Starting Chemo October 2009

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2010

    MARY CONGRATS

    Its good you dont need the Neulasta lucky for you no achy bones , ive been having it so i hope i can pass on it as well I carnt remember but are you done with  surgery and are you doing rads ?

    whats next for you

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  • Scoobydoo
    Scoobydoo Member Posts: 499
    edited February 2010

    Hi rachhschmidt.  I have 4 DD doses of taxol.  My SE was excruciating lower body pain.  Starting from my hip to the knees.  Felt like bolts of lightening pain.  I asked my onc for a strong pain med to help me through.  She prescribed percocet.  I would start out with 1-2 pills when the pain was severe (every 4 hours).  As the pain started to recede I would decrease my dosage until I was down to half a percocet pill.  Then when the pain stopped or greatly decreased I would go to motrin.  I found taxol to be cumulative.  The pain lasted longer and longer as I went through the treatments.  Please do not be afraid to ask for a stronger pain med if, like me, you have severe bone and joint pain.  Hope this helps.

    Regarding neuropathy.  I am taking neurontin, which helps.  I would also take vit B6.  My neuropathy in my fingers are gone and it is going away in my feet.

    My nails turned dark colored, but I made sure to keep black polish on them.  I kept all my nails and they are now starting to grow healthy nails.

    Anita

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    Mary - my oncologist said my counts were good last time so no neulasta this time, as well as the last one too.  i am glad not to have the enhanced neulasta pain but feeling wiped.  today is exactly 1 week from my chemo so i guess it is normal i am feeling so drained.CONGRATULATIONS on your last chemo woo HOO.

    Rachel ~ I agree with Anita pain in the, lower half, pretty excruciating.  i also had pain meds, found a warm bath to be somewhat helpful before bed to ease it a bit,  when the pain wasn't unbearable i would switch to tylenol or motrin.  (not allowed much of the motrin for risk of bleeding etc.) 

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  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited February 2010

    michele, I am back at  work and only miss about 2 hours a day to go to rads.  The cancer center that I go to is about an hour from work.  I am doing well and the fatigue has not set in yet, but I am expecting it at anytime.  My carpet came out just fine.  We need to get it cleaned, but we worked really hard to keep it dry.  The man came today and replaced the ceiling in the living room and did some work in the bedroom.  He had to replace some of the insulation, so it really wasn't that bad.  It is just a mess.  Really dusty and all the furniture is moved around.

    Alica, I am sorry to hear you are suffering from fatigue.  I really suffered after my 3rd tx, but not so much after the 4th one.  There is an end in sight. 

    holly, I have a lot of hair coming in, but is is soft and doesn't look like it has any color to it at all.  I am so ready to get my hear back.  I don't think it looks  like  a chia pet yet, but it might in about  a month.

    Good luck to all you ladies having a tx this week.  

    Juannelle 

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  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2010

    Dear Rachel,

    There is a thread called "Anyone on just taxotere and cytoxan?" That will give u a lot of info- It is tough -but keep telling onc about side effects - they will try and help you (I hope) -Mine did and made it bearable. Good luck! Valerie PS Be glad to answer specific questions!

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Holly good to hear from you - I worry about those that don't post very often or stop posting.

    Has anyone heard from Jaclyn?  I'm wondering how her surgery went and how she's doing.

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    YAY MARY!  Glad you got over the last chemo.  I can't remember, are you having rads?

    JoJo and Alicia, you are almost there!  Can you hear us cheering you on?

    Not much to report here, just sleeping a lot.  I also was able to forego Neulasta this time around (my decision) - it's just so expensive!  Costs as much as all the chemo combined.  I've got my fingers crossed that I don't get sick.  I'll just be verrrry careful this week.

    Peace to all,

    Shelby 

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    I hear the CHEERS !!  :) thank you ~  Shelby avoid crowds and wash your hands like mad this week.  I am doing the same.

    Juanelle ~ my stubble growing in is also pretty much colorless.  I feel like when it really starts to grow I will look like a baby chick. 

    Good day all ~

    Alicia

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Mary, Whooohooo you are done...Glad you don't need any more shots..it is funny but I only ever got my blood done two days before treatment.  I never knew until chemo days what it was...I think most ladies had blood draws more often...not that I am complaining...

    Jojojust,   want to let you know you are Just beautiful, Just strong, Just the funniest lady, just kicking butt..You go girl, we are with you all the way..just holding your hand.

    I might just jynx myself, but this time my SEs are not as bad...I have some aching muscles, but I am not exhausted like last time..I find I am tired in the mornings and in the evenings but most of the day I don't feel the need to lay around..perhaps teh other shoe is about to fall..

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Shelby and Alicia: I'm with you on the hand-washing. I don't want to get an infection at this stage.

    I see the medical oncologist for the first time next week so not sure yet when I will start rads. Hope it's soon. I go back to the onc in three weeks for a follow-up visit and bloodwork and she plans to start me on Tamoxifen then. I was surprised at this as I though that wouldn't start until after radiation. 

    How long a gap are the rest of you having between final chemo and rads?

    I threw up this morning. This was only the second time that's happened to me. My brother drove me yesterday and I wanted to treat him to late lunch, so I figured fish might be a good idea (I've rarely eaten meat since I started chemo), so we went to Legal Seafoods, but it was mostly shellfish on the lunch menu. I was hoping for something like lemon sole with lots of veggies. But they did have fish and chips. I had that and I think that was my mistake. 

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Mary I'm waiting 6 weeks until my Rads start - that's the plan anyway.  The Rad Onc said it was ok to wait that long.

    But between now and then I have 3 drs appts - Med Onc on Feb 11, BS on Feb 23 and PS on March 3 - we'll see if anything changes.

    I could have started in 4 weeks but we're having the Olympics here and I didn't want the stress of trying to travel through road closures and tourist traffic.  Not to mention that I"m going away for a week with my family for a much needed family vacation!

    My Rad Onc told me to wait until after Rads before starting the Tamoxifen - so that's what I'm doing.

    Marie

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  • valeriekd
    valeriekd Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2010

    Good afternoon ladies!

    Nice to read most r ok - I found I could not eat fried foods during chemo or salsa for whatever reason - sorry u got sick Mary.

    I just got "mapped" and tattooed for rads and my onc wanted to wait 3 weeks after our last meeting to let my "bone marrow regenerate" so I start the first radiaition on 2/22 (I think) but I am starting on Arimidex at the same time.

    I have been working for about 4-5 hours daily and I no longer feel like I am dying. I just realized that was one of the most depressing things about chemo - like the death knell was around the corner but now that the side effects are mostly gone (still have foot pain and more fatigue than I'd like oh and bald of course) I feel like YAY I am going to live! Chemo was such a freakin bummer-I can't wait til all my cyber sisters are done!!!!!!!!!!

    Much love to you all - Valerie 

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  • snuziq
    snuziq Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2010

    Rachhschmidt - I only had a small amount of Taxol because of an allergic reaction, but I did have a large amount of pain for a week or so.  The doctor gave me vicodin and that brought it down to a dull roar that I could deal with mostly.   Also, the nurse gave me the recipe for a mouth rinse that helped keep the sores and yuckiness away - but I'll have to PM you with it later as I don't have it right here.  It was baking soda and salt in water.

    Good luck.  You can make it through!  Laughing

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  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited February 2010

    Hi everyone!

    MARY, THANKS FOR UPDATING ME, I NOW HAVE ONLY ONE MORE TO GO!!  And congratulations on finishing!!!

    Holly, my future looks most like yours.  I have to go have nodes removed before I move on to rads as well.  I figure compared to the surgery I already had, it won't be bad.  (At least that is what I'm telling myself.)

    Shelby, I wish I could give you the Nupogen in my fridge.  With one more infusion, I know I won't need it.  Awhile back, my doctor prescribed three shots.  Because I still had weeks of treatment left, she wrote the prescription with three refills.  The silly pharmacy that delivered the drug filled the refills as well.  So I now have nine Nupogen shots in my fridge that can't be used.  Pharmacies and medical facilities can't take it back........I saw the price on the stuff, I can't believe it is going to waste.

    I've wondered about Jaclyn too...

    Hope you all hang in there this week! 

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  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 911
    edited February 2010

    Hi All!

    I can't believe I'm writing this - I really don't want to give it another thought - but I feel that I have to tell someone.  I can't tell my hubby because he's getting run down and feeling stressed - both at work and home.  AND he's away on a business trip and I don't want him to worry.

    Today I felt a lump on my breast - not really a lump like I felt before - but more of a thickening.

    Just to remind everyone - I had a complete mastectomy of my left breast in August but my surgeon refused to remove my right breast.  Even though I asked him to and I've had mico-calcifications in that breast since 200 that they have been "monitoring"!

    Guess where I'm feeling this "lump" - yep in my right breast!  When I lift my arms I see some "marks" on my breast as well - not the definite dimple I saw on my left breast but some indention.  Could be stretch marks - that's what it is until I know otherwise.

    It really kind of hurts but that could be because I've been pushing on it off and on all day today.

    I think I've been feeling something there for a while now but just put it down to PICC line anxiety/irritation.

    I know what you're going to say - get it checked out! 

     I will - I have an appt next week (Feb 11) with my ONC and then another appt with my BS on Feb 23.  These appts were made a while ago, before I felt this but I certainly will have them feel my breast and hopefully they'll tell me it's nothing.

    For now I just want to ignore it until I know it's something to worry about....but I couldn't help just telling someone. I know that you would understand what I'm feeling.

    Marie

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Marie, what you are going through is one of my worst fears..you should get it checked...not kowing is only going to stress you more than you already are...sending you big soothing hugs to help you sleep tonight...

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2010

    SHIT MARIE

    Ive got tears running down my face go to your GP ASAP DO YOU HEAR ME and hopefully its nothing Ive heard others getting more lumps when doing chemo how does that work for goodness sake the chemo is supposed to KILL cancer cells  Hang in there Marie you'll be ok  and try not to worry about it keep your self busy and out of the house , a huge cuddle for you, hey ill get my wand charged up for you and give you an extra dose of magic .

    PRINCESS JOJO

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited February 2010

    VAL

    I know how you feel about the near death experience thats exactly how i feel as well ,well no more for you you lucky little chicken one more for me tomorrow

    MICHELE

    So sweet of you to write such a nice thing about me THANK YOU glad your SEs arnt to bad  you deserve a break

    SHELBY

    YES i can faintly hear all your cheers and it is getting louder the more closer I'm getting  22 hrs to go  SHIT AND HOORAY ALL AT THE SAME TIME

    PRINSESS JOJO SOON TO BE JOJO JUST

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited February 2010

    Marie ~ this is really crappy !!!!  I would call the dr immediately and have it checked out.  Don't wait.  And I can't believe your surgeon "refused" to remove the other breast.  I told them not an option it needs to go and sure enough it was full of atypical cells, epocrine medaplasia ~ all pre-cancer stuff that I started out with in the cancer side.  I have no regret that I removed them both.

    Thinking of you !

    JOJO 1 more sleep ~

    :)

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    marie - deep breaths, my friend.  I know it is our biggest fear, that the cancer will come back, and I'm glad you shared your fear with us.  I've got my fingers crossed that it is nothing.  Please keep us updated on what is going on - we care about you!

    Mary - sorry that you got sick yesterday.  Let's hope it's just a one-time thing.  Yay you're over the chemo hurdle!

    JoJo, hope you're sleeping well today, one more and you'll be over the chemo hurdle too.  Come join us on the other side - we have cookies!  Gingersnaps, so you don't feel sick...

    Hopbird, thanks for the offer of the Neupogen, but I'd rather not - I'm glad I'm not having to deal with the pain that comes with it.  Seems like there should be some way to return the drugs, they are so freakin' expensive!

    Val, was it scary at the radiation mapping?  I'm starting to get nervous about it, although I haven't met with a rad onc yet I will definitely be having radiation.

    Still hanging in there, the fatigue is actually not as bad as it was the last round, but I could do with less of it!  No nausea, thank goodness.  

    Peace to all... 

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    marie - deep breaths, my friend.  I know it is our biggest fear, that the cancer will come back, and I'm glad you shared your fear with us.  I've got my fingers crossed that it is nothing.  Please keep us updated on what is going on - we care about you!

    Mary - sorry that you got sick yesterday.  Let's hope it's just a one-time thing.  Yay you're over the chemo hurdle!

    JoJo, hope you're sleeping well today, one more and you'll be over the chemo hurdle too.  Come join us on the other side - we have cookies!  Gingersnaps, so you don't feel sick...

    Hopbird, thanks for the offer of the Neupogen, but I'd rather not - I'm glad I'm not having to deal with the pain that comes with it.  Seems like there should be some way to return the drugs, they are so freakin' expensive!

    Val, was it scary at the radiation mapping?  I'm starting to get nervous about it, although I haven't met with a rad onc yet I will definitely be having radiation.

    Still hanging in there, the fatigue is actually not as bad as it was the last round, but I could do with less of it!  No nausea, thank goodness.  

    Peace to all... 

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  • azdiva
    azdiva Member Posts: 201
    edited February 2010

    Hi All!

    Last one today!  I am really ready to be done (but kind of scared - you know the feeling).  Its been 4 weeks since my last tx and the se's really haven't subsided this time.  So I am worried that they are going to get worse with this last one.  I am fatigued, have low back/hip pain, neuropathy in my hands.  My eyesight is getting bad (how weird is that?).  My eyebrows and eyelashes are coming out in clumps.  The only hair I have is on my head - and that looks like dryer lint!!  I seem to get dizzy fairly easily. AND DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON THE HOT FLASHES!!  I am really, truly going to get that Stellate Ganglion block if they do not go away in the next 4 -6 weeks!

    I'm sure I'm getting the tamoxifen talk from onc today.  My tumor was only 50% ER+, how much good is this going to do me?  I am going to ask him for that tamoxifen metabolizer test as well.  He made some talk early on about Lupron, but I really don't want to do it.  I want to get that bladder surgery for stress incontinence, and figure they can take out those little ovaries while they are in there.  BUT, I'm not sure about the AIs, which I think they will want me to be on then.  I never thought I would say this, but, I HATE DRUGS!!

    And I will have the bisphosphonates talk with him AGAIN.  I am just going to tell him that he either puts me on Zometa or Boniva, or I am just going to get it in Mexico.  That simple.  I don't want to lie about medications that I am on, and I fully intend to be on it.

    Are your oncs scheduling scans for post-chemo?  I would like to have a PET/PEM scan just to see.  I think this would alleviate some of my anxiety.  Ideally, they could do it before my implant exchange surgery so that they could do something (what? I don't know) while I am already opened up.

    Oh, and rads.  Onc says NO and I am going with him.  BS says I should do the rad consult, but I'm sure a rad doc will just tell me to do it to cover his a$$.  Can they scrape the chest wall again when I have exchange surgery?  That would tell them if there is anything left, right?

    And, finally, I am going to schedule BRCA testing.  I need to know for my daughter's sake.

    I tried to do too much this last month.  I think Feb is going to be fairly low key for me.  Already said no to Superbowl party.  Plus, I do not think I really want to go out with no eyebrows and eyelashes.  And, even though my shopping moratorium is officially over, I don't want to buy anything since I've gained OVER 20 POUNDS!!  Maybe shoes and handbags - always the "large" lady's last resort!!  We put an offer in on a condo in Mexico, so I should just save money, right?

    Gotta get ready now.  See you all on the other side!  I'm ready for my smiley, although I don't think I'll feel very smiley!  Congrats to all who are done and good luck for all else!  We are almost through!!

    Lots of love to you all.  I can't tell you how nice it has been to just talk/vent to people who really know how I feel!

    Laura 

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  • txstardust
    txstardust Member Posts: 599
    edited February 2010

    Laura, congrats on making it to the final chemo hurdle!  I'm glad you've made it, but I'm sorry that the SE's are getting to you.  Take it easy this time around.  It's good that you've decided to hang out at home instead of going to the Superbowl party - I decided to do the same thing, since my WBC will probably be at its lowest this weekend.  No point in tempting fate!  And good luck on the condo bid, that would be a great place to have a reunion!  (wink wink).

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Marie: I'm so sorry to hear about your fears about your right breast. Feb 23 is almost three weeks away. Can you call the BS and have you appt moved up. I'm sure if you call and explain what you feel, they would get you in earlier, hopefully this week. Are you due to have a followup mammogram about now anyway? I'm to have one next week. My BS has patients come back every six months for either a mammo or an ultrasound. At first I thought they would only do the left breast (lumpectomy side) but the insurance company said they would cover a bilateral mammogram as it is "medically necessary" because of my BC. Marie, I just hope you can get it checked out soon, so you don't spend days sick with worry. 

    Laura: I think you will feel smiley today. It's your last treatment. I know I had an  enormous sense of relief when I had mine on Monday and even though I was vomiting yesterday, I didn't care. I was on a high all day, got lots of stuff done. 

    JOJO: one more sleep! or maybe you are all tucked up in your bed now (NZ time) and will be going for treatment in a few hours. Good luck to you.

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  • Hollycan
    Hollycan Member Posts: 33
    edited February 2010

    Congrats to all of you that have finished Chemo.  Today is the last one for me then I'll be joining you on the other side.  JOJO, like you say - SHIT AND HOORAY ALL AT THE SAME TIME!  :-)

    Nice that some of you get to skip the neulasta for your last treatment, it sounds dreadful - I never had to take it thank goodness, I am on TC so my onc just prescribes antibiotics following every tx.  I wash my hands like mad regardless though!  I will however start taking the neurontin this week becuase the neuropathy has finally hit - bummer. Doc says it gets worse before it gets better.

    MarieK, so sorry to hear about your concern with the "good" boob.  My surgeon didn't want to remove my good one either but I insisted.  Like Alica, I also had pre-cancerous stuff growing in the good boob, so I am sooo glad I did both.

    Hopbird, I agree that the lymph node removal will most likely be a walk in the park to the Chemo stuff and I am not too concerned about the radiation, just looking forward to getting it all over with.

    Alicia, glad you are coming down the home stretch as well and great that you get to do your expander exchange so soo.  I have to wait until this summer becuase of the extra surgery and radiation that I have to do.  They are pretty uncomfortable, I sure hope the final implants are more natural feeling, are you going with saline or silicone?  My dr. won't do silicone for some reason...

    Off I go to take the kids to school then on to the chemo suite. 

    xoxoxoxo

    Holly 

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Hollycan: Last one today too, that's great? The smiley faces are hovering.

    Kiss

                                         Kiss

                    Kiss

    One for you, one for JOJO, one for Laura.

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Jojo, good luck today...I had a brainfart yesterday and was thinking it was Wednesday...duh...but once again..GO JOJO GO JOJO..

    Holly good luck to you as well..GO HOLLY GO HOLLY...can you feel us pulling you to the other side and the love...

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  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited February 2010

    Mary, I forgot to ask how in the world do they do a mammogram on a boob that is not there...my onc mentioned a mammograms but in my mind I was thinking on the other side...I didn't think of it being on lefty..Yes I call it lefty, or what is left..cookey I know..

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited February 2010

    Michele, onc must mean on the other side. I still have two boobs (had a lumpectomy in left one) so I can still put both into that darn pancake machine.

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  • SeanE
    SeanE Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2010

    Marie,

     I certainly don't want to alarm you, but I couldn't help myself.  My wife has inflammatory breast cancer.  The thickening of the skin you report, plus the marks, especially if they look like the skin of an orange (p'eau d'orange), are classic symptoms.  Get it checked out ASAP!

    If it is inflammatory, MD Anderson and Fox Chase here in the US have the only clinics specific to that type of breast cancer, should you decide to seek treatment outside Canada. 

    Should you need any other info, I would highly recommend ibcsupport.org.  It's specifically for IBC, moderators are extremely knowledgable, and the administrator is Canadian himself - Pete Bevins.  Feel free to email me as well, should you so desire.

    Concerned,

    SeanE.

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