Starting Chemo March 2015

Italychick

Katy, no need for forgiveness. Hope you are snuggling with Jack and Tutti today. San Diego weather right now is windy and gloomy.

Jackbirdie

Snuggling? Surely you jest. they went ahead on chemo. Got my game face on.

Italychick

Katy, eek, kick its ass today! Sorry, I got confused - thought today was bloodwork.

I've got the bracelet right here, sending out particle waves your way!

ksusan

Katy--yay for getting chemo today. Now, you keep those nurses in line, you hear?

Carrie37

I asked my MO today if I could be done. I was half joking but she totally laughed at me. Maybe I can go two times a week and get this shit done?!? I'm half done with Taxol now. Woot! They gave me a drug called dicyclomine which is for IBS. I am hopeful it will help my tummy issues. Thank God my mom was there because she finally blurted out "can't you give her something for the cramping?!" And the NP says "oh yes! That's a great idea!" DUH!! I think the steroids boost my appetite. I am currently gorging on pizza. I am sure I will regret it in about 15 minutes. 😞

Thinking of you in the chair today Katy! And my twinsie Bekah and I believe Joanna? And anyone else...my thoughts are with you all frequently. Especially those of you lucky enough to be close to a beach. I'm jealous of that!

ninjamary

Italy, I'd love to quit taxol mid-way, but I'm going to go for the full 12 treatments. I'm grade 3, TN, Stage 2 no lymph nodes and clear margins. I'm beginning to think the whole chemo regiment is overkill. It seems like so much. Are there really cancer cells still hiding? I'm not a doctor and get lost in medical journals. I read the same sentence 15 times and I still don't understand. Ugh. Taxol is a hell of a lot easier than AC (#4 just completed today) I get my SE on Saturday. Very disoriented, dizzy, tired etc....I want to reclaim my previous life back NOW!

I've met people who have had the type of cancer that you remove and you are done. No chemo. What?! ARGH. If it were that easy of would of removed my breasts and never looked back. #sigh

Jackbirdie

Ninja- CONGRATS ON FINISHING AC!!!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🏆

I think there are a lot of people thinking they can cut and run. But that is dangerous thinking. I think now there is no such thing as a cure for any stage. The Oncotype DC has changed a lot of thinking for early stage women.

The best you can do is NED (no evidence of disease) IMHO

I'm glad you are going to finish. But it's true that nobody knows. Nobody. I just don't want me second-guessing myself later

SC_Coqui

When I start thinking about how hard this is and how tired I am, I remind myself that I'm doing this for me, but more than anything for my son. I want to be here for him. I love him more than anything else in this world. I don't want to question later if the disease comes back if I did everything I could which is why also when chemo is done I'm changing my diet and excercise regimen as well.

My mom died of renal cancer when I was 14, back in 1988. From diagnosis to death was 6 months. It was a terrible void in my life emotionally (as well as ripped my life to pieces financially), I don't want the same for my son (though in our case he'd be financially set due to the life insurance policies we have). But, he needs his momma.

avmom

Katy, your game face is fierce. You go, girl.

I had a consultation today with my radiation oncologist. Based on a bunch of things, including my negative nodes and the "completeness" of my mastectomy (I am very concave. My surgeon took everything, and the RO said that there are lots of people whose mastectomy scars look quite different from mine), he does not recommend radiation. My margins were all clear, and the location of my tumour means that no further local treatments are required. Good news. That means that I have just one Taxol treatment left next Tuesday. I went and had my blood work done, and although my hemoglobin is low, and my ALP is just a touch high, it's a go. Last one! This means that I can have the mastectomy on the other side and the reconstruction done on schedule at the beginning of September. It seems crazy to look forward to more surgery, but it is starting to feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is sunlight, rather than an oncoming train.

If I could just get rid of this stupid neuropathy

Gentle hugs to all.

Italychick

Well slap me in the face. Just got back from MO appointment. Looks like last round is going to be only Carboplatin and Herceptin, they are removing the Taxotere. She is going to evaluate the day of chemo, but based on her evaluation of me she said I am heading into neuropathy dangerous ground and potentially lifelong side effects. I said but I can ride my bike, etc.! She said it is more based on my feet, hands, legs and digestive tract. So now I have to also go see an ENT to evaluate my swallowing reflex and other things I guess. I was shocked because up until this last round I have had minimal side effects. She said they have to cut out Taxotere for round 6 for a lot of women, to not worry because I have gotten plenty of chemo. But I totally wasn't expecting that today.

It makes me feel like I can't cut it. I hope it was enough. Guess I will never know. I guess there is a slight chance they may still do Taxotere, but she was pretty emphatic that it probably isn't going to happen. I was ready to cry, she said not to worry, I have gotten enough. I'm kind of in shock.

Jackbirdie

I just lost a hugely long message. Lucky for you all.

I just got home from chemo.

Feel ok. Steroids I guess.

Ninja- BIG CONGRATS ON FINISHING AC.b🎉🎉🎉🔔🎉🔔🎉🔔🎈🎈🎈🔔🔔🔔🎈🔔🎉

Theresa. Wow. Nobody needs to slap your face. Pretty good news. I don't think anything we do or don't do will stop us from worrying.., We all been through a lot. And they really don't know anything. Everybody's guessing,

For you, and your lifestyle,, lifelong neuropathy is a serious consideration in quality of life. I was going to suggest you go with your gut, but ahhhh... Your gut is not reliable riight now. I wouldn't put any more pressure on it.

AvMom- sounds "guardedly" very good. Yay!!! After all the bites out of the shit sandwich, I'd like you to be happy with the physical result.

Loving and hugging and missing everyone, time for me to rest now.

avmom

Oh, Theresa, don't you tell yourself you can't cut it. You have come through chemo with flying colours, and if your onc says you've had enough Taxotere, my wager is that she's right. You've trusted her so far; doesn't seem to me that should change now.

Side effects are unpredictable. Who knew you would get a nasty one right at the end? Permanent neuropathy would be no fun at all. I've got some neuropathy now, but it seems to fade a bit between rounds. The nurse at the clinic today said that it's possible they will cut my dose on Tuesday, but probably not.

You've been our chemo role model. I hope that hasn't put any pressure on you to do a "hero" finish. Let's celebrate the final course of the shit sandwich, and look ahead to moving forward. (Don't mind me if I seem a bit loopy -- I'm in an especially good mood today since I found out rads aren't on the menu.)

Thanks, Jackbirdie.

Italychick

Katy and Avmom, thank you for your kind words. The dosage I was getting was pretty high. My paperwork says 150 of whatever the measure is, and my MO said I was getting the maximum allowed. So I'm going to focus that between what I got and the Herceptin for a year, I will live to be 99 like my great-aunt Josie who got breast cancer at my age. Still one more chemo to go, but without the Taxotere should hopefully be easier.

Avmom, I am so glad you are almost done with chemo, and no rads, and can focus on the mastectomy and reconstruction process. Fingers crossed all goes well for you there. I would be loopy in your place too!

Katy, no shopping tonight! I know it is tempting to go look for a bunch of kitty stuff - just saying! Hoping you feel okay after this round.

rleepac

Home from Taxol/Herceptin 6 of 12. Just feeling tired and I have a grumbly tummy which will undoubtedly turn to diarrhea in another hour or so.

Mondays are usually my worst day but the next few days will be filled with tiredness and intermittent diarrhea. Oh joy...

Bekah

SueH58

Katy - Yeah, that you were able to get your treatment today!

Theresa, very odd visit, considering (if I'm not wrong) they told you you may get a 7th treatment. Now they're cutting down on treatment 6. Do you know how they assess neuropathy if you don't notice any SEs?

Bekah - you are moving right along. So glad for you.

Question for anyone who knows--why is Taxol prescribed as an add on for some patients and not for all? Does it do something different than the AC/TC does?

Hope everyone has a good evening!

SpecialK

sue - Taxol is not an add-in, but rather a separate, but equal partner in some regimens.  It is fairly unusual to give three chemo agents simultaneously due to toxicity, so the Taxol is given after the AC.  In the case of TC - the T part is a taxane drug also, Taxotere.  You would not receive Taxotere and Taxol - they both have the same mechanism since both are taxanes.

SueH58

Thanks, SpecialK. So under what conditions is Taxol added to the regimen????

Italychick

SueH58, I had side effects come up after round 5. The gut thing, my fingertips were still pruned but now I cant detect water temperature on the tips of my fingers. My legs were cramping, tingling, burning and the muscles in my calves were twitching. My legs started burning up to my knees. My vision also got blurry and a bunch of floaters appeared in my eyes. I also had one evening where I had difficulty swallowing so they are sending me for a throat assessment to an ENT. Also, my index fingernails are messed up about 1/3rd of the way from the tip of my fingertips. They told me not to worry because a lot of people don't make it through round 6, and I am getting plenty of chemo. The MO is going to see me right before the next chemo treatment just to verify.

So sounds like round 6 will be Carboplatin and Herceptin, but no Taxotere. I have been upset all night.

SueH58

Theresa, I don't want to speak out of turn but don't many people get just 4 rounds of TC? You've already had 5, so you could look at it like you already have 1 more than many. it sounds like you have a great Dr and if she feels you've had enough, you have to trust her. With your healthy lifestyle, you've got this thing beat.

I hope you're able to get some sleep tonight.

Sue

Italychick

Thanks. I just feel odd somehow, like I should be getting more and I'm not, almost like I am failing at the treatment. I'm sure I will feel better tomorrow, but it kind of hit me very strangely. I guess I will never know if I had enough treatment or too much. But I'm going to try to put it out of my mind and trust that with my stats I will get to live to be an old lady.

SpecialK

sue - the Taxol is not added, it is just given separately - it is an integral part of the regimen. There is not a decision to add it in based on something - it is there because it works by a different mechanism than the other drugs it is given with.  Adriamycin is an anthracycline, an antiobiotic based drug, Taxol is an anti-microtubule drug.  They both disturb the cancer cells in differing ways. There are two different TC regimens - one is Taxotere/Cytoxan, for which the protocol is four rounds, the other is Taxotere/Carboplatin, and the protocol is six rounds.  Note that Taxol and Taxotere are two different drugs, but both are taxanes.  Taxotere is double the strength of Taxol.

Italy - seeing as you are negative for hormonals take some comfort in receiving Carboplatin - platinum based agents are thought to be very good against this type of breast cancer - many are prescribed AC-T for ER/PR- and don't get the Carboplatin because their MOs have made the decision to give AC-T. 

Jackbirdie

Jack says : AFYFKM? That little ShitBag is staying? Imma have to make friends???

Tutti Frutti says: Friend? Naw, I'm gonna fuck with that big bully!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Thanks Special, once again. I appreciate you watching over us, and not letting our curiosity get the better of us and go to Dr. Google! I always learn something.

Except why I am doing six rounds of TC? I think it's because my MO is aware of clinical trials going one doing it. More is better???

My labs were great yesterday, all counts high, even uric acid still in range (which tells me something I already new, that the hip, joint, and bone pain that has quadrupled over last 3 weeks is NOT A FRIKKING GOUT ATTACK). Besides it is presenting bilaterally, and there is no toe involvement, and gout lasts 3-5 days, not 3 weeks.

Liver enzymes were a beautiful sight to behold. I can't get over how my body can feel like this- so bad, and yet there is no clinical evidence. I'll just shut up and play with my kitty. Wait for my MO to come back from Hawaii.

rleepac

2 random thoughts for the morning...

1) In a weird way I love how my urine stinks the first 2 days after chemo...makes me assured that it was in me and is now being eliminated!

2). I have hair!

Carry on...

Bekah

Meme117

Katy love love love the kitty and her name. We had a kitten and fog at the same time years back and they became best buddies. Glad you had your treatment, hope you're feeling ok today.

Theresa sorry you're unsettled with the news. Better to not have the permanent damage. This 4th round effects has lasted longer and my gut issues have been worse. I've only had a bit of cramping with left foot toes and a few times when I reached for something my hand felt like the bones were breaking, such a strange unexpected feeling. I'm gonna have to mention to MO.

Dreading having 2 more treatments

Beachbum1023

Bekah, I had that same hairdo 5 months ago, and my hair is growing back crazy already. I take Biotin daily and my nails are beautiful now too. Better than ever actually, and my hair is super soft and wavy, another improvement. Your will get there, day by day now! Cheryl

ninjamary

Bekah - has your hair grown on Taxol?! I thought mine was growing, but my eyebrows are coming out like crazy so I think it may be wishful thinking.

Trvler

Ninja: I have read people saying it grows on taxol but you do lose lashes and brows. I am not sure why.

Thanks for posting the hair, Bekah. It gives me something to look forward to. I actually dreamed last night I had hair growing on my legs. I have nubs but that's all IRL.

Katy: I am happy your counts are good. I am sorry you are feeling like crap. I hope the kitty cheers you up. I don't know how you do it. I don't feel that bad physically but I am not doing well emotionally.

I am having a bitch of a time getting my injections refilled. Long, LONG story I won't bore you with. I have been trying since Tuesday. I wish people wouldn't ask how I am doing because they don't really want to know. Mostly.

Kids are driving me nuts. Husband doesn't know how to support. Just not in a good place right now. I know all these issues were here before cancer but just adding cancer in makes me just almost at the edge, you know?

Trvler

Sharon, if you are reading, I am thinking of you.

ninjamary

Allison, I've had hair dreams too! Last night I was using a flat iron in my dream. Then later I was naked in public. Dream to nightmare. Good times.

Trvler

I can see that naked dream. I think it's pretty obvious what THAT means.