March 2012 chemo

Options
1…112113115117118…132

Comments

  • ladyfighter
    ladyfighter Member Posts: 184
    edited July 2012

    Shea, you look great! Thanks for sharing. Ever since I started taxol/herceptin 8 weeks ago, my hair started growing again. But not enough for me to go out topless yet!



    Alicethecat, so sorry about leakage, ugh! Yep we will be together on herceptin for a year! I am gonna ask monitor to open new thread such as targeted therapy section because herceptin is not chemo.



    Myleftboob, I always colored my hair with 28 shampoo off for years, I like better than permanent color cause it never gives me roots. I'm tempted to try it now but I can see my scalp so maybe one more month?? Glad your Mom is settled in new home, wish my mom would! Maybe soon??



    Indigo hope your feeling better!



    My weekend was non stop with a surprise party for an aunt with 1920 theme, me and dh dressed up!! And next day bbq all day! and today I feel sooo beat up as if I was in marathon !

    Everyone else, hope all is feeling well!



    Xoxox





    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited July 2012

    Good evening ladies - hope everyone is having a lovely evening!  Home from my mapping for radiation.  Took forever and instead of little dots I have blue lines and dots - maybe I am turning into a smurf?  LoL  I didn't expect the lines and it will show in most of my clothes.  They said the dots are the most important, so if the lines wear off that is ok!  Whew - may have to help those lines disappear! These were drawn with a sharpie type pen.

    Anyway, nothing I can't deal with i guess, just more surprises!

    Cheers! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited July 2012

    Lady fighter, let's start a Herceptin 2012/13 thread! Then the Herceptin peeps can do more discussion for when chemo is over!

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

    Hi everybody! I haven't had time to log on in a few days. I hope everyone is having a good night. I have my consult with the RO tomorrow, then mapping and simulation later this week. Hope it doesn't last 2 hours like the paperwork said. I'm swamped at work this week so need to get back as quickly as possible. Speaking of which, I got a promotion at work last week - I'm so excited. I would have been excited either way but something about the fact that I got it even during the middle of cancer treatment just makes me really proud. Lots more work but it's work that I love to do. BTW, I'm ready for the girls' night LOL!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited July 2012

    Lana - congrats on the promotion!  I would plan on the 2 hours - mine took at least 1.5 hours!  Not at all what i thought, but no one had told me how long so i assumed a lot less!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KCB
    KCB Member Posts: 365
    edited July 2012

    Lanagraves: huge congrats on your promotion! Amazing, and for sure you should be extra proud of yourself!!

    Onvacation: I had my mapping one week ago and the blue lines are gone. Only dots left here.

    Last chemo day 7: mouth feels like a dirt road, can't taste a damn thing (my own personal form of torture), muscles are just tired-feeling, I keep thinking God, I'm so out of shape, can't even walk up the stairs, and then I remember it's the taxotere...though I actually am quite out of shape.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited July 2012

    Lanagrave

    Big kudos on the promotion.  You should be especially proud that your hard work and dedication is so appreciated particularly during TX. 

    KCB

    It is the taxotere.  I felt that way for about a month PFC particularly my leg muscles.  I'm not exactly in shape either but I walk when its not too hot.  I found that my legs were so sore but like I said it lifted in about a month.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KCB
    KCB Member Posts: 365
    edited July 2012

    MLB: thanks, it helps alot to know that this is not "for real", but just an SE. so odd though. Folding laundry knocks me out! I am totally hiding from the heat today, finally turned on the AC, so no walking today. Mouth sores today. Ug.

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

    Hello ladies

    Sorry to hear about the side-effects re the Taxotere. I've had two infusions now and it sounds like par for the course..

    However, after my oncologist reduced the dose, I did find most of them went away - apart from the big red blotches down my arm!

    Lost in motion, KCB and Kam: interesting to read about your experiences re which day following the infusion your side-effects started.

    Some websites I read said the side-effects tended to be from day 5 to day 7, counting day 1 as the day of the infusion.

    Other websites said they side-effects would be from day 8 to day 10.

    Mine were from days 5 to 7 with a high temperature on day 5. On the whole, despite the blotches, I'm still finding Taxotere easier than FEC.

    KLTB: The hospital in the UK where I'm being treated didn't give me the option of a port but I don't think I would have taken it anyway. Very squeamish about having something under the skin - at least I can see the PICC line, I think.

    Not looking forward to having it fitted on Thursday. In fact I'm terrified. And I don't like the idea that it has to be flushed every week by a nurse.

    I plan on going back to work full-time in October if I can find a new job, so how can I deal with that? Will have to ask the district nurse team if they can come at the weekend I guess.

    Great idea Ladyfighter about Herceptin 2012/2013 thread. Yes please moderators!

    Wishing everyone a peaceful and flavoursome day/evening.

    Alice

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

    Alicethecat... I eventually had a PICC line because the A/C chewed up all my arm veins. I was also scared to get it put in but it was a piece of cake! The only part I felt was when they stuck the needle in my arm to numb it. So no need to worry.



    The weekly dressing changes were uncomfortable though. My skin got pretty irritated from the tapes even though they used tape for sensitive skin. My infusion center was open 7 days a week so I usually got it done on Sundays. The hard part was going there on an infusion week, because I would still be in the throes of SE's.



    It was all worth it.

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

    Well, had my night out last night - food was good - grilled shrimp and I even got a drink (some kind of strawberry something) but it didn't agree with me later after I got home.  I have been having the big "D" as a SE about 1 to 2 weeks into each TX cycle and I guess the big meal and drink just shocked my system!  The movie was good enough I guess - about what I expected.  But man, Matthew McConaghey is getting OLD!  LOL.  As far as the dialogue, my SIL said several times "less talking, more stripping".

    RE: Herceptin thread, I am all for that.

    RE: Fatigue - I don't know whether my fatigue is taxotere or anemia or a combo of both.  Things wipe me out.

    Alice - good luck with PICC line. It is much less invasive from what I read.   Have the blotches faded yet?

    KCB - boo on dirt mouth!  I can say I haven't had that since A/C, I just have burnt tongue feeling but I can still taste.

    lana - congrats on the promotion - that is awesome!

    Kim - a smurf, lol.

    ladyfighter  - that theme party sounds like great fun.

    I didn't do much of anything today.  I absolutely MUST go to the grocery store tomorrow.  We are out of food.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited July 2012

    kltb- cute new avatar pic!

    KCB - thanks for the blue line info - love to hear that they will fade soon! 

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

    Thx - I took that in the car yesterday on the way out - I wore the camo cap in honor of the military/fatigues stripping scene in Magic Mike- lol.

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

    Hi everyone! Hope everyone's having a good night. Well, I had my radiation consult today. Two hours was a pretty good estimate of how long it took. Having my CT mapping and simulation tomorrow and start TX Monday. No tattoos or mold for me. I was glad to hear that. My RO uses the CT mapping instead. Guess I should be over on the rads thread now but I just feel so at home here :)

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

    Good morning all,

    KCB- I hope our taste comes back soon. I do believe that has been the most difficult part to deal with because there is nothing to help it. There was something to help the others (nausea, pain). I personally just want something to tase good and RIGHT.

    kltb- the pict is great. Sorry your meal and drink didn't agree with you. :(

    lana-congrats on the promotion! 

    Still having leg pain from the last taxol. This one has lasted a lot longer, I just hope it goes away soon.

    Yesterday was spent with my family as my dad had surgery on his knee. I learned that I'm the tough one. Dad's surgery got delayed an hour because he passed out cold while the nurse was drawing his blood. He saw the needle and was out. I felt sorry for the poor girl, my Dad is over 6 ft and 200 lbs. Lucky we were  back there and my brother jumped up and kept him from sliding out of the chair. My brothers will give him grief over this for a long time.

     I was worried about how to feed my family this coming week, but my SIL has organized someone different to bring us dinner each night. I thought that was sweet. My time got changed for surgery tomorrow so we are just going up in the morning and not today. I have to be there at 9 with surgery at 11. Hard part will be no food or drink. 

    For all moving on to rads, keep us posted. I'll be doing that too. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KCB
    KCB Member Posts: 365
    edited July 2012

    lostinmo: what a week for you! your dad's surgery, and you tomorrow....holy cow. Sending you big warm wishes of strength and peace for tomorrow....

    and yes, the taste thing is so sad. I love food.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IndigoMont11
    IndigoMont11 Member Posts: 1,095
    edited July 2012
    lostinmo - on my mastectomy thread as we had surgery, we imagined each other wrapped in a soft purple blanket of healing.  I'm imagining that for you and I will tomorrow.  Also wishing you peace and strength with KCB!  The night before my surgery I couldn't really sleep anyway, so I sat up with my boys and we watched "kick butt" scenes from different movies - like Eowyn's battle from The Return of the King, and scenes from Spartacus.  If you can't sleep either, just know we're all out here waiting with you!  I'll look forward to hearing from you when you're on the other side.  HUGS!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Myleftboob
    Myleftboob Member Posts: 1,469
    edited July 2012

    Klt

    Love the hat.  I've been meaning to shop for a couple of these now.  Was never much of a hat girl but that has changed.  Where did you get yours or any suggestions?  Shopping isn't a past time for me, just go when I need something specific.

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

    kltb04 - love the pic!  Two of my friends said they have to take a rain check on seeing MM over the weekend because they are going to Kenny Chesney, but we'll go sometime next week.  As for Matthew McConaghey getting old, well... so am I, I guess!  My friend said he was "weird" in the movie, but weird can be entertaining, right? 

    lostinmo - I forgot to add, hope your dad is on the mend really soon!  The bigger they come, the harder they fall, don't they?  God bless him.  And you!

    KCB - along with the SEs I've had this time after starting Taxotere, the taste one has been really bad.  I wonder if it gets worse if your mouth gets dry/and/or you don't drink enough water?  I just know that yesterday afternoon I tried eating a chip and it literally felt like poison squirted onto my tongue, the bitter taste was so awful. I had some magic mouthwash left and I thought my tongue was also starting to look kind of whitish, so I used the mouthwash twice, plus some biotene, plus drank water.  It must have helped, or at least, it doesn't seem as bad today.  I had some blisters like from eating hot food, and some bitterness on my lips while I was on A/C, but never this bad.  

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

    lana - glad you got the consult done - I confess, I have no clue about what y'all are talking about on the mapping but I am assuming it has to do with where you are getting the radiation.

    lost - hope your dad is doing ok!  Poor guy!  Glad your SIL was able to organize some meals to take one more thing off your mind.  Will be thinking of you tomorrow!

    Indigo - yep, he was definitely weird but it suited the character perfectly!  Glad you are feeling a bit better.

    MLB - I got it at the Dollar General store, lol $6!  It is not quite a baseball cap style, it's flatter than that.  I have it and a khaki newsboy style cap I got from an ACS program and a couple of black embellished baseball caps I bought (one at WM and one at a purse/accessory store in town).  I need something to wear that is "dressier" than a cap and am looking at some things on the tlc website.  They are having a 25% off sale; think it ends tomorrow.

    http://www.tlcdirect.org/

    I have been about as productive as I am going to get today.  Got up early to go to the grocery store and have run a couple loads of laundry and unloaded the dishwasher. I'm wiped out.

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

    Trailgirl

    Thank you so much for your lovely post.

    Absolutely right - getting a Picc line fitted was practically painless!

    All I felt was something like an injection, then a slight sting, then my arm went numb and the vascular access nurse told me I would feel a bit of pushing - I but felt almost nothing - and then it was done. Amazing.

    I was incredibly lucky because I had a very nice and very good nurse who spent time listening to my fears about having a Picc line put in and the inconvenience of having to have the district nurse come once a week to flush it and change the dressing.

    She listened politely and persuaded me to consider the practical options of not having one as I had a reaction to Taxotere - brown marks, potential skin graft and loss of arm usage in the worst case scenarios. I agreed to have one.

    I've had a bit of stinging tonight but nothing that a good glass of rioja couldn't fix. There are benefits to being ER negative!

    I don't overdo the red wine but I am finding a glass or two of the rich, ruby, flavoursome stuff is helping a lot.

    Sante!

    Alice

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

    Hello KLTB

    Sadly, the blotches have not faded. I've got five in all on the front of the arm and down the side of the wrist. Some have gone brown with dry skin on them, others still look angry.

    Common sense prevailed and I agreed to the Picc line.

    Had my first Herceptin treatment today. A bit of itching in the armpit and a bit of heart thumping but nothing that has worried me so far. I've been told to take an antihistamine if it gets worse but I do find a nice glass of rioja seems to do the trick too!

    I stayed in the hospital outpatients ward today so the nurses could observe me after my first Herceptin infusion and they seemed happy with me so sante!

    Hope your Herceptin infusions go well too!

    Best wishes

    Alice

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited July 2012

    I hope I can ask some of you this question.   I'm somewhat drawing from my own personal medical history, skipping my mammo in 2010 (first time since the age of 40), my 2011 mammo finding my (eventual) 1.4 cm tumor, presumably one that grows very quickly as my oncotype score is 39, grade 3....so thinking I may or may not have found it in 2010 if I had had a mammo that year....how is that some of us aren't finding our tumors until they are much bigger than mine?  Mammos every year or not?? Dense breasts??  I ask because someone I know, married to a doctor, has just been dx'd with BC and it is in her nodes and I'm sure she must get annual mammos.   Should some of us be getting MRI's or Ultrasounds?  Are some tumors just not distinguishable until they get to a certain size?

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

    Lost in Motion

    I hope your surgery is going well.

    Everyone is different, of course, but I found it the easiest part of the journey so far.

    I did not have to deal with reconstruction, however, as that will come later on down the line.

    You might be surprised at how well you feel.

    Best wishes

    Alice

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

    Alice - glad the PICC line is in and first Herceptin went well! Cheers on the rioja!

    Kam - I have never had a mammo before dx - I was only 38, and although the NP at my ob/gyn office started encouraging a screening mammo a year or two ago (saying I needed to establish a baseline by ago 40), for various reasons (fear, uncertainty about insurance, etc...) I never did.  So my diagnostic mammo was my first one.  I won't ever know if I had gone for that first baseline/screening mammo back a year or so ago, if I would have caught things sooner.  Mine was 3 cm when dx. Woulda, coulda, shoulda...

    lost - I know you won't be on today but thinking of you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • QuinnCat
    QuinnCat Member Posts: 3,456
    edited July 2012

    thanks for replying ktb...I didn't realize you were so young when dx'd.  Was it part of your family history or are you BRCA positive?  So young!   Atleast the mammo caught it, as I know it becomes more problemmatic the younger you are.

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

    No family history at all.  Haven't don't the testing yet; although I plan to.  It was just as shocking to me, believe me! 

    My age could have been my downfall as far as getting it checked out.  The nurse practioner (I see rather than a dr for routine stuff) at my annual ob/gyn visit, found the "ridge" and was concerned but not overly so.  She suggested that I get the diagnostic mammo "sometime" (and not wait for the nearly 2 years until I turned 40) but had I not been who *I* am - namely a crazy hyphochondriac who always thinks the worst - I may not have gone ahead and had it done and just taken a wait and see attitude.  As it was, I made the appt before leaving the office and had the mammo 10 days later.  Thankfully.

    I have a friend whose sister just had a biospy today and it doesn't look good and she is younger than I am.  My DH works with a guy whose wife was just dx for the second time at 40...scary stuff...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tc9876
    tc9876 Member Posts: 136
    edited July 2012

    Kam, that is an excellent question.  I had a baseline @ 35 and not another one until I was 43 which detected the BC.   Articles I've read indicate that a tumor can grow for 5+ years before it is detected.  But I don't see how that could be with someone who got annual mammograms.  I do believe that certain stressful situations can make it grow faster, which might explain why someone all of a sudden would feel a lump.  I wonder if the doctors even know enough to answer your question.

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

    Hi all,

    Here in the hospital bored crazy. Surgery didn't get started until 1. I was beginning to think they were trying to starve me. So far so good.

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

    Hi Wanda! Glad it's over and you're on the other side! Take it easy and let them take care of you. Gentle hugs!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories