Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Paxton-so glad that your medical outlook is so much better!  I know the chemos a bummer, but it gave me great joy to read about your results.  Hang in there!

11tybillion- I don't know what I would do if my family had given me such a hard time.  In the last few weeks, my family has really changed their tune and support level.  They let me make the decisions and go from there.  Maybe your parents could read the Anticancer book.  He is mixed in his approach.  Traditional and holistic approaches both have their place in cancer treatment.

Justsher- my heart is heavy for your situation.  I can't imagine what you must be going through.  My prayers are with you.

QUESTION- I had my second taxotere herceptin infusion on Wednesday, Japan time, and Thursday around noon, I woke up with a severe flush rash all over my face, down my neck, across my upper torso and on my arms.  I took benedryl and it helped.  It started coming back last night.  Took another benadryl.  This morning, it is 6:23 am Friday, I woke up with the severe flush on my face, upper torso and on my arms.  I'm sure it is a taxotere reaction.  Should I continue to take the benadryl or should I let the doctor know.  He is in surgery today so I would have to go to the ER and I really don't want to do that.  Also, I have never gone in for any of my side effects, but this is a new one.  HELP

Mslrg - thank you for your reply.  I had the same steroids with my ac and had no reaction.  I got online and read that it is a side effect of the taxotere, but I am taking the benadryl.  I will try to drink more water!  I actually have grown to HATE the taste of water!!!!  Thank you again for your reply.

Agree on the taste of water, funny how water can have a bad taste! I've been using the crystal light packets to add flavor which has helped.

I have an interesting observation about Neulasta and bone pain. I had no bone pain to speak of during my FEC / Neulasta treatments using the Claritin for a few days. However, I had my first Taxotere 4 weeks ago, started my Claritin on Friday as usual, had my Neulasta on Saturday and continued the Claritin through Sunday just as I had done with the FEC treatments. Starting Monday after the Taxotere infusion I started with bad bone pain that lasted a week; bad enough pain I had to take heavy duty pain pills at night just so I could sleep. I mentioned this to my oncologist prior to my second T infusion, as I assumed it was directly related to the Taxotere; he insisted it was the Neulasta (even though I didn't have this happen during the FEC treatments). I thought he was crazy but this round of Taxotere I decided to take the Claritin longer and see if it made a difference. I have had some bone pain this week following the Taxotere / Neulasta but it's not near as bad as the last time.

End result, I'm still not convinced it's the Naulasta, at least not alone, perhaps the Neulasta impacts us different depending on our chemo drug. Anyway, thought it was worth mentioning in case anyone is having the bad bone pain with their Taxotere; worth trying maybe.

Hi Ladies- I haven't been on in a while....Like GRAMOFLEXUS- I've had a HARD time lately!

Mine started when I took a call from the local breast center concerning my mom's mamo- they needed more pics because they seen something.  The only think worse than me having BC is my mom having it.  WELL it was a CYST.  BUT - I was thrown right back in time to my bad mamo and I've struggled ever since mom's mamo.  I was trucking along and then that.

Oh Gramo- I hear ya- I look at myself and think - where did I go?  Most times I cry - now more and more I get pissed!    That reminds me there is a book out there STAYING ABREAST- Gramo- look on line.  It has exercises for us girls who are missing our nodes.  Gramo when I'm down I won't even walk and it really makes things worse for me.  Are you walking or something physical - I know it's hard when we don't feel a 100percent but get some upbeat fighting music to listen to.  It helps me.  My new theme song is from the EA Sports Soundtrax Vol. 1- the song is I am Solider by Bishop Lamont- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkKjRHOYZRs (yeah it's a rap but those guys are bad asses and they make me feel tough)  LOL  Weird -but it works.  I also like GET UP by 50cents.  I do listen to other music but to get my butt moving....    

Gramo we have every right to feel what we feel - it def good to let the feelings out!  Cancer is BS. Gee Gramo- your post was like my life lately- freaking out over every ache and pain.  

I'm actually a real mess lately and I have recon surgery Tuesday- I wanted to rested and ready.

All you ladies talking hair- I bought Hair Fertilizer at CVS that's organic- BUT then I seen it had soy in it and being I'm estrogen pos- I'm afraid to use it.  If you are triple neg- you can probably use it.  I miss eyebrows and lashes too!  Today I wore fake lashes to work and one fell off!  LOL I'm 3wks plus away form chemo and fuzz is growing- but no lashes, brows, hair on legs, or under arms.     

I wish I would have got on here sooner - I see we are all having a difficult time adjusting to the next stage - which ever it may be for us.  I guess chemo was our biggest battle- physically..........BUT now we are put out there and our minds have not caught up to what has happened to our bodies.  I'm the heaviest I've ever been and the weight isn't budging like it has in the past. 

I feel for everyone out there having a hard time- especially you girls having a hard time with family members............that stinks.  What is wrong with some people?

Bless you guys and thanks for sharing!

Danielle   

Friscomom:  Same thing happened to me with the first Taxotere.  I don't take Claritin at all for Neulasta so I can't relate to that but I will tell you that my first Taxotere and the bone/muscle pain was horrendous.  Lasted 6 days and I stayed in bed, couldn't sleep at night either.  After that I asked for some heavy duty pain  meds as I thought this was going to be the way it is with Taxotere and Neulasta together.  My second Taxotere I had very little bone pain, manageable with Advil and had only achy legs and back.  Had my 3rd one yesterday and don't know what to expect as I get my Neulasta today.  The only thing I did differently between 1 and 2 was to dring hoards of water for number 2 treatment as I am doing this time.  Everything disappears for me after about a week and I have 2 good weeks and the WBC are staying up.  I told my onc about this yesterday and he had no explanation for it except that it was the Neulasta working so hard to get my WBCs up.  They went up to 22 the first time, no wonder the pain, huh? Hope this helps/

Well, I am SICK of this BC stuff!!  Last week my sister had a mammogram,  They found a 1 1/2 cm mass in her rt breast and today they did more tests and biopsied it.  I'm really frustrated as we only have each other in my family.  She is a single mom with no significant other and if she has to have surgery, there is no way I can be there as I am in the middle of chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So frustrating.

As far as the bone pain, I have taxotere and herceptin, but my doc does not use the neulesta.  I have had not trouble with my blood counts through this whole process.  After my last AC, my counts were down a little, but so far so good with the taxotere.  I do have the bone pain and terrible muscle cramping for about a week.   On day 10 it all of a sudden gets better.

A good laugh for everyone:

Did you hear that Apple has developed a new breast implant that can store and play music..........the iTit will cost from $499-$699 depending on cup and speaker size.  This is considered a major social breakthrough because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them!!!

GraceOkinawa,

 If I were you I would really let your doctor know about your reaction.  I actually had to stop taking the Taxol because of anaphalaxis reaction after my third dose. It was quite scary.  But the put me on the Abraxane and have had no trouble with that at all.  Also for the bone pain, I am taking 3000 mg of glutamine three times a day and that seems to have really helped.  I don't know if you're taking that at all.  Keeping my fingers crossed for your sister that it turns about benign. 

 Debbie

Grace-I too wake up every morning after Taxol/herceptin with a very flush face. My kids always notice it before I do and say 'look at your face it is bright red". I'm not too concerned because it typically goes away in a day or so. I was not sure if it was the taxol or herceptin causing the flush face. After the flush goes away I usually break out in teen age acne...extra bonus. It seemed that the A/C mad my skin soft and younger looking but the T/H makes me look more wrinkled with acne. Maybe the cancer thing is wearing on me and really adding age to my face.

On the hair note-I went out to lunch with my much younger coworkers and I took off my hat to show them my 2cm of super soft dark/grey/white baby hair.  One of the guys said "I was looking at a picture of you the other day with hair and you look weird with hair. I think I like you better bald." I was not sure how to take this. If baldness for women were more socially acceptable I definitely would consider it. Maybe when it does grow in I will try a super short do.

Bubbalu-Love the apple joke. Thanks for adding cheery posts.

Pat-That stinks you live so far from TJ's and WF's. Finding organic produce and all natural products can be tough in certain areas of the country.

I re-read the Anti cancer diet book again. The book really makes a lot of sense.  Pre cancer I lived a healthy natural lifestyle and thought I was eating really good but I was so unaware of the inflammation factor.  Now I focus on foods to reduce the incidence of inflammation.  Tumeric also is something I added to my diet. I am challenged on finding ways to add it to food, So I shoot with with a little olive oil.  I also added hemp milk to my diet.  It is loaded with good fats. I used to drink a lot of soy milk but I heard it my interact with taxol. I'm thinking since I'm ER+ I should consider dumping soy milk.

11thybillion- I too will be getting rads but to be honest I have not done any research to find out the positives and negative.  Since I have lymph involvement, my onc says I have no choice. Since the rad center is .5 mile from work, I'm looking forward to building a walking break into my workday.  I have many coworkers willing to walk there with me.

dgirl-agree 100% about getting exercise. I know I go nuts if I don't get it. My goal is to walk or yoga everyday.  Lofty goal while getting weekly treatments. I find while on steroid high I was get at least 5 miles day in. Once I bonk, I can barely drag my butt out of bed.  On a good week I will exercise 4 days/week. So important for my mental health. I'm a live long athlete used to more more vigorous exercise but since cancer, chemo and the port, I'm afraid to do anything to physical or demanding.  That is what I had most about cancer-I find myself afraid of so many thing I used to enjoy.  I literally rethink everything I do or don't do-eat, wear, apply to my body, breath, touch, talk on cell phone, work on laptop, EMF. My reality is forever changed.

Cancer is starting to poliferate my Life. My daughters boyfriends mom has colonrectal cancer and 2 close friends were diagnosed with bc last week.  Is it our age or what. Until I was diagnosed I could count friends, collegues, family  member on one hand who had cancer. Now I need all my fingers and toes.

Bubbalu- I got such a kick out of the apple joke!  Made me laugh which I really needed.  Also, not sure about the nail thing.  Had my second treatment and I have bleeding today under one of my finger nail beds.  I have read about putting your hands in ice during the infusion.  I forgot the ice this last time.  Have you tried that?

bubbalu- Taxotere turned my nail beds blue/black. You can almost see bands that correlate to the 3 infusions. One nail appeared to be lifting off with the last infusion. It does not hurt, just looks scary. However, 2 weeks post-chemo it may be getting better and looks more normal now. I'm assuming the discoloration will just grow out. Just be careful when you wash dishes (use gloves) etc. I have no reason to believe it is a fungal infection. I asked my oncologist about my nails...and he just said it "happens to some women". I did not use cold packs during infusion.

I also keep my nails short to avoid having them break. Good luck. 

mslrg- It's crazy how much BC has infiltrated my life these days.  I just want to be done with it, but I now know that even when I am "done" it'll never be over. 

I had a bad night the past few nights, mainly because I am terrified of my surgery at the end of the month.  The front page of msnbc.com today has an article about the living hell that can happen when you are accidentally awake during surgery but unable to move because of the anesthetic.  YIKES.  I'm also afraid of infection and lymphedema.  I'm not normally a squeamish, fearful or irrational person, but I'm starting to become one.  I just keep imagining what I'll look like in a couple weeks.  I'll be bald, breastless and bandaged!!!

Last night as I was brushing my teeth, the fear came upon me like a wave.  I haven't been able to shake it all day and I just keep tearing up about it all.  As I told my friend, I've been working so hard to get through chemo, that I haven't really spent a lot of time worrying about what was coming after chemo.  Now that I'm here, I'm shaking in my boots.  I know I'll be OK, but I'm so sad about having to go through it all.  I feel like I'm back at square one dealing with a new cancer diagnosis again.  When I look back on all of this, I hope I can say that I came out stronger and better. Because right now I'm feeling weak and less than. 

I am starting to sprout some hairs, though.  I look a little like a Dr. Seuss character with a few squiggly hairs randomly sprouting out of my head.  It's a start.

georgiabird:  I know just how you feel - my surgery is in 2 wks., June 1 - left mast.  I had chemo first, but tried to ignore what was the inevitable - losing my breast.  I am scared,too - I've never had surgery before, but that's not what I fear the most.  I am not sure how I will feel once the surgery is over - will it be a few weeks, or a few months, before I finally fall apart?  I hope I am strong enough to accept it all and move on to the next phase.  Hopefully, you will too.

From most accounts on this site, the surgery itself is not a very painful procedure.  I thank all the ladies that have gone through this before us for letting us know that the surgery itself is not a very painful procedure.  Gotta love them all!

Grace, I am so happy to hear that your sister's test came back negative. Cancer is hard enough to go through but I wonder if it is even harder to watch your loved ones go through so I am so glad you don't have to.

Georgiabirdgirl, I feel like you have been in my mind lately. Just had my last round of chemo on Thursday and called my surgeon today to schedule an appt to go over the details of my bi-lat and reconstruction although at this point I am still not quite sure which type of reconstruction I am leaning towards. I was seriously considering the free tram flap but after talking with 2 different women who recently had this type of surgery I have to admit I am terrified of this surgery and lengthy recovery and not being able to take care of the kids for a very long time. This is making me think again about going the expander route. Both options suck to me but since i don't think emotionally I can handle losing my breasts and not getting replacements I feel reconstruction is the way to go. I too feel like i psyched myself up to get through the chemo but now that the next step is approaching I am freaking out. I don't like pain or surgery; hell i was terrible with my c-section and I at least got a beautiful baby out of the deal. I am just so worried about making the right surgical choice and also getting through all of this with as little physical and emotional discomfort as possible. Although people are always telling me how strong I am, I am feeling incredibly weak and not very positive right now. I wish I oculd find that strength and positivity that i once had, I just don't know how to get it back. I wish you the best with your surgery and hang in there...we will get through this stage as well.

dgirl & 1maramlade: i wish you both the best with your upcoming surgeries.

I had a breakdown yesterday while my family was out of the house. Just started to cry hysterically and started thinking that maybe the chemo hadn't killed all of the cancer cells and that all of this hell hasn't helped me. I just went into each of my kids rooms and looked around and my incredible fear came over me again that cancer was going to take me away from them. i swear I could have thrown up I was so upset. couldn't seem to calm down and felt like i was going to stop breathing. Oh my god the fears and thoughts that overtake my mind are sometimes just too much to handle.

Hope today finds you all having a better week. take care and thx for listening