Scared...Its Inflammatory.

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earth_tone
earth_tone Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hello,

This is my first time posting anything related to my recent diagnosis. I am 28 yrs young and have inflammatory cancer of L breast stageIIIb. I have just endured my 2 dose of TX whcih is A+C x 8 weeks than Taxol x 8 weeks. (every other week).  My first dose was pretty bad....  physically and mentally. This round has been more emotional. At times I think I'm going mad. I am very scared.  My mind is all over the place. So many scary thoughts especially about surgery. Most likely I will have a double masectomy.  I've warned my oncologist & surgeon that I will absolutely refuse TX if reconstruction is not an option. I am meeting with a plastic surgeon  in a few weeks to discuss my options. I already have a very distorted image of self because I am overweight.  I am trying so hard to stay hopeful but I'm finding it more and more difficult.

Can anyone tell me does TX get worse each time? As I said my initial TX was pretty bad but I satrted feeling semi "normal" agin after about 8 days post TX. This time I find I am still feeling unwell after 8 days since my TX. The only thing that was keeping my spirits up was knowing that at least I would not be sick thet WHOLE time but it seems like the sickness is lingering???? Symptoms so far....Excessive salivating, nausea, headache, mouth ache, gastroreflux, decreased taste and of course tireness. Does it get easier, each week or do you just learn to tolerate it?

 Any advice is apreciated ...

Peace

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  • lauri
    lauri Member Posts: 267
    edited August 2010

    Everybody's cancer journey is different -- but for me, treatment #3 was the worst and the rest were easier but maybe it's just learning to tolerate it. I did AC x 6 then weekly Taxol x 12 and for me the Taxol was much easier.  If you get mouth sores from the AC, let your doctor know so he/she can prescribe mouthwash to get them under control.

    On the positive side, between the mouth sores and the "food tastes like sawdust" I managed to lose 40 pounds (and 4 sizes) during treatment.  But again, everybody is different.

    So rest when you can, enjoy the good days and check in with the board of people currently going through chemo so you can compare current symptoms as well as coming here for people who can tell you that stage 3 isn't the end,

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited August 2010

    earth_tone - Everyone is different, but for me, the first AC was the worst and it got easier from there.  I don't know how much was "better" and how much was just getting used to it for AC after that first one, but you get in a routine and I planned fun things for my good weekends to keep my spirits up.  Taxol was MUCH easier than AC for me, as it seems to be for most people.  My onc gave me something for the heartburn/reflux and I rinsed throughout chemo several times every day with baking soda and water to keep the mouth sores at bay.  I actually set a glass outside the bathroom door and got in the habit of doing a rinse every time I went in the bathroom.  It helped a lot.  Also let your onc know about the nausea.  There are enough meds out there (we had to add to the standard ones for me during AC) that you shouldn't be suffering from that.  And remember that all of these drugs mess with you emotionally.  I had to remind myself of that a lot.  Knowing it would eventually wear off helped me.  Hang in there!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2010

    earth tone I am just about to start my treatment. BMX first. I too was concerned about reconstruction. I may have radiation which could make implants an issue but we are giving it a try. I have the opposite problem as you. When you are thin there is not enough tissue (in my case) to take from my stomach or back so the only option is implants.

    In your case all that extra you have can be used for reconstruction if you don't want to go the implant route. What's nice about using your own tissue is you don't have to deal with replacing implants (more surgery) 10 years down the line. The procedure is more invasive but at  your age it might make more sense. Especially if you do go the bmx route… they will match.

    I highly recommend meeting with at least 2 plastic surgeons.

    I would also seek some emotional support though. Big or small we all go through major issues with our image though this process. Removing breasts, losing hair, gaining or losing weight etc. All a bit out of our control as we treat our disease.

    Another thing I have noticed on this site is many women have started off with weight issues but after treatment learned about nutrition and exercise, lost weight and have ended up in the best shape in their lives… and they were older than you… older than me (I'm 49).

    You will get through this. So many before us have. BTW there is a thread for women in their 30's. You might want to check it out.

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  • earth_tone
    earth_tone Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2010

    I thank everyone for their quick response to my post. Today I seem to feel a bit better and I guess it can be a lot worse. I can't stop thinking about next weeks TX. It seems like most ppl find Taxol easier so hopefully it will be the case for me too. As far as my weight, I have not lost one pound. lol. Funny, although I can barely taste the food I continue to eat whatever, not particularly chosing the healthier food choices either. Is it really possible to lose weight while on chemo and is it healthy? I guess another question for my onc. I would like to try and lose some weight b4 my surgery however I don't know how I will be able to excersise feeling so nauseated and tired most days. Can anyone tell me, what are you all taking for the nasuea. I was given stemitil 10 mg on top of the standard antiemetics and I still feel nauseated but dont want to bother my onc with it, as I am not vomitting. Does anyone else get excessive  salivation??  I was also wondering if anyone is on Neupogen and if so, do you find it makes you feel more ill?

    Thank-you everyone once again. Its good to know their are people that understand what your going through. Smile

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited August 2010

    Earthtone -

    Bother your onc - that is what he is getting paid for! There are more meds they can give you, and there is no reason to suffer.

    I did stop to post here because I, like so many others, have been getting back in touch with people I went to high school with. We were talking about BC, which several of us have had, but the women who's furthest out and still NED is a 26 yr survivor of IBC.

    This will be over soon - I know it doesn't seem like it, but in a year, you will be looking back and saying, I am so glad this is over.

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited August 2010

    Are they giving you a steroid called decadron (dexamethasone)? That drug can really play a number on your mind and emotions. I thought I was losing my mind for the first three rounds of chemo until I learned that decadron can make you hyper-emotional and even violent. Somehow, knowing it was the drug made my week of craziness easier to tolerate. Normally, I tend to have the emotional range of Mr. Spock, so when TV commercials reduced me to tears...well, I knew something was up.

    I had acid reflux during chemo, too, and my onc put me on prilosec. It helped a lot. I was given Zofran and Emend for nausea during chemo, and I wasn't nauseated once. Not even slightly. When you have surgery, ask them to give you IV zofran. Some people (me included) get very nauseated by anesthesia, and zofran is excellent to prevent it. I consider zofran a wonder drug.

    I was on Neupogen during chemo. It didn't make me ill but made my bones ache a lot. Tylenol helped as did taking a walk on my lunch hour.

    I had a bmx. No problem. Haven't had reconstruction and am still unsure whether I ever plan to have it. Maybe someday. Being breastless makes it easier to zumba! Ah-ha!

    Two years ago I was where you are now...going through chemo and scared to death. I never thought my life would be normal again. I was wrong. I can honestly say that my life is absolutely fantastic and worth every minute of the treatment misery I went through. The same will happen for you. Hang in there. It WILL get better.

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  • earth_tone
    earth_tone Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2010

    Thank -you again all for your responses. @ ICANDOTHIS...love your name and yes I think its time I get some of my side effects under control if there are treatments avail for it, as you said that is what he is there for.

    @ Celtic_spirit...yes I am on dexamethasone and thank you for that info because I thought it was more the effects of the chemo. Also thank you for the heads up on the antiemetic meds I will be asking my onc for Zofran on  tue pre TX on Wed. Hopefully its avail up here in Canada?  Did you take it daily or just pre/post chemo? Any side effects?

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited August 2010

    No side effects at all from zofran, but some people do get constipation. The chemo nurses would give it to me in tablet form 15 minutes prior to the infusion, and I would take it once or twice a day in tablet form for around 5 days after each chemo. I think I took Emend twice a day for either two or four days after chemo.

    I have read that younger women have a worse time with nausea during chemo than those of us "of a certain age" (I was 48 during treatment). I would definitely have a talk with your onc about upping your antiemetics, because there are some good ones out there.

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