November 2014 Starting Chemo Crew

Nik1966

Last taxotere and the end of chemo for me.  Yahoo.  This kiwi lives to fit another day, now 25 x radiation

 

 

karen1971

yesterday I had my first day of taxol. my next one is next Tuesday.

farmdau56

Hi all--I had my last infusion a week ago. It was definitely the roughest in terms of feeling bad, but I'm so glad it was the last one! Even so, I am feeling VERY tired and anxious. Just sick of the SEs, being bald, having no appetite, etc. I try not to complain to anyone much (except my husband, who is very patient) but I know all of you can relate.

Will start radiation in early April--my rad. onc. told me I could put it off a bit longer than a month in order to go away during my spring break. Who else out there will be starting radiation soon?

Onc. told me to start taking zinc 3 weeks after last infusion in order to speed up taste bud recovery. But some people have told me zinc is really hard on the stomach. Anybody taking it?

congrats to all of you who have had your last treatment and the very best to those of you who are still going. Hang in there!!

ThinkingPositive

Farmdau56, Congratulations on finishing!! I finished Feb 5th and same thing, it was worse than the other 3 treatments. Its been two weeks and I am still achy, tired, not feeling myself, teary eyes all the time, and no taste. No radiation for me, had a mastectomy and RO was recommending that I did not need to have radiation, only one node positive and 16 negative, very large clear margins with surgery, so very low added benefit. I never heard of taking zinc for taste bud recovery and it never took this long for my taste to come back prior times, this time its as bad as it was a few days after I received my last treatment. The only thing that I can drink is anything sweet, otherwise I can't drink it. Very little I feel like eating as it has a soapy taste to me.

Dee4C

Farmdau56, I just started rads...today was day 2. I will have a total of 28 with no boost. So far it's ok, hoping for the best! Good luck to you and congrats on being done with chemo!

seagirl

Hello Everyone,

I haven't posted in quite a while. I have been checking in on Facebook. My last 2 chemo have left me fatigued. but I only have one more to go! Congrats to everyone who has finished up their treatments. I will be interested to see how you are all bouncing back and dealing with your next steps.

Dee4c, I hope your rads continue to go ok.

Did anyone else get numbness in their feet? This just happened to me after my 5th round and after a week it is still there I have a call into my Onc. I was wondering if anyone had those symptons and if they resolved after your last chemo. It makes me nervous about my 6th round coming up.

Hoping that all are doing well

farmdau56

Hi Seagirl--It is just 2 weeks past my last chemo (TC) and I do have some numbness in my toes. I first noticed it a few days ago. My fingers/nails are really sore, too, despite tea tree oil treatments. Hopefully these SEs will go away soon. Good luck with your 6th treatment--hope it is your last?

TallyLassie

Hi All: Looks like this topic is winding down, as well it should. I had my last chemo on 2/25!! Feeling full brunt of SE's, but hope they pass soon. Next for me is surgery. I'm doing a single mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction next month. Sentinel node biopsy first to see if I need rads, but they think not. I'll still be posting on Facebook with the winter 2014 chemo crew and the HER-2 Positive group. I can't tell you what a lifeline you all have been to me on this board. You were there when I needed you most last November, and I'm so thankful for that. It is the only thing I will miss about chemo! I wish you all the very best as you continue down this road we're on.

Ten Things I Won't Miss About Chemo:

1). Nausea 2). Indigestion 3). Baldness 4). Burned Veins 5). Numbness 6). Plastic Utensils 7). Bowel Distress 8). Fatigue 9). Mood Swings 10). Chemo Brain

The Last Call for Chemo!

With my Nurse and Oncologist

Liwi

Congratulations to all who have finished chemo. My last Taxol is scheduled for next Monday, then on to surgery April 2nd.

enlm20Erica

Congrats Talley! I agree with the 10 things you won't about chemo! I'm wishing the very best with your surgery I'm sure you will be just fine. I just had robotic hysterectomy and ovary removal 2 days ago and I'm actually feeling very good! Next tissue exchange surgery and finally I'll be done! Liwi congrats on your last taxol, my prayers are with you and everyone has upcoming surgery. Much love from me to yall 💗

Jumpship

round 6 complete. Now I just have to wait out all these side effects

knittingPT

I still have three more taxols to go. I'm feeling so much better on taxol than A/C but have had issues with white counts/fatigue. It's hard with the weekly because I don't have a "good" week. However, my hair is starting to grow back and I'm very happy about that. I get my MRI this friday and then FINALLY we can figure out what breast surgery I'll be having (hopefully in April) and then I will do radiation. It still feels like a very long road ahead.

amylsp

It's so great to see everyone finishing up with chemo one by one. I'm almost four weeks out from my last chemo, and finally starting to feel better this week - fatigue hit me pretty bad the last round. I have my 'Dry Run' for radiation tomorrow and start the radiation treatments on Monday. I'm definitely feeling nervous, but figure if I can get through chemo, I can definitely get through radiation.

Good luck to everyone finishing up!

Janiner

Hi everyone. I have yet to post to this thread, but have been reading a lot. I have  completed A/C and have 12 weekly Taxol's every Thursday. Now I want everyone to know my Taxol story:

I had no immediate reaction during infusion with Taxol.

Week 1-2: Took the usual pre-meds:  allergy pill, heartburn, and steroids.  After the very first dose, I had side effects of usual fatigue on Fri-Sun. Bone pain was extremely intense. Worse than the Nueoprin shots. Over the counter pain medicine barely put a dent in the pain.

Week 3: Stopped the pre-meds because I had no allergic reaction during past infusions. Side effects remain the same, on vicodin now because the bone pain and neuropathy was so intense.

Week 4-7:  Onc lowered by dose by 25%. My side effects were above and beyond what he told be to expect. Onc not concerned that it will have any negative impact on treatment plan. Side effects slightly milder on week 4, but by 5-7 weeks, back up to severe pain and neuropathy.

Week 8:  Same lowered dose. Completed infusion by 4:30 p.m. (Thursday). By 7:00 p.m by face was extremely hot (flushing) broke out with a rash on my chin and lower part of my face. Chalked it up to heat flash. Went to bed and woke up Friday morning with my face, bottom lip, bridge of my nose and eyes completely swollen. DH immediately retrieved Benadryl for me. Took 25 mg and called the onc. Talked with the nurses first and they didn't have much to say for explanation. Finally, in touch with onc. and he confirmed that I was not having breathing issues or throat closure, etc.  and he told me to take allergy pills for the next few days. I took Claritin for 5 days, with the swelling finally subsiding three days later. He set me an appointment with Allergy specialist. I met with the allergist yesterday. He told me I had a severe allergic reaction with the Taxol. Both he and onc were very surprised the allergy came up on my 8th infusion. My onc said he's never seen this before. The allergist basically told me in no uncertain terms that taking one more Taxol would be too risky, because there is no way of knowing if I might have a reaction so bad that I couldn't recover, or, I could be fine. He said he wouldn't take that risk. Switching to Taxotere wouldn't be beneficial because they are sister drugs and the same risk remains. So that left me with a discussion with my Onc. on what to do. He stated there really isn't any other drug to put me on and confirmed that he thought I would be ok. stopping the treatments. The risk outweighs the benefit now. However, like all doctor's who don't want to be sued, kindly told me that there's no guarantee that stopping early would or wouldn't have an affect on reoccurrence. There's no way to know. So with trepidation, I decided to stop the Taxol treatments. Of course I am happy now to be done with chemo. A/C and Taxol both kicked my butt in different ways. Now I must live knowing that I have done everything that doctor's have told me to do. I would have done the 12 doses if I could have. My life is in Gods hands and this situation is out of my control.

I still have radiation for 5 weeks to complete. I truly hope that is smooth sailing.  

Please understand that these were my side effects and probably won't have any bearing on anyone else's treatment.

Thanks for reading. I guess I felt the need to write all this out because there is still part of me that feels a bit guilty quitting early. I just don't want this to come back (just like the rest of you feel too).

Prayers, love, and support to all of you.

- Janine

ps I posted this on the weekly Taxol thread too.

Leslienva

Janine, since you're ER+/PR+, I'm guessing you will get tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, which will give you extra protection against recurrence

Janiner

Leslie... Yes tamoxifen for 10 years. Onc says that accounts for 30%. So, that's positive. Feeling better about it today. Not going to scheduled chemo was just plain strange yesterday. Thanks!

Astarte

I'm one of the last stragglers, *waves tiredly* I have my last AC treatment 03/23. Today I saw my breast surgeon said there's a chance they may not give me the last chemo. I didn't understand why and she moved on before I could ask.

I didn't know until today if I'd be having a double mastectomy or a lumpectomy and breast lifts. After the doctor checking my progress and doing an ultrasound of my lymph nodes, (one of my lymph nodes still looks bad on ultrasound, they will remove it). So the doctor presented me with all the options and I asked her which she would choose if it was for herself and why.

She told me the lumpectomy and breast lift so that she could get back to a normal life. Having the mastectomy has no advantage for me, and would be simple, but would I miss boobs? The lumpectomy and lift is all done at once whereas the other is many surgeries. So, I'm going with the lumpectomy and breast lift. It should be this time next month I get my perky B cups. I've always been blobby fat boobed.

I hope everyone is doing well and I thank you all for being a part of my journey.

TallyLassie

Hey Folks: Don't know if anyone still looks at this forum, and if not, that's a good thing because it means we're all moving on. I just wanted to close out my time here by saying that I've made a donation to this web site, breastcancer.org "In Honor Of The November 2014 Starting Chemo Crew". This site with its information, discussion boards, and especially you all were a lifesaver when I needed it most back in those early days of figuring out what the heck happened. I'm so glad it was there for me and I hope it helps many others in times to come. Thanks for helping me through my journey, and best wishes to all as we go from here!

amylsp

Hi Tally! It's so great to be on the other side of treatment, isn't it. I have my last three radiation treatments and will be done with that on Wednesday. Next, onto hormone treatment - starting with tamoxifen in the next few weeks. Like you, I'm continuing with Herceptin as well. I've had three solo Herceptin treatments so far, and very few side effects as far as I can tell.

Thinking of all the November 2014 Ladies and wishing everyone well!

MidLifeCrisis

Haven't been here in a while myself ... Terri, you are so kind and sweet to 1. make a donation and 2 to do it in honor of this group. It has been a lifesaver to have a forum like this to help guide us through. I'm thankful for everyones honesty and ability to share ... the good, bad and ugly! I'm finding myself in a "moving on" place as I look to begin hormone therapy (tamoxifen) this week and tohave so much of the active treatment behind me. I will always be thinking of this Nov 2014 crew with positive thoughts and well wishes.

enlm20Erica

hey everyone...haven't been on this post in a while myself but I agree with all of you, this site has helped us get through some really tough stuff and I'm so grateful for it and all of you. And Tally i believe i will make a donation also thanks for sparking that flame! As for me, I finished chemo in January...had hysterectomy in March,and had tissue expander to implant exchange surgery (April ) 2 weeks ago...and will be starting arimidex today...I'm so happy for the progression we've all made! So so much love from me to yall💗

karen1971

I am done with chemo and now I will be starting radation Monday.

Freakedout4sure

I'm just starting 4 rounds of TC in November - might you share your experience with me?

Leslienva

I started early November last year--same regimen as you. I also cold capped during the infusion to save my hair. I found that one of the worst things about the ordeal was the neulasta shot the day after chemo. It caused a lot of bone pain. I also experienced nausea, and nothing they gave me seemed to help. Foods tasted terrible, too. As soon as I felt back to normal, it would be time for another dose! But having said that, I probably had more good days than bad days and since it was just four treatments, it was over pretty quickly. Just don't over do it. If you're tired, be sure to rest. You'll be having chemo around the holidays, so try to order your gifts on line and be careful being around crowds because it's easy to get a cold when your immune system is compromised. There's usually a monthly group starting on here for new chemo patients so if one hasn't started, you may want to start one. Last year we commiserated with each other and ended up starting a group on Facebook. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do fine!

Artista928

I started the first of 4 rounds of AC on 11/3/15. Following it will be 4 rounds of taxotere, all every 2 weeks. You ladies who are a year out from having started chemo, would you say it's back to normal now? Like your hair is short but looks ok, you feel good, you eat good/energy, etc? Anxious to have an idea what it could be like for me a year out (one year from now). Thanks!

readytorock

Hi, Artista928!

I was part of the Nov. 2014 chemo crew. Finished January 20th. My hair is kind of adorable now!! About 4 inches of thick, curly hair! I feel good, other than still being tired. And my left boob is still tender from radiation. And, of course I still think about cancer like every minute. But, all in all, life is good!

Artista928

Oh yay readytorock! You sound ready to rock! I'm active in the Sept '15 thread because I was supposed to start then and got delayed a couple times. Thanks for chiming in. I'm hoping next year this time I'll be more to my normal look and self in time to enjoy the holidays. Best wishes to you! xo

Jumpship

It's been a long time. Thinking of you all

amylsp

The 3 year anniversary for diagnosis for a number of us is right around this time. It is great to be three years out! Here's to many more!