Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

One more note on the Oncotype: If the doctor knows you need chemo, s/he probably won't order the test. What it gives you is a 10-year risk of recurrance with chemo, and without. It's actually lowering chemo use overall, I heard, because some people who won't benefit are not getting it, that would have been given chemo in the past.

So basically it's the last decision-making tool, if the doc thinks you are still in a gray area after looking at the rest of your records. I think

I probably wouldn't have gotten one, but I was really against doing it and I think the doc was trying to convince me

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter and a great weekend. 

 I had #8 Taxol on Monday and have had a fairly good week.  The usual bad taste in my mouth, tired and stomach problems - but much better week than last, which is always a good thing.

I would like to thank you all so much for posting such great information, you are all a bunch of amazing Women!

Wishing you all a SE free weekend and sending healing thoughts and hugs to you all.

Mandy

Nothing significant to report here!  Very mild side effects this last time, other than losing the eyelashes (they're still here-just very thin and sparse.)  I can't believe I still have 5 more treatments to go-ugh!

Off to get some bloodwork, then to work...it's getting hot in AZ, and I tell you, the wig is very itchy and hot (just like everyone said it would be!)  I actually have instructions to not lay it down in the car because the insides of cars here get so hot...funny.  But I understand now why I have them-when I leave work, I seriously have the urge to rip it off!  Luckily, it's only a 30 minute drive home.

I hope everyone has a terrific weekend and Easter!

Have any of you ladies had your hands and feet itch and hurt? I have a lump on the bottom of my left foot that came up last night. It hurts to walk and hold things. I remember my husband going through similar things when he was on C. He could barely walk at times. I have had few SEs but things like this is popping up now. Last night my finger nails hurt as well. They are better this morning but it makes me wonder if I will lose my nails sometime in the future. Just had to complain a little. I didn't sleep well last night because of my throat situation. It is a little easier to swallow this morning.

It is raining here but should be a beautiful day for the holiday. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. My sister is keeping my grandbabies and she plans on putting their outfits on and will get on the web cam so I can see them. They have been sick so I dare not get to close unfortunately. They are growing so fast. The little girl is standing now. Her brother gets on his knees so it won't be long he will be up standing too.

Sorry about rambling on. Have a great day! 

Mebrown--I'm glad they figured out the source of your throat pain, and hope the meds help.

 I haven't had my hands and feet itch as of yet, but yesterday I woke up with excruciating bone pain.....even my fingers hurt to type. It hurts to walk. Its mainly from my lower back to my ankles, but my fingernails hurt do so that might be totally different than the bone pain. I was really hoping to see if  could keep my nails..my fingers have been sore for a while but today has been the worst.  Hope they are not going to start getting loose and fall off. I am just really bummed because I felt so great Tuesday and Wednesday after my first dose of Taxol...I thought I was gonna get thru the Taxol with less problems than the A/C. It's beautiful outside here, and I just wanted to go outisde and get some fresh air like a normal person, maybe go visiting for Easter tomorrow, but it looks like that's not going to happen. Oh well, its gotta get better soon. Sorry to vent girls, i was just so excitted about feeling better, and now I feel worse.  arrgghhh...sorry, just another SE to get thru i guess.  Happy Holiday to all!!! 

Hi,  Wow - I just found this site (well actually, I found it over an hour ago, and lost track of time reading some of the posts.....and now it's very late and I have to go and try to sleep......but I will post this short bit for now. ..... I was diagnosed on Dec 10th, 2009.   I had surgery (lumpectomy) on Dec 23 and now doing chemo....cyclosphomide (sp?) and Taxotere x4.  I just had my 3rd treatment on March 29 and do my last one on April 19.     The s/e after my first treatment were fine - I thought I breezed thru them, but then after my second one, I started with new s/e's......the worse one being extremely burpy, gassy and bloating - the burps are endless and there is no relief from the burps either !  Oh, if I can be descriptive here, oh, they are huge gut belches....but they don't relieve any of the pressure.  It is so uncomfortable that I cannot sleep.  My doc said to take Gas-X , which hasn't helped.......anybody have any suggestions ?

Thanks and Happy Easter everyone !  I'm glad to have found this site - it sure does help to feel connected with others who actually "KNOW" what we are going thru.  (It is very late hers now, and I've got to go try to sleep, but I will be back to check out some more of these posts again soon !)

BaileyCan - Hi - welcome aboard!  We're full of good information - seems like we've run through all the possible SE's on here, so you should truly find this a comforting place to be.  Anyway, when I was doing the burping contest like you, the doc prescribed Nexium, which helped considerably.  At first, I was doing Prilosec along with Zantac, but my acid reflux/burps were beyond their reach, so the Nexium really helped.  Hope you get some relief. 

Teemee - hope you called the doctor about that pain - the one thing I have been told by my docs is that no matter what, you shouldn't be in intolerable pain - there's ways around it - hope you get some relief - that's such a bummer.

Lindee629- check your private messages -sent you info about the art show tix.

Hoppy Easter to all - it's a beautiful day here in PA and it's another day I don't have to cook so I'm loving it!!!  Hugs to all - Mo

Mo--thanx for the message, that I was able to retrieve. Looking forward to the art show!

mebrown--glad you're feeling a bit better.  Me too. I don't have the entire body pain, just from the low back down, seems a bit better today. All I have done for the past 36 hrs is lay around. Still don't know if this is a SE from the new taxol--or from my Neulasta shot. I wonder if it is because I tried the generic form of Claritin instead of the real deal. My (soon to be ex) H has been complaining about the med bills piling up and how the bank acct is low and so to try to save $$$ I purchased the generic stuff b/c it is way cheaper than the Claritin....(he and I are separated but still living in the same house since I was dx'd shortly after the decision to separate. Trying to make things less difficult for the kids and all. and we still have a joint acct so he has been freaking out about the medical bills.) Well, I hope its the generic Claritin, and maybe not a SE from the Taxol. Other than the bone pain, and the throat lump, and the not-able-to-taste-anything--and I HAVE been trying to eat more in an attempt to enjoy what I am eating. How stupid is that?!!  It's like maybe if I eat 3 times my normal amount I will eventually enjoy it? Still can't taste it!  DUMB!! 

Anyway, the only other SE really bothering me right now is the fingernail pain, mostly in my thumbs and index fingers. I know there is a possibility of losing them (yuck) and in an effort to try to keep them as long as possible, I still have my artificial nails on. Figured a little support couldn't hurt. I get them filled every Tuesday morning prior to chemo, and they looked OK the last time I went. Not purple or anything. Toenails seem to be OK though, no pain, although I painted them this past week in preparation for the warm sunny weather here.  Look pretty good, even if I do say so myself.  

Anyway,  I just wanted to say what a Godsend this site and all you girls have been for me. I think I spent 70% of my time the last 2 days just reading up on all the posts from the beginning, and I can't believe how far we've come.  Just to have someone to vent to, to cry with, to laugh with.....I can't talk about this stuff to my family or even most of my friends, but I can complain to you girls and you all understand.   I couldn't get thru this without you!  Thank you all so much!!

Oh, and by the way...THERE IS A GOD!

I just found out yesterday I'm inheriting $90,000...no joke!  Should be here sometime between now and June after my uncle's estate is settled.

Unbelievable.  This has been my unluckiest and luckiest year at the same time!

hi teemee, last wed my WBC was low and ONC gave me 2 mini jabs to booast them up. the first shot was ok however the 2nd jab had my bones aching especially when i touched and sqeeze them. when comes night time, i had a horrible headache as well. hang in there, it will goes away.

had my chemo on sat and today my nastuela jab, so far so good, no aches, crossing my fingers. taste wise, its weird tasting on certain foods, will have to bear with it.

btw, my ONC admin girl just called me to check if i am comfortable to share my BC experience (phone interview) on sat cos they are planning for a BC awareness talk soon and I said Yes, of course! would love to create as much awareness to the women out there that early detection goes a long way....keep all in touch if this pulls through

lindee I hate to hear about all the SEs you are going through and I understand about the medical bills. We had some money to come in and we were hoping to be able to save. haha everything has been going to medical bills. At least we are making it. Hang in there and I do hope that the pain will ease up. My husband had fingernail pain when he was going through chemo and he didn't lose any nails. So I hope the same for everyone who has fingernail pain.

burley  That is wonderful!! and well deserved. 

It is another beautiful day and I hope all can enjoy it as best you can through the SEs. 

Had a fill in my TE's today, and I am more sick to my stomach from the pain than I usually am after a treatment!  Torture...

Everything is seriously bland...I either have to eat my food really hot just to have some sensation in my mouth, or load it up with salt and pepper.  We went out to eat last night and I had this gigantic burger with bleu cheese and onion strings on it...nothing.  Barely any taste.  Ugh!  Junior Mints are still good luckily

HI All,

I too struggle with the  food being tasteless.  I agree with the others on Citrus.  This is one of the items that I can taste.  I also find that a cruch helps too.  I may not be able to taste so much, but the change in texture seems to have helped somewhat.  I have added almonds to my mini bowl of icecream.  yumm

mofend-i am so excited that i am halfway through too.  I have found that once i am at the halfway point in anything that I find unpleasant, it is so much easier to see the end.

Question for you all.  Anyone having sleep problems?  I am waking up a few times a night.  Sometimes it is due to night sweats, but other times I just wake up and can't fall asleep.  Let me tell you, doing chemo and having a 2 yr old and a 3yr old and no sleep has been SUPER hard  for me.  I do have some help with the little ones, but i have no patience and my youngest is embracing the "terrible twos" which makes it even more challenging.  Anyway, just curious if anyone else is experience sleep issues.

Hope everyone is doing well and having little or better yet, no side effects!

Verene

Verene - I've been having sleep issues, too. I have taken over the counter sleep aids and I don't think it's helped. Last night, I woke up every hour or two. Then I get stressed because I feel like I have to get back to sleep quickly so I get enough hours in before getting up to go to work.

Do you think your sore throat could be from dryness? I've noticed a very dry mouth and throat when I get up at night. I've been using Biotene mouthwash and it helps with dry mouth and icky mouth taste.

Gina