Starting Chemo Aug 09

Hi ladies, sorry I have been missing my post I can't believe my last post was on October 21st. It figures that was the day before my last chemo, well tomorrow is chemo #6 my last one. I am so anxious (not in a good way) to go tomorrow, I am glad it's the last one but I was so sick after #5 for 2 weeks. On Friday when I go in for my Neulasta shot I will also go in for my Sim and CAT scan for rads which I will (against the advise of my Onc.) start next week, I am determined for financial reasons to get in as many rads as I can before Jan. 1st. My insurance copay is $50 per visit so rads everyday for 37 days = $1850. Since my max out of pocket has been met this year, no copays till Jan. 1st. Anyway I know what everyone has been up to even though I don't post much now I do get all your post on my Blackberry. Thanks for wondering where I was.....here I am! Like I said chemo 5 was real bad for me, I can only hope that the last one will be better. I am so fat now and do not want to stand on that scale tomorrow! I have as of 3 weeks ago gained 27 lbs since diagnosis, I was already about 50 lbs overweight. I guess this is my next big battle since my weight directly effects my chances of reoccurance. I quit smoking the day I was diagnosed, cold turkey, no problems but the diet and excersize is so hard especially when you feel so cruddy all the time.

Hey ladies.  Just checking in!  Good to see Kristin and Donna back!    It's so nice to read how everyone is getting so much closer to the end of chemo.  I've been feeling pretty good for the most part except for some aches and pains and getting tired so easy.  All of a sudden one of my big toes started to hurt the other day and I think the nail wants to come off.  Very gross!  Anyway, I hope you are all having as good a day as possible.  Hugs to all!!

Hi all,

Patty - yes, it was me that had the facial numbness; I'll ask my onc about neuropathy, although my experience was after the infusion, not during.

Donna - glad to hear from you.  I understand completely how you're feeling about #6.  I feel exactly the same, anxious to have it over but a bit nervous about going through another one.  At least after this one, we'll know that we won't have to experience the aftermath again. 

I'm also anxious because, at this point, I have no idea what my next steps are.  Since we're going to Mayo on Dec. 1, we have to wait and see what they say.  I have multiple paths: 1) go right to radiation, no more surgery, 2) mx with immediate reconstruction (DIEP), or 3) mx followed by radiation followed by reconstruction.  I am leaning toward the mx and doubt that I'll choose option #1 but if none of my docs think a mx is needed, I might be swayed.  A lot hinges on my post-chemo MRI and/or mammogram.  If they're clear, my decision is harder because it's basically up to me.  If they're not clear, definite mx.  Anyway, sorry to write all of that, it's not really relevant for you, but it helps to write down my options.

I have my zometa infusion today and I'm pretty nervous about what tomorrow will bring, I just hope that doing it over 60 minutes instead of 15 does the trick.  We'll see.

Other than fatigue and the awful taste in my mouth, I'm doing well.  Although I have to admit that a bit of nausea seems to follow me wherever I go these days.  But it's not too bad and I'm almost done.  Happy dance!!  :)

K 

First of 12 Taxol today!   It went fine, I had no reactions during the infusion.  I'm so relieved.   My Onc says my bloods counts are "fantastic", even after the AC.  So that's a minor miracle!  I'm about six weeks behind you Jenn, so I finish the last week in January and start rads in March. 

Kristin, my face numbness showed up about day 7/8.   It was wierd timing because all the SEs seemed to be on the mend by then.    Here's something I discovered about the lingering nausea I had on my last two AC...Pepcid helped when nothing else did.  I guess what I thought was queasiness/nausea was actually an angry, acid stomach and the Pepcid worked like a charm. I think it is great you are getting the all expert opinions on your surgery.  There really isn't a definitive right or wrong answer.  If you choose the route that will give you the most peace of mind, you'll be doing the right thing.

Hi ladies!

 I hope you don't mind me jumping in here.  I am 33 years old, married with two young children.  I started chemo August 27th of this year.  I have had 4 rounds of A/C and 2 of 4 rounds of Taxol with weekly Herceptin.  I have not had surgery yet b/c I have IBC but am hoping for a bilateral MRM for Christmas.  Ugh. 

Have a great weekend, and if it is ok I will try to catch up with everyone! 

Hi ladies,

For my weekly Taxol the Taxol itself only took 1 hour and as I had no reaction issues the speed made no difference.  I received steroids, (dexamthasone) Benadryl and an antinausea (rita something, cannot recall now).  The protocol says infusing the 3 drugs 30 mins before before taxol minimises the reactions.  They would take about 30-45 mins altogether.  They watch you carefully the first couple of times for allergic reactions.  The steroid helps get it out of your system to minimse SE's.  The benadryl manages allergic reactions and makes you very sleepy.  If they infuse that too fast you get "restless legs" which is really irritating.  I reduced th steroid from 20 whatever units to 10 and it improved my jitteryness afterwards and helped a little with sleeping.  The Zoladex is still pretty bad for sleeping though.

I have to weigh in on the donation comment.  I am mixed about all the pink stuff.  While it is great that BC does get funding, and a lot of it is due to the hype (most other disesased don't get this level of awareness and funding) I do know a lot of manufacturers use it as marketing.  So any money is better than no money.  But I do try to make myself aware of how much they are donating and choose to support/purchase products that have stronger commitments or donate more.  There is a benefit to all the "BC brand awareness" as far as research and funding, etc. but right now a lot of it just reminds me when I would rather forget.  Oh well, I don't get out much lately anyway!

So my update is that I will have surgery this Tuesday Nov 17.  It will be the BMX with removal of lymph nodes on the BC side and immediate placement of TE's.  I have decided to go the route of the less invasive implants.  So next steps will be to wait for the all important patholgy report to find out what and how much more chemo and then if rads are needed.  I did not get much notice and was actually working until I got the call around noon this Wedneday.  Have been racing to get things done.  So now I will be off work until after x-mas for sure and then we shall see regarding chemo etc.  But I plan on going back to work during chemo.

So I will be out for a little while.  All the best everyone and have a great weekend!  Yo 

Hi All,

Wow, I acually missed a whole page in my reading.  Oh boy.

Jenn, just had to say, I know what you mean about going back to work.  I have been working all along but as I think about going back after the BMX I feel like I want to hide and I feel nervous.  I am not even there yet.  Not sure if it is about comments from people, which will mostly be supportive (or sympathetic-Argh, the hardest for me), the "new" me and adjusting to it or I don't know what else.  Seems it is part of the BC territory, all the mental game.

Best of luck to you.

I get sort of tickled imagining everyone rambling around in the middle night on our steriod highs...makes me feel like I have company.   I'll try just about anything to go to sleep...melatonin, Tylenol PM, warm milk, warm bath and, if all else fails Ativan.  Last night I had a bad case of restless legs. Head wanted to sleep, legs wanted to go dancing!

Jenn, I think that once you get over the initial hurdle of going to work again, you'll be happy you did.  I've worked throughout my TX and find it really helps to take my mind off myself and makes life seem "normal".   I must admit, however, that my situation makes it easy to work.   I own my own business which we operate out of wing of my house.  So when I need to rest I just head to the sofa, and let my colleagues take over.  

Welcome Lori!    Best of luck with your surgery YoYo!

Patty

Yo Yo- Best of luck with your surgery this week!

Ah Jenn -- I hear you.  You want to be normal again.  Work is normal.  You don't want to be fussed over.  You don't want the burden.  I know how you feel.  It's why I have told very few people... I find it nice to go on with my life and be "normal" to everyone (somehow they either think "why is Lilah wearing a wig?" and don't ask me or they believe me when I say I got a new hair style and Japanese straightening lol).  Anyway you are right that once you get there and start doing it again you will feel better.

On another note -- this week I noticed a new SE -- the skin on the bottom of my feet (around my toes and balls of my feet) is peeling!  It's as if I had a sunburn and the skin is just coming off.  But the skin is not dry.  I moisturize but it is coming off.  What the heck is this?  I will ask my doctor (maybe tomorrow) or even the nurse practitioner in her office but it's strange to have a new SE at this stage of the game.  It's not itchy either (so not athlete's foot, at least I don't think so -- anyway athlete's foot doesn't make the balls of your feet peel, does it?)  Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Lilah

Thanks Jenn!  I'll search the boards and see what I can find re: peeling feet (my doctor never asked me that but then she only asks how I'm feeling, doesn't like to put ideas in my head lol). 

Have a wonderful trip!!!

Cheers,

Lilah

Lilah - I had peeling feet on taxol. I am three weeks out from the last taxol (4xDD) and the peeling seems to have stopped. But my feet have been tender too and walking was not fun. So I think it is a normal part of taxol.

Jenn have a great time with your sister. My sisters are in England. I haven't seen any of my family since dealing with bc, but I am hoping to go see everyone in the spring.

(I start rads today!)

Lilah- I have not experience peeling feet on Taxol although I think Taxol can cause extremely dry skin.  My hands, since I have been on Taxol, are itching like crazy even though they are not overly dry (at least not for me, I am a crazy handwasher so they are always somewhat dry).

 Gill- good luck with radiation.