Starting Chemo May 2018

BigPeaches

You ain't kidding about those potassium pills, they are HUGE!!

wlo002

How is everyone feeling? Hope you're having a good week!

Friday I had chemo 5 out of 6 and it was a doosie. I'm pulling out of the usual early side effects, but my body still aches...feels like I'm bruised everywhere. Anyone experience this type of pain? My blood counts were a lot lower with this cycle so I want to attribute the pain to that, but not sure.

On a happier note, I will have my last chemo Aug 24...I've never been so excited for something to be over. 2 weeks later, I have a BM planned...not so excited about that. Each step is progress, though!

BigPeaches

Sounds like Nuelasta pain, I have it too, my whole head hurts, down my neck and shoulders, I hate that stuff! The nasty taste in my mouth uuggg

Doc says one more treatment with the IV taxotere, then just Herceptin, Projeta and a pill (chemo pill I assume) I wonder if the side effects will be just as bad and will I have to continue with the Nuelasta? I really hate that stuff.

Ingerp

I just had my first Herceptin-only infusion--happy to have that behind me, especially knowing I don't have to go back for THREE WHOLE WEEKS. I will start rads in the interim, but at least they won't be pumping anything into me.

InnaB2018

Wlo, BigPeaches, to me it sounds like Taxotere pain. I had my first Taxol last week and thought I would just expire from it. These meds are from the same family. I am on DD schedule, so in one dose I probably got, like, three of yours. I Feel for you, ladies! Ask for Tramadol. It helped me. Hope you have a SE feee weekend!

Ingerp, so happy for you! The light at the end of the tonnel is getting brighter and brighter!

Hybrids

wlo002, I finished 5 of 6 two weeks ago, and like you, my blood counts were a lot lower this time around. They said I'm anemic but it's expected so not to worry. My numbers had been good up until now.. I haven't had any body pain though, just muscle fatigue & charlie horses (they said that's caused by low magnesium & potassium & I have to supplement with mag. & potass. pills after they gave me some in an IV). If it's like charlie horse pain, it could be magnesium or potassium, which can be critical, but if it is like body aches from the flu, I don't think that would be it. Since we are far along in the chemo and the effects can be cumulative, it might be a good idea to call your treatment center and ask about it, in case it's a sign of something getting too low. I didn't call for my charlie horses and got lectured about being lucky I happened to have an infusion scheduled at the same time my levels got too low. They made me promise I'd call about any new side effects or symptoms from here on out.

Hybrids

Ingerp, Congratulations on that milestone!

Ingerp

Thanks, Hybrids. I am enjoying a WHOLE WEEK with no medical appointments. ;-)

Ingerp

Okay I may be delusional but I think I'm beginning to see some new hair. There are some longer pieces on my head (unless I missed them all when I buzzed it down to 1/8" two months ago?), I think that area in front of my temples near my face is fuzzy (and I don't remember that being there), and I have very short hair on my legs, that unless I just hadn't noticed it all this time is new growth. Cautiously optimistic it'll continue to grow???

BigPeaches

I have spotty hair growth too, it's strange. Parts of my head are completely bald and parts have actual hair, enough to stand straight up Also, my right leg has some hair, to the point that I may need to shave soon, but weirdly my left leg is smooth. Leave it to me to be an odd ball.

Ingerp

BigPeaches--I'm looking forward to having to shave my legs! At least I'll know I'm not imagining this. And head hair is standing straight up. This is going to be an interesting couple of months. . .

cccmc2

I have had 2/4 DD TAXOL treatments with 2 left to go, and my hair is growing spoaradically. I have a good amount on top of my head but not much on the sides, and I noticed a couple leg and armpit hairs.... I did not expect this until after taxol was done!?! However my brows and lashes are just about non existent

cccmc2

well, I thought maybe the neoropathy wasn’t going to happen, but this morning I can’t feel my toes. Any advice or suggestions?

Thank you

InnaB2018

cccmc2, try acupuncture. It really helps. I heard massage helps as well, but didn’t try it myself yet. My acupuncturist promised foot massage next time, I’ll let you know.

kdrake1007

cccmc2, my MO suggested a product with menthol once neuropathy started rearing it's ugly head. She said Biofreeze has menthol and should be rubbed into feet and/or hands twice a day. I will say, my feet started tingling the night of my last Taxol infusion, and I rubbed in the Biofreeze and the tingling stopped right away. It did come back for a bit later in the evening, but hasn't returned since.

Good luck!

Kim

cccmc2

thank you Ladies!

Ingerp

FWIW--Biofreeze just popped up on another thread. I'd never heard of it but am curious if people are getting good results from it.

Hybrids

Let day of TCHP! So happy to get it over with. The difference in the “fat face" from the steroids during the first five days and how I look a few days before it stars all over again. Maybe I just imagine it since I feel so much better starting a day or two after finishing the steroids (at least I don't feel the effects of the steroids anymore). The below pic was taken just a few days ago, before I started the steroids again. To be fair, Part of the issue with the swollen eyes is lack of sleep from the steroids but it’s also partly from with Graves Disease. It’s not near as bad as it could be with the Graves Opthamology though. They told me chemo could make it a lot worse but it was improving before chemo with meds and is still improving now, just at a slower rate so I’ve been really lucky with how my thyroid and Fraves antibodies are reacting through chemo. I know there are others who have a really hard time with it.

It looks like surgery will likely be the second week of Oct, since I have a Casting for Recovery retreat on the 5th of Oct., assuming my surgeon is okay with that. I need to checkup a pre-op meeting with her to go through all the details. I'll still be getting Herceptin every three weeks and after surgery, the results of my lymph nodes, etc will determine if I will need to go back on Perjeta. But no more steroids, Neulesta, Taxotere or Carboplatin after today, So happy!!!

Good luck and positive vibes to every one with their ongoing treatments and recoveries! We’re making it, one day at a time.

Ingerp

Congrats on getting that behind you, Hybrids!!

wlo002

Tomorrow would have been my last TCHP, but my labs yesterday didn't go so well. My platelets are at 65,000 so chemo is a no-no. We're trying again next Wednesday. If they are still too low, I'll get my HP but hold off of my last chemo until after my BMX that is scheduled for Sept 13. My MO thinks its worth getting it late to still get it in.

Congrats Hybrids! That's a milestone!

urdrago71

Hello all, I've finished chemo next step surgery. However my MO talks about chemo again if the tumor is larger than 1cm. How many have been on another round chemo after surgery? I get to stop blood work, and no date yet about port removal. My MO beleive my GS will use the port. Any other information will be useful .. Sending good vibes.

Ingerp

So sorry to hear that, wlo002. I was so anxious to get to my last chemo day--I would have been super bummed if it had been postponed (they told me that it had happened to a woman that week--she had friends and family and a big party and then was told she wasn't going to get treatment--ugh). Anyway--hang in there. That final chemo will come!!

InnaB2018

So sorry, wlo! It happened to me with my first Taxol, and I cried for hours. It’s definitely much worse to be cheated of the last infusion.

Proud_Patriot

My last TCHP is scheduled for Tuesday but my doctor told me it is unlikely to happen. My counts are really low.

Hybrids

I’m so sorry, wlo002 and Proud Patriot. I can only imagine how disappointing it is. I’m sending good vibes and hopes your counts go up very soon and you can get that last chemo out of the way

wlo002

Woohoo! Had my last chemo today and got to ring the bell!

I went in thinking my labs would still be too low because I have petechiae on my legs and bleeding gums but the platelets had jumped to 166,000. It was a great surprise...and I got to return the favor by answering questions for a newbie who was just starting her chemo.

Ingerp

Excellent, wlo002!! Congrats on having that behind you!!

BigPeaches

Had my last Chemo yesterday!! I am on lots of other things, Herceptin, Projeta, Xgevia, Zoladex, but no chemo!!

Ingerp

Congratulations BigPeaches!! Hope the SEs go away quickly. :-)

cccmc2

congrats on last chemos ladies!!

I have one more DD taxol left next week. I can’t believe I’m almost done.... for the most part I handled both DD AC and Taxol as well as can be expected, however there is something about the 3rd treatments of each that they were much harder than all the others...I have needed much more recovery time after The 3rd rounds. It has me nervous as I am due to go back to work full time 6 days after my last treatment...does anyone know if it’s possible for me to get a normal dose of taxol opposed to the dose dense for my last treatment? Would this have less side effects and would it make that much of a difference as far as treatment goes? I was going to ask my MO about it.

THanks