Chemo starting in December 2010

Lisa, mine lasted almost a week. I still get some here and there but it is much much better. See if you can take motrin. That helped a ton! I am 10 days out. I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for responding everyone.  I am finding the bone pain to be pretty intense, and it's all over, though the legs are the worst.   Pretty much good for nothing the last couple of days, I tried walking for awhile on the treadmill, that didn't seem to help.  Oh well, fortunately only three more treatments to get through so the end is in sight.  I couldn't work yesterday, not sure I'll be able to make it into the office today either, just too miserable. 

Sorry for the vent....just too miserable.   Not to mention the stomach flu is going around the house, already hit two of the kids and our nanny, so I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

I just had my 3rd round of Taxol yesterday, one more to go on March 14th and I will be done with Chemo.  I usally get bone pain starting on day 4 and it lasts until days 8 or 9.  Unfortunately, it seems to settle in the bones that I had previously broken, my finger, my ankle and my feet and my right knee which sometimes aches when I exercise.  My feet feel like I walked 20 kilometres in bare feet and all the little bones in my feet ache.  I declined prednazone and another drug.  My doctor said your choice is either to take a drug that could make you puff up like a puffer fish, or one that will make you drowsy and stupid so I choose neither and am just taking tramadol on occasion and using hot pads for my feet.  It helps if someone sits on them as strange as that may sound.

I also had really itchy hands, on the top not the palms which was unusal so he gave me a presciption for a stronger cortisone cream, as I was popping antihistamines to try and control it and I was loosing that battle.  

Otherwise, I feel fine just starting to get anxious about rads because I have red hair and the radiation oncologist already said I will most likely get burned skin so she will try and stretch the treatments out over 6-7 weeks.  That is such a long time.

My family has been doing great throughout this and they seem to be fine as long as I am fine and coping.  There's been a few bad days but most are good exercize helps. My girls cannot wait until my hair has grown back so they can use my wigs in the videos that they make.

When they did their routine CT scans they found 2 tiny spots on my liver just before chemo started but they were too small to biopsy.  The doctor did a bone scan and some blood work complete with tumor markers and everthing was normal.  I just did a 3 month follow-up ultrasound on the 2 spots and luckily they are still there (if they had disappeared it would have indicated they were cancerous and that the chemo shrunk them), but still worried about what they could be.  They are not cysts, but not sure what they are.  More worrying for a couple more days...  I guess that's how it will always be whenever you go for a scan, bloodwork, mammogram et cetera for the rest of your life.  

Anyway, sorry for the long post.

Hope everyone has found ways to cope with the SE's of taxol, especially the bone pain.

Oh Karebear it is so tough when the little ones get the flu! I can remember my daughter not understanding and she would get sick wherever she was at the moment...trying a bucket or toilet was futile! I hope you don't get sick!

Rachel I am smiling about your daughters wanting to use your wigs!

OK, today is Tuesday, I go for chemo Thursday. I have had a bad day! I felt like I was going to collapse at the grocery store, I have had a headache and body aches. My toenails feel like they are getting pinched. My teeth have hot cold sensitivity (I'm using biotene wash, toothpaste and night gel) and my tongue feels tingly and sore.  Sigh. I was looking forward to a good day. Grumble grumble grumble!

Hi everyone.  Just checking in.  I see everyone is moving right along - done with AC and cranking through taxol.  I am so happy for all of you and wish you all well.  I didn't get half the SE's you are mentioning but then it didn't work well for me so maybe that's why. So embrace the Se's because maybe it means it's working.   i am still stuck on the chemo merry-go-round trying to find one that works.  I am one of those rare ones whose body just doesn't respond.  Oh well. i will keep plugging along and doing what I need to do for as long as am able and that's that.  Best wishes and healing thoughts to all,

Linda

Thanks Linda for popping in! You are helping me put the SE's in a better perspective tonight- it must be working! Hugs to you, I hope you find something that works well for you!

Rachel I am so glad to hear about the spots on your liver! How nice that he called you to let you know. I hope you enjoy the concert!

Yes Angel, I must be having your week.. but really I do't think mine is quite as bad as yours was. I haven't had to worry about my numbers yet...just feeling lousy. Constipation has been my friend through this... I can't imagine getting diarreah! I was switched from taxol to taxotere...12 treatments 1x a week. I have #4 of 12 this thursday. I love what you wrote about holding hands... I tell everyone about this site too-I am always saying  "on the breast cancer.org site messageboard.." It's so nice to communicate with people that understand!

Big virtual hugssssss! Cathy

Thanks everyone for the support.  Today was so much better I woke up and the pain was very tolerable, so back to work.  I"m a little worn out, but relieved to be done with the worst of this cycle.  I'll have to talk to my onc about the next cycle, so we can manage it better. 

Hope everyone is having a good day.  Lindaa -- hang in there, I hope they find the right protocol for you.  Keeping you in my thoughts. 

sending hugs your way Diva, i had that kind of week last week!!!

((((((HUGS!!!)))))))

Rachel: That is so great news!!!

Sorry for the rough day/week a few of you are having. I hope tomorrow is better.

Tomorrow is taxol 2 of 4!! The end is in site!! My surgery has been scheduled for April 20th. So crazy how soon that is!!! 

ebann,

My thoughts and prayers are with you as you wait for results and twist with the wiredness.  I've missed your kind and grateful voice.  You have a wisdom that gives us strength.

Take good care. 

oh.. i forgot to add..... something nice happened last night

hubby and i went out to play pool, at our fav little local bar, and i had my wig on and my eyebrows penciled in nicely. i thought i looked alright, ya know, considering and all. a guy came up to us and asked if he could play pool with us, so we all introduce eachother and start playing. the guy tells my husband, "you have an absolutely beautiful wife, you are a lucky man, " and my husband replies "yes, i do, and yes i am!"

this guy had no idea in the world i had cancer, fake hair, or anything! he just thought i looked nice! and that was huge......

yay! karebear!!!!! i only have 3 weekly taxols left and i feel like i'm in the homestretch!!!!!

at least for chemo. then a break, then scans, then radiation! but it's a huge milestone!!

I am so excited to see you guys in the home stretch!  I sat through so much of December, watching you guys get started while I waited to start at the very end of December... now I watch you guys finishing and know that my turn is coming too. 

My energy is back and the bone pain is gone, so I guess I have a pretty good week ahead of me until next Thursday, when I go in for Taxol #2.  Yecch.

Received call from Dr office. Was told that the chemo is showing a good response and there is no spreading to the lungs. So my appt with onc is the 23rd and I will find out if it is shrinking in the areas or if it is stabilizing. More than likely will continue to as we are until done which will be the end of June. Probably another Pet Scan in July then go from there.