Starting Chemo April 2009

Yesterday I had my appointment for radiation planning. I start rads on July 6 - 3 weeks following last TC chemo (June 16). five weeks of rads - 25 sessions. I had to do rads when I had my first dx and I recall it being easier than chemo. Anyone else here scheduled for rads beginning in July? Tomorrow I have consult with PS to talk about reconstruction - probably next year after my son's wedding.

Oh Tammy,

I had my last AC about 2 weeks ago, and I definitely think it's cumulative. I was so so tired and felt pretty awful, much worse than the time before.

I started Taxol with Herceptin this week and so far it hasn't been as bad as AC. I am very tired, but I think some of it is because I was so tired going into this and I also have a cold. I am no more tired than I was before the Taxol and so far, no nausea.

You will get through this.  Just try to rest and take it easy.

Pam

I just did my 4th and last TC on Friday.  I wasn't sure when I went in if it was going to be the last since we had planned on doing 6.  But, my oncologist felt that all the side effects were doing quite  a number on me.  So he said we are stopping at 4.  Woohoo.  I've haven't been this happy in awhile.  I shed some happy tears today.  I've had horrible hives since 5/1 and still have them.  I've been miserable and have called the onco and his nurse numerous time crying.  I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel today.

Tammy--hang in there.  You WILL get your life back.  This web-board has so many survivors who have gotten their life back.  You will one of those soon. 

2 down and 2 to go of T/C.  I have had hives now for 12 days and the ono. seems to think that the chemo is not the cause so he sent me to an allergist.  So far no luck.  I just want these hives to go away

How is everybody doing? A little quiet on this thread lately which I HOPE means that all our April ladies are doing well.  I am 12 days out from my 3rd tx (of 6) and finally eating well and feeling normal. I think I've lost a little more weight (after barely eating more than toast for a week) and so my port protrudes more under the skin and I can feel the tube from it under my skin which creeps me out!

But maybe I will gain the weight back before the next treatment. It feels wonderful when food tastes good!

How careful are you all being about the following two things:

a. avoiding raw fruits/vegetables. I love salads - should I REALLY stay away from them for fear of neutrapenia? and

b. avoiding people.  I work at home and don't see ANYBODY (except DH) day in and day out. When my grown kids come to see me, can I give them a hug? It feels horrible not to but I worry about germs.. When i do see people, can I shake their hands? How do you handle?

I figure I am ahead of the game compared to people who work in an office all day or are around children.  But it is hard to determine what is reasonable and what is extreme. In my pre-bc life I NEVER worried about stuff like this, never used the antibacterial gel, never EVER got sick. But this is a dfferent story & I'm not sure how to play it. Was hoping for some input from my sisters here.

Thanks

Amy

I'm 12 days out of 3rd TC and am just starting to feel normal.....much the same as some of you. It seems to take a couple of days longer each time. But I know my white blood count is low this week so I am trying to be careful and not expose myself to situations where I might pick up a bug. My next and last TC is June 16. I'm already nervous about it but knowing it will be the last one will make it easier. Rads begin on July 6. I don't think I will ever be able to put this behind me. I had my first dx in 2004 - went through everything then too. I wonder if I'll ever be able to look forward positively. Hope all of you are doing well. Anyone else doing rads starting in July?

I'm going in for my third TCH tomorrow. The past week I've been feeling mostly normal, it's nice to be able to eat real food.

Amy -- I think you only need to take those precautions when you have (or suspect) low white counts. When I know my counts are back to normal, I've been eating some raw foods. I have a 4-year-old in preschool and it was really hard for me to avoid touching her when I had severely low counts for a few days, and I avoided going out. When my counts are okay I give her hugs as usual and have friends and relatives with kids over and have normal contact. I go out to the grocery store and other shops and restaurants but try to wash hands often. It's not like you're rubbing up against people much in places like that.

But I will say when I have low counts I'm extra careful about things we might usually overlook, like raw nuts and nut butters, soft cheeses, uncooked anything that I can't peel (no berries, greens, and other good stuff), unpasteurized juices, uncooked salsa, pesto, etc. Not that I feel like eating much for that 3-12 days post-chemo window...

hi 12 believe hope all goes well for your 3rd round of TC.

Amy I had not thought of the raw veggies (I always wash mine). But I am working, I am very fortunate that the college I work for, honored my request for a transfer to a area with less interaction with the students.  I am not sure that I would have been able to continue to work if they hadn't. Its been hard, but I have managed. I only had to throw one man out of my office. He said that they thought that he had swine flew. I made him leave. No ifs and or buts about that one.

kathy  

when do I worry about a fever? I have had a cold for just over 1 week now and started coughing a few days ago. I saw my primary care physician yesterday and started on inhalers for the cough - she did a chest xray and it was clear. About 1 hour ago, I started feeling more achey than usual and cold, so I took my temp and it varies from 99.5 to 100.2.  I know I need to call the oncologist after it's over 100.4, but I am supposed to have chemo tomorrow. I really don't want it to be cancelled. Has anyone else had a temp and what happens? 

 Please say a prayer that my temp disappears and I'm fine tomorrow. I so want this to be over! I'm not doing so well in the moment these days.

 Pam

Pam hello friend - I am so sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I am praying right now that this fever breaks so you can have chemo tomorrow. I haven't had a fever yet so I am not sure what happens in that process but I wanted you to know that I am for sure praying for a speedy recovery.

I had my second Taxol today and I can tell you that I only had two days of fatigue last week. I felt wonderful over the weekend btw and still feel great after the treatment today so I have every hope that when they get you well, you will be feeling great too.

Don't be scared please, your body will fight the cold but please if the temperature gets to that mark call your doctor right away - the sooner they treat you the sooner we can get you back on treatment. You are going to be OK - I just know it. I sense that you are strong!

Thanks for the well wishes, they seemed to work! I took some tylenol and went to sleep. This morning, I don't have a fever. Hopefully my counts will be okay this morning at chemo and I will be able to have my infusion!

This is a wonderfully supportive place, thank you!

 Pam

Pam,

So sorry that you are not feeling well. You do need to let your oncologist know of any elevated temps. They will check your blood levels and decide if you can tolerate chemo based on the current WBC, HCT and Platelet counts prior to your next chemo treatment. Good luck and hope that you feel better. - Paula

Hi Lesleyanne<

 I had 4DD AC and have had 1 of the 4 Taxols, yes it has been a lot easier for me.  I had Neupagen shots for the AC and they gave me a lot of pain.  I'm not doing them for the Taxols, my onc said I should be fine, but I won't have my blood done til next Tue., as I have tx on Thur. and they check it 2 days before.   I have been taking Claritin since the day before my 1st tx as some of the ladies here had suggested it might help with the bone/joint pain.  I can say that I have had no pain except for an achy lower back now and again and that is gone now.  Don't know if it was the Claritin or I might have been OK anyhow.  Not sure I'll test it tho', think I'll just do the same next tx.  I am still tired but not the completely wiped out feeling I got with the AC.  No stomach problems but I didn't have any with the AC, the anti-nausea drugs worked great for me.  No mouth sores or anything like that.  I have heard from friends and some ladies on here that there might be some hair growth part way through the Taxol.  I'm really hoping for that - the novelty of being bald has worn off now UGH! Good luck to you and I hope you feel better through it too. I'm with you on the exercising too.  HUGS!  Dawn

Hello, I just found this thread, I started TCH on 4/28, and had to switch to AC after my second treatment becasue of an adverse reaction to T.  I've had one round of AC, and will start the H again after I'm done with the AC.  Then I will have a double mast & total hyst.  No fertility treatments for me, I'm 34, but have been postmeno since I was 29.  No Dr. has been able to tell me why my ovaries failed, but they sure did.  I took HRT for 4 years, now I have cancer... imagine that.  After my surgery I'm going to have 6wks of daily rad, and a year of H.  It's so nice to be able to talk to people who are at the same stage in the process as I am. Much Love, Jessica