how long before chemo is totally out of system?

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited September 2009

    Trish - so pleased to hear that you are feeling better. I am 8 weeks out and it is amazing how I started to feel better, although not quite there yet, but def on the way.

    I never believed I would feel like this again. Have a good night all!

    Judy x

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited September 2009

    Thanks Judy! :)

    So -- dumb question: what does "tx" mean -- does it mean "chemo"?  I thought TX means taxol but it seems to me that people talk about getting a "tx" of other drugs (not taxol)... is there a glossary somewhere on this site?

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • JudyNaomi
    JudyNaomi Member Posts: 1,413
    edited September 2009

    You are so welcome Llilah! I hope you are doing ok.

    Have a good weekend, Judy xxx

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  • nChapelHeel
    nChapelHeel Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2009

    Ladies,

    To start,  my wife has only had one chemo treatment, AC, and she is listless. The next treatment is Sep 30. We get 4 of AC and then 4 of Taxol. While reading this thread and noting the side effects and the cure, I was thinking of the massage that was mentioned in several postings. My rsponse is, why pay for one when the hubby can do it AND it may help provide for greater intimacy when the SE's are gone and sex can be fun again. 

    Just wanted to see if any of you tthought this was a viable oprtion.

    nChapelHeel

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  • trishK_
    trishK_ Member Posts: 93
    edited September 2009

    NChapelHeel- you are so great that you are on this website being an advocate for your wife! God bless you! And as for the massage, it is very helpful, but not very pleasant to be honest! It HURTS! But it is for the better good, so if you can learn some of the techniques on how much pressure to use etc you would save money and be a participant in your wife's recovery. But at the same time, you may not want to be the person inflicting "discomfort" on her. I am jumping out of my skin when i get my massage because my muscles are so tight and sore post chemo.

    Maybe you both can get massages together at the same time and still enjoy the intamacy of being together and experiancing it as a team?

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  • TomnDi
    TomnDi Member Posts: 63
    edited September 2009

    Lilah - there are a lot of acronymns and abbreviations out there; I'm still trying to figure them out.  But tx stands for treatment. Some of the other terms include:

    bc Breast cancer
    BM Bilateral mastectomy
    DCIS Ductal carcinoma in situ
    DIEP Diep Inferior Epigastric Perforator: a type of breast flap surgery
    DD Dear daughter
    DH Dear husband
    DP Dear partner
    DS Dear son
    gyn/onc Gynecologist/oncologist
    HRT Hormone replacement therapy
    hyst Hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus
    LCIS Lobular cancer in situ
    mammo Mammogram
    mast or M Mastectomy
    recon Reconstruction, or reconstructive surgery
    sono Sonogram
    u/s Ultrasound; or ultrasonographic examination

    Hope this is helpful.

    Tom

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited October 2009

    Tom!  Thank you so much for the glossary of terms :)  I do love the DP one... since that's what I have (and calling him boyfriend always seems to me to be insufficient).

    tx = treatment!  Wow -- at last I can read all.

    nChapelHeel - absolutely give your wife a massage!  Am thinking I need to summon my DP right now for same.  A/C was no problem for me but Taxol/Herceptin (had my first Monday) has left me feeling like I was hit by a mack truck and dragged for miles.

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • oldCowgirl
    oldCowgirl Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2009

    Hi girls, been busy lately and have not been on the site. I am 9 weeks out from my last chemo tx and just finished my Rad. last week. The Rad. tx's were a lot easier than the chemo, pc of cake compared. I have gotten back a lot of my stamina, but still have a lot of fatigue in my large muscles and the neuropathy in my feet is trouble. They hurt all the time and when I walk it feels like I have no skin on my feet from the ball of my foot to the tip of my toes. Is anyone else on here having this problem and any suggestion. I go back to my ONC on the 12th of Nov, plan to talk to her about this then also, she is aware of it, but told me to give it few months to see if it get better, but it has not, if anything it's gotten worst.

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  • allie1075
    allie1075 Member Posts: 27
    edited October 2009

    Good Morning, I have been wondering if there was anyone else out there with neuropathy.  Mine feels the same way that you have described, also it is like your foot has gone to sleep. (the prickley part)  I  was given medicine for it, sorry I don't know the name, I am at work and the RX is at home, but starts with a G, it does nothing, so last Friday i called my onc and practically begged for pain medicine.  He did call in a RX, doesn't make the pain go away, but makes it more tolerable. Please let me know how you are doing.  I have just finished 18 of 34 rads, seems like a lot more to go..

    Good luck,

    Allie

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  • echosalvaje
    echosalvaje Member Posts: 191
    edited October 2009

    I too am still having neuropathy in my feet. About two months ago I started getting a painful lump that is hardly detectable on the ball of my foot. It feels like I'm stepping on a golf ball. I was looking forward to walking a lot now that I'm feeling stronger, but this foot thing is keeping me off my feet. I don't know if the numbness caused me to injure it at some point or what but the podiatrist had no answers.

    Today is #16 of radiation with 19 to go. So far, so good. 

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009
    Old cowgirl....Congrats on finishing rads!!  I will be done on Thursday!!
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  • oldCowgirl
    oldCowgirl Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2009

    Allie and Echo, the Rad treatments will over before you know it. With going everyday, they just are over with before you know it. I got a little red from them and a few blisters, it did burn me all the way thru to my backside, had a big round red spot right on my shoulder blade, looked like someone had hit me real hard with a ball. That got a little sore and some blisters too, but it is fine know. Did seem to get a little tired feeling at the end of my treatments, but nothing too bad.

    As for my feet, if I could get this neuropathy to go away I would feel pretty good. One good thing, I does not bother me much while I am riding my horse's, that is a good thing. Somedays they hurt soooooooooooo bad I am almost in tears at work. As I have posted before I am a mail carrier so I am on my feet A LOT during the day, but I am tough, and I just 'COWGIRL UP' and take the bull by the horns. Like I have told my friends that know me well,"this bronco will not throw me off"

    You girls keep your heads held HIGH, we shall over come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Congrats ccbaby, I know you are ready to get done with all this, I know I was.

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009

    I am so sorry to the girls out there suffering from neuropathy. Will it get better as time goes on?

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  • oldCowgirl
    oldCowgirl Member Posts: 16
    edited October 2009
    CC - that is what I  keep telling myself all the time and it could be worse. But the facts are, it may never go away, the nerve damage sometimes is permanent and if it is, then it's a small price to pay to have my LIFE :)     I can still hold my grandkids, love my family and hubby and RIDE MY HORSE'S.                 LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Wink
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  • trishK_
    trishK_ Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2009

    Hi Ladies!

    I think i got off easy with the neuopathy after all. i have some numbness in my fingertips and occasional feet and lower legs feel like they fall asleep. But not any pain. i am sorry to hear that some of you are having such troubles! I made up for it with the watery eyes, and fingernail damage.  I am now almost 9 weeks post tx and my eyes are still running! Better than before but not close to being done. My nails are still very sore and lifting a little, i have not lost a nail yet, but came close on a couple!

    So glad to hear about all of your progresses, Congrats on finishing RAds Cowgirl! CCBABy and Echo- you are both almost done! that is fantastic! I didnt have Rads but can totally feel your relief to have them end!

    Cowgirl- I had my mare colic last week for the first time in her 14 years on this earth! And it was so stressful but the bright side of it was that i was able to be there and nurse her through it for 3 days! i realized after it was over that i had been walking her, shoveling, pushin a wheelbarrel, and grooming her! I wasnt able to do that a few weeks ago! So yes, we do finally improve!!!

     Take care girls!!!

     Trish

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited January 2010

    I think I can finally answer my own question. I am 6 months PFC now and feel like the chemo is finally out of my system. My hair is growing faster now, and I just feel overall better.  I am still on Herceptin for 2 more months and I am sure I will feel even better then.

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  • happyfollicles
    happyfollicles Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2012

    Christy - I just saw your post and say you had a similar diagnosis to me.  I have only had one chemo treatment so far - have to have 5 more and the continuation of the herceptin.  I was curious how many chemo rounds you went through and what drugs you were given.  I'm on Taxotere and Carboplatin.  Just trying to get a handle on typical side effects and what to do for them. So far bad stomach and heartburn.  Anything you can share would be appreciated.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2012

    happy - check out the TCH thread:

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/578284?page=488#post_3210738

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  • Maryland73
    Maryland73 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2016

    Thank you, everyone, this is helpful. I'm halfway through 12 weekly Taxols. Pattern is: Wed Taxol ok, Th and Fr the pre-meds of steroids, gastro, and benadryl help; then the weekend is Whompville and I stay in bed. Mon sort of ok. Tue ok. Foot and hand neuropathy, low blood pressure and fast pulse. Taste buds weird; no hair including in nostrils. My right breast mastectomy no reconstruction was 12/2/15 and went very well, as did the healing. Was supposed to have 4 every-other-week AC Adriamycin and Cytoxin, but the 3rd one shot down the red blood cells and I had to have a transfusion. I think I will have another transfusion this week. Healing and good health to everyone!

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