March 2012 chemo

lanagraves

Good morning everyone! Taxol #3 tomorrow, so after that, only one more to go. Woohoo!!!

kltb: I'm in for cheesecake and rum runners in Memphis anytime!! Would love to meet up one day.

Diane: Welcome! I'm with you on the breakouts and tummy bulge from steroids (I had enough a tummy bulge to begin with lol).

Michelle: No darkening of fingertips or knuckles here so far.

Indigo: I've heard B6 and I think Resveratol (not sure if that's spelled right) for the neuropathy.

fedfan: Woohoo on being finished with chemo! Time to celebrate!

Ok, chemo brain is totally severe this morning. I wanted to respond to everyone but I can't remember all the posts, so just know that I'm sending you all healing thoughts and hugs. Work has been kind of quiet this week, which is good, because I'm in a research proposal I'm drafting and editing for someone. I do some freelance writing and editing on the side. It's not steady, but it pays pretty good when I have work and it's nice to stash away for my most expensive hobby - travel!! Anyway, hope everyone is having a wonderful, SE-free, rum-filled day!!

lanagraves

Oops...I meant "buried in" a research proposal - left out a word.

Love74

Indigo - I have a good feeling about the Flames for 2013!  We'll definitely have to keep chatting during the season...I think we play the Avs quite a bit.  I have to keep getting Herceptin until January...which I need to get another port for.  Right now I'm still packing the other port hole daily with this stuff that looks like old cotton balls...and its not fun!  I will start tamoxifen soon...not sure when and take that for 5 years...with a break next spring to implant some of the embryos we froze before chemo started.  I'm not sure whats up with my burnt face but the redness and burning is slowly going away and now just peeling.

IndigoMont11

Love74 - I wonder if the chemo works like certain infections, like strep, that can cause redness and skin peeling? Or also, they hammered on me to be sure to use sunblock because chemo makes your skin more sensitive to sun exposure?  I live at altitude (i.e., > 1 mile above sea level), and the sun is really strong here.  If you live in or near Calgary, that makes me think you might be at altitude too.  I'm just glad it's getting better. 

Love74

Indigo - I think the chemo decided to get my face because it had already trashed my hands and feet...it wanted some fresh skin to peel!  My hands got the same kind of feeling after TX#3...red, burning, and then peeling.  I use sunscreen every day...45spf...and we are at about 4500ft here.  I am a bit of a freckle face with auburn hair so it doesn't take much for sun to get me!  I have to admit tho...there isn't much sun shining on my couch which is where I have been for the past six months!! 

IndigoMont11

Understood!!  I hope the sun shines on you now!  Hugs!!

slak

For those wondering about icing, there is clinical evidence that it reduces nail and skin issues on the hands for docetaxel (taxotere).  A study was done where patients used frozen gloves on one hand only so they were their own controls.  The study can be found here:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15994152

My MO would not let me ice; she wanted the drugs to 'get everywhere'.  So far (2 wks PFC of 4X TC) I have only one nail that has a reddish band in it, the rest look good.  I hope they stay that way.

Hugs to all still going to the chair.  You can do this!!!! 

Alicethecat

Hello ladies

I've been catching up with your posts with interest.

So pleased to read that many of you are coming towards the end of the chemo or can at least look forward to coming to the end. Bells ahoy! 

My chemo nurse suggested painting my fingernails with dark nailpolish to stop them coming off but I do wonder whether it would be better for the chemo to go wherever it needs to go...What do you think?

After a good start with Taxotere on Friday (day of infusion - no side-effects), I felt whacked out yesterday (day 5 and) and today as well.

Is this usual? When is it likely to stop?

KLT - we will get through the Taxotere!

Dianne - welcome. You've come to a lovely group.

KCB - always good to see you posting.

Best wishes

Alice 

kltb04

Alice - I am just on day 3 (with TX being Monday) and I am feeling totally out of it.  Fuzzy headed; just mentally not with it at all - and very down   Maybe it is all in my head?

Love - my cheeks are very flushed and my forehead is super dry and flaky.  Much more so than usual.

Lana - sounds like you are having a productive week!

fedfan - congrats on being done.

Diane - welcome to the board.

Ok, my brain is just not working so I guess that's all.  

TrailGirl

Going in shortly for my last Neulasta. I feel like there should be a bell rung for this occasion!

lostinmo

Just stopping in to say it's one of those days. 

onvacation

good evening ladies!  On a bit of a steroid high - treatment tomorrow morning.  Hope my counts are good since i am trying to get back on my schedule after postponing it for my dad's surgery.  I so want it to work because I have July 5th in my brain as my last treatment!  I haven't had issues with the counts before, so I assume it will be good!

WOOHOO to those just finishing up treatment.

And I hope those who just had treatment minimal side effects!

Cheers!

Yvyc

Wishing everyone minimal side effects! Had my first Herceptin only infusion on June 1st. Happy that I felt very minimal side effects, was pretty out of it that afternoon, but felt fine for the weekend, just a little tired. Hope it stays that way!! Another 7 months does seem like a long time!!

Wishing you all happiness and comfort!!

stephib

Hi Everyone!

I rarely post but read daily.  You all make me smile. As more of you come to the end of treatment, I was wondering how you're getting yourself to not constantly think about the cancer coming back.  My last chemo was last Thursday, though I still have the year of Herceptin and I started tamoxifen Monday.  I'm 34, single, no kids, a high school chemistry teacher, and have a wonderful group of family and friends supporting me.  I have handled treatment very well.  Other than having a double mastectomy and being bald, I haven't had too many side effects from treatment.  My attitude is great 95% of the time.  I have a PET scan next week to make sure everything is clear, but today my insurance decided my brain MRI wasn't necessary.  I wanted to call and ask if they would rather pay for one test to show that everything is clear or pay for every test to check every symptom I'll probably start imagining. It really bummed me out.  I was looking forward to having both tests and knowing that at least for the moment everything is clear.  How do the rest of you stay positive?

onvacation

I would call them!  They will probably approve the test!  Good luck to you!

KCB

Hi Stephib: staying positive? I've had so many people comment on how positive I am, and yet I don't

always feel positive at all. At first I felt nothing (people mistook that for positive), then moved into action/get the job done (which people mistook for positive, when really, what the heck else are you going to do!?), then began feeling like the "job" was really just to take one day at a time, try my best not to anticipate every scary possibility, and that seems to help me. Also I'reality ed how on the days I feel well, almost like my old self, I could just CRY with thankfulness.

That's it. That's all I've got.

Lost: I'm sorry to hear it's one of those days. Physical or mental?

I have a question for you ladies doing herceptin: how often do you do it? Is it an injection like the other chemo drugs? Just curious, really....

Hi Alice, Nice to see you too...

Night, All.

fedfan

Kam: I'm sorry that you still have more chemo. I don't know anything about carboplatinum. Have they discussed what your possible side effects will be? I hope it is easier than Taxol. 

How many of you are moving on to radiation after chemo?  

onvacation

fedfan, I will do 6 weeks of radiation after my chemo - really dreading it since it is 5 days a week!  Sounds exhausting!

Off to my 5th treatment this morning!  Hope everyone has a good day! 

lostinmo

Good Morning Everyone!

Hoping it's a better day today. Yesterday was just one of those. Didn't feel good and stressed from everything. I try not to stress but sometimes it overwhelms me.

onvacation good luck with #5 today!

kam I try to stay positive with everything but somedays it just doesn't work.

Wishing everyone a good Thursday! 

Alicethecat

KLTB

I don't think it is in your head - Taxotere does seem to have a dampening effect. Still feeling down too and it is now 7 after the first infusion.

Let us hope we bounce back soon!Greetings to March Chemo Marchers 2012. I am reading your posts amd hoping for the best for everyone.

Energy levels not at their highest at the moment!

Alice

onvacation

Treatment 5 went fine other than I noticed my nails on my right hand are pulling up which totally bums me out!  Took a little nap and feel pretty good.  Dern steroids kept me up most of the night, so hoping that doesn't happen tonight.

Hope everyone had a great day today! 

QuinnCat

I have a question for you ladies doing herceptin: how often do you do it? Is it an injection like the other chemo drugs? Just curious, really.... (above from KCB)

I have the same questions for those doing Herceptin? I'll add, is it done in same room as other chemo infusions?

IndigoMont11

Onvacation, I have to do rads too. From what I've told I will start in November, since I should finish chemo the end of September. I think the treatments themselves don't last as long as chemo, but going five days a week does sound like a lot.

KCB

Onvacation: I'm doing rads, starting mid August. Last chemo scheduled for July 10.

I think I'm in a low patch. I'm tired of having no hair, tired of my other surgical surprise appliance, tired of catching myself in a mirror or store window and being shocked at what I see, tired of people saying"you're almost done!" when they hear I have done 4 of 6 chemos, when I still have to face rads and their issues, and 5 years of hormonetherapy... When is it ever done? I have been thinking of all this as just a chapter, and right now it's feeling like The Whole Story, and I'm tired of this story. And I'm supposed to feel good this week. And instead I feel fine, but bored and lonely. Can barely remember my old life.

I have felt so little through this all, sortof numb I guess this is just part of the process...hope it passes.

Sorry to be a downer on this beautiful fresh morning. Hope you all are feeling fine.

onvacation

KCB - I hear ya.  I try not to think of it constantly, but everytime I look in the mirror it is hard not too.  I am ready to be done!  I have a countdown on my phone - used to be used for my vacations, now is used for last chemo.  My life has totally changed this year as I'm sure everyone else has.

 I try to look forward to the future whenever I can.  I keep telling myself I will be done with chemo/rads by football season!  

Hang in there and Happy Friday! 

kltb04

KCB - I am feeling the same way - just down   I had the store window experience last week on vacation and I was like "omg, who IS that?"

Kim - sorry about the nails.  I know that is coming and not looking forward to it.

RE: Herceptin - it is an infusion (in a a bag) just like your other drugs.  The first time it is administered over 90 minutes and subsequent infusions are over 30 minutes.  I have read on other boards that when you get to Herceptin only, you often don't even have to do all the premeds anymore.  This first time (and still with chemo), I had all the premeds, then the Herceptin, then the Taxotere.

Alice - I am day 5 now and still no major SE, except just a total lack of energy/motivation.  I thought I was getting a bit achy last night but it seems to have passed.

Lost - hope you are having a better day than earlier this week.

steph - anymore news on the MRI?  I have times when I think everything is going to be ok and then times when I totally obsess about recurrence.

TG - glad  you got your last Nuelasta done and hope you are feeling ok.

Yvyc - happy that you are on to "only" Herceptin and it seems to be treating you well.

Well I guess it is another day of sitting around the house...I desperately am trying to think of something for the family to do tomorrow but it is just SO hot and humid and I can't think of anything indoors that doesn't involved tons of people.

kltb04

Just got a call that I have a consult with a PS for Monday - so hideously nervous about this, just makes it seem too real. 

tc9876

Ring the bell!  I had my last Taxotere-Carboplain-Herceptin yesterday (6 tx).  I am now done with that chapter and moving on to the next (Radiation/Tamoxifen).  Thankfully, I didn't have any major side effects and it actually got easier (or I got smarter) as I went along.  I didn't have any nausea (never took any of the prescribed anti-nausea meds), no nail lifting or darkening and very little neuropathy.  Right now, I am going through the mild heartburn phase.  After that, the chemo fog begins, the mouth sensitivity, burning during urination and the mild acne.  By day 10, I usually feel normal again. I drink a lot of kefir and other fermented items to keep digestion on track & constipation at bay (which I found out was so important for me). 

FedFan:  I didn't even think to not have the Neulasta after this treatment.  I wish I would have read your note beforehand.  Fortunately, I don't have strong side effects from the Neulasta so I will survive.  I'm scared about radiation so I'm off to start reading the pages in that forum.  I have an appt with the RO this Tuesday.

I'm so looking to get my hair growing back.  I did do cold caps (worth it to me) but I shed quite a bit so I'm waiting for it to grow back.  It has already started growing back (unfornately it is coming back under my arms and in my pubic area) so I am very hopeful that my hair will start looking normal again soon.

I didn't write too often but I did try to get in to read.  I want to let all of you ladies know that I appreciated your knowledge, wisdom and jokes.  It really did help me get through things.

lanagraves

Good morniing Ladies! Well, Taxol #3 is done. No major SEs yet, but they usually don't set in until Saturday. Only this nagging rib issue that doesn's seem to be getting any better, and my ONC is blowing it off, of course. Wish I could. I think it must be something in the air; I've been really down the last couple of days too. I don't know why. Nothing has really changed. And I'm about to finish chemo. I should be happy, right? And as for positive, steph, like someone else said, I think people sometimes mistake our numbness, or our determination, or our need to talk or think about something besides the cancer as positivity. There are times when I'm still absolutely terrified, like now, with this ongoing rib pain issue I seem to have inherited from kltb (lol). I know it's probably nothing, but because it's there, I obsess about it constantly.

MichelleMassey

It really must be in the air. I was so down the last 3 days. Just fed up with all of it. I want to look in the mirror and see me, not uncle fester! Miss my old life so much. And if I hear "you look good" one more time I'm going to punch them in the face! I know they mean well, I just don't want to hear it.....