Starting Chemo in September 2017

mkn86

hi Amy, no idea on how it might impact treatment yet. I'm hoping for something that shortens my treatment time or less times i have to be sliced open overall but considering my luck with statistics that might not be the case *shrug* it worries me that the DNA test results will just blindside me again. it's challenging to get information when i have to go through 3 channels and time zone differences. and i'm already the patient! those are my records. 😅

Travel_girl, i agree it's ambitious. but i don't expect to complete everything in one week. i expect things to continue until the next. just needed all that buffer to make sure my mind is busy. thank you i hope the doctors get to talk to each other soon. or that i get to talk to the doctor in Frankfurt.

Paulette thank you and i will keep you posted i wish you luck for the rough days. you'll get through it.

I'm moving to the city this week. We found a place to rent temporarily. Staying ther with my brother. more friends to see. live a block away from the hospital instead of 23km away. helps me avoid the overhead of travel time and holiday traffic. christmas traffic in manila is a nightmare and it's only november but it has begun!

Henrietta405

mkn, good luck with the move and I also like your idea of theme weeks.

Travel, I’m glad your fever went away and impressed with your working out. I had a harder time with my third chemo and while I did intellectually know the SEs were cumulative, I didn’t really comprehend it unt I ended up still tired after more than a week.

My excitement is that I now have a stomach flu or something. The bright side is I’ve got all kinds of GI related drugs from chemo? I still feel pretty bad after 3 days though. I’ve got a call into the doc to see if they can help, or have advice, though I think most stomach bugs are viral so not sure what can be done.

toughcookie_21

As many of you have mentioned, the effects of chemo are cumulative and I'm really seeing that this time around. I'm gearing up for TCH #4 on Wednesday, but I feel like I'm barely past the fatigue from the last one. I have tried really hard to stay active throughout this, but I'm weak, clumsy and the brain fog just gets worse and worse. I tried playing tennis with my 8-year old on Saturday. I got tired after 30 minutes of easy volleys and now I'm so sore. I cannot believe how much strength I've lost everywhere; my arms, legs and core. It's going to take a while to get that strength back.

The brain fog is terrible. I hope it doesn't continue to get worse. We got together with some friends on Sunday to watch football and I could barely hold a conversation. I couldn't remember my friend Sue's name and kept calling her Deb who is a mutual friend who wasn't there. On Friday, I had to send an email out to my entire salesforce (roughly 500 people.) I forgot to include the attachments which were the whole purpose of the email. I'm making silly mistakes in my work and have been asking others to check my work for errors. I was so afraid of chemo brain and sure enough, it's hit me like a freight train.

I seem to have the other physical side effects like diarrhea and mouth sores under control. I just want this to be over!

jenglutenfree

toughcookie - I hear you about the brain fog. My book keeper asked me to have someone else write my company's checks while I'm on chemo since I managed to write the wrong amounts for 5 checks in Quickbooks. I've basically had to stop doing any work with details and my staff is running my company. They are wonderful but it is scary to really not be able to think clearly, especially when I'm so use to being the one that is the "thinker" of the group. Everyone says it will come back eventually but it is worrisome waiting. I too have the other SE under control for now, it's the brain fog that is overwhelming. Just know you are not alone - not that it helps when you are in the moment of forgetting.

PauletteK

The last work I did was during my AC and finished up the quarterly payroll tax, I am not sure how Can I prepare December quarterly tax and wrap up the year end tax for one of my client? I’m hoping by January my chemo brain will get better, 🙏🙏🙏 or I have to find someone else to do this job for me.

Meg101

I am so glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling wiped out after several rounds of chemo. Thank goodness for this forum so we can share with each other about our SEs and how we're dealing with them. I feel a special bond with all of you.

For what it's worth, I saw an interesting announcement on TV last night (and this morning) for BC patients who have been prescribed Taxotere as part of their chemo, and have experienced permanent hair loss or thinning. Apparently, there is now a class action lawsuit. I cannot remember the full name of the law firm, but it starts with the name "Knight". I'll post the full name of the law firm if I see the announcement again. I'm on Taxotere and although I lost my hair (which is expected), it's already growing back (white peach fuzz. I hope it keeps growing back with no problem. However, I have heard from others on various threads here at BCO that their hair never grew back, or it was very thin when it did grow back. Most of us in this September Chemo Group are too early in the process to know if permanent hair loss will be an issue. But just in case it does become an issue, I thought you might want to know about the law suit.

OK, upward and onward!!!!!

OCDAmy

I have not lost all my hair on taxotere! I kind of wish I had not buzzed it now and just cut it really short. It is extremely thin and I have an old man's receding hair line but I still have a fair amount of hair and have never been bald. I know it might still happen but it has been 10 days since my final chemo and it is not falling out all over the place. I am keeping my fingers crossed this is it. I have read that some women take biotin and my MO said it was ok to start taking that after three weeks so I am going to give it a try.

PauletteK

Amy, can you tell me when would be ok to take biotin? I haven’t seen any hair grow from my head I would like to see some fuzzy on my head. ：）

Milkweed93

One week past last chemo and just now catching up with you all.

Wow this last round has wiped me out! Luckily my sister has been here for me while my hubs and daughter have been very busy with work/school. But I have been sleeping/napping all the time! I haven’t had the energy to do much. And now the neuropathy has shown up. First in the arch of my right foot but now kind of going up my leg. I realize I haven’t been taking my alpha lipoid acid tabs in the past few days. On the brighter side, I haven’t had really any nausea to speak of. Some major C at the beginning but got that taken care of after a few days. I have one more Zarxio shot tomorrow. Yay!

I would like to join the FB group but I can’t find how to do that.

I’m so grateful for you ladies - and sending you all healing energy

PauletteK

milk, just sent you a PM. Everyone are saying how fatigue we have been and hopefully we slowly get our energy back .

OCDAmy

Paulette, my MO said the biotin was ok 3 weeks after my final treatment. I also bought some lash boost from Rodan and Fields. Might try it on my eyebrows too.

PauletteK

I would love to have my eyebrows back ..... more than hair!

mkn86

i am waiting for today's conference with the doctor in Frankfurt and anxious about what they'll say. my MO can't make it. (Flying back from a breast cancer convention in lisbon). likely he'll have a look at the DNA Test Results before starting my next chemo.

They forwarded the one sentence result to me and i am beside myself on what it implies. i have this burning question about surgery that i already know the answer to and people will probably think i'm crazy for asking it. but when you're 31, single, no family of your own, you're going to want your chance at that kind oflife. or to at least have that choice and risk beating the odds. But i want to wait and hear what the doctors have to say.

PauletteK

Mkn - you are so young, Hugs!!! Waiting is so nerve racking, prayers for you.

mkn86

hugs back!!! thank you paulette

Some days are more difficult than others. Some days i think i've already lost so much that i don't think i can handle losing more months/years down the line. or figuring out what the balance is with saving a life and the quality of the life being saved.

PauletteK

mkn -I know what you meant, but you’re so young, you need to fight this battle hard. Wait for your MO he should be home soon, isn’t it?

mkn86

i'm seeing my MO today. for chemo and to discuss a a few things. like the ultrasound that showed a liquid filled cyst again, the dna test results, the change in meds that he wants to do, etc. My doctor and i will be spending a lot of time talking today.

the doctors in frankfurt do not see any interruption with chemo. but the next steps might need to be adjusted.

I'm just trying not to google and scare myself into what the odds are. i remember VLH22 (i think?) was the first one to say that.

PauletteK

Mkn - sometime google all the information will scare you, maybe you can go to the triple negative thread they would have more info.

Travel_Girl

Mkn -- don't google too much - talk to your dr. first -- take from experience.

mkn86

thank you paulette and travel_girl. I will try not to google these things. I'd rather hear from my doctor to be honest. he'll know how to navigate all the studies that are available.

I'm at the clinic already waiting to be called for consultation before chemo. the nurse already weighed me and i lost 2.7kg the past three weeks and been told i need to gain it back a bit. I think i'm going to have tons of food this weekend. i'll look forward to that part despite the metlallic taste 😅

PauletteK

prayers for you Mkn!! 🙏🙏

You and I will need to eat more to gain some weight back.

Milkweed93

Mkn - sending lots of ((hugs)) your way! Don't google, and remember there are survivor stories too.

Henrietta - how's the stomach bug??

OCDAmy

Mkn, I'm also sending hugs your way! Waiting is one of the worse parts of cancer. Let us know what they say.

Henrietta405

thanks for asking, Milkweed. It is over and I am mostly back to normal. Still tired, but I think that’s the chemo. It’s not a sleepy tired, just a no energy tired.

I also had my first appointment with a therapist yesterday and feel good about that and I’m making myself meet up with some friends on Friday, even if I don’t stay long. I’m an extrovert and am suffering from how my exhaustion has kept me from my social life. I’m trying to think of more low energy things to do with friends. I had tea with a friend last week and that worked well. I might try that some more

mkn86

Milkweed and Amt thank you also for sending hugs and prayers.

Henrietta, yes going out helps. i'm an introvert and it still helps to meet friends if only to talk and have someone to distract you. friends remind me big time that I have a life that I want to go back to. And it keeps me fighting.

So i started my first taxol. It was uneventful thankfully. except for the benadryl which made me really sleepy, And i lost a lot of weight so i finished a whole veggie burrito bowl for dinner last night and I'm thinking of pork ribs later with coleslaw and steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Hahahaha!

Move to the city has been okay. i mean my brother was with me during chemo so i could rest a bit after and then walk to the apartment. BIG CONVENIENCE.

Doctor saw my ultrasound and he said he doesn't want to drain the fluid yet and check if the chemo can handle that. And the red patch he's been monitoring has been looking better. (I've also been massaging a bit of olive oil and virgin coconut oil on the red patch)

He'll schedule a call with the german doctors next but seemed unfazed about my DNA test. i really like that's he's calm. it makes me feel so much calmer too. It reminds me why i picked him as my oncologist. Because i'm the one who panics all the time and he's just matter-of-fact. despite the implications and the odds. he just said "oh. that means you're at higher risk for ovarian cancer and you will want to consider prophylactic surgery later on. and the german doctors are probably trying to see if you'll need to go on maintenance meds after TNBC treatment depending on your life choices" he's very pragmatic the way he says it. And i think he wants to handle the situation one issue at a time. shrink tumor first then surgery.

And sometimes i think a lot of women have gone through TNBC treatment without going for DNA Testing especially here in the philippines. so it doesn't always get factored in.

Milkweed is right. there are survivors.

and honestly i want to defy the odds.

PauletteK

Hang in there mkn, you have a good doctor looks after you.

mkn86

thank you paulette good luck on your final infusion! i wish you zero side effects. you are in my prayers.

And i look forward to seeing you post about your first good cup of coffee after chemo side effects wear off ;

Travel_Girl

Paulette - are you done? You are a super woman!

Please let us know when you have completed that last one and make sure to ring that bell.

As for me, just over 2 weeks PFC, and I am still dragging. I had my first iron infusion last week (IV) - as my hemoglobin had dropped to 7.7. I get another blood draw and iron IV on Monday morning. fingers crossed that it is has gone up a bit - I have been pushing iron rich foods, folic acid and citris (to help with the iron absorption). I am trying to avoid the blood transfusion.

And good ole' Taxotere, leaving behind swollen ankles (among many other SE's) -- I am hoping that I am past the raging rash stage ... oh, please oh please

Good news is, I am back to being able to workout - nice to be moving around again.

Mkn -- one decision, one step at a time. I hope you are getting some direction from your preferred MO.

mkn86

thank you travel_girl you're right. one day at a time.

Checking in. day 3 after first taxol+carbo infusion. Slept 12 hours straight and feeling a little bit of joint/muscle pain.

PauletteK

Hi mkn,

Now you can sleep 12 hours day? That's a lot of sleeping. I usually sleep about 6 hours at night the. I take an hour nap in he afternoon, I wish I can sleep more but it seems to be fine. Just finished my last chemo today, praying next few day SE is not too bad.

Travel - no bell to ring but I got my certificate. I’m going take it easy next week then I will meet friends and family for some thanksgiving gathering.