Starting Chemo February 2009?

Datadrudge, Yup, I was switched to Abraxene, had a few bumps with the first dose, but think it may have been r/t the chia tea I had been treating myself (a bit too much caffeine)...had 2nd dose yesterday...the bone pains and numbness started this morning, but was able to work a full day with the help of advil.  Thankfully no nausea like the A/C.  I do have an extra bag of IV fluids with my chemo.  Thankful that my onco will keep working with me until we find something that works, one of the MD's I had when I was in the hospital last, suggested stopping chemo...my onco, said "No, I am not ready to give up on you!"  Although I hate chemo, I will do whatever to help my odds, especially with being TN.

Diane - hope the Taxatore goes well for you. I have found it really diofferent from the FEC, easier in some ways, harder in others. I usually feel great once I get home from my infusion (whereas with the FEC I was sick) and even the next day i am fine. I start getting muscle and joint pain about three days out - my Onc says it gets in the bone marrow, which is good from a treatment point of view, but it does hurt! I have been quite wiped from the pain - I also have to take Tylenol #3 to stay on top of it, so that wipes me out too. So, I generally lose about two days, and then get sick of lying in bed and get on with things! Not everyone has the pain - I was told 50%. I have also had a sore/tender mouth which i didn't get with the FEC, my Chemo Clinic makes up a mouth wash which stops sores developing. But, other than those two things I have been OK - no numbness, rashes, fingernail issues, etc. Oh, yeah, and I did get hospitalised last round with Febrile Neuropenia! I have my last dose next Thursday and can't wait!

Datadrudge - OMG, you need a new Onc. What kind of Dr would just say to you - well, I need to stop Chemo? Find a new one. There must be plenty of other things they could try you on. And the most important thing is for you to trust your Dr. They are making huge decisions in our life. I am sorry you have to go through all this hassle right in the middle of treatment. I would be furious. 

Anyhow, hope everyone has a good day.  We are supposed to hit 25C today (don't know what that is in F, I am sorry!) so I intend to enjoy in!

Michele, maybe your onc is being just as cryptic as mine about rads for the same reason: He told me it's because most chemo patients have so much on their plate, he's found that they just deal with info better after. This week, I plan on stressing to him that my anxiety lowers considerably when I know what's ahead. Knowledge doesn't so much equal power for me, it just helps me keep a grip. Or, well, maybe that IS a form of power?

Oh, and what kind of pie did you make? (I'm struggling to keep my weight under control, so no pie for me.*weep*  so I'd like to live vicariously!)

Bethie, me too ... only two more!!! I am counting the SECONDS!

Webbie, boo hiss on all your stupid crummy side effects. hey, is the magic marker on your head gone? Lol!

(((gizzie))) big hugs and I'll be keeping all parts crossed that your tumors have indeed shrunk more than hoped.

Kristine, thank you ... I am going to follow your advice with the implants before surgery issue ... maybe even down to the tears, lol! I shouldn't HAVE to do research, I am a CHEMO PATIENT, for chrissakes! Can't wait to see my GP on Monday, I just know she's going to help pull my "team" together.

Oh, kerry ,,, you poor thing you! Glad you're home and doing better, and really really relieved to hear you're still on target for treatment.

Susan13, yay for finally feeling "normal", albeit a new normal!

Diane, taxotere is better than the AC was, for me, anyway. I just get whomped with aches on days 2 & 3, and the fatigue is a bit harder. The best part is, the treatments are a lot quicker (2 hrs in the chair instead of 3/4.) hang in there, sweetie.

Sue50, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I wish I could wave a magic wand and fix it for you. I hope it helps a little to know I'm sending you continual loop hugs & coping vibes.

(((jancie))) here's hoping maybe your next treatment won't be so horrific.

Cheryl, doing the happy snoopy dance that you're officially DONE!!! Thanks for the purdy flowers!

(((apple))) I so admire your perseverance and sunny attitude. You've been thru so much.

Jaimieh, my onc said I might have back pain w/taxotere because I'm prone to it, but I seem to have more aches in my neck/shoulders/chest (tissue expanders). Do you have actually bruises on your back tho?

(((DD))) I hope you find a much better doctor. The other oncologist that works with mine is a total prick. Bedside manner of an armadillo. Actually I think the armadillo would be more personable. Luckily I haven't had to deal with him much. (only when i had the scary 102+ fever. *sarcastic smile*)

I think my eyebrows are "erasing" too. yesterday I test drove the Anastasia eyebrow kit that I got at my look good feel better class, and did indeed resemble Martin Scorsese, so I need to practice a little more. I'm still wearing mascara, but since my lashes are so sparse, I wind up looking like Liza Minnelli, hee!

I really really wanted to hold onto my lashes & brows, dammit.

except for trying to wean myself off the ativan the past two nights and waking up @ 5:30 am the past two mornings (grrr!) and not fitting into any of my clothes (weep!) and having to give up the stationery bike due to back pain (whimper!) and being fat/bald/& bloated (weep again!), i'm feeling surprisingly good ... lol! i just hope the mr put the air conditioners in by the time i get home from work. it's 80+ degrees out there, and i hate heat. with a passion. especially now. with having to wear a wig/scarves and dealing with the infernal hot flashes.

(((everyone)))

datadrudge, two thumbs up for seeking a second opinion on your treatment. We all need to advocate for ourselves to get the best of care. We deserve it!

Diane, I had 4 treatments of cytoxin/taxotere and my main SE were aching and nausea. They were quite manageable with the use of meds.

we must not have any side effects on Sunday.. i deserve a nap.

Well how's the gang!!?? Bethie's back!!! I was away this weekend as I had to get my girl time!!! Then I crashed in bed for a nap!!

Apple--Nice scarfs!!!  I'm gonna use mine for dust rags when my hair grows back in!! LOL Sorry about your dad with Alzheimer's.  My mom had it before she passed last Feb.  If you need an ear, let me know.

Hugs to all,

Bethie

Me, Me.  I even tried to do the turban thing on my head until I realized how silly it looked on an almost bald head.  I also use WAY too much shampoo and I am constantly trying to put it back into the bottle.

Dreadadron has me up still and I have heartburn and I took prevacid (I think its an RX) for heartburn.  Hear goes the whine I know I need to take this crap but it's SE suck. 

Oh my mother who I have explained this to 1000x posted something on my facebook account about being finished forever with everything soon.  Grrr pisses me off that I keep having to explain that my TC part will be complete but I will never be able to walk away going glad that's over... 

As of tomorrow 21 days until my last hole starts.  Counting is the only way that I stay sane I keep telling myself that if I have done all the rest of the days I can finish it.  I still have to go back for H but I heard it is 10x easier and more of a pain to get there than it is to the infusion.  I must say I try to make friends each time I am at the oncologist appt.  Not sure why but I am a chatty Cathy while I am there.  I guess it is better than sitting and staring at each other.  I hope my blood work comes back okay this morning I started the day with a fever ...again.

Jancie~ It's a long road and people do not understand that. 

I still have reconstruction in June followed by more reconstruction and herceptin.  I must say I am normally not wanting surgery but I want my expanders out so I am ready 51 days now I need to get thru the BS that my PCP's office is doing to me.  They want me to come in for a post-op one week after chemo.  the scheduler tried telling me that my blood counts would be fine then.  I went crazy on her I am sick of someone who has never had the type of chemo telling me when my counts will be fine.  So I will be getting my way this week.

 BTW~ It's 1am and I can't go to sleep Thanks you Dreadron.  Did I mention how much I love this medicine.

Not much going on here, just wanted to say good morning. We had a nice weekend, lovely weather too, except for a big storm that came Saturday night.

Got an appt with a gyn. this afternoon to book my ooph. So sick of all these appointments all the time. 

Counting down to #6 and last on Thursday. 

Have a good day everyone.

Oh, I wish I had the nerve for a pole dance! Think I will be fairly low key - I just want to get out of there as fast as I can. My husband is planning a little celebration that night though - cake and bubbly I think. A bit hard to celebrate too much when I know I have 2 weeks of feeling crappy to get through.  But still, it is a good feeling to know we can start getting our lives back a bit more to normal.

Webbie: I sent you a PM

i'm off to chemo too.. looking forward to a long ipod nap.

Michele:  Yes, tomorrow is #5.  Hoping for no heartburn this time, that hurt like heck.  My nose is bloody in the mornings/evenings, from the Taxol, it's worse each week, but doesn't actually bleed/run out of my nose; is that what you're experiencing? 

Apple and Jaimie:  hope all went well with your tx's today

Jancie: I've noticed that I am very short tempered after the steroids, too.  It didn't affect me as much when I was going every 2 weeks for tx, but now that I'm going weekly, I notice the personality change so much more.  Don't like that part.

Has anyone had bad heartburn during infusion?  It was quite severe, and took about half an hour to subside once they stopped infusion.  I was surprised that my onc wanted to change my appt so he could see me this week prior to chemo and do my chemo at the hospital instead of my local center because of the heartburn, but we decided that  I'll just take an extra Zantac before tx, and hope that works. 

Today is the last of our 80 degree weather here, it's gonna be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow.  I won't miss the winds, however.  It's been crazy windy here for days, my poor wigs are a mess! 

Hugs to all

Judy

I take the towel and scrub my head like I roughly towel drying my hair!!! Taxol is doing me in more than the AC.  I want to massage my legs at night, but today threw me for a loop.  I took my normal walk in the morning at work, and felt lke I was crawling up a hill I was so fatigue. I wanted to crawl in bed and get a massage. Overall I'm doing good.  Hope everyone is hanging in there!!! HUGS!!