Starting Chemo December 2015

Karenbo

So sorry Stotamom. Will be praying all is well! Hugs!

PezGal

((Hugs)) to you Stotamom.  Hopefully (if that's even the right word?) its just expanders growing pains that's coincidence with the bra days.  Don't stress!!! 

Twirp26

Stotamom, I'm thinking happy thoughts and praying for good news with your scan. I know the worry you are going through, hang tuff and know you are not alone!! Hugs!!

Lemint

Thinking of you Stotamom.

Anonymous

Twirp, how are doing sweetie? ♡

chinookmom

stotamom- Sending you hugs, prayers and good thoughts! So sorry to hear you have to deal with this.

Twirp26

hey birdie!! I'm hanging in there. I had a less than encouraging visit with my dr to go over pet scan results. Right now I'm praying like crazy that this new chemo is working. My perspectives have changed over night. I just want this medicine to do its job and make this cancer go away. I have had a few bad days but I am trying to get my butt up and keep on living. We are in contact with MOFFIT a cancer center in Tampa. Trying to get an appt sooner than later and hoping to see a breast specialist to make sure I am on the right path. It's so hard putting your life in the hands of others. All I can do is pray right now🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻. I'm trying to stay strong❤️ Hope you are all doing well!

Sammy3

Twirp - I am glad you got in contact with Moffit - go whereever you need!!!! Constantly praying that the meds are working - stay strong girl!!!! Love ya!

NewDay123

Stotamom, thinking of you and praying for you.

Twirp, continuing to pray for you too.

Angtee, I started Claritin 1 or 2 days before Day 1.

I was weak (didn't eat enough last week from being hospitalized) so my 3rd AC has bee postponed 2 weeks. I know this is good, so I can build my strength and energy back up. But feeling sucky because of the stupid delay. Damn.

The first 7 days after AC, my bowels move so slow. Even my esophogus feels slow and digesting feels slow. So I was apparently eating less and eating slower and taking a long time to eat. Aargh. Did you gals have this experience?

Best wishes to you. Let's be strong together. We're not alone here. Thanks ladies.

PezGal

NewDay123 - AC #3 was when I hit the wall too. Neulasta stopped working, low WBC's, hospital stays, blood transfusions... Big sigh. I did have a shrinking or tight sensation. Hard to describe. Happened more at night, where my mouth and esophagus and mouth felt smaller so when I'd drink I'd choke on what would be a normal amount to swallow. It was strange. For the first couple weeks of taxol I had a "full" sensation all of the time. With my dedication to eating I got over that though. AC is tough, tough, stuff. BUT, keep on keepin' on. There is an end to it!

Before I was diagnosed I had NO IDEA what it all entails. The mental and physical exhaustion, worry, pain, fear. My goodness. We all deserve gold medals for going through this crap.

Angtee15

I've decided to expect the absolute worst going into AC...that way I won't be surprised:) Ah, chemo.

I just found out an old friend was diagnosed with breast cancer yesterday. 44 with two little kids. It makes me so so sad to know anyone else has to go through this. Also it brings me back to my diagnosis and how terrifying the beginning all is.

Sigh. Pez you are right... Gold medals all around.

Anonymous

My friend in Orlando went to MOFFET Twirp. Shes cancer free, 2 years, and highly recommends it You got this! We all got this! Just some days more than others

chinookmom

Twirp26- Continuing to send my love & prayers! MOFFIT looks amazing and just the place to beat this! Thank you for giving an update, I've been thinking about you a lot.

Stotamom- Hope they scans went okay today! Been thinking of you.

PezGal- So right about the gold medals for all.. I also had NO IDEA how hard could be. I never had any family or friends with cancer to even see as an outsider what it was about. I definitely want to pay it forward and help others in the future. I've met a wonderful woman at a wellness class (a bit older than myself) who lives near me and we go to various classes at a couple of the cancer support groups in LA together. Turns out we have the same oncologist and she finishes chemo 5 days after me. Hope you've gotten a chance to meet some people in person to talk to as well. (I remember you once saying that had private infusion rooms & didn't really get to interact.)

Angtee15- Sorry to hear about your friend. Hope she finds this website of great help and support. I'm sure you've been a tremendous comfort to speak to after getting blindsided by this stupid cancer.

NewDay123- Rest up & feel better soon. Are soups easier for you? Sometimes on rough days i drink organic bone broth (not just stock) if i can't do anything else. And smoothies with protein powder.

Birdie56- How are you doing post chemo and is the hair growing? I keep hearing it can take a few months to start..

Chemo #5 tomorrow (of 6). Having combo fear/dread as well as relief i'm getting closer to the finish line. Dealing with neuropathies in hands, feet & maybe tongue. A bit worried Dr. might postpone as i too am sooo wiped out today.

I took a rigid heddle loom/weaving class yesterday to make a scarf. Thought it might be nice to get my mind off things and be a little creative on a "good" day. My god, i'm sore today. It was a 5 hour class- I rented the loom for a week to finish and maybe do another at home. My lovely boyfriend did the first part of the class with me as there is a lot of setting up & tying off that my hands would have a hard time with right now. And he can help me with that part at home. I have a ton of yarn from a previous foray into knitting and am hoping to use my "time off" to make some gifts for some dear friends that have been so supportive during this time.. (As my body allows me to.)

Big hugs & best wishes for more GOOD DAYS to all!!

KHinMD

Stotamom - Hope the scans went well.

Twirp26 - Still hoping for success with your new meds. If not, there are other avenues for treatment like immunotherapy and the cancer center will put you on the right track.

chinookmom - Good luck tomorrow. Are you taking anything for the neuropathy? Right now that's my most annoying SE, and it looks like it's going to stick around for a while. My MO suggested Vitamin B6 and Glutamine for it. Making scarves as gifts seems like a positive and productive distraction.

mvspaulding

praying for you Stotamom and Twirp that you get answers.

I have had a nasty upper respiratory infection since last Thursday, coincidentally the day I had my 3 week follow up with MO and got put on Tamoxifen. Starting feeling it coming on Thursday night and it has knocked me on my butt. Hard to tell if some of what I'm feeling is from the illness or Tamoxifen.

Do you ever wonder if you remember what it feels like to feel normal? Or will we ever feel normal again

NewDay123

mvspaulding, I'm imagining it will be a 'new' normal.

chinookmom, yes, I need to get more soups in!
- For peripheral neuropathy, I did on 2 of the chemo cycles iced/kept the hands and feet cold. After day 3, then there was daily massage and keeping the hands and feet very very warm. Also kept the body warm, I wore several layers. Then did hand/wrist/arm and foot/ankle/lower leg exercises. Massages go from the knees to the toes. I saw this, maybe this will be helpful to you also: http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?...

Angtee and PezGal, yes, gold medals for everyone.
- I pretty much cry & sob whenever I hear sad news these days. I'm sorry about your friend Angtee, she isn't alone.
- I guess that's why the MO wanted to hospitalize me for the next AC. He seems to know/think something that I don't know about. sigh.

Thank you for being here and sharing. Because most days I'm so frightened and I feel like a wimp. That somehow I'm suppose to be braver or stronger. But that is a lie. Of course we're going to feel sad and frightened and not-brave, but that it IS ok to feel those things.

stotamom

Totally freaking out!! Had my scan yesterday and my doctor's office just called and bumped up my appointment by two hours for tomorrow. Ugh...this waiting is awful!!

Twirp26

stotamom, I am praying for you as I write this!!! I know how hard waiting is!!! It really is torture! I also don't understand why they can't just tell us stuff over the phone.??? Hang in there, try and relax your mind, (I know it's hard) and just take it one day at a time. Sending positive vibes your way! You are not alone!!

chinacat

Stotamom, Hope all goes at your well at your appt tomorrow. Sending you all of my positive energy!!

Sammy3

Stotamom - please don't panic! It's probably something they are doing to re-schedule everyone! Tomorrow is Fri - maybe the doctor wants to leave early so he's pushing up all his appts! Hang in there!

PezGal

Stotamom, I agree with Sammy. They might just be trying to shuffle people around to fit all in on a Friday. Don't look too much into it. Big positive thoughts coming your way....

But seriously though, they should have a class in medical school called "how to lessen anxiety in patients by reporting test results in a very timely manner". After my PET/CT scan I called my dr 3 times the next week (annoyingly, but honestly about 3 different things) and she never called me back. Instantly my brain went to bad news. At my port surgery the following week (something like 10 days after scans!) I asked the surgeon to call MO for test results and she had them by the time I was in recovery. My surgeon is very timely, MO not so much. Point being, I wouldnt rely on appt time moved up 2 hrs to mean anything at all! Kinda like I was saying earlier that I didn't realize all that goes into a cancer diagnosis till I was neck deep, I honestly think some MO's don't understand the emotional part of this. It's not something you can learn in a book.

mvspaulding

Geez Stotamom, so sorry you are going through this, but try to stay positive and know we are all sending positive energy your way.

chinookmom

NewDay123- Thank you so much for the peripheral neuropathy tips. I'll be sure to check out the link. Much appreciated. I have 2 more credits for massage with my favorite massage therapist. So once i'm over today's chemo 5 hump i'll get in to see him. I'm with you. Some days strong and brave and i've had many people at the support groups and wellness classes i go to tell me i have such a great attitude and positive energy and i always feel a bit surprised. I'm just taking it day by day. But I have those same fears & worries. Especially late at night.

Stotamom- Ugh another day. So hard. My thoughts are with you for a positive outcome! Medical office scheduling is tough to deal with when we have so many unknowns.. We are hear for you. Not matter what!

Twirp- Thinking of your everyday! You're going to beat this!!

I'm a bit groggy from chemo #5 today. Just got home and fading fast. Wanted to check in on you lovely ladies dealing with stress waiting for scan results etc.

Hope everyone is feel good as can be otherwise!

Big hugs to all!

Twirp26

Just wanted to check in with everyone and let you know I finally had a positive dr. Appt. I went for my weekly check with my surgeon. (He promised my oncologist he would check me weekly if I went the chemo route) he said that my tumor feels softer. He feels as though the FEC is doing its job. I tell everyone I am cautiously optimistic. I also have an appt with MOFFIT in Tampa on Wednesday. Hoping to get a secondly opinion and my scans/pathology checked for accuracy. This is such a crazy ride!! Stotamom, still thinking about you and hoping you get good news.

Chinookmom, that loom looks fun!!! I want one!

Hugs all around!!

chinookmom

Twirp26- I'm so happy & relived to hear things are moving in a positive direction! Thank you for the update. Glad you are getting into MOFFIT so quickly. Its going to work! You are still going to kick this cancer's ass.. just had a detour along the way!

chinookmom

KHinMD- Thank you also for the suggestions for the neuropathy. I had about 3 hours of sleep last night before chemo today and told her about the neuropathies but didn't remember to ask about all the suggested treatments.. I'll look those up tomorrow.

KHinMD

stotamom - My thoughts are with you.

Twirp26 - Your news sounds very promising, from the tumor feeling softer to the MOFFIT appointment. It's been a crazy ride, but you are going to gain control of the wheel.

chinookmom - My pleasure. I usually don't get enough sleep the night before treatment and make up for it in the infusion room, about half an hour after getting the Benadryl. I've only been taking vitamin B6 (got it from CVS). My nurse made it seem like the glutamine had to be ordered online. As NewDay123 suggests, I've heard about icing the hands and feet (and even the mouth to help prevent mouth sores and taste issues) during infusions, but never got around to trying it.

My butt should be in bed. I'm going to take an Ativan.

PezGal

Chinookmom/KHinMD - I too am trying to fight neuropathy. Haven't had any with taxol yet, but did with the AC (or antibiotic?) and do NOT want to do that again. My fingernails are still messed up. Anyway, I am taking drugstore B6 2x a day. I occasionally treat myself to an Odwalla Blueberry B smoothies (sold in stores in the veggie section usually). Lots of sugar, but also lots of B6. Have no idea if its equivalent to the pills... but it tastes good. I also got the glutamine online. Seems like they only sell pills in stores. The 15g/day suggested would have me choking down 30 pills a day - no thank you. Its a big glob of powder that I usually mix with some Mio and water. Not the best tasting. It's pretty expensive for a supplement, in my opinion, over $100. I got a brand called "Glutasolve". I ordered mine from Amazon as I had a credit with them, but I actually think Walgreens online is cheaper. Full disclosure: some folks (studies) have show glutamine to feed cancer, but more recent stuff has show it to be more useful than harmful. I looked it up a while ago, but can't find any sources for you all.... it's Friday. I'm ready to get chemo #5 on and start my weekend.

Lyra10

As I sit in the PS office waiting I'm saying a prayer for all of you that are having more struggles. I'm not going to complain but rather champion you guys to health and ANSWERS! It's Friday hopefully you have something planned that isn't exhausting & makes you smile

Sammy3

stotamom - how are you doing?