March 2012 chemo

Myleftboob

RE Acne,  My first TX I broke out like crazy but I attributed it to the steroids.  Things seem to settle down for the next 3.

kltb04

RE: Skin - mine is definitely drier than ever.  And I had dry skin to start with.  As far as breakout - I just get random bumps - not pimples, just bumps that take ages to go away.  But yes, I have heard that the taxenes - both Taxotere and Taxol - cause skin problems. I also have itchy issues around (TMI) my panty line area???  Not like a yeast infection, just itchy where my underwear line is.  I will leave it at that.

TG - that is absolutely infuriating and sad and frustrating all in one.  At least you kept persuing it.  I am afraid if my NP would have given me the all clear at that ob/gyn annual I would have continued in happy denial.  Although I am a bit of a hypochondriac as I have said (which caused me to go ahead with the mammo), if a dr was to tell me, oh everything is ok, I would take it and run with it.

RE: Shaving - I have to get an electric razor.  Dodo bird me, it never occurred to me that I should not shave on my SNB side with a real razor...I just avoided doing it for awhile after my surgery to avoid the incision.  And when I asked the BS nurse if I could, she said just to avoid the area.  I don't think that some nurses are very knowledgable about LE.  As it is, my underarm hair is barely starting to grow back, even only halfway through Taxotere.  Boo.

Lost - you seem to be doing really well.  I have some numbness on the back of my arm on the SNB side already.  When I had the reexcision of my biopsy site I had to have one drain and oh how I hated it - I think that is one of the things I am dreading most about the big surgery.

So tired this morning.  Mistake #1 - not turning off the news quickly enough when the kids would come into the room last night.  Mistake #2 - trying to "explain" things to them instead of just turning it off and saying "oh, nothing" Both of which led to two scared kids who couldn't sleep last night and wound up in my bed.  (((sigh)))...

Going out later to eat and just to have something to do.  The fam is wanting to go to Chinese buffet.  Which isn't the best choice for me right now probably but my white count is fine and this particular restaurant is continually refreshing the food, etc... Chinese just isn't my favorite.

Sissydi

The one thing I miss is eating out! I've been so careful since beginning chemo. I don't care a whole lot for Chinese either; my fav is Mexican!



That whole thing in Colorado went down where my mom lives in Littleton.....she said the whole area is in shock. She lived there during Columbine, and you could see the lights on all night at the school from her back window on a hill. She's traumatized.

kltb04

I was so determined to be careful when I started chemo and I have been SO bad.  The buffet thing is the one that I haven't done though.  When my white count tanked after the first taxotere, I was good again about just eating at home for awhile but it didn't last, lol.    My fave is Mexican too - and shrimp - I have been on this huge shrimp kick lately.  Grilled or scampi style, not fried. 

Oh wow on your mom living there   One thing that didn't occur to me until last night was that they had to leave the people that didn't make it out in the theater all day since it was a crime scene; there was one poor man on the news who was going around with his son's picture asking everyone if they had seen him and then he was on the list of confirmed fatalities.  Heartbreaking. 

IndigoMont11

:-( I am listening to the news updates but it's getting to be too much. We love living here and oh, so tired of being associated with these horrible crimes! As I feared, we have heard two sad stories that involved people we know.



I don't blame your girls for being scared, kltb04, and what do you do but hug them and tell them you will keep them safe.



The same thing happened with the Columbine shootings, they left the victims inside for many hours and it was an agonizing wait for the families to find out their loved ones had died. I understand they have to be careful with investigations but 19 hours seems like way too long.



The other sad part is that many of those wounded will be permanently disabled in some way.



My heart is with them all.

QuinnCat

My "chemo education" was so long ago (mid-February) I've forgotten all the rules!  Once I told the infustion nurse I was going home to garden and she said "you're not suppose to be doing that."  Really?  Never heard the buffet thing either, but I'm not a buffet kind of gal.  I was sort of careful with door knobs and public places at first (it was winter when we started!) and I would wear gloves, but now I've totally forgotten about those rules.

I have a history of visiting 3rd world countries and getting careless after a few weeks..."If I lasted this long, I can certainly try this street vendor's product."  (India and Mexico).  Pay for it everytime, so gonna try to be more careful the last 3 weeks of chemo, so I don't follow my usual.  I did get a sore just inside of my mouth after drinking out of a plastic cup at a local joint...known for it's good food, not necessarily it's clean kitchen (as I found out later).

My BS told me I could do anything I wanted with my left arm - bp, shaving, etc. etc.  Ofcourse, I only had one node removed, but she basically cleared me.  I did have some cording, but that was a resolved with a good PT. 

lostinmo

I am so excited!!  My good friend brought us KFC for dinner yesterday and I could tase it and it tasted right!!! The simple things.

Hope everyone is doing good.

I was reading over your don't for chemo just now. All I was ever told was to not eat liver. Like that would ever happen. I guess I live on the wild side. Never stayed home if I wanted or needed to go somewhere and ate at buffets.

kltb Mexican is one of my favs but you can have my share of shrimp.

Took my first shower since the surgery, very nice, but somewhat awkward. Looking at the scar for the first time was hard and I know I won't ever be wearing a sleeveless top again. But it's ok knowing that the cancer is out. We had a cheering party yesterday as I realized that for the first time in 4 months I wasn't pumped full of drugs on Friday.

Did I mention that I don't have my port anymore and that it feels GREAT! 

onvacation

woohoo Wanda!

IndigoMont11

Wanda - yay, cancer is out, the port is out, and yay for the shower! I totally hear you that's it's awkward but it sure feels good, yes? And you don't have to struggle with a blow dryer until you have healed more, right? And yay for no more chemo!

lostinmo

Indigo- thanks for the cheers. I think it will be a long time before I stuggle with a blow dryer. LOL Still waiting on hair to grow back. My DH tells me it's getting longer but I think he's making it up. Or it could be completely gray and I just can't see it. I have a box of hair dye waiting for it to get long enough.

Kim- thanks! 

onvacation

Lost- I started taking pics once a week - seems when i don't think I have any growth it shows in pics!  

Myleftboob

Lost

That first shower after surgery is still fresh in my mind, it felt so good. It is freaky seeing the scars for the first time. You'll wear short sleeves again hun, just look for higher cut arms.  As well the scars do fade over time.  I agree with onvaction re taking the weekley pics.  I've done it as well just to prove to myself that my hair is actually growing and it is.  I found dying the gray made me feel better too.

Awesome that your port is out!  Mine is in until January 2013 booo!

Januaryice

Lostinmo- I'm so glad that things are looking up. I'm sure you're that you are soooo happy to have that behind you. Sending lots of get well wishes to you!!!!!!

kltb04

Well, we ended up not going for buffet anyway.  I had a free kids meal and free appetizer coupon at Colton's (local steakhouse type restaurant) so we went there.  It was just ok.  My shrimp was a little fishy and my mushrooms weren't very well seasoned.  Ah well.

lost - yay for the KFC and shower. 

My port will be in for awhile too.  Oh well, it really doesn't bother me.

TX tomorrow - #3 of 4 Taxotere.  I have a lot of questions to ask MO, including about rads, so I better make a list.

onvacation

kltb - good luck with treatment #3!  you will be done before you know it!

KCB

Lost: yay! For tasting good food, for first shower, for a drug free body.... Awesome news!

The scar thing... I know, my scar from my abdominal surgery is huge and still very red... Ug. But I look at my c/section scars and can barely see them now, so I remind myself they do fade...

Ktlb: good luck tomorrow!

lanagraves

Hi everybody! I feel like I'm missing so much now that I don't have time to log in during the day. But I'm thinking of you all.

Wanda: yay for no port! Guess I'll have mine for awhile too. MO says at least two years.

Kltb: will you have rads after surgery? I had my consult and mapping last week. First TX is tomorrow.

lostinmo

lanagraves- 2 years seems like a long time. My MO didn't say I could have mine out. I asked the BS to take it out and she did.

Found out today that when they took the nodes out they couldn't save one of the nerves. Looks like I will have to get used to permanent numbness on the underside of my arm.  Better than having cancer still!

IndigoMont11

lostinmo - I know I'm getting used to my numbness since my surgery in March.  You will, too, and the "thick" feeling won't be so obvious.  Indeed, you are so right - it is better than the cancer! 

If you have a lot of discomfort from nerve pain (I did, as well as the numbness), I recommend that you try a homeopathic called Hypericum perforatum.  The nerve pain is a burning, like a bad sunburn, and the homeopathic helped that when the percocet didn't.  

lostinmo

Indigo thanks for the tip. I will look for it as soon as I can get out. Hopefully I can find it in this small town. The numbness does feel heavy it's just all strange. But if I touch it it does feel like a sunburn. You described it better than I could. 

kltb04

lost - sorry about the numbness...lol about the port. 

My update for today - TX #5.  One more taxotere to go. 

Rads:  I asked the MO nurse - she was clueless.  Said with bmx I might not have them but they will refer me to RO after chemo.  I do have the positive node and if they don't take more nodes during BMX, I think that is the radiation issue rather than the breast tissue itself???  Oh well, I guess it is just wait and see.  MO herself seemed rushed and busy today.  She was very sweet and answered all my questions but she seemed to be inching towards the door during the whole appt.

Calcium:  I was totally confused as to what happened last visit.  What I THOUGHT happened: nurse looks at labs from that day, says my calcium is high and they will keep an eye on it, I freak out, nurse re-ran test and cacium is actually normal.  What ACTUALLY happened: nurse looked at labs from PREVIOUS visit, says my calcium was high and they will keep an eye on it, I freak out, nurse called later that day with results from THAT DAY and calcium was NORMAL.  So yes, it was a little high 2 visits ago.  It was normal last visit.  So it went down, not up.  Mets would trend it upward, not down.  I have no idea what it was today because they don't get the results til late in the afternoon or the next day.  

Dentist - I didn't mention it here but I know I need to go to the dentist and MO said that was fine as long as I went right after a chemo or right before the next one so my counts are good.

Counts - WBC normal, hemoglobin up to 10.5 so inching toward normal.  Still getting Nuelasta tomorrow but nurse doesn't think labs are necessary since it went up so well this past time.

I forgot to ask her about my eyes - not having the tearing that a lot get on taxotere but just dryness, almost causing some blurring from irritation.  Noticing a prescription difference in my left eye but I am terribly nearsighted so this is not a shocker.  I think common sense would dictate waiting post chemo for an eye exam/script change.

Coming up - August 1st, presurgical appt with BS, August 6th - presurgical appt w/PS.  August 8-11 - mini vacay - Dallas maybe?

Coming up first - a sleepless night.  As usual the Benadryl kicked my butt in the chair but I can't sleep there so I slept once I got home for about 2 hours.  Thinking about taking a benadryl here at home to take the edge of the steroids - feeling very hot and irritable.  Plus I will have a bed buddy.  Oldest is going to a sleepover so youngest will be attached at the hip tonight.

TrailGirl

Well, I got my surgery date...August 9th. As soon as I saw the date, the anxiety began. I just have to tell myself that it cannot be worse than chemo!

onvacation

kltb- woohoo on treatment #5!

I went to the dentist the week before a treatment when my counts would be the highest.  It was fine, no issues, just had a cleaning.

I think my eyes have changed too, but going to wait till all the treatment is done in case they change more.

Just fun times right!

Hope you have a good night!  And to all of those who just had treatment, here's to minimal SE! 

IndigoMont11

TG - in my case, chemo has definitely been harder than surgery. Hang tough, you will do this! And we are here for you.



Kltb04 - hope you can get some rest. Wishing you minimal SEs.

kltb04

12:21. Awake awake awake. Took a Benadryl. Still awake. Reading. Still awake. Baby girl crashed and is sleeping soundly.

lanagraves

TG: Chemo is DEFINITELY worse than surgery. I was up and driving again within a week after BMX. Hardly any pain at all. Nothing a Tylenol wouldn't fix, although they gave me plenty of stronger meds if I needed them. I didn't. The drains are really the only pain I had, and they are really aggravating.

onvacay: I think the chemo has affected my eyes too. Nobody mentioned that to me as a potential side effect, but I can telll a difference for sure. Although I can't really be sure it's the chemo, since I just came back to the law firm full time in November, so it could be the eight hours a day staring at a computer screen.

kltb: Insomnia here too. I've always had it, but it is sooo much worse now after the BC and treatment. I don't know if it is physiological or psychological, but either way, it sucks.

Well, radiation number 2 was today. Quick and painless. Appointment was at 8:00; I was back in my car headed to work by 8:20; in my office by 8:30. I was wondering: how many of our group here is going to have radiation? And how many of you have already moved over to the rads thread?

KCB

Lana: I'm up for radiation, starting August 30. Decided to have a holiday break with the family before starting, so it will be 6 wks after last chemo. Hoping the little cancer cells don't start creeping around in the meantime....

Sitting in dr.'s office waiting room waitin to have arm looked at. A bit swollen, red, and tender, worried about possible infection in the vein. I've had inflammation in my chemo arm veins before, which they don't treat, but this is different, and before we go away I need to have every little thing checked out so I don't freak out while we're supposed to be having lovely family together time....Also little tiny lump in armpit on BC side, hoping to get it biopsied this week too. Oh, and also decided I want my GP to refer me to a dermatologist, as I am fair and freckly, and can't keep track of all my spots etc., and I want a clean bill of health all 'round.

kltb04

Morning all - I read til about 2 a.m. and guess I eventually went to sleep - woke up when DH was leaving for work as he was cleaning the carpet in the bedroom where one of the cats had an accident - sigh - he (the cat) is stressed out a lot and my oldest is his favorite and he gets upset when she isn't home (it was just a tiny turd - lol - TMI? but still gross!).  I cannot wait until we can rip up all the carpet from the bedrooms and replace with flooring/laminate.  But I digress.  Today is Nuelasta day...have to go get oldest and take the kids to my moms and then go.  Truly I don't mind too terribly much - gives me some alone time!  

KCB - sorry about the inflammation issues - the lump could well be just a reaction to all your body has gone through.  Yay for family vacation time.  Are you going anywhere or just hanging out together?  Dermatologist is a good idea - I went when I found the spot on my newly shaved head and I made him look at every spot I could think of. 

lana - I think the screen time makes my eye issues worse too - even though mine is not for work, I am on the computer a LOT - or reading - or watching TV.  I think I will wait to address it until well after chemo.  Glad radiation is going smoothly.

RE: rads (Again) - I was getting some feedback from others and it appears that the trend is toward radiating after BMX even if you only have 1-3 nodes so I am probably going to have rads too - I want to make sure I do everything possible...I just will worry if I don't.  So on that front, I hope that I don't get ahold of some "old school" RO or something that won't support this - guess I could always get a second opinion.  From what I heard yesterday - I won't even go for a consult til after chemo.  And obviously rads wouldn't be until after surgery - so I have a while to wait yet.  I do hope that I will be able to go more locally for rads - to the town that is 15 miles from me rather than 40.  There is a satellite branch of the big radiation center there...would be much more convenient going every day.

TG - glad you got your surgery date; I should get mine next week.

Have a good day everyone.

TrailGirl

Indigo & lanagraves... Thanks for easing my mind!

Myleftboob

Trailgirl

I just wanted to pop in and say the same re surgury.  It is alot easier than chemo for sure.  I had discomfort but never real pain.  Even with the drains in by day 5 I was cooking simple suppers and throwing in some laundry.  Once the drains come out its gets even better, that was the source of discomfort really.  I was prescribed Tramadol and took them for 2 weeks.  My surgery was December 14 and on Christmas I went to a friends for dinner and went to a small house party for New Years. At least with surgery once you heal, you heal.  With chemo as you know once you start to feel better its time to go another round and so on.

P.S. Don't say no to anyone willing to help out with cooking, cleaning etc especially for the 1st week after surgery.  You are in recovery mode so don't expect to be superwoman!