Starting Chemo May 2015

mysunshine48

How are you doing Cats? I am doing a little more, but wonder why I still get tired so fast. I went to Target this morning and walked around about an hour and a half. Then, I felt the weakness settling in and knew I needed to get home. II read about all the younger girls running 4 and 5 miles after chemo (some during) and think, gee, what is wrong with me? Age has a part to play (I am 66), but was very active before surgery last April. How about you and others

CatsRus

Hi MySunshine, I'm actually feeling pretty good these days. I'm going to start an exercise class later this month and see how it goes, still think it's going to be tough. However, here I am nearly 8 weeks PFC and my eyelashes are disappearing!!! Bottom ones have gone and my upper lashes are few and far between....sigh.... Hair on my head is still more like peach fuzz but definitely growing. Later this month I'm going for a consult on whether to go ahead with a prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction. Not sure what I want to do..... arghhh..more decisions!
I'm always amazed at what some people are able to do, I'm so glad I have the freedom to sit down when I want. I think age may well have something to do with it. I'm 61. Even though I worked from home, I still can't imagine having the added pressure.

mysunshine48

Cats, yes, bottom eyelashes are all but gone. Still have some on the top and about half of my eyebrows, although more have come out since the end of chemo. I, too, am happy I can rest when I need to. I cannot imagine working! I have been going to the gym and walking on the treadmill. Peach fuzz here too....more on top and sides than in the back, and it is white so it does not look like anything. Geezzz I can feel some difference with energy and stamina compared with a month ago, but still have a long way to go!

tjh

My energy is returning. After a day at school I am tired and I don't do any extra subbing on my prep hours. Walking is getting easier, but the school is carpeted so that helps. I have become a germaphobe, MS kids have LOTS of germs so they wash hands and tables every morning. I haven't worked a 5 day week yet because of the schedule. Next week will be a 5 day week so we shall see. I do have sick days left so if I need to work 4 day weeks for a couple of months my oncologist said she would write the order. My joint pain from the Arimidex is better since I switched to name brand instead of generic. My hair is returning, white. Before it was dark brown with some gray. At least it is hair and it is 1/8-1/4 inch fuzz. My eyelashes and brows were gone the week after my last chemo. They are starting to return, my eye lids are starting to itch. I did need to get new glasses, the prescription was far enough off that I was getting headaches. I have another appointment in 6 months. I am beginning to see a begining of the next phase of my journey.

little-k

Just got home from my final chemo. Also, just had my PICC line removed so tomorrow I will have my first shower in four months that doesn't require plastic wrap. What a good day.

I hope you are all having a good week, and I will see some of you on the Fall Radiation page.

CatsRus

Congrats Little-k. I hope the rads go well. Take care and be well.

tjh

Good luck with the rads, that is a treatment I avoided. Take care of you!

mysunshine48

I am going to take a poll to see if your MO has done tumor markers on you, specifically 27/29 and CEA. Mine did after 1 month post final treatment. CEA a little high. She had me do 5 CT scans. All clear. Now, she did another last week and it went up another point. Now, she says I need a colonoscopy. What do your MO's do? I am so stressed out. Thanks for responding.

tjh

Mine did not do these. I had a bunch of blood tests and November 5 I see her again after my bone scan and more blood work.

ksusan

Mine did markers and a PET/CT before chemo started. DEXA next week. I had a colonoscopy 2 years ago.

StefLove

my MO does the 27/29 and CEA markers every month during my routine blood work for treatment. I remember around the august test the nurse called me after and was like 'good news! your 27/29 has gone down' and now I see that the september results went even lower for 27/29. let me check the results....

nothing today

9/4: CEA (0.7) and 27/29 (28.3)

8/7: CEA (0.5) 27/29 (43.9)

7/17: CEA (0.6) 27/29 (55.7)

6/25: CEA (<0.5) 27/29 (58.9)

6/11: CEA (<0.5) 27/29 (41.2)

4/20: (before chemo started on 5/14): CEA (<0.5) 27/29 (15.8)

rosesrx

I do markers every 12 weeks, for a couple of years I did every 24. CEA and 27/29 all within normal limits. I have colonoscopy every 5 years since turning 40 due to family history. One of my things to do in October now that I am PFC. Mysunshine, think of bc as a chronic disease like htn, or high lipids and other things have to be monitored. It would have been less worrisome had the recommendation come from your PCP. At least they don't send us to an ortho for the bone density test. Like you I am doctored out.

MO has set up consult with RO on the 23rd, that came out of the blue. I am trying to look at it as another set of eyes but have journeyed to Crazytown a bit. (a great thread here on BCO too) Trying to take my own advice. Proverbs 3:5-6 popped up on daily Bible version today... "and lean not on your own understanding"

No mistakes.

Magnolia83

Hi All,

Have been a bit MIA lately, just plugging away at chemo. It's great to see so many of you have passed the finish line! I feel like I have been going and going forever...still have 2 more chemos to go! The 12 weekly Taxols are easier but boy the weekly thing is a drag...and 12 just seems like so many! Will have to continue on with Herceptin/Perjeta until next July but at least that's only once every 3 weeks (and not a chemo!).

I have my rads simulation on Oct 1...ready to get that going and leave chemo in the dust.

Hope everyone is taking care of themselves!

rosesrx

You got this Magnolia!

Yes weekly is a drag, I now call my power chair the "electric chair" much to the amusement of the nurses, along with the pole dance when going to the restroom. # 18 Herceptin is this week then on to the every 3 weeks at the higher dose thru May.

Shanann

I just completed #8 of 12 Taxol. 4 more to go! Yea! I have had sinus infections, ear/nose/throat infections, and NOW-- hemorrhoids! UGH My system is so down, but nothing compared to the SE's of the Red Devil. I have NO hair anywhere- no eyelashes, no eyebrows, no nose nor ear hair. Other than these, I am doing well. At my last visit, I met with the Nurse Practitioner, and he said my white blood count was normal, my blood work was fine, and my BP was 120/76. It does bother me that my heartbeat is always high during chemo: 112. He checked me, and all swelling from the infections were gone (they put me on a steroid). I am feeling well, other than the hemorrhoids. My MO mentioned that my Oncologist would be re staging me on the 23rd of September, so what does it mean, and what does it curtail to be re-staged toward the end of chemo? I mean, I know what it sounds like, but how will it be done?

rosesrx

Shannan, Could staging be for rads? More scans for making where to mark for Sim. Just call back and ask. I have consult with RO on the 23rd and I asked why since I had MX. MO said he was almost 100% positive that there would be no rads. But he wants me to hear it directly from RO. Tumor size is what triggered the visit. Another pair of eyes doesn't hurt.

Will be thinking about you on Wednesday.

CatsRus

rosesrx, my MO sent me for a consult with an RO even though she didn't think rads were necessary - standard procedure, I guess - the RO gave a very emphatic answer that rads were definitelly not necessary in my case...phew!

Shaman, hope you get an answer on the restaging. I don't know the answer to that one.

Good luck to all!

mysunshine48

I know I keep asking, Cats, but how are you doing? You are my barometer! Almost 10 weeks out PFT, I still wear out easily. Better than a month ago, but sure not like I was. A nice nap is becoming a daily thing. I also have very uncomfortable, hard, expanders in (5 months now) and surgery to exchange this next Friday. My back hurts. I think from them. Like an iron bra you cannot adjust. So, another recovery coming up.

How is your hair doing? Mine is pure white so it is difficult to see growth. I just got some Biotin, no soy, dairy, fillers, nothing. Pure Biotin in a small coconut oil soft gel. Order online.

tjh

What brand is the biotin? I can't find any without soybean oil.

mysunshine48

I ordered it from Amazon after searching for some with no fillers and no soy. It is Sports Research High Potency Biotin, 5000 mcg. 100% vegetarian liquid soft gels with organic coconut oil. GMO free, no artificial ingredients, no gluten, no preservatives and no soy! I asked my dermatologist about it and she said to take 2 per day.

CatsRus

Hey my sunshine, no problem...keep asking me, I like to hear how you are doing too. I'm feeling really good now, however, I do still like to relax in the late afternoon, sometimes I nap, sometimes I just put my feel up and read, but I do seem to crave that hour of 'downtime' each day. Of course, I haven't had to deal with TEs or other issues surrounding reconstruction, that is still to come for me....maybe.... I am still undecided. I go for a consult later this week so we'll see how that goes. On the topic of hair, I would say I've progressed from "peach fuzz" to "hair" but it is patchy still. The back seems to be salt and pepper'ish, but the front and top is white and I get what you mean about it being difficult to see growth there, but it's coming. I too take soy-free Biotin. I just take one 5000 mg capsule each day. While mine are gluten free, soy free, etc., yours sound even better but I don't seem to be able to find that brand here in Canada, I'm going to have to check out some other types and see if I can find something similar. I also rub a concoction of equal parts coconut oil, vitamin E oil and castor oil, on my head a couple of times a week. Now, do I think either of these things are helping? No idea! But at least they don't seem to be hurting, so I'll keep at it. My nails seem to be doing well since I've been on the Biotin, although I also think I've looked after them more than I used to. The first of my four white ridges is about to get beyond my nail bed so I'm waiting to see if the nail breaks at that point. I start my "Back to Fitness" program on Tuesday, a program run by a local gym in collaboration with the Cancer Centre. That should be interesting - I have never been the "fitness" type, but I'm giving it a go. All else fails, I'll go back to Zumba.... I love to dance and so it feels less like exercise.. mine you I don't do the high energy Zumba, but maybe one day..hahahaha.

Shanann

I have a question- please, help. I don't know why I am questioning this now, but I am reading that the AC& T , the Taxol part- Paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere) is added to AC for women with node-positive cancer, or in women who've had a recurrence; it's delivered after you've finished the AC. I was neither node positive nor did I have a recurrence, so why am I getting the Taxol? I am feeling paranoid, for some reason, about the end coming, and what is in store. I was stage 1A, Grade 3.

tjh

That would be a good question for the oncologist or oncology nurse....I was Stage 1A, grade 2, no nodes positive and onco DX 25 and I had C and T but no A.

Shanann

Thanks TJH! I think we are similar, except my grade is higher, 3, and my onco score was a whopping 47, so maybe they are treating it more aggressively. I am just getting really concerned, since I"m nearing the end of the treatments, and wondering IF it WORKED and will they know, and all that jazz. Thank you for being there and responding!! Big cyber hugs to you!

tjh

I actively keep thoughts of if they got it all, if it's coming back out of my everyday thoughts. Some nights I wake up terrified of the future. I am better now that my hair is returning. I did need to cut back to 4 day weeks for awhile. The 5 day week with kids wore me out last week. Friday night I slept 9 1/2 hours and didn't even wake up to go to the bathroom. It is a good thing the bathroom was empty. I also ached all over.

StefLove

so it's official, I'm finally done with chemo!!! Today was an emotional day to say the least! I might have cried 10x during treatment today. Every time a nurse found out I was done they would come by to congratulate me. Queue the water works. And since it's my bday on Sunday, another nurse came in with a cupcake and ice cream and card singing happy birthday. Yup, tears the entire time. And then the bell?? I went to ring that damn bell and all the nurses came out of their rooms, I couldn't even make it through the poem they asked me to read!

The nurses at my center have been absolutely amazing. Each and every one of them. They all knew how to brighten up the day regardless of what anyone in the room was going through. I'm seriously going to miss seeing them every week. So glad all of my favorite nurses were working today so I could thank them one last time.

Lumpectomy again and then rads though in my future. Let's get this over with once and for all!

(And yes, I cried the entire time writing this. Whew!)

tjh

Congratulations on being done with chemo!

mysunshine48

Yes, Congratulations! No more chemo!!!

rosesrx

Congratulations Steflove!!! I like the happy cleansing tears.

CatsRus

Congrats Steflove. Chemo done, good luck with the lumpectomy and rads. You take care and be well