Chemo in July 2015

Twnkltoz

@gargengirl, thanks for the insight on the drains, and glad to hear you're doing well on the taxol and herceptin! I'm happy to be done with AC and hope my T goes smoothly.

gargengirl09

The difference between the AC and Taxol and Herceptin is night and day! I can function and don't have to take anti nausea meds! I hope you find the same for your treatment.

Twnkltoz

woot!

Zuwali

It's been a while since I have posted but I have tried to keep up with reading other posts when I feel like getting on the computer. Last week, I was able to work 3 days but then came down with fever which was due to acute bronchitis. I stupidly ignored my hacking cough for the last 2 weeks thinking it was just a SE of the chemo. I kept thinking that I surely cannot get sick with anything else since I have breast cancer. How silly am I? Anyway, I was not able to do my last chemo treatment which really got me down. Now on my 3rd day of antibiotics so I'm doing better. My chemo is rescheduled for next week. Just doesn't pay to plan ahead too much. Breast cancer doesn't seem to follow my calendar schedule.

BTW, does anybody else have shakiness? My hands seem so unsteady now.

Hope everyone has a good coming week!

mama26

Hi everyone. I will be getting my last AC on September 8th. I then start 12 weekly doses of Taxol. Any info and advice

would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

mdoc524

Zuwali - hope you feel better - sorry your treatment was delayed - my 3rd AC was pushed out to next week so I can relate! I started to experience shakiness this past round & can't shake it - along with headaches!! My shakiness at times makes me feel almost unsteady in my feet! Hope yours gets better!

Mama26 - I too will be doing 12 weeks of Taxol - not until 1st week of October - good luck with your last AC - my last AC is the 18th

Mary

Twnkltoz

i sometimes feel a little shaky, and my balance isn't as good.

RuthElizabeth

hi everyone. Just caught up on the posts about surgery. I must admit, the surgery was a breeze towards chemo. The first week, both arms were at my side. I did stop my drains about every other hour. I also emptied them myself. Not a big deal. Really.... Got them out at first visit, which was around ten days. Had some bloody drainage two days later while sleeping, panicked. Didn't tell anyone. Cleaned the spot good and kept clean and dry, was ok. My next appointment, doc wanted to see how far I could crawl my fingers up the wall. By three weeks, I was over my head. No pain meds, I did take some Tylenol for my exercises. It really was a breeze. I did sleep on a recliner for about six weeks. I wasn't aloud to take a shower till drains were out. Figured out how to get in and out of the tub four days after surgery. I had my son here the first week. The next two weeks I was by myself. My husband worked 12 hour nights and slept till he went back to work. I did have help with meals for two weeks. I also did not wear a bra the whole time. Probably because I had a general surgeon do my surgery. I'm not looking toward said reconstruction surgery till i can hit the three year milestone. Don't fret over surgery. The chemo is worse.

I have #4 AC Monday. I really struggled with this last one. Here's hoping the last one doesn't kick my butt. We are going camping over Labor Day. I'm hoping I can be a little normal.... Haha

I broke out in a herendous rash. Back, chest, legs, arms and face. I itch like crazy. Has anyone else had this happen. How long does it last? I finally got the doctor to give me something for hemmeroids too. I thought I was going to go nutzes soon. Awful weepy, scared, crying every time I'm alone. I'm looking forward to being done, but scared of the last one. My emotions are all over the place....

Thanks to all of you, I can push thru. I was at the grocery store today and just started crying, a lady hugged me, said she is fighting BC for 7 years now. Just hang in there she said. I felt guilty for crying....

Mary, when they put off one of my treatments, cause I wasn't healthy enough for it, the next one went so smooth. Enjoy your extra week. Glad your bday celebration was nice. You will love the baseball game. I hope you can enjoy it as well. I'm so attached to the house right now. Only leave to get what I need at grocery store.

Love and peace to everyone. Hang in there.

theearthlaughsinflowers

mama26- I had my 4th AC on Aug 21 and start 12 weekly Taxol visits on Sept 4. This week has been my toughest of all but overall I was able to handle the AC with just a couple bad days each time. It scares me to think I'll be one of the ones that do worse with T.

Jbandkb1

I have my lady AC on sept 8th then onto 4 rounds every 2 weeks of taxol. I know people say it's easier but I feel a little nervous with each round. Never knowing what to expect is definitely hard. Just can't wait till chemo and surgeries are all over with.

MissBee123

Why don't I ever manage to become sick in the middle of the day as opposed to the middle of the night?! Sitting here with chemo ailments watching my temperature climb. Am currently up to 99.9 and if I hit that magical 100.4 it's off to the ER for me! God help me, New York City emergency rooms in the middle of the night are filled with some of the most spectacular characters you can imagine.

Everyone's posts about surgery have been so helpful for me to read. I still don't know what type of surgery I'll be having; it all depends on how my tumor responds to chemo. I very much want to save my breasts but if it is not the right or possible choice in the end, it is of great comfort to me to see those of you who have gone through it and come out smiling the other end. Thank you for everyone's bravery in sharing their experience.

Twnkltoz

@missbee, sending you positive thoughts! No fever for you!

mama26

the earthlaughsinflowers- I'm worried about starting Taxol. Just not knowing what to expect is scary. I hope I tolerate it as well

as others have. Worried about neuropathy.

Jbandkb1

Missbee I hope your fever goes down and no hospital for you. Sending prayers

Patdob

Hi all,

I had double mastectomy in June, completed four rounds of AC, and started taxol last Wednesday.

Diagnosed with stage 2 one breast, stage 1 other breast.

Had spread to three lymph nodes.

I have 11 weekly taxol sessions left, than radiation.

Find now I am impatient, want this behind me!

Just feel like has been going on forever, do others feel the same?

Twnkltoz

Welcome, @patdob! it is a long, long process for sure. :-\

Jbandkb1

patdob I feel you this whole process is taking forever. Have my 4th AC on Sept 8th then 4 rounds of taxol. After that I will have my BMX.

Suzanne1971

@patdob this is definitely not a sprint to the finish! Everyday I have to remind myself to focus on TODAY, not the future.

What a weekend I had. Spent time at the beach, and after a small pep talk (to myself), I mustered up the courage to take off my hat and walk my patchy headed self into the water for a swim. And it was perfect. I felt so vulnerable, but empowered, If that is even possible.

And someone even complimented me on the shape of my head

Miss bee- hope your fever broke and you were able to avoid the ER!

Thank you to all that have shared their surgery stories- you are all making this so much easier to navigate!

Hoping you all get to find some empowering moments as you navigate this crazy crazy experience

Peabrain

Suzanne,

I notice that you are doing the Taxotere and Carboplatin combo. I am about to start 12 weekly doses of this combo. Any hints on what to expect?

Patdob

I found my BMX to be not terribly traumatic, and not very painful.

Hope your experience is the same, Jbandkb1!

mdoc524

MissBee - I so hope your temp did not climb any higher! Thursday a week ago I knew I had a fever - thermometer said 100.7 & I already knew I had no WBC or Neutrophils! Are your counts really low? If you have some WBC & neutrophils you might avoid the ER ... I had to go & it was in the evening so I spent 6 hours in the ER & my MO called Charge nurse 2x so they stuck me in a room for hours without any DR coming in .... I sent my husband home because of the kids! I finally was admitted & moved to a room at 2am! What blew me away was that I was neutropenic with fever & stuck in the germ infested ER for hours! So hope you don't have to go thru that!

For those questioning Taxol - I will also be starting 12 weeks of Taxol after getting thru these last 2 AC rounds! My MO said Taxol is much easier than AC - so hope so! I already have mild neuropathy from a serious neck injury years ago!

Ruth this week I started getting red itchy bumps on arms & legs - would not call it a rash because they are random in a different spots - lotion & cortisone cream have helped. What did Dr give you for Hemorroids ?? I have only been using over the counter stuff - so scared to get the runs again - this really does just suck!

Hugs to all!

Mary

mdoc524

Welcome PatDob - so sorry you have to be here but glad you found us! Let us know how you are doing..

Mary

Cheesequake

Hey all, hope everyone is feeling as well as they can. Round 3 of TCH was Friday. Yesterday I felt fantastic and took advantage of it:

Last night I didn't take my medical marijuana and WOW, the insomnia! Today I'm starting to feel run down, unsettled stomach and of course the lack of sleep. Definitely taking it easy today.

My husband had a bad bout of diarrhea the day before my third round, then last night and today he's had swimmy head and all over achiness. I'm hoping like hell that this is just a bug and he hasn't had any exposure to chemo from my bodily fluids - he's already very against me doing chemo at all...

Suzanne1971

wow @cheese! Well done!

@peabrain- how often will you get treatment? I go every 3 weeks. I hope I can help, but I am also on 2 targeted therapies, which have some side effects too (mostly with the perjeta). I've had a pretty good go of this- the first 3-5 days after treatment can be a bit rough. Just super tired and cloudy head. After that, I battle GI and nausea for about a week (all easily treated). I rebound for a week then it's back to the chair for another round. Let me know how it goes

Twnkltoz

@cheesequake, you look amazing!! I want to henna my head but I still have this ugly, patchy stubble so I don't think it will look good.

Zuwali

After dealing with 2 weeks of bronchitis, I'm finally starting to feel like a human being again. Go for my last AC tomorrow. Hope my SEs are minimal.

Thank you to all who posted about their surgery! I will be having mine (both breasts & lymph node(s) removal) sometime in October. I had been avoiding even thinking about it, but your posts have helped me to start being proactive in my preparation for it. Knowing what is coming helps to alleviate my fears. And the lists are great!

I feel, like many of you, that this ordeal is lasting forever. Some days are definitely harder to take than others, but when I read your posts, I am always cheered up and know that I too can get through it. You ladies are great!

One thing that I have started is a counseling program that is helping me to deal with my state of mind while going through breast cancer/treatment. I would encourage anyone who is having emotional struggles to consider this. Most insurances will pay for the counseling. And since you have all probably hit your max out-of-pocket (several times over), the cost would be none or minimal at most.

Thanks again to all of taking the time to post.

Peabrain

@Suzanne - I will have both Taxotere and Carboplatin every week for twelve weeks.

Anyone else on this treatment schedule?

RuthElizabeth

hi all. Mary, as for the hemmeroid. They gave me, proctosol-HC, which says 2.5% hydrocortisone cream. Hasn't helped much. I must say I have tried it all. The sits bath gives the nest relief. Plus, this will make you either laugh or cringe. ICE. Figure a way to get ice on it. It really helps.... Use your imagination.... Haha. It's the best relief. I'm still struggling between constipation and then diahrea. Can't seem to get normal....

Last AC tomorrow. At this point, no other chemo planned. I should start lymphedema therapy in two weeks. Then hopefully get part of my life back. I spent all afternoon making homemade potpie. Taking it into the hospital tomorrow for the staff. I just hope they like it.

Love the head henna. Just beautiful. I told the grandkids they could decorate my head, camping next weekend. Here's hoping last chemo doesn't know me for a loop. Love and peace to everyone. Here's hoping for a good nights sleep. Have no clue what that is anymore. Night all. Hope everyone's SE are tolerable. Rut

Twnkltoz

LOL does anyone else have this?

"I'm not hungry. Nothing sounds good."

"I'm not hungry. Nothing sounds good."

"I'm not hungry. Nothing sounds good."

"I'M STARVING!"

Gretagirl

Good morning everyone.

Cheese quake WOW. Very pretty!

Suzanne1971 I go Wednesday for round three. We are close to same schedule

Zuwall good idea preparing yourself for upcoming surgery

Peabrain my schedule is very three weeks for 18 weeks TCH

RuthElizabeth congratulations on your upcoming last treatment!! I am sure the staff will love the potpie!

Twnkitoz YES! Then I fix or buy what I THINK I want and can't eat it!