Starting Chemo Aug 09

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  • Kayel
    Kayel Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2009

    Happy Saturday Ladies!

    I have not posted for a while but I tried to get caught up on how everyone is doing.  It is so exciting that some of you have finished chemo, congrats!!  I am sorry for each of you that are experiencing bad SE's.  The end of treatment will be here soon.  Keep your chin up!

    I just had #4 taxol on Thursday and I have to say taxol has been very kind to me.  I have had really little to no bad days this round.  I have found that each treatment has left me more tired but I am really doing well.  I have been taking a B vitamin which was recommended to ward off neuropathy and I drink a ton.  My family got the H1n1 vaccine this week and have managed to stay well with so many sick around us.  I have been playing tennis weekly and just went back to yoga (which I highly recommend).  We participated in Race for the cure on a cold and rainy Sunday a few weeks ago.  I had 54 people on my team!  It was awesome!!  I really see the end now even though I am at the halfway point.  I am  looking forward to the new year (although not looking forward to radiation).

    I hope everyone feels better this week.

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  • Kayel
    Kayel Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2009

    I meant to say I am looking forward to the new year (just not radiation)

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Kayel - glad to hear that Taxol is treating you so well.   I start my 12 weeks of Taxol next week.  I asked my Onc about vitamin B and he was not very enthused...but then he hasn't been all that positive about any vitamin or diet regiment I've asked about.  He said if I get neuropathy he'll reduce the dose.  But why do that if vitamins help prevent it?  Do you mind if I ask what B vitamins you are taking?

    Jenn - I'm always impressed with your positive spirit despite the hard time you are having.  You are an inspiration!

     I'm looking forward to a great week and then the leap into the unknown...TAXOL!  Today marks the halfway point of my 24-week regimen.

    Patty

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited November 2009

    msmpatty, doesn't that half-way mark feel so good???  I just finished my 4th out of 6 (taxotere,carboplatin,herceptin) treatments on Friday, so now I can officially say I'm 2/3 done! 

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Weety - these little milestones certainly do keep one going.  Hooray for your 2/3 done!

    Patty

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    Checking in at 11p because I fell asleep at 7pm, woke up an hour ago and realized that my DD who is babysitting for my cousin still isn't home and of course I won't sleep until she gets home......

    Although I was tired today I managed to weed my front garden, turn the soil and now it's ready for planting, which I may try to get to this week.  I also repotted a plant that was gift, have not idea what it is, but it's pretty and looks good in the beautiful orange pot I found on sale a few weeks ago.  I then ran to Michael's to get some stuff for a project I'm working on.  As y'all know the SE's of chemo have not been kind to me and I do try to get up each day with a good attitude and do manage to get out move a pretty good bit.  However, I do have at least one or two days in which I'm feeling really down - mostly because I get tired of the pain - the rest of the SE's are manageable.  Anyway I was watching the Today show a few weeks ago and there was a lady on that has MS I believe (can't be sure), she can hardly walk and suffers with a lot of pain.  After calling her friend (who is also spiritual advisor) to complain, her friend told her rather than focus on your pain and what you can't do - give back.  Even if it's small, like open a door for someone, hand a flower to someone and I thought I can do that.  I can give back again - which was something I had done before BC.  I love to help others, which is probably why I've had such a hard time accepting help. I decdied for my first project I will make little tulle bags filled with Kisses, tied with a note card that I'm stamping (hand made) with one of two sayings, Live, Laugh, Love and Be Happy and the other is Free Hugs.  I'm going to bring them to chemo next week and hand them out to everyone I can - waiting room, hallway, chemo room, receptionist, lab nurses, chemo nurses...... Now of course I have to figure out the next project and squeeze in Thanksgiving prepartions, but I'm looking forward to it.

    Patty - Thank you for the support I really really appreciate it.

    I wanted to add - I only have 6 more Taxol to go!!! 

    Talk to y'all tomorrow.............

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  • Kayel
    Kayel Member Posts: 28
    edited November 2009

    Patty~    I am taking Nature Made brand Balanced B-100 Complex.  I have no idea if that is contributing to feeling good but I was told that it would help with energy as well.  I am not usually a big vitamin gal but I figured it was worth a try and my onc. approved it.  I hope it works for you.

    Jenn3 - I hope you feel better this week.   The little gifts you are making sound so nice.  They are sure to brighten spirits.  I am sorry you are having a tough time.  You are so kind to think of others.

    Weety~ Congrats on the 2/3rd mark.  It feels great to mark those days off.

     Is anyone else as forgetful as I have become during cancer.  I keep misplacing things constantly.

    Have a great week!

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    Kayel - I'm laughing at your question about forgeting things.  I was telling my trial nurse just Friday that at the rate I'm going I'm going to find my shoes in the fridge............  I have misplaced more stuff around my house and found them in the strangest of places.  Most recently I lost a damn dog bowl, looked and looked couldn't find it - somehow I put it with my regular dishes - DH found it.  Lost my bagels - found them in the chip basket.  Oh......... I can't forget the milk I put in th pantry instead of the fridge....... It's giving my family something to laugh at..............

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Kayel - Thanks for the B vitamin info.  I think I'll get some and start right away.  I had one afternoon of serious chemobrain. I left my purse in the middle of the aisle of the grocery store, forgot my son's doctor appointment and was generally totally befuddled.   Hasn't happened since, thank heavens!

    Patty

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Okay...now that Jenn has mentioned the chip basket...last week I accused my son of taking the bag of fun-sized Snickers to his room.  He vehemently denied it and we laughed about how someone must have broken in and the only they took was the bag of Snickers.  I found them the next morning in the chip basket!   My bad.

    Patty

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

    Jenn I NEVER sleep the night of the chemo (due to the steroids) - the nurse suggested I take Tylenol PM but why bother?  I always eventually fall asleep (like at 5 AM) then get up at noon and go for my neulasta shot (oh what fun it is to have chemo)!

    I have my last Taxol tomorrow and not soon enough.  After Taxol #3 I find that at end of the two weeks my toes still feel a little funny (not numb but maybe feel swollen even though NOT swollen).  I'm told this is related to the neuropathy one can get as a result of the Taxol (and the Neulasta, for that matter).  I'll bet all your aches and pains are also from that Jenn, not that having a name for it makes it feel any better.  I try to get off the Advil or Tylenol as soon as the pain goes (which it did a few days ago).  I guess this means my last Taxol will be hurting me for two weeks (damn).

    Do you find it sometimes feels funny to walk Jenn?  Not pain but just like there is something in your shoe?  I am told that is the neuropathy.  So weird. 

    Hope everyone is having a great night!

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    Good morning - Waking up to the Saints making it to 8 - 0 for the first time in franchise history.  Whoo Hoo!  Good thing for the win because the weather is gloomy today and looks like it may go into tomorrow. We have a small Hurricane/Tropical depression in the Gulf giving the news outlets something to jump on - anything for news...................  I started with the pain last night and am a little achy today, but it's Monday and I'm always achy on Monday and with the bad weather it sounds like a good day to just stay in and not do too much.

    Lilah - Isn't chemo night the worst?  I tried taking Benadryl this time and it didin't work, I finally just put on a few movies, played on the computer and just waited for my body to fall asleep at 4 am then woke up at 7am - ugh! The bottoms of my feet are extremely tender and I occassionally get sharp pains.  I've noticed that when I wear my cute shoes the pain is there within minutes vs tennis shoes which are much more comfortable - not as cute.  My trial nurse suggested it may be the early signs of neuropathy a few weeks ago.  I'm hoping it doesn't get worse than this, I only have 6 more tx to go................. Congrats on the last Taxol - I know you're happy!!!

    Patty - Sounds like you're doing the same silliness I am.......... Isn't it weird to just lose things and have no memory of putting the item in the other place?

    Hope everyone has a great day! 

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited November 2009

    Hi everyone - tomorrow I will be two weeks out from my last DD  taxol and am hoping I will begin to see improvements. I have numbness in some fingers and toes and the soles of my feet are very tender with skin still peeling off. Jenn I don't know how you manage to take walks!! That is not osmething i can handle right now. Though part of my foot problem is related to the broken bones, I feel like my foot is swollen too! I also got numbness in my cheeks - very odd.

    Fatigue certainly built up over chemo. I am shocked at how much I can "rest" and then sleep at night.

    I'm waiting to start rads, this week or next. Got my tattoos last week.

    Hope SEs are at a minimum for you all ladies. Enjoy the day.

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

    Sitting in my treatment center getting final Taxol as I write this (netbook) and drinking so much water I think I have gone to the bathroom 3 times in 3 hours!  (3 1 pt, .9 fl oz bottles of Poland Spring since noon lol).  I admire you Jenn, for walking so much!  My dog would love me so deeply if I'd only take her for a 10 minute walk!  I am a bad mom.  She must settle for rough-housing over chew toys and frequent trips to the back yard.  I guess this "swelling" feeling is better than numbness and tingling... but still hope it goes away.  I do NOT want permanent neuropathy from this cure.  A few weeks ago during the Breast Cancer Awareness month programming/features on the Today Show (btw, I feel I am all TOO aware of BC, thank you), there was a doctor on the news who said the current treatment for BC is equivalent to fixing a broken light switch by bombing the house; I so relate to that.

    Keep on keeping on ladies! 

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • kristin09
    kristin09 Member Posts: 56
    edited November 2009

    Hi all,

    I haven't posted since before my last treatment on Oct. 30.  Jenn & Karen - thanks for asking about me - it's good to be missed! :)

    I am well, although had a bit of a rough week after tx#5.  My parents came into town to be with me for this tx and to help out around the house and with the kids.  It was good to have them here although I wasn't much fun to be around. The typical fog and achiness set in on Monday (after a Friday tx) and lasted through Wednesday.  I returned to work on Thursday and have been better since then.  The most awful SE continues to be the terrible taste in my mouth - way beyond metallic and it just never goes away.  I chew gum and drink flavored water all day, plus I snack a lot to get rid of the taste.  Aarrgghh!

    I am very happy, however, because I only have one more tx!!  Nov. 20 is my last and then we figure out what to do from there.  As many of you know, I am still in the decision phase of whether or not to do a MX or just follow chemo with radiation.  I am going to Mayo the first week in December to meet with some other doctors, so we'll see what they have to say.  I don't EVER want to do chemo again!  I bet that others out there feel the same way, eh?

    I am still seeing my personal trainer through the study at my cancer center and have been on the bike when I'm able, but I find that I am much less flexible and I let it stop me from doing things when it should be the opposite - I should exercise more.  Oh well, I'm trying to cut myself some slack.

    Gill - I just started experiencing fatigue after tx#4 and again after #5.  Probably due to the fact that I am officially anemic now, although my RBC count hung in there for a long time before going south.  I wake up after a good night's sleep and feel exhausted all day long.  I'm actually glad that I'm working - it helps keep me awake and productive!  If I were home, I'm afraid that I'd sleep all day. 

    Lilah - I got a good chuckle from your comment about being all too aware of BC - what a hoot! Pink pizza boxes, pink movie tickets, etc. etc. etc.  I'm just glad that so much money is making it's way to BC.  I also agree with the "bombing the house" phenomena; I can't wait until chemo is a thing of the past and I have no doubt that it will be someday.

    We are in the midst of planning a post-chemo trip to Disney for the first week in February.  Go Mickey! :) 

    Has anyone heard from Donna?  I hope that she's well.  For that matter, I hope that all of you are well.  Take care!

    K 

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    Checking in for a second time today - the weather is gloomy, windy and getting darker as the Ida moves closer into shore.  It looks like it's going to hit as a Tropical Storm along the Miss/Ala coast, giving us the east side of the storm.  Which means some bad weather and coastal flooding for the low lying parishes. 

    The pain in my hands and feet are more intense today than they have been in the past - hopefully it will subside in the next day or two along with the pains in my back and legs.  I do worry about permanent damage/pain from neuropathy - I'm trying to will it away.......  As I was walking today and today was hard because it was especially painful I was thinking - "please don't cause me so much pain I can't walk".  The walks help keep my sanity and I don't want to lose the walking......

    Gill - So glad you're finished with chemo - I know it can't be soon enough for the SE's to start fading.   Do you still have shingles and how is the foot/boot?  I keep walking for my sanity and I enjoy walking the dogs. Some days are much much harder than others and on the hard days I take it one block at a time talking to myself the entire time.................. Most days I can push myself, other days like today I could only make it 30 minutes before the leg and foot pain was too much.  

    Lilah - I started walking my dogs on a regular basis right after watching Dog Whisper for the first time years ago - and it works!  It did take time to learn to walk 4 dogs at one time w/o leashes tangling, trying to chase a cat or another dog, but I learned, they learned and we walk really well together. In the summer when I'm walking sometimes I'll hear the kids screaming "the dog lady's coming".  I guess I should be thankful they're not sceaming "it's the crazy dog lady".  They are really well behaved and it helps with their energy levels.  I do a walk first thing in the morning, let them come in for a cool down, feed them and then they sleep for hours.......................  Now when I go back to work they'll have to get used to the afternoon/evening walk again or I'll have to find a way to get them out twice a day - we'll see.  Good for you for drinking so much water!

    Hope everyone has a great evening!

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

    Jenn -- me too on willing it away!  Don't know if it will work but dammit it's worth a try :) 

    I have to watch Dog Whisperer, clearly.  Love the image of you walking all your dogs!  You go girl.

    After all the weeks of chemo I have to say the next few weeks are going to be the hardest (waiting for the SEs to go away and looking forward to the end of the Taxol... have a month to feel good before I have my RMX on December 9... sigh... then it's dealing with a different kind of pain).

    I'll keep checking in here regardless and cheering all of you on.

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    It's so nice to see everyone nearing the end of chemo!   Loved the light switch/burning down the house analogy.   It certainly feels like that sometimes.  I think about how healthy and energetic I was and then WHAM you get the diagnosis and pretty much experience one painful procedure after another.   When they were checking me in for my first surgery the nurse was going through this questionnaire and asked "Do you have any serious medical conditions?".   I was a bit flummoxed, so I said "You mean other than the fact I have cancer?"  We got a good laugh over that.

    Kristin - good to hear from you!   I definitely had more fatigue on #4 (last) of my AC phase.  Like you I have TXs on Fridays and starting Monday evening through Wednesday evening I was pretty much a lost cause.   Things started looking up on Thursday and have gotten steadily better.   Chin up!  Only one more to go!

    Lilah - I'm totally with you on being so OVER BC.   A friend asked me what I thought of all the hoopla during BC month and I told him I think it's great that this disease raises so much money for research and it definitely helps people close to those that have the disease feel that they are helping...but for me, if I never see pink again it will be too soon.

    Jenn -There is an article on this website about pain killers that are helpful with neuropathy.   If you go to the home page and type "neuropathy pain caused by Taxol" in the search box, the article comes up.  Have you tried any of these?

    Patty

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

    Oh Patty thanks for that info re: pain killers for neuropathy!   I am gonna check that out :)

    Love that exchange you had with the nurse too -- sometimes the questions they ask are just so out of touch with reality.  As for BC Awareness... yeah: I mean before I was diagnosed I had my annual mammograms and assumed I'd never have cancer of any kind because no one in my family has ever had it.  But I was dutiful (probably due to BC Awareness month) about gettingB checked.  I am glad I did because they caught mine pretty early (though I wish it had been early enough to have avoided the removal of lymph nodes, sigh).  It's amazing how much there is to know about this disease once you get it.  When my boyfriend had to have his gall bladder out it was so simple: he had pain... they diagnosed his pain as gall stones... he saw a surgeon... the surgeon scheduled surgery... they removed his gallbladder laporascopically (sp?)... he recovered with a tiny scar.  I wish I had had THAT instead of this.  Sigh.

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    Good morning - Today is a gloomy day, overcast and windy.  Ida didn't get close enough to us to affect us, but did give the media something to do....................  excitement........... LOL.  And.... I do have to correct myself I mentioned somewhere along the way yesterday that we were getting the east side of the storm, we are not, it's the west side. Not that it matters, but as I was sleeping last night it came to mind and I thought "Jen do you even know directions anymore"?  My youngest daughter (18) started feeling sick Sunday, no fever, but by last night the fever kicked in so it's off to the dr in an hour to catch this bug early.  Ugh!!! 

    Kristen - I don't know how I did it, but I missed your post - I am so sorry.  Glad you checked in. Glad to hear you're still exercising - I remember early on that was something you wanted to keep up with.  I wish I could help you with your surgery decision, but it's such personal decision, one that really makes us dig deep for the answer.   Whoo Hoo Disney - I love Disney!!!!   Somehow when you walk through the entrance it IS "The Happiest Place on Earth".  Once you get there all of life's troubles fade away and it's nothing but fun................  I'm not sure of your timetable and what plans you're making, but we also have a WONDERFUL time at Universal Studios and Seaworld. 

    Patty - Thanks for the info on Taxol and Neuopathy - I woke up this morning with my feet and hands tingling....... Ugh!!!  I'm trying to will it away.  I will look up the information. 

    Lilah - I thought I knew a little something about BC, until I was dx'd - clearly I knew nothing.  Even now I feel so lost when reading information on the various different types of BC.  I'm like you  - no one in my family, either side has had cancer of any type and I've never really know anyone close with cancer - this is all so new to me. 

    BC awareness and all the pink that goes with it is good, it raises money and awareness, but I feel like a lot of companies are capitilizing on the "PINK" stuff.  I read an article recently that companies sell the pink stuff during October, but only donate a tiny portion.  Two examples in my own home.  I bought Cascade dishwashing detergent and Swiffer something or another at Sams - the only choice was "pink" on that trip.  Came home, daughter read the boxes and it was donating .10 for each purchase up to a maximum of $50,000 (company wide).  I can assure you they made a lot more money selling it because of the pink color........................ Okay - I'm finished with my rant.

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Sorry to continue the "rant" about companies capitalizing on the "pink", but Cascade and Swiffer are made by P&G which did $79 BILLION in sales last year and spent $7 BILLION on advertising.   I guess I shouldn't quibble with a $50,000 contribution to BC, but it does seem really chinzy for a company of this size.

    A  little local store that sells prosthesis, wigs and other items for breast cancer victims has a donation jar for contributions to women who have it and who don't have health insurance.  Can you imagine?   It's just heart breaking.    Maybe some corporation needs to take this on as a cause.

    Patty

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

    That IS heartbreaking Patty.  And so now in addition to being annoyed -- I am getting angry.  It's like all it all really is is a great big commercial for the product... and not what it claims to be.  There's a wonderful organization in North Carolina called the Pretty in Pink Foundation that helps WOMEN IN NORTH CAROLINA who cannot pay, get money to pay for health care.  Why isn't there a national organization like this?  I am fortunate in having good health insurance, but many do not have it and it is something everyone should have -- everyone.  I can't imagine having to go through this AND worry about money (as it is, the hoops one must sometimes leap for the health insurance company can be tedious). 

    Getting off my rant now.

    Cheers :)

    Lilah

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    I'm with y'all - thank you for the $50,000, but how can you USE the pink to earn more money without donating more than .10/item.  I say continue the rant............ and remember this next year when you pick up something pink - find out how much of the proceeds actually go towards research and funding BC.

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  • kristin09
    kristin09 Member Posts: 56
    edited November 2009

    I totally get what everyone is saying about using pink to make money.  However, as long as companies aren't raising their prices to compensate, I'm okay with it.  After all, if 10 big companies donate $50k, that's $500k more than BC research had to begin with. I'm not defending them (not totally!), and certainly they are doing it to sell more product, but they are in the business of making money and donating some of their profit is still "donating".  Don't throw tomatoes at me!!  :)

    On another note, I have decided to stay in the bisphosphonates clinical trial.  You may recall that after my first zometa infusion I was in bed the next day with a fever and other flu symptoms which I later found out were SEs of zometa.  My onc is having them do the next infusion over one hour instead of 15 minutes and that should help.  We'll see.  I don't want to drop out unless I have to but chemo SEs are bad enough! 

    Lilah & Patty - I had that same thought about insurance when I was in the office waiting for an exam.  I couldn't imagine going through all of this and having to deal with all of the bills on top of it.  My husband and I consider ourselves very lucky to have good insurance. 

    Jen - thanks for the tip; we have talked about doing Universal one day as this is our 4th trip to Disney.  We'll see.  We get sucked in by the "magic of Disney" every time!!

    K 

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

    Kristin you are right -- $50K is still $50K and if that adds up across companies it is better than nothing.  Anyway my beef was just the constant reminder anyway :)  I love days when I'm so involved in my normal life that I forget I have breast cancer. 

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited November 2009

    Good morning - checking in a little late - had to get labs and meet with the trial nurse today rather than Friday because she is getting married.  Yippeeee for her............ Getting ready to head to the movies and lunch with my mom and sister. 

    Kristen - Good luck with the trial - maybe knowing what happened last time will help them adjust some of the medications to lessen or elimiate the SE's.  I'm crossing my fingers for you.   I won't throw tomatoes at you.............. I'm all for donating in any amount, but I guess it makes me feel "used".   I hear ya' on getting caught in the magic of Disney - it's hard to find time to go to other parks, but I have to say my girls love going to Universal and Seaworld everytime.  This last time we got to Universal when they opened and literally stayed until closing time.

    Gotta run - running late for the show.........

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Good morning!  In an attempt to calm my fears about my first Taxol TX this Friday I've been madly researching.   This hasn't really calmed me down but I did find some interesting things.  

    Here is one that might interest you Jenn.   I found an article which summarized the experiences of 450 women on Taxol at the Cleveland Clinic.  They focused on "hypersensitivity reactions" at the time of the infusion.   One such reaction they listed was "severe back pain", which I believe you've had.  Their protocol to reduce this (and other reactions) involved extra steriods and Benadryl.  I don't profess to understand it all but the article comes up when you Google "Paciltaxel-associated hysersensitive reactions".  It is the one from www.jco.org.   Anyway I thought of you because it seems pretty clear you are very sensitive to this drug!

    The other kind of enlightening thing I learned was that the face numbness I experienced at times during my AC is actually a type of nueropathy.   Kristin, was it you that also had this?  I'm not sure this information is good news, but at least its an explanation.  For me, it came and then it went.

    I've started taking the B vitamin pills I bought.  Thanks for the tip Lilah!  I'm with you on enjoying the times when I forget about this crummy disease.

    Patty

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

    For what it's worth, Patty, my doctor's office gave me at every Taxol infusion: benadryl, tagement (which they said was an antihistamine though it sounds like an antacid so maybe I am spelling it wrong), and steroids.  I always had all three (one at a time) first before the Taxol.  They also gave the Taxol to me slower the first few times (over like 3 hours I believe) and even the second two times they started slow and sped it up as time went on.  I never had any pain during infusions; just fell asleep from the Benedryl for about an hour and a half (which makes the time pass).  My pain has always been a few days later.  Interestingly, since this week was my final Taxol they did not have me return the next day for Neulasta (which I've had after every other chemo infusion).  And today I am more tired than usual but no pain (taking Advil though just in case).  So maybe, for me, the Neulasta was a contributor (Neulasta also causes neuropathy). 

    Re: B vitamins... that tip wasn't from me.  I did not take any.  I also would check with your doctor and make sure she/he is ok with you taking them.  Mine was very specific about me not taking any supplements except iron (to raise my red blood count).  Some vitamins are believed to work against the efficacy of the chemo. 

    Cheers,

    Lilah

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  • msmpatty
    msmpatty Member Posts: 818
    edited November 2009

    Thanks Lilah.   I asked my doctor about the B vitamins.  He wasn't all that enthusiastic that they will work but he told me they wouldn't hurt.  Like your doc, he's pretty negative about vitamins and supplements overall.  Doesn't it seem kind of funny that a little vitamin pill could undo the effects of the massive amounts of toxic drugs they put in us? 

    My Onc mentioned  the same list of pre-meds you are getting and told me the first TX will be dripped at half the normal rate so they can address any bad reactions.  The article from the Cleveland Clinic indicated that when they see a reaction they stop the treatment, do more pre-meds, and then start the infusion again but even slower.  I just thought it would be interesting to Jenn because they considered back pain during the infusion a "hypersensitive" reaction, as opposed to just a side effect.

    Congrats on your last Taxol!

    Patty

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

    Good point Patty (for Jenn) -- sorry I must be having chemo brain today (for not getting it the first time lol :)

    Less pain this week (is it that I didn't have the Nuelasta shot? Hmmm.... ) at least so far anyway.  But more tired.  It ain't over til it's over.

    Have a good day Patty and everyone!

    Cheers

    Lilah

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