April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Marcia1111

Thanks, Indigo! Sending one back to you!

Fierro6

Wow.  There will be a lot of us done around the same time.  My last chemo (Taxol) is set for September 12!  

IndigoMont11

Looking forward to celebrating PFC and port removal with both of you (we should all be getting ours removed since we aren't HER2 positive and won't be doing Herceptin, I'm thinking). 

kjiberty

I can't wait for us ALL to be done!

Fierro6

We haven't kept my granddaughter since I shaved my head.  The last she saw was the pixie cut.  I brought her home last night and was wearing a hat.  When we were getting her ready for bed, I was wearing a buff. 

She asked, "Why are you wearing that, gramma?"  I said, "Grandma got sick and the medicine made my hair go away, see?"  Then I took off the buff.  I said, "It will come back later and I'll have hair again."  She said, "OK!"  Then it was back to what she was doing.

This morning, when she woke me up, I had nothing on my head (because my internal temp was 206 degrees!) and she couldn't care less.  I was worried about nothing.  She handled it better than my 14 year old.  LOL

Small victories. 

kjiberty

Rachel:  that's good to hear.  The "good" news about being bald is when our internal temps do reach boiling points the beads of sweat are quickly dissapated on our balds heads, as experience by me at 4 am!  I am starting anastrolzole today, which is the generic form of Arimidex.  Of course one of the MANY side effects is hot flashes, which are occuring more and more due to the chemo.  Can hardly wait for even more hot flashes than I currently am experiencing.  

vickilind61

Indigo, I am HER2+ so even when I finish in Sept, I will keep my stupid, but useful port till I finish my Herceptin.  I HATE that stupid port. 

hopeful123

There was a reason I jumped from March thread to this. I finish, if everything goes fine that is, on Sept 4th since i started March 28th. Of course have Herceptin for a year but that's a different story.

I see a number of you are starting Taxol, I finished Tx6 of weekly Taxol. Biggest SE I have had until now is fatigue on day 3 and 4. My RBC and Hb goes down very rapidly, needed one infusion and looking at the graph I may need a second before all this is done. Otherwise it is ok. Hope everyone is having a good weekend with minimal SE's.

Pauletta

Has everyone that has been on taxol and herceptin had nosebleeds? I just started yesterday and I have 11 more to go. One every friday.

I have been keeping my nails really short and keeping them moisturized to help. Just wondering about the nose thing? Thank you for any input I can get. 

CSMommy

Pauletta - I'm only on the Taxol, but I've been having nosebleeds as well. They started for me after my 3rd round.

hopeful123

Pauletta-yes I do have nosebleeds but saline really helps. It is very little after I started doing saline.

Stacie

Just checking in on my friends still doing chemo. My thoughts are with you and I am following your posts every few days. Prayers for minimal SEs for each of you.

vjm

Pauletta - I had a nosebleed the entire 4 tx's of taxol with herceptin and now just resolving (pfc June 15th) when I switched from the many different products I tried to water based nasal gel Secaris. Finally getting relief from giant scabs and difficulty breathing. vjm

bcbarbie10

Vicki, take heart. You are not alone...

IndigoMont11

Vicki - no matter when we all finish, I am following our group! I just meant Fierro and Marcia and I would probably get the ports out at about the same time. Hope you are doing okay after your tx!

Fierro6

I have intermittent nosebleeds.  The first two times both fell on day 11 of subsequent cycles, and scared me because they didn't want to stop. It seems, though, to be just very dry in there, due to chemo.  My platelet counts are fine when they check.  I use a little vaseline on a Qtip every night.  Gross feeling, but effective.

Pauletta

is there anything that I can use that will PREVENT me from having nosebleeds with taxol and herceptin?

dancetrancer

Pauletta - keeping them moist like Fierro said may very well help.  I used baby oil. 

sherryh16

Two-thirds done with chemo as of Thursday's treatment.  Two to go.  Will be done on September 6.  Then on to reconstruction.  Hopefully can get it all done this year so 2012 can be done!

kjiberty

Sherry:  Yeah!  Good luck this week!  

spicedlife

hey ladies.....just chiming in on the nose....ugh...started having problems with my 3rd treatment.  It is really gross and I can't breath.  I asked the pharmacist what I could do and he said q-tip with vaseline.  come to think of it this 3rd treatment has been the worst so far.  Oh well, the last one is August 9th so I am almost there. 

Praise the Lord I will be pfc!

Hang in there everybody, we will do this......we ARE doing this

hugs,

jenny

winter_flower

having some serious ovary pain and burning sensation and am SO worried. Since my BC diagnoses, the first question that poppps up w/ any new pain is: Is it cancer??? O_O How to know? I'm BRCA1 and 2 negative, but still...

Just wanted to check did anyone had ovary pain during their first chemo? The pain started after my 1st chemo on 7/19. Also, my period stopped right after the 1st chemo. It might be b/c I'm on Lupron innjections (every 4 weeks). 

Melrosemelrose

winter_flower- First of all, try not to panic.  You may want to call your onco this morning and let him/her know what symptom you are feeling.  Better to get things checked out rather than send yourself in a tizzy.  I have had ovary pain off and on since I started chemo.  It's like my ovaries have tried to remind me they are still there and want to do their monthly thing.  I'm not on Lupron.  Again, call your onco this morning so you can get help.  Do not be afraid to call anytime while you are having chemo.  It is part of the oncologist's job to help you with the chemo side effects.  Keep us updated!!! 

Nance72

Sorry it took me so long to get back here since my vacation to Monana, Glacier National Park. I tried to post a new pic, from my vacation, last night but it is not working. Not sure why my new pics won't post on this site. Anyway, I had a great time, hiked in 5 locations, 40 miles over 5 days. Started Taxol on Tuesday, got a little stomach sick during my treatment. Gingerale helped calm my stomach, and I took Compazine when I got home. Next 3 times I will take Compazine earlier and sip on Gingerale. Neuropathy set in a few days ago. It has slowed me down a bit, but has not stopped me from my daily activities or work.

radioactivegirl

Wow, a lot of you will be done in September . . . my last one is October 10th!  It seems so far off, sigh.  

Nance - wow, that is awesome that you had energy for hiking!

thanks for the nosebleed tips .. . I havent had any, but will be starting Taxotere next, so who knows what kind of side effects I will have.  

Nance72

Just a thought on the low energy detail. I know with my dad, who is 80 years old, that he has low energy and naps throughout the day. When we had a visiting nurse here the other day his oxygen was in the high 80's/low 90's. I know my oxygen level is constant in the high 90's and a have not had the fatigue that many of you mention you get with your treatments. I now everyone is different in how the chemo effect them. Just curious if ones oxygen level has any affect on the reason for fatigue.

IndigoMont11

Nance72, so glad to hear from you and that you were able to enjoy your vacay!  Take care and I hope you can ease back into work.

Marcia1111

winter flower- I hope you were able to see or speak to your MO and find out about the cause of your pain.   I am hoping it is nothing more than a UTI - painful, but easily treatable.

winter_flower

Thanks for your replies. I'm getting an ultrasound this week, so will hopefully get more info. The burning and pain are in my ovaries ((( My MO said it might be just hormones and reaction to chemo/Lupron (crossing my fingers that's the reason). 

PositivityRocks

Morning ladies. In the BGC this morning for 1st of 12 weekly Taxol.

A bit nervous.



Any1 on Taxol weekly? What kind of SE did you have?



Good luck to all in the chair this week and praying for minimal se for all.