Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

Hi Everyone,

  Just thought I'd chime in to say CHEMO IS DONE!  Haawho!!!  Let the hair growing begin!   Now it's four weeks until surgery than recovery, then it's on with my life...

  As far as the fatigue ...yah.  that one was my biggest side effect to contend with.  Hopefully that will begin to get a little better now.  I fear that after chemo and surgery, what if I learn to like the slower pace and time on the couch watching tv...no, I think I wanna live life to it's absolute fullest.

Janet

Julie,

I researched Herceptin when I thought I would be on it...I will not.  During that time I saw many threads about it causing weight gain...esp in the stomach.  A search for "Herceptin weight gain" and "Herceptin stomach" will return the results.  Then you can sort by relevancy to get the most applicable at the top.  I'm so glad Herceptin is available to the HER2 +'s.  It is a difficult regimen but so effective.  Best luck on it.

Janet - congrats on finishing chemo.  What surgery will you have?  You are ready to move on!!

Janet,

I have some tissue and muscle from my back...latissmus dorsi.  But I have tissue expanders and will get them exchanged for silicone implants after I finish chemo.  Good luck with your surgery, growing hair and moving on!!

Janet:  Congratulations on finishing chemo!!!!!!  You DID it!!!!  All the best to you.

Hi Marvels

Week 4 of rads started today. Only 10 more doses to go. Yippeee. The travelling is tiring , radio is easy. A bit itchy but they told me to apply an cortiosne cream to relieve the itchy skin.

Getting quieter on this board.

Pink hugs Susie  

Texas Rose - The Taxol has been really hard.  I did much better on the FAC.  I think the steroids are the problem, but the doc says I wouldn't want to be on Taxol without them.  So, I am just muddling through.  I had a dark spot in my left eye after round 6, but the eye doctor said it is a floater and it comes and goes and is an annoyance but not dangerous.  The onc confirmed that it was caused by the steroids.  My biggest issue is is sinus, ear congestion which causes a headache, sore throat and ear ache.  My onc recommended that I consider postponing my 10th round by a week.  That way, I'd have a longer time to recover from it before I have the final 3.  I will have my next 2 and then see how the side effects are.  I don't like the idea of ending a week later, but will definitely do it if my side effects keep getting worse every round as they have been.   I'm with you on the slimy taste, brows and lashes.  My hair is coming in too and my nails are fine too.  I was surprised at how different I look without lashes...I too draw on the brows, but w/o lashes I look sickly.  I'm tired of wigs and only wear them when I go out...which has become rare except for driving carpool.  I'm so glad you're getting through your treatments and glad they took you off the trial drug.  Your blood pressure issues will provide research data too...right?  Best luck with #8 tomorrow!!!!  Hope your blood pressure will be under control.

Lassie - Good luck with your herceptin/Femara and rads.  Keep us posted!  So glad your MRI was clear! 

Susie - wow you're moving along so fast...10 more!!...probably 9 by now.

Titch - hoping the SE are still not bad.

Deb - how is Taxol going?  You're getting #8 this week like TexasRose aren't you?

Susie- You are getting so close!!! I don't know how you make that drive!

Lassie11- Congrats on the MRI! That is good news!!

Jo Anne- Congrats on being done!!! I'm assuming you are done now!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Benisse- The eye dark spot sounds annoying. Thank goodness it's not dangerous. Do they think it will go away after chemo? My eyes are a little blurry sometimes. I have trouble seeing the TV sometimes. My clinical trial nurse told me I could schedule an eye exam as soon as chemo is done. I think my blurry will go away. I only get steroids the day of treatment. None before and none after. I am so glad they do it that way here. I'm sorry you might have to postpone. I hope the side effects go away and you are able to stay on schedule. The sinus issues sound miserable. I am sick of my wigs too. I only wear mine when I go out and also don't go out much anymore. I realized the other day that most of my leaving the house is to go to the hospital. Part of that is the tired. Part is hating my new (but temporary!) look.  

I was surprised that they were keeping me in the trial after taking me off the drug, but yes, I guess that is part of it. Studying the side effects. My BP issues should teach them something. I did have treatment today. BP was high again (although it was fine before I left the house). I keep telling them they scare me! LOL Today was #9. Only 3 more to go!!

I see Deb on Facebook and don't think she will mind if I share that she had to delay her treatment last week. She was a week ahead of me. Now we are the same week. I believe she gets her treatments on Thursdays so she should finish October 8th. I think.

We are getting so close!! Besides me, Benisse, Titch, and Deb- who else is still doing chemo? I feel like I'm forgetting somebody and I hate that. Chemo brain. Maybe I'm thinking of Shelley as I see her on Facebook also.

Hugs to all! 

Hi All,

   I haven't posted anything for quite sometime, but I read this thread almost everyday to keep up with everyone's progress.  It does seem to be getting quiet, but I like to think that is a good thing and that people are getting on with their lives and busy with the day to day activities which make life full and rewarding.  I think when we began this journey we were filled with fear and questions and we were overwhelmed  Now, maybe we're learning how to tend to our health needs, while still tending to the other things life has to offer.

  JoAnn:  Congrat on finishing chemo.  Good luck with rads.  You'll have to report to all of us what the findings are for the chemo brain study.  Namely,  how long can we claim "chemobrain" when we forget things in the future! 

   Mary:  Good luck with the blood pressure.  Did you have blood pressure issues before cancer?  

  Benisse:  Sorry that you're being pushed back one more week, but I think it'll be worth it.  I  was also pushed back one week when I had a reaction to the Taxol and the Onc.  changed me to another drug which wasn't approved for dose dense treatments. 

  I'm a little jealous that your hair is coming in already!!  My husband says he thinks mine is too, but I think he's crazy and just trying to make me feel better!  I know what you mean about the lashes and brows making you look sick.  I feel the same way.  Last week I think I looked worse than I had during this whole journey.  I look really sick.  I pencil in brows...use a ton of mascara on the five or so lashes I have left and I'm even breaking out with tiny pimples on my chin...oh yes, a vision of beauty!   Makes me really look forward to having surgery in three weeks so we can add bandages and scars to my loveliness!!!     

  However, I know we're all different and we have to do what works for us, but I want to get out as much as possible.  I've even taken a couple substitute teaching assignments since the school year began.  (and if you want to feel self conscious - go into a fifth grade classroom wearing a wig!)  I feel better when I'm busy (perhaps why I don't post too often) and can think of something besides "cancer". 

  Well, that's it for now...take care everyone.

Janet

Hi Marvels

8 doses to go!!! I have clocked up 1600 kms on 7 days which has been exhausting plus I am stll trying to work and set up my new business. No wonder I am intolerant at times, I am exhausted but holding it together. I had to go and see my own Doctor, as family and friends thought I was going a bit stir crazy!!! She reassured me that I am quite sane. It seems that the change we individually experience is hard for friends and family to come to terms with. I have definitely changed and no longer suffer fools gladly, plus I now speak my mind out loud and frequently!!! One of my best friends was concerned that I was loosing the caring, sharing side of my personality. I tried to reassure her that it is still there but I don't show it much as I am reserving most of my energy and strenght to heal and protect myself raher than others. Is anyone else experiencing conflict with friends and family due to changes within yourself? I would love to hear that I am not alone!!!!!

Pink hugs all. My thoughts are with you girls still in Chemo, nearly there girls, chin up and kick some arses along the way!!! Hehe.

Lori,

  Thanks for the congrats!  I'm glad that rads haven't been too bad for you.  I'm starting my rads in about a month (need to call and get scheduled).  I better go check to see that there's an October rads group to "graduate to."

  Regarding the "BC card," I have been pulling it more and more as time goes on and I'm more fatigued.  I had my car dealer come and pick up/deliver my car for an oil change today (usually has to be a bigger service call), got rides for my kid, and got a ride for my Neulasta shot.  Ordered Chinese food in for my daughter's birthday--expensive but easy.  Easy is good.

  That's all for now!  Good luck to all with their chemo/rads/or just moving on!

Jo Anne 

My last dose in 2 hours time and then it is all over for me. I am never going to go through this again should the bugger come back. It is too hard, been poisoned & fried!! The boob is painful due to being burnt and I am told it will get worse over the next 2 weeks, yikes!!! So chicckies please all hang in there. Titch and I caught up again yesterday. It is wonderful to be able to talk in person as to how much this trip has changed us and how we now feel. I am going to see a Counsellor as my friends tell me that I am loosing my sweet caring nuturing nature!!!!! Frankly I now don't have time in my life for loosers and I now say what I think loudly and clearly and I don't have a problem with it.  So if any one has a problem with me they can just bugger off because I really don't care anymore!!!

 Final rant chickkies!!!

I am sticking around to see how you all go. Keep talking girls, awfully quiet or are you just hiding quietly? Speak up so I can hear, New Zealand is a long way away, so you really need to shout.

Where the bloody hell are you mate?

 An Aussie ad for tourism!!!

Sunshine and pink castles in the air to all.

Fondest love Susie

I have been  hiding out quietly, just reading how every one is doing, we all went thru so much together on this thread, and i think about all of you!

Vicky(love4my4girls) I havnt seen your post in a while, last i seen you were having DEIP, how are you doing now? How are things with dh? hope you are fine

Tom n Di- How is your sweet wife Di doing? hope she is tolerating all the SE

And a big hug to all of you

big angel hugs, debbie

Debbi - thanks for asking about Di.  She's doing remarkably well considering that she's just completed 16 weeks of dense-dose chemo.  Her last treatment was yesterday (Thursday).  We realize it will still take about 3 to 4 weeks before she starts to feel like she really is done, but we're both very happy that the chemo is over.  The s/e, although they've taken a toll, have not been as bad as what we anticipated nor what some of the rest of you have had to deal with.  I have to give credit to a lot of prayer and her great health going into this thing.  That's not to say it hasn't been hell nor is it to say that she's any better than the rest of you.  But each of you is a unique, sharing a common experience, a sisterhood that only those who have been through can fully appreciate, yet a sisterhood you wouldn't wish upon your least favorite sister.  As I told the Junies, each of you is my hero.  Y'all hang in there and enjoy getting better and stronger.

Tom

Hi everyone

Glad to see our thread light up again!!  Susie--I go for my last RADS at 2:15 today.  I had 33 total with 9 boosts to the scar/tumor bed.  I am sore, burned but so happy to be done  with active treatment.  I have no time for the friends that sap my energy anymore-- it is like getting divorced-- you can really clean house and  get rid of pseudo friends. Tommy-- glad that Di is hanging in there.  It is such a life-altering experience in way too many ways.  We all need help and support. Good luck with RADS Julie and JoAnne-- much easier than chemo but the fatigue is mind-numbing some days, so be sure to rest when your body tells you to. Keep using the lotions-- the more you take care of your skin the better things go.

Big hugs to everyone

Helen 

Hello everyone.....

I have been around lurking.......  It is so good to read how everyone is doing.

I am still having my chemo.  I have had NO SE this time around, I love CMF.  But I was violently ill 2 weekends ago, not to sure what it was, Whether I had an infection, chemo , gardening I did with new soil that says low immune people can't touch it (I read the packaging after), the diet I put myself on (to try and get rid of the steroid round face)  or something else, I did nearly ended up in hospital.  Only my own stubborness prevented me from going in, I was only just under the temperature of going in.  Thankfully I am over it.  But the Thursday after, I went to have my chemo - 3 hours later they declined me having the treatment.  Saying my bloods were to low, I had to see the oncologist also, since I hadn't gone into the hospital when I was sick.  Trying to check me in hindsite was awkward, I got a growling also, but that was all good.  But whilst there they discovered I had lymphodema in my back.  Noone told me I could get it in my back, I have been so cautious with my arm.  So I had to see a nurse and get strapped up.  Which is still taped but way better. 

I had to go back and have chemo this week and thankfully all was good - 3 more to go then rads, which I am not looking forward too.

I saw the wonderful zuzee on Thursday, both of us in between hospital visits.  It is amazing having someone knowing exactly what you going thru and so positive and still living.  I just can't wait for this part of my life to be over.  I am kinda over treatments.  Whilst I have been well, I am very lucky, but I am just over all the treatments.  I just want my life back to myself.