Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Hi to all,

Gail, the horse thing was really hard on my young girls. Riding for me is great therapy too. So while alot of friends told me to wait until the spring to get another one,,,,,,I thought of my kids and knew that they had alot of losses in their lives this year. Here is the site the horse is at. His name is Ranger. We are getting him on Friday. http://reliablestablesforsale.shutterfly.com You may have to copy paste it in. He is the black horse when the page first prints as well as the last 24 pictures on the bottom.

I have Taxotere/ Herceptin/ and Carboplatin for treatment. 6x/ I am coming up on #5 next Monday. Can't wait till this is all over and I get back to peach fuzz and life in general.

Lisa,  It is wonderful for you about th Braca test coming out negative. Mine too were the same so we can rest a little bit easier!!

Have a good day everyone, And for those of you having treatment today- your in our prayers.

Corinne

Lisahugs, I am glad that your mother in law has come to help.  What a blessing!!!Now you can get much needed rest.  As for pain at your drain sites, watch for redness, swelling, increased tenderness, and or unusual drainage especially if it is yellowish or greenish tinged.  Report immediately!!!!!  You remain in my prayers.

Allibug, thank you for keeping us informed about the rads.  Any tips are appreciated. Corinne, which chemo are  you on now?  Deanna, may I ask why rads is not standard care in your situation?

Life here has been uneventful.  I still have neuropathy from the Taxol, but so far that is the only S/E.  My older kids have been becoming more independent and seem to ask less of me .  I held a birthday party over the weekend for my now 15 year old..............my how the years seem to fly by.   Our 4 year old continues to enjoy preschool everyday.  Even when I am through with all my treatments and rads we have decided that she will remain in full time preschool.  She is learning so much and making new friends. 

This coming Friday I will receive my last taxol and this will mark the end of my chemo!!!!   Hurray!!!   I  plan to take the infusion staff a cake......Not sure what I will have written on it yet. 

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

23 sessions left!!!!  That countdown is going VERY SLOWLY!!!!!  Congrats to everyone finishing up this week!!!!  Keep going for the ones who aren't - the end will come - I promise!!!!!!!!!!   Rads is still a breeze - my skin around my breast is kinda tight feeling but not painful - just odd feeling I guess!!!!!  Just a little pink on the skin but no burning or anything.  I counted when the radiation starts - they do 2 different spots on my right side and they shoot the radiation for 10 seconds on each spot.  So 20 seconds of radiation!!!! LOL  I get quite a kick out of that since I travel 55 minutes to get it done!!!! LOL  Oh well - gas prices have came down so that helps.  I don't mind the drive either so I am ok with it!!!!!!  Loves to all..................

Deanna,

 I had 1 positive lymph node and I am having radiation.  I think the rad onc said it would decrease my chance of recurrence by 5 - 10%.  He did say that some places would recommend radiation and some would not.  I figured I'd do whatever I could to reduce the chances.  I will have 25 treatments.

Yay Roya on your last chemo!!!  I have my 2nd last on Friday so I will be thinking of you and your cake!

 My right hand started peeling on Sunday.  I will definitely mention all my side effects to the onc on Thursday, I seem to have had a lot, although they weren't too, too bad overall.

I'm very interested in how radiation goes for everybody, I am trying to plan a trip to Florida as soon as I can after I'm done!

Hey everyone.  I've been lurking again for quite a while.  Every time I think I'm going to post, I end up deleting it.  I'm not sure why.  Sometimes it just seems easier reading everyone else's posts than to write my own. 

I'll be having my last chemo on Monday.  The last three have been taxotere, and in some ways I feel like they've been harder than the EC!!  The side effects seem to last longer, even if they aren't as violent as the last ones.  I've always gotten them to numb my port before my infusions, and as crazy as it sounds, it won't seem to get numb anymore.  Every taxotere infusion I've gotten has hurt like mad going in... but, I will admit, I'm a BIG baby when it comes to needles!!!

I've definately got the neuropathy thing going on, but only in my fingertips.  My right hand is the worst.  My fingertips HURT on the right side.  It seems that I stay tired and achey all the time, like I'm on the verge of getting sick.  Not painful enough to take anything stronger than advil, though.  I personally hate meds, so I put off taking any unless absolutely necessary.  My eyebrows are so thin they're pitiful, and I have a few eyelashes left.  My nose runs all the time, and I've got somewhat of a cold, so my eyes are watering as well.  But I think one of the worst problems I've been having is nosebleeds.  I'm soooo tired of my nose bleeding.  Sometimes I think it's running and grab a tissue which turns bright red.  It really sucks.

Other than those crappy side effects, I've been doing well.  My family is doing great, and we're all very excited that the chemo is ending next week.  Then it's on to radiation... I'm wondering, does anyone know if there's a co-payment every day?  I'm supposed to have seven weeks of radiation, and that's alot of money!  Of course, I know it's worth it, but still...

I'm a little worried about something else, too... I've had periods all throughout treatment.  The thing that worries me is that my cancer is ER+, and having the periods obviously means I'm continuing to produce the freaking estrogen!  Ugh!!  Any opinions on this?

Well, I've rambled on and on, so I'll sign off now.  I'm really happy to hear that most everyone is finishing up the chemo, and doing well.

(((Hugs)))

SheRee, sounds like you're having the same SE's from Taxotere that I had!  I've only had 1 treatment so far though.  My right hand was exactly the same, and I had a nosebleed too!  I've been putting a thin coating of vaseline or polysporin inside my nostrils and trying not to touch it or sneeze. I was told not to take advil, to take tylenol, not that it makes much difference.  My eyes have been watering and I don't have a cold, nose a bit runny too.  Anyway - yay that you're having the last one!!!  I hope the SE's wear off soon after that.  I'm in Canada so don't know anything about co-pays for radiation, we don't have to pay anything for chemo or radiation.  Strange about the period, I think I've had 2 since I had my surgery at the end of June.  Will you be taking Tamoxifen or Arimidex after the chemo?  I think that's what really stops the estrogen production.

 Oh, and Stacy - yayy!!! no more chemo or surgery!!!  

Sheree, Just to let you know I am Er+ an Her2+. I was told that I may or may not go through menapause. I don't think that that is a big issue. BUT....I was told to stay away from all meats and dairy that have growth hormones and antibiotics. The ony meat that I now eat is organinc as well as dairy.  I am going on #5 for taxotere and the rest of my concoction. I have been really sick for almost 3 weeks with nausea and stomach problems. Monday is #5 I will have one more after that. I an soooooo happy for you that will have your last one. I am sort of jealous!! (SMILE) Anyhow, I hope your SE's are really minimal this time.  Best Wishes to you all, Corinne

Roya... I am really excited for you!  It seems like it's been forever since we all started chemo, and I know your tx schedule seemed especially long.  I am really happy for you!  

Stacy... Congratulations on having chemo & surgery behind you!  I was thrilled to see that you were feeling energetic enough to be volunteering yesterday. 

SheRee...  B6 really seems to work for the neuropathy caused by Taxotere.

Diedre... What's with the peeling on you hand?  Do you mean the skin is sloughing off?  Did you have a port (can't recall), or have you been getting the infusions through the back of your hand?  I've been noticing recently how dry my skin looks all over -- sort of faintly lined like a dried out riverbed.  Think it's time to try some of that Lindi stuff, which I picked up a sample of in UCLA's little shop for chemo patients, and which seems to be really good. 

And thanks Diedre and everyone for the input on rads.  I've just about decided to do them, but I am still very frustrated with the indecisive opinions I've gotten from the docs who are in favor of it for me  ... words like, "not the standard of care, but if she wants to be aggessive...," "almost everyone agreed...," "we're pretty sure Dr. X would agree..."  I have been very frustrated that no none can tell anything more definitive, so feel I'll be doing something potentially harmful with no real assurance it's even necessary. 

Thinking of you all, and hope those still dealing with SE's are doing better  ~   Deanna

About hair...for those of us who are beginning to grow some of that...um..white fuzzz...we can relate and for those of you who will later..you can read what to expect. I was so worried as mine started coming in white! I can feel it and i think i have a lot but i cant see it when i look in the mirror unless i turn sideways! Just recently am i beginning to see the dark beginning to come in. Far from looking like real hair. The thread comment about male pattern baldness is so me and i lol when i read it! This thread made my day.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/723169?page=1#post_1121121

This thread was so funny to me and gave me several good laughs. Dont click on it but copy and paste it into your browser for it to work.

  teresa

Now that my chemo is over and done I am afraid.  I am almost afraid to be without it.  I feel like it was my safety net. 

Hey, all!

I've had almost 2 wks without chemo and it's been wonderful.  Now it's time for the next 3 mos of FEC.  Any advice or experience is appreciated.  So many of you are now going into rads, I think it's great!

Roya- congrats, I know your scared, I'm glad you have family with you. What do you have to do next for your tx?

Deanna- Wow, I would have a hard time deciding what to do, too!  I haven't reached the point of surgery yet, but I know there's a lot of info out there, and it's a lot to think about.

Jeannine- thanks and also for the info on the night gowns.

Hope everyone has a great SE free weekend!

Deen

My temp was 102.9 degrees Fahrenheit on admission to the hospital. Right now it is running around 100. I did not have this problem until I started Taxol. I just hope they come up with a plan so what happened the first two times does not happen again. The hospital thing is getting old.

Bette 

Jeannine-GREAT NEWS!!  So excited and relieved for you.  Might have to check into those nightgowns, sooner rather than later.  I usually just wear a t-shirt to bed. 

Roya, so glad the Taxol is coming to an end.

Bette-Sorry to hear about your fever and hospital stay.  Where is your doctor in Balto?  I am right in the area.  Curious who you are seeing.

I am counting down-four days until I have the exchange done for the implants.  I have lots of books and am looking forward to "parking it" for a few days and being out of work.   Starting to lose some brows.  OH NO!!!  Not what I wanted to have happened seven weeks out of chemo.  Hope they don't all go.  I did the sixth Herceptiin the other day, so now I am 1/3 of the way done-that is so easy compared to the chemo.  Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. 

~Misty