Starting Chemo in June 2005

NoSurrender
Its wednesday here, we are about 12-16 hours ahead of you depending on which side of the countries.
"Fi- I have heard the expression that triple negative girls don't need taxol. Which means they are ER/PR -, Her2/nue-, and node negative."
I am all of those things

"Many docs are hitting girls with the full monty nodes or no nodes. Personally, I think it is overkill unless your cancer was so aggressive they believed they needed the extra boost Taxol can give you."

Again, that's me unfortunately aggressive (and invasive), but I now don't understand how taxol is giving any boost


IT was definitely the hormone side of it the doctors mentioned yesterday though, I remember laughing to myself about it cause it comes down to that bloody implant issue I've mentioned before as I don't have my ovaries.

I do remember very early on being told that there were "very little treatments open to me as I had one of the less common variations/combinations", perhaps its as simple as something's better than nothing, so lets give the taxol a whirl.



ps ladies, I still count my blessings every day that my skin over the lump got itchy when it did (believe it was the skin stretching too fast similar to pregnancy tummy itch if that makes sense), this trip could have been so much worse, I am lucky in so many ways, that's what keeps me smiling.

Fi

Hi Wendy-- Re: Oncotype

I've copied in a link from another board I visit-- youngsurvival.org-- an advocacy group for young women with bc. Some of the posters had an active discussion about the Oncotype assay test-- a couple of the women are research scientists, and I thought the info was helpful.

Good luck.

http://www.youngsurvival.org/?fuse=discussion.board.read&forum=24&id=6794

Hi everyone this is Pam have not had anything to say but have been reading. To the Taxotere and working question...I had my third Taxotere last week. I don't have any pre-meds other than steriods and I really think I could have worked full time. Days 4-5 I am very achy and have taken a darvacet a couple of times when tylenol did not cover it. I hope you will be able to work and do fine.
I am so glad alot of you got the mouth wash I talked about I love it! (mine is swish and swollow to cover the sores in my esophogus too.)
I have two questions...I will get one more Taxotere and then start the FAC. Is it that much worse than the Taxotere? I have had no nausea or vomiting at all. What about FAC?
I have gained 20 pounds...has anyone else gained a bunch of weight? Is this normal?

Pam

Wendy- hey girl!
I wish I could have that test! I can't because I am ER-. But you CAN GET IT if you are ER+ and STAGE 1. AND the reviews are in and they are GOOD. It seems this test is a good prognosticator. I say go for it- fight for it if you have to!

Darling Fi- I rang all the bells breaking the aggressiveness scale and my tumor was heading for the chest wall. I am ER-, Her-2/Nue- and node negative. I did not get taxol but I did my chemo three years ago. NOW they would most likely give me Taxol. Way back then (!) they only gave it to node positive women.
Taxol is a member of the taxane family of drugs. It is a chemotherapuetic agent. It is not a hormonal. If you ARE er+ you have a wonderful menu to select from. IF YOU ARE ER- then your doc would say:"very little treatments open to me as I had one of the less common variations/combinations" because they aren't working as hard as they should on ER- treatments.
Taxol is a different kind of drug. A/C works in two ways to kill cancer cells in their various stages of development and taxol works yet in a THIRD way to kill off the buggers. THAT is the boost- you are offered another weapon in your arsenal.

Pam, I gained 18 pounds with chemo. BC is one of the cancers you actually GAIN weight from. It is so not fair! BUT it is also easy to lose when you are all done.

FAC is 5-fu plus a/c... that is a strong combo but not an unmanagable one. You should do alright if you keep your stomach full at all times and drink your water and take your meds religiously.

Brenda Sweetie-
Even people with cancer can get lumps that are nothing! I know I am one of them. I had a huge lump in my breast DURING chemo that they took out. Turned out to be a 'misplaced lymph node" - I think it was a nosy lymph node that wanted to see just what in hell was going on down in my boob. It had seen a lot of action lately and the curiousity was killing it!

You could have a touch of lymphedema if it is in your affected side. Or aback up of fluids in the lymph node because they don't know which way to go any more. It could also be an infection since you have no immunity and it could be an ingrown hair!

If your doctors aren't panicking then that should be a real comfort. It is when they say "OMG! HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HERE!!! CALL 911!!!" that you may start to wonder if you should be worried.

Don't have any jokes but a friend has recently taught me new ways to type the things we talk about here:

If I was talking about breasts I could just write :
(o) or BIG ONES ( O ). BUT(t) it gets better:
did you know this is the international symbol for a butt?

(_!_) and a BIG one is (____!_____)?

So we have ( o ) ( o ) and (__!__)
And in case you are a pirate I guess it would be

( o ) ( ~ )????

Did I mention a MAN thought these up?
Did I have to?????

NS,
I AM ignoring him. It wasn't worth my energy to ask him any questions. Just a goober all around. HE asked me if I needed any med refills. I said, well, I am running low on ambien. He told me to take benadryl, it was cheaper, then walked out the door and that was the last I saw of him!
I physically laughed when he left. If I decide to get more ambien, I'll just wait and ask my onc. However, one of my friends is a pharmacist and she's always told me to take Benadryl. (but not because it was cheaper! lol)
Thanks for the encouragement!

Hey gang,
I don't know if any of you do meditation or stress reduction techniques, I know I haven't been. So, just in case you are interested, I wanted to share an exercise I learned at a meditation class last night. I found it to be a nice relaxation. Stand with feet shoulder width apart, arms at your side. VERY SLOWLY begin to lift your arms out to the side...take as long as you like.

When your arms are straight up, hold your hands together and VERY SLOWLY bend forward as if you are diving into the water (do NOT think about the murky ocean, ladies. We've been there too many times. Think about a nice, cool, bubbly, refreshing mountain stream with the breeze gently blowing across your bald noggin...)

When you have reached as far forward as you can (like trying to touch your toes), take a deep breath and then kind of force it out. Do this 3 times, then SLOWLY come back up, still holding your hands together, to the starting position with arms over your head. When you reach the top, kind of bend back a bit and do the breaths 3 more times.

Repeat the bending/standing sequence 3 times, then VERY SLOWLY lower your arms back down to your sides. Feel aware of your body sensations at this time. Gently return yourself to what ever activity you are going to do next.

Another meditation we did was to sit with eyes closed, and then focus on the sensation of having thumbs (sounds weird, but go with it). Then focus also on having pointer fingers. After a minute, focus on the space between your pointer fingers and your thumbs. Imagine the space becoming mist or fog. Continue to focus as long as you like. It may sound funny, but it really helps you clear your mind because of what you are focusing on!

I felt so relaxed and so good after this class. It showed me how much I had been neglecting my mental health these past two months. I hope you all will try these things just once, OK??? You just might find something that helps, even for a couple of minutes. And sometimes that's enough!

LizFL - my B-day is Jan 16th.

Jenster- I will NEVER forget the winking pirate. I am headed for that look myself and thank you for giving me something to laugh at.

Nancy - I am going to try those relaxation exercises, Thanks.

Pam - Had my first of 4 treatments of FAC. Monday and tuesday weren't too bad, but today it has kicked my behind. I have nausea that reminds me of morning sickness. I haven't felt that in 24 years!!! Hopefully it won't last more than a day or two. No pain, just been sleepy all day. Good luck to you.

Take care all.

Good luck to everyone who has had treatment this week or is due to have treatment. The "on" weeks are always rough in one way or another. Just think about how we "snowflakes" are leaving all these dead cancer cells in our wakes. Combined, we are probably killing quite a large number of them YES!!!!!!!!!

Minerva...it is hard for us Capricorns not to be able to plan everything way in advance! Drives you nuts, doesn't it!

Liz

Being on Taxol has improved my appetite because of the steriods. I am continuing to take steriods now for the rash that developed last time.
It is strange I felt lousy the day before and of treatment but my blood counts were better than ever before. I don't even have to have a neulasta shot this time.
In the course of my itching last week I also found a lump where my lump had been. I had been avoiding that area as if it was toxic. Anyway I have had two Dr.s palpitate it now and they both agree it is regular scar tissue.
I have to get over the feeling that my breasts are loaded weapons.......
Feeling that lump again brought it all back in a rush of fear and anxiety.
I am on so many drugs now I know that my reaction was not completely my fault but somehow I have to keep feeling the breast and come to terms with them as part of my body again rather than "something other than me".
So I had Taxol number 6 yesterday. it was the best treatment I have had so far. No suprises and I slept through most of it.
I know the aches and pains will come but I feel prepared and for the first time feel like I can and will make it through the two more treatments I need to receive.
Hopefully the itching will be less this time. At least I know I will speak up sooner and more vigorously if it returns.
I keep wondering what Dana Reeves is doing and thinking about today. Does she have her hair? Has she started Chemo?
I have spend so much time obessing about my stage of BC and hearing her news made me throw my hands up in the air and say "O.k.no more!" What ever will be will be. I can't try to micro mangage the the risk factors. I know I never really thought I could but I pretended it was so.

BRenda,
I am sure you will be getting good news today. Let us know as soon as you can.
We will be thinking of you.

Hello all. Just wanted to ask if anyone has a suggestion on getting rid of the awful taste in your mouth. And I need to make a correction from my last post. I stated that I had my first FAC but I was in error it is FEC. Anyone else taken this type of chemo?
Thanks

Minerva, I know a lot of women get it. I asked my onc, and he says it's the standard at MD Andersen, so it's good stuff!

Brenda - I am so happy for you. It is wonderful to have positive news.
I have been nauseated for two days and just wondered if anyone knows how long this will last. When I took the Taxol, I had it in a 12 week cycle (low dose) and didn't have the nausea.
Thanks for the input.

Yippee Skippee Brenda! No more jello legs!

Minerva, are you talking about the gross metal taste? It helps me to use plastic silverware.

I had AC #3 today! Am I the only one still doing AC? lol
I don't care because I only have one more of those to go then I'll join the taxotere group.

Pam and I had a lovely lunch today before my chemo. Don't worry, we didn't talk about you guys.

Later!