April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

KBeee

I tried to post earlier, but apparently did not hit submit. Can I claim chemo brain???!!!

Taxol went fine. Total from premeds to out the door was 2 hours. I came home and slept for an hour because of the Benedryl, but then felt fine and went for a 4 mile walk, did laundry, made dinner, and generally went about my day. So far I feel just fine; none of the "yuk" feeling of AC. I did bring ice packs to ice my hands and feet. I will keep you posted over the coming days. 1 down 11 to go.

There now is a May group and a June group. Remember when we started how the February group seemed so far ahead? That is us now! We have a couple ladies finished now, and more who will finish this month...and more who will continue for months more. I hope everyone who finishes sticks round. Please update on how you are feeling, hair growth, etc. It helps those on longer regimens see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's nice to have a place to share fears, erc with people who get it.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for my kids. I love, love, love summer. I love having my kids home. My last chemo is scheduled for their last week of summer. I hate the feeling of wishing the summer away. I want chemo to end, but don't want summer to end! I guess I will really have to try and take things a day and a week at a time and try to not look ahead. I hope everyone is feeling good. How about a mid week check in???!!

littleblueflowers

Yup that's exactly how mine look.

Huh that's interesting about intent to reconstruct, ksusan. I was very clear that I have no intention of reconstructing, but mine are straight. I'm afraid I may need to see a plastic surgeon later though if the flesh under my arm on the prophylactic side doesn't smooth out. The cancer side looks pretty darn good though, and it got operated on twice, a week apart. Well if my surgeon did mine straight in case I changed or didn't know my mind...that's gonna piss me off! I distinctly said many times, I want to look like a 10 yr old boy!

Stephmoen

Addie and Ksusan you are both incredibly brave for posting your pictures since I haven't had surgery yet I wasn't sure what it looked like to have a mastectomy never even saw a picture of a women after having it done.uou both look great!

Stephmoen

this is as I brave as I get a picture of me with my wig the thumbs up is because it took what seemed like forever to get my wig after having to shave my head!! If you can't tell I'm not the selfie type

ankledolphin

... Another one with finger nails that are hurting so i took off my polish and sure enough they look bruised at the nail bed.

Hoping they dont fall off... I do a lot of typing at work and i need my fingers!!!

And this time around my port/shoulder really is still sore one week after my third chemo and all the pain we thought was the neulasta i still got and it lasted longer..

I still have sore legs/knees and have been getting headaches more..

Also having a really hard time this round in drinking fluids. I eat no problem... But drinking is an issue. I refused to give up eating what i normally have, but when something really tastes bad then its on the no list!

I think this round has been hard on my five year old.. She accidentally pushed on my port shoulder area and thought she was in trouble...and at night she doesnt want to be alone... I spent last night on the floor in her room on a very comfy pile of blankets and got a really good nights sleep!

KBeee

Stephnmoen, love the selfie; you look great!!!!!!!!!

ankledolphin, I hope you feel better soon.

littleblue, Sometimes the incision type is based on where your tumor is; sometimes it is physician preference.

Stephmoen

thank you kbee don't know what I would do without all your advise and encouragement

raisemeup

Heading out for my last A/C today! Woohoo!! Then on to Taxol x 12. Making progress. :-)

GingerChi

MySunshine, my apologies, I thought there were 2 different posters with similar screen names. I think I told you pretty much the same thing about losing your hair twice. I'm blaming it on chemo brain. Thanks for keeping us straight, Lynne!! lol

kbeee, glad Taxol #1 went well!! Hope the rest of your week is just as smooth!!!

Stephmoen, You look wonderful...your wig looks great on you! Very natural!!

My BMX incisions are very high and almost straight across. I'm pretty much split from armpit to armpit, with just a couple of inches right in the middle that was not cut. I had large breasts, maybe that's why I have such long incisions??. My tumor was very high and almost in my cleavage. The BS told me that she was going to have make much higher incisions than normal due to where the cancer was. When I was fitted for my prosthesis, the fitter said no two people's incisions look alike...mine probably look very odd.

Littleblue, I have "dog ears" under my arms, excess skin. I don't want reconstruction, unless its to remove that. Its very uncomfortable.

Today is AC #4! YAY! I'm so ready to get it behind me, but dread it at the same time. Good luck to everyone joining me at the bar today!

GingerChi

CONGRATS raisemeup!!!! :):) Me too!! I hope all goes well for you today....lets go fight like a girl!!

KBeee

Raisemeup and Gingerchi, Congrats on your last dance with the red devil and leaving it behind forever

greenae

Good Luck to everyone at the bar this week! May the SEs be minmal. I have been here all along, just been a little quiet.My SEs haven't been too bad, just for about a week after infusion. My last TC is tomorrow. My brain is probably my biggest problem. While getting chemo I feel I am actively fighting. After tomorrow, I think I will feel the beginning of anxiety as my recon sx approaches (july 7), and then the follow-ups. I HATE TRIPLE NEGATIVE.

So Big Hugs to all of you! Thank you for being here. Stay strong and Let's All Kick Ass!

Love, arlene

ThePrincess

KBeee - so glad you're doing well!! You continue to inspire! A 4 mile walk on day 1? AMAZING. I hope to do as well! :-)

Stephmoen -great pic! I would have thought that's just how you look!! No idea it's a wig!

Good luck this week ladies!!!! I think several are starting Taxol, yes? When you speak of the D, do you mean RUN TO THE BATHROOM or oh when I did go, it was D and no big deal?

I'm so ready to be done with AC but terrified of Taxol and then the Heceptin and Prejeta weeks??

Fran2014

ksusan & addie29-thank you for posting ur pics!!! I was truly wondering if mine were healing similar to others but had no basis for comparison. I did opt for reconstruction and have set the final surgery for the permanent implants on Aug. 13th. The expanders are annoying but I'm coping with it fairly well. The ps says that surgery in Aug. isn't even half as bad as the original and I should be fine afterwards with about a 2 week recovery. I opted to go much smaller this time (I had large D breasts that always aggravated me-even before they were trying to kill me!!). So yesterday I tried on a cute sundress & was amazed that I could slip it on without having to worry about my boobs getting in the way (at that moment in time-I actually smiled!). Not sure if I'm even going to bother with tattooing my nipples back on-heck, I turn 49 in a couple of weeks and have been married for 27 yrs.- at this point, I just plain don't care if they are there or not! I can't remember who posted it but I too am so much more consumed and saddened by the loss of the my hair than the loss of my breasts. It's funny what this experience teaches us about ourselves. Also, I strongly recommend the BioOil for improved skin texture and the scarring-really made a big difference!

Hope everyone who is "struggling" with SEs continue to do a bit better with each passing day. My energy is at a very, very low point but I just keep trying to remind myself that this too shall pass and next week will be so much better! On a truly positive note, I just received an email from one of my prior students from three yrs. ago (I haven't heard from her in a long while and she obviously didn't know that my cancer had returned). Her note was thanking me so very much for all the help, encouragement and direction I had given her during middle school yrs. where she struggled significantly with depression and isolation. She was so excited to let me know that she was accepted into the High School Cosmetology program. I could feel her enthusiasm & pride in her words..."things are so, so much better now!" What a great way to remind me that life brings us struggles but you push through to get to the great parts!!!

lovlilynne

KB, thanks for the update. So, no reaction at all? That's great! Seems like so many have had reactions from mild to severe, that I was thinking it was a given. For some reason, the thought of that is scaring me. I am trying not to think of it since it is still ~3 weeks away, but my mind still goes there. I have started thinking about having my sister come with me to that treatment.

mysunshine48

Lovelylynne, sorry, I did not mean to confuse anyone. Yes, I am a May chemo girl, but I read this board to find out a lot of information, and occasionally ask questions. I guess I won't post anymore on here.

lovlilynne

Ugh, mysunshine, not my intent at ALL! Please do not stop posting here, we are happy to have your questions, comments, and experiences. We all learn here - before, during, after (and after after - like from KB), so there are no boundaries. I am sorry if my comment sounded unwelcoming - I was just trying to clarify.

Lynne

Alibeths

https://www.facebook.com/sendBCpacking?fref=ts

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I started a FB page for encouragement.....FOLLOW IT and Share!

gkodad

Just wrote a really long message and had it disappear when I hit submit...maybe chemo brain, but I don't think so. 

Round 3 A/C tomorrow if WBC is ready.  I think it will feel good to have 3 out of the way and just one more to go.

I'll be deciding between dose dense Taxol for 4 sessions or weekly for 12, so I'm really interested in what's going on with each one. Doctor recommend 4, but says it's my choice - the statistical data is good for either one.    I'm inclined to do the 4 because I want it over, but not if the SEs are really bad. 

Alibeths

i did 4 taxol in 2013. side effects were NOTHING compared to AC.

melb44

Finished up AC #3 today. Lots of trouble getting blood return on my port but they got it after putting in something into the port for a half hour and letting it sit.

Still doing cold caps so it is a long long day. I feel a little nauseous already which is new. I felt fine the other ACs at this time.

Alibeths

How are the cold caps going??? I am doing them too. : )

Kniterly

I haven't posted but have been reading everyone comments. I started chemo in April, taxotere and cytoxan and had quite a few side effects so my MO decided to break up the taxotere into 3 doses. First week cytoxan and 1/3 taxotere, next 2 weeks 1/3 doses of taxotere. Anyone else on a plan like that? Today I finished part 3 of second round. Nurses weren't sure if I get next week off or if I will go right into 3rd round and if I'll end up with original 4 round or an extra 5th round. Right now they said it looks like 5. A little disconcerting that no one was sure and dr was out for the day. Side effects have been better overall except for fatigue I have several autoimmune issues that were why she felt like SE were so extreme (Joint pain, mouth sores, skin on hands peeling off, etc).Just curious if anyone else has had this schedule?

Gina.

Just checked my "My Chart" with the drs office and I do NOT get a week off. Still not sure about length. Was supposed to be 4 cycles but MO said 12 weekly visits so that would be equivalent to 5. anybody

GingerChi

melb44, the same happened to me after AC #3. The nausea hit within a couple of hours. It also lasted a few days longer than previous treatments. After AC #4 today, the nausea hit almost immediately. Thank heaven for Zofran!!

Great idea on the FB page Ali!

KBeee

Gina, Welcome! I did 4 TC in 2013; hopefully dividing up the Taxotere helps; that is nasty stuff.

gkodad, I did not have the choice of 4 or 12. If I had the choice, I would have chosen 4 because I could have taken a family vacation and I would not have chemo the entire time my kids are on break. I am doing 12. I am sure some side effects may come later, but right now all I have is fatigue (because I could not sleep last night due to steroids) and I developed a rash today...not bad; it looks like I got a sunburn, but I do not have a sunburn.

mysunshine, please stick around and ask away anytime. We are all here to support each other.

Greenae, How exciting that you are about finished! I'm so happy for you!!!

Mel, hope #3 does not bring too many side effects. Go away nausea!!!!

GingerChi

welcome Gina!!

Rockerwife

I don't get it? Last cycle I had seven neupogen shots and my counts skyrockets to 25,000. I had a racing heart with palpitations. Blood work before tc #3 were 10,000. So I went in with strong counts. Here we are at day sevenpast #3 and I did four neupogen shots instead of seven due to reaction and my counts tanked to 1000 neutrophils. I don't get it? Pissed.

greenae

thank you, KBEE!

I cant believe its almost over. This stuff had better WORK!

Hugs!

Arlene

DizzParkMom

Hi all! I hardly post, but read almost everyday. AC #3 is scheduled for Monday June 1st. AC #2 cycle started off worse than #1 but in the end I have had more good days than bad. With #2, the nausea started a few hours after infusion...despite the infusion meds and zofran. Day 2 was tolerable enough (we fly to Illinois from Phx for treatment) with the flight home being turbulent as usual. Days 3-7 were a mixed bag of nausea, fatigue, Diarrhea, weakness, zero appetite...day 8 turned the corner and I felt like a human being again...until I went neutropenic again on day 9. I narrowly avoided the hospital this time. (Spent 4 nights in hospital with cycle #1). Since day 10, I have been 90% my normal self. A little fatigue... normal for the insomnia I guess. My eyelashes are prickly. Hair is nearly all gone...what is there is prickly and uncomfortable. Still have no appetite and I'm struggling with trying to not lose more weight. Down 10 pounds since DX.

Sometimes I am feeling like an odd duck while reading everyone else's posts. I am doing neo adjuvant chemo and haven't had my BMX yet. I get a new picc line each 3 week cycle instead of having a port. I am getting 4 AC'S 3 weeks apart and then 4 Taxotere /Carboplatin 3 weeks apart. And of course there's the whole flying across the country for treatment thing. Anyone doing the same???

Oh! About the icing of the hands/feet. I asked my MO about icing my hands during my last infusion and he said he was all for it. I asked the infusion nurse about it and I was brought 2 surgical gloves that had been filled with ice cubes. I held onto them off and on during the A and C drips. Not sure if it helped stave off any neuropathy, but it was easy enough to give it a try...even if the condensation was a little messy.

Stephmoen

rockerwife I understand your frustration with wbc counts so annoying from only one neuprogen shot in the hospital my wbc went up to 16000 so I was sitting pretty for chemo #2 6 days post chemo it was down to 3000 which isn't terrible but I just had my blood drawn yesterday because I have #3 tomorrow my counts are down to 4000 bottom of normal. I'm hoping I don't drop down to 0.7 again before neulesta does it's job I don't want to go back to the hospital! And I feel like I'm a prisoner in my house I don't want to be exposed to germs every time my 5 year old coughs I pray to god he isn't sick I just hate this whole cancer thing