Chemo June 2010

Ladies: We are all doing great, handlng the ups and downs.  I agree with Vicki - I finished last week and thought I would feel great but guess what, I forgot to keep drinking fluids and had a crappy weekend.  I am going to do a "spa day" at a nearby hotel with a friend - just a massage and a facial - as a little pick-me-up to celebrate the end of chemo.  And I keep needing Ativan and Restoril to sleep - my sleep cycle is totally out of whack, but when I get tired, I get weepy. Make sure you are getting enough sleep!

 Hugs to everyone. Toni

Wow, Chey.  I can't believe you only have 7 tx left.  Time seems to have gone by fast.  Today was another blow.  I did not get to have chemo because my blood counts are too low, a first for me.  My oncologist started out by telling me he was going to adjust the dosages of the chemo meds for me.  He is really very sweet and seems to be concerned about me and how I will do with chemo.  But he said today that my white count is too low and he's a little puzzled by that since I am two weeks past my last Taxol tx.  I will go next Wednesday and have my blood drawn and checked again and if it's okay, will start my new tx then.  I asked about a shot, but he said he doesn't want me to have one.  Not sure about why that is, but I do like him and trust him, so I guess I'll wait one more week.  Had myself all psyched up for today.  Wasted a couple of good Ativans! ! ! LOL!   Now, it has thrown my schedule off.  We had planned a short trip to Texas for a family get together during my fall break in October which would occur a week after my second tx. Oh well - this is life with cancer I guess! I HATE IT!! 

Sherry sorry to hear about the delay in your chemo. I guess that is something that can happen at any time. Hope you get back on track asap.

sherry, dam! just one thing after another! im glad you trust him though,as we all know the wait is the worst! It will be over soon,as Dmom says, be careful, remember its the start of flu season. i would lay low for the next month... im sorry about your trip, but you need to be strong before you take off... im thinking of you always, yes!!!! 7 left, yay!! it still seems forever away! I hate it it too!!!!!!!!!!!

love Chey

DMom:  I am back at work at the school.  I work in the principal's office at a junior high (8th grade only). I have always been a germ freak, so I continue to wash my hands a lot, and I don't come in contact with the student population at large.  Just a few here and there throughout the day. Being at work has saved my sanity.  For about 6-8 hours a day I forget I have cancer - well most of the time.  My wig is itchy and I can't feel the bottoms of my feet and my face and hands are puffy from steroids so maybe I haven't forgotten after all!  LOL.

Chey:  I so remember having the same feelings as you while on Taxol.  Each week when it was time for tx I would tell my husband that I didn't want to go and I felt like I was never going to come to the end.  And then the end FINALLY came.  I guess we all are at some point where someone else was or is and we know exactly how it feels.  That's what makes this web site such a blessing - to have the support and encouragement of someone who really understands what we are going through.

Trusting:  What a mess you have been through. I sure hope things are taking a turn for the better for you.  You are so close to being through - just one more tx.  Praying that your body will stay strong and be able to withstand your last tx without any nasty SE's.

Bon:  how are things going with you?

Carroll: nice to meet you. I will pray for you to as you go through your tx.

Don't know what will happen with my trip to Texas next month.  We are waiting to see how I do on the new tx plan.  I hope I get to have a tx next week.  WOW!  Can't believe I just said I "hope" I get to have a tx.  LOL!  I was so hoping to be finished by the first of November so I could feel better for the holidays. 

Now I'm going to partake of my favorite supper ever:  chocolate cake with fudge icing, pecans and Blue Bell ice cream - YUM!

Trusting:  you poor dear!  It's so great that you are getting wonderful care as you deal with things.

I hope things get moving well for you.  I am one girl with the opposite problem! Grrr. can't wait for this to be done with.

TMarina:  Bone pain sure sucks. Is this your last infusion? Hang in there!

It's Day 8 for me and the bone pain continues, but it's manageable. Other side effects continue...

Does anyone else feel like their teeth are tingly and loose?   I wonder how long before we start feeling like ourselves again.

Trusting - hang in there girl!  I hope you are better soon and back on your feet.

Sherry - sorry about the delay.  Maybe another week will get you back on track.  Just remember one foot in front of the other.

I had #6 Taxol today.   So far so good.  I swear some days I wonder if I am really metabolizing this stuff cuz I am missing SE's.  Actually not having many at all.  Kind of scary actually.  Isn't that sad - you guys are struggling with SE's and I am in doubt because I have none.  I swear this disease is going to make me crazy!  For all of you having the SE's - hang in there and I hope you find relief soon.

Love to all my sisters out there! 

Morning Ladies!

Just wanted to say, for those of you facing rads after chemo, I am totally thrilled with the Canadian protocol so far.  I have 4 more regular tx, then 5 boosts, then I'm done.  So far, no skin issues, a few shooting pains that I'm told are normal (ie. everyone gets them apparently), a little fatigue, and sometimes a mild sore throat right after the treatment.  I am so happy that I will be done in another 1.5 weeks!

Julia 

Those of you planning on taking tamoxifen--- Have you taken a test for tamoxifen metabolism?

Rs711-->I was getting 10mgs as a pre-med, but the last time (my 3rd of 4 dd Taxol) I asked for a reduction and my onc cut it down to 5mgs.  And I still couldn't sleep

RS711 - I haven';t done the tamoxifen test yet, but I do plan to. From what I understand, it is not recommended for pre-menopausal women because they have no other alternative, so even a low metabolizer amount is better than nothing. The reason I am going to do the test, is that my onc wants me to keep taking tamoxifen even after I have my ovaries out (which i plan to do after BC surgery and rads) - she says there is no reason not to use tamoxifen also post-menopause, and this way i will get 10 yrs benefit - 5 from tamoxifen and 5 from an AI.

i get 10mg steroid IV before weekly taxol, and it keeps me up the entire night too!

grneyd - the test is to see whether you have the cyp2d6 gene deficiency. I found this online: "Women with an inherited deficiency in the CYP2D6 gene, which is important for the metabolism of tamoxifen, have a nearly fourfold higher risk of early breast cancer recurrence compared to women who have not inherited the deficiency." "It is estimated that 7% to 10% of Caucasians are poor metabolizers of tamoxifen based on specific CYP2D6 alleles".

  HAPPY DANCE FOR DESIGNERMOM!