Starting chemo November 2012

Elcee54

Hi Michelle,

I'm new to the forum but have found my therapist to be an important part of my healing team.  I encourage you to give it a try and it takes more than one session.  They can really help make a big difference.  Best of luck and blessings, Elcee

maryah930

I'll add this to Elcee54's comment.  If you and your therapist don't mesh, do not give up on the therapy, but find a new therapist.  Although it will take more than one session to make headway with the therapy, make sure you and your therapist are on the same page with goals and expectations so that you don't get frustrated and discouraged.  My MIL said she will sometimes recommend someone else for her clients if she does not see their goals and expectations are mutual.

mermaid_1010

Elcee..  I was rediagnosed in May, 2012..  UGH..  I started Vanilorbene in July for 3 months..  then the found it was not working...  So November 9 I started Taxol.  My schedule is 3 Mondays in a row and then a week off.  I start my round of tests the week after next and am a nervous wreck.  I was fortunate when I found out that a friend told me she had learned about the cold caps.  I called the company and they promised they worked for Taxol.  They were started in New Zealand..  and supposedly are being used all over Europe.  I am going to a Sloan outpost and I am the only patient using them (I asked).  Before getting rediagnosed, I had seen my surgeon who is a huge fan of supplements...  I was on 27 a day...  I became afraid that they were keeping the chemo from working..  So I am off almost everything.. except for my Centrum Silver and Calcium (the onc told me to use them)..  I am also taking a bone supplement called Ostinol and Biotin for my hair.  I've been reading all these posts and just don't know what to think..   My surgeon had said the supplements he recommended complimented the chemo - made the effects not so bad...    I just don't know what to think....

Loafer

Hi Ladies ~



It's great to hear how you are all coping with BC. I learn something new from all of you. There are many different methods and approaches to improving health and diet which are all designed to reduce risk of recurrence.



I have just finished my 4th and final round of T&C, which I consider to be chemo Lite. I think it's the least toxic and shortage duration of the cocktails. Each round of chemo increases the liklihood of serious side effects which impact quality of life. i firmly believe that surgery removed my cancer and the chemo was just added insurance. I agreed to the chemo only because i was diagnosed as TN.



I believe I've been blessed with minimal side effects because I was healthy going into this phase, had a strong support system, and a positive attitude. My only side effect is fatigue which my Onc said will subside in a couple months.



The advantage i had was a lumpectomy, cold caps to keep my hair, and no port installed. As a result, i am treated normally by all. I was able to work full time throughout this phase and even go on a business trip. I do not take any vitamins/supplements/prescribed drugs or support any special diets or exercise programs.



I intend to move onto rads and not look back. I have a great family, career, and many dreams to fulfill. I view this as a blip on the radar and intend to be happy and healthy in the new year. I hope all you gals find peace and happiness. May 2013 be a healthy year for all!!

txjunebug

We found out today that my daughter inherited the BRAC 1 gene mutation. I'm devastated. I pray that she is the exception to the statistics.



Today just has been horrible.

Anonymous

txjunebug~I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. Tell her to just be adamant about self exam. With the gene will she qualify for early mammograms?



I've been so sick the past few days. I think being in my nadir period, I got a head cold, but because my WBC was down, I got a triple whammy.



Blessings

Paula

5LuvBugs

Loafer, nice post...glad your getting through this like a trooper!!

Mermaid, My onc said no supplements to get vitamins and antioxidents from food, except my calcium w/D3

Junebug, I know  you are upset but try not to worry so much. at least now that you know the diagnosis your daughter will be continually watched - praying she and you will be ok.

Paula, I still haven't gotten over my cold from last Thursday, finished my antibiotic and cough meds - plan to be ok by next week so I can get my last chemo on Tues... Hope you feel better and if you have no meds, try the old trick, Honey,whiskey and lemon - works good and you also get a good night sleep!

It looks like a lot of this group has fizzled out - maybe tired of the whole thing or finished chemo and moved on to radiation = don't know but we were sure going strong about a month ago...I'm tired too, guess we've said it all!!! Have a good day everyone

politicomama

Well I missed my first Taxol yesterday as I got the stomach flu.  They pumped me full of potassium and and sent me on my way.  I am feeling tremendously better today.  I'll just start next week.  At first I was worried, but now I am looking at it as it gives me a extra week to recoup from AC! 

txjune.... have your daughter demand sixth month mammos.  I am not BRCA, but my mother passed from BC six years ago.  I am wishing now that I would have demanded mammos from 30 on.   My mil is BRCA positive, so hubby is getting tested.  My daughter is nine and it makes me sick.  Many prayers for you. 

Paula, sorry you are feeling yucky,  I hope it passes soon.  Long wait yesterday by the way. 

Loafer, congrats on being done!

keetmom

Im sorry Txjunebug..

5luvbugs...I too am SO tired...don't feel like my brain is working today....just keep telling myself Im getting close...

michellej1980

Just got back from chemo #4. I reckon I'm going to be the last one left on here! I have my last chemo on 22nd Feb...

michellej1980

txjunebug - how old is your daughter? She may qualify for more sensitive MRIs since young women have dense breasts and things are therefore more difficult to pick up on mammo. I was originally told I'd have MRI till age 30, then mammos thereafter. Thank god it didn't happen that way as the mammo and ultrasound I had after they became suspicious showed up nothing.

Anonymous

Michelle, I started on this thread in November thinking I'd be getting chemo sometime that month. Since I started in dec. I post there and now jan., but this is where I started and bonded, and I'm sticking like duct tape.



Blessings

Paula

5LuvBugs

Yeah Paula - you can't leave us..Glad your sticking around

Anonymous

Tricia~Are you feeling better? I've had the crud all week. I think it's just a head cold, but it got me at my low WBC (nadir period) so I got a triple whammy of it. I'm feeling a bit more human today.



Blessings

Paula

politicomama

Michelle, if it makes you feel any better I will be here until the first week of April now!  

michellej1980

I hope none of us leave this thread, even after finishing chemo. We've been through this together.

Sickofpink

Michelle, I'll be with you here as well til mid march .. But actually with herceptin infusions through October (rads overlapping in april)



Politico - sorry about your delay but happy to have u - and paula and you others.

A woman at chemo yesterday had never heard of this site and i felt so bad at how lonely she must have been..

Tx my heart bleeds for you. Maybe it is a blessing of early precations and do not think it is your fault, much as it isnt the fault of whoever passed it to you- or wtvr random luck sent it to others of us out if the blue. Power is knowledge. Or vice versa.. Oops the fog is descending.



Question - i want a half a burger (short of steak but thats too hard to get) before my tastebuds go but i am bad about fluids and worried it will increase the constipation factor with my last night of steroids and so many antacids and nausea meds.... Worth the risk?



So tired..

txjunebug

Thanks everyone for the support.  I'm doing better with the news today.  If I remember correctly the genetic counselor said that she is at the age that they will start a mammogram then six months later a breast MRI.  She will have both test and a sonogram of the ovaries every year for now. 

Michelle - I have my last chemo March 1st but I'm with you.  I hope we all keep posting here.  I've seen some of the other chemo threads and there's people still posting.  Don't leave me yet ladies!!!

Anyone else having problems with your skin peeling?  Wondering if my feet are so peeling so bad due to the neuropathy.

keetmom

Sickofpink...well worth the risk..Protein is good and the maybe the extra grease will help!

maryah930

Sickofpink ~ For not being a big beef eater (I eat beef maybe 6x/year), I have craved cheeseburgers after the past two rounds.  I went to the store in the pouring rain this past Tuesday just to get the meat, etc. I figure if I crave them that bad, my body needs them.  I just take my Zofran and my Sennakot and go for it.

txjunebug ~ I don't have the neuropathy, but the skin on my feet is peeling, so I'm not sure if it's due to the neuropathy or not.  The skin on my feet is so soft.

Blood counts were good today, but they decided I needed fluids, compazine, and steroids due to the SEs and especially the weight loss I've been having.  A short blood draw visit turned into a 3 1/2 hour visit.

Anonymous

Girls~Have any of you had tenderness in your gums? Mine seem to be tender, but I didn't notice this with my first treatment.



Blessings

Paula

Sickofpink

Thanks Keet!

Loafer

Hey Ladies ~



Promise not to abandon such a great group of gals!



Sickofpink - I crave cheese burgers after every treatment. Must be a protein deficiency. Don't deny yourself.



Paula - my gums continue to get more tender and bleed with each treatment. I am using all biotene products and find myself flossing less. Not sure that is good though. I did have a cleaning before I started chemo.



Luvbugs / politicomam / michelle - hope you fine ladies are recovering and SEs minimal



I am going on a business trip in a week and nervous about flying with this flu epidemic. Did any of you get the flu shot?



Have a great day!

keetmom

Loafer...I got the flu shot right before I started...it is SO bad around here right now..hoping SO much  I can stay healthy for the next few weeks..and my kids can stay healthy...they go to 3 different schools...

Hope everyone has a good day...Im feeling a bit better today...Hope to get the house cleaned a bit before cheering on the Packers tonight!

5LuvBugs

I am so glad everyone plans to stay on this discussion board - we are like family now.   Sickofpink, eat that burger and enjoy it.. I have been craving/eating more meat/protein than usual and I've heard that radiation makes you really crave the meat/protein. Yes, my gums get sore sometimes.  I try to massage them with my finger and use that baking soda and water solution (1 tbsp per 16 oz I think)

I still have that rotten cold but I'm feeling a lot bette and hope that I can get my chemo on Tues - what will happen if I get delayed for 2 weeks?  Do you think I would have to start over again? Anyone miss a dose?

Ok girls I'll be back later today= have a good one.

I'm back and just want you to know that husband is on the way to get me a big juicy cheeseburger!!!  I realize now that I have not been eating my protein this week and that's why I can't fight this cold...I need to be better by Monday!!!!

powermom

Michelle and everyone, You're not getting rid of me! I also started here because I thought I would be starting chemo in Nov, but got delayed until Dec. Will not be done with TC until Feb, then Herceptin, etc afterwards. I feel like we're family, too.

Eleni

Michelle, I'm having last chemo on February 25 (if everything goes as planned). Yes, I'm counting the freaking days.

Paula, yep, gums are tender and sometimes painful. I brush my teeth three times a day and use as mouth wash salty water. That was a suggestion from the oncologist nurse. it helps.

Eleni

Today I asked my dh to take some artistic photos of my bald head. They turned out quite nice. If I feel brave enough I'll post them at a certain point. I wanted to have these photos taken before I start tomorrow with the dexamethason. On Monday it's taxoterre time. That means puffy face, bloated, redness, no eyebrows, no eyelashes.

I'm tired but I also try to do as many things as possible in my "good" week. That includes housekeeping  and redecorating my son's room.

Loafer

Hi ladies ~



I'm sure many of you haven't gotten your head around the next phase of treatment yet.



I am going to meet with my RO on Monday to discuss Rads. He is a proponent of the Canadian protocol which reduces rads from 6 weeks to 3. There are clinical studies and trials with specific requirements for eligibility ( lumpectomy, clear margins, negative nodes etc). I will find out if I qualify. Is anyone considering this?

maryah930

I had a cast made of my chest before I had my BMX and I just got it back. After complete healing, we're going to make a post-BMX cast.  My friend Frida, who is an artist, is going to draw, paint and connect the two to encompass my life and journey.  I'm really starting to get excited about this.