March 2012 chemo

journey4life

Rosie - good to see you! How are you? Yep, taking 22 nodes seems a bit excessive but my SO/BS is aggressive in his BC surgeries, especially with TN and BRCA1. I trust his judgement though, just worry about a lifetime of SEs from not having the nodes.

"Surviving Marchers" - thanks so much for helping us. It truly helps the fear factor.

(((HUGS))) to all with treatments this week.

Alicea

Hi Shera I too am starting treatment 2/29 (AC), will be thinking of you, and wishing you all the best.



Sissydi and Galena hope you are both feeling better today, lots of ((((HUGS))))) and minimal SEs.

Sissydi

Thanks girls! Had a better night last night then expected....nausea was coming and going all evening, so I finally went to bed and watched Downton Abbey on my Netflix, and I finally fell asleep and slept through until 7:30, then got up and took more nausea meds, and went to bed. Now having tea and toast; going for Nuelasta shot in a bit. I tried to get them to let me take it home and give it to myself, as I am a nurse, but they told me insurance wouldn't pay for it then! So hiking it back over there! She said the shots are $6000.00 a piece! Whaaaaaat?

Sissydi

Oh, an an interesting side item......my onc was telling me that researchers right now are studying whether or not to take so many nodes, or maybe not at all, and whether or not it's even beneficial, versus having chemo zap it, and rads......hmmmmm......stay tuned folks! New findings on the horizon everyday!

Sissydi

Lisaj, have you had any heaviness in your effected arm yet?

Kadia

Thanks for the good wishes. Waiting is hard! My infusion appointment isn't for several more hours, but I feel too antsy to really do much. My bag is packed--Gatorade, non-soy protein bars, iPad with movies, a good book. I'm trying to drink as much water as possible, and have arm warmers on to try and plump up my veins. I don't have the best veins, but didn't want to have a port put in for just 4 treatments.

 

Shera--if your infusion is today (Tuesday the 28th), we're starting together. Whenever yours is, good luck and let us know how you are!

journey4life

Sissydi - no heaviness yet. I've been working on my ROM and still have some shooting pains from tendons (I think) that have gotten lazy lol. Do you have heaviness? If so, what does it feel like?

Kadia - Hang tough, girl!

NatsFan

Lisa - don't overdo - unfortunately some of those very ROM exercises our surgeons happily hand us can bring on LE if they're done too soon after surgery and too often.  Anyone with any nodes out is at increased risk for developing lymphedema, and with that many nodes out, you are at an even greater risk for LE.  Your "tendon pain" - does it feel like a tight cord running down your arm - maybe from your armpit to your wrist?  If so, then it may well be cording - formally known as axilliary web syndrome.  That's an increased risk factor for LE. I got cording after surgery, and subsequently developed arm and truncal LE - believe me you don't want to get it.  

Check out the Lymphedema section on BCO- there are some wonderful women who post there who are recognized as national experts.  They've also put together a wonderful website on LE, how to recognize it, and precautions you need to take:  http://stepup-speakout.org/

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer about LE, but unfortunately too many surgeons and doctors know little about LE, and either give their patients incomplete or downright incorrect info about their risk for LE and how to avoid it.  Once you get LE, you have it for life - at this time there is no cure.  So any of you who have had any nodes out at all, learn everything you can about LE, how to recognize it in its earliest stages and what precautions you can take to reduce your risk.    

Sissydi

Thanks Natsfan ! I've bookmarked that website, and it seems chocked full of info.



Lisaj, you'll know it when you feel it. Fortunately, the feeling went away, and could have been from overuse, not sure, but now I'm really careful what I do with it.....no hanging purses on that side, no heavy lifting with it, no sunburn or bug bites on it, keeping it elevated, etc.

Sissydi

Go kadia! Look forward to your after report!



Galena, how are you today?

Love74

Sissydi - How are you feeling after Nuelasta?  I took Claritan with mine.  I had a little bone pain the next day...kind of like leg cramps...but not too bad.  I had to give myself the shot but became an expert at it a few weeks ago while doing a round of IVF for fertility preservation.  My shots are about $3000 with 80% covered by insurance and the rest covered by the drug company thru the 'Victory Program'. 

jap62

gee I was told my shot was 9000 grand, makes me wonder. heck what is this stuff made out of to cost so much??

mybodymydecision

I would very much like having someone to go through this with.  I just got my first round of chemo  A/C and it hasnt been going good.  Have three more rounds every other week and four of the taxil every other week.  I am having my doubts it is all worth it.  Everyone says you dont have no choice.  My breast cancer is triple negative no lymnodes.  I had the mastectomy in right breast just seems like it should be enough. Feeling little sorry for myself, I know lots of women make it through this.  

Kadia

Getting infused right now. Wish i had a port!

Sissydi

Hang tough kadia!



Mybodymydecision, I know it's tough, but you must complete it....you must know you've done everything you can to eradicate any stray cells in your body! Hang out with us on the boards...well help you get through it!

Kadia

Mybody-- I'm sorry things have been so tough for you. We are here to support you. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Kadia

First treatment over. The infusion went fine, after a little bit of a rough start finding a vein. Uneventful after that. I now have a bit of a "racing" feeling (from the steroids, the nurse said) and am developing a weird taste in my mouth. We'll see what's next....

Hannahsnana

Hi ladies.   Would like to jump in here if thats ok!  Starting round of TC x 4 tomorrow.......almost March!  Surgery down the road most likely double mastectomy.  Surgeon mentioned possible lumpectomy in one or partial mastectomy.  Won't know until we see what the chemo does and whats left when they get in there.  I hear bald is the new beautiful and I guess I am headed that way (no pun intended)!  I have ordered a few hats and they are in the mail.  Read so much good stuff in all the blogs!  Wishing you all the very best from my heart.

Kadia

Welcome, Hannahsnana! TCx4 is my regimen too. Hope everything goes smoothly for you! Hydrate well before and after the infusion.

Masserz

Hi ladies! I'm new to the forum and will be starting TCx4 on March 6th. I'd appreciate being able to join you all in this thread. I've already had a BMX in December and ALND a couple of weeks ago. I did opt for the port because I HATE being poked. I am anything but excited about starting chemo (thought I was going to avoid it since they thought I had DCIS), but am very anxious to start just so I can get it over with. I am a "rip the bandaid off" kind of girl so all the waiting has been very hard for me. I need to get caught up on the posts...looks like you have been chatting for a while now!

Kadia

Hi, Masserz! Sorry you have to go through this, but glad you're here. I started my TCx4 today. So far, so good.

galena_79

Hi all, I'm just about to go to bed now... end of Day 3. Thought I'd sign in.

My SE's today were all gastro related. I slept okay, except for feeling super full and bloated all night. I was really constipated, despite the senna and docusate I've been taking.

I managed to force down some cereal for breakfast, but it took me an hour, ugh. Then I was really nauseous all day.

I crashed in bed for the day, just dealing with feeling nauseous. I tried to take tiny sips of water all day, but didn't do as well as I should.

Lunch consisted of two Snax crackers, and they took me an hour to eat.

<<< Then hallelujah, bowel movements! Mostly insubstantial, but still a relief.>>>

By dinner time I actually had space to feel hungry. I managed a tiny bit of cous cous and casserole, and half a cupcake.

I really hope that I feel better tomorrow. The constant abdominal pain and nausea is really taxing me.

(((((Hugs))))) to everybody.  Welcome to the newbies, and to those who just started their treatments, I hope your SE's are small!

Siops

Hi, I am starting my first chemo treatment tomorrow.  Been feeling anxious and stress about it.  Had the Port put in last week still feel sore.  I am more afraid of the side effect of the treatment even though I know I might not expereince some of it.  Hopefully after the first treatment I will be more relaxed. 

Msbelle

Is this normal??.....I had my first chemo 6 days ago and started diarrhea this morning. I thought I would be feeling better by now. Haven't been anywhere to get a virus etc.

journey4life

Mary - crap, I hope it isn't cording. Is that something temporary or more permanent? I will definitely look into LE. I'm trying not to do too much with the affected arm but sometimes I do things without thinking! The ROM exercises (if you can call them that) are just trying to stretch my arm out and bring it above my head. The higher it goes, the more pulling pain I feel.

Mybody - I know exactly how you feel when you say it "just seems like it should be enough." Before my BMX and lymph node dissection, I thought the same thing - I am sacrificing so much for this disease and when will it be enough?? I've come around a bit and am now able to tell myself that it is what it is and in order to beat it, I have to fight! I hope you'll get there too. WE CAN DO IT!

To all the newbies - welcome!

Hoping all SEs are small   (((hugs))) to all

Masserz

Thanks for the welcome Kadia! I'm so sorry that you are going through this too, but at least we all have each other to lean on. How are you doing today? I hope still well...



Galena, sorry about the stomach issues. Sounds like you are having a tough time of it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed you have a better day. Keep trying to drink fluids. Maybe tea or something with a little bit of flavor would be better? My nurse has beat into my head that hydration is key to staving off the nausea.



Hannahsnana- I love your username. My niece is also a Hannah. Keep us posted how you do today. I'm sending good thoughts your way.



Lisajcj, I also had cording following my BMX. I had nodes taken on both sides, so have no good arm anymore. The cording was on the right side and ran from my armpit near my chest to my wrist. I couldn't straighten out my arm because it was so tight. My GS felt it was due to scarring trapping a lymph channel and had me do the wall "walk" stretches twice a day, three to five times for 15 seconds each time. It really hurt at first, but I stuck with it. It gradually got better over a couple of weeks and now it's gone. My shoulder is still stiff, which is to be expected, but at least I no longer have the tight cord all the way down my arm and I can reach normally now. I wish you good luck with this and hope it goes away soon! I know how uncomfortable it can be!

Sissydi

Oh galena, me too with the tummy issues! Been fighting it ever since the night of the infusion. Felt great last night, now up this morning with a terrible headache and constipation! Off to take even more meds, ugh. By the way, Ativan has worked nicely for me with nausea. I asked my onc for a script, and he gave me one. Best move yet!



Welcome all new girls! Please feel welcome to whine, complain, get angry, yell , scream, whatever, we are here for you! Going through something like this together really helps a ton! Love you guys, we can do this!

Sissydi

(((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))) for all those battling side effects

Masserz

Msbelle, what's your chemo regimen? Diarrhea is common with some drugs and it's not uncommon for SEs to kick in a few days after the infusion. I can look into it if you want (I love to research and work for a biotech company that does oncology research) but it might be best for you to call your nurse if you are concerned. She can also tell you at what point you need to be concerned about it. Hope it goes away soon!

Love74

Msbelle - I had diarrhea at about day 6 for 3 days.  I took immodium and it helps.  I'm at day 13 today...only tired and a small headache today...I think its my hair telling me its leaving!  yuk.