Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

KByTheLake

TravelGirl and SusanGA, I’m not happy to hear you feel like I do but I have to admit—I am relieved. This is so different than how I felt after doses 1-3, it had me worried, too. Now i feel like this must be normal. But I can hardly believe that this point after dose 2, I went sailing! Now I can only lay on my couch and look at the lake. And then take a nap.

I guess it just took this long for our bodies to reach the limit for how much of those drugs we can take.

Hopefully, we’ll all three feel a lot stronger this time next week!

Karen

Cherry-sw

I will have my last Taxol infusion in less than two hours, but it probably will not be my last visit so I feel like usual, just to get over with it. The last one was hard, even though the fort one was the hardest but then I had SE from the nausea drug.

I believe even though the effects are cumulative the mental thing plays in here as well. When we are in the middle of the treatment we are programmed for a number of infusions and trying to work through the time knowing that it is not over yet and we have to endure. When the last one is approaching, mind that we are worn and poisoned, it is a finish line and we expect it to be over soon but it lingers and time goes slowly and we feel that we do not bounce back but we should because it is over. Don’t you think? On TP thread some ladies said it took them six month to a year to bounce back from chemo. Which is hard to tell if I understand it right there SE from radiation and Tamoxifen.Cherry

emily_mh

cherry, I think that's a good explanation- your mind can definitely help or hurt when working through things. Like right now I had my last chemo last wed and I'm still feeling nauseous but it was my last one so I'm staying positive because I don't have to do it again even though it's taking longer this time to feel better!

Cherry-sw

emily_mh, just hang in there, it will be over. You know back on TP thread, SpecialK was one of those who were there from very beggining. I am reading it when I have time, there is a lot valuable and useful information they shared with each other. Very inspiring too because absolute majority of them is doing fine now. I believe they have mentioned it can take up to few months to recover from chemo. Take your time, Cherry

Cherry-sw

I am home from my last Taxol, feel blown-up, like a baloon filled with heavy liquide but still floating, this is precisely the feeling I get after last few injections, it started when I stopped sucking on ice bites and began to sip ice water instead. I will crush on Wednesday. I brought four boxes of Merci to both nurses, their department doctor and one to leave in the break room. My nurse was so surprised, said I did not have to and the doctor stopped by to say thank you. I am originally from Soviet, moved here 24 years ago, back home the nurse will not bring you a glas of water without you "thanking her" with some cash. Here they not only taking incredible care if you, pepping you up, monitoring for any infections, keeping the doctor close who can in no time order meds, they also incourrage you to talk very gently, they must be trained, in order to monitor you psycological state and are ready to report to both my oncologist and to cancer rehab. Everything goes in into the journal and escalates to the other team members if necessary, it is so effectively organized teamwork, I was very impressed. I guess you have to come down with bc to receive such standard of care. I wish they found my tumor back in January though, but they did not, the doctor who prrformed the US just missed it, they say there is no pictures. My tumor was located almost above the breast, so. Guess whether she was a native? No, I could hear she was from Eastern Europe and had not been living here for long because I could barely understand her. What is done is done and I should have asked for second opinion, I had another one scheduled but she told me what I wanted to hear so I cancelled the second one. At that point there was nothing palpable, my breast was larger and sore but they said that it was ok, could happen. Cherry

Cherry-sw

Forgot to say, I do love this country, Sweden is fantastic, cold but still is the best.

VL22

As far as recovery goes from all we go through, my MO said I will probably feel like myself again a year out from initial diagnosis. I was diagnosed in May. Maybe physically, but I don't think mentally

Willow22

my RO also said it could take up to 1 year before I feel entirely back to normal after chemo. I am guessing that the first months after chemo are noticeably less energy than normal, but it honestly feels so good to be improving week to week and not have any more treatments on the calendar to take me back down, that I'm happy knowing I'm making progress.

Willow

PauletteK

With all these chemicals in our body, I’m not surprised takes a long time to get back to our normal self. I have to tell myself just count my blessings as long as I slowly get my health back, I will thanks God.

Walkingintheclouds

You are not alone! My infusion won’t be done until 11/29

rdeesides

I’m so behind everyone! My last treatment won’t be until 12/28. I hope to celebrate New Year with a glass of champagne

Stage2ire

rdeesides, my last treatment will be DEC 20, if we keep on schedule

Cherry-sw

Girls, I decided to take EC and my first one will be in two weeks and the last one, if I can make through all three, will be around New Year. No champagne there for me, but I did not have any alcohol at all since June 18. I mean nothing, first they ask me not to drink any before surgery, then they told me alcohol makes that sounds do not heal well and there is risk for bleeding, then my oncologist told me no alcohol during the treatment, and I was like, fine I get it. I can admit I miss it and dream about having a drink and then I am just so scared oh no, what have I done and I wake up, so no alcohol for me so far. I will be officially the last one in the group to finish chemo. Cool.

On the bright side, no neuropathy at all this time, yesterday in the car I felt like it was starting in two fingers but then I got home and did not even thought about it anymore while I was sticking a scarf for my youngest and watching Ozark. I will probably crazy tomorrow but today osv a Goodnow day and I am going for a walk in the forest with my mom. Today I will cook New Orlean’s gumbo, a lady from So, what’s for dinner thread shared her recipe and I got all the ingredients. I have to warn you that I may post a picture. Cherry

PauletteK

I will be here to cheers for everyone, don’t worry.

Cherry - you are one tough girl and a great cook!

I’m hanging in there, feel a little blue because weather turned cold and I haven’t seen my friends for long time also. Feel isolated now. I hope we can have a gathering next week.

SimplySammi11

Paulette/Cherry Thanks for always being here to support me.

Willow: Heather had her breakdown October of her sophomore year of college and we’ve never had the confident, young carefree, driven dau we once had. It’s so sad. I’m sorry you’re going through it with your son. It seems most medications for mood and asbti psychotics make her worse or work for a very short time and stop working. It’s been a real challenge alone. Poor decision making, impulsive actions and anger outbursts have been her worse problems. Now add a breast cancer diagnosis and I feel totally defeated even though I fight for her daily.

It truly heart breaking.

Her Taxol tomorrow has been canceled as her numbers are just too low now after being pretty steady except her WBC count which I was afraid would drop again this week m. Maybe it’s a good thing because she can get some rest from her mania and psychosis.

The nurse said the IV steroid should be out of her system within 24 hrs and it could be the Taxol causing the issues.

We’re on our way to Vanderbilt now. Praying for some answers that can help us get her through all this. Praying for you all.🙏🏼

Sammi

rdeesides

Stage2ire: Good, we can stick together. We got this.

Cherry: I have to check out the What’s For Dinner thread! Please post a pic. I don’t like gumbo (grew up in Texas and it is common there), but I know a lot of people do. I bet yours will be good and also satisfying for a cold day.

Sammi: Thinking of you at Vanderbilt. I hope the MO is helpful.

Paulette: I think the time change is depressing too. You will see your friends soon!

PauletteK

Sammi, such a heart breaking situation you are in, she is in my daily prayers and best of luck on the second opinions.

Rdeeside- will be your cheerleader here, I still have radiation to do.

Cherry-sw

Paulette, just hang in there, it all will pass, clouds move, your true friends will be always there for you, and we will be here keeping this thread alive years after.

redeesides, So, what's for dinner thread is very interesting, I am learning tons about American cuisine. I will be making Boston Cream Pie this weekend, never heard of it before, and yet when I looked at it I thought how come I did not come up with it on my own? I love egg sponge cake, love everything with the custard and who can say no to a ganache? I love to cook, brings some sense of normalcy into my life right now, before I used to pour a glace of wine and then could start baking and cleaning, crazy I know, but it is so creative. I always wanted to try New Orleans gumbo since I bought Jamie Oliver's Jamie's America, he can sell just anything. We are stew people, especially during the fall and the winter, warm and cosy. Here comes the pictures. In case you feel like sharing any Mexican salsa of yours, please do, I am into Mexican too. Just ordered both annato and achiote online when I was ordering gumbo filé.

Sammi, I am so sorry to hear about Heather struggling with her mental health, was it something that set off her breakdown? Pressure of tasks in school maybe, it can be overwhelming, I agree bc on top of it can bring anyone to the edge, once again she is so lucky that you all are there for her. Is she picky about the food? To improve the counts you can cook liver, bone marrow, I almost craved liver, I do not usually eat it but now I could feel my hemoglobin was low. Good luck at Vanderbild.

My gumbo of the day, here comes the pictures

PauletteK

Cherry - it looks delicious good. How can you find all these energy to cook so much?

Cherry-sw

Paulette, today I wonder myself how I managed to cook last night, because today I could not get out of the bed without coffee and not for the first two hours. After I woke up and it felt like a total system crash, I had to check my appointment three times to realize that it was not with the counsellour and not at the clinic but with PT and at the local hospital and at different point of time I thought it would be. That cortisone can make such a difference, I felt great yesterday and managed to do a lot of things knowing I will be feeling so bad today. My nurse told me though that I have to go out even on my bad days, even just to sit on the balcony and breathe fresh air, not staying in bed, it will only make things worse, so I am determined to drive to the forest after my appointment and to walk at least three km and after that to have a coffee with a treat at the local café. This is my unpretentious goal for today and the family will have leftovers of all possible for dinner. After last week I suspect I will be out of function until Saturday, my bad days being today and tomorrow. How I will be able to go throw with EC in this condition is a total mystery to me, I will kill you all with my whining.

VL22

Cherry - you're meal looks fantastic! Leftovers have been the way of life in our house. I personally love leftovers. We've been making this huge pot of cabbage soup with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers , onions and celery and eating it many nights - it is delicious! It is tempting to stay in bed, but I agree that a comfy hood thing can turn into a bad thing fast - it is important to force ourselves to move. It is easy to fall into a sadness.

rdeesides - I am gone 12/21 if no delays. Fingers crossed.

Paulette- you have 1 taxol left

MakeupLover

hey!

sorry i've been MIA. just been so busy with treatments and work.

Paulette, please add me to the FB group!

I've moved on to weekly taxol for 12 weeks, with carboplatin every third week. I started with taxol and carbo and nearly passed out when they gave me the benadryl. they pushed fluids to dilute the benadryl. soon after i fell asleep. i literally fall asleep every treatment due to benadryl.

I just had my third taxol this past monday. so far ok. last week, i had horrible foot pain, which caused blisters but luckily they didn't pop. I've had dry skin mostly on my hands. I'm constipated and i bleed when i go, which sucks! I take colace but doesn't seem to help, doc said to take sennekot. any other recs for constipation?

the base of my nails has started to darken and they hurt when pressed, same with toes.

i've developed another UTI. womp womp! I'm on antibiotics for that.

lashes have started to fall out, i need practice with falsies.

Oh I'm officially anemic. My oncologist is waiting for approval for a shot to boost my red blood counts. anyone know what this shot is and have had it? If my insurance doesn't approve and my counts keep going low I'm gonna need a blood transfusion.

I'm now on ambien to help me sleep, I was so scared to take it the first time I cut it in half. But now I'm ok with it. My doc put me on the lowest dosage 5 mg.

all in all, i seem to tolerate taxol ok, it has its own side effects. i am completely wiped out when its carbo and taxol combined, which was my first treatment. i will have this again next monday.

i am set to finish chemo beginning of January.

VL22

MakeupLover- Sennokot works great for constipation.

I am also officially anemic, but still haven't gotten any shots or transfusions

rdeesides

MakeupLover- I had horrible constipation and the only thing that helped me was MiraLax. Hope you feel better.

PauletteK

Makeup and VL- my MO told me if my red blood count too low he would do blood transfusion instead of shot. Watch out for the foot pains that can be neuropathy. I have rashes during taxol they usually pop up on day 4.

Taxol makes me so fatigue I do afternoon nap all the time.

Cherry - I learned to take it easy on bad days, do little walking and eat less. Hope you feel better today and tomorrow. Your cooking rocks and your family so lucky to have all these yummy food.

One more chemo for me, and I have PT today. Hope everyone have a good day.

Cherry-sw

VL22, your soup sounds like borsch to me just add some beet roots and like any other vegetarian dish it only tastes better the day after. When I cook borsch I do it in at least 5l pot and me and my husband can eat it several days in the row. I agree leftovers rock, I can get very creative and make a whole brunch out of leftovers only. My eldest's boyfriend, a native Swede, because we are not, still remembers the grilled sandwiches I made of homemade pizza leftovers, his words being you guys probably do not remember because you eat breakfasts like this all the time but I do. And my daughter cutting in: mom, they eat oatmeal for breakfast, and I was like, great for them, they do not get sick the way I did, knock on wood, I like this guy and is family seems great. My eldest has stopped all her birth control pills and set in copper IUD today. They have done genetic testing and we are waiting for results even very much for her sake because if they find something she wants to test herself right away.

I am back from my walk and in the café I was too tired to chew my sandwich so we brought it with us but I believe I feel better when I would have in case I have stayed at home, but I still feel drowsy.

MakeUpLover, I fell asleep of the pre-meds too, called Betapred here, the first four-five infusions, then it got better. I have the same problem with the bowls and I recommend, as I always do, cooked beet root, it will soften everything up, it is also good for the blood counts, even flax seed and pairs. For the nails you should have iced your hands and feet, I did and my nails did well through the treatment, you can start now so it will not be worse. You have to eat a lot of red meat and something like liver to improve your hemoglobin. Hang in there.

For those of you who did AC how were your nails? Do I need to ice my hands and feet during the infusion as well?

PauletteK

Cherry I didn’t ice my hands during AC and I have no problem at all. I only use OPI envy to keep my nails strong, I still use it now. I have more big C, appetite and fatigue problems with AC. That’s the side effects I wrote down. Sure I have emotional down also.

DodgersGirl

Cherry- ref your AC question: your nails should be fine with AC. You shouldn't need to ice hands or feet BUT you will want to eat ice chips during the Adriamycin part of infusion to prevent mouth sores

Best of luck

Cherry-sw

Thank you for the advice, I did sucked on ice cubes until probably my 8th Taxol and wAAshed my mouth with a mixture of salt and baking soda until I realized that I did not have any mouth sores anyway, but I heard that it was common for AC or in my case EC but they are same.

Stage2ire

no nail issues on AC, they got a little darker in places, that's all. Vit E oil from health store can help, just rub it in at night and morning if you get time.

I'm finally over the half way mark. Started Taxol yesterday, 5 doses down, 3 to go!!!!