April 2017 Chemo

StaceyB

DodgersGirl - I haven't looked on the August group yet. I know I need too. I think I have been in a bit of denial knowing there is more treatment, with a host of new side effects. I found myself very teary during the dry run through. I do feel better when I am prepared though, so I will check it out

Annbee

StacyB - I am starting rads in a week. I have been on the August rad thread and there is a lot of good information. I am nervous too..


It is a weird feeling today, waking up and knowing I don't have chemo tomorrow. I am taking my daughter to have her wisdom teeth taken out and I get to sit in the waiting room. Not my normal Monday for the past 16 weeks.

Thinking of you all.

DodgersGirl

finished Taxol 10 yesterday. Steroids kept me up all night last night. Sigh.

Side effect with Taxol 9 and 10 is pain in a few finger nails. Watching to make sure nails aren't lifting and soaking nails in epsom salt to keep all clean. Also making sure I don't use the fingers with sore nails to grasp or pry open things.

MO said the nail pain is different from neuropathy and that icing won't prevent the nail pain and or lifting.

Just have to get through 2 more Taxol infusions

Anyone else have nail pain?

Annbee

Dodgersgirl- you are almost done!! You had me thinking my fingers tip issue was nail pain, but mine is not pain. It is more of a numbness. This is my first week without a doctor's appointment since I had my mammogram back at the end of December. I am enjoying it. Not looking forward to daily radiation. I know it will be over before I know it. I am feeling better every day. I have had some of my old aches and pains kick in yesterday, my guess it is the steroids are out of my system now. Starting to really feel like my self again.

Castigame

Annbee, glad you are enjoying post chemo freedom.

Dodgersgirl, you will be getting the same freedom soon. 

Today was rad #5 out of 30 for me. I am thinking of new ways to make myself comfortable. 

So far, I rads are just annoying because I have to show up everyday. multiple moisturizations annoying again. 

little bit more hot flashes as well as little bit of nerve pain. little bit of phantom/nerve pain on the left side even though I am not getting radiated.  very subtle nausea came about. 

nerve pain seems to be where my biggest tumor was and lymph nodes removed. 

went to see OBGYN for hysterectomy consul. was told three small incisions  and vaginally. onward and forward for me. 

mimi

DodgersGirl

rebamacfan123- will your hysterectomy be done via robotics? That is what my oncology gynecologist said she would use for me hysterectomy after rads.

DodgersGirl

annbee- a week without a doctor's visit in months, wow!! Wonder how we will all feel when done with surgery, chemo, and rads and are "turned lose" to return to our new normals??? Sure, we will be monitored but the active treatments will be in the past... I think it will seem odd to not be as closely monitored and will take an adjustment to discover a new normal.

Will you be taking an AI after rads?

Castigame

yes doc told me robotics. I am finally letting it go. I saw pics and pic of beautiful babies but did not cry.

Mimi

DodgersGirl

rebamacfan123- you are such a strong warrior.

DodgersGirl

dazzlingeagle- just wanted you to know that I keep you in my prayers. Sending you hugs and praying you get good news ref PET and surgery plans.

BJI

DodgersGirl -I slept for 30 minutes before I had terrible heartburn and reflux. Got up and spent the next 4 hours in the recliner watching tv. Slept from 4am to 730. Spent the day with my granddaughter, dr appt, dentist appt and salon appt. Hoping only 2 more sleepless wednesday nights !

DazzlingEagle

I saw the breast surgeon today and was really shocked because the doctor said they have decided no surgery for now. Nothing should surprise me anymore but this really did.

She said the axilla armpit tumor did not shrink very much and removing it would cause a lot of problems to my arm. Also the breast skin is not good right now to do a lumpectomy on the new breast tumor. The PET scan showed the breast skin was thickened. The surgeon thinks it's edema and not cancer because the axilla tumor is directing fluid to my breast. It's hard to remember everything and it was really overwhelming.

Apparently my oncologist is trying to get my insurance to approve adding Perjeta to the Herceptin therapy for 11 more cycles. They also want to start radiation and radiate a huge area, from the clavicle down to below the breast. One of the lymph nodes under the clavicle is still lighting up on the PET scan. I think that means it's cancerous. I have another biopsy on Monday to figure out the new breast tumor. And she wants me to go back to Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion regarding surgery. There's a specific surgeon there the local breast surgeon here wants me to see Dr. Alicia Fanning.

StaceyB

Dazzling Eagle -You are in my thoughts. I do think it will be really helpful to have a second opinion. I received a second opinion on my surgery, and received very different feedback. I also went for a second opinion on chemo, because my MOs gave me a choice. It really gave me clarity both times. That is a lot of information to absorb and process. Are you able to bring someone to your appointments to take notes for you?

DodgersGirl

dazzlingeagle- sounds like you have medical people who are trying to find the best solution to your situation. Are you reasonably close to the Cleveland Clinic? Seems like a 2nd opinion could be very helpful to set a course of action I sure have read good things about Perjeta for HER2+. If they can get insurance to approve, it would give you a new tool in your toolbox.

Will keep you in my prayers. Best of luck Monday with your biopsy.

We are here if you have questions or need to vent.

Sending you hugs.

DodgersGirl

annbee- sending you positive thoughts and well wishes for Monday. Start of school and rads, right? Will be watching for your experiences to help me prepare for rads in October.

DodgersGirl

open question to those who have already had mastectomy surgery: would you have been able to get thru drains and first few days after surgery alone?

Saturday night took DH to ER with chest pains. He was admitted with irregular rhythms and placed on IV meds to control. Yesterday evening had heart cath. Results- he will be scheduled soon for open heart surgery.

My mastectomy will most likely be scheduled for week of Sept 11th. His heart surgery will be in 5-7 days (has to be off certain meds for x number of days) I wasn't worried about how I would sleep in recliner (recline handle on same side as my surgery will be) nor handling the drains cause DH was going to be here to help. I am trying to make plans to get him thru his surgery and figure out how I will get thru mine alone.

Could you have gotten thru ur surgery and recovery by yourself? Will I need to schedule a home care nurse?

Kinda overwhelmed at the moment. DH will be in the hospital until his surgery followed by another week or so afterwards. I need to be there plus finish chemo, see my BS and MO, and have tests for tumor board to plan my surgery

Castigame

dodgersgirl,

Short answer is no. You need someone to help you w shower and changng bandages. You are likely to be a bit wobbly in the shower-fall risk. You are likely to be very limited to change your own bandages. I had my hubby helped me w both. I did get by shower probably every 40 hrs or so due to initial pain.

I suggest the first week home care nurse. Second week or so maybe every other day is possible.

I was able to do my own drains and everything else.

Mimi

DodgersGirl

Mimi, thanks. Gives me time to schedule and plan

cse70

Dodgersgirl,

I had my daughter stay with me for a week but it ended up being shopping time! I had to stay an extra night in the hospital due to intractable vomiting but once home I was able to shower with a hand held attachment. Drains were easy and I had no problems changing bandage. It depends on whether you are having unilateral or bilateral...that's why I chose uni so recovery would be easier. Good luck! You'll do fine!

DodgersGirl

cse70- thanks! I think I am having just one side mastectomy... will find out for sure Monday.

Annbee

Hi well I am back to work and it feels good. Tired and overwhelmed with getting my classroom ready but that is normal. I had my first rad today. I hope it gets better as I don't like the noise and the movement and having to be still. 31 more to go.

DazzlingEag - I have been thinking of you a lot. Second opinions are always good.

Dodgergirl- I had a bmx with reconstruction and was in the hospital for 2 nights. When I got home I needed help. I was barely able to move my arms and my husband and kids would keep things on the counter for me. I started doing my drains by day 5. I had 4 and wasn't able to have a shower for 4 weeks when my last 2 drains came out.

I hope everyone is doing well. I have read the posts and think of everyone but just running out of steam tonight

DodgersGirl

annbee- thanks for your surgery recovery experiences.

Best of luck with teaching and rads!!

DodgersGirl

dazzlingeagle- continuing to pray for you... Hope much is learned/gained from your 2nd opinion

Also hope your biopsy went well Monday

DodgersGirl

Momojcbc- are you back from vacation? Hope you had a wonderful time!

Haven't heard from you in a while. Wanted you to know I was thinking of you.

utjoy

Dodger! I'm so sorry to read this and don't know how I missed it...as you know my husband is having neck surgery on a Monday and my mastectomy is Friday...I'm in the same boat as you. We've decided to go stay with our daughter who lives closer to the hospital. Prayers that your DH heals up and hairs over quickly! That goes for us, too!

My DH will be in a neck brace for 8 weeks...he had by-pass surgery 18 yrs ago (when he'd just turned 50) and he felt better instantly! I'm hoping we can get a home health nurse...if not, then I'm sure we'll survive...at least we won't be able to throw things at each other...lol.

Prayers to all...I've been so busy catching up in-between feeling like crap...legs, feet, hands...out of breath...and DH, I haven't been on here much.

Momojcbc

Hey Dodgersgirl,

I am doing well. Had surgery last week (partial mastectomy). I start radiation in two weeks. My hair is a sparse fuzz. How are you doing?

DodgersGirl

utjoy, DH still in hospital from open heart surgery. The game plan is that he could be released tomorrow or the next day to a rehab center for a couple of weeks. No way I could take care of him right now so they aren't releasing him to our home.

Taxol #11 has really made me fingernails sore so doing things with my hands is hard. And I am so tired between DH situation and low red blood cell counts. I just want to curl up and take a nap.

Best of luck to your hubby with the neck surgery and recovery and good luck to you with your surgery.

DodgersGirl

momojcbc- surgery is behind you now. That is awesome! I meet with my surgeon this afternoon to see what is next as my last chemo is the 16th. Hope I get a surgery date today so I can make plans.

How many rad sessions will you have?

DazzlingEagle

I had problems with my fingernails too. They hurt so bad that I couldn't touch anything or open anything. Or squeeze anything like trying to open the clasp to put on a necklace. It's hard to describe. They got a lot better. They are still a little tender, but nothing like before. The top half of my nails all turned white. I keep them short with clear nail polish strengthener to keep them from breaking and having to be cut any shorter.

DazzlingEagle

I had my first treatment with just Herceptin and Perjeta last Wednesday. It went fine but still took forever, five hours. I do feel a little quessy today but compared to the chemo of taxotere and carboplatin, it's very minor.

The numbness and small cramping in my lower legs and feet is going away a little every day. Energy is getting better too. Mouth is getting better. Have a lot of watering out of my eyes and runnny nose still.

This is weird and I wonder if anyone else has had this happen. My throat and stomach are still not right after the six chemos. I had to start taking another round of Nexium, which has helped heartburn a lot. So now when I get hungry, I've been having these deep sneezing fits. Not like a regular little sneeze. They are really strong and forceful sneezes and I feel them in my stomach. I said it was weird. Also I started drooling a lot at night. I mean, neither of these things are painful or a big deal, just odd.