January 2016 Chemo!

LoveMyVizsla

Round two of Neulasta pain. It's worse this time, more widespread. Hopefully it will be gone by tomorrow night like last time. Yucky weather outside today, good day for a nap.

Frill

Well, it's good to know that I'm not imagining the hair growth - I'm doing weekly Taxol. I haven't had my hair cut since the initial clipping on January 20. I shed for another week after that, maybe, and it's stopped. Never got the Brazilian. Eyebrows and lashes still in place, thank you, God!!! I use a hair puller (Idk what else to call it) on my legs and used it after Jan. 20. It takes a while to grow back, so I'm not too worried about that. Nose hairs still there...

But now I'm like, what's going to happen during the next round? Lol, y'all are all gearing up for Taxol, and to me, it's been such a breeze - after the mega-hives incident. I'm doing FAC - and from the list it doesn't look like anyone's even doing that. If I would have had a choice, I'd rather do the harder one first, then go through losing my hair all over again. Not that I have a full head of growing back pixie cut hair, lol, but hey, I can dream, and it looks like I'm on my way to a pixie cut.

This week's dose the steroid didn't give me a kick at all. But yesterday I left work at noon and then was not asleep by 5 the way I have been. And only 6 more of these to go. Lol "only" 6. I may have a trial in a couple of weeks. I'll be like, chemo at 715 and then trial all day. I can't fathom that. In state court they don't have trial on Friday, but this is federal court. Then there's the whole worry/issue of wearing a scarf and going through federal security. I know they take women out of line at state court.

I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself because my bf just posted a picture on FB of me where my hair was down to my waist.

Paxton29

Any chance it'll get continued or settle? Our federal court makes us take off our shoes but I've never seen anyone with a scarf so I don't know how they handle it.

I haven't had any Neulasta pain but I really do think the fever is related. Still hovering around 99.7 and aiming for a nap. I haven't eaten much the last few days which may contribute to the fatigue, or at least it doesn't help. I just had a grilled cheese sandwich which was delicious but may have been too much. Apparently I need to figure out my magic amount and type of food

Sheri64

Tomorrow I go for TX #3 TC, why do I get so nervous?  I now what to expect now.  On a good note I go to the LGFB class tonight hopes to get some good tips.

Valstim52

Hello All

Just finished round one of dose dense Taxol. I'm groggy and loopy but not nauseus. They warned me of the bone pain and aches. Darkened and lifted nails. Im using the opi system and I have very strong nails or I think they would be gone by now. We will see.

i'll keep you posted.

Veronica31

Hey ladies! I had my first Taxol today. Everything was easy. I didn't have any negative reactions, but now that I'm home, the left side of my face is tingling. It starts at my temple, goes down my cheek, stops on the left side of my chin. Is anyone else experiencing that?

fightergirl711

Veronica31 I'll get my 10th Taxol this Thursday - and every weekend my face tingles. Sometimes it almost feels like it's swelling, but it's not. The tingling usually hovers around my forehead and eyebrows. It's an odd feeling, it should go away in a few days.

Veronica31

Fightergirl: Thank you! Glad to know it goes away.

mltdd

I had my 3rd treatment on Thursday and have been having muscle spasms since yesterday. They started in the left temple and have migrated all over. Was thinking about taking a muscle relaxer. Has anyone had this problem?

Sally22

Hi Ladies,

Start Taxol this week and was wondering about the neuropathy that I heard might occur? Anyone with advise

Jinx27

Hey ladies,

This is my third day post dose dense Taxol#1 and my body aches are not good. I went for an oncology massage after work but my massage therapist was too light with her hands. I wanted the opposite like heavy kneading. If I lived in a state where marijuana was legal I would smoke or vape to go to sleep. The pain won't let me rest tonight. Its annoying.

Just had to rant.

Planet

Miss Bee: Congrats on the move! Enjoy your new home. I hear you about the weight gain. I gained 10 lbs and I already had 50 to lose before this cancer journey started.

I got a laugh over Paxton's Nosferatu reference. I see him in the mirror, too.

Nosebleeds: I think it's a byproduct of loss of nose hairs. Those boogers stick like glue to the skin and when I blow my nose, I bleed. Had an embarrassing one at Mass.

Not quite bald and the odd hair appears to be growing. Lots of short hair (looks like lint) in the drain catch. I shaved my ladybits and nothing is growing back. Same with underarms, forearms.and legs. No chin hairs!!!! Best SE ever!

My pedicure is lasting forever-I don't think my nails are growing.

Saw foot doctor Saturday. Said the dexamethasone does help with foot pain and swelling but it slows bone growth-and my left foot still hasn't grown bone completely over the graft. So it's going to take longer!

Off to work! Have a great day,ladies

Sheri64

Well chemo #3 done. Only one more to go in 3 weeks. Then on to rads for 7 weeks. Not looking forward to that ever day. Hope everyone is having a good day felt like spring heretemps in the 60's. After chemo took the car through the car wash busy place today.

LovesToFly

had my first docetaxol this morning, it wasn't bad, pretty uneventful. I feel OK now, a bit of a metallic taste in my mouth and a bit tired but nothing serious. I was told to expect things to get worse on day three, when I will be off the steroids and hit the withdrawal, and also the bone pain will start. Good times ahead!

songbird72

Well drats Loves to Fly, you have ruined my fantasy that Taxol will be super easy! I'm hoping my bone pain isn't too awful. Had my first Taxol today and other than being a little sleepy from the Benadryl, it was a breeze compared to the Red Devil! I take my last steriod pills tomorrow and the dreaded nasty Neulasta shot tomorrow so we will see how that goes!

Geeper

Hi everyone-

I had my 9th Taxol treatment yesterday and a reflexologist came in to my room and gave me a hand massage. Apparently she is there on Mondays (my treatment days). I wish I would have known this sooner. I am definitely going to request her for next weeks chemo session and see if she can massage my feet and my hands. It was like a piece of heaven. 

As far as side effects, I am feeling a little tingling in my hands and I hope it's not the start of neuropathy. I haven't encountered tingling in the face. I did have muscle aches around my 2nd and 3rd Taxol treatment, where I was feeling some rib pain, back pain and my legs felt kind of heavy like jello, but I haven't had those side effects since then. I must say I did worry and brought this to the attention of my MO and he said it was perfectly normal to have aches. The tingling in my hands is what is worrying me right now. The "Weekly Taxol group" maybe able to provide more insight.

I hope all you are doing well. Wishing you all minimal side effects.    

Maya15

On day 5 post Taxol #1. Thankfully had some energy back today after extreme fatigue on days 3 and 4. Too bad there's only one day left till they hit me with the next dose. Hate this weekly schedule!

sarah_sunflower

Hi Ladies,

Welcome all the new members.

Its exactly two weeks post my 3rd TC and one week before my 4th and last TC, yay! Funny enough I am actually looking forward to the stupid last chemo so atleast I can put it past me and get on with Radiation. I just want this whole thing over!

I have noticed tingling in my right eye, non-stop since my last chemo, super numbness in the fingers both hands, it gets really bad sometimes like frost bitten kind of feeling and I have been having nose bleeds since my second round.

Something positive, I am very happy to announce that I have managed to go to the gym the other day and run on the treadmill for a few minutes and walk about 30 mins. Its my first time back at gym since I started chemo.

Wishing all the ladies having treatments this week all the best!

Paulinek

Sarah sunflower I go for my last TC (and hopefully last chemo forever) on Friday! I'm not looking forward to the SE, but I'm excited to be done.

I just scheduled my surgery (bi lateral mastectomy) for April 5th and I'm super nervous about that. I'm not too keen on losing body parts and being unable to function for a few weeks, but just heard from a coworker that his wife had a recurrence after a year. She did lumpectomy and rads when chemo and mastectomy was reccomended, now she's having a mastectomy. It's scary to already think of recurrence while I'm in the middle of treatment, but I'm glad I'm being aggressive now.

LovesToFly

songbird who knows? I'm still feeling good on day two. We could be OK! I know that it will get a little bit harder, steroid withdrawal if nothing else, but I'm still holding out hope that it won't be too bad! FEC was not nearly as bad as I anticipated, hopefully I will have the same experience with this one.

Paulinek that is scary, I did a lumpectomy and chemo and will do rads then tamoxifen. But that is what was recommended for me and both my breast surgeon and oncologist have said that an MX might give me peace of mind, but it would have absolutely no statistical difference in my outcome, so for now I have decided to stick with what I've done, and if I find I'm struggling over the next few years with a lot of anxiety and worry, I will reassess. GoodLuck with your mastectomy, I know several people that have had them and although they certainly are a difficult surgery, they have come through fine and you will too!

Valstim52

Hello All

Had first Taxol. Felt good day 1 and 2. Today the bone and muscle pain is hitting me hard. Going to take a muscle relaxant and just stay on the couch. It's muscle and even pelvic pain, but the NP did tell me I would hit around day 3 to 5. Other than being off in my taste, I'm ok. Not as bad as my AC after effects, but painful.

Paulinek

thanks Jill. I'm glad you're still tolerating the new chemo well. I can't believe you have to do rads after all this! I have tamoxifen in my future too. We sure are a group of tough chicks

LovesToFly

i'm trying not to think Ahead to rads, I'm quite scared of it because I am very pale and worried I'm going to get bad burns. I also have quite large breasts and heard that's skin on skin is the worst thing for rads, but it's hard to keep skin off skin with my F cups! And of course just the thought of have to go to the hospital every single day for 25 weekdays makes me want to vomit. Oh Well! We are warriors!

Cathytoo

LovesToFly...we're almost at the end. Forge ahead. What will be, will be. You've done great so far. I just finished 3 of my 4 infusions. Then a month off before rads. And...they found an 8mm pancreatic lesion when I had my CT SCAN last year. So, in June I need a MRI for that. Unfortunately, I think after BC, we are constantly on guard. But, this is our reality now. Keep good thoughts. We can do this

Paxton29

I'm having my implants placed before rads, so the timing of all this is difficult. I have to finish chemo on 3/25, then see my PS--my last fill was February 4 so he probably can't operate until the end of April. Which sucks because I want these asymmetrical rocks OUT OUT OUT. Then I have to heal some but still make sure I start rads within 90 days of finishing chemo.

buttaflydiva

I hoping my WBC are back up tomorrow and I can get my last AC and move on to taxol. I kind of dread going to rads every day myself. Ive been told that it takes you longer to undress and change than it does to actually do the radiation. ive read about some people over on the weekly taxol forum about having bone pain but I haven't heard anyone say about what the best way to relieve that is other than some Tylenol or ibuprofen. So far ive heard ice packs for the feet and hands, Im wondering what else I need to have on hand to get ready for the SE's of taxol/Herceptin and perjeta.

Paulinek

Paxton, I've heard the expanders are awful...I hope I only have them for few weeks since it's after chemo, but everything is so unpredictable

Nalagirl

Hi -

I started AC+T January 27, 2016. I am having my fourth dose of AC todAy. I am triple negative BC.

Nalagirl

zinny

Hi Nalagirl - welcome.

To those facing rads ahead - I have been there already, and it wasn't so bad. It is really fast - the treatment takes less than 5 minutes. I had a skin sparing protocol( because I am going for BMX after,) so my experience may have been milder than others' but it really wasn't bad for me- no skin breakdown, just a bit pink. A little sore. No fatigue to speak of for me ( though I am living a much pared down version of my life before- if I had been working, might have been harder.) Some GI symptoms with poor appetite and some acid reflux kind of feelings.

Chemo has been much harder for me - and it hasn't been that bad so far;)

Paxton29

Pauline, I understand they generally like the TEs to be at max fill for three months before exchange. I had no fill in surgery at all. They wanted to (over) fill me to 300 cc per side but I could only take it up to 280. The one and only good thing about them is no need to wear a bra; it's like somebody stapled two oranges to my chest