Starting Chemo in July 2009

Carole01 - gooks like we are same tx just one day apart.  I stll have eyebrows, lashes etc etc. Are you getting rads after chemo?

I had terrible mouth soreness with my first treatment.  Every surface in my mouth felt burned by about day 4.  I also got white sores under my lower lip.  My oncologist told me to keep ice chips in my mouth all during the time the chemo drug was being given.  I did, then continued to use ice chips and biotene mouthwash at home.  On day 4, I could feel the chemicals trying to burn my mouth, kept it "frozen" all day with ice chips.  I never got the mouth soreness this time.  The cancer center also recommended a product called Ulcer Ease, which anesthetizes mouth sores.  You can either rinse with it 20 minutes before eating, or swab it directly on sore spots with a cotton swab.  Oragel rinse for mouth sores is also good, more comforting than Biotene if you already have a sore mouth.  I used it last thing at night, gave good relief.

Hope this helps.

Hi Ladies,

 I finish 2 treatments of AC already. The first was on 8/6/09 which  wasn't that bad. I went the day after to get the shot. Few days later I had joint pain in my body. I had to take Motrin. which really help me. I went to work few day later which wasn't that bad. On my second treatment which was 8/21/09, I felt very tired after that treatment, didn't have much appitte for few day. I felt very tired quickly. After few day of resting was was able to go to work... I have to say God has been great.  to me and my family.  My 3rd treatment is tomorrow, I hope and pray to God that everything goes well for me tomorrow. I will keep ypu posted

Hi everyone i have my 3rd t/c tomorrow, all is still well .oh i had the skin itch it was so annoying and itchy, doc said it was the texatre trying to come out of my body too. i just took benadryl and it subsided..... i do go to a heath docotr as well as my oncologist......

Glad to read everyone is doing well with the SEs.  I finished AC and today was my first of twelve taxols weekly w/ a couple breaks in between.  I feel pretty good, even went out for ice cream. 

PM - Im so sorry to hear about your FIL.

xo

I want to thank not only Pauldingmom for starting this July group, but everyone else for being such gracious online friends.  I've been so grateful for the advice, inspiration, reality and even though it's hard to get to know and keep such a large group straight, it was wonderful.  My last T/C treatment was yesterday and I was very emotional.  I cried and hugged the nurse and told her they had made easier than I had dreamed to endure.  It was not an easy road, but I'm thankful that I stayed well with no colds, etc., blood counts stayed up and although I felt lousy for 5-6 days, lousy is different than throwing up or having such severe SE's that you need to go to the hospital. 

Luckily, when I saw the dr. I did not cry (that would have been embarassing) but had my list of questions and wanted to share some of the answers in case it helps anyone:

My immune system - will be back to normal in about 3 weeks like before treatment he said;

Regular flu shot - up to me (this might be different if you're in ongoing treatment - your dr.'s advice might be different)

Wine - only 3 ounces, but can cook with wine no problem

Caffeine - does not cause breast cancer or make it worse according to him, although like anything they probably want it in moderation.

Swine Flu - he advise to get it, said he is going to get it b/c it's a risk to all Americans.  Said his advice had nothing to do with my cancer and now that I'm done treatment my risk is the same.  I'm nervous b/c vaccine is so new - are they rushing it????

My next appt. is Nov. and I'm going to ask him about Vitamin D and nutrition then.  As everyone speculated on the causes, it's so clear that it's too complicated to even guess.  I've been buying organic beef for years to avoid the hormones and cook for my family relatively healthy.  I need to lose 20 pounds and am thankful that I didn't gain during the treatments, but like someone else said, half of America is much more overweight and the breast cancer % isn't 50% of women.  It is certainly more complicated than hormones or diet soda or drugs we took, foods we eat.  I also had a lot of stress in my life with handling the "sandwich generation" of caring for young children who needed a lot of care and parents before their death and now failing in-laws.  Who knows? 

Jayne - my prayers for a speedy recovery - I understand shingles are very painful and you really don't need that while already suffering through the chemo

Gilly - likewise for the ankle - I hope it is a speedy recovery, although I know sometimes bones take a little while and patience to heal. 

Everyone is so strong - it has given me strength.  And for anyone who needs or decides on radiation I know Pauldingmom's board will rock.  I won't see you there b/c although I've been struggling (my tippy toe is on the line of what is even considered the "gray line" - they're still studying it) and it would only help a local recurrence only and jeopardize both my dominant arm with lymphedema and my reconstruction.  Two opinions estimated between 3-5 total percent and maybe up to 10%.  My onc put my percentages with the surgery, chemo, and taking tamoxifen at 90% for no recurrence, so I don't want to risk the side effects of my arm and reconstruction for just 5%.  Some people would be more comfortable to have the 5% and I respect that.  It makes it hard that it's a personal decision and the docs can't make it for you or even tell you if you're one of the women it would help.  It's not like chemo or surgery - more clear cut. 

Anyway, I've rambled enough and wish everyone the best.  I hope you don't mind if I lurk once in a while to see you all doing well and moving on - finishing up treatment.  And good luck to everyone who does need the radiation. People who search and find this board entering chemo will find such a wealth of helpful information.  You didn't just help me and everyone else in July and August, you will have helped people being diagnosed right now and facing chemo soon and in the future. God bless.  Kathy

kathy - you are part of this group and just because you are done with chemo does not mean that changes. We can keep this thread going as long as we want to - even when everybody has had their last tx.

RajinCjin - The way it has been explained to me my dr. uses some type of equation which involved WBC, RBC, the ability to make new blood cells and a bunch of other things.  It the number is less than 1,000 they won't give me chemo.  I too, have been troubled by the numbers some times.  WBC is always low but the equation numbers are truly baffling.  For example my AC is every 3 weeks.  Week one number (after treatment 3) was over 2,000, Week 2 that same number fell to 51.  Today I went back up to 1295 today.   nurses asked if I was getting neulasta - and questioned dr. but she said no.  I have a 3 week break and then Taxol every week x 12.

 Congratulations to everyone, including ME, who had last AC this week!   Dear man friend is taking me to the Grove Park Inn in the North Carolina mountains for a beach music festival so I'm praying for few SE this weekend.  He planned this early on as a celebration of finishing up the Bad Stuff!

 Have a great weekend everyone!  Love, hugs and prayers to all!!!!!

Pam

Hello Jayne - congrats on finishiing the FEC!!  Glad to see things moving along well - warm hugs

Hwy Triple J's, Congrats to all that are done with A/C. It seems like alot of us had that cocktail. It only can get easier. To all, my hair is coming back after the A/C. i see little white hairs on top of my head. I hope I do not loss them during the last 3 treatments. I have only 54 days till done. Are most of us done this month or october. We are all going strong and going to beat this devil. Have a great weekend Strength and Hugs Dianne

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and of course, I'll post now and again if I can help or encourage - also look forward to your discussions about the swine flu shots - making me nervous already as I have 3 in my household heading back to school.

A wonderful restful Labor Day weekend to all - wishing you all the cool, beautiful sunshine we have in the east.  Kathy

Congrats to all who have finished......My final AC is Wednesday!!  Please continue to pray for my husband's job situation...I have handled the whole cancer thing pretty well with a great attitude, but this job thing is a huge black cloud!

The Komen walk here in Cincinnati is next Saturday, and although I probably won't feel up to it, I have a huge group walking for me.  The support of friends and family has been overwelming, and very humbling to me.  I know I speak for many of you when I say that I have become a much stronger woman because of this.  My exchange surgery is scheduled for Nov 19, and I am looking forward to having that behind me also.

You have all been so amazing during this road we have traveled together, and I continue to pray for each of you every day!

Have a blessed holiday....

Linda

Hey all! Thanks for the grats on finishing A/C.  However, I almost wish I were still on it. 

I don't know if it is the Taxol or the Neulasta, but my SE's are much different this time.  I remember reading about bone pain when I first started my chemo.  During my first four treatments I don't recall any bone pain per se.  The worst I felt was the headache that sent me to the hospital on the first treatment.  Other than that it was more like a flu type symptoms.  Pain in the neck, upper shoulders, and the feeling of swollen glands in my neck.  Really just made me feel miserable for about 24 to 36 hours. 

This time however, is quite different.  The day of chemo I felt pretty good, except for a bit of breakthrough nausea and being drowsy from the benadryl.  I was so drowsy, lightheaded, woozy that they rolled me out to the car in a wheelchair.  We drove home, ate lunch and after about 30 minutes rest, I actually felt good enough to put in about 3.25 hours worth of work.  Friday was also a really good day.   I put in about 5 work hours, went to get my shot and finished working.

Yesterday, however, my SE's started coming on.  Only this time it's different.  All the bone pain I have heard about? I am sure that is what I am feeling. The peripheral Neuropathy, definitely present.  Fingers, toes, hands and soles of my feet.  The bone pain is in every joint, my hips, my back,my shins.  Thia pain is so much worse than the previous rounds.  The only thing that actually takes the edge off is my Dilaudid.  And when I say take the edge off, that is all it does. 

I am able to find some comfortable positions for about an hour, but moving afterwards is just as painful. This has now lasted for almost 2 days, and I truly hope not much longer.  It is a good thing that tomorrow is a holiday.  I really don't thnk, even without the pain, that I would be able to work from home, much less drive to work.  I hope that this is a one time deal like the headache was.  My other worry is the PN.  Does it continue throughout, or just like the bone pain, for just a few days?

Anyway, just wanted to share how I am doing this time.

Take Care, and God Bless you all!

...oh yeah, RajinC - the neulasta was my source for pain and it sounds like you are having similar SEs to it.