Chemo June 2010
Comments
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I have been using tea tree oil and my nails have survived first round of docetaxel. I didn't use the ice packs or anything during treatment and my nails did hurt like I slammed them in a door for about a week after. I started using tea tree oil shortly after and they made my nails feel soft and grow like crazy. I put it over my coloured nailpolish on my toes though and it seemed to have made my nail polilsh come off?
I am finally feeling better from the flu. Not 100% better though. IT just sucks that I will have to do another round of chemo on Friday and it will feel like I have the flu all over again...
Trusting Good luck tomorrow. I Hope everything goes smoothly.
Julia2 and reneerodger: Yay for your last chemo! Congrats!!! I am jealous!
Northern Girl: Let us know how round 2 goes. I heard it is easier than round one so hopefully that will be your case. Good luck!
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Hooray for reneerodgers! Congrats on everyone who is heading toward the end.
good to hear from so many.
A week out from my second Taxol and still tired in the am which is part of the reason I am on so much. Don't have energy for more than surfing the web and watching TV. Think of all of you often.
Jackie glad to hear you are doing well.
Toni I don't have itching or burning more like pins and needles feeling in hands and fee that comes and goes
Hang in there Chey. True bravery is being scared and doing something anyway.
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my sis just left and wont be back till sunday and now im falling apart again, im crying, i dont like being alone i guess, im tryingg not to cry but i cant help it?
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Hi ladies,
I've been reading along but not posting much. My "cellulitis" infection that started back on July 4th has never resolved, despite 10 days of Keflex, 15 days of Doxicycline, and two weeks of IV antibiotics. I know that inflammatory breast cancer is rare, but I finally talked my onc into ordering a punch biopsy to rule out the possibility. That is supposed to happen Monday.
I was also having my last chemo this Friday. I never really got back to normal after the last chemo, then yesterday I spiked a fever that landed me in the hospital. Docs are waiting for results of the blood cultures but the thinking is that my port is infected.Oh joy! I hate hate hate that my last chemo is delayed, and am worried the punch biopsy will be put off too. I had to fight long and hard for that!
Please forgive typ0os on my netbook and it's LITTLE! All of you are in my prayers.
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For all you sleep-challenged ladies, I found this post on the hilarious "you know you are a cancer patient when..." thread. Her dream made me LOL. I hope all of your are sleeping well and dreaming soon.
Adey wrote: When you have a dream that your doctor and their staff are walking around bare assed in hospital gowns and giving the patients scrubs because it's opposite day...
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Hi friends
Trusting: Thanks for the info about Gabapentin. I met with my onc (I live about a 4 hour drive away, so we meet by teleconference sometimes) He prescribed gabapentin for pain. God I hope it works. I am a crying mess about having to go for my 2nd infusion of Docetaxel tomorrow.
The onc also changed the steroid script. I now take it for more days. Again, I hope it helps manage the incredible bone pain.
Toni: I had burning and tingling fingers after my first infusion too. My finger tips started to peel, kinda like eczema. It lasted about 4 or 5 days. Things are fine now, though my nails are all ridged with funky two-tone stripes.
SKD Thanks... I used the gel mitts for my first infusion. I will be using them again tomorrow. I want to get some tea tree oil to see if it will make a difference.
I went for my pre-infusion blood work today. Thank goodness for wonderful onc nurses. They got the news about my painful side effects following my first Doc infusion and they were just so kind. I couldn't help but break down and cry with them. They were so empathetic. Somehow it made me feel stronger about doing this again. It's Ativan all the way tomorrow.
I hate being such a suck, but it's so hard to line yourself up for such an unpleasant experience as yet another infusion of poison, plus all the nasty feelings of taking all these drugs. I was never a pill-taker, and I am sure part of my difficulties is my resistance to taking meds.
Oh well, it's back in the saddle again tomorrow morning ... grrrrrrr
Congrats to you girls who are done! I hope you get to treat yourselves to something wonderful!
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northerngirl--I'm glad you have such wonderful nurses. It does make things a little easier. Sorry the se's have been so bad. I'll be praying the new meds work for you, and things are easier this time! You can do this!! Soon we will all be done!
Kaycee--hope you can get some answers and heal up so you can get that last chemo! Soon you can say "I'm done!!"
Chey--Hang in there girl! Thinking about you!
Designermom--thanks for sharing the funny post!
I'm definitely feeling more tired today, but that's my only se so far, so can't complain! I'm going to go rest for a bit now.
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Morning ladies! Feeling mildly crappy today, low grade fever (as usual), achey in neck and shoulders, probably from Neulasta shot yesterday, tired. Tylenol seems to be keeping things at bay.
Julia
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Well I've had my 5th Taxol, and I notice that the hair on my head is growing, and my eyebrows are falling out. Strange....
My toes had been hurting, but yesterday the accupuncturist targeted them with lots of needles and last night and today they seem fine.
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ok now im really losing it, i was doing so well with my sis here, now she is gone till sunday and im crying again, i just want things back to normal again, 11 more seems forever and how do i tell my self to get thru it? i hate feeling this way,
i heard that your hair starts growing back while on taxol but i thought taxol takes it away too? i dont understand.
im thrilled for all how have finished!
love Chey
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cheyenna--I sent you a pm.
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Chey- Hang in there. My hair is growing back on Taxol. But everyone is different. Remember right now you are on the steroid roller coaster. I am sending you hugs and prayers!
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Chey, Please call your primary care doctor. She told you she would be there to help you through the depression and anxiety. She told you to call her and she would help.
I think you need someone you can talk to face to face or at least on the phone who is nearby. We love you and want to help but a professional is best and we are too far away to really be effective if you are in crisis. We are all worried about you and are here to encourage you and support you. It is difficult to see you so distressed. I think you really should call your primary care physician and tell her how you are feeling.
I am sorry that I took so long to respond to your plight but was in chemo today and can only read the boards from my iPhone but cannot write from there.
Hugs to you Chey. Please make that call if you haven't already. Bon
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Hi Northern Girl,
You will be ok ! I think once the pain is under control with the Gabapentin you will feel better both inside and out. I know we can do this Docetaxol. I had my first treatment yeaterday and so far it has been uneventful.....knock on wood
It is my understanding that only about 20% of patients will suffer as you have with Docetaxol and I am sorry for those that do. Who knows what it will do to me as the days linger but time will tell allof our stories. Take care,
Trusting
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Hi Trusting
Thanks for the confidence boost. The nurses today mentioned that only about 20% of patients on Docetaxel get bone pain, and even then, the experience varies from mild to severe. So they don't start patients on gabapentin, because more than 80% of patients won't need it. I would definitely call my reaction severe. I've gone through labour 3 times, and would say this is right up there. Oh, but labour ends within a day or so (I had long labours) and you get a precious gift at the end.
Are you on gabapentin too? I hope you continue to have an uneventful experience. (My pain symptoms set in on Days 3 to 11) How many Doc infusions will you get?
They said not to take alcohol with the gabapentin, or with the decadron. Drat. How else will hubby get me to my appointment tomorrow? I feel so emotional, I want to play hooky. I know, I know... brave girls show up, they don't play hooky.
That gabapentin better work...
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Yesterday was bittersweet. It was my last TC tx but not uneventful with GERD symptoms starting approx. 15 minutes into Taxotere. No IV med on hand except for Zantac which I am allergic to. So had to resort to 4 Gas-Ex melt away strips and a handful of Tums. symptoms subsided but kept twinging the rest of the day and came back full blown a few hrs after I left the center.
Worst part is that they admitted my Mom to the hospital in the middle of the night since she is not responding to the meds for Salmonella and is getting progressively worse.
May I ask you to pray for her, please? Thank you. Bon
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Bon I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. Will definitely put her on my prayer list. I hope she responds to the ttreatment soon. I hope your SE;s get better too.
Chey - you need to get someone you can talk to. Can you contact the local Amercian Cancer Society and see if there is someone with the Reach to Recovery program that you can talk with? They are all survivors and supposed to be available for support one on one if you need it. Hang in there girl!
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Bon, I will pray for you to and your mother..and even have my sister lift you up in prayer in church..just talked to her and she is more then happy to pray for all of us..
I am feeling a littile anxiety this morning, my hands feel horrible, this tingling is driving me crazy. I did manage to take the polishs off and see what my nails look like.. a little dark on the actual nail, the thumb is the worse, hopefully they won't fall off..
Bone pain is still there although it has managed to calm down, it is not as sever as it was before..My tongue is a little sore but nothing major...I find myself in bed my 11 everynight.. I use to try to sit up and spend time with my husband and kids, now with the kids back in school. I just go to sleep..
One week from today treatment number 5. My hair seems to be growing back a little.. but my weight is not doing anything.. anyone has any tips on how to gain the weight back, I cant afford to go out and buy new clothes.
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Cheyenne,
I hate that you are going through so much distress and anxiety. I have had a little of that myself but not too bad. You were the first person to reach out to me after I posted and joined this group. I thought then what a wonderful woman. Don't forget that you are a wonderful woman and this too shall pass !!!! It is okay to be scared, anxious, and depressed but try to keep perspective that it will not always be this way!!! I am praying for you, me and all of us here on this cancer journey.
Glad to hear that most of you are doing as good as you can.
Kaycee, I can't imagine all you have been through with the infections. It sounds like your body just needs to heal but can't because you have to keep trying to kill those nasty cancer cells that have invaded your body. I pray today and tomorrow and all the days to follow bring you peace, healing and no pain.
I will be going tomorrow to see my onc for the first time in a month because he has been on vacation and then I got a 3 wk break between treatments. Hope to be starting rads soon. I will post the date on that. I am still having issues with digestion, queasiness, and blood sugar out of whack. I have not been diagnosed as diabetic but I am beginning to think chemo has caused the onset of it for me. I have not had a normal fasting sugar level since the first treatment. I am going to ask if that is normal because I did not have the decadron after first tx because I had a reaction to it. Oh well, will ask lots of questions tomorrow.
Thanks for all the advice and support from everyone. I love you all and pray for us everyday. LOL,gin2ca
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Bon--> Will pray for you and your mom this morning! Sending hugs to you too!
The muscle/joint pain that seems to be common with Taxol has set in. Ugh! Thankfully I was able to get some sleep. I already took a percocet this morning--the otc drugs didn't help much at all yesterday. I was so hoping to skip this se! I'm praying it only lasts a day or two!
Are any of the weekly Taxol ladies having this pain, or is it just those of us that get it every 2 weeks?
I'll be praying for all us this morning
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Bon Praying for you and your Mom.
Praying for all of us as we deal with physical and emotional pain.
Chey- Try to call someone! We all love you and want to see you feel better!
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TMarina, I am on the every week schedule for Taxol. I had number 5 on Wednesday, and happy to say no pain as of yet! Of course could accumulate and come at any time. The only se's I am experiencing are: my tongue hurts like h*** and I am becoming anemic.
Everyone here is in my thoughts and prayers, even though I don't respond much, I still read and think about everyone!!
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Bon,
Please keep us updated on your Mom, I hope she's doing better, we are all worried about her. Worried about you too, with chemo and this added stress, how're you doing?
Hugs,
Julia
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Bon - prayers for you and your mom.
Chey - we have a breast cancer support hot line through a university. They matched me up with a survivor who had a similar diagnosis and treatments. We've spoke a few times and it has really helped me. Maybe the American Cancer society can offer something like that. Hang in there. We are all thinking of you everyday!
TMarina - I had my first Taxol treatment on Wed. 8/18. I'm dose dense every 2 weeks like you. Bone, joint and muscle pain set in on Fri. 8/19. Started easing up on Monday and was basically gone by Tuesday. I hope my next 3 treatments are similar. Just knowing it goes away helps! Hoping yours will be gone soon too. Other than that I've only been tired still. Every day, all day. Ugh!
Anyone know the difference between Docetaxol and Paclitaxel? Most on this thread seem to be on Docetaxol and I'm on the other one. Just wondering....
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Workermom...Doxetaxol is Taxotere. Paclitaxel is Taxol. Both are Taxanes. The literature I saw says that both are acceptable treatments. I am on Taxotere and did not get any Adriamycin regimen prior to that. Just Taxotere and Cytoxan. I see that many of the women here are on Taxol after completing a first regimen of other chemos. Can't tell why the difference in treatment except that my tumor was ER,PR negative and HER2+ so maybe that is what accounts for the choice of drug. Taxol says it's given weekly and Taxotere is every three weeks. I was freaked initially that I wasn't getting enough broad-base coverage and even asked my MO yesterday before what was my last round of chemo if I needed to have additional chemo to get better insurance against recurrence. He said no. So I just have to take a deep breath and hope it was right for my situation.I think that my medical background and reading too much just has me freaked some days and my mind runs the what if route straight to hell.
To all sending prayers to my Mom...thank you so much. I am really scared for her and hate to see her suffering like this. When we talked this morning she once again apologized to me for causing me worry. Can you imagine? I suppose you might have figured out that I am an old Mama's girl...and only child of an only child. This is very difficult for both of us. Thank God that my step-Dad is such a great guy and that I have a dear friend who got up in the middle of the night and drove to the hospital to be with them through the admitting process and until Mom was comfortably in her room by 4:30AM.
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Bon,
I am an only child of an only child too! This whole 'my daughter has cancer' thing has been very hard on my Mom. Doesn't matter how old we are, we're still 'the kids' to our parents.
Julia
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Bon-Prayers going up for you and your mom. What a great mom she must be to have produced a daughter like you! One of my best friend's elderly mom just had brain surgery (took a bad fall and had swelling). Do you know it's only been a week and she is back to normal! She wants to get back to jumping rope! I pray your mom will be back to normal soon too!
jenweg-Glad your TX are going well. I found the Biotene mouthwash really helped with the painful tongue, cleared it up in no time.
cheyenna- I think the idea of hooking you up with a survivor is a great idea. I also know there is a hotline phone number somwhere that you can call and talk to survivors about anything. I'm going to try to find it. I'm hoping you called your regular doctor today to see if she can help.
tmarina- Sorry you are feeling SE. You are so matter-of-fact about all of this, such a trooper, such an inspiration. I hope you get relief soon.
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Jenni- I also have the tongue pain, like after eating something really hot. My onc said that it's a SE from the chemo... all mucous membranes get easily irritated, and that I should avoid acidic foods like tomato sauce.
Jackie- How is your arm LE? What have you been doing for it?
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Bon, im praying for your mom with all my heart,
love chey
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Bon Tell your Mom we BC ladies are sending our love.
Chey good to hear from you.
Hello to everyone else.
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