March 2010 Chemo Start

marilyn7 · April 2010

I go back to the physical therapist tomorrow for my arm. I'm pretty sure it's AWS / Cording - no swelling though. Has anybody else had this - radiating pain from the arm pit all the way to my thumb. I had 18 lymph nodes removed on 2/18. I did really well after surgery with my mobility and then last week this pain popped up.

My heart goes out to everyone with current SE. I'm starting to brace myself for next week's round 3. Good night.

alison34 · April 2010

mbalcombe

i have the same trouble with my arm and see a physio every 3 weeks

i get lots of pain and tightness in my arm that limits my movement but this is cording and the physio does help

hope everyone is well and keep your spirits high this will be over before we know it xxxx

badger · April 2010

Hey all, just a quick hi...hang in there...we will get thru this - day by day we ARE getting thru it!

horsedoc, I know what you mean about the soup. Mashed potatoes will never be the same for me again.

standingfirm · April 2010

Hi All, Haven't posted here in a while, but finished round #3 last wed . spent rest of week unable to function nausea, no appetite, no energy, slightly dizzy, night sweats, poor sleeping.

Trying to convince myself only one more to go then I'm facing 12 weeks of Taxol weekly but onc. insists side effects are minimal compared to A/C and I'm doing good. Labs dropped lower then last two rounds but I've come right back to baseline in between treatments, hopefully will bounce back again. Soooo ready for all of this to be over.

Antidepressant has kicked in and am now able to function on my "good week without dealing with constant "waterfall days". I've found bland foods only thing that will go down on treatment week. Crystallized Ginger helps nausea.

It's great to come and talk to you all who Truly understand as Husband is overwhelmed, and I don't want to stress him out any more.

Fully relying on God for strength to get through all this. thanks for listening . Jan

undecided8 · April 2010

Standingfirm: The side affects of weekly Taxol were VERY minimal for me, especially compared to the A/C. I think you'll do just fine on that regimen.

Charley & Teemee: Thank you for the prayers and words of encouragement. I have a better attitude today than I did yesterday about doing so many more rounds of the Taxotere than I had anticipated. I guess it was just the initial shock that hit me hard. I thought I was only going to be doing 4 and to hear at minimum 8 just about sent me over the edge. This round was definnitely better than the 1st so maybe each one will get a little easier?? I can only pray. Take care everyone and Hang in there!

Suzanne E.

MNLinda · April 2010

Lorraine, I know how you feel about meditation. I've never been able to do it either - I have a friend who says I have attention deficit disorder, and she may be right. Of the relaxation techniques, I found the self-hypnosis the least difficult, because it gives you a specific train of thought to focus on.

My surgeon also recommended Seabands for queasniess - he said his wife had breast cancer (nine-year survivor) and she used then all through chemo. Mine cost about $7.

I also took glutamine for three to five days after each treatment - it's supposed to prevent peripheral neuropathy, and also help protect your digestive tract and mucosa. I had no neuropathy aside from a little tingling in my mouth, and very little digestive upset. Only had a food aversion once (lasagna).

lorrhaw · April 2010

Horsedoc - sorry about your vegetable soup. I had heard that is was best to not eat foods that you really like right after chemo because you may end up hating them if you associate them with treatment, I guess it is similiar to early drinking days where if you get sick on a particular kind of alcohol that you are cured for life from wanting to ever drink it again. Maybe I will end up hating all food which will help with my post chemo weight loss program that I am going to have to go on since I seem to be gaining weight like crazy especially during my treatment week (LOL).

I had a bit of a meltdown last night and sent a text to my best friend telling her I needed her to wake me up from this nightmare. She was on the phone with my within a few seconds and talked me through it. Usually I stay pretty strong emotionally but I guess every now and then it makes sense to lose it when thinking about the reality of the situation,

I go in for my 10 day labs this morning and am expecting things to go well. My husband works out of town so I will be flying out to meet him in the morning and am looking forward to going to what I consider to be my "no cancer" zone where all I do is relax and not think about treatments, etc.

Hope everybody is feeling well and SE free today.

sandiek9 · April 2010

Hello Minnesota Linda,Zometa is a drug that's been around for a long time, used in cancer for bone mets. (There are other uses outside of cancer.) The newest research (done by my onc and others) shows it can stop bone mets from occurring if given to patients before the cancer metastasizes. We high-risk girls can increase our chances of 10 year survival by quite a bit. It's a 3 year infusion, starting once a month then tapering down. The study just closed and FDA approval is imminent, so most insurance companies are approving usage now. Here are some links: http://www.drugs.com/news/bone-strengthening-guards-against-spread-breast-cancer-23546.html http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20080516b.jsp http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/zometa-reduces-risk-breast-cancer-recurrence-premenopausal-women-study-new-england-journal-medicine-6731.html http://www.us.zometa.com/hcp/bone_metastases/benefit.jsp http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN66626762/zeus http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/67/topic/724607?page=3#idx_61You'll notice some of the links are to a forum on this site. Hope this helps! xxoo Sandie

sandiek9 · April 2010

Hi Kathie,

Sounds like we have a lot in common! We have the exact same treatment, although I have Neulasta and Zometa as well. I did have surgery in January; had a cancer that wasn't picked up by mammo, ultrasound or MRI, so had to have surgery before chemo because they weren't sure exactly what they would find. (Chemo before surgery changes the tumor.) I had a bilateral mastectomy, and in 2001 I had hysterectomy and oopherectomy (ovaries) because my mother had ovarian cancer. (If I hadn't done it then, I would do it now.)

What you didn't say is whether you have IDC or ILC. I have ILC, which is tricky to pick up. Keep me posted on how you are doing, and I'll try to pass on any info I have you can use for your treatments. Hang in there - you CAN do this. xxoo Sandie

Hi Sandy,I will be starting chemo soon AC 1 x every two weeks for 8 weeks, then I believe my onc said Taxol, again 1 x every other week for 8 weeks, then surgery including total node disection in right axilla, radiation and Aromatose inhibitor for 5 years. My tumor was last measured at 4 cm. I see your is/was 5 cm and I was just curious if you had surgery too or will be having surgery after chemo. My onc is hoping to shrink the tumor prior to surgery.I am getting my port placed tomorrow. I am anxious to get started with treatment so that I can get all of this behind me.I hope you are getting through your chemo treatments ok.

Kathie

Yeshua4Me · April 2010

I shouldn't have bragged about my mohawk yesterday. This morning half of it fell out in the shower! It even clogged the drain. At least my husband will have something to do when he gets home from work tonight. Laughing

I feel great today! 10 days past my 2nd chemo~ that seems to be the way it works with me...10 days of "hell" and the other 10 days of feeling great before I'm back in the chair. I even got up early this morning and wrote a few pages and it made sense! That's progress.

Lorraine- thanks for telling me about the baking soda/salt mouth wash. My Dr. emailed me yesterday after I told him about my tongue problems and had me pick up a prescription for a mouth rinse. OMG!!! Will NEVER use it again! Immediately my mouth and throat went completely numb. Much worse than numbing from a dentist. I wasn't sure if I was having an allergic reaction to the stuff or what. I thought my throat was swelling shut! I couldn't even talk without lisping and spitting on everyone. After about 15 minutes I was back to normal. Because I'm an idiot, I decided to google the ingredients of the mouth rinse AFTER I had all ready taken it. Turns out the stuff is a numbing rinse. So, I decided to use "your" rinse instead. I've rinsed with the salt/baking soda a few times now and my mouth feels so much better. I'm going to rinse my mouth with this throughout all of chemo whether I have sores or not. Again, thanks!

P.S. Have chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven and a huge pot of chicken vegetable soup simmering on the stove top. Do I feel great or what?!!

marilyn7 · April 2010

It's a gray rainy day and I'm gave myself permission to ditch work, come home, put my jammies on and watch some TV in bed. Trying to let go of the expectation that I "should" be feeling great emotionally, because this is may "good" week. I don't want to squander the days when I feel OK physically, but I'm tired and gloomy and that's OK - right!!!!!

Charley · April 2010

mbalcombe - Oh the expectations of ourselves physically and emotionally!! It's okay to say no and set limits. I've always been a 150% person and I don't like feeling bad physically and that works on me mentally ... I want to feel good and I don't. I don't want to appear weak and whiny but I am!

Just had #4. Had a good talk with the dr. about side effects and my feeling that my body is saying "do NOT do this again!" He said it was very common to feel that way when you are at the halfway mark. So now I'm at the 2/3 mark ...

I'm going for a walk while I still have steriods pulsing through my system ...

Hugs to all,

Charley

Joj129 · April 2010

Hi Everyone,
Thank you Lilly! It's been a great 35 years with an unbelievable man. I am so lucky. I was happy to go out to dinner but have had a low grade temp off and on since! I have a cough that could shake a house! Dr. prescribed Z-pack but I cough all night.

Kanye I tried the J&J but that didn't seem to help. I decided since I have sensitive skin that I would just use what I always used. Seems to be worse tonight. I am having cytoxan - do you think this could be some kind of allergic reaction? I will check on that.

Welcome Yeshua - this site is unbelievable. I hate that everyone is here but this is where I come to find out I'm not the only one with chemo brain or any of the other things. I hope things go well for you.

I have decided to take a short term disability from work which is killing me. I really thought I could work through it. I know I'm not weak but it makes me feel like I am. People I work with come in sick all the time and I have been sick with something since my last treatment. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to sit home and not worry about ME? lol!

Thank you all for everything. I hope something good happens to everyone today!

Jo

Charley · April 2010

Jo - I'm sorry you are having to take disability. That's the problem with offices! Sick people. I have been lucky so far and co-workers have been very cooperative in staying away from me if they are ill. I can also go in my office and shut my door and no one even knows that I am there. You will need a distraction ... If my brain was working even a little I might be able to conjure up a few ideas. ;-)

Hugs,

Charley

frosty1 · April 2010

So much going on ... I've been out on brain fog the last few days. My SEs hit a day later than normal, so felt like crap all day on Monday. Kept thinking I would go home, but stuck it out. WHY???? I didn't want to be the poor girl with cancer. How stupid. I agree with everyone on the brain fuzzies. I'm trying to write some proposals and having a hard time getting my brain to function. So I stare out the window a lot and pretend I'm thinking deeply.

Welcome Terry732 and Yeshua4Me! Yes, Terry -- sounds like we are on the same regimen, except I won't be doing rads as I had a left MX with clear margins. I just keep telling myself I'm halfway through the cocktail, so only 3 more weekends of feeling like crap, only 3 more Mondays of feeling borderline crap. Then I get to do the Herceptin straight shots. I find thinking about these like alcohol can really pick up my mood!

Anyone else find it strange to get up in the middle of the night to poop. Sorry ... TMI. Ended up constipated this round and finally knocked everything loose so wake up at 3 to clear the area. Bad gas too. Scares the cats.

Weird experience at work today. Went to the company earth day fair and was walking around the booths and this woman looked at me and said "chemo?". It startled me. I was wearing a scarf and not my wig today. She stuck out her hand and said "8 years clean." Turns out she works in my building. I'm sure I will see her around ...

Ugghh. On my upward slope. Will be feeling almost normal by tomorrow. Yeah!

undecided8 · April 2010

Yeshua4me: SO glad to hear your feeling better! MMMM chocolate chip cookies and chicken soup, that's my kinda meal. I usually feel like really bad also for about 10-11 days then I turn the corner.

mbalcome: It's absolutely OK! Sometimes even on a a good week you just need what I call a "Lifetime" day! That's where I retreat to my bedroom and watch Lifetime T.V., television for women, movies ALL day or my favorite is "I love lucy"episodes. I bought the whole 1st season. LOL

Charley: Hang in there girl! It's will be over before you know it!

frosty1: Glad you're feeling better. I had chemo brain really bad a couple years ago with my chemo, the great news is it fades away when chemo is done and you don't have it with herceptin. You'll do fine once you get to the Herceptin. My Onc. called going in for Herceptin a social visit with the nurses. LOL Hang in there!

staceyt · April 2010

Hello Marchers,

Just checking in. Welcome newbies - so sorry you are here but you are in great company. 9 days out of 3rd cocktail treatment and still foggy, I have managed to get to work all week, some things take a little longer to conquer but I am here.

You are all wonderful ladies I so enjoy these posts. Hugs to all. - Stacey

Lesinindy · April 2010

? on Neulasta

We did the full TCH today and found out that her blood counts were down. DR wants to give her a Neulasta shot around noon Friday. Any hot tips on this. I have read everything from it is ok to the need for pain killers. Also heard something about using Claritin. Been home 2.5 hours and I can already see the effects of the treatment. Took her out to a good lunch (chick food, now that is real love) after she finished.

Charley · April 2010

Les - I had bone pain after my first Neulasta shot and started taking taking claritin for every one after. I usually start taking it the day before my shot. It seemed to help for my 2nd shot but didn't seem to make much of a difference on the third. I am still taking it anyway because claritin doesnt seem to give me any side effects so what the heck ... if it helps even a little? I have had to take pain meds for the pain. Drs. know this and should give her something for pain. The chemo gives me muscle aches and a low grade fever and it feels like I have the flu for about 4-5 days and pain meds seem to help with this too.

On the flip side my blood counts have been very good. All have been within the normal limits and some have even been on the high side of normal. I am taking TC every 2 weeks so there is no way I could do it without the Neulasta.

Hope all goes well tomorrow.

standingfirm · April 2010

Lesinindy: I have received neulasta after each treatment from the beginning, finished # 3 last week ( 15 days apart) at first only had severe10:10 bone pain 7 days post lasted 1 day , second only had 10:10 pain 6th day 12hours.This last time pain has been 7-8:10 since day 4 now day 8. Yes Claritin D help for the achy days but severe pain require pain meds. pain across hips, back and down legs, not uncommon in mid chest either but I have not experienced that. stay on top of pain to keep at minimum. My prayer are with you & your wife. Jan

Yeshua4Me · April 2010

Lesinindy: I've only had chemo twice and after the first session my doctor started me on neupogen shots. My counts weren't too low before second chemo but my doctor wanted the shots as a precaution to keep my chemo sessions on schedule. I receive a daily shot in my stomach for 4 days following chemo. The shot doesn't hurt me at all.

I noticed that after receiving the neupogen shot my muscles were sore. Especially in my hips, shoulders, and lower back. Not painful, just really sore. My doctor told me to take extra-strength tylenol if needed. I took the tylenol for one day and then didn't need it any longer. After the 4 days of shots, my muscles weren't sore anymore. Nothing lingered.

I asked my doctor why neupogen instead of neulasta. He said it was what he preferred for his patients and that both were basically the same thing.

From everything I've heard and read about both medications, it seems as if each individual reacts differently.

horsedoc · April 2010

Les - I'll chime in on my Neulasta experience. It does give me some pain, basically in my hips and lower back for 2 - 3 days. Also for a day or two, some pain in my neck muscles & the back of my neck. Ibuprofen does help. I also have been taking Claritin, I start it the day before chemo and take it daily to help with the Neulasta. (I actually have ended up staying on it daily even between chemo because my allergies have been bad this spring.) I think the Neulasta works great as far as keeping blood counts up, and potentially preventing some of the fatigue that can go along with low counts.

sandiek9 · April 2010

I've had Neulasta 3 times now and have had no pain from it at all, so it isn't a given that you will have it. Hope everyone is well tonight, Thinking of you all. xxoo Sandie

barb_k · April 2010

I've had the neulasta shots twice, I've taken Claritin with it. I start it the day before Chemo and take it for about 10 days. I've only had slight bone pain with the first on about day 6. Why is the neupagin given several days in a row and only one neulasta?

Has anyone had a problem with their BP dropping?

Yeshua4Me · April 2010

barb_k: My doctor told me that neulasta has an added ingredient which causes it to stay in the body longer so only one shot is needed. The cost is around $3000.00 per shot. Neupogen only lasts in the body for a day and each shot costs about $300.00.

In my case, I only need 4 neupogen shots to keep my counts up. That costs about $1200.00 compared to $3000.00 for neulasta. I think it all boils down to money but hey, what do I know?

teemee · April 2010

Hi all,

Day 8 and I'm back in my body. I hate hate hate the first 7 days. Having the neupogen shots right after kept me out of quarantine this time -- blood work came back low but high enough to be let outside

I also got 2 new presents from chemo -- folliculitis and thrush. My throat is very sore, they're not sure it's thrush but since I had systemic candida for 2 years many years ago they are attacking it. Docs say once you have the systemic you have a harder time keeping your yeast in balance, forever. Sigh. And my head is very hot and itchy, but got an antibiotic for that so should subside soon. Two more pills, yay! What is with all these pills???

I was very tired today, so after I made about 6 hat pins I took a long nap. Didn't feel guilty. We need to rest and heal so we can get out there and LIVE for many years. Please take care of yourselves everyone and let yourself be 'selfish'!

I'm still in hat pin mode, I may have a side business unintentionally after this, LOL. I have made jewelry for years so had a bunch of 'ingredients,' just putting them together differently. It did feel really good and normal to take out my supplies, tools and glue gun!

OK, just checking in. Hugs to everyone, you are all amazing.

T

staceyt · April 2010

Hello Ladies,

My elephant legs have returned and it has continued to my face and hands.(time for my lasix) Also, my right eye twitch is here to annoy me too! I was getting a little worried because they hadn't showed up yet and I was beginning to miss them. It's bad enough that we ladies have to put up with the monthly bloating but now it's a month of bloating. The sun is shining and it's 60 degrees and it is suppose to be a nice weekend.

My prayers go out to all - Hugs to all - Have a fabulous weekend. -- Stacey

Charley · April 2010

Hello all,

This is Day 3 for me after #4. Fatigue hit me like a freight train last night and I have slept about 15 hours today. My appetite is down as well which is a strange SE for me. Normally I have had cravings ... which is why I've gained about 5 lbs since the start of this mess. I guess every cycle is different. Maybe I won't get those annoying flu-like symptoms this time!

Stacyt - you crack me up. I would definitely be missing those SEs too! Not!

Hugs, Charley

marilyn7 · April 2010

Les - I've had the shot twice. The first time I had pretty bad pain on day 7, took a Vicodin. The second time, no pain whatsoever. My blood counts have been great.

Charley - hang in there. My appetite has been low for the first 2 treatments.

Stacey - Last week I ended up with a bad case of "cankles". I drank extra water, got a massage from my husband and put me feet up the wall for awhile. The swelling didn't totally go away, but at least I can see my ankles now.

I have my third treatment on Monday. I am hoping I can keep the anticipation at bay and enjoy the weekend.

Hugs to those who need it (meaning everyone!!)

marilyn7 · April 2010