Chemo June 2010

I'm so glad I got a port.  My sister's veins collapsed after 2 rounds of chemo.  So, I asked for a port before chemo.  We have weak veins in our family.  It's hard for me to draw blood! 

grneyd5600  So sorry to hear about the bite!  I hate those horse flies with a passion!  My 4th AC has been OK.  Just tired.  Nothing unusual!  Hang in there!

Jackie, my third ac treatment was horrible also with se's, I am happy to say that number 4 wasn't bad, I would say not even as bad as normal usually was, so I hope yours is the same!  On the trial, I am thinking I am gonna pull out of it, just because of the the bad side effects the drug can cause.  I am not even sure that I am getting the drug of course, but still why add more risks to my health if I don't have to and with this drug not showing any promise whatsoever with breast cancer, not worth it to me. 

grneyed-  What fresh hell is this!  Horseflies!  It sounds like full lymphedema is kicking in if your arm is that swollen.  You might want to research some of the lymphedema threads.  I think it is very important to treat lymphedema right away, or it can be permanent.  Doctors sort of poo poo lymphedema massage specialists.  I think there are certified lymphedema therapists that get can help a lot with special massage, wrapping etc...  The sooner you see them the better.  Can you ask for a referral?

I stayed up way to late with my out of town friends, but it was SO worth it. Nothing like friends! Nausea is better, but the blasted constipation is still awful.  Dang, I'm sounding like my granny talking about "regularity"!

sherry- By George, I think you've got it!  You figured out how to beat most of those vicious SE.  I am so happy for you.

June 2: TCH 6x

RS711....that can't be right!  I sit at the treatment center with a patient who is almost done with her year of Herceptin. She has lovely curls that she is keeping clipped short by choice. Her hair is thicker than it was before. She said it started growing back even before she was finished completely with the chemo. And she is a PhD nurse so she's pretty aware of the SE's and symptoms throughout the entire chemo ordeal. 

Thanks Bon. :-)

 gin2ca--> do a little victory dance for me--I had my last AC today!!!!!!!!

Chey--> maybe your hemoglobin is low--that can make you tired also.. Mine is down to 9,6 and my onc said that could be contributing my tiredness that doesn't go away.  I've been telling everyone (docs, nurses, friends, etc) that the difference between this and my last chemo is that when I came out of the "fog" before, I felt really good--it was like I was on a high.  I was thrilled and excited about everything and had more energy.  With the AC I don't have any "good" days.  I have "ok" days where I can do what's necessary--shopping, church, etc--but barely!  I'm not out of the house long before I need to go back home and rest!

grneyd5600-->wow!  bummer about your arm!  yes, please make sure you are doing everything your surgeon tells you--mine has a physical therapist that I would see if I had any swelling.  They can  do certain massages that help, and also fit for the sleeve.  I was told that working large muscles, like the thighs and butt help move fluid through the nodes all throughout the body--but you don't want to do that if the fluid is infected!

Sherry--> much relieved to hear that you are feeling better--see? if you take those meds you really don't have to suffer as much.  Its a good testimony to others who might want to try to "tough it out"  (not that that's what you were doing!)

Jenweg-->yes!  ask for a power port.  You will get a card or something to carry with you to let other's know that's what you have.  Then if you need a CT scan or other test they can use the port instead of you veins--it works great for that!

RS711--> my nurse just told me today that my hair should start growing back as soon as I'm done with Taxol, but while still getting Herceptin.  I think I've read on some other threads here that sometimes it grows in slower while on Herceptin, but that doesn't happen to everyone.

I found out today that since my neuropathy hasn't gotten better, I will be getting DD Taxol--that's every 2 weeks.  It will take 3 hours--actually a little longer the first time cause they give it slower.  I will get benedryl first--sounds like a big dose.  Plus, the Herceptin the first time takes longer too, so she switched my appt. to 8:30, because it will take most of the day.  She said instead of zofran, emend and decadron, I might get a compazine pill, and bag of decadron, then compazine at home.  There isn't as much nausea with the the Taxol.  She (my nurse Andrea) said that is the standard, but since I have had more nausea--even on my chemo last year, my onc might give me something more.  Then she said that there might be a little more nausea with the dd taxol too.  So, bottom line, we'll wait and see what the onc orders--I'm sure I can ask for zofran, or whatever I decide I would like to keep taking.

I will also start weekly Herceptin at the same time as the Taxol. oh--I get a 4 week break!  I was going to wait 3 weeks to move dd to college, but the onc is gone that week so he said 4 weeks would be ok!  PARTY!   I told him I trust him to know what's best!  So I'll be starting taxol and herceptin on Aug. 23rd. 

The week before I'll have another MUGA scan, an ekg, and finally meet with the radiation doc to see if I have to have that or not.  I had radiation last year for my colon cancer and had an AWEFUL time (and its the gift that keeps on giving!). I told the doc that I NEVER wanted to see him again (altho he is a great doc, and his nurse helped me through MANY problems)!!

ok--I'm going on the steroid buzz now, so should probably stop yapping!  I talked to my oldest for an hour on the phone, then went out ot the garage and talked my hubby's ear off--all of a sudden he decided he REALLY NEEDED to finish mowing the lawn--I think it was so he could put his ear plugs ion and give them a rest! Lol!!

Take Care ladies!  You will ALL be in my prayers tonight when I'm NOT sleeping!!

Tina

ps: feel free to pm me with prayer requests--I believe in the power of prayer (in the name of Jseus!), and the more people you can have praying for a specific situation the better!  Just wanted to throw that out there... 

Danielle321--> was this your last AC as in no more or?  If you keep feeling light headed call your onc!  They know its probably your blood pressure and maybe you need to go in for IV fluids again.  My nurse told me her friend a had to go in 3 times one week, and felt much better each time.  I was told if I had more light-headedness to go in for the same too.  I had trouble with that after my 2nd round, but not after my 3rd.  But I really tried to push the fluids on round 3.  Each round the tiredness does get worse.  I know I could not work through this!  Thankfully there is only 4 rounds!  I decided no pity parties for me this round!  I'm going back to counting my blessings--but don't ask me about that in a few days, I may feel differently!!  We all have our moments, and you just have to realize you have every reason to feel sad, mad, angry, whatever!  Just come on here and vent to us   I'm glad I made the decision not to do reconstruction yet, but I bet you'll be glad when you finally have the exchange and its all done with!  If I do recon, it won't be until next summer.

Take care--and let us know how you are doing!

Tina

Danielle321- sometimes the anti-nausea drugs can make you dizzy/lightheaded... do you take compazine or zofran...?

Isla-  Thanks for the Benefiber tip.  I seem to have tried everything else:  Miralax, Senokot, Colace, even good old MOM.  I will look for it and give it a go.  It's just astonishing how out of sorts not "going" can make you feel.  I guess I should be grateful if "con-stupid-ation" is the worst of my SE!

tmarina- I am celebrating with you girl!  I pray we can all never see these days again.  I so long to get back to some sense of normal life.  I'm sick of thinking about beng sick.

Okay, I'm starting to think about hormone therapy and am already anxious.  The plan for me is Tamoxifen for 5 years as I am perimenopausal.  HOWEVER, there seems to be so much controversy about it.  I heard Dr. Northrup say that you have a 40% higher chance of getting BC in the other breast if you take it. A lot of the Tamox ladies seem to say they are never feeling good, don't sleep etc...  I sure don't want to face 5 miserable years.   Also there seem to be SE of bloodclots, strokes, other things.  For any of you heading for Tamoxifen, what are your thoughts??  I have played on Cancer Math, and I do get some benefit, but, truthfully, not that much as I am somewhat low recurrence risk already.

Chey-->Herceptin is not chemo, its a targeted therapy for women that are Her2 positive.  Her 2 causes the cancer to grow faster; Herceptin blocks that signal.  It is supposed to work very well.  I will be on it for a year.

D-mom-->I hope you figure out the whole Tamox thing!  I've read on some other threads that there are others out there asking the same q.'s.  I never realized it was so complicated!  I guess it all depends on the numbers--how likely is it to prevent a recurrence.  Good luck!!!  Prayers going up for the right decision

Ok my peeps - tomorrow is going to be TX #4 AC.  Here is hoping my labs are all good that I had done today and the journey can go as scheduled.  I must admit I want to have the AC behind me and then I can deal with the next leg.  I am happy to report the swelling in the arm is getting better.  I am going to get a referral to a PT tomorrow and get fitted for a sleeve.  I will need one at some point anyway because I usually have to fly on airplanes every week for work. I am not taking chances.  I am still pondering how that horse fly could think I was a fly - I mean I have no hair!!!! 

 Danielle - hang in there sweetie.  We are hear to listen so vent all you need.  It is easy to get into the pity party so let us help you push through.  I actually got a little sideways myself this morning but I pulled my rear end in and got all four wheels going in the forward direction again.  So hang in there!!  As for the expander discomfort.  I get that too.  I am using Tylenol (with Onc permission) and doing the range of motion excercises often.  It does help. 

Grneyd5600 ... good luck for tomorrow.. hope things go well.

Mimi9186... I'm 2 weeks ahead of you. After 3rd FEC, I am breathless much of the time. Went to see my surgeon today as a follow up for my port surgery. He seemed concerned about the SOB problem (Shortness of Breath !) and he sent me for chest xrays and other tests.  I am hoping it's anemia, not heart problems.  

RS711  Oh dear... hair may not return till the end?  Sheesh. I have some stubble left on my head, my eyelashes and eyebrows are really thin.  I am getting more used to it, but it would be nice if it grew back soon.

I had such a good appointment with my doc today. Gotta love someone who is professional and compassionate, and responsive, and not in a hurry. He prescribed something called Nexium for the heartburn 'cause Zantac150 just doesn't cut it. He's going to set me up with consults with plastic surgeon. Looks like total mastectomy is in the cards for me... the DCIS doesn't show up in the MRI or ultrasound, so it's hard to tell how much tissue to remove, and I've already had 2 excisions.  

Who was it that said this is like living with an alien inside us? 

 Oh, yes. How true!

TMarina ~ I can't remember if I mentioned to you or not that my Oncologist is following a European course of treatment with Herceptin for me that came out of Helsinki Finland.  I have had weekly doses for 9 weeks (I believe the study is called the FinHer study), along with the Taxol.  Then FAC (5-FU, Adriamycin, Carboplatin) every 3 weeks X3.  The survival numbers are very close to the United States.  The theory is that it may be less toxic to the heart, so as to prevent arrhythmia's, CHF, Left Ventricular heart failure etc...thought it was very interesting.