Congrats Westwood! Wishing others minimal SE's...fingers crossed!

    Saw the MO today and I am cleared for Taxol #3 tomorrow. I'm still getting dizzy at times but nothing like that first day. MO says it might be caused by anemia, especially since the meclazine doesn't seem to relieve it much. 

    Other news: Eyebrows and eyelashes still falling out. It's amazing how much older I look without hair on my head. I'm getting a second white ring on my fingernails. Apparently you can get as many rings as you have had treatments, like the rings on a tree. I'm still having some joint pain from the last tx but no neuropathy.

    RE Taxol: MO said that 95% of patients say that Taxol is easier than A/C, and also that it gets easier after the 1st treatment. I guess I'm part of the 5%. It has been a little different, but just as bad as A/C and the second tx was just as bad as the first. The hardest part for me is the joint pain from Taxol, on top of the Neulasta pain. 

    I just want to blaze a trail right through this tx so I can get to #4 and be done! Besides being the last chemo, I will be able to get this PICC line out AND I won't have to get that d@mn Neulasta shot!

    Indigo - iTunes is saving me right now! I downloaded 4 albums for tomorrows tx. I don't listen to them until I'm in the chair, so I'm at least excited to listen to new music even though I'm not excited to be sitting there. One caveat...be careful when purchasing music when you have insomnia! I was busy hitting the 'BUY' button at about 3am the other night and when I told my DDP what I bought the next morning, she said we already own one of the CD's. DOH! 

    BTW - I'm assuming MO means medical oncologist? If so then SO means surgical oncologist? Sometimes it's like a puzzle trying to figure out what everyone is talking about...good thing I like puzzles! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited June 2012

    TG - yep MO means medical oncologist so I suppose SO would be surgical oncologist - my surgeon is just a BS - breast surgeon, not an oncologist.  So glad you are feeling slightly better and are cleared for treatment tomorrow.  Too funny on the CD's :)

    Congrats Westwoodmom!

    lana - good luck on #3 - glad you had a good weekend.  The rib issue will drive you up a freaking wall but I would be it is just the typical "constochondritis" - the inflammation of the cartilage.  Mine literally did not bother me a bit when we were gone, I was busy, I was wearing a bra (!) everyday, etc...we get home Saturday and I swear to you, it started bothering me again yesterday.

    Alice - glad the Taxotere is treating you well!!  I hope to follow suit.

    Lost - glad things are going well with you too.

    Indigo - I confess, I don't put songs on myself - DH has the itunes all set up on his computer so it's just easier to get him to do it!

    Ok, Taxotere (there needs to be an abbreviation for that) #1 is done.  No reactions in the chair thank goodness...it took AGES - got first Herceptin and they drug it out for 1 1/2 hrs (next time is 30 min) and the 1 hr Taxotere took an hour and 45 minutes.  I know there is a good reason for that but I was ready to go today.   Oh and no Nuelasta unless I need it (yay!)  I am not going to get too happy about that until it's proven that I don't but it is a relief because I know that would make things 10X worse.  So now I wait....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012

    Woohoo on last treatment Westwood mom!  I have awhile yet - just looking forward to celebrating last A/C (on 6/21) before on to Taxotere.  But I'm going to ask the chemo nurses if they have a bell for when I'm all done.  I love the idea of ringing the bell. 

    The only CDs I've had put on my iPod were ones I physically bought.  All the other stuff I've done as "single" downloads.  I know, LOL, DH loves to buy DVDs.  I can't even imagine how many he's accumulated.  And just because something was a great deal, he's bought it, only to find out we already had one.....

    I will look at the BCO abbreviation key - I didn't even know there is such a thing as a "surgical oncologist", but I'm still learning, too.  I thought there were just medical and radiation oncologists.  Now I'm curious.  

    My eyebrows are coming out.  They are virtually nonexistent by the time you get to the ends - or where the ends used to be.  On the other hand, I don't think my lashes are really falling out, but they are so skimpy to start with that even I probably won't be able to tell without really looking closely.  They are skinny enough that even with mascara, if I have liner and shadow on, you don't really see my lashes anyway.  I had a discount card from my salon and treated myself to a GloMinerals brow kit.  I have some of the stuff from the kit already, but it comes with extra stuff that I didn't have and would have cost more to buy the couple of things I didn't have separately.  Plus I like the color of their brown eyebrow powder.  I'm going to use both my Brow Power pencil and the powder - the combo looks good, I think.  

    I haven't had Neulasta or Neupogen yet - hoping I don't ever need them.  I think my doc prescribes Neupogen, which you have to give yourself at home.  I'll do what I have to do, but I'm hoping that the Marrow Plus keeps working - so far, it seems to be. 

    Oh, the men in our lives!  Mine keep acting like they don't think they do enough; well, doing things like iTunes, I love them for. Smile

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited June 2012
    OK, hmmmm.  Did not see an entry for "SO" in the abbreviation key.  The meaning I'm familiar with is "significant other."  Smile
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TrailGirl
    TrailGirl Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    Must be my chemo brain making stuff up again, re the SO.

    Where is the abbreviation key located?! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TrailGirl
    TrailGirl Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    I found the abbreviation key! That will be very helpful.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited June 2012
    Finished my last Dose Dense Taxol.  Despite reports of others, it was my worst of the four. Worst of my eight chemos, actually.  The neuropathy has progressed into worrisome territory and the bone/muscle pain started earlier and is lasting much longer.  Trailgirl - I gotta wonder about your MO's 95/5 stats!!  The good news is that I am done with ACx4 and Taxolx4 DD. Done.  Done with Neulasta. Done.  Now on to 6 - 1.5 hour weekly infusions of Carboplatin which my MO said "will be a breeze" by comparison.  Fingernails discolored, but thus far intact.  Eye brows and eyelashes thinning, but still there.  It can only get better from here.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

    Kam- congratulations!!! Sorry this one is harder than the rest, but your DONE!  Did you still have to have the Neulasta shot after this last one? Things can only get better! 

    trailgirl good luck with #3 tomorrow, hopefully it will be easier. I'm with you about the shot. Hate that thing. And I'm ready for my port to go.

    Indigo might have to look into those pj's.

    legs are beginning to hurt now.

    I feel like the Lttle Engine that Could.  "I think I can, I think I can." 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited June 2012
    lostinmo - still had to get the Neulasta day after last Taxol.  I specifically asked about that.  My MO did offer me 3 weeks off, instead of 2, before moving on to Carboplatin, but I pretty much emphatically said "No, let's get this over with."  She also offered to reduce my dose of the last Taxol infusion due to the nuerpopathy and I refused (maybe a few second thoughts now).  I've always walked atleast one day during the weekend after each infusion, but here it is Monday and my legs are just crumbling beneath me.  This last one was rough, so I'm so glad I'm done with dose dense chemo.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories