November 2009-Starting Chemo
Comments
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Michele: Thanks, that is from that photo thing that I did. I have some pics of me bald and boobless but I am not sure about posting anything on this public forum. I did make a post on timtam's site if you are familiar with it.
I have been snowed in this weekend, but I am about to venture out.
Gentle hug to all my sisters!
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michele ~ so sorry about your roid rage. i had that this week!! ugh ~ hope you are feeling ok otherwise.
melinda ~ woo HOO beautiful picture !!!
hope everyone is having a good sunday.
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I know I will definitely be on Herceptin, but don't know when.
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What's the difference between Taxol and Taxotere? And are the Taxotere and Herceptin given as infusions, too? It still amazes me the differing opinions out there between everyone's onc. and surgeon and doctor and specialist. Do any of them know what they are talking about??!!
Melinda41: OMGosh!!!!!!! Awesome picture!!!!
Alicia: I'm so sorry you are having such pain with the Taxol. I have been so disappointed because the Taxol is NOT the breeze my onc. led me to believe it was going to be, though my chem. nurse says my side effects of the anemia and low hemoglobin are still SE from the A/C. Not sure how much longer she can say that!!!! But hang in there, Alicia. It isn't much longer and you'll be on the other side of that river!!!! Nette
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I am ignoring all this talk about Taxol side effects, I am still in denial land, la la la.
But here's what I am thinking. Too bad I don't have the $$ for a face lift. I am bald, so they could cut on the top of my head and slide my whole face back up. Then my hair would grow back and cover the scar. Plus, after I healed, people would just think I looked good from being done with chemo. They would think I looked old from chemo and I could convince them that post face lift was what I really looked like precancer.
I think complimentary face lifts should be on everyone's treatment plan.
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Melinda ~ I like that idea of complimentary face lifts. When this is all over and I am on the mend I definately plan on putting a different poison in me ~ BOTOX on my wrinkled forehead that will be in plain view for quite some time !!!
Stay in lala land as often as you can. I love it there ~Nette ~ yup I am not feeling the taxol to be OH so much easier then the AC like my onc said either. IT is surely easier in some ways but worse in others. The way I look at it ~ ANY form of chemo SUCKS.... And yes I believe both the taxotere and herceptin are infusions too. And I think the taxotere is a sister to taxol ~ but not sure.
I go see my plastic surgeon tomorrow for my final fill of these darn' tissue expanders. Hopefully she will discuss what implants she has in mind for my exchange surgery scheduled for 3/16 so I can do some research.
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Nette and Alicia: I've tried to find out the difference between taxol and taxotere and they are described exactly the same but have different chemical names. The problem you girls on taxol have to go through is having it every week, whereas we (the TCH ladies) have 3 times the dose every 3 weeks. From what I can understand from a friend I met on the Aussie BC forum - you don't have time to get better between the weekly taxol infusions - she can't remember being off the toilet much - sorry.
Sue
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Sue ~ I have a dense dose of taxol every 2 weeks. Maybe my problem was 3 weeks would of been better. Who knows ~ just glad that I only have 1 more to go a week from today !
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Melinda, I could use a face lift right about now...I feel like the skin around my eyes has stretched to double its normal length....although I find the rest of the skin on my face has less of those nasty pimply things. Go figure.
My onc also said Taxotere would be easier than FEC...I guess she has never had cancer...I find that I don't get much time to bounce back, and it comes at me again...So far this time I have mostly a really sore back, and some exhaustion...I am knocking on wood as i type. I plan to plop myself on the sofa with a heating pad and watch DVDs for the afternoon.
Hope everyone is feeling as good today...
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Nette, I'm a Herceptin girl. It's only given with Her2neu + breast cancers. My first infusion lasted an hour and a half so I wouldn't have an allergic rx. They give you a dose of Tylenol prior to the infusion. After that, the infusions only last a half hour. I'll take it weekly for 12 weeks and then go to every 3 weeks for the rest of the year. There is another drug for Her2+ called Tykerb. I'm not too aware of this drug. I'm not sure if this is used if Herceptin fails or what. I do know it's for advanced metastatic cancers.
My onc said it was a good thing that I was Her2+++. He said we have one more line of defense against BC.
As far as Taxol goes, my biggest complaint is being so darned tired all of the time. I have no energy to do anything, I don't sleep very well, and my legs just ache. The dr. said I need to be exercizing, but how do you do that when you don't have the energy to get off the couch?
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How's everybody doing with the treatment cost and insurance and crap? My bills from three surgeries are coming in but most haven't been run through both insurance companies. So I call the office and ask them if I should stress yet.
My primary insurance only covers 6 chemos/rads a year! How is that for crappy coverage. Hopefully, the secondary will pick up the slack. I just hate that I have to use the limited insurance as primary and tailor my care to them, even though they aren't going to pay anything.
Hope everyone is doing well.
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Forgive me... I'm going to bitch for a bit.
I'm so damn tired of this crappy cancer. I'm sick of being sick. I hate my tissue expanders. I HATE the way they feel and I hate that I can't get the exchange surgery until this time next year. I'm pissed off that now I've been told that I need radiation and I really don't understand why I had to go through the axillary node dissection since it made no friggin' change in my treatment plan. I can't stand that I have no energy to do stuff with my kids and that I obsess in front of the computer screen about all my side effects and treatment plans and percentages either up or down. I hate my husband for leaving me alone for the past 4+ weeks to deal with all of this alone. I hate that he commented on my thinning eyebrows and eyelashes the last time we skyped. I hate chemo and my port and my scars. I friggin hate being bald - and even more... I hate hot flashes! I'm sick of being called inspirational and amazing. I'm not. I'm just sick and tired of it all and I want it to end.
THere. I feel better.
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mabelle - I'm glad you can vent your frustrations here! It makes me feel better too!
I spent today reading "the survivors handbook" - its a nutrition book all about foods and connections to cancer survivorship and health. Pretty compelling stuff but when I told my kids and husband about how the book recommends a vegan diet they all scoffed at me. Some of the recipes look interesting though it sounds like I'd be on my own in trying them out.
I said something about if you knew something would increase your survival odds...and my 17 year old said something like if you knew driving would result in possible increase in death risk....I dropped the subject after that.
Anyway - planning on going to work tomorrow in spite of fatigue and non-stop sweats...plus that fluish feeling like everything in my head has an exclamation point after it....The pain actually wasn't as bad with this last round as the others...which has been a welcome relief.
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Melinda41 - I almost always have to call offices when I get a bill and remind them to bill the secondary insurance. I don't stress untill after that. I have yet to see a cancer related bill other than from my primary care doctor. The rest are all either still being processed or were covered because we reached our out of pocket max in 2009 (for me anyway). That's something I'm very grateful for. Have yet to see how 2010 will pan out.
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Mabelle: You go girl - get it out. Only we know how you feel. Our families can't know. My DH wanted to know why I was being agressive yesterday - as if I shouldn't be.
Sue
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Mabelle: Rant away, I feel better just reading your rant. I cringed when you said your DH commented on your eyebrows. I am sensitive about my eyebrows and eyelashes.
Regarding eyebrows: I did get some brown powder shadow and an angled brush yesterday and I used that with good results. My mom also bought me some L'oreal Mascara with serum stuff and it does make my 4 eyelashes look long.
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Melinda... so sorry you have to worry about the medical bills piling up. My insurance had a 10,000 out of pocket before I was covered !! Now bills are still coming I don't know what to do with them so I let them sit ~ I say ignore them right now and worry about healing and feeling better.
Mabelle... amen sista to everything you said. The barely eyebrows and no lashes hads put me over the edge. I look awful. Now I truly look as sick as I feel most of the time. Hang in there. I am sorry you need to move onto rads after chemo but it is another weapon to battle the beast.
Cindy... I think I will be trying to ease into a vegan diet as well. When I am all done with my chemo and surgery I plan on going to see a nutritionist. Hoping that will give me some guidance. May get the book your reading too. I have to say as a family we do not eat a lot of meat. BUT ~ I know it is not good with all they are doing to our food now. I hear FOOD, INC the movie is a real eye opener. NOT sure I want to open mine just yet.
I will end with a whiney I am soooo tired ~ sick of fatigue.
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Maybelle,
Thanks for bitchin~~~~Just what the Dr. ordered. ~~ I think I needed it as much as you ~~
As you said now I feel better.~~
Melinda,
I love you new pic!! Today is the first time I seen it, you are gorgeous!!~~~~
Oh, and can I join you in La-La land? PLEASE??!! ~~
As far as Insurance, my husband just happened to take out a REALLY High dollar plan on me about 1-1/2 years ago, because I SMOKED 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Well, it has paid off. Everything not covered by my regular insurance plan,it covers, including mileage, my hair piece (that I never wear), it almost makes up for what time I've lost at work as well. I stopped smoking and that has really saved me $$$$$$$$
Littlebird
I' am soooo sick of working, I wish I had taken the time when the Dr. first suggested I take off for at LEAST 6 weeks, NO my stubborn a@@ had to work. Now, I can't get that same Drs. note.
i know I should have done it when I had the chance. I am sick of everything, even work!
To all (there are so many getting Taxol)
I feel so bad you all are in such pain. I know this can not get over soon enough for all of you,
To all a good day and may all s/e be minimal!! ((((((((((HEALING HUGS))))))))))
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What really pisses me off is I have my treatments on Wednesday. I feel ok until Saturday, other than being tired. Saturday starts the leg aches and stomach pains. Today is Tuesday, and this is the first day I feel human. I'm actually baking blueberry toasties. I have treatment tomorrow at 8:30. Can I make 8 more treatments?! UGH!
Plus being snowed in is the pits. We got 8 inches of snow, which shuts the town of Greensboro, NC down. Schools are cancelled, and now it's freezing rain. More snow for late Thursday-Saturday expected. I'm ready for spring!!!!!
Love to all!
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Mabelle...You go sista...rant away..you are saying all the things we all want to say...some day I just hate the world, dr.s, meds, my sore and tired legs, my non-boob-zone, my lack of sex drive, my house...everything...I wish I was sitting on a tropical island with a big old margarita in my hands, basking in the sun..I find lately I am freaking out thinking about whether this chemo has worked...I feel like my body is being taken over by cancer cells...every twinge freaks me out...ok rant over.
Little bird, a few years ago I decided I needed to lose weight so I joined weight watchers. My family said eww I am not eating that yucky food...so what I did was made at least two new WW meals a week..Ones I knew that they wouldn't mind eating...and guess what they didn't mind at all. Now a lot of our meals are based on ww meals. You have to start them off slow.
Brends, just want to say keep up the good work quiting smoking...you rock..especially now at such a stressful time in your life..
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A Little FYI for everyone.
How many have: ER, PR, HER2, Triple Negitive, No Stats Showing
I researched all the "WARRIORS" on our thread and I came up with these stats.
ER+ 21
PR+ 19
HER2+ 14
Triple Negative 3
3 "Warriors" had ER+ with no PR+.
1 "Warrior" had PR+ with no ER+
6 "Warriors" NO stats showing on there homepage.
The triple negitive was the most uncommon of all November Warriors
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Brenda Sharon, Thanks for the Info above.....Im wondering because Im HER2+ , and starting Taxol/Herceptin weekly for 12 x.....and Follow up H for 1 yr.........any other Warriors doing TH or have ? I know alot of us are doing Taxol but wondered about the combo TH.... Getting anxious as I start this Friday....done w/AC and Surgery...
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Hello to all from a long-lost sister! I've got just two words for you all.................
M E D I C A L
M A R I J U A N A !!!!!
If it's not the law in your state.... MOVE !!!
Yummy Yummy Yummy no more yuck in my tummy!
(Sorry I don't stop in very often but I'm always either paranoid or hungry)
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SharaD -
Soooo good to hear from you, yes good medical or otherwise ~~~
Cat60, GrandmaMickey I believe is on both Taxol/Herceptin, you may want to check with her. She is finished with her regular (AC) and is on #4 of the (HTx).
(((((HEALING HUGS)))))
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LOL Shara D; or as we say around here LMAOPSOTF That is (laughing my ass off peeing straight out the front!)
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Hi Warriors!
I hope all is well with each of you today.
SharaD- LMAO! I've missed your posts and its good to hear from you.
I feel a little strange posting here now since I'm finished with chemo. I feel bad complaining about how lousy I feel and how much rads suck when I know firsthand that each of you are going through worse right now. BUT, I don't have anyone else to talk to so you are stuck with me!
My DH has actually asked me numerous times why I'm so pissed off all the time . I finally told him yesterday that I'm pissed off all the time because I'm bald, my eyebrows are falling out, I'm tired, my back hurts, my boob is burnt, I have to work, I cook dinner, take total care of the kids, AND clean the house all by myself. Who wouldn't be pissed off when they get no help and have to listen to their DH complain because he has a sinus headache?
Sorry about the rant but I just wonder when it will get better......
(((HUGS to all))))
Toyah
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Shara D/Melinda thanks for the laugh I needed that !!!
Good to hear from you Shara ~
Toyah ~ rant away. I feel your pain sista. This whole no eyebrow/eyelash thing is the icing on the cake. Hang in there.
Hope everyone is feeling pretty good today. I am "making" dinner so things are looking up.
Hugs ~
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Ranting once in a while is really good for the soul... I do feel better. Still pissed off, but better.
Cathy - I'm going to be doing Taxol (Paclitaxol) and Herceptin starting Feb 16th. There are a couple of women at the "cancer gym" I go to that have had a few treatments of this already, and so far are feeling quite well. They've both complained of achey bones and their nails are doing weird things, but no nausea and the foggy brain seems to have lifted. I'm knocking on wood that I'll feel the same.
Melinda - my laugh would be... LMAOPSDML (straight down my leg) It seems like I've got to take a bath after every trip to the toilet!
Linda - the one thing I can't complain about is the weather. Its a balmy 9C (about 48F I think) here in Vancouver. Not an especially good temperature for the WINTER olympics, but nice for the rest of us. I hope you stay warm and make someone else shovel the walk!
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Toyah, my guess is real soon...you tell him girl.
Shara D, we missed you...come back more often...We really need a good laugh.
Saw my Rad/onc today...I will be starting the boobie burn in as little as 2 or 3 weeks...I was hoping for at least a couple more, but at least the sooner I start the sooner I can end.
Hope all the lovely ladies are having a good day..or at least better than the day before..
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My onc gives benedryl and another drug (I forget the name but it starts with a D) before the Taxol and Herceptin - I am on weekly dosing and am actually doing pretty good compared to the AC which was HORRIBLE for me - I have lost my eyelashes and part of my eye brows though and my neuropathy is a little worse, but compared to AC this is a breeze
They also infuse slowly - I get there at 10:30, they draw blood and start the herceptin while we wait for results - then if all is ok they start the Taxol - I'm out around 2:30 - they don't run them at the same time - maybe that has an effect on the SE? don't know - my big fear is the upcoming surgery - never had surgery like that before - just tubal and this port - that's it - I'm so scared - but we will all win this battle! No matter what road it takes us - hang in there - complain, scream, fight, cry do whatever you need to win- sorry for the long post! HUGS AND KISSES FROM CALIFORNIA
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