Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

TeamKim

Thanks Wrenn -- yes, I am quite euphoric!  BTW, my MO said, much as yours did, that my chemo was just in case there was a cancer cell floating around somewhere that was not removed in surgery, but even assuming that a cell or two were around, probably the first chemo tx killed it.  And you are right, he didn't push me at all, and when I asked him to quantify the benefit from one more tx with Gemzar, he said the only small benefit would be if there was a rogue cell that was resistant to TC, then maybe it would be killed by Gemzar.  

Happy holidays to you as well -- hope you are continuing to feel stronger with each day and can enjoy festivities with loved ones!

KBeee

TeamKim, Yahoooooo for you!   Here's hoping for speedy healing as your body recovers...and doesn't have to be hit by the chemo bus again.

Melrosemelrose

FYI:  One can have bone pain and muscle aches/pains from the chemo.  The Neulasta is not the only culprit for pain.  Claritin may not work for everyone but it was worth a try for those who did.

TeamKim- glad you talked to your MO and told him you were done.  So happy that you are done and will have a little time to recover before the rads.

Wrenn- Happy that you are still here!!!!

Schoolcounselor- Sorry you have been in so much pain..... We are here for you.  So wonderful to know that you have just one more round left!!!  Hang in there!!!!

 

Hoping all are doing well and moving forward.  I know that it gets hard sometimes and you don't think you can do this but the truth is that each of you can and are doing your best.  Wishing each of you some peace and calm and many positive healing thoughts and energy.  HUGS!!!

QuirkyGirl

Woohoo TeamKim!!!!  Enjoy every moment!

SC - my bone Bain was overwhelming and the MO on call gave me Percocet.  Overlapping that with 800 mg of ibuprofen finally gave me relief.  

GrammyR

MinusTwo- I  had full surgical mastectomy and many lymph nodes removed then has 6 months of chemo ACT. That was 7 years back and then this year a new area was found behind my right collor bone, so had 6 weeks of RADS over the summer. Arm-hand pain, neuropathy in thumb and fingers. They claim it may get better but may not.  I had no symptoms first time just a breast lump. Second time actually hand and arm pain which I thought may have been lymphedema- alas biopsy proved ERpos BC back. CT chest again next month as there are a couple areas of concern in the lungs they will be watching. Luckily no pain now and just trying to prepare for the holidays as grandkids get so excited about it. I try to get to church as much as  can,

Headeast

wohoo TeamKim! 

keepthefaith

good for you Teamkim! I know that will make your holidays so much brighter this year!

Palameda

Cograts TeamKim! We began this trip at the same time, but you're well ahead of me now. Blaze the rads trail for us. You're done with chemo!!!! Enjoy your Christmas and your son's homecoming, you truly earned it.

joanmj58

Just checking in. Had my first round of TC chemo on the 9th of December. Rough couple of weeks but feeling better. So, what did I do? Buzzed me hair with the number 4 cutter. I am hanging in there. I have 5 more rounds--next on the 30th! Have been keeping up on everyone but don't post much. Happy Holidays to all!!!

KBeee

joan, Sorry you have to be here, but welcome!  Please post any questions, comments, and feel free to vent when necessary.  We are all here to see you through it.  I just finished 4 weeks ago today.  there will be bad days, there will be worse days, but there will be plenty of good days too.  The things that helped me the most were: 1. keeping a journal every day of how i felt...specific symptoms, and even writing when i felt good.  It really helped to refer back to it about what happened when ...both for myself in later rounds, and also for my MO.   2. Walking; 3. drinking a ton of fluids; 4. trying to get out to do something each day.......more for the mental distraction.  

Hoping everyone has a weekend with minimal to no side effects.

FairyDogMother

SC so excited for the last chemo on Jan 2nd!  

Pat- nothing cut the pain from the Neulasta shot for me, but I started taking Clartin-D two days before the second shot and my pain is minimal. 

Wrenn- I hope things are going well with you.

TeamKim-I'm happy you have a supporting MO. 

Well, I was dreading the meeting with the MO, in fact I call an oncologist who I interview in the beginning and went ahead and set-up treatment appointments with her just in case.  The nurse I talked with at the other MO told me I was having SEs and could be getting an allergic reaction.  That my current MO should have been giving me steroids before the chemo, during, and after. I was only getting a bag of steroids.

Hubby and I were heading to see the MO. Hubby mention to me that the MO is young and probably hasn't had that many patients. He would support my decision.  As I went to the infusion room to give my blood work, WBC is high and Liver Enzyme Phosphate keeps rising, I felt guilty. I love the infusion room staff, the nurses, secretaries, and custodial staff.  I told them today might be the last time they see me.  We went to see my MO and guess who was not there...My MO.

MO had fellowship and they were trying to move my appointment and I told them "No" because I have an hour drive and I had blood work, MO, and OS (oncology surgeon) appointments all schedule so 1) I didn't have to drive more 2) hubby didn't have to miss too work.  If I knew MO wasn't going to be there I would have changed. Hence the first complain: Doesn't listen to me or respond to questions.  

I met with the PA.  She answered all my questions and told me that she has seen this in other patients.  They are worried about at what point do the SE become the allergic reaction and hence why I'm going to a throat doctor the day after Chemo #3. I should be able to take B6. They are concern about my liver enzymes going up.  I got more information from the PA then I did my MO.  Of course the questions I had for my MO the PA could not answer.  They are now going to give me steroids, before, during, and after chemo. I typed up all my SE from Chemo#1 and Chemo#2 to give them.  Chemo#2 I'm doing better on except for the whole throat, tongue, lymph nodes, ear things, but I got antibiotics and steroids for it.  I told the PA that I have another oncologist I'm thinking of switching too, since my MO doesn't believe my SEs. She understands and didn't know why they would schedule me when my MO is in fellowship.  

After this meeting my OS (oncology surgeon) came in and we talked about the oncologist issue.  I told him I really like the staff, but I feel like my MO doesn't answer questions and won't let me take more than 25-50 mg of B6. He told me I can take more and other things.  He doesn't know why the MO wouldn't allow it.  He told me that other oncologist I thought about switching to was a great doctor.  He would understand.  He also told me to the infusion nurse can be my advocate and he would be my consultant on oncology issues.  We discuss radiation, because I have been looking at articles regarding secondary cancer in women under 40 from radiation.  I'm now looking at partial breast radiation (balloon).  I really like this doctor.  

After leaving the office, my hubby and I discussed where or not I should leave the MO. I told him as long as I don't have to deal with her or if I can just deal with the PA I would stay there and finish my chemo there.  I'm still schedule for Chemo#3 there. I was going to see if the other oncologist could by my consultant.  I am a creature of habit and I don't like change.  I also don't like not being taken seriously either.  We will see what happens after the next chemo.

Thank you for the advice.  I hope all are doing well.  

KBeee

FDM, I am glad that the PA listened to you.  It would not hurt to meet with another oncologist to get another opinion.  Steroids before your next infusion may help to decrease an allergic reaction, but before your next infusion, you need a clear plan of exactly what to do in an allergic reaction; understand that an anaphylactic reaction where your tongue and throat swell can progress quickly, so if you get that during the infusion, they should probably shut it down until a doc comes up...if it happens when you are home, you should call 911 or go to the ER...whatever you decide you need to have a clear plan beforehand, so hopefully the PA, your MO, or another MO can give you this plan so that you can be comfortable with what to do should something occur. Hopefully the steroids will kick in and all of the planning will be for naught, but better to be prepared.  Good luck; I am sorry you are having to deal with all of this.

VirginiaNJ

FDM - I'm not sure about the others, but I take an oral steroid 2x the day before and the day after chemo at home.  On the day of chemo, they infuse the steroid.  Is seems to be a fairly normal protocol if I recall from others' postings.....

keepthefaith

same here with steroids as Virginia. I had a little flushing on my face, but that was it and went away quickly.

good luck with your treatments and decisions FDM.  Don't let them brush you off. This is a big deal and your health and well-being are at stake.  You DO need to be taken seriously:).

((HUGS))

wrenn

This was an interesting article...long and I didn't understand all of it.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/chemotherapy-doesnt-work-not-so-fast-a-lesson-from-history/

MinusTwo

Wrenn - yes, very interesting.  Thanks for posting.

QuirkyGirl

Joan, I had chemo on the 9th and hair loss started today.  It's fascinating how sudden and painless it is.

joanmj58

QuirkyGirl: My hair loss started today also! By Xmas should be bald! Feeling good. Ready for the 30th again--#2. I go for six rounds and you? What was your Oncotype score?  (Mine was 32.)

Joan

keepthefaith

I am now day 18 following my first TX and look like a baby bald eagle, I guess. Still have enough hair left to wear a beanie and look almost "normal".

Baked Christmas goodies today, did laundry, walked the dog and going to bathe her now. I think I am feeling pretty good!:)

Have a great week-end everyone!

Terri

TeamKim

Great article, Wrenn -- thanks for the post!

SchoolCounselor

Great article Wrenn. Happy Sunday everyone. Still nursing the back pain. I would take oxy but I have to be alert for two birthday parties today. 

I went out with some girlfriends on Friday and a woman across the table kept staring at me. I everyone noticed. I almost wanted to ask her if she was on a cancer adventure of her own. I think we should all have a secret  signal or handshake or something identifying each other.

Glad to hear some are done  and doing well hoping for Minimal SE for all still plodding  through treatment.

wrenn

SC i agree on the secret handshake.  I noticed there is an instant familiarity with other cancer people. I asked a woman where she got her hat while waiting for blood work at the cancer agency and she sat down and we were like old friends immediately. It is so comforting to me to connect to people going through the same thing.  Thank you all for thay.

audra67

Terri-

Glad you are feeling good and getting so much done!  Makes me feel like a slacker..

School counselor- I like the secret handshake or signal thing...I KNOW if I see a fellow short short haired person or scarf on head I will ATTACK them and encourage them in their fight!

Wrenn-

I thought the article was good and in fact solidifying the progress with lowering reoccurrence of breast cancer with chemotherapy...

Also thought interesting the part that in early days they would do radical mastectomy including muscle and all lymph nodes and had 80% survival rates with no reoccurrence...wow...

QuirkyGirl

Joan - I'm on four rounds with an Onco of 23.  A little tired today and everything still tastes bad but otherwise good.  Hair slowly coming out. Glad to have a BGC buddy for the 30th.

VirginiaNJ

I go on the 30th too . Though I think I may be one round ahead of you gals?  Will be #3 for me.....

QuirkyGirl

has anyone encountered an extremely itchy red rash on the tops of their hands?  Mine has been slowly spreading for days and is now on the tops and sides of my fingers.  Reached some critical threshold last night when it woke me up it it he'd so bad.   This morning my hands are itchy and stiff and it hurts to use them.  Unbearable itching/scalded feeling!

Hi Virginia - and yes, you're one round ahead

SchoolCounselor

Hi ladies,

Yesterday was going okay. DH and I went for a walk but had to pause often due to my back pain. Still have all screwy taste buds and I just realized my arm hairs had fallen out. It must have been the third round. Hair keeps growing on my head and then falling out again. 

I had a panic attack for the first time in my life yesterday. I have not been to work since September and got a call from one of the assistant principals. One of my students died. I hung up with him called the mom and tried to comfort her. So incredibly sad. Then I hang up started having a racing heart, raging headache etc I took an Ativan and lay down and was okay. 

Prior to cancer I handled things like this all the time. In fact at school I run the bereavement group for the high school students. I cry of course, but have never fallen apart like that. Hoping that cancer did not take that awAy. I always wonder what the chemo does to us neurologically, beyond just chemo brain 

VirginiaNJ

Quirky, do you have a port?  I have had redness on the back of my hand the past 2 days - in my infusion hand.  It's just red - not swollen, sore, itchy - nothing but red.  Not sure if it's even worth a call to the MO.....so strange to me that it would show up a full 2 weeks after treatment!!!!!

SC - so sorry you are struggling so much...big hugs!!!!  Only one more to go!!!!!!!  

SchoolCounselor

thanks virginia. Does your hand feel warm?

VirginiaNJ

No- no warmth - and it fades and comes back - fades and comes back.........weird!  I think I will call just to ease my own angst lol