TCHP Ladies Late 2014 / Early 2015

PJay

I had a lumpectomy and an axillary node dissection last Thursday. I went home the afternoon of the surgery. My surgeon offered to keep me overnight but I felt good enough to go home. I am doing great. I haven't taken pain meds in over 24 hours. I would take this over chemo any day. I've been anemic since chemo but my energy is coming back and so is my hair (yeah!). I restart Herceptin next week at my post op appt. Ihave an appointment to speak to my radiation oncologist this week. I will start radiation in about 4 weeks. It feels good to be halfway through my treatments. It's a fairly cool week for Tennessee this time of year so I can stay home and enjoy it. My fingernails are still discolored and loose from chemo but none have actually come off.

PJay

Great news! The surgeon removed 11 nodes and they were all cancer free! Only a tiny little bit of cancer in the breast was found. The TCHP worked!

IndyGal35

That is wonderful news, PJay!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't able to get my sixth and final dose of TC today due to toxicity. The MO is worried that pumping any more chemo through my body may cause severe and irreversible neuropathy and hearing loss. I still got the HP, and I will stay on Herceptin through next March as long as the MUGA scans look OK. I'm a little afraid that I haven't received enough chemo now, but the MO reassured me that I have had a lot.

The good and unexpected news is that my surgery date has been moved up to next Tuesday since I will be officially 4 weeks PFC! That's 3.5 weeks sooner than we originally planned, so it's kind of miraculous that they were able to get both surgeons on the schedule at the last minute. I have so much to do to get ready over the next week if I can shake the lingering fatigue from my last round!

I'm a little scared, but I am so happy that this thing will finally be out of my body, and we will know something concrete about the sentinel nodes in 7 short days.

CassieCat

Lee, I'm sorry you couldn't have the last full chemo, but I bet what you've had has done wonders. After three rounds my tumors couldn't be found anymore via ultrasound. Have faith that it will all work out!

raleighgirl

Pjay,

Great news about the nodes!

Lee,

Like Cassie said, I wouldn't worry too much about missing the last chemo. You are one step closer to being done with the surgery. Like I said before, the anxiety was the worst part for me.

I'm eight days out from surgery and feeling so much better. I've been taking 3 or four mile walks every day since last Thursday(2 days post surgery). Stopped taking any medication two days ago. I was religious about taking colace three times a day and miralax at night so I had no constipation(which was the worst for me during chemo!) I can't snuggle with my two toddlers like I used to because the TEs are atill uncomfortablebut soon that will pass.

ellenmc

Happy to have found this thread. Thank you, SugarCakes, for starting it. I am receiving TCHP; had my second (of six) treatment last Friday. So I guess I'm 1/3 of the way with this part of the process. Treatment #2's aftermath knocked me out (so did the first, but for different reasons). But I think what knocked me out this timewas my inability to eat, and the weakness from that. I went back for fluids on Monday, which gave a temporary boost. And GI side effects knocked me out - but now I'm taking Prilosec, Zantac, and Imodium. I haven't been able to go to work yet this week, which is bumming me out, but what can you do?

atlmom

P-Jay and raleighgirl, congratulations on the great results!

IndyGal35

Thanks for the encouragement about the surgery, Gals! I hate that so many of you have had to go through it, but I so appreciate your words of wisdom.

Ellen, after round #1, I started getting fluids on days 3 and 6 post-chemo. It really helped me too. Are you struggling to eat due to nausea?

april25

Chemo is tough. I am SO happy to have it over with. I had to have my taxotere reduced after my first cycle... They figured it would be OK. I don't know if that played a part in my non-complete response, but I don't think so... There are so many factors that could cause that.

I was anemic by the end of chemo. Not eating was a huge problem. That and diarrhea and dehydration. My GI tract is still messed up, but the up-side is that I'm eating like a pig-- ice cream and candy-- and I'm Type 2 Diabetic and have only gained 2 lbs after losing 25lbs from the Chemo, and have to actually cut back on both diabetic and chloresterol and HBP drugs because I'm not absorbing enough of the food. But not anemic any more (am eating tons of awful stuff like ribs and steaks!). And my appetite and taste-buds are just fine! Hopefully I'll cut back on my intake before my GI heals up and I blow up like a balloon! But right now, I'm enjoying indulging myself with all kinds of food and drinks!

I had to have 24hr IV drips for a week or two every cycle, my diarrhea was so bad. So yeah... fluids, lots of fluids. It was nice having the IV in my port for all that... I'd have gone crazy otherwise!

I've been on Herceptin every three weeks for May and June (will go for a year). So far I don't think I'm having any SEs. MO seems to think the residual diarrhea is due to the chemo since it is, very slowly!, improving. My nails were OK through chemo, but my little finger nails are lifting at the tips, about 1/3 down, now! I'm hoping it will stop before they fall off! Not having any toenail issues. I didn't ice, but have been using nourishing coats and taking some biotin.

LX is doing OK. I have a bit of a seroma (hard liquid filling the area where the tumor was excised). Doesn't hurt, though... just feels like hard lumps. The incisions have been OK... the one from the SNB feels a little tender due to my arm rubbing it, but that's all. No pain, though. I never had any problems with numbness or ROM.

I'm currently doing rads, just did my 16th of 35 treatments. So far it's been just fine. Much less worrying than I thought. I just go in on weekdays for 1/2 hour, actual treatment time is maybe a minute or two? Of course, they say that it's cumulative, so redness and irritation could still be in my future! But so far, it's fine.

I definitely feel like I'm getting through to the end of cancer treatment taking over my life...! I'll finish rads at the end of July. But already I have more energy (although they say rads can cause fatigue as they go on... so far, not bad, though!), and am feeling better even with the residual effects of chemo (some neuropathy causing weakened muscles in my legs--gradually going away! the diarrhea, the nails). Of course, my stupid hair is still about 1/4" at the most! But oh, well. I'm getting used to the wig and the scarves and hats!

No rads tomorrow due to the holiday!

I hope you all have a great weekend, whether you're celebrating or not.

SugarCakes

Congratulations on the results, PJay! May I ask what was your node involvement in the beginning?

PJay

My original diagnosis was a biopsy of an axillary lymph node and later a PET scan showed that most of the level one and two nodes were PET avid and suggested that the level 3 nodes were also involved. A MRI found several suspicious areas in my breasts. After numerous breast biopsies the primary tumor was located in my left breast. The original enlarged lymph nodes were found on a routine mammogram just before Christmas. I'm starting radiation treatments later this month. I feel certain that my treatments for breast cancer will be successful especially after such good pathology results.

raleighgirl

hey ladies!

Just got pathology back from my BMX and I had a PCR!! Today is my birthday and I have to say that this is the best one I have ever had

CassieCat

raleighgirl, congratulations!!!

Stephmoen

wohoo keep the PCR reports coming My oncologist really thinks this perjeta is a game changer and so do I

IndyGal35

Steph. that is wonderful!!!!! I leap for joy every time someone gets a PCR. From what I understand, it lowers recurrence rates a bit - especially with HER2+ patients. How is your recovery going?

I'm getting discharged today. My path should be back next week, so I'm praying for PCR too.

Hope Sugar is doing well too!!!

Creativevintage

I am heading into my third round of tchp next week. I get it every 21 days. I was able to finally go back to work about 10 days after my last round, but only worked two full days before I had to stay home because I was just so tired and teary. I will go back tomorrow and try to work until my chemo next week. I really have not felt well since this whole thing started. My chemo started two days after my port insertion and I barely recovered from the anesthesia from that before I was dealing with the SEs from the chemo, which included a hospitalization on day 7 of the first round due to neutropenic fever, diarrhea and dehydration. Is it normal to just be so wiped out? It seems as if as soon as I get just a little bit of energy it'd time to get more chemo. The only thing I keep holding on to is that they can no longer feel my tumors in the Breast or lymph node and that was after 1 round...not really complaining, but just wondering if anyone else has just been knocked down like this from the chemo. Thanks!

CassieCat

Creativevintage, I took a leave of absence, as I'm a teacher and my MO didn't want me around kids and teens while going through chemo. That said, I don't think I could have kept working anyway, or at least not those first 10 days or so after each TCHP infusion. They wiped me out.

raleighgirl

thanks everyone!! I am so happy. Recovery is going well. I have a lot of bruising on left breast(cancer side), but feeling a little better every day. The exercises I have been doing have helped a lot. I already have complete range of motion on right side and getting closer on left side

loriekg

Well, since IndyGal said she leaps for joy... I'll report I also got a pCR! I had my BMX about 5 weeks ago and don't know why I didn't say anything. I know it is helpful to those going through this! Hoping the same for you Lee!!

loriekg

And Happy Birthday, Raleighgirl!! Glad to hear you're doing good!!

raleighgirl

So happy for you Lorie!!! What wonderful news!!!!

IndyGal35

Happy birthday, Raleigh!

Thanks for the encouragement, Lori! We could still feel a fullness in the breast prior to surgery, but the BS said it could just be scar tissue. I really do get so happy when people get a PCR. It makes the horrible chemo process better.

Creativevintage, every round of chemo was different for me. I struggled with everything on your list at any given moment. If it makes you feel any better, I'm 4 weeks PFC, and I still haven't recovered from the fatigue/exhaustion. Our bodies are pumped up with so much poison during chemo. The effects are cumulative, so don't beat yourself up too much. A wise friend told me, "There is no award for the most hours worked during chemo!" I finally took it to heart.

Stephmoen

good to know I feel like I can still feel a little something in my breast bug my dr said its very soft she also told me I will probably have DCIS at surgery still which I am ok with as long as that invasive crap is gone!!

april25

raleighgirl and loriekg -- Wonderful news!!! Congrats!!! -- and Happy Birthday!

Creativevintage -- Chemo totally wiped me out. I didn't think it would, but it did. There's no way I could have been working through it, and the last several cycles I barely left the house. But I'm feeling so much better now! After I finished chemo, everything seemed great! Surgery, radiation, it was all no problem! Just hang in there and get through it as best you can. Soon it will be over and you won't have to look back!

Csed

so happy I found this thread great to hear you ladies are doing well! I had TCH for 6 cycles and finished April 3. Still on Herceptin once every 3 weeks until December. Still having some GI issues with diarrhea and indigestion, not sure if it's the herceptin or leftover from taxo and carbo. Anyone else have this problem?

Even with that I am so thankful that the tearing eyes and runny nose are gone and my taste buds are back!

Stephmoen

did anyone's nails get stronger during treatment I just finished #5 my hair is growing back my eyelashes are still here and eyebrows only thinned a little kind of freaks me out like it's doing the opposite

loriekg

Stephmoen--I had my lashes till about 2 weeks ago! Now I only have a few and I've been done with chemo since mid-May. And it is driving me crazy! LOL I wish I could get the hang of the false eyelashes...but just can't seem to. I can tell they are growing back but they are too tiny to even try and put mascara on. My nails did fine during treatment too, but now it seems like underneath the nails are peeling. No problems if I keep them short.

Csed--I think I'm the opposite of you. My GI issues are gone, but still have a little tearing of the eyes and sometimes runny nose. Seems like if I have to bend over for any amount of time (weeding garden) my nose will literally DRIP without warning! UGH

Csed

Stephmoen: it seems like my eyelashes fell out after the 5th cycle in March and still have not grown back yet - I think I have 3 left! Luckily my thick eyebrows (that I always used to complain about) only thinned and I never lost them completely. My nails on all of my fingers are lifting off but slowly growing out. At least they are not sore anymore- that was awful.

Loriekg : that's interesting about your tearing eyes. That was the first thing to return to normal for me, it took a few weeks after the last cycle though. How long have you been finished with chemo?

SugarCakes

My thinned out eyebrows went away completely after my 6th and final chemo. It's been 7 weeks now and they MIGHT be coming back in. Hard to tell. Eyebrows stayed on, but are thinner and also seem shorter. Oh, armpit hair seems to be coming in and I have gray / clear whiskers on my head.

Nails are hard so they feel stronger but they are also discolored. White in some areas and dark and streaked in other areas. I clipped them way down last week and that helped them look better.

Had my second herceptin only infusion today. Seems to be no new side effects.

I'm still having hot flashes. MO said the chemo would put me into permanent menopause, but I was hoping the hot flashes would get better. They did seem better for a while, but seems they have really been flaring the last several days.

Eyes not tearing but still get blurry on occasion. Had a bit of a nose drip over the weekend. Seems better now.

Recovering from my MSBMX last Monday. Still have drains. Have followup with BS tomorrow. I hope to get my pathlogy results.

loriekg

Csed—I finished chemo in mid-May. At least my stamina is back to normal, I think. I started walking a couple weeks after BMX (dusted off my fitbit) and just yesterday played over an hour of tennis! (In May, I could barely make it up the stairs without stopping!)

SugarCakes—hope you get your pathology report today! And maybe get those drains out too! --Lorie