Chemo June 2010

Thanks to all of you for your great support.  I never thought this day would come, but I still have quite a journey - facing surgery now - but I think chemo was that hardest part and am thrilled to be done.  (This weekend I'll have my usual fatigue and will spend much of the time  lying on the couch watching bad TV!).  To the person wondering about Neulasta - I took it as part of my AC treatment and had no side effects.  My blood cell counts were always good. Keep the faith ladies!!

NorthernGirl

I was lucky because my breast surgeon and PS shared a practice. They were supposed to follow each other on the day of my surgery but wound up working and assisting each other through the mastectomy and reconstruction. I spent 3 nights in the hospital and then went home with my drains still in. Spent the next 2 days at  home - mostly in bed. There have been times during my chemo that I wished I had waited for the recon but actually as my new boobie is now close to the size it is going to be, I am happy that I had it done all at once. I'm not so sure I would have been  happy having another surgery at this point.  My PS is going to leave the expander in until I finish my herceptin - next spring - and then he will put in the implant. I will also have the left boobie reduced to match the new one. That will also be surgery, but minor. 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Finished up #4 Taxol/Herceptin today - 8 more weekly tx to go.  

vickythomas - I'm so glad you finished chemo.  CONGRATS!!! 

Carrol - go with where you feel most comfortable.  I switched onco's and I'm happy where I'm at.  My chemo nurses are pretty cool!  I don't have privacy or wifi (that would be cool, but not necessary for me).  I got bone aches from the Neulasta, but I'm glad I took it.  My WBC's got low toward the end of my AC.  Now that I'm on weekly Taxol, I don't need the Neulasta! 

Bon - sorry to hear about your mom. 

Hi all.  Haven't been on here lately because I've been in a funk and didn't want to post anything negative. But I have missed you and it took me quite a while today to read all the posts I've missed.  Bad part is I'm having trouble remember who did what! I do want to give a shout of encouragement to those who have finished their chemo - YIPPEE for you!  Wish I was one of those.  I actually finished my first chemo regimen two weeks ago, but the celebration was short-lived since I have to do another one starting Wednesday.  I am very apprehensive about it - but trying to stay positive.  Not doing very well, though.

Bon:  so sorry to hear about your mom.  I just can't imagine the stress you and your family must be going through.  I guess prayers will continue.

DMom:  where was I when your terrible storms went through?  I didn't know about it - but glad you're okay.  

Chey:  I can tell from your posts you are doing better and it seems your Taxol tx's are going okay.  Not too much SE's.  Hope that continues.

I fell in the parking lot at school this week.  My leg just went out from under me.  Of course, I would have to fall on my left side landing on my left elbow.  Didn't break anything but have a big bruise on left elbow and it's very swollen. I hope this won't be what triggers lymphedema in that arm.  My feet and ankles have swollen up just the last couple of days - don't know why.  Haven't done anything different.  My feet look like footballs.  I guess I will have to call on Monday.  Also my left boob (the one I had surgery on) is also swollen the last couple of days.  Very strange.  

Well, so much for not being negative - sorry.  Please think of me on Wednesday when I start the new chemo.  I am very scared - more so than I was with this last one.  I really have missed "talking" with all of you, my new and wonderfully supportive friends.  I wish for each of you a good week. 

Love ya - Sherry

Sherry...can you get a diuretic from your doc to deal with the water retention? I've heard from a lot of women that they would retain water after chemo. Not sure what the cause is.  So sorry for your fall but so lucky that you didn't break something. Elbows are particularly difficult...a funny story, not to take away from your plight, but a really silly visual for you....During the hurricanes of 2004, I was stuck at home with no utilities for quite a few days. I spent a lot of time on the still screened porch (no screen damage but roofs in my neighborhood were ripped up...go figure), trying to catch a cool breeze. I had one of those chairs from The Back Store, the ones that reclines, with a mesh sling seat. Well, apparently one day I didn't unfold it properly and the frame wasn't all the way opened and locked into place. So when I went to push back and recline it, BOOM, over I went, backwards, cracking my head and left elbow on the floor, wedged against the door!  The chair folded up in the process, and there I was, knees on chest, lying on my back, trapped. I literally could not move for about 5 minutes and I honestly thought I had broken my neck and was paralyzed. I finally calmed down and realized that the awkward position was what was keeping me from moving, not a neck injury, thank the Lord. So I burst out laughing and had to figure how to wiggle my way out. It took awhile but I did it and only ended up with a chipped elbow...you could feel the bone fragment moving around under the skin. That's my elbow story and I'm sticking to it! 

Chey...You sound so much better!  I know you, and all of us, still have a long way to go, but hearing you sound positive and calmer is so wonderful. That alone is encouraging to me! 

I'm sorry, ladies, if I have not acknowledged each of you and what you're going through. I confess to not reading many posts the last few days. I have been really preoccupied with my Mom's issues, work, rads staging.  Besides that I learned on the 14th that my health insurance has tripled as of October 1st. I'm trying to figure out how to pay it since I still need coverage and can't really go elsewhere, not with a cancer dx. Just trying to stay calm and work through all the stress. My worry beads are worn out.  Love to you all and hoping that no one has any difficulties for at least the rest of the weekend.  Bon 

Lizzyanne... Thanks for the info about the mastectomy/reconstruction process. I really hope that we can arrange to have both surgeries at the same time. After 2 excision surgeries, the sentinel node biopsy and the installation of the port, I really am done with surgeries. I hope I am a good candidate for using my own tissue for reconstruction, rather than an implant.

Side effects are setting in: the twitching eyes are aggravating, and I am so weak I can barely get up the stairs, but at least there's no pain... yet. 

Gosh it sounds like we are going through so many different directions: surgery, radiation, more chemo.

Congratulations to all who got to the end of their chemo!

ok sunday night here and im having my 5th Taxol tomorrow. yuk!!! i hope all goes well, i hate Mondays but then again, i love Mondays because another one down. to think when im done it will have been 16 chemos! wow!! i still cant believe i made it this far. thanks to all you girls!!!

im thinking of all us Monday chemo girls.

love Chey

Hey girls!  Maybe I forgot to mention my sister's wedding (chemo brain???).  It's this Saturday (the 25th).  It was kind of touch and go as to whether I'd be able to go with chemo.  When I switched from AC to Taxol, I was kind of excited to go on the weekly regimen because I'd have more energy for my sister's wedding.  Originally, I was supposed to be on dose dense Taxol and my end date would be this Wednesday.  But then my worst day would have been Saturday, my sister's wedding.  Anyway, I am rambling!!! 

I hope everyone has a good week.  Congrats to all of you who are done with chemo!  And good luck to those of us still on chemo! 

Hi Gang!

Sorry I have been missing in action.  I was actually able to attend a conference in PA last week.  I was really worried about the whole fly on a plane thing but made out ok.  I used a compression wrap on the right arm and didn't ahve any swelling.  Yay!  It was amazing how much energy the conference and travel zapped from me though.  HB and I had a big blow up when I got home.  Think he is in a bit of denial.  I had to remind him that just because I have managed to appear so normal through this that it took a lot of effort to keep going.  I did have #5 Taxol last Thursday.  Made out well again.  Thank goodness!  I am truly blessed in that way.  I even asked the onc "you are giving me the real drugs right?"

My hair on my head is growing back - I have this really soft baby fine hair.  Straight as an arrow though - no curls here!  Sides are white top is dark.  Dirty Qtip! 

I see the BS this week, my GYN (annual checkup) and they are giving me the rad onc referral.  I am going to be doctor poor again! 

I hope you all have a wonderful day and a good week.  May your SE's be minimal, your support be maximum and your world filled with love!

Hugs,

Jackie

janny-Welcome back!  Good for you getting away and savoring nature.  It sounds like the ex is behaving better as well and that is wonderful.

Cheyenna-  You sound like you are on a roll now girlfriend, go get 'em!

grneyed-Jackie, I think they say it takes a full year to actual get back your strength and energy after chemo, so it is totally understandable if you are pooped.  Try to be kind to yourself and don't overdo.

kitty- Is this your sis who had BC that's getting married?  If so, what an inspiration to us all that life WILL get back to normal and be celebrated again.  Have fun!

latte, tmarina, chey-  All you Monday girls, we are thinking about you.  You are on the home stretch now!

Hi Ladies!

Latte and Chey-> hoping you will be feeling ok this week!  Thinking about you!  Good news on the lump Latte!!

I had chemo #3 of 4 (Taxol) and Herceptin #5.  My benedryl was reduced by half because I haven't had any reactions the last 2 times. I asked onc for a reduction in the steroid and he cut that in half too--although I hope I don't regret that!  I'm much more tired now than usual!  But hopefully I'll get a good nights sleep. 

I see my onc. every 2 weeks when I get chemo.  Today we talked about my neuropathy and going back to work.  I plan on going back the beg. of January, after Christmas break (I work at an elem. school). Part of my job is outdoor recess--I have to be outside for about an hour.  Onc said, unless my neuropathy gets a lot better by then, I shouldn't be outside in the cold.  He said he will write me a note, if needed.  Now I have to figure out if I should go back and make everyone work around me, or continue my leave.  I don't have to decide now, but something to think about.

Good to hear from you Janny and grneyd!  Janny I hope the tx isn't as hard on you...hang in there!!  Its your last one!!

I finished chemo last week. feels good to be done but haven't done any celebrating, probably not until next week when I start to get energy back.

is anyone starting tamoxifen after treatment? I start in 3 weeks and will meet with my onc. I also have an MRI next week to make sure everything is okay! 

congrats everyone who is finishing chemo! 

Skd--> congrats!!! hope you start feeling better soon!

Jenmarie-->  Maybe a vacation is just what you need!  Hopefully you are staying at a well-known place.  it should be clean and of course you'll only be drinking bottled water!  Are you a couple weeks out from a chemo tx?  If so, your white counts should be ok--do you get the neulasta shot? 

I would have walked out too!!  My onc sometimes is running behind, but the longest was 45 minutes.  Call in the morning and see if they can get you in.  Good luck :-)

Hey ladies...

My 24th wedding anniversary. Gosh, what a trip life takes us on. I never would have guessed that I would be sitting here bald, in groovy bone pain, out of work and dealing with the big C. But atleast my hubby is still my best buddy and I have really wonderful, beautiful kids. There are so many things that I wish were different, but I can still count my blessings.

Since we knew I would be going through all this side effect stuff again, we decided to postpone an anniversary dinner for about a month. Maybe we can get away somewhere with a decent restaurant. We really hope to plan something fun with our friends and families next year. 

Our second daughter turns 20 on the 22nd. She's away at university but hopes to be able to get home this weekend even though it's a full day's drive away. We miss her and she finds it tough to be away from home when all this is going on.  My hubby and our youngest son have planned a nice bbq menu for the weekend and they want to invite the whole family. This should be interesting. I hope I am better by then.

They hired a temp to fill my position at work. I never thought this cancer thing would go so long, so it makes sense, but feels sad. My hubby picked up a couple of boxes of my personal stuff that was in my office. I loved my office. They are holding my job for me for one year, which is really great. Some days I can't imagine going back to the hectic pace and events that I was doing. I miss the people, and the income, but not the hours and the stress.  

SKD: we seem to be on the same schedule. I just finished Docetaxel and in 3 weeks I will start tamoxifen too. Not sure what to expect with that.

JenMarie9:  The trip may be a great break from cancer. But be careful with bottled water and cooked foods only. Maybe wear a mask during the flights... you don't want to risk infection, Have a great time.

TMarina:  I am always learning things from the girls on this blog. I just assumed when chemo is done, the neuropthy would disappear?  It makes sense that we would have to worry about exposure to cold. How long can this neuropathy last. I have it in my hands, but really bad in my feet. And weirdly, on my face. It feels like the freezing you might get at the dentist. It's good to know this, with winter around the corner...

latte and chey--> I was up most of the night too--and I had my steroids reduced to 5mgs!  I even took an Ambien.  Oh well...don't feel too bad now, but I know it'll hit me later.

Chey--> don't worry about the port!  I've had mine for a year and a half, and almost everytime I go in I have to do all the things you said--lay down, turn head, etc.  If they still can't get blood there is some "draino" type stuff they put in and it sits in there for a half an hour and clears everything.  Sometimes some little flaps of tissue start to grow in there.

Nothergirl-->Yes the neuropathy takes a little bit to go away, and in some cases it never does.  I finished my previous chemo in Jan.  and still had neuropathy from fthat when I started Taxol in Aug., so I know mine won't be going away anytime soon. It should fade over time though.  How is your pain this round?  Do you have some prescription pain meds?