Starting Chemo May 2015

tjh

My nose ran constantly until I was 4 weeks from last TC, also bloody nose. My head and face are good, but I use Bobbi Brown cleansing oil on them and spend 10 minutes in bathroom with the hot shower running to steam my sinuses before taking a cool shower. The skin on my feet and hands has peeled at least twice after each of the 4 treatments....I have no cracks or calluses on them, just baby soft skin. My TE exchange was Wednesday. I actually feel good, but I looked at myself this morning after my shower and cried when I saw all of the scars. DH just held me and told me I was beautiful.

sharapril1021

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I've been off the board the last 2 weeks because I've been entertaining my kids before school starts on September 3rd. I actually felt well enough to take them to a local hotel for 2 nights for some swim time and relax time for me!

I have some exciting news!! I won a trip on Live with Kelly and Michael on Tuesday, August 11, 2015. I had submitted my photo and entry last month but never expected they would call me. Monday morning I was at treatment so didn't watch the show so when they called me Tuesday morning I had to quickly watch it on YouTube! It was fun to talk to Michael and Lucy Liu (Kelly is on vacation). Long story short, I won a trip to Tucson Arizona to the Wyndham Westward Look Resort. I never win anything so this was AMAZING!! and couldn't have come at a better time. We had to cancel our vacation this year because of my treatment and my kids were bummed but this made up for it BIG TIME!! We are looking forward to traveling at the end of March!

To update everyone: had my MO appointment two weeks ago and told him how crappy I felt after neulasta shot the day after 1st treatment of Taxol. He decided since my white count was good to switch me to neupogen. My 2nd Taxol was this past Monday then I went for neupogen shot on Wednesday and yesterday. Instead of taking ibuprofen and claritin, I've been taking aleve and claritin and for me it's working sooooooo much better. I am actually able to get up, eat, shower, get dressed and be productive which I couldn't have said that the week after the 1st treatment. I'm still sore but not nearly as bad as I was. I meet with MO on Tuesday to see if I need a 3rd neupogen shot and if not, I'm good until my 3rd Taxol treatment on Monday, 8/24 and I am counting down the days to my LAST treatment on 9/8....woo hoo!! Met with my BS last week who was happy to feel that the tumor has shrunk and targeting a mid/end October surgery date.

Congrats to ALL who have completed their treatment!!!

Welcome rainnyc! Your treatment path looks to be similar to mine - chemo before surgery. I wish you all the best with your treatments and know that this board is the best of the best when you need to talk, ask questions, or vent...everyone is wonderful!

StefLove, Marlanab, Magnolia83, Shanann - it's been a while - are any of you almost done with your treatments? I have to say the Taxol has been much easier to tolerate than the A/C. The night before treatment I am wired because of taking the steroids - which my MO reduced to 3 instead of 5. I don't drink coffee but my husband said I was wired last Monday before I left..lol!

Have a great weekend everyone!! It's gonna be hot and humid on the East Coast!! Remember to sunscreen if going out!

Magnolia83

Wow sharapril, that's amazing!! Enjoy your awesome free vacation And yahoo...last chemo date is coming up SOON!

I am halfway done with Taxol...I agree it's easier than AC but I'm still ready to be done The hair on my head is really growing now, which is great. My last chemo is Sept 24.

How many of you are doing radiation after chemo?

surprisedat65

Magnolia:

I am. 5 days a week for 7 weeks. Should be through with Taxol 10/8. Need to start rads asap to get it all into this calendar year so none of the cost will be out of pocket.

I'm encouraged to know your hair is growing. What little is left of mine is still falling out, and every so often I ask DH to examine me for signs of new growth, but so far nothing. And for whatever reason I am even more fatigued on Taxol than I was on A/C, but since I'm not working it doesn't matter too much—I sleep when I need sleep. Just started iron supplements to improve hemoglobin.

Also still having tastebud problems and am hungry all the time, yet there's very little that suits me to eat. It's probably the only way I'm ever going to get back to a healthier weight, tho', for if I could I'd stuff myself as usual!

StefLove

sharapril,

Omg congrats on the trip! I was watching that episode before running to work I must have missed the contest! That's amazing! Much deserved

I'm halfway done with taxol and carboplatin. Had #6 yesterday. Definitely treating me better than AC but the carboplatin weeks are a bit worse. I'm done Sept 25th as long as I don't get postponed for crappy blood counts. Two days before my 35th bday!

tjh

Great trip sharapril! Enjoy with family!

Shanann

Sarapril= YEA for you! Very happy to hear about your vacation, and that you are about done with chemo! on 9/8 (almost done)!!

Magnolia- I chose the 12 weeks of Taxol, because the DD AC really knocked me down for a few days- I'm a wimp. I go for #4 on Tuesday, so I'm 1/4 of the way done. I won't be done until October 14th, THEN! 6 weeks of radiation. I am thinking of taking a long weekend trip to the beach between end of chemo and beginning of radiation- I know it will be cold, but I will still be able to hear the ocean crash, and the shells picking should be spectacular!

Weirdest thing- the hair on my head that did not fall out is growing very long. My chin hair is going in with a vengeance. My nose and ear hair is gone, and I am battling a little ear/sinus infection (never had before). The nose dripped constantly on AC, but that has stopped. MY EYE BROWS are so sparse- I can count the hairs. Sad. Just sad looking. I am not the girly type, so I don't know how to pencil them in. Oh well... this too shall pass.

rosesrx

Shanann, There are many you tube clips and on here as well about the eyebrows. I have used Your Best Friend (YBF) brand taupe pencil to fill in my ever fading once eyebrows.

My last is 9/2. Nothing like being almost done. I long feeling better and having more energy and being able to taste again. Not as achy today and I lost the 5 lbs of fluid thanks to the steroids.

Enjoy the chemo intermission as best you can.

Magnolia83

So, looks like a few of us will be graduating to rads when this is over...myself included. Fun new adventures await, lol.

Shanann, I use It Cosmetics Brow Power pencil for my barely-there brows and love it. I got it from the Look Good Feel Better class but I know they sell it at Ulta and Amazon. I'm no eyebrow artiste, I just kinda draw them on until they don't look wonky and call it good! Some days I can do it lickety split and other days I draw and redraw many many times, haha. But the pencil is easy to use so that helps! Someone told me you can buybrow stencils too but I have never used them.

Shanann

Thank you so much for that tip, Magnolia. I'll be getting one of those ASAP- because, I've been wearing hats, wigs, and etc.. and just pulling them down over my brows. It's too frigging hot!

Magnolia83

Here's a great brow tutorial using the pencil I mentioned: http://youtu.be/O7AyNyzLTik

Shanann

Thank you for the tutorial! I did it! I did it! I feel much better.

JenJenJen

Hi everyone!

Sorry haven't been on the boards for awhile. Just been trying to spend more time with the kids before they go back to school.

Sharapril, congrats on winning the much deserved trip! Haave a fun and relaxing trip!

Roserx, sorry about your loss.

I have experienced more fatigue with DD Taxol than with AC. Bone pain is definitely worse and comes even before I even start the Neupogen! However, Tylenol seems to help with the pain and my MO said that the bone pain is additive from the Taxol and Neupogen.

My eyebrows are sparse as well but lost all but 5 eyelashes on each eye😔

But I am glad to say that I just finished my hard chemo of DD Taxol yesterday!! Now onto every 3 week Herceptin to finish next May and onto ovarian suppression with Lupron and Arimidex for 5 years. After that MO said I will probably have to do 10-15 years of Tamoxifen.

Also will have a mastectomy with reconstruction on the left side on 9/16.

Thank you to all of you for providing so much support and encouragement and also sharing your stories. Wouldn't have been able to make it this far without you ladies!

StefLove

JenJenJen, congrats on finishing Taxol!! Hopefully it's smoother sailing from here on out.

Shanann

yea! Jenjenjen- congrats on finishing DD taxol. I wimped out and prolonged the agony. Very happy for you.

CatsRus

congrats Jenjenjen, be well

rosesrx

Congrats JenJenJen

mysunshine48

Why am I so tired and weak some days? I am 5 weeks PFT and still hsve to sit down after doing little thimgs like dishes or putting groceries away. I am tired and could go back to sleep an hour after I get up. It doesn't help that I am up at least 4 or 5 times during the night to go to the bathroom. Still trying to drink water. Is anyone else so fatigued?

CatsRus

I still find I have to sit down between tasks. I like to think the fatigue is improving, I can get through the day without a nap although I still do on many days. I tell myself I just have to build up my endurance but I'm not so sure. No sign of hair growth yet, although again I tell myself my peach fuzz is getting longer...my DH just smiles at me and says nothing. It's been very hot and very humid here so not pleasant to walk... soon as the humidity drops I am going to push myself to get more exercise. I'm hoping to go back to Zumba in September but I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up.

StefLove

I get tired too but I realize it's linked to my blood counts and iron. Do you guys get your iron levels checked? Whenever mine are really low I can definitely feel it and I've had to get two blood transfusions because of it. The blood transfusions make me feel like a million bucks! ha!

Shanann

yea, my iron is low. I can tell by the light color of my stool, so I am eating chicken livers. Mt stool is nice and dark after eating them, and my enery level is higher. Could be the chemicals are still at work in our bodies, as well.

tjh

I am just now regaining my strength and sense of taste....5 1/2 weeks post TC. I have been going to work 4 hours a day doing paperwork getting ready for the school year next week. This is hell...I want to be normal.

karabesque

I have been off the boards for a bit because I moved but I went in for my treatment today(#5) and I was told my nuetrophils were too low and I cant do treatments today. This is the second time treatment was delayed. I have horrible nueropathy to the point that I can only stand for about 15 mins. So, I broke down and started crying asking if I had to do this anymore. I was with the NP so she went and spoke to my MO and they came back with the offer of Taxotere. This means 2 more treatments and I will be done a month earlier! I don't know 8 more treatments and 9 weeks or 2 treatments and 4 weeks. No Brainer!!! What should be expected with Taxotere? Anyone have the same experience?

tjh

I did 4 rounds of taxotere and cytoxan. I survived. Main SEs were exhaustion, super dry skin, no tastebuds, sensitive stomach. I had neulasta shots the day after each. Those caused major bone pain. Vicodin helped with that. I only had 1 week that I needed to take antibiotics because my white counts and neutrophils were low. 6 weeks from last and 10 days past reconstruction I finally can taste food, meat still doesn't taste good and I feel good. My mind is still fuzzy, I make lists and will need to when I go back to school in 2 weeks. I get very tired after 4-5 hours. But I an feeling good...normal again. I am taking Arimidex and I will need a bone scan and treatment to prevent bone thinning. So that is my experience. Hope it helps.

karabesque

Thank you, tjh! I had nuelasta with AC so I am familiar with the bone pain. I will only need 2 treatments so, I hope the SEs won;t have time to change from what I am experiencing now. I have pretty much all the SEs you describe already..

Good Luck with school and keep up those lists!

tjh

The SE seem to build and last longer the more I had. I have decided normal is good. I am actually looking forward to the start of the school year. My coworkers think I am nuts, but it is my last year of teaching. I love the job and the kids...hate the politics.

mysunshine48

Hi all, A little over 5 weeks PFT and I have no appetite. Nothing tastes good - still. Anyone else like this? I am trying to exercise some everyday, but it is a struggle. Still am tired. Ready to get healthy!

Also, anyone's MO done tumor markers?

tjh

My tastebuds came back this week...5-6 weeks after last TC. I do not have the same appetite but that is not all bad. Meat is the only thing that still tastes bad. Trying salmon tonight and hoping it tastes good.

rosesrx

Mysunshine, Yep still doing markers every 12 weeks, but that could be a glitch carry over from 5 years ago RMX. All within normal limits WNL, despite chemo.

Great job on the exercise. I am still winded walking up a flight of stairs or carrying stuff out to the car. Still too hot/humid here. Bring on #6 and Sept cooler weather.

tjh-- that is good news that tastebuds came back. Mine have been better this time since I kept up with the ice in the mouth during the taxotere infusion.

Mrsgrass

I completed a huge next step today. I got my silicone implants and had my port removed. Just a little bit of pain, not tired at all. I am planning on returning to work on September 8th. Looking forward to returning to normal again. It has been 6 months since this crazy experience started with me finding the lump in my right breast. I have been told by so many that I am very strong. I hate hearing that. I am generally not a crier; but that doesn't mean I am not torn up inside. I have gone through a lot in the last 10 years: caretaker of my parents (Dad had Parkinson's, Mom Alzheimer's) and the loss of them in 2006 and 2010, the loss of my MIL in 2009 and my husband in 2011 (lung cancer for both). I just keep going. I don't consider that strength, but self-preservation. There are so many in this world that go through so much more that have true strength.

Here's to all who have gone down this same path.

Louise