Starting Chemo in July 2009

Hi PS73,,,, Here is the info you are looking for

Http://bb67.wikispaces.com/

Goodluck

 Sheila

Thanks Shelia

Triple J's-Joni2 checking in.  I'm not at work today (day #5 after treatment #4 & final TC) but I probably could be; just don't feel like it!  Had a MUCH better weekend than I thought I would and that makes me feel more humanoid-not completely though-I still have my Jedi-ness about me.  

Hope everyone's week goes better than the last, even if the last was the best!

Joni2

Hi! I'm new but I did start chemo in July! I'm done with 4 of 6 rounds of TAC. Hope everyone is feeling good.

Hi Lauren, welcome to the thread   I think we may be two of only a few here that are doing TAC.  I just finished my 4th round last Monday.  I can't wait for the next 2 to be done!

Hello All,

My wbc was 6.7 last Friday and I sucked on ice through the 2nd round of Taxol yesterday  It was tough to stay awake because of the 50mg of benadryl I got, but I was determined to suck on ice for the 3 hrs during Taxol since it helps with the food taste thing.  I felt tired at home, but didn't take a  nap.  Even though I took 2 benadryl last night, I only slept about 3.5 hrs.  Went to bed at 1 and slept til 5:30 this morning.  I feel pretty good now, but when the steroid high wears off, I'm sure I'll crash.

I found out the steroids help with the toxic chemo treatment to reduce effects on the kidney and other organs.  Maybe it keeps the blood flowing faster or something.  Anyways, I only got 40 mg instead of 60 mg last time.

Some lady getting chemo started having chest pain or something and got taken to the hospital ER.  I hope she will be okay, but my husband overheard someone say they don't know if she will make it.  They pulled curtains closed so I'm not sure what they were doing or what condition she was in.  Very scary as I was getting chemo at the same time.  I pray for her and her husband.

I hope that since I sucked on ice, food will taste better this time.  The chemo room was much emptier than the last few times so I asked why and the chemo nurse said there were quite a few patients who's blood counts were too low to get chemo. 

Well I have 2 more Taxol to go so I'm heading toward the finish line.  Then I'll have my port removed, my ovaries and my right good breast removed  as prophylactic measures and start the 5 yr. hormonal therapy.

Congrats to all you who finished AC and to those that are completely finished with chemo!

 I hope for those that are still getting chemo, you have minimal or no SEs.

Connie

Sorry to hear about your FIL Lisa,  I will pray for him and your family.

Hello Triple J's

I hope you are all having the best week possible.

Lisa I am so sorry to hear about your FIL. You and your family remain in my prayers.

Welcome Lauren. You are almost done now! I have also completed 4 out of 6 rounds of chemo, different regimen to you though, I had 3 x FEC followed by 3 x Taxotere.

Wanda congratulations on finishing A/C! I haven't expexperienced the darkening hands yet, but hopefully someone else will be along who can help on this.

Gill I hope your foot is doing OK. I bet you are fed up with that boot by now. The end of chemo and your birthday are 2 great reasons to celebrate.

Liz congrats on becoming the poster woman! I agree all of us have come such a long way and our lives will be changed by all this. We are so strong though.

Having said that, I have found this first round of Taxotere quite hard. I didn't get the nausea I had with FEC, but I had joint/bone pain for a couple of days and my mouth has been worse on this drug. My tongue is coated and food doesn't taste right. I know many of you will have been through all this already. It is interesting in a way to notice the different side effects I have got from having a different drug. I have also felt very tired, more road kill than Jedi. I have been trying various remedies and I'm hoping I am over the worst now.

Be well and stay strong.

Hey Triple J's, Congrats on all who are done with chemo. I had my second taxotere treatment today. It does not  give me nausea. Just some bone pain which I think is from the neulasta shot, and then from the drugs so the two combined to make me hurt. Got a strange rash on the forearm but it cleared up really quick.

Jayne, you said your tongue was coated, is it white, it might be thrush which I got with the first treatment. They give you magic mouthwash for that.My tongue was white all over it and some on the sides of my mouth. So go  look then call the doc, I was am taking claritin for the bone pain from the shot but they said it might help with the taxotere also. Read another thread on this drug. Worth a try as I need for my allergries any way.

Good luck to all and hugs and strength Dianne 

Sherri YAY for finishing your TC!  Hope the herceptin and radiation go well for you.

Stef yes my tongue did have a white coat, gross! I think you are right about it being thrush. They have given me some mouthwash and suggested a few other things to try and it is loads better today. I don't get the neulasta shot but I certainly had bone and joint pain for a few days. I have bought some Claritin to take next time to try to prevent it.

This morning I had a check up with my surgeon. This was basically a physical exam and a chat and all seems to be going well so far. As a bonus I got a new prosthesis, which is a better size for me to balance out my partially expanded TE side against my natural side. Getting dressed had become a bit of a challenge. They had lent me one before but it was too large for what I need, so they ordered a couple more for me to try. The new one is great! Once I have finished radiation and my skin has (hopefully) recovered we will continue with reconstruction.

Wishing you all minimal side effects. Hugs.

I finished my last chemo yesterday, I am done !!! Nausated more than the last 3 but I see the end.Hope your all of your ends go as quickly as mine

God Bless all of you, be strong

Lori

Hi ladies,

I know it's been a while since I've posted but I've been following along. It lifts my spirits greatly to see that many of you are done and seem to be doing well- congrats! Everyone else, you can do it!! 

I'm continuing to be my mom's cheerleader. She has 3 more taxol left- next one is Wednesday. Overall, the side effects on Taxol have been easier for her than AC, though it has all been emotionally and physically draining for her. We are very much looking forward to that last chemo day- she wants to have her port removed immediately afterwards- and I don't blame her! Then she will have a break followed by 6 weeks of radiation. After chemo, though, we don't think the side effects will be too bad.

I'm thinking of you all and cheering you on! Stay strong!

I am hoping to get my port out right away too!  I'm scheduled for my next Tx on Wednesday but I feel like a cold might be coming on.  Will they delay treatment if that's the case?  I really hope it's just allergies!

A month I can wait.  Just hoping my oncologist doesn't want me to wait a year???

I have had to shave my legs a few times throughout treatment as well.  It's growing slowly but it is growing.  The hair on my head that didn't fall out originally is growing slowly and sticking straight up too.  But it's still sparse.

I have 2 left also.  One this Wednesday and one October 14.  My hair is growing veryyyyy slowly too. 

It's sparse, it is the hair that never fell out... I noticed a few white ones too.  I am having 6 TAC treatments total as far as I know.  4 down 2 to go.