Stage III Chemo questions

mcsushi

I had the chills during my chemo too.  What put me in the hospital was a slight temp and my blood pressure was so low and I was so weak.  My white cell count was very low and so was my hemoglobin.   My hands, arms and feet all broke out in a rash and were bright red.  I ended up getting mega doeses of anitibotics even though they couldn't find an infection.  Then my iron level dropped so low I had to get two blood transuffions on the second day.  The next day my magnisum and potassium levels also dropped and I got bags of those. They finally decided my rash was getting worse and I got steroids in my IV.  It was also in the hospital that the neuropathy got worse.

Hope that worded and sounds right.  Feeling very foggy headed today.

Hi, I'm new,too.  Is anyone out there?  I am so scared.  I have multiple nodes involved, in fact they are larger than the primary tumor.  The oncologist and surgeon decided that I would have neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. The onc. said perhaps I could be in a clinical trial of TAC with Avastin.  What is that?  You all seem to know so much more than I.  Next thing I knew, he said to start chemo last week with Adriomycin/Cytoxin x 4, then Taxol x 4.  After that surgery and then radiation.   Are the side effects cumulative?  What questions should I be asking?  How do you decide to have mastectomy versus lumpectomy?   

grney5600 Virtual party on the 28th!  Have come out of the fog from round three today.  Always feels good to feel good.

sonochick I am so sorry.  I didn't put it on my signature, but I have 5 positive nodes.  I had a double mast with immediate implants.  I just wanted the surgery part done with in as few steps as possible.  There is a sight called chemocare ( I think) it is sort of sponsored by Scott Hamilton.  It is a good source for technical information about types of chemo therapy what they treat and what are their side effects.  Remember, side effects are well controlled these days and everyone is different.  You do not have to get the side effects they list.  Other than that, ask the doctor whatever you think is important. This is your trip and you need to do whatever makes you comfortable.

Popping in to say Hi and see how everyone is doing.  It seems that most of you are finding that this chemo thing is doable.  It was such a relief for me once I got a few infusions under my belt.  The fear level went down some and I felt I was fighting back.

I really struggled with the unknown.  I never got in to a clear cycle of knowing what the next day was going to bring.  That was so hard for me -- I'm a control person and I want to know what I'm going to be doing tomorrow or next week.  It was a mental struggle but I finally got to the place where I was comfortable knowing that tomorrow might be a good day or a bad day, might see an increase or new SE or might not, but whatever it was going to be I was going to get through it.  Practice makes perfect.  Well, maybe not perfect, but it makes it easier!

mcsushi - definitely talk to your onc about those chills.  I don't know what it means but I know I am asked every visit if I have them.  So it's something the onc will want to know.  I wonder if it's a indication of change of something in your blood counts.  I had to take a supplement for magnesium about halfway through taxol.

sonochick - AC - 4, T - 4 is very standard.  Usually the various is on the taxol side where it might be 4 dose dense cycles or it might be 12 weekly.  The overall chemo dosage ends up being the same.  Have you already had surgery?  If so, how many nodes were involved?  Or are they looking at the tumors in the nodes through scans? In my case the surgery came after the chemo and there were enough poor indicators that we threw on additional low dose chemo which is where I am now.  So you can always get more if your cancer presentation calls for it.  But rads are also very effective against cancer in the nodes.  BTW - you have mets in your signature.  Mets indicate that the cancer has metastized beyond the breast and lymph nodes.  Is that the case?

I didn't get hit as hard as KittyDog but I am in the group that got a lot of SEs from taxol.  Rash, neuropathy, terrible taste change, and a horrible fog that would last for two days.  Had to have neupogen shots and a transfusion.  But I made it through.  Time moves on and this too shall pass.

JFV, sonochick, grneyd5600, gin2ca, sandiddstn, mcsushi - I'm pulling for all of you and thinking of you!  Hope I didn't miss anybody.

Hi Ladies!  I do like all these updates.  I haven't joined a face to face bc group and find hearing from all of you via internet very helpful. 

Sonochick.  I am 4 AC 4 Taxol.  My oncologist has promised me this is thorough treatment.  We stage three ladies have good statistics in our favor.

Anacortes thanks for the good wishes.

Jackie be good to yourself. 

Blessings to everyone on this page!

AnacortesGirl,  Although I'm not a part of this group I do look in to see how you are doing.  Sounds like you are adjusting, as much as one can, to the chemo non-schedule.  It does turn our world inside out for a while.  I'm holding you in my thoughts.  Hugs!  

Hi ladies,  Hope everyone is doing well and sorry I have not felt well enough to post recently but am feeling better today.  My 2nd chemo tx of AC was done 4days ago and was a little different than first.  My onc removed IV decadron and tabs because of my blinding headache after 1st chemo.  I did not have the headache but did have more nausea and poor appetite with difficulty drinking lots of fluid and eating high fiber foods so I'm having to use colace and glycerine suppositories for constipation.  I have felt much better after 2nd day that I did last time but still a little woozy and weak but getting better.  Has anyone had a problem with some fluid around underarm and shoulder on injection side>I had BMX so chemo and Neulasta are going in non-node simple mast side.  This fluid seemed to pop up morning after Neulasta.  I will call my BS on Mon. about this but my onc is out of town this week.  This area is where I had a large hematoma from small bleeder after surg that took about 4 wks to heal and had to be aspirated once.  Seemed to be fine a few weeks prior to chemo starting.  Hopefully, this is not going to be an issue and will clear up on its own.  I do not have a port or line for my chemo because my onc thought my veins were good enough to hold up to tx.  The IV's and chemo and Neulasta and all other meds are going through this arm so that may be just overloading my vascular system with this area being weak from post surg problem.  Will post later to let you guys know what happens.  If anyone can comment or give opinion on this please do so.  I appreciate everyone here and am praying for us daily>Thanks so much for all the help and support.  Sending hugs to everyone,LOLgin2ca

I am going tomorrow afternoon for onc to check sudden swelling of shoulder and axilla that happened the night after Neulasta shot.  It is still there after 6 days but hasn't gotten significantly worse so I guess that is a good thing.  I am concerned about continuing chemo without port or line because of this issue.  I will post back and let everyone know what the decision is.  I have mixed emotions about doing the port or line but will if I must.  Thanks for the support and concern everyone.  Hope all are feeling better and continue to have better days.  I am praying for all of us. LOL and hugs all around,gin2ca

Hi  Checking in after being gone for awhile.  Finished my last AC wednesday.  Metallic taste in my mouth and took Ibuprofin after neulasta which has helped with bone pain, but has messed up my stomach. In general I am feeling well. I am vegging out and trying to not to worry as Onco told me my tumor markers have gone up!  It's probably Ok but I am such a worrier.

gin2ca you seem to be getting it from all sides!  I am so sorry you keep gettin ill.  Your boss needs some chill pills!  Yeesh! I don't like my port but everyone who had arm IV said they wished they had a port.  Also I just found out that as my right arm gets more beat up from blood draws I can start getting in drawn from my port.  I know it won't be painless, but it's nice to have an option.

How Ya doing sonochick? 

gin2ca  I am unsure what to tell you about my tumor markers.  I believe the test is called Ca 27.29 or Ce 15 I keep blanking out on it because it makes me panic.  I had a blood draw for this when intially diagnosed and the onc said it was borderline high.   Didn't hear a thing about it again until last week when Onc said my d levels were down and tumor markers were up.  This would have been about 5 days after 3rd AC.  She said it could be good because it meant my BC was dying and dumping waste into my blood stream but she would have to watch it.  This is when the blood started pounding in my ears and I said something like.  Or does it mean I'm not responding to chemo?  She then said that 80% of all stage 3 BC patients have cancer in their bone marrow.  Even 20% of all stage one BC patients have cancer in their bone marrow.  Then she says don't worry, go get your blood drawn and go home your fine. ARGH! I ran away.

Anyway I have done a little research from what I think are reputable sights and I get the idea that the CE test could mean I am not responding to chemo  But it is one of those that should not be interpreted on it's own and is one that should be watched over time and one that can be affected by other things going on in my body.  It could also just show that tumor waste is dumping in my blood stream   I think my Onc is very smart and very thorough but shares a little too much too quickly and I sit in shock and hear the worst case scenario and then run.

This tumor marker test is done with blood work I get about 5 days after every chemo.

I appreciate the prayers and everyone on this board.  This long fuzzy headed weekend has been helped by your kind words.

Joan

Hugs back to you grneyd5600  We are chatting on two different threads and I am sending you hugs on both!

gin2ca  You are the best!  Many many thanks.  I am going with the reliability issue also.  I have also found my Onc's email and will start emailing her questions.  I get extremely flustered when we are face to face or on the phone together.  She talks to quickly for me! 

I am really working on my attitude also.  I think worries and complaints and fears are good to express and that is one of the reasons I like this board so much.  I am not alone.  But, I need to really get that cancer or not today is the day I have and I'd better enjoy it as much is I can.  Because if I don't I am the loser.

Hope everyone is feeling well and strong.  Saw a hummingbird in my front garden this morning.  So magical.

Feel well and avoid those side effects!

Blessings and prayers

Joan

Jackie I am so happy for you! I am doing the happy dance.  My round 4 has been relatively easy.  Hope yours is great!  Have a fabulous trip.  Enjoy every minute and just bring bug spray! 

 I really should be more assertive with my onc.  I just keep fighting the urge to run when I am doing anything related to cancer. 

mcsushi  THIS TOTALL STINKS!!!!!!!!!!  Completely unfair for you!!!!!!!  I have no words of wisdom.  I can only say that I am so sad and so angry for you.  All I can think is people come back to chemo all the time and it still works.    They can totally "mop up" those few remaining cells with rads and then go back to chemo if they want to be totally sure. 

 You need someone to hold your hand.  Is there family or a best friend or neighbor who can wrap you up in their arms and hold you tight?  Please find that person fast! 

Hugs and Prayers 

Joan