Starting Chemo in June 2005

I never really get a metallic taste...more of a taste like something crawled into my mouth and died there! I just hope and pray my mouth doesn't smell as bad as it sometimes tastes! I have tried adding lemon to things, chewing lemon, ice pops, etc. Helps a bit, but the taste just seems to have a way of staying until it's ready to move on! Comes and goes with me. I thought I was getting thrush again this week, but so far my tongue is ok. Have tried different mouthwashes, etc. The only thing that seems to make it better for a while is eating or drinking something with a strong flavor. I think that is why I have developed an addiction to cranberry juice (I mix it with pear or guava juice).

Liz

CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA! That's great to hear...halfway through is wonderful. I think I'm going to like the three week instead of the two week a lot better. Gives you more time to feel decent! I think I will probably start Taxotere on 8/25. Will know for sure tomorrow when I see onc.

Liz

I am sure that we would all have a great time if we saw each other in person...but seeing "Watson" in person today was an absolute joy. Ya'll she is so fun and bubbly, one would never know she is going through chemo! I wish you could all meet her! It was a healing time for me..Thanks Watson.
Pam

The above annnouncement was paid by the Watson for Chemo Queen committee. lol

I thorouhly enjoyed our lunch. Pam is a great brave lady with beautiful children heading to fabulous schools. We plan on meeting up regularly.

Pam, i sat there and ate that whole sandwhich while gettin chemo. i can't figure out why i gaining weight. lol





chemo is still going okay. my ambien has hit and i'm fading fast. I'll try to get a Houston/Texas area group together to meet. The chat room is having a meet in St. Louis on Sept 17and 18. thye've got over 25 people confirmed so far. i won't be able to go due to chemo and family stuff.

Scout, you live in St Louis, huh?



Good night! i guess I'll take a preemptive zofran for tonite. then wait and see for tomorrow.

Watson...you can count on my vote for Chemo Queen. If you get a group together for Houston, I may be able to go depending on the timing. My 2 year old granddaughter is in the Houston area, so that would certainly be an incentive for me! My grandson is in Austin and we do try to get to Texas at least once a year even though that's no where near enough grandkid time!

Minerva, I just stumbled on to the cranberry juice (had bought some when I had a UTI after surgery) and now I crave it. Mixing it with a sweeter fruit nectar like the guava or pear seems to reduce the acidity for me. It is pretty nice when something tastes like it's supposed to! Cardboard just isn't very appealing!

Liz

Does everyone's taxol or taxotere take that long? I won't be on it for a while yet, but jeezo.
I asked my chemo nurse about that last time and she said the taxotere would only take an hour. I take premeds the day before and after? I think she said something like that. Oh well, the things we endure.

Hello all~
Well, I was supposed to get the 4th A/C yesterday because it was held last week due to low neutrophil count of 0.7. Yesterday my count was 0.15! Way lower than last week. My onc asked me "Are you sure you gave yourself the Neulasta?" I'm sure. So, she's afraid to give me #4. She said if #3 did this to my counts, she worried what #4 will do. We're moving on to Taxol/Herceptin next week. I give myself Neupogen injections every other day now for four shots total. Thursday I go, get blood drawn, and hopefully get Taxol/Herceptin #1 if my counts are up. I have mixed emotions about not getting #4 A/C. I mean, that stuff is so wicked, and I feel horrible for days, but if it is going to kill any cancer and prevent it from coming back I want all I can get. Onc. says it could do more harm than good. So, I trust her and am following her lead. She really wants to get me started on the Herceptin without any more delays. I will take the taxol every other week for four treatments. They told me the taxol takes three hours not counting pre-meds and Herceptin. I think I will be there for around 5-6 hours the first time. Yippee!
Brenda- Great news! I also had a seroma develop after my surgery and I can empathize with the fear you had. I didn't want to tell anyone but my onc. until I knew what we were dealing with. Luckily I had a ultrasound and it showed to be a seroma. It's gone now. Whew!
I got home yesterday from picking kids up at the daycare and the baby felt warm. Took his temp- 102! Yikes! Luckily, my mom lives close and took him home with her. Don't know what he's got, I just know I couln't be around him with my counts so low. It's so hard with little ones.

So long for now from your fellow winking pirate,
~Mindy~

I saw my onc today and set up my taxotere schedule. He gave me a prescription for decadron to take the day before, the day of and the day after. Was told infusion would take an hour. My schedule shows me being there for an hour and a half...I assume the extra half hour is for premeds, blood work, flushing the port, etc. Doctor went over the possible side effects of Taxotere and the aching, etc. combined with the effects of the Neulasta. I don't like doing any of this stuff, but willing to do anything that will help kill the beast! He is also going to set up a consultation with the radiologist so I can get information on radiation procedures. He did mention that the area where the cancer spread in my lymph nodes around the surgery area is a lot less swollen and is softer...so it looks like the A/C is doing it's job! After I finish the Taxotere, he will send me for PET/CT scans so we'll have a better idea of what is going on.

Mindy...I am sure you were very disappointed in not being able to finish the A/C, but good news that you will be moving ahead with the next treatment. Why do you have to give yourself the shots? I get mine the morning after treatment at the doctor's office. You are a brave woman to be able to give yourself shots. I can't look when I get a needle, so that would be messy for me!

Liz

Brenda-I did go you your calendar and it looked great. I start weekly Taxol on 0825. Scheduled for approximatley 1 hour (RN explained that it takes less time if you are weekly). So far so good after #6, tomorrow is the day I usually feel yucky, but feel much better today than I did 2 weeks ago.
KimB

Brenda...I sent you my dates by PM. I'm feeling like I am on vacation since I don't have to go back until 8/25, but am getting apprehensive about the Taxotere. The two parts about the A/C that were the worst for me were the side effects of the decadron and neulasta. I was very fortunate that the other side effects were a lot more manageable for me. The neulasta combined with the Taxotere sounds like a double whammy and having to take decadron for three days straight doesn't sound very good at all. I guess there is no point in worrying about it until I see how I react. I'm sure my doctor will give me whatever I need to keep the side effects under control, and I don't know why I'm wasting my time worrying about it. I can handle feeling miserable, but the thought of all that joint and bone pain along with no sleep on the decadron kept me up last night. I think I will try to take my own advice for a change and take this day by day and try to enjoy my extra week of freedom!

Liz

Kim - I set your taxol up on the calendar as a weekly occurrance, but I need an end date. Otherwise, You'll just have to keep on getting it ad infinitum!

Jenster...we will have to compare notes after the 25th! I'm hoping that even if I find the T to be harder than the AC that at least with the three week schedule...will have more time feeling "normal".

Going off to the mall do do some "retail therapy" Too hot to do anything outdoors today. Have a couple of movies lined up for tonight's entertainment.

Have a good day everyone,
Liz

Hi everyone! I survived my first Taxol & Herceptin--geeesh-- it took forever-- five hours in the treatment room! The benadryl knocked me on my butt-- hopefully they can cut back on that because me no likey! I like to keep my sense of control, however futile when hooked up to an IV.

PePe-- welcome to the boards, glad you found us.

Rebecca-- congrats on finishing A/C-- good riddance!

Brenda-- what a wild ride you've had. Glad it is over and that you can put that worry out of your mind. Our bodies have such surprises for us, and I imagine that we are all going to go through something like that.

Mindy-- sorry to hear of your A/C frustration. I can imagine the mixed emotions. Can your Onc mix something else in your T&H cocktail? I know that some women who can't tolerate A/C, or who have had A/C for a prior cancer get Carboplatin as part of their T&H. Maybe something worth mentioning to your Onc for peace of mind. Also-- hope that little one is feeling better!

Dana-- my eyesight has seemed more blurry from about A/C #2. I think it is because everything is a bit dryer, eyes included. I'm going to wait until after the chemo wraps up to push the alarm bells. But still, it is annoying.

For those with Decadron fears re: Taxol. My Onc only gave me Decadron via IV before my Taxol & Herceptin cocktail. I don't have to take it for the two days after, as I did with the A/C. Maybe it is different for those who are taking Taxotere-- I'm doing Taxol dose dense, so that may be the difference.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jen

Brenda - could I please get involved with the calendar?

Pam - I am also doing the FEC, I have not had any pain yet just the blasted nausea. Hope it goes well for you.

Saleboat, I have a question about NYC. My son is going to Juilliard this next year. I thought it was better if I did not take him up there because of the "germs". So it kills me that he is flying up with his step dad to get him settled. But I have promised him I will be there asap to see him perform etc. My question is....how in the world do you ride the subway, just walk in the city...do you wear gloves, a mask? Do people doing chemo there have restrictions that we don't get told in the "normal" places? I have been to NYC many, many times I just can't imagine doing it while on chemo. I would sure appreciate your input.
Pam