March 2012 chemo

lostinmo

Januaryice-hope you get answers that are positive!

onvacation

Hi ladies - just popping in to see how everyone is doing.  Can't believe it is almost Christmas!

My hair is growing, port is out, clean mammogram, so just keeping on!

Have a wonderful evening.

Alicethecat

On Vacation

Clean mammo! Wow! Congratulations.

I've got my three-month check-up on Friday and feeling rather nervous but I guess it gets easier as time goes on.

KTLB, KCB, Lana, Lost in Motion, January Ice, Sissy and all the lovely ladies of the March 2012 Chemo Marchers:

Without wanting to sound too much like an Oscar acceptance speech, thank you for everything. There is nothing like being with people who know what it's like when the going gets tough.

Wishing you all Seasons Greetings and a very Happy Christmas.

Best wishes

Alice

Love74

Merry Christmas marchers!!! I, like most of you, was diagnosed this time last year. This Christmas is definitely happier than last year for me and I hope it is for all of you as well

journey4life

Hi fellow Marchers,

It looks like I'll be marching some more in January. I had oopherectomy surgery in November and the path report came back with malignant cells in one of my ovaries, along with some "free floating" cells. It is very early and the gyn oncologist says my prognosis is "excellent!" I think my cocktail will be Carboplatin and Taxol every third week, and Taxol the other 2 weeks, for a total of 18 weeks. Has anyone else had this regimen? What can I expect?

Best wishes for a healthy, safe and enjoyable holiday season! Lisa

QuinnCat

Journey -  How lucky they found it so soon.  {{{{Hugs to you.}}}  Did you have chemo for your BC?  It seems like you might have, given Grade 3, and oh, that you are in the March Chemo thread!  Duh.  Are you brca+?  They must be investigating that.

I had both taxol and carboplatin for my BC, though not simulateously, but succesively.  The Taxol was rough on me, but I think I was in the minority.  Before I discuss that, I'll tell you the Carboplatin was easy peasy.  After A/C and T, it felt like nothing.  I was only in the infusion room for about an hour.  I got Carboplatin (once a week for 6 weeks) because it is suppose to work on brca cancers, breast or ovarian, though they use it for ovarian, brca or not.  They think brca BC's are more similar to ovarian cancers in their cellular pathways.

Sounds like you are getting weekly Taxol?  I think that might be easier than dose dense every other week.  They say Carbo can cause neuropathy, but nothing nearly like Taxol (I'm still fighting it, but it is getting better, albeit slowly).  I had a slight set back with the Carboplatin, but it was minimal.  If you are young, you might not get neuropathy at all, or very little, like most.  They also think it might be a hereditary thing - the way one metabolizes the Taxol, that causes neuropathy.  I did have significant bone/muscle pain with Taxol too, but hydrocondone took care of that.  I was dose dense though and I remember being in the minority here when it came to some of these symptoms.

btw, many of the Her2neu+ women take Carboplatin too.

Edited - I just noticed you did have A/C Taxol before.  Are they going to give you Taxol again??? I didn't think they could/would do that?

journey4life

Hey Kam - I completely understand your post...one chemo brain recognizes another!

I too had more problems with Taxol than I did with A/C. It concerns me that it looks like I'll be getting it again and more often. The gyn onc said my regimen was dose dense. However, I haven't seen my MO yet - he'll be the one "giving" it to me. You're not supposed to have Taxol more than once? Why? Maybe I should google it. And I'll be sure to check with my MO.

I had some minimal neuropathy in my hands from A/C or Taxol and of course, had the fingernails separating from the fingers phenomenon. I don't look forward to going through either of those again!

I am BRCA1+ which makes me wonder why I didn't have Carbo with my BC chemo. Its crazy how different MOs prescribe different cocktails.

Thanks for the encouraging words...I began 2012 with tx and it looks like I'll do the same in 2013. Cancer...the gift that keeps on giving.

QuinnCat

Journey - I don't know if you can get Taxol more than once.  I thought that might be the case for all chemos, but for sure Adriamycin.  I do think Carboplatin might be another, but not because of toxicity reasons, but sneaky cancer might adapt and it might be you can't have it twice for the SAME cancer.  These are just things "I've heard" and please do NOT take any of this as gospel.

I'm going to PM you a name of another BCO resident who has had ovarian, and now BC.  She had carboplatin umpteen years ago with her brca1+ cancer.  She is also a nurse.  She might have better answers than me.

I went to a teaching hospital and the head MO gives carboplatin to all brca BC patients.  He is not following any protocol that has been institutionalized, YET.  It is being studied and it appears like a good chemo for brca BC.  MD Anderson and Standford would not give it to two other women I have spoken with here "not protocol."  I feel lucky I just happen to go to the MO that would, without me knowing how lucky I was at the time!  I guess you can feel lucky you will be getting it now, though a unlucky it is for ovarian. If that makes sense.

Yayme

Hi Journey.....

So sorry you have to go through this, but I have to tell you that I was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer almost 17 years ago, had Carbo and Taxol, and did great!!

Early diagnosis carries an Excellent prognosis...so try not to worry too much, you will do fine. I did better with Carbo and taxol then I did with my TNBC treatment.....

You can get taxol many times, no worries there, Carbo, there is a lifetime limit but if you think about it, it is the treatment of choice they are saying in the future for TN, BRCA women...so it will whack the heck out of any stray tnbc cells that could of got away as well....just trying to think of some of brighter sides of getting chemo again...this is definitely a plus...I am the lady Kam was referring to in her email..feel to PM me anytime.

I am also BRCA 1 also...

Best wishes...

Lisa

KCB

Alice and my other March Allies: the Happiest of holiday wishes to you all as well. I agree Alice, that this journey was made so much more bearable by the company o you all, and not feeling alone.

Journey, sorry for this new news for you, a damn roller coaster. But as others have said thank goodness it was detected at an early stage. Thinking of you.

My anniversary o finding lump has come and gone, overshadowed by the fact I have spent all of December in hospital. Went in for the colostomy reversal Nov 26 (remember I got a perforated bowel in middle of chemo), went home three days later, and three days after that had to come back to hospital with terrible fever and pain. Turned out the reversal didn't take, was leaking, and I was once again severely infected. They ended up having to do surgery again (8 days after 1st one), and reverse the reversal. And so I have a new colostomy. Disappointing enough. But my recovery has been incredibly slow; one infection cleared up, only for a new one to start, they've got a drain in me to drain the infected area, big gun antibiotics pumped into me, needed a blood transfusion because my hemoglobin dropped dangerously low.. It's been crazy.

Anyway, I am going home finally Tomorrow, thank God. I wasn't sure I'd make it home for Christmas, but I will, and I'm so so happy.

Love and hugs to you all.

Januaryice

Journey and KCB - the very best of wishes to both of you. It's so depressing to read these texts knowing all the crap we all went though this year and now for the two of you to have even more. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I have been battling SE from Arimidex. Tingling and loss of feeling in both my hands. I was switched to Femara and now am having a series of B-12 shots. I just had five in this last week. I must say when I went in for the first one on Monday, I had it t the infusion room. This was the place where I had all my chemo. Between the smell and seeing someone with a pole going into the bathroom actually made me nauseous. To think that last year at this time I didn't even know I had breast cancer. What a year!!!!

I also want to thank all you girls for making this year bearable. I don't know where I would have been without all of you.

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a very HEALTHY New Year!!!!

onvacation

KCB - HUGS - glad you are going to be home for christmas, sending healing prayers your way.

Alicethecat

KCB

Sweetie!

I am sorry to hear about this. Talk about bad luck. How annoying!

You are handling this with your usual good grace and I salute you once more.

You are what it really means to be a warrior princess - in my humble opinion.

Hopefully you will have a quieter 2013.

Best wishes

Alice

Alicethecat

Onvacation

You're looking great!

Wish my hair was anywhere near yours. I look like a grey shorn poodle.

To be expected at my age (50) but I can't wait until it's long enough to visit my second home in the hair salon.

Happy Hairmas!

Alice

Alicethecat

Lelela

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to post on the March 2012 Chemo Marchers thread.

You give us so much of a boost.

Thank you

Alice

KCB

Alice!! I'm a grey poodle too!! It's sort of hysterical, really... I'm quite curious about how it will evolve...

Alicethecat

Hi KCB

We may look like grey poodles but we're going to look great in the fullness of time - if you'll excuse the pun!

Alice

journey4life

Thanks for the well wishes, fellow Marchers. This has been quite a year, hasn't it? But, we've made it! Congrats to all of us

KCB - I am so sorry you've had to endure yet another complication from this hateful disease. I hope you were able to enjoy the holiday and that your recovery is quick.

I had the port put in yesterday. It is still a little unreal that I have to go through chemo again. I think its my mind's way of protecting itself from freaking out! Appt with MO is on the 4th and I imagine I'll start chemo the following week. Yuk.

I hope all you special ladies had a healthy, safe and peaceful holiday...free from SEs, pain and stress!

KCB

Journey: so sorry that you have to face this march again. As you say it must be surreal. Thinking of you, sending you strength and peace.

IndigoMont11

Journey4life and KCB, wishing you strength and healing, and sending you love and purple energy.

lanagraves

Hi ladies. It's been a while since I've checked in on the March thread. Journey and KCB, sending lots of healing thoughts your way.

I am adjusting to my "new normal", I suppose. My scan was NED in November (except for a couple of pesky nodes that were "inconclusive"). It has been quite a year. As someone else said, a year ago, I didn't even know I had cancer and was just floating through life, oblivious. Wow, what a difference a year makes! I hope the new year finds everyone recovering well. (((hugs))) to you all.

onvacation

Hi guys!  Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing!  I am not on the boards as much as I used to be, but think of everyone here often.  Hope the new year is starting off good!

journey4life

Hi fellow Marchers!

KCB - how are you? You've been on my mind. I hope you're feeling better and regaining your strength.

Kim and lana - good to see you! I'm glad you're settling in to your new normal.

Indigo - Keep the purple energy coming my way...I had my first 2 tx (carbo/taxol, taxol only) and went for my 3rd (taxol only) on Friday. Unfortunately, platelets were too low so I didn't have tx. I was a mess - how am I going to have weekly tx when after the first 2 weeks, I can't have one? My nurse warned me that chemo was cumulative and since I had it before, the SEs might be more severe. Looks like she was right. Its hard not to think that cancer may win this time if I'm unable to follow the recommended regimen to kill it. I'm trying not to go there...damn cancer!

Love to all...

lostinmo

journey, sorry about the hard time you are having, but never give up you can do this. Are you getting one of the shots to bring your counts back up? Hopefully the Dr's will get you lined out quickly. Sending positive thoughts your way and lots of ((((HUGS)))).

onvacation

Journey - sending hugs and prayers!

QuinnCat

Journey - When I had Carboplatin - after AC and T, my MO let me take a couple of weeks off before I started the Carbo (I was worried about neuropathy, not platelets).  Maybe it's just a matter of taking an extra week off before restarting?  btw, I found Carbo soooo much easier than Taxol or AC, so I wonder if it's the Taxol doing it's dirty work?   I don't know if it helps or not with platlets, but I walked 5x a week during chemo, start to finish per advice of first MO and I know it helped with fatigue (probably RBC).  I really want you to get that Carbo as we both know it works well on BRCA.  Hang in there.

Januaryice

Journey- you're in my thoughts and prayers. Hope things start to improve for you. To think of almost of year of this struggle that the worst should be behind you. It is so tough to stay positive but I know you can do it. I have been battling some SE from my meds (Femara) and it can be sooo frustrating.



Hello to my fellow Marchers!! Wow it will be almost a full year;() Hope all are starting to get back to normal whatever that is!!

KCB

Journey: thanks for thinking of me....i'm thinking of you too. I am healing slowly, but eating well to pack some pounds back on...



Somebody said, somewhere on this board or another, "just keep swimming" . (a line from Finding Nemo apparently!) anyway it stuck with me. That's all we can do really, with so many things feeling out of our control...so, friend, Just Keep Swimming.

journey4life

Second week in a row with no chemo...platelet count is exactly the same as it was last Friday. Damn cancer...anyone know any remedies to build them up?

KCB - I feel like I'm just treading water...not swimming yet. 

My sister sent me a card and I want to share: "Everything happens for a reason. Usually it's because life sucks. [open card] Be strong."

Thanks for the encouragement - you ladies are the best!

QuinnCat

http://www.livestrong.com/article/409540-blood-platelets-vitamin-k/

Journey - I remember Vit K associated with platelets (clotting).  The end of this article mentions foods rich in Vitamin K.  Did your MO have any suggestions?