Chemo in July 2015

Bliss58

Mary, great pics. How nice for you to have so much support on the last day. You'll make it through the SEs one more time; you can do this!

Mama26, welcome back, but sorry you've been having such a tough time. Best wishes to you Monday for your last Taxol and as you forge ahead on this journey. Hugs.

MissBee123, Hey, welcome to Colorado! Congratulations on your new home and good luck for the job at Children's.` That's so cool you got a personally autographed Luck jersey! Best wishes and hugs as you repeat chemo.

Thinking of all of you and wishing the best as we move forward to next steps in treatment.

mdoc524

Wow SVGsurvive - hope your body/leg pain gets better soon - I was hoping within 2 weeks that would be gone .. I know the neuropathy & fatigue may last much longer.. The leg pain just stinks .. hugs to you and good luck with surgery!!

Thanks for the well wishes - thinking of all!

Mary

Sharazhad707

Mdoc: Thanks for the tips on lymphedema.

MsBee and everyone else: Post op recovery is such a pain in the ass! The pain just wraps itself around me like a cocoon! I know its' neural from the nerves that have been severed, but its with me, day and night like a jealous lover. I'm also trying to get my right arm to be as flexible as possible. It's been pretty tight since surgery, and recently I managed to elevate it to ear level (I'm pretty stoked about that!!) Once I am flexible enough - viz according to the onco: able to place both hands flat behind my head- I will begin radiation. Hopefully this will mark the end of cancer for good! (Fecking bastard...)

Anyway HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of ye!! I hope 2016 will be cancer-free for all of us.

Sending lots of love across the Atlantic Pond

S

Twnkltoz

Mary, congrats!!! I'm so happy for you!

mdoc524

Hello All..

I am 10 days post last Taxol & really impatient - expected to feel better & have to say feel a little worse each day. Body Pain (calves, thighs, ankles, feet, hips & lower back) is what is worse .. Talked to MO nurse via phone - MO said all is neuropathy related & sometimes gets worse before gets better. I feel like I am 30 years older trying to get up out of a chair - UGH. Hoping another week & it will be better. SVGSurvive - is your leg pain any better? I hope so...

And I have to ask all of you something pretty personal .. Today new side effect for me - Sores in the private area!!! I read that it can happen similar to mouth sores which I never got .. Anyone else experience this & so sorry to go there ..

Sharazhad707 - hugs to you - hope pain & ROM goes better soon for you.

Mary

SVGsurvive

Hi Mary,

So I have good news & bad news for you. The bad news is, my joints/muscles (same as those you note for yourself + knees) are still in sh*tty shape. The way I have to get up from a seated position makes me feel 100 yrs. old. The good news is that once up & moving, the pain & soreness really start to dissipate. I feel like it's all getting slightly better every day.

Being inactive is your enemy. At the same time, one day my legs felt normal (what what?!) - and I got so excited I overworked them. The next day I felt it big time. My MO told me keep on w/ the L Glutamine and to add a B Complex vitamin to my daily routine (despite already taking a daily multivitamin). She also told me to be patient. I've come to the conclusion that I don't need to be 100% back to my old self right now. It's a process - and I know I feel better now than I did while in chemotherapy, so....

No "sores down under" for me, however, I haven't been sexually active w/ my husband because of menopause-induced pain. Perhaps you've been active and it caused the sores somehow? Hopefully someone on here has experienced this too.

All my best to you!

Batesburg

Mary,

About the "sores down there".....that is the ONLY place I have gotten them throughout chemo. I spoke with my MO's NP about it and she and I agreed that that is a mucous membrane just like your mouth so a likely place to have "eruptions" just as if you would have them in your mouth. I even went to my GYN when it first happened and she said none of them were infected and that it was my response to chemo, as she has seen before.

So....another lovely SE of chemo that isn't necessarily extremely common, but explainable.

Also, I am 4 weeks out from PFC and I am still feeling fatigued- get tachycardia when I move too fast and neuropathy slowly (very) resolving. It can take 6 months- one year to feel "better".....I am trying to give my body some loving kindness, apologizing for the chemo onslaught and simply focusing on TLC for myself all around.

So excited you are DONE!!!

Janet

RuthElizabeth

hi everyone, hope you are all doing great....

I have a question? Especially for those with triple negative.... Any thoughts out there on having overies removed? I was just at gyno, and scheduled it for next month. Not sure yet if the insurance will cover it, and if not, no surgery. I guess I'm just worried....

Thanks, Ruth

mama26

SVGsurvive- Thank you for the kind words. I am so relieved to have finished chemo. I rang that bell long and loud! Everyone cheered. It was a great feeling of accomplishment. My surgery was rescheduled from the 26th to the 28th. I'm also having tissue expanders placed. If you would please update that on the surgery thread. Thank you.

Mdoc524- Congrats on finishing chemo!! I am having body aches as well. My feet bother me the most. Praying that everyone's SE'S improve quickly. On a happier note, my grandchildren's school held a fundraiser for me and it was very uplifting to have my community rally around me in my time of need. I will post a picture soon. Take care.

Melanie

SVGsurvive

mama26/Melanie, consider it done, & congrats again on finishing chemo!

mdoc524

SVGsurvive - thanks & can so relate to feeling like 100 years old.. I have been trying to be more active - not easy! And can also relate to chemo-pause at only 46 - the hot flashes really stink & no sex here - the sores are chemo related ..

Janet - while I am so sorry you also experienced the "sores down there" I am so glad I am not alone as this just really freaked me out. No mouth sores the whole time during chemo & 10 days post chemo the sores come out there - would prefer them in my mouth.. My MO gave me Valtrex to take orally & ironically I have an appt already scheduled next week with my OBGYN so will follow up with him - any other tips??

Melanie - Congrats on last chemo -WooHoo - I think we were the last ones to finish! How awesome your grandkids school is - my kids 3rd grade class all made Congrats cards for me for finishing chemo - they were so cute..

Thanks all for sharing - I am just so impatient & expected to feel a little better by now - will hang in there!

Hugs to alol

Mary

Peabrain

hello, everyone!

I have been away from the site while my retinal tear heals. Makes it hard to read the small print. Maybe I should get some coke bottle glasses for major magnification. Anyway, at least it's healing, slowly.

I am six weeks out from chemo and just starting to get some energy back. Of course, then I overdo it and am super tired and achy.

I am not excited about all the hair coming back. Think I might have to start shaving my face, especially since I can't see to pluck. I am enjoying people petting my super soft head fuzz - soft like a puppy.

The neuropathy is driving me crazy. I can tell it's getting better, but that also means it's different every day and just makes me want to scream. I sure hope it goes away completely, eventually.

Sores down under - now that is one side effect I didn't even know I should dread! I was very tender but never got a sore. My deepest sympathy for everyone who suffered through this!

@Ruth: I am getting my ovaries out, right after rads, because I am BRCA positive, not because I am triple neg.

I have thought of you all more often than you know. Many hugs

Bliss58

Hi all, I'm now almost 13 weeks PFC. Had a Herceptin treatment this past Thursday and so glad I don't get any SEs from it. My hair is growing quicker now, but is still completely gray although I like that it is super soft like bunny fur. Hoping after 2-3 inches it'll get back some color, if not, then I'll color it! Still have residual neuropathy in my hands, but I can tell it's starting to get better and I want to try the acupuncture, but now surgery is coming and I'm starting to get on dr. appt. overload. Best to you all this week.

mdoc524

Peabrain - so great to hear from you! Retina tear - how scary!! I know what you mean about neuropathy - mine is still so bad & I am just so impatient! Hope you continue to progress

BJSMiller - my hair is all fluffy white - everyday I am tempted to color it - let me know when you see color! Don't think I can wait 13 weeks LOL ...

Mary

27heart

Hey everyone! How's the baby fuzz coming along? Mines about 1/2cm long and I'm getting pet like a bunny a lot. My eyebrows grew back in a week and they are so bushy! Also grew a stache.. Not sure where that came from. Not complaining though.

Anyone else suffering from stiff fingers/joints? Fingers hurt the most when I'm moving them after a nap.

6feetover

27Heart: Hey there! You wrote: "Fingers hurt the most when I'm moving them after a nap." OMG, I can relate!!! Every time I wake up, whether it's from a (mostly interrupted) night's sleep or a nap, my fingers are killing me! The joints closest to my fingernails feel as though I'd been sleeping on them while they'd been curled up, or something. The aching is horrible! My fingers/hands are mostly numb when I wake up, as well—as are my toes, the soles of my feet, etc.

Mary: Speaking to your neuropathy issues: mine seemed like it was starting to improve about a month PFC, but it's *worsening* now. This is ridiculous.

27heart

adarkadaptedi - mine feels as though they are frozen and it hurts so much to bend them! X_X my onco says it'll go away eventually. But strange enough, every time it hurts, it reminds me that I'm alive so.. At least that's good. Haha!

mdoc524

27Heart - so jealous you eyebrows grew back in - I have a little more than fluffy white baby hair all round on my head but no eyebrows or eyelashes yet .. Love the reminder of being alive

Adarkadapted - my neuropathy is horrendous - all fingers & toes numb & hurt a lot thru-out day .. My feet & ankles hurt all day all the time & my legs just ache - I feel like I am 100 years old getting out of a chair - increasing activity does not help .. MO said all neuropathy related .. Calling in a prescription today for Gabapentin which I have read helps neuropathy and also has been found to lower the severity of hot flashes which have been horrible for me.. I am soooo hoping it helps both but to be honest if I had to pick one thing that I need relieve on it would be the hot flashes.. Has anyone else tried it?

Had routine exam with OBGYN today & he is onboard with removing ovaries since cancer is over 90% Estrogen positive - will have that done after Rads which had sim for that today & starting 34 treatments on 2/1 .. Never ends! Put a fork in me I am done

Have a good night & those in the East - hope you got your bread & milk for the blizzard coming our way ☃❄️❄️☃

Mary

MissBee123

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to pop in and say hello. I've started chemo again and started the January chemo group, but miss you all. AC+T has been much kinder so far than TCHP, but I'm only one round in so I'm not going to get ahead of myself.

It warms my heart to see that you all have reached the end of your treatments. I hope that those final side effects fade soon and that everyone is having a happy and healthy new year.

mdoc524

MissBee - great to hear from you & glad you are off to a good start with the Red Devil! Hope it stays that way for you! Please please keep us posted & anything you need just ask!! Hugs to you

Mary

Bliss58

Mary, I'll keep you posted about hair color, but none so far. My hair seems to be growing pretty fast now though.

MissBee, here's to the AC+T working better for you and wishing you mild SEs.

Best wishes to everyone else and hoping that you all are doing well.

-Barbara

Twnkltoz

omg my joints ache, too! Not when I'm just sitting here so much, but when I move and especially when I get up. Terrible. Exercise helps a little.

My hair is maybe a 1/4" and looks sandy blonde. And baby soft! I love touching it. My eyebrows and lashes are back. Be patient... All of a sudden one day you'll notice you get more and more hair every day. I've had to start shaving my legs, etc again. Still no periods, though! Hot flashes aremostly controlled by gabapentan. Neuropathy is gone, but mine was mild.

Hang in there, and keep healing!

SVGsurvive

I'm sorry many of you are still struggling so much w/ SEs - especially the damned neuropathy and hot flashes. FWIW, my incessant hot flashes have finally subsided. First they decreased in frequency, and then for a couple weeks I still got the warning sign (you know, that you feel in your body just before the sweats come) except the heat/sweat part didn't come. Then finally no more flash feelings at all. Still no period either though. I'm hoping the same for you guys!

Also since my BMX - my finger/toe circulation & tingle issues are all but gone, as are the leg muscle/joint issues and the loud GROAN that always accompanied standing up. I can't explain it. Lose 2 boobs, gain 2 legs.

Hair is coming back something fierce. I think I spent a full 10 minutes just plucking dark chin hairs and buzzing off a mustache this past Thursday after having neglected face maintenance for a week. I'm a living chia pet! Also found a grey pube today. Omg. But I'm so grateful it's all in the spirit of cells healing......I'll happily accept it all.

xoxo

Bliss58

I can so relate about the chin hairs! I never completely lost my lashes or brows and leg/pube hair hadn't come back yet, so I wasn't very focused on hair growth except on my head. I had neglected face maintenance until my daughter so kindly pointed out the forest on my chin! Surprise!

mdoc524

Twnkltoz - I just got prescription for Gabapentin for neuropathy & Hot Flashes.. Nurse shared to start off slow like take 1 on day 1 & 2 then increase to 2 each day & then if needed 3 each day.. How many do you take each day? Any side effects? Do you take with meal? .. Hope you don't mind I am horrible when it comes to taking new medicine..

Funny about hair & how everyone so different .. I have nothing on face including eyelashes & brows.. But has to shave my legs 2x now in last few weeks & thought I had no pube hair - look closely & it is all white - funny!

Also I thought my leg pain (ankles,calves,thighs) & lower back ache was from the Taxol & I did a little research & asked MO - it is all neuropathy related. I had always thought neuropathy was only fingers & toes ..

Happy Healing All! Those impacted by #Blizzard2016 - stay safe! Got about 2 feet of snow here - maybe a little more!

Mary

Twnkltoz

Mary, I only need the gabapentan for hot flashes so I don't know if that changes anything, but I take just one at bedtime (well after my last meal). No SEs I've noticed.

SVGsurvive

Just wanted to share the good news with my July Chemo pals - the pathology is back today - I've had a Pathologic Complete Response to chemo! There is no trace of cancer in me. Ladies, it feels so good to have such news that I'm scared they were looking at the wrong report.

Bonus: I got my period when I got home from the appointment. That explains why the hot flashes went bye bye.

6feetover

SVGsurvive: *MASSIVE (gentle!) HUGS*!!! Wonderful news!!!

Peabrain

woohoo! Let's hear it for that little known chemo SE, lycanthropy,and for all instances of PCR!!

Twnkltoz

Woo hoo!!! Congrats, @SVGsurvive!!!!