Starting chemo January 2009?

Day 5 after 3rd A/C and I'm in with the FLS crowd. Claritin didnt seem to effect me and everything hurts, even touching my own skin. Is this A/C or neulasta???

Just fragile today.

Eva 

Year of the hat, your hair pulling story gave me the smile of the day.  And I am REALLY having a FLS day.  Of the many things I love about our relationship, it is the ability of my husband and I to laugh and tease each other, so it really hit a cord with me.  thanks for sharing

BerkelyKim - The walk is July 24th to 26 weekend.  I have printed off a training schedule, they give you a schedule of walking 3 days week in varying amounts leading up to the day.  Should be fun!

Shockedat39 - Hooray is right!! Congrats!

Thank to all who commented on Saving Grace, I thought it was cute and will remind me of why I am doing this, for all those little girls that we never want to see get this disease.

Got my AC#3 yesterday afternoon and I am feeling fine, even well enough to pop out and get some groceries before I pick up my son at school.  I took Emend this time, I don't know if it helped or not because I didn't get sick last time either without Emend, it was just the first round that I vomited.  Just one more AC to go for me, and I'm done forever!

Hi jilly only one more to go...............congrats do you not have to do taxol.................I have 3 more taxol to go this thursday and then two more just can't wait!!

                I love the saving Grace and love the name Grace!!  The people that are mentioning a chemo smell....so far I have not smelt it but maybe the people around me have!!!

        I try to sleep thought all of my chemo and then I run for the door as fast as I can!!  Still no side effects to mention..........it sounds like a lot of us are on the end run YAH!!!

          i have decided no radiation........I am just done..............I hope it is the right decision!!

Have a great week Pamela 

 Good evening ladies! I haven't posted for a while but I have kept up with your postings.

 My 2nd TC was on the 13th so last week was my bad week. This week I feel great. I haven't felt fatigued when I do regular house work but today I was carrying boxes up and down the attic steps putting away winter things and getting out spring things and I was short of breath and soooo tired. I am so out of shape.

 Alot of you are writing about healthy eating and exercise. I have to admit my eating habits are poor and I have an elliptical machine in my family room that I haven't used for a year! You ladies are putting me to shame!

 I have been enjoying my time off of work. I do not feel guilty at all when I feel good and I should be at work. I work at the same place for 31 years (almost 32) so I think I deserve a break. Even if it includes chemo.

 I have been experiencing pimples on my chest area, They just started a few days ago.

 The chemo is hard on my veins. I developed red rashy areas along my veins where the chemo was started. They switch spots but now that vein is red and rashy too. I don't care if my arm is  scarred but I don't want my veins ruined. I only have 2 more TC treatments to go.

 I wore my wig last week and it was windy. WelI I didn't have the wig tight enough and it almost blew off! What a sight that would have been!

 My 22 year old godson said he would shave his head when I lost my hair. I told him not to because he loves his hair and has a nice full head of hair. Well Saturday he shaved it! We told him to tell the girls why he did it and they would love him for it!

 Enough for tonight. My good thoughts go out to all of you.

Sweet Pamela: I am also deciding against radiation --- quality of life issues after 3 axillary dissections yielded only 3 nodes and I travel and live overseas (tough for lymphedema).

I know we're on the chemo board but would like to hear your decision process as I contemplate mine.

I'm still getting over SEs from A/C #3 last Friday...how do you all have so much energy??? 

Eva 

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is having a good week. I'm finally getting back to normal after A/C #3 last Friday. I actually got nausea last night and took a zocor. Slept ok but I am so zapped of energy. I've got to leave in a few minutes for an eye appt. My eyes have really been bothering me. Very itchy and watery. It will be nice to go out and run some errands. Like just about everyone else. my taste buds are all about gone, except if you believe this, I've been craving sweets and I can actually taste that type of food. I told my husband I had a taste for a 3 muskeers bar and he bought me that and a milky way. Good thing we're not supposed to be worrying about our weight! Although I have lost a few pounds. Thats only because nothing tastes good. Has anyone been having trouble swallowing food? The last few days, every time I take a bite of something, it won't go down and it scares me and my family and they always ask if I'm ok. I have to sit a few minutes before continuing eating. Well gotta run. All of you have a great day.

Hey Chris!  G;ad tp see you are still hanging here.  Have to trust you on the ice hockey comparason.

I was awakened last night with what I think is a bit of siatica.  I have been have pretty bad pain in my right lower back, pelivc area with some pain occassional in my knee and calf.  It has me sort of limping around alot and needing to support myself with my arms when I try to lean over for something get in or out of a chair to on to the floor or climb stairs.  Two motin and a heating pad helped alot but it is still really hurting. I am thinking of looking for an chirpopractor or massues(sp). Hmmm I just spoke to a nurse at my doctor's office and I think I asked about accupuncutre instead of chirproacticor, my tongue just said the word it is more used to.  I also need to call the Reike contact I have back and ask about when in a cycle would be best to try it.  It is not covered by insurance so I really need to get the most bang for my buck if I am going to try it.  My paperwork for leaves and insurance and all are also supposed to be on their way to either me or their finaly destination.  Of course now I am rethinking returning to work part time given the heavy fatique I have felt the last few days.  It is bad enough when there is nothing I have to get done but if I have to be at work and functioning I am not sure I can do it.  

My taste buds are also toast.  But I still seem to eat stuff even if I can't really taste it. I have gained 5 pounds and am at a all time non-pg high for weight.  I have started putting DH hot sauce on a lot of my food. It reachs to my taste buds.  Normally it is too hot for me.  And chocolet still works for me, maybe not as good but the bitter sweet of dark chocolet get through where other sugars- not so much.  But wine is totally out.  Tastes awful rather than just like nothing or kind of soapy. For me it is more soapy then metalic.  But that icky taste that is just in my mouth is very annoying.  Trying to do more gum and sugarless candy and less snacking. I seem to want to eat constantly, not really hungry but I want to eat. Maybe I am seeking to satisfy some craving I can't taste. 

Need to go. DS is already super late for preschool.  DH always lets me sleep late when I have a bad night and then the morning is shot. 

I am 2 weeks out from treatment #2 and my tastebuds didn't come back like they did after #2!  Bummer.  I lost wieght week of chemo...but  put it back on my good weeks.   I think it's becase I can't taste anything...so I keep putting stuff in my mouth to try and get some taste satisfaction.  Is anyone feeling the same way. 

Today I am going to be very careful of what I eat and keep it to "meals".....proper size..and give up on the fact that it might provide and real satisfaction!!!  I am hoping to take of the extra 2 pounds I have put in this week.  

My personal goal is to get done withe the chemo the same weight as I started, so I've been a little obsessive with the scale.   

Anyone else in the sme situation?

Count me in with the weight-gainers.  Oh boy, anyone who thought I was going to be chemo-Sally, all emaciated and whatnot will surely be surprised.  I've gained 6 pounds!  The onc nurse thinks it all has to do with them basically forcing me into menopause (along with my fun new sleep patterns) but I blame the wonderful meals we are getting from our dear friends and neighbors.  We have had so many fantastic pasta dishes over the last two months!  And I can't get enough of it.  They don't call it comfort food for nothing!  I've started walking on the treadmill some so hopefully that will prevent any further gain.

The last few days have been very tough emotionally, mostly because I'm tired as hell.  While I'm thrilled that A/C is over I feel like I still have so much more ahead of me (Taxol/radition/port removal/implant exchange/gah!).  Also, I haven't mentioned it much but I'm still working about 35 hours per week.  I'm extremely lucky that I work from home and I'm a contractor so I have a bit of flexibility.  That said, the bills still have to be paid so I don't have much of a choice.  It's overwhelming sometimes!

Like clockwork, every Wednesday or so after treatment the recurrence thoughts start creeping up, too (what if this is all for nothing? what if chemo is over and it comes right back? how would I ever do this again?).  I think it must be the culmination of everything.  I could almost set my watch by it!  I will need therapy desparately when this is all over.  Half the battle is admitting it, right?  LOL

Wow, did this end up being a long post!!!  Thanks, as always for listening.

I hope everyone else is feeling ok and having a good day!

Diane

Add me to the weight-gainer category!  I lost about 3lbs. during the week after each Tx b/c I was nauseas or just had no appetite.  But then when the nausea goes away I start making up for lost time & eating all the time.  I also attribute it to the great meals all our friends & neighbors have been bringing...for a while, all that tasted good were the desserts, and I once ate 1/3 of a chocolate cake someone brought us in 3 days!  I was trying to resume working out, but w/ the anemia I'm getting out of breath just walking around the block, so that sucks.  Like the rest of you, I'd be happy to just end up where I was before starting chemo!!  Was hoping that I could at least lose those pesky 5 pounds I've been trying to get off since my son was born, but I guess it's just not in the cards!

Jilly G -- I'm also worried about the Tamoxifen as I've heard bad things about the emotional SEs (one of which is weight gain, oh joy!!).  But I guess I shouldn't assume the worst b/c we all react differently to medications. 

I am getting taxotere along with a lot of us here, and we are all handling it well.  My worst days after treatment are day 3-6 when I feel some nausea and fatigue and basically stay in bed.  But it is not terribly bad. 

Thanks, Kathy and Lisa, the funny sensation in my nails seem to be going away now.  I have just one more to go and I'll be done!  I have radiation after that, though...

My taste buds are not coming back yet and it is already day 13.  Renrel you said it right.  I am seeking to satisfy a craving that I just can't taste!  I dream of tasting good food!  I was in bed all week watching food network channel almost all day trying to think what I wanted to eat!

Misty - I only had a mastectomy on one side, too, and I am thinking about removing the other.  My grandmother had breast cancer and so I am considering getting genetic counseling first.  I will probably remove my other breast and maybe my ovaries if I test positive.  It is so overwhelming thinking about it, and so I am going to take it one step at a time and going to worry about it after I finish chemo and radiation and fully recover before I take this step.

Hey Jewels!! Wow--we've Feb. is closing fast...Never thought I'd get to the 12 Taxols--but start tomorrow and I'm nervous!! Am planning to go back to work on 3-4--I'm nervous about that too but excited as it will get me on a schedule.

Renrel-thanks for the recipe. Just figured how to check PMs.

Pam and Eva--Just had a consult with my radiologist. I think if I didn't like her so much I might forgo it too. She told me that since I had lympovascular invasion and 1 of my 3 turmors is Grade 3, she'd strongly recommend radiation. Said that it will decrease chance of local recurrence from 30% to 10%. She won't do my armpit since 3 nodes were involved and they took so many that she feels there's no nodes to worry about. I'm worried about Lymphedema, which she said is a risk. It's a really hard decision. She said also since I'm young it would be worth it. I like that she said young (I'm 53, and feeling a wee bit older with the chemo). Anyhow, I think it's one of those really difficult decisions. I'm going to do some more research. Good luck!

Misty and mimi--I had a left mastec. If my surgeon asks about reconstruction at my March visit, I'm going to ask about getting the right one off too I don't want reconstruction and don't miss my breast, just feel lopsided. I haven't been tested for the gene, but I think it's because I'm post-meno.

Shocked--I know what you mean. The emotions would hit about 7-8 days after AC. I don't know what to do about the worry. I'm trying to switch it off and send it away, but doesn't always work.

Chris--congrats on your first Taxol. I'm not supposed to get a neupogen shot, but was told that I might get body aches anyway. Not as bad as ice hockey---hmmm, and that seems like it could hurt pretty bad.

Re swallowing problems--I had that also with AC. But after my onc gave me an rx for protonix my heartburn went away and no swallowing problems. He said I should continue to use it during Taxol for now.

Weight?? I lost several pounds after the 1st 2 ACs. GAined a couple back after the last 2. Eating lots of nuts and eggs. I'm worried that I'll start to gain some back. I would like to lose about 10 more pounds to get back to pre-kid weight (and that was 22 years ago).

TAKE CARE, jewels.

Taxotere SE - I am doing t/c Taxotere and cytoxin(sp).  I have found the side effect very managable.  No nausea and barely any quesiness- any I have felt was cured by eatting something.  I did have netrapenia (very low WBC) the first cycle landing me in the hospital but this time I got Nuelasta and as far as I know I have been fine ( I did not get a blood test since I did not feel feverish this time.)  I got a relapse of benin (sp) positional vertigo which was likely due to some dehydration from the drugs but I am not sure which dehydrates you.)  I do get very tired a lot of the time but it is hard to predict when.  I have had some weird aches in my feet and hands but they are not all the time. 

 I was given a few more wigs today to try with permission to keep 2 if I like them.  They are short and blond and I was brunette and shoulder length, so I am having some trouble getting used to the look but they are better then the one I got from ACS.   I wore them out shopping.  But I found a scarf I liked and took it off in the store to try tying the scarf into a turban.  I don't much like how I look baldish but I will not be embarrassed or ashamed of how I look.  There is nothing wrong with it and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

I wore the wig when I picked up my son.  I asked him what he thought of me hair.  He said it was a different color and asked if I dyed it.  I told him that I would share a secret with him..I was wearing a wig.  He immediately turned to his friend and said "My mom is wearing a wig!. "  His friend immediately said "Take it off!."  I thought for a moment and than said, "since you are a special friend, I will."  And I did, for a moment.  His friend looked a bit suprised/shocked. I said "pretty neat huh??  He smiled and agreed and I put it back on.  At bedtime though my son told me he did not like my wig. It looked goofy.  He might like one that looks like my old hair.  When I told him my hair might grow back different he was not happy.  He wants me to look like I used to.  I wish it did not bother him but I am glad he is talking to me about it.

Hi BerkeleyKim,

Disclaimer, as a pharmacist I recommend against anyone taking supplements unless you evaluate 'em with your doctor&pharmacist individually.  That said, I am taking a tincture of Reishi mushroom, tumeric, with a little milk thistle (my LFT's were up to 2x normal after six tx and are now back to normal at tx 8) and some flower essences.  I looked up the Taxol interactions in Natural Medicines database and there was no specific interaction between taxol and the 3 main ingredients of my herbal mix, but I can't recommend this approach for others.  The only ingredient that is iffy is the milk thistle, no contraindication to reishi mushroom or tumeric.  I also made a miso veggie soup with organic shitaki mushrooms on Sunday and bought some 72% dark chocolate   My five-year-old isn't interested in the 72% chocolate   (yeah!)