April 2010 starting chemo

Just wanted to share a funny story.  Was going into the grocery tonight to get DH a birthday cake and as I passed thru the crosswalk at the entrance a man drove by me in his car and almost ran over another pedestrian trying to stare at me.  Now I had on one of my hats so it's not like I was running around with a bald (or almost bald) head.  I watched him continue to try and look at me in his rearview mirror and side mirror almost swerving into a brick column.  Now really, am I THAT interesting to look at? I kind of felt like a freak of nature but I had to laugh because he apparently couldn't quite believe that I was walking around in public with no hair and couldn't quite figure out why I didn't have any. 

I'm getting ready for #4 of 6 on Thursday.  Still have about 10-15% of my hair.  Did not lose any more with #2 or #3-all of it was with #1.  Still have major muscle aches in my legs-not sure if that's from the Taxotere or the Herceptin.  If I have to deal with that until March when I'm done with the Herceptin I may lose my mind.  Not looking forward to this weekend and the nasty nausea and metal mouth but AM looking forward to saying "only 2 left!".  Best of luck to everyone with treatments this week and wishing everyone as few SE as possible!!!

Have a great week!

Jennifer

Marcy-  Sorry to hear your having so many reactions...I hope they find the right cocktail for you.  It must wear your nerves away...I hope they resolve this for you soon. Keep the faith.

Sara- Sorry to hear of your bad reaction too!  That is so unpleasant.  Are you taking Emend?  It helped me tremendously!

I am having a SE from the AC....last tx around day 10 I developed a sore throat.  When I was seeing my Onc. prior to the next Tx I mentioned this...and that it lasted a few days and went away..(I was afraid that I was getting strep).  My Onc. said that it was a SE from the Adriamycin...This time it feels different.  It feels like I have a huge lump in my throat...I can't keep from thinking that it is my throat closing up...It is just such a strange sensation...I might call the Dr. tomorrow just to run it by him, and to set my mind at ease. 

Karen-

I hope your tx went well today.  Do the steroids keep you up? 

I am having my LAST AC on Friday....I went in the pharmacy to order my prescriptions today in anticipation of friday's tx.  I told the pharmacist not to order any more neupogen for me because it is my last tx...and all of the pharmacist and techs yelled 'YEAHHHH"..they made my day!

Is anyone just having herceptin alone?

Big Hugs to everyone...and remember to FIGHT like a girl!!!

Emme

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Toughmom38 - I  have also had people stare when I am wearing a hat, not really sure what is running through their mind but I have inquired...   I was in Rite Aid picking up a prescription and a woman kept looking at  me and every time I would look at her she turned her head.  Well finally I said "can I help you?" and all she could say was "I was just admiring your hat.."  PLEASE......  I said "thank you, I have cancer" and walked away, her face hit the floor while I giggled all the way out the door.  Just thought I would share the humor...

Marcy,  my heart goes out to you, how frustrating it must be to react to everything that they have given to you so far.  I hope that they can find a cocktail that works, that you can tolerate, and that you can start soon, so that you can put this behind you and move on!

Saralmom, I'm sorry tha you were so sick with your last infusion. I hope that they can get on top of it, it can be such a tiring thing to be vomiting like that.

I also have a kind of funny pharmacy story to share.  I was there to pick up my montlhy supply of heparin (which I am self injecting) and the woman in front of me was picking up her prescription of pills.  She commented to the cashier that she hated taking pills "Isn't it the most awful thing to have to take pills"  The cashier was sympathetic, and then she told the woman that she takes insulin.  It just went right over the woman's head, and again she complained about having to take pills.  The cashier just shook her head, and when she was ready to help me, I said "I would much rather take pills"  She smiled and said "Some people jjust don't get it, do they"  So true.  

Have a good week all, third FEC for me tomorrow.

Karen - I am officially in the study as well.  It's hard to remember to take meds 3 times a day!  I hope I don't blow it.

Emme - I did have Emend during the AC part but not for this Taxol part.  I think b/c my nausea was short lived and not a reaction to the actual drugs it doesn't warrant the big guns.  My nurse did tell me to take 1-2 Ativan before I come again next week to try to prevent it.  I can't imagine not being nauseous from it again, and I get the dang saline like 5 times during the tx.  Nothing worse than vomiting in a crowded room full of people - so embarrassing, and I felt guilty b/c I know they don't feel well either.  Even with my curtain drawn around me, I know the sound of someone vomiting is so gross.  Ugh! 

So sorry to hear about problems with chemo - that really sucks!

Sara, I hate to vomit I did the first treatment but at least I was at home - I say don't worry about the others they totally understand! I hope it goes better for you next time.

Well - I have my last AC this Friday like Emme! Yay for us! Although, I am really nervous to start the weekly Taxol.

I am also done for the school year and now my summer starts - I actually don't like being off of work those kiddos really helped to keep my mind off of stuff! Plus it's bad that I am wishing it was next June - just wishing the time away, don't want that - but want to be done with this crap!

I put a new avatar in - finally one of me with my wig! I like it although it seems after a day of wear ing it - it gives me a headache like wearing a cap or ponytail!

Well it's raining here and my daughter is babysitting, husband at work maybe I will go see Sex and the City 2! Good luck to everyone and HUGS!

For all you brave ladies gagging during the saline flushes and infusions.  I read a post somewhere here from a repeat chemo lady.  She said if she pinches her nose shut when she gets the flush, she never tastes it.  I don't know if it works (starting chemo 6/11) but it's worth a try.  I can tell you it helped me gag down that gross glucose drink I had to take before my PET scan yesterday!  Blessings to you all!

I am finally done with AC.  The 4th was the worst for me.  I had no energy and felt like I had been run over by a truck.  Today is day 7 and I might be human again.  At least it was the last one!!!

Now onto Taxol and Herceptin for 12 weeks.  I'm nervous about my first go round.  I hope it is easier than AC like they say.  I would like to attempt to work during the 12 weeks but if it is anything like AC there is NO WAY.  I admire all of you that were able to work during AC.  Ugh.

I hate hearing so many of you are having SE.  I wish there was a button to make all of those go away.  Of course if that were the case we would make cancer go away and skip chemo all together!

I received an email today that made me shake my head.  A lady was trying to make me feel good (?) about my upcoming bi-lat and compared it to her breast reduction...a little different I think.  I know she means well but it caught me off guard.  lol

I haven't noticed people staring so much.  If I do I am going to take Jen's line!

Hello April-ers.  I had my last FEC yesterday, no more red devil, yay!!   I start docetaxel in three weeks, so I am preparing myself for a whole different regime and possible side effects.  But, I am now halfway through, and it feels good.

JenC, enjoy your holiday, Maine is so pretty.  I have driven through the state a couple of times, and always thought that it would be a lovely place to kick back for a while.

Have a good day everyone, hopefully SE free. 

Well what a day!! Had my 3rd round of TC today - and it nearly didn't happen! (after staying down last night and having a 3 hour drive!)

Started off with my 9:00 appointment with my Onc being 20 mins late getting in (what the hell - first appointment of the day???). By the time we discussed what needed to be discussed and I got out of there and up to the 5th floor Chemo Day unit I was 30 mins late for my appoinment up there.  So I sat there waiting....waiting.....waiting.... it got to 11:15 and I asked how much longer as my appoinment was supposed to 9:30 and heaps of others that got there after me were going in before me.  Finally at 11:30 got in there. Started off with extra pre meds to avoid a reaction to the taxotere (phenergen AND extra steroid) waited 1/2 hour for them to kick in. Then they started the T and guess what? Yep had a reaction for the 3rd time - I've officially been labelled a trouble maker by the nurses haha.  So they stopped it gave me MORE phenregen and steroid and then while i settled down I heard them discussing me behind me - saying that they didn't want to proceed with it! Even though I'd told them that both times before once it restarted I was absolutely fine.

SO they ring my Onc who came up to talk to me. Basically they don't know why I keep reacting as today they did absolutely everything to Prevent the reaction and it still didn't work. However, she was happy to restart it (which I was fine for the remainder of thankfully) but now she wants me to change regime to AC instead of TC (so only changing the T to A but keeping the C).  As funny as it sounds I dont' really want to change as I only have 1 more round so figure I know what to expect and what side effects I geneally have and don't really want to stuff the system up by chanigng now.  If I still had 3 left or somehting I'd go with it but I'm really in two minds!  She said to think about it and gave me thie information so that I can read about and we'll make a decision when I see her next.

So all in all a frustrating day - didn't leave hospital until 4:15 then had to face peak hour traffic and long weekend traffic so the trip home took a lot longer.  Such a long day and now I don't know what to do about my last treatment

today I had my first Taxol treament, thanks for all of the encouraging words leading up to this......

It was a long day (about 5 hours), but it went really smooth.  Some of the time delay was due to the chemo area being one nurse short today (my nurse said this may happen again due to summer events, vacations, etc.). First I had my blood counts done, which were fine.  Then I met with my oncologist.  Earlier this week I had an EKG and MUGA test (no reason just a check after finishing AC).  Both tests came back good, there was no change in the MUGA test from the inital test prior to chemo.

On to chemo, I was given my premeds.....the steroids and Benadryl have to be infused separately . (they also gave me a nurse call button for today's cycle since it was a new med.) When the Benadryl started I started feeling fairly anxious (I did not expect this) so, as instructed called the nurse over, we discussed it.......could it be anticipation, would I want to take something, wait and see, etc..  She was very calming, we decided to just monitor it, eventually it went away (I think it was anticipation).  Then the Taxol was started (very slowly),  I really didn't feel anything (at one point I felt the flutter of anxiety, but then it quickly went away.)  After a time, the infusion was sped up, then with no reaction, sped up one more time.  After Taxol, I had my Avastin/placebo infusion and then I was finished. I felt better at the end of this than at the end of my AC infusions.

so, now I'm home, I took a nap and ate a good dinner. It's kind of wierd knowing that I haven't had any anti-nausea meds and I feel fine.  I actually feel pretty good. I know that this is only day 1 so we'll have to see how the next few days go but at least I'm off to a good start.  My second cycle will be next Friday, the nurse said it should go much faster (plus I only receive Avasin every 3 weeks now)

good luck to all, and thanks for your support

Emme - sorry but also glad for you I guess! ;-) Enjoy the graduation!

I am done with my AC treatments!! Whoop Whoop! The nurse had to stick me three times to get a vein though and I am really worried about starting my weekly Taxol because of this! Hate being stuck but really don't want a picc line! I am feeling ok this time around - tired and a little naseau but so far not too bad.

Hope everyone else is having a good weekend!

raerae7074

Be my guest.  I do notice that as soon as I look at someone who is staring they turn their heads.  I just walk by now sometimes and say "HI" and keep going.  drives me insain.  Sorry you are all having a hard time.  I got lucky I guess since I had the stitch abses which turns out after the path report not to be an infecction it will be 4 weeks between ACs.  My next one #3 is this comming Friday but until then I am enjoying a week at Old Orchard Beach ME with the family.    Good luck to all having treatment this week.  Stay strong...

JenC - OOB is my old stomping grounds!  I grew up in Brunswick, ME and every summer I would head down to OOB and see concerts and just have a great time.  Oh how I miss that place!