Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

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  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2010

    Hi everybody.  Thank you all so much for the warm fuzzies and the prayers.  I ended up not having chemo today because of this upper respiratory "thing."  I won't have chemo again till 2 weeks from now, and then I will be changing from taxotere to taxol.  I will still have the 3 weeks on, 1 week off schedule.  I got some antibiotics and I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks of feeling better.:-)

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited October 2010

    It's good to have a break.  What was the liver thing your onc was worried about?

  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2010

    Rest is a good thing. Praying that Taxol treats you better :)

  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2010

    Carie, feeling any better yet?

    Went for my yearly mammogram today, still clean :) And I'm still a nervous wreck everytime I go. After she was done squishing my boobs, I was in the waiting area waiting for results while stuffing myself with snack cookies. When she came in, I still had a mouth of cookies... oops..

  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited October 2010

    Caroline:  That is great news!!! YAY to your good mammo!  And many many more.

    Carie: Enjoy the rest and get strong for the next chemo tx. We are all routing for you.

    Hugs

    Mandy

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited October 2010

    congratulations Caroline!!!  After being squished, you should be allowed to eat all the cookies you want.  How's your foot doing?

  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2010

    Yay Caroline!!  Doing the happy dance to the best of my ability...:-)

    Firni, I'm not exactly sure what it was about my liver.  My onc showed me some numbers that were higher than they should have been, but I didn't have enough sense about me to get him to tell me exactly what those numbers were for.  Duh.  He did say it had absolutely nothing to do with cancer being in my liver. {whew!}  I find it interesting that taxotere and taxol are sister drugs from the same 'class,' yet taxotere is so much harder on the liver.

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited October 2010

    I know what you mean about the Taxanes.  Taxotere is a BI%CH.  From what I've read on this board, it causes the most long term damage.  And Taxol supposedly works better.  It's the weekly thing about Taxol that a lot of oncs don't use it.  Taxotere is normally every three weeks.  Easier to have more patients.  Harder on the patients tho.  I truly thought my last two rounds of taxotere would kill me.    I'm soooooo happy to hear it sounds like it is just chemo elevating your liver numbers and NOT mets.  Hallelujah!!

  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited October 2010

    Yes Carie! Praise be that it is just chemo elevating your liver numbers. When I was on chemo I had some crazy liver numbers and they are ok now. 

  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2010

    That's interesting, had I been given the option, I would have opted for Taxol even if that meant weekly chemo to save my liver. I know Taxotere did a number on it, my liver is weeker than it used to be. Why don't drs put it all out there for you, I know a lot of folks needs to have decisions made for them, but I like having all my options and making what I think is the best option for me. Oh well...

    Foot is ok, my ankle is what hurts right now, seriously thinking about getting a prescription of physical therapy. I took it easy today, so it's feeling better now, I just can't be on my feet all day, which is frustrating when I try to get stuff done!

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited October 2010

    Jeez, Caroline, it's always something more.  Are you over doing?  Slow and steady.  PT would be a good thing for you.  It will help you know your limits and give you some good exercises to strengthen instead of tiring your foot and ankle.  ((( )))

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited October 2010

    I have a friend who took Taxol and experienced some severe side effects but they went away after chemo ended. I took Taxotere and some of my side effects were not only worse than hers but are also permanent. The only way I can cope is to choose to believe Taxotere did its job and eradicated the cancer cells.

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited October 2010

    I hear you, Texas.  I think it's time the oncs moved on from Taxotere.  It might do a good job getting rid of cancer, but it does a good job of getting rid of the good things too.  

  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited October 2010

    Hmmm.....I think I'm starting to be very thankful that my liver got stressed out.:-)  I didn't realize taxotere had such a bad rep.

    Texas ~ I'm so sorry you are dealing with permanent side effects....I will believe along with you that at least the Tax did its job and none of those nasty cancer cells will find their way back to you.

  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2010

    What is done, is done, so I shouldn't dwell on it not having given the Taxol option, but Carie, you're right, this liver scare might have just been a blessing in disguise. I can't remember, what was your first chemo again? (2 years ago)

    I should call and get some PT in, but I honestly just don't feel like it. I spent 3 months of PT last fall and sure don't want to start again. All those docs appt take some much time. I started taking a Tax class to do taxes in the Spring and I have been volunteering at my kids school, I'm busy enough as is..

    We got some good news today, hubby got a new job :) It's with the same company but a better position, slightly better pay, much more interesting for him & back on day shift :) We'll finally be eating dinner and spending evenings together as a family again. He has been mostly working night shift since we moved back here a little more than 2 years ago, and the kids have been missing their daddy, so we're thrilled :)

  • EleanorJ
    EleanorJ Member Posts: 752
    edited November 2010

    Where's everyone???

    Carie, weren't you starting the new chemo today? How did it go? I hope you're feeling better from the chest cold.

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited November 2010

    Hi Caroline.  We're all still here.  Just quietly I guess.  How was halloween for your kids?

    Carie, hope you're feeling ok. 

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited November 2010

    I'm here! I just started a Restoration Pilates class last night. The instructor has worked with an entire breast cancer network -- from physical therapists to breast surgeons, oncologists and plastic surgeons -- to come up with her class. It was so positive! I'm taking it for minor LE. But I think it will also help me to move past some of the PTSD I've had. 12 surgeries in 2 years: I'll have had are doctor's appointments and more doctor's appointments! We all know about that, don't we?

  • busqueen
    busqueen Member Posts: 176
    edited November 2010

    Hey everybody.

    Switched my chemo day to Friday, so today was the big day.  Everything went fine, now I'm in that time of feeling kind of 'weird.'  Tomorrow I'm going to go get my hair buzzed.  It has been coming out slowly but surely.  When I had the A/C it came out pretty quick.  My kids are at their dad's and my husband is in Michegan with the National Guard so I'm looking forward to a weekend of rest and watching whatever I want on tv.:-)

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited November 2010

    Sound peaceful.. Enjoy the quite!!!! Hair grows back so screw it!!!~! I looked better when it was super short. Because I'm her2  It slowed the growth to a crawl still!!! I just don't take myself so seriously anymore. hehe

  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited November 2010

    Still praying for you our bus queen! xo

  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited November 2010

    Carie, a weekend alone sounds divine.  I hope you feel well enough to enjoy it and not just sleep thru it.  Altho, that's good too.  

    Bold I know what you mean about the hair.  I'm about 1 1/2 years past chemo and I still have a lot of scalp showing thru my hair on the crown of my head.  Nothing to do about it but keep it super short and use hair powder and go about my business.  I look good from the front, but not so much from the sides.  Chemo made my face fall off my head so I look like my grandma from the sides.  Sigh. 

  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited November 2010

    Carie: how are you doing after the new chemo? 

    Sending hugs to all.

    Mandy

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited November 2010

    Carie, stay strong!

  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited November 2010

    Hey everyone,

    Hope you enjoyed your peaceful weekend, Carie.  Bold is right about the hair -- it comes back, so it's not worth worrying about. 

    My surgery incision has been bleeding a little too much and last night I noticed that the incision is gaping open in the middle.  Guess I'll call the PS again today and see if this is "normal" after capsulectomy.

    Have a wonderful day.

    Hugs.....

  • Bold
    Bold Member Posts: 692
    edited November 2010

    Yikees Bonnie. I hope you'll be OK.

    Firni: Get a weave. The are great last about 5 months. You will not even know you have thinning!!!

  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited November 2010

    Just got back from seeing PS.  I have a large hematoma, along with a gaping hole in my incision, so it's back to the hospital very early tomorrow morning to get everything cleaned up and add another drain.   This really sucks.....

  • lovemyfamilysomuch
    lovemyfamilysomuch Member Posts: 1,585
    edited November 2010

    {{{Bonnie}}} xo

  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Member Posts: 655
    edited November 2010

    Thank you lovemyfamilysomuch!  Hugs to you....

  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited November 2010

    Bonnie, I went through something similar. I'm so sorry that you have to endure a drain again.

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