April 2017 Chemo

DodgersGirl

Dazzlingeagle- had different chemos than you did so didn't experience the odd sneezing in tummy. But, I have started to sneeze a couple times a day like a normal sneeze.

Thanks for sharing about your nails. Mine are soooo tender. Just kind you wrote, hard to use them and at night they hurt when my fingers touch anything. Good to hear the pain does get better. One more chemo for me then let the SE go away!

Momojcbc

Dodgersgirl- YAY!! You are almost done!

do you know what type of surgery you are having? I am going to have a total of 36 rounds of radiation.

DodgersGirl

momojcbc- I am assuming I am having a mastectomy but don't know if chemo changed those plans or not. The Tumor Board was to review my tests from last week so hoping BS has that result this afternoon.

I think my RO said I would get 36 rad sessions, too, after surgery

DodgersGirl

annbee- finished chemo Wednesday!!! So now I begin 3 weeks without doctor's appointments for me. I remember when you mentioned going thru this phase. Looking forward to SE starting to go away.

While I do have some 3 " or so hair stands here and there on my head, I still look bald. Imagine my surprise to find CHIN hairs growing just fine. Ugh. I want head hairs and I get chin hairs

DodgersGirl

I am 1 week out from being done with chemo. My nail beds are still very sore. Hoping this SE is one that goes away quickly. I can barely pick up things or even open a bottle of water.

Had an appointment with a dermatologist this morning to look at both arms that have red itchy patches all over. It is believed these are pre-cancer spots that Taxol is killing. Dermatologist said to let the Taxol do its thing and cone back in 6 months. Oh boy-- another new doctor to add to my ever growing list of physicians!!

BS called this afternoon. I passed my EKG and blood test so all is now approved by BS for mastectomy surgery Sep 11th

I have NO other doctor's appointments between now and 9/11/17. Tomorrow will be my first Wednesday off work ( it's my regular day off) without having to spend it at the infusion center since May!

Now, while I may not have anymore scheduled doctor's appointments, DH (who had open heart surgery 8/9/17) is being released from his rehab center tonight (woot woot!!) and since he can't drive yet, I just inherited a few doctor visits to take him to between now and 9/11.

Looking forward to his continued healing and having and recovering from mastectomy. .... then on to rads... then a hysterectomy..... then maybe 2018 can be more like a normal year???

Hope you guys are all doing well on your journeys.

Stay strong

BJI

Dodgers girl -I start my herceptin only tomorrow, so no Wednesdays off for me. This will only be every 3 weeks. First infusion 90 min, then 30 min after that. Good news about your husband, enjoy these next few weeks.

DodgersGirl

BJI- sounds like a pretty fast infusion (30 mins). No pre-meds needed? At least it isn't weekly so you get a break for a couple of weeks in between.

Hope the herceptin has minimal to no SE.

Tomorrow I get to sleep in!!!

Pambc010417

Dodgersgirl - I too had red spots all over the top of my arms and the tops of my legs. My oncologist told me the same thing. Taxotere was killing pre cancerous spots. The spots were only on the sun exposed side of my skin. I too went to a dermatologist in July. She confirmed they same thing and told me to come back in September if not better. My last chemo was June 29 and all spots are gone now. My skin appears to be back to normal so hopefully yours will be too. I guess that is one way to get rid of potential skin cancer too!

Good luck with your upcoming surgery

DodgersGirl

pambc010417- thanks for sharing.... hope my skin calms down after Taxol kills all the pre-cancer skin cells

DazzlingEagle

Dodgersgirl, How are your nails? I wanted to tell you mine are still improving. I was actually able to file them a little which it's been about two months because they were too painful to press the file onto.

DazzlingEagle

I saw Dr. Grobmyer at Cleveland Clinic and he's going to do my surgery. September 20.

Axilla excision and lumpectomy. I also saw a Dr. Djohan there and he is going to attempt a lymphovenous bypass which is a microsurgery. I didn't even know there was such a thing but it's to prevent lymphodema. I haven't yet heard if my insurance will pay for this because some things I read say it's an experimental surgery.

I will have to stay in the hospital overnight and then be off work six to eight weeks.

Still going every three weeks for Herceptin and Perjeta targeted therapies. Haven't had any new side effects from them. Weepy eyes and drippy nose which I've had for a while. It's about six weeks since the end of chemo and my energy is much better, don't need to nap during the day anymore and I've been spending a lot of time outside, in gardens and yard work, taking the dog on longer walks than she's had in months.

DodgersGirl

dazzlingeagle- so happy to hear from you! I think my nails are improving just a bit because I was able to cut them much shorter. I had cut them short when I started chemo ( I have always had long, strong nails) and then again before Taxol but during Taxol they grew pretty long again. Just like you described, they hurt too bad the final 2 weeks of chemo that there was no way I could cut them. I still have brown marks under my nails from Taxol and one fingernail that I still think is lifting.. but the pads of my fingers are better

That lymphovenous bypass sounds really exciting. I am all for trying to prevent lymphodema. Maybe that process will make to my city in the next 5 years.

I am encouraged by what seems like an increase in your energy. Hoping to experience that soon.

My surgery is Sept 11th and bs said I should expect to be out 4-6 weeks. Maybe I get some naps in during that time

Pambc010417

DodgersGirl and Dazzling eagle -

I was wondering if you iced your feet and hands during taxol and taxotere? I did and my nails came through just fine plus I did not get neuropathy. It did make me very cold during the infusion time to have my feet and hands submerged in very cold ice water, but I thought it was worth it.

DodgersGirl

pambc010417- yes, I iced hands and feet for all 12 Taxols. My nail bed pain started around Taxol 10 or 11. I was thinking that I wasn't as good on getting ice on tops of my fingers and nails as hubby was but I had to do the last 2 chemos on my own.

DodgersGirl

utjoy- how did your surgery go? Drains out yet? My surgery is in less than 2 weeks

How is hubby after his neck surgery?

Hope you both are getting stronger every day.

Flynn

Hello! I just joined this forum and I have a question for those of you who have started Taxol. I had my 1st Taxol + Carboplatin infusion yesterday. Both the nurse & oncologist mentioned that they don't see as much nausea on this protocol. I recently finished 4 AC's over 8 weeks. I experienced a good amount of nausea. But, if I stayed on top of it and alternated meds all day, I was able to keep symptoms under control. The downside was that I felt sleepy & groggy a lot. We have 7 yo twins. I'm fortunate to have a lot of help but I like to spend time with them when they're home and being alert is certainly helpful. Thoughts about starting nausea drugs before premeds wear off? Today i can smell coffee and not feel horrible (not the case after AC), so I'm kind of optimistic. Thanks!

Flynn

Shoot, I meant to post in Taxol. Newbiemistake! If anybody here has comments, I'm open to feedback.:)

DodgersGirl

Flynn, I took a Zofran was soon as I got home for Taxol 1 and 2. Didn't really feel nauseous like AC so that was all I took. Taxol 3-12 didn't take anti nausea meds on a scheduled basis. I was on Taxol only though so don't know if carboplatin changes nau

DazzlingEagle

Flynn, I'm finished with taxol/carbo chemo and here's my experience:

I used Zofran with my first three chemos. I started taking Zofran two days after chemo for about a two-day stretch. The Zofran just made me so tired I had to stay in bed and I didn't have energy to get up and eat and that made everything worse. I tried a quarter of the Zofran pill and that was a little better.

Then the last three chemos I tried not taking Zofran at all. Because I thought the Zofran made me feel worse than the chemo. I never took my Compazine either. So when I didn't take Zofran, I had more energy and being up out of bed helped with the Chemo nausea.

Are you getting Neulasta? My insurance would not pay for it for my first three chemos. They did pay for it after I had neutropenia and it made a big difference for me the last three chemos. There was a little bone pain/muscle weakness but the oncologist had me taking motrin, Pepcid and Claritin which helped a lot.

Flynn

Thanks for your input DodgersGirl!

DazzlingEagles, thanks for your comments. I tried not starting zofran or compazine but then by Fri night I wasn't feeling very well and took compazine. Yesterday I pushed thru but still not so great. Maybe I'll try 1/2 a zofran next time, I hadn't thought about splitting my pills. Pepcid is a thought, too. Today I made myself walk for a bit to try and get myself moving. I did neulasta with AC but my oncologist said I can't do it with weekly treatments. She did say that she might have me get neupogen (sp?) shots if b/w comes in on the low side. My next infusion will be only Taxol so I'm hoping for a smoother go of it.

DazzlingEagle

Flynn, hope you are feeling better. Hang in there. I was scheduled to have my next Herceptin/perjeta Sept. 20 but as of right now, Sept 20 is my surgery date so the oncologist delayed it until October. I've been going every three weeks since March so this break is going to be nice.

Flynn

Enjoy your time off, DazzlingEagle!

DodgersGirl

utjoy- checking in to see how DH is doing after his neck surgery AND to see how you are doing nearly 3 weeks out from your surgery.

Hope you guys can return home soon!

Sending thoughts and prayers your way.

DodgersGirl

castigame-- hoping your surgery today went well

Castigame

thank you. No pain, absolutely minimal drain. Sling is a pain.

Here I come hystrectomy on Ocf30th and arimidex starting soon after.

And I go back to work in Jan 2018

DodgersGirl

castigame-- do you know how long you will be in hospital for your hysterectomy? And how long the recovery time is?

Glad your elbow surgery went well!

Castigame

I only stayed at hospital for 23 hrs after double mastectomy.

I am getting Laparascopic vaginally assisted hysterectomy, yes outpatient surgery.Probably 23 hrs again. Recovery time is 4 to 6 wks. Again everyone is diffrent. I am going to enjoy xmas w my hubby and beagle dog so 8wks of recovery for me.

While I was waiting for elbow removal, I kept telling the staff. "Lets get her done. Cut me as soon as possible"

I really see the beautiful light at the end of the tunnel. Hysterectomy is only a few small pebbles I have to kick to get the real sunlight.

DodgersGirl

castigame-- thanks!

I was also 23 hr observation for mastectomy but wasn't sure how much hospitalization my hysterectomy would take. I am having a robot assisted hysterectomy and having ovaries removed.

Imkopy2

Hey there ladies,

I had a robotic, laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorectomy on Sept 27th. While everyone heals differently I can honestly say this recovery is nothing when it comes to pain. Any pai I’ve experienced is more like a menstrual cramp thing. The only difficult part is the no lifting and no bending. I highly recommend those grabber arm things. Praying you all have a good week, cyber hugs

DodgersGirl

Imkopy2-- thank you so much for posting your experience with hysterectomy. Really appreciate it!!