first chemo done

Hello everyone !

Yes, it has been quiet.   You haven't heard from my noisy self because a) work has been insane (as it always is right after the holidays, and b) at least last night my daughter had a her winter band concert and I did not get back until late.

I am sorry everyone is dealing with this fingernail issue.   That sucks.   But, Cristl, I am glad your onc is doing something for you.   You must just be an over achiever when it comes to medicines working !   Just remember... Jan 22. is not too far away !

Deb - Kristi is right on the driving thing.  In fact, my doc's office told me they would not permit me to drive after the big old taxol regimen I was on - largely because I was over the legal limit in terms of alcohol (i.e. I was drunk).   While they aren't giving you as big a dose (as you are getting the weekly), don't forget on top of the pre-meds, the taxol is given in alcohol.   You are getting the same cocktail I did prior to taxol with the exception that I got emend and not the ativan.   They load you up so much with pre-meds because taxol can be pretty severe in potential allergic side effects.  So.. they load you up to protect against that.    But, I always had to go home and sleep it off after everyone on of my treatments.    And I usually also slept during the treatments.  Could not stay awake if I wanted to. 

As for growing hair... well, I hope you ladies fair better than I did.  Not only did I lose my hair on taxol, I did have a little bit try to come in while still getting treatment.   But, just a little.  I ended up looking mostly like a chia pet that is not growing so hot.   I never completely lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, though.  They did thin a lot. 

OK, Kristi - Where the heck was the 74 degree weather when I was out there ?!!!   I ended up wearing my winter coat at Sea World.    But, yes, you are lucky to live where you do.   Here there is snow on the ground and it is bitterly cold.    I will miss you next week in your chemo hypnosis, but thinking about you.   Remember, you will be more than half way done.   Your last one is....let me see... it's coming to me.... February 23, right ?  Not too far away.   I think I will hear a yell all the way from San Diego that day.

As usual, running late.   Got to get going.  Everyone have a great day.

Jill

Deb,

Sorry, I must have had chemo brain, I thought you were driving on this stuff.  Chemo makes my mind kind of crazy.  I am so glad you are not........I, like you, have to come home and take a nap after wards.   How is Rick feeling?  My husband, I think, is also coming down with a cold.  I am scrubbing everything down because my immune system will be at its worst next week. Got drops for my eyes so I hope they get better before Monday.

It has been beautiful here, we are getting a bit of a heat wave. My hair looks like Benjiman Button's hair (from the movie).  I just got a great new hat, I'll try to take a picture and forward it. 

Evening Ladies !

Well..even Kristi sucked me into that discussion with the driving thing - and I knew that Deb got driven.  Not sure what the heck I was thinking.   

Kristi - Now, I am irritated.  Heat wave ?!   And I had to wear my winter coat last week in San Diego.  Grrr.....   figures. 

Really glad is it Friday.   The first week back to work after the holidays is ALWAYS a bear.  I did my darndest not to not look at my Blackberry while on vacation.   It made for a good vacation, but I knew I would pay for it, and I did.    Next week will be just as bad.   Really sad when it takes about 4 weeks to catch up from two weeks out  - even when most other folks are out over the holidays too.   

As for the weather here - it is in that annoying state where it can't decide if it should snow or rain,  so there is a compromise in the form of ice.   Would take the snow any day over that.   Glad I don't have to go anywhere tonight or tomorrow. 

Anyway, I get marked for radiation next week (Wednesday) and start Herceptin.   Given all the questions about rads, I will let the folks here know what I find out.  

Hope everyone is doing well tonight.  

Jill

I am glad that I found this wonderful and very informative site.  I will read more and then respond later.  Just wanted to pop in and say hello for now...more later....

Jill!!!  Stay outta those forums......omg.....I made the imstake of reading some of them and was convinced my BC was gonna come back and I ain't even gotten rid of it the first time yet........we have enough to worry about without reading about possibilities.........

When do/did you start radiation? I want the whole low down on that one........So far Taxol hasn't been bad.....really haven't felt too bad. Only probs I'm having is eyes are still watering and foot, ankle and calf are STILL swelling up.....goes down every nite when I sleep, back up again in morning.....GRRRRRR.....gonna show it to doc this coming Thurs when I go in for treatment......

Luv, hugs and prayers

Deb

Hello, Ladies !

Cruise - Welcome to our little thread !  It appears you got diagnosed in October, but just found us.   Are you in treatment now ?    Most of us here started treatement in the Sept. to Dec. time frame.  So, you are probably in the same place.    Let us know.   There is a great group of ladies on this thread.  They have brought me up or called me out when I needed it on several occasions through this journey.    OK to vent, journal, philosophize, complain.. what ever.  We're here.    

Deb - I start the journey into rads this coming Wednesday.   See my medical oncologist in the morning, then get Herceptin (still got to get the damn Benedryl with it as well as Tylenol) which will take 60-90 minutes and then move to the other side of the building to get marked for radiation.    I will let you know when I start for sure and how many sessions.   I know already I am not eligible for the clinical trials and/or accelerated stuff due to my age - which is too young (I love saying that).     I hope you are doing better now.  Good to get that foot checked out.

Belinda - Great news on your job situation.  That must be a load off your mind.  I worked through treatment as well (and my onc. made it clear to me that she thought I was nuts).  But, like your job, my work place was also very cool in being flexible around my chemo stuff.   I could not have worked if they did not.  And I wanted to work largely because of the distraction it gave me.  I doubt I was overly effective - although my bosses said I did just fine.   But, I knew I was not 100%, which I found a little frustrating.     Anyway, keep up the great attitude !

Kristi - I am SURE you are watching the Chargers today.  I will be as well.   Very dreary here today.   Nice day to sit in front of the fire and watch football.    I will be thinking about you tomorrow when you go for chemo.   Remember.. you will be MORE than half way done.   Hang in there.   Lots of positive thoughts going your direction.

Debbie - I don't expect to hear from you because your son is visiting, which I know you are extremely happy about.   But, I hope your latest round of chemo is treating you relatively nicely.  

Cristl - Hang in there !   Getting close to being done !    Yippeee!!!

Going to go watch the games now (and do laundry).   Talk to you all later.

Jill  

Hi, Barb !  

Great to hear from you.   You have the craziest work schedule I have ever seen.

As for your pathology report... Gosh, I sure hope I did not create anxiety for you - that's the last thing I wanted to do.   In all, my non-medical opinion is that I think you have a good prognosis - and as we talked, the chemo seems to be doing its job - to the point where the doc was talking lumpectomy (I know, not the direction you are going to go).    I have seen a lot worse cases that are still doing just fine today.    So, look at the positives in that report - and there were several -and keep fighting this little monster.  

I am sorry you are feeling so crappy - both mentally and physically.     How many more treatments ?   

Jill

Hello all !

Quick one before heading off to work (I really hate Mondays). 

Barb - Thanks for the clarification.  I understand better now.  I would have felt really bad if I had caused you anxiety in the middle of all this.   But, now I get that you wanted some "lay man" type readings and getting it was a bit overwhelming when you had been distancing yourself a bit for your own protection.   I know this can be overwhelming.  It is kind of like getting out of that first denial stage into what ever stage lies next (for me, it was "anger").    I will check in on you later tonight to see how you are doing.   Just remember, we are here if you need us.

As for me, I go in for my first Herceptin solo treatment this Wednesday, then get marked for radiation later that day.   So.. entering the next phase now.  

Kristi - Sorry about the Chargers.   Tough game.   I will be thinking about you today given I know this is TAC #4.    

Take care ladies !

Jill   

Cristl, I still have my eyebrows but I will check it out.

Barb, are you on TAC?  What are your dosages, just want to see how they compare, I am on Taxotere 120mg, Adriamycin 82mg and Cytoxan 820mg along with the white blood cell shot.

My blood tests kind of scared me a bit, they took them before chemo, my white blood count was down to 2.9 and red blood count down to 3.37.  My oncologist nurse said I was OK, she said she would not have given me chemo if I was to low.  What is to low?.

 Also, I know this is silly but if you travel via airplane do they make you take your hat off when you go through the screening machine?  What do they do if you wear a wig, They would never know.

Chemo was boring today, no big deal, this afternoon, just weak right now, slept for over an hour.

Talk soon Kristi

Jill, weren't they concerned with you taking an ax through the metal detector?  I have seen them tell other people to take them other.  The drugs are starting to take control.  Kristi

ekaytoday, I know it's rough now, but look at it this way......you will be around alot longer to enjoy  your daughter.........At least you've got your surgery done! I have gone thru 4 every other week A/C's, and am going in the morning for the 2nd of 12  weeklyTaxols.....which btw, so far is a piece of cake....Human hair wigs ARE expensive....I thought the same thing.......luckily someone gave me one, took it to the beauty parlor, got it cut and styled and like it alot.......so did you get a wig?  You didn't say how old your daughter was, but if she's old enough I'm sure she will understand and even help you out hon........and hey! Look on the bright side, you came here, there is a wealth of info here, and TONS of super nice girls going thru the same thing.....so vent, scream, whatever, we don't care, we've all been there.......I'm hesitant to say Welcome as I hate the fact that you have to be here, so we will leave it at that........

Luv, hugs and prayers

Deb

Hi xerinn

  Yup doing chemo before surgery, shrinks the tumors that way.......just got home...one of thier SLOW days....appt was for 9:40, didn't leave there till 1.....hate it when they do that..........but the good news is, the mid level doc that examined me could not find the lump in my boob or under my arm so the chemo is definitely working!!!!! wooooo hoooooooooo...............So excited!  

As for the wigs, I don't know about new york, but here we have several huge flea markets in Ohio...theres two of them that actually sell wigs.....you might check there....if there is one.....word of warning if you order one, I did that, and tried to get it like my natural hair, long and blonde.....wig got here and it looked horrible, it was a synthetic, looked like doll hair.......and you can't curl synthetics with a curling iron or anything else, it singes them......It looked horrible off and on both....I refused to wear it............

Well got firewood on it's way so best get.....you take care!!!!!! Tell that 7yr old if I were in New York, I'd buy 25 glasses from her!

Luv, hugs and prayers

Deb

i was interested in the revitalash story.. And like you, found a deal on ebay. hopefully i'll be able to keeping on batting by eyes - eyelashes and all, when i want to get my way...hmm, didn't really work ever before, but maybe this is a new leaf!

thx CristiC 

 Anybody else got any tips on potions or home remedies to ward off toxic evils?

Jill

   Do most people have to go for this many radiation treatments? I mean, come on, all those visits everyday?  I'm not lookin forward to that part of it, I don't mind the treatments but having to be there everyday is going to be a hassle finding a ride, etc.....well can drive myself if it doesn't snow......where are you going for the treatments?

Hugs

Deb

Deb - The number of treatments depends on your specific case and what you had done.   For example, lots of times radiation is not required at all for mastectomy cases.  In other mastectomy cases it is required depending on the margins achieved and/or the location of the tumor.    However, nearly always is it "recommended" in lumpectomy cases because the recurrence rate drops so signficantly with radiation (up to 40% drop).   

That said, another option available to women older than I am for lumpectomy patients is what is known as "partial breast" radiation (there are a number of other names as well it is known by depending on the methodology).   This option depends on a number of factors, such as age, tumor type, etc.   But, it is something you should check into.   Basically, some of the newer regimens and/or clinical trials require only 5-10 days (two times a day).   My regimen is "whole breast".   Given my age, I am required to go the "whole breast radiation" route because I am not eligible for any of the new fangled techniques.   Most require you to be over 45 and some require over 55.   But, it is worth asking your doc about when you get to that point.

Another thing you should be aware of as well....  breasts that have had radiation often have more limited options in terms of reconstruction.   So, if there is a question as to recurrence after the fact, keep this in mind.  This is why, for example, I had the genetic test BEFORE I started radiation.   (In my case, it was negative).  However, had it been positive, I would have likely been looking at a bilat mastectomy.  If I had the test after radiation, and it came back positive, my options would have been more limited.    I know a lady this happened to, which is why I asked about the test up front.   (Keep in mind that they won't give this test to everyone as it is real expensive - there must be a genetic pattern for them to do the test - in my case there was).  

I am going to the same Blue Ash office where you used to go, although my radiation oncologist is different from my medical oncologist (i.e. you won't have to risk seeing the witch doctor).  They do the radiation treatments there too, but on the "new" side of the building.     But, most major hospitals have radiation oncology centers.  I suspect you can get something a bit closer to home if need be.

I hope this helps.

Jill

P.S. It is 5 days a week every week.  We at least get week ends off !