Starting Chemo in July 2009

gillyone, I will be doing #3 Taxol on Wednesday, then one more to go after that. I have a pretty good appetite, and yes, everything seems to be tasting a lot better now!!!

Hey Triple J's, Looks like there are still some of us out there. Gilly, I am on taxotere and the food taste great. Sometimes too great. Right now i am having thrush problems again. This stuff just makes the mouth sore. Calling the doctor again if it does not get better. Glad to here about everyone's stubble. Is anyone having problems thinking, now what after this stuff is all done. it scares me to think about what comes after. I do not have to do radation, so I am free to do what I want. I know that I am going to lose all this weight becasue of the ER/PR +++. Have a great day Hugs Dianne

Hi Triple J's.

I am not done with chemo yet. I still have 2 more to go and should finish on 22^nd October if there are no more delays.

I still have quite a lot of hair on my arms and legs but just a bit of stubble on my head, oh and no nasal hair.

I am on Taxotere now and I have had thrush in my mouth. While my tongue had a fur coat food was not tasting that good, but now my tongue is clear food tastes good again. Unfortunately I am still having trouble with thrush in the corner of my mouth which makes it quite painful to actually eat. Today I got a prescription for Fluconazole which is a single dose anti fungal med. I'm hoping it will clear it up. It quite amuses me that I have been so careful not to get a bacterial infection but first I got a virus (shingles) and now I have a fungus. What's next I wonder?

Stef I also need radiation and as I am ER +++ I have been told I will need to take some form of hormone treatment for 5 years. Has your onc said anything about hormone treatment for you? I have also been wondering what will come after the hormone treatment.

Lisa sorry to hear about your flooding. I can totally understand your concern about bathing/showering in the water. Public swimming pools are safe for most people but my onc doesn't want me using one while I am doing chemo. How about calling your onc as it is chemo related?

Triple J's.....still here. Had last AC yesterday. Now a month off, then 12 weekly taxol treatments.

This was my best AC yet. After all the nausea/vomiting last time I'm so thankful.

Still have arm & leg hair. Thinning hair "down south", limited nose hair, eyebrows and eye lashes.

I'm ER/PR +++ and was told I'd be on Arimidex for 5 years. No ovaries. Don't know if I'll start while on rads or after. Started consult with Dr. Marga Massey at NOLA for Diep flap surgery about a year from now. Have to wait till 6 months out from rads. Wow girls, it's going to be a long haul.  But look how we've done so far. 

My best to all,

joni1

I'm still hanging in there.  I have my 5th TAC next Tuesday and my final TAC on October 20th.  I have a 2nd consult for rads on October 12th although I think I have myself talked into it again <shrug>  I am hoping my body is as good to me during rads as it has been on chemo.

I still have hair on my arms, some grew on my legs (I've shaved once since July 4th) and there is a hint of it on my head.  As an allergy sufferer I can tell you that no nose hair sucks LOL!  I have my eye lashes and most of my eye brows although they have some patches.

We're almost there ladies!  Be strong...there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Hi gang o' mine!  Had my visit with radiologist today- get marked up on Thursday & start rads on Oct 1 hopefully!  My hair never fell out again after treatment #2 so my stubble is about 1/2 in to 3/4 long and white (but my hair was mostly white before).  Daughter & I went in for photos tonight for church directory{{{{{{{{{{{BIG SHUDDER!!!!}}}}}}}}}}}} They were so bad! We chose the lesser of all the evils but the timing was certainly not considerate considering my situation (like they're going to schedule the functions around my hair loss or not)

Hang in there girls-We shall survive (Think disco)

Joni2

twinmom - I have my last taxol on October 27, so will be right here with you. I, too, am tired of the constantly runny nose. My eyes are a bit runny too, but much less bothersome than my nose. My poor nose gets raw and sore with the constant wiping.

Generally I am feeling pretty good. I get tired but can handle that. Though I don't think I could hold down a full time job. I own a preschool, and have hired teachers so that I don't have to be there. I try to go in every morning just to say to parents and children, then leave when I feel like it. I am still taking care of the business end, and shopping for snacks and supplies but am so pleased to be able to leave things in capable hands. (I don't really make money this way, but at least it keeps the business going).

Hang in there everyone. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Gilly, My last treatment is the same day. Taxotere. This stuff is giving rashes now, get the thrush cleared up and the rashes start. Anybody else with this problem. Grandson today gave my head a rub and he just laughed. Trying to teach him wear his is too and he has more than me. Can see darker hair, but it is only starting to crack the scalp. Feel like a garden, see what is growing everyday and how tall. the white hair is about 1/4 inch long and starting to thicken up. or maybe it is gray  HAHA, good laugh on me. Have great night And hugs Dianne

Had #7 Taxol yesterday, one more to go on 10/7. Meeting with radiation onc next week to see when that starts, also still on weekly herceptin till 10/14 then it will be every three weeks. We are getting there!!!! Hope everyone is feeling good!!

P.S.  Has anyone seen the movie Living Proof?? About Dr. Slamon who invented Herceptin. My husband and I watched it the other night, it was a great story, we were both crying by the end of the movie. Anyone who is taking Herceptin should really try to watch this.

PS73.....I posted the question in Femara thread too. About 4 weeks ago I developed this achy sharp pain feeling. Even to a touch I felt this strange pain all over my lumpectomy side breast.

Of course I panicked, called Onco. he said thats definitely not cancer related and< Call the BS>

he is on vacation so last Saturday I took myself to ER (before losing my mind completely) they took blood, had an US everything is normal. Now it feels much better. Are you on any meds?

I do understand and feel your anxiety. Any pain or anything else right away i think the worst.

 Sheila

PS: I love my oncologist hes been very good to me. Again I think he shouldn't dismiss my fears

Lauren3....If its bothering you mentally ask the DR. Don't live in anxiety.

I had a port when I was DX it didn't really bother me.

Good Luck

 Sheila

I'm a worry wart too.  I grew up in Bergen County BTW, in Morris County now!

The port doesn't physically bother me -- LOL -- it drives me insane to know there's something in there sticking out of my vein though.  Silly really, when you think of everything I've been through!

Hi Ladies,

I have a quick question. Did anyone of you ladies notice while getting chemo treatment your finger nail start getting darkner. Did anyone of you lose your finger nail?

KARENVW......I thought I would be starting hormone therapy alongside radiation, but onco said "no....when radiation is over".  I guess it's so any se can't be confused with which treatment?  I'm really having a hard time accepting the aromatase inhibitors, but according to all the data, it is the most important treatment between all of them to prevent reoccurence and really decreases the odds. Patti