Starting Chemo December 2015

Boston2015

Hi Ladies,

I am pretty new to the forum and I am almost finished with chemo then on to surgery. I am wondering how long after chemo was surgery for you all?

mvspaulding

Hi bc 2015, what surgery are you having? Did you have chemo first? Sorry you have to be here.

Sammy3

I will be done with chemo on 3/23, then surgery 4/29. Mine said they like to wait at least 4 weeks.

Boston2015

I started chemo on Dec. 4th. I had 4 AC already and I am on 3 of 4 Abraxane. I was suppose to get Taxol but my insurance company approved Abraxane instead. I am going to be getting a lumpectomy after I am done with chemo.

lawyer180

bc 2015--I asked my BS the same question recently and she said 4-6 weeks after chemo is done.

mvspaulding

yes, I had my mastectomy before I had chemo, but my plastic surgeon said she likes to wait at least 6 weeks for the Reconstruction surgery. So I'm waiting.

Angtee15

Same here. I finish chemo on 4/22 and was told my surgery would be at least 4 weeks after that.

chinookmom

bc_2015- Hello & Welcome.

I had my 5th of 6 chemo infusions 3/10 & asked my oncologist about how long I'd have to wait. Based on my blood work that day, she thought that my blood work was good enough that she'd recommend to my surgeon a delay of 2 weeks post final chemo. I see my surgeon the day before chemo 6 and will schedule surgery and all the tests then. I think i'd prefer to wait longer than 2 weeks just so i'm further away from side effects and feeling stronger going in for my lumpectomy.

I next see my surgeon the day before my last!! chemo #6 (3/31). At that point i figure we will schedule new scans and pre-ops etc to determine if we are good to still go ahead with the lumpectomy. All depending on what my SO's recommendation & schedule are. I called a few weeks ago to ask & surgeon's office told me that it is usually 3-4 weeks after chemo, generally.. I was told that they will send me home in a post lumpectomy front closure bra that i will basically wake up in after surgery. I've ordered another similar bra online so i have something clean to alternate with.

Apparently there a few more considerations after chemo before surgery - google research below:

(PREOP Considerations after Chemo- As part of preoperative assessment, the anesthesiologist should take a focused history of cancer management. A detailed drug history includes the precise chemotherapy regime used and any specific toxic effects suffered by the patient. Clinical features of toxicity which may alert the anesthesiologist to more serious systemic complications include shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pains, and fever. A thorough examination may also reveal signs that require further investigation before surgery. Routine investigations performed such as full blood counts, blood biochemistry, and an ECG are important in management of the cancer patient before surgery. Other investigations, for example, a chest X-ray, an arterial blood gas, pulmonary function tests, and an echocardiogram, may be required depending upon the treatment regimen used.)

There are a few lumpectomy discussion boards on this site I'll have a look at before my surgery as well. Hope you're doing well otherwise. We are almost there!!

chinookmom

Twirp26- How are you doing? Thinking about you and hoping MOFFIT is going well. Hugs!

Lou53

Hi ladies!

I had my lumpectomy prior to chemo and I never got a bra! I just wore soft wireless ones that I picked up. I really didn't have problems. A little sore as my incision was underneath my breast where a bra usually hits, but I was more sore where they removed the lymph nodes under my arm. Wonder why some surgeons do surgery before and others wait until after treatment. Anyone know the answer?

Getting excited about my last infusion on the 31st (chinookmom - we are on the exact schedule!) but I am also getting worried. The oncologist says this is normal for women to become very anxious and depressed as they get closer to the end of treatment because now we are kinda being thrown out there on our own. So many emotions associated with this stuff. The mental, physical and psychological aspects are numbing.

Treatment #5 has left me exhausted and taking a bit more time to feel more like myself. Had all these aspirations of exercising and have pretty much failed at that one.

Is anyone here going to be starting radiation? I am scheduled for 30 rounds after chemo but know little else. I was just assigned a new radiologist which I haven't met yet because I chose to go to the hospital closer to me for that. I'm getting a little nervous about the radiation.

I think of each of you often and pray for us all to get through this.

Wenrisa

celebrating chemo #8 today! Last one and I'm on to rads next!

Best wishes and good health to those still going through treatment or experiencing side effects

KHinMD

chinookmom - I'm currently on Season 4 of House of Cards. I am constantly aware of how out of shape I am, from lack of real exercise and from the chemo. I miss working out, and hope I'll be able to get back to the way I was. Hang in there, you just have one more. I feel like I haven't rebounded as much as I had at this point after my other rounds, but I am ready for next week because it's the last one. I'm assuming you will also be on Herceptin only until December. Hopefully we can start to get back to normal without the chemo drugs.

Sammy3 - I started experiencing neuropathy a month ago too, after my 4th treatment. I'm worried about it being permanent. Even if it isn't, I've heard that it can take a while (2 months or more) to go away.

PezGal - You won't be alone. Others who have finished chemo have been here to keep us company. I still have Herceptin to deal with after finishing chemo, so I will be around.

bc_2015 - I haven't scheduled my surgery but my surgeon is aiming towards the end of April. My last chemo is 3/21.

Wenrisa - Congrats on finishing chemo. Good luck with the next step.

puremalarkey

Hi Lou, You're almost there with the chemo. I'm on # 14 of 37 radiation treatments. It hasn't been too bad. The only thing that I wish I had insisted on waiting another week when the dr. wanted me to start radiation two weeks after my final chemo. I still felt crummy and didn't have a chance to re-coup before doing the daily drives(about an hour round trip). Good Luck

Lou53

Thanks Puremalarkey! Is there anything you did to prepare for rads or anything I should know or need to get besides lotion?

Twirp26

hey chinook! Thanks for asking. Got back from MOFFIT last night. The dr there ordered another biopsy as well as an MRI. I was not given the carboplatin to start and she was disgusted with the care I received. Because I did not respond to chemo using THP. I was missing the C the whole time. She wants to confirm that I am her2positive. She told me to have my next dose of FEC on Tuesday unless I hear from her sooner. She couldn't really give me a plan without confirming pathology first. On the bright side my surgeon looked at me today and said he feels like the chemo is starting to work. I'm still praying!! Not sure what's in my future yet, I just want to be on the right path. Hope everyone is doing well!!

chinookmom

Twirp26- Thank you for the update. So glad you are in getting new tests and it sounds like your are in great hands at MOFFIT. You are going to beat this! My heart goes out to you for how hard it must have been to hear you may have been getting inferior treatment. I'm upset myself to hear it!!! I did notice you weren't on the C, but know that THP alone was a treatment as well. Not sure when that protocol changed. I'm curious to know what your oncologist will say as the reason you weren't on Carboplatin. I'm guessing it will be a early next week before you get your pathology results back.

Please let us know when you know more.. I have faith that MOFFIT are the ones to get you on the right path! You continue to be in my thoughts daily! xo

chinookmom

Wenrisa- Congratulations on your last chemo!!

KHinMD- Yep. Herceptin with chemo port til end of year!! I will be so excited to start 2017 with NO chemo port!! I can't wait to start feeling normal again. The mouth/tongue and digestive side effects i get don't resolve between each chemo.. improve but are always there.. I would just like to be able to go out to eat with a friend, & to order anything i want off of a menu and be able to taste it. And not worry how close the bathroom is when i'm not at home.

Lou53- Same schedule sister! I'm so happy the end is in sight! I'll have Herceptin for the rest of the year but so much easier i hear than chemo. My understanding is that with HER2+ breast cancer that they are now doing Neoajuvant therapy more often to see how the chemo is affecting the cancer. By seeing if the cancer is shrinking or not they can adjust the chemo as needed to what works best practically to kill the cancer cells. If a standard protocol doesn't work as well for one woman they can adjust the medication to see if its actually working. I couldn't find the link the the article i read that better explains that reason. But did find another good one.. http://ww5.komen.org/KomenPerspectives/Neoadjuvant.... I still need to look at this website discussion boards on radiation & figure out who my RO will be. I have some recommends etc. I've been feeling pretty crappy after this last chemo so by Monday i'll be able to get more done.

puremalarkey- Glad to hear your tip on having enough time to recover from surgery before radiation. I'll definitely talk to the RO about that..

Hope everyone is well as can be. And have some nice plans for the weekend to look forward to!

Karenbo

Thanks for the update Twirp26. Glad your visit at MOFFIT went well and more tests are being done. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Keep fighting!

Sammy3

Redrock & Nebraska - haven't seen you guys in a while - everything OK?

puremalarkey

Hey Lou, The only thing I was told was to use a lotion any lotion twice a day just not 4 hours before treatment. Think it's better to start with the lotion before treatment starts. When I showed up yesterday with a red rash of little bumps the tech said let's let you see the nurse before you leave. She asked me what was going on then had me follow her to a supply closet full of bins. She said lets start with these and handed me a tube of hydrocortisone cream and a full size bottle of 100% aloe gel. She said use the cream thinly, let it dry then use the aloe gel twice a day, after treatment and then again before bed. Already today the rash feels better but I can still see it. Hope that's helpful.

Nebraska917

Sammy- still here and still reading posts. I go in for my exchange surgery on tuesday! Getting the tissue expanders out and implants in. Then an appointment with my oncologist after that about starting tamoxofen.

I did go see a different oncologist and he said everything we had done so far he would have done the same thing. So that's good.

I have been working full time again and am almost back to normal.

KHinMD

Twirp26 - I had noticed we aren't on the same regimen. Like chinookmom, I've heard of some people only receiving THP. In those cases, they started out with TCHP but stopped receiving carboplatin after a couple of rounds due to really bad side effects. I thought maybe that happened in your case as well. It may not have made a difference, but it's upsetting to know you didn't get a chance to go into battle with all the usual weapons. It looks like you are now on the right track with the MOTTIF doctors.

chinookmom - I hear you on the taste issues. I notice it more with certain foods, where it doesn't quite taste right. I was reading the triple positive board and people were talking about Herceptin only side effects. I'm concerned knowing that there still may be some side effects. I guess I'll be okay as long as there aren't as many, and they aren't as severe as they have been with chemo. And as long as hair starts growing back and taste returns to normal. I just hope I can make it through the last treatment without losing any fingernails. Some of them look like they are about to jump ship.

Karenbo - How are you doing on Herceptin only?

Nebraska917 - Glad to hear you are almost back to normal. Good luck with your surgery. I will officially get my mastectomy scheduled this week after my last chemo. I will be getting tissue expanders as well.

Jacklin

Morning everyone,

bc 2015: My surgery is scheduled for 4-1/2 weeks after my chemo finishes.

KatG68

Hi, ladies! I tried to go back and read a bit, but yall are a chatty bunch! LOL! I have completed 6 of 12 Taxol treatments and started radiation today. I will do 5 weeks of rad and still have 6 weekly treatments of Taxol. If everything goes as planned (fingers crossed!), then I'll finish both within a week of each other. The worst news I've had is that I have to wait 6 months after radiation to have the reduction done on my left breast (had it done during lumpectomy to right). My plastic surgeon just said to call him when I was done - I was thinking RIGHT AFTER I was done! But I can live with 6 months. I've almost done that already, right?

Good Luck to each of you this week! I'll be praying for all!

Karenbo

KHinMD- I've had one Herceptin only infusion so far. It was triple the dose of what I received with each Taxol. It was infused in only 35 minutes. I too was concerned about SE after reading several posts on the Triple Positive discussion board, but so far have not experienced any new or worsened SE.

As far as changes since completing chemo....My energy level is a little better after being off chemo now for 2 weeks. I'm starting to get a little hair growth on my legs and underarms, but unfortunately no noticeable signs of hair on my head yet....bummer! I've been having some mild cramps and wonder if my period might be coming back soon; I'd hoped it was gone for good. Time will tell. I've also noticed a reduction in the numbness in my fingers and toes!!! Very thankful for that!

Plan is to start Tamoxifen in about 2-3 weeks; I'm nervous about that...

PezGal

Sooooooo... What are these Herceptin only side effects you all speak of? Or that the +++ board speaks of? I thought the worst of it was a drippy nose. Oh, and maybe heart failure

PezGal

KatG68 - so you're doing taxol and rads at the same time? I didn't know that was possible!

chinookmom

PezGal~ There is quite a bit of info on the Herceptin website. Hope this is helpful: http://www.herceptin.com/breast/adjuvant;jsessionid=FD025B582D7418F5876A86D3DF184CC1.gxe501c-m1

I've had the cough/runny nose during chemo.. My understanding is that the possible heart damage that can be caused by Herceptin can be reversed and not permanent.. Also I hear that the Herceptin alone is so much easier.. Looking forward to that! Hope you're well!!

Sammy3

Yes the Triple+ group has kinda made me nervous about Herceptin only (and also Tamoxifen). I hear its still better than the full blown TCHP, but yes the cardiotoxicity is always a possibility. We will still be getting the heart checkups throughout that. I for one just want the bathroom and appetite issues to diminish

PezGal

Thanks, guys. I'm not too worried just the talk about the Triple + board made me curious. I looked over that website Chinookmom. I LOL'ed. Not because its funny, but with those potential side effects - what's new?!?!

I had Taxol #6 last Thursday. My body seems to feel it's worst from Mon-Wed. I feel like I exercised too hard or hunched over a puzzle too long. Its a feeling I would occasionally have in real life BBC (before breast cancer) so I find myself complaining, fairly frequently, like I would have before, "What did I do to myself?", all the while knowing exactly what I did to myself (sat in a chair and got taxol). Whatever... My countdown is officially on! Six to go. Her2+ people, did you ring a bell or waiting till the end of Herceptin? Is the ringing of the bell thing overrated? For everyone, did you get (by yourself or someone else) a present/party for finishing? I think I'm going to buy myself a canoe. This sucked. I deserve it.... Yup. I'm gonna Carpe Diem myself right into a shinny new red canoe.