Starting Chemo in June 2005

Nancy - I hope your next one doesn't hit you quite so hard.

I didn't get my tooth fixed today. My WBC was way too low. So it's Neupagen shots for three days. If my dentist actually worked on Thursday or Friday I could probably get it fixed then! But she doesn't - and I suppose I don't begrudge her her short schedule. So I'm hoping maybe next week. At least it doesn't hurt! **hopes desparately it doesn't start**

Jen

Liz,
Thanks for the heads up on taxotere #2. I have that next week. The first one wasn't bad, but I'll plan accordingly for future infusions.

Anyone heard from Scout?

Liz, it was my 4th Taxol. So, I know some of my feeling weak was just the fact that this stuff has accumulated in my system. I reached the end and maybe my body just decided not to fight back and it really let the chemo take over for a while. I'm 47 and I have not been exercising like I was supposed to. Well, my new resolution is to get into the best shape ever. I'm going to be able to fight anything that comes my way!! I used to consider myself "toned but tubby" so to speak!! I needed to lose weight, but I had decent muscle tone. Now, I'm going to do more cardio stuff and get the extra weight off. I've learned a big lesson here. This was no fun being feeble!

Also, my Taxol pain didn't really kick in until last night, 5 days later. And boy, did it make itself known!! I usually only need 1 Lortab, but I had to have 2 to be able to get any sleep. Then I woke up itching from the Lortab, so ended up not sleeping much. LOL Whatcha gonna do?

I don't want anyone else to worry about their upcoming chemos, as we are all different and you guys might have no problems whatsoever! I think I'm one of the goofy ones who reacted more to the Taxol than AC. I hope Scout is OK and Jen, good luck on your dental work. I'm off for my radiation consult, kinda nervous but glad to be at this point.
Take Care! Nancy

Hi Ladies!

I haven't posted in a while. After chemo was over I went back to work and it is nice to be a bit more "normal" and have other things going on rather than sitting at home worrying about every little thing.

I am almost halfway through radiation now. Today is #15 and I have 19 more to go. I don't feel any irritation yet. The radiologist said that might hit on week 3 or 4. The only thing is that I do feel a little tired. This is a walk in the park compared to chemo.

Good luck to all of you that have finished chemo and those that are almost done. It is doable! We are strong!

After seeing Melissa Etheridge on Oprah, a girl at work gave me her new song "I Run for Life". I LOVE the lyrics! I will admit, I cried after watching her sing it on Oprah. We had just had our Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk the day before and my entire office came (over 40 people) and they all had signs and pictures of me on their backs. I am so blessed to work with such a great group of angels!

Scout!
I am so happy to hear your good news. Sorry to hear you've been 'down' lately. You've had your share of scares, to be sure!
I had a lumpectomy and still wonder sometimes if it would have been better to just remove them. Given your family history, maybe you should revisit your surgeon with your concerns. I vote for whatver gives you peace of mind.

Jenster! I'm sure you're still a sexy THANG!

Michelle, how wonderful of your co workers to support you that way. So happy to hear you're getting on with life. That IS the goal, right?

Best to all, Ladies

JoMac, where did you go?

Scout...I would probably opt for the double in your shoes, but be sure to discuss the options with your surgeon and oncologist so that you come to a decision that you are comfortable with. You would probably want to talk to a plastic surgeon too if you are planning reconstruction You've had a lot of scary stuff going on...hope it gets better for you from now on!



Eveyone sounds like they are doing well. Had my 3rd Taxotere today ONLY ONE MORE TO GO! Went to work after treatment and then stopped on the way home for a manicure and pedicure. Decadron madness attacks! I will probably start feeling crappy again on Friday or Saturday, so might as well live it up until then!



Nancy,I found the A/C easier than the Taxotere too. Hope radiation will be better. My doctor said it will probably be a few months after radiation before I get back to "normal" energy, etc. I plan on getting off my butt and getting into better shape too.



Jen...you sound beatiful just the way you are and you always sound like you make things fun with your kids...can't get much prettier than that!



Michelle..you have the coolest co-workers!



Hugs to all,

Liz

WOO HOO AND CONRATULATIONS REBECCA! How great to be finished with chemo.

How many of us still have treatments left?

I have one..can everyone not finished post how many they have to go?

Liz

I'm back! What a wonderful vacation - we spent 9 days on the coast of maine, then drove back in two long days, going across secondary (and a lot of dirt) roads across the mountains in upper NH and VT. It was gorgeous! Then yesterday went in for my rad simulation, which took a LOT longer than I had been led to believe by the woman who scheduled the appt. I found a bumper sticker in a funky little store that says, simply "TOWANDA!" There's a website listed on the sticker if anyone wants to try getting one by mail. Very cool, and something most people won't "get!"
I haven't had time to read all the posts I missed, but I hope everyone is doing ok as some of us move on to rads, and some are finishing chemo. I do need to update the calendar, since I have been neglecting it. So if you know your rad start and end dates, or if you have chemo dates to add, PM me. I will try to be better, promise!

Hi everybody!
Sounds like this train is plugging along!
A couple of quick thoughts-

I read as scientific description of what Taxol/tere does to the cancer cell's DNA and it said that it "knocks down the skeleton of the DNA making it impossible for the cell to divide so it dies." I guess the skeleton pains you all are getting are sypmathy pains! HAVE NO MERCY on a friggin Cancer cell's pain!

Rads will make you tired. Even the first week. The doc will tell you it won't or "it shouldn't" but docs also tell us we are only going to feel "a little pressure" right before they inflict excruciating pain on us.

A HIGH PROTIEN DIET helps the fatigue on Rads! It works!

Scout...thank heaven the test is negative! Did you get the genetic testing? I forgot. A couple of things I have learned this summer myself with my genetic testing and my bout with lymphedema...
Your breast tissue runs from your collar bone to the base of your rib cage. Removing a breast does not guarantee that you are preventing a recurrance. They can happen in the scar or anywhere there is breast tissue. If you are not BRCA positive- but you have this BC history- and that goes for ALL of you girls... part of your follow up care should be alternating Mammos and Breast MRIs. We are now all considered "high risk" so the MRIs are approved. I get a mammo then six months later an MRI then six months later a mammo. That is how my docs are observing me - EXTREMELY CLOSELY.

The other factor is - lyphmedema is a pain in the butt and the arm! It is a lifetime deal once it starts. Any time you have surgery- such as a mast- you are altering the lymphatic flow. Right now they are trying to divert my lymph fluid from my bad side to my good side. It is not fun.

Think about the whole picture. If you really will rest better with a proph mast then go for it. But remember it isn't a guarantee and that is what really sucks about this damn disease. On the plus side though- when you get recon you will be able to have a matched set!

Brenda are you serious! You found a Towanda sticker?!!!! OMG! Our Motto!

Congratulations REBECCA - YAY Done done done!!!

Nancy- once you get back to normal you will lose that extra weight!

Jo...how do they take the port out in the doctor's office? I wonder why they put you out to get in in, but don't need to do it to get it out? The thought kind of weirds me out...if it's too graphic can you PM me? Thanks!

Liz

Liz and Jo- I had mine taken out in the office too. I think I have a high tolerance for pain but was still nervous since it was put in in the hospital. The entire office visit was 20 minutes- start to finsh and I was in my car. I will say I did feel a little bit of pain and a LOT of pressure. He said "this little sucker doesn't want to come out!"

I am thankful it is over and it was much better healing than when it was put in!

Today is #17 out of 33 rads. Halfway there!!!

I can't wait to get my port out either. Unfortunatley, I will have mine in for another year for the Heceptin infustions...yuck! I don't understand how they can take them out in the office...I have a 3 inch scar where the port went in...do they open the scar in the office??
I had my Taxotere yesterday (weekly) and have 3 more to go...will be done before Halloweeen!!! The onc. came over while I was having chemo and read the report about my biospy. She said she doesn't understand how my biopsy just showed normal breast tissue when the "spots" on my breast "glowed" during the MRI...so she's going to talk to the radiologist....sigh......will it never end??????????
We are going out to dinner tonight and tomorrow I'm hoping to put some of the garden to sleep. I still have lots of stuff blooming, but my Zinnia's are about done and it will good to get out in the garden...crossing my fingers that the effects from Taxotere don't kick in til Sunday. DS is also here for Fall break, so it's been really nice having him home. He even took me to the breast cancer center for my chemo!

Scout - I know you can't wait for this crap to be over. I'm getting frustrated for you!!

Our race is October 22nd. This will be the first one in 7 years that I've missed, but the church is doing it in honor of me. Their team t-shirts say "G.I. Jen's Platoon". lol. We are going to the church afterward for breakfast, though.

My husband and I went shopping this morning and then went out to lunch. I actually went to lunch without a hat, scarf, wig or anything!! It felt very liberating. And I had very few stares. Here's hoping I keep what I've got. But I've got two more taxotere to go so who knows.

Jen

My daughter is in the 5th grade. When she got home today she told me that the mother of another girl in the 5th grade recently had a mastectomy and is getting ready to start chemo. Katie's teacher had her get together with this other little girl so she could "help her through with what she already knows." I thought that was so cool! So they've exchanged email address and phone numbers and Katie told her she would be more than happy to talk to her any time.

Jen

I have been reading the posts-and seems like for the most part everyone is doing great! I was scheduled for Taxol #6 out of 12 yesterday but my white count was too low---just barely so in my plan a week of Neupegen willl boost it up high enough to get me through the next 6 weeks right? I have been doing so well that I think I needed a little reality check. Plus my daughter had strep throat and DH had "the crud" so I was actually kind of expecting it. I will try to post more often....Do appreciate you that are so dedicated!
KimB