Starting Chemo October 2014

Redporchlady

So sorry  Mandy!  Not something you want to have to go thru twice and I know how much we all want to get our chemo treatments done. 

cbooklvr

I had my last chemo treatment yesterday. There were 3 of us, one of the nurses baked chocolate chip cookies for us, so sweet. I still have to go every 3 weeks for Herceptin until September.

For the lady who is completely done the RN and staff had a sign, pom poms and did a cheer and gave her flowers to celebrate.

April8 also have neroapathy in my hands and feet. Will be trying acupuncture, my RN said it can be very helpful.

Is anyone else starting radiation next? I have consult in 2 weeks and am very nervous

Cherice

nottoday

Hey Cherise: Congrats on making it through the tough part. Hope you can rest and pamper yourself all weekend!

sophie14

Hi everyone .. I hope everyone is doing ok ... How long do you feel the side effects of the neulasta shot ? ... It sure makes me feel weird. I got the shot Wednesday, bones hurt just a little, but hands tingle a lot, and some tingling in my feet. My heart wants to race at times too. I'm on digoxin for irregular and fast heartbeats I have had a long time. It usually keeps it under control. I guess all these drugs are really putting a strain on it. I have one more A/C treatment on the 24th if blood work allows. Then it's on to the next phase. I have lost 20+ pounds, but will probably get it back taking all those steriods with the taxol treatments. I did have my treatment on my 60th birthday ... it was a very emotional day.. I think all this just catches up with us some days and the tears pour. The PA said it was expected to happen, she prescribed some medicine for my nerves. My chemo nurse was on a cruise, so I had a sub nurse. She was wonderful and lives in my community. Four of the chemo nurses sang Happy Birthday, gave me an Angel pin and ballon too. Those girls can sing too ! ... Take care everyone ... Sending everyone ((( Hugs ))) and prayers.

cbooklvr

Thanks nottoday, it hard for me to relax and not do projects around the house. But trying hard and drinking my water.

Sophie14, glad you had some pleasant times during your birthday. Even though you were getting chemo. {HUGS} hang in there.

Cherice

ml143333

I have been thinking about my last three chemo treatments and am looking forward to them ending.  I want to do something fun with my husband and two kids (12 and 13) after my last chemo, well, I will probably wait about a week and then do it.  Have any of you done anything special?  have you heard of any others that have done something fun and different?  I just want to celebrate that part being over because my family has definitely gone through this with me.

I thought about zip lining.  My husband and I have done it before but the kids haven't.  There is also an indoor skydiving arena near us, but man is it ever crazy expensive.  I'm not looking to break the bank, but definitely looking to do something fun and out of the ordinary.

Any thoughts?

Redporchlady

it is so exciting to hear some of you that are getting done with your last treatment! Congratulations, you all deserve to have a celebration!

I was supposed to have chemo this last Wednesday. And after that I was to only have two left to go. This one that was last week was supposed to be my Carbo/taxol and then only two taxol left. However for the first time my platelets were too low and I had to delay treatment. I sat out in the waiting room while I waited for them to take the needle out of my port and just cried. I think it was more the letdown because I am so close to having all those treatments done that it just all hit me. That all also meant that my surgery now will not be till the first part of April. One day crying and then got back out there and told myself that next week after my treatment I will have only two left!

Leto

Cost of Chemo: $80,000

"Been there DONE that": PRICELESS

Becca9800

Hi Girls! Just checking in to read how everyone is doing. OK things seem to be rolling along for everyone, a couple of bumps in the road but everyone is still moving forward. Good, glad to read it all. Hang in there, Girls, the end of the chemo journey is near.

Ilovecoasters

Mandy, I have six left and I've had the same thoughts. My coworkers want to have a party for me. I also want to do something with my family. I've only left the house 14 times since Sepember (yes I've counted). My family has given up so much too. I just want to thank them.

I'm proud of us girls! We are doing it! So many times I wanted to give up. So many days I was so sick I couldn't imagine making it through. Thanks to all of your gentle encouragement and kindness I am still in one piece both mentally and physically.

nottoday

Hey ladies,

I'm 8 weeks from last infusion. And even though I had some serious back pain after last infusion, following by gallbladder surgery a couple of weeks ago (unrelated to chemo, just happened to discover gallstones after first infusion), I feel wonderful. Back to my old work out routines, energy level steadily approaching normal, achy muscles are gone and so is fluid retention. It's so good to feel like going out again and greeting the world after being quite the hermit during the last 5 months of 2014. It even looks like my eye brows are beginning to resurrect themselves. Just wanted those of you to know who are still going through chemo, look forward to feeling better, much better, pretty quickly.

Best wishes, all.

She-Angel

Yesterday was my last infusion yippie. I got a certificate with my name on it from the Treatment Team with all their signatures and best wishes. Now time for surgery in a few weeks. I feel tired more but I am pushing through, but it is what it is. We will get through this, God loves us he has not forgotten us and is constantly with us.

nottoday

Yeah, She-Angel! Congratulations!

Ilovecoasters

Congrats She-Angel!

MJS1266

Congratulations She-Angel! I have two more, can't wait to be done, and then surgery.

Valentine99

Congratulations to everyone who is finishing treatment, and to those of you who are close. ..the end is in sight!

I had my last infusion on Feb 4, and I am already feeling more like my old self. I do still tire easily but I don't feel exhausted all of the time.

Now I worry about surgery. Such a big change. Will it go ok? How will I feel after? Will I stay cancer free? So many unknowns and I don't like unknowns.

I never lost all of the hair on my head. Did that happen to anyone else? I thought it was strange, but I kept my buzzed hair the whole time. If I had know that I wouldn't have taken the clippers to it.

Ilovecoasters

Valentine,

I have kept very sparse stubble on my head and about four days ago I noticed I have fuzz coming in. It's pure white which concerns me. I only had a little grey before. My natural color is dark brown. White won't be a good look. I've had to shave just my left leg this entire time. It's just so odd. I am ready for this to be over. I have four more. I already had my mastectomy, so radiation is next.

cbooklvr

Congrats to all those who have finished. I am 2 weeks out from my last chemo and am starting to feel like myself. Energy is slowly coming back, just dealing with night sweats and numbness in my fingers and feet.

Cherice

Ilovecoasters

Cherice congrats to you!

cbooklvr

Thanks ilovecoasters! I have appt with the radiologist tomorrow, very nervous about radiation treatment. I'm writing down my questions now, my mind usually goes blank when I am in the office.

Cherice

Fabian59

Well I have now finished my radiation treatments as of last Friday. They gave me a certificate and a coffee mug which was nice. Burned pretty bad but it is starting to heal. I had 33 treatments altogether. I had a biopsy in the other breast last month and it was benign. I have decided to have the other breast out. My oncologist agrees with me and my breast surgeon. Wish I had had both of the out in September when all this started but no one suggested it so I am going to go ahead and do it. While I am healing from the radiation from the left side I can have the other mastectomy and get my weekly fill ups and have both permanent implants in mid June. Did not even get tired with the radiation. Alot of itching with the radiation dermatitis and spent about $200 on different creams and lotions. Oh well got through it, second phase done. Start Arimidex in two weeks. Side effects from that are bone loss, joint pain and hot flashes.

If it helps save my life that's OK.

Hope everyone is doing well. Planning a cruise after the other mastectomy after the drains come out.

Ilovecoasters

A celebratory cruise sounds wonderful Fabian59. I wish we could plan something, We have over $26k in medical bills just from 2014. Unlikely to ever vacation again. There is something very wrong with the costs of medical care in this country.

She-Angel

Thanks so much for all the well wishes for completing chemo, and well wishes for those of you soon to complete yourself and move on to the next step.

I had a make up date for the look good feel better last Tuesday but the snow came and it was cancelled again so I think that is devine intervention saying I don't need to worry with it. I envy those who did not lose their hair because except for the hair on my forearms I got nothing. Slick as a baby...everywhere. I suspect my hair is going to come back white but oh well I know how to color and will be glad when I can return to my stylist with hair.

As I read some of the threads,  i think we do need to mark all occasions as we know not what tomorrow brings. Bills are always going to be there so if you get a moment and can take a little time to enjoy a little vacation, go for it. Between the cancer and the school loans on paper I should never go anywhere ever again, I will be in Atlanta in June for a mini vacation and I will be in Miami in September for a longer vacation. Life is too short so sweat the things that make us anxious.

 

Ilovecoasters

She Angel, my thoughts exactly but my husband doesn't see it that way. Our last vacation was 1996, our honeymoon.

nottoday

Dear all,

Today I got word that I got into "Casting for Recovery" in Georgia. llovecoasters, I think you told us last fall about this program that provides a weekend retreat of fly fishing to those of us in or out of treatment for BC. Though the headquarters are in Vermont, I think there is a retreat site in each state.

The closest I've come to fishing in the past 50 years is to feed the goldfish in our pond, but it sounds like fun, doesn't it? A weekend in the foothills of the Appalachians, hanging out in a stream, getting to know some other ladies. I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you, llovecoasters!

I think the application period is closed for this spring/summer, but anyone who has ever been diagnosed is eligible to apply, and if you don't win the lottery one year, you get automatically added to the applicants for the next. And, the application process is very easy: http://castingforrecovery.org/

I agree with everyone that it's important to seize the moment and take even short fun getaways with the people we love (or alone!). She Angel, look me up when you're in Atlanta.

Tobycc

hi all!!! I have two more CMF then 6 weeks rads. She, congrats!!!!!! We can meet across the "alley!" At the little gas station, it not in TN!!!!

I stopped taxol in December then started CMF... Hair is coming in, yes white, with darker in back. Reading up on the Hair thread!

Rejoicing we have come this far, all together. I think DH and I will have a nice dinner out when chemo is done, only a week or so before rads. I want to get this weight off!

Hugs

Leto

nottoday - I'm glad you were selected to be in the "Casting for Recovery" program. I too applied based on the link that ilovecoasters provided, but I haven't heard back from them yet.

I am having surgery on Thursday. Bilateral Mastectomy and ovary removal at the same time (BRCA2 +). Different surgeons for each procedure. Both are female - which doesn't really matter, but somehow that brings me comfort. Will find out if I need radiation after the node biopsy. Reconstruction will be at a later date.

I'm still having SEs from Taxol - last infusion was 1/27/15. My feet are still very tender to walk on, I'm still getting a few red bumps every now and then, and the neuropathy in my fingers and toes. Hope everyone else is getting through the lingering SEs.

Ilovecoasters

Nottoday that's great you were selected. I was not. All of my cancer friends I shared the info with have been selected too. I am very sad about it. Can't win.

Tobycc

Leto, will be praying for you ! My last free maid service is 3/6. If you need it google free maid service for cancer patients. Oh I remember, cleaning for a cause I think. It has been wonderful. Or it. Ignite be cleaning for a reason

Darn chemo brain

BookLady1

Wow! October 2014 seems so very far away. I finished chemo last Tuesday, 2/17. Rang the bell, said goodbye, got my certificate, with my DH and DS with me. My DD sat with me the week before. I've had very long chemo days with Taxol. My hemoglobin and magnesium stayed low, so along with Taxol infusions, I had those extras. 6-7 hours in the chair. I enjoyed my week off. Radiation sim next week and radiation begins 3/9. I'm as ready as I'm gonna be, which is what I said about chemo! Moving on to the Winter Radiation (soon to be Spring) thread.

I wasn't sure I wanted to go through the ending ceremony. So many others will never ring the bell and so many are receiving chemo for a new diagnosis. Looking at the photo of the faces of the nurses reminds me of why I'm glad I did. Joy on ALL their faces! They work to see us move on. Also, so many chemo buddies I had never seen came up and congratulated me and wished me well. It was a very bittersweet and humbling day.

Thanks to all of you for sharing the good and the bad - I'm grateful you are here. Love you all, Linda