My Experiences with Chemo (A/C, Taxol) for the Newly Diagnosed

Thank you for your post. I went through AC and then Taxol 8 years ago and also did not get very sick and didn't need the epo shots. I am facing cancer again, showed up in my other breast this time. What I am amazed at is your wonderful attitude and your ability to work 40 hours while going through all of this! I am at the beginning stages, haven't met with surgeon or oncologist yet but I am an emotional wreck! I haven't been able to work since being diagnosed and I only work part time. I can't stop crying, I am worried that I have had my maximum chemo, I am afraid of surgery, which will be a masectomy this time. I think I must have been so much stronger mentally last time. My last diagnoses was stage 2b triple neg, haven't got the hormone stats on this one, but it is grade 3 again. What are your thoughts about juicing and protein before all the treatment starts? I feel like I am in limbo and am eating healthy and exercising, well, walking everyday for at least 30 minutes. What else can I do to prepare for surgery and chemo? Thank you for posting.

I worked through most of AC + T too.  At the end, I didn't have any contract work so wasn't working because of that, as opposed to problems with lack of energy.

Second what Pam says about needing protein.  I walked around with energy bars, Larabars as opposed to anything with soy in it.  I ate normal food, but my tastes did change with AC.  Craved salty foods towards the end, so ham etc.

I did not take all the extra meds.  Just steroids for 2 days with AC, and nothing other than what they gave with the infusion during Taxol.  I slept fine, and went outside when I felt closed in.  I did take ibuprofen/tylenol for aches and pains.

I exercised every single day, and cycled on weekends.  I even did the short course of a cycling event during Taxol.  I kept my muscle tone.

Pam left out all the water you need to drink.  More than you ever thought one person could imbibe.  Wasn't a problem as I craved it.

I did cheap and fun with wigs.  Same style, with one plain black and the other with red streaks.  I will rock the look again with clip on streaks once my hair gets longer.

Looking back, one of the reasons I was cheerful during treatment was that not nearly as bad as I had imagined.  (The flu I just had was worse.)  The other was that I was convinced I would be just fine at the other end.

So would say in retrospect that this certainly wasn't a fun time, but not the end of the world either.  Thanks so much Pam for putting it out there.  And good luck to everyone going down this path. - Claire

Pam,

I agree. I have had my days but mostly I can't complain. It is hard to be the mother of 4 young kids and going through treatment but I am making it.

As far as AC is concerned. Take your meds. I had one cycle where i really was sick and all it took was taking ativan as prescribed.  The next two cycles were not a problem other than fatigue and even that was better.  Not that I am on taxol and herceptin I dont have to take any medication. I occasionally take ativan to help me sleep or when my mind gets too far in a head in this process.  

As far as my hair, well I walk around bald. I purchased a wig but haven't ever worn it.  I got a cheap purple wig that everyone loves, especially the kids at the school. I wear it for fun and smiles.  I haven't had any bad reactions to my bald head.  Just support.

 People are very supportive out there.  

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. MIne BMX is scheduled for the first week of June.

PaminWV,

I predict that with your great attitude, you will have smooth sailing through you BMX. I hope so. I was worried about mine last summer after 6 months of ACT and only a two week break before the surgery. But it was easy. I started moving my arms over my head in the hospital, spent just one night in the hospital and didn't have much pain. All pain handled by "keeping on top of the pain" with whatever they gave me. Drains out in one week. I did develop an infection one week out, but that was cleared up with antibiotics.

I also was a big fan of ativan. I used the smallest dose at bedtime each night between the time of my diagnosis, through chemo and until good pathology reports came back after BMX (tumor had shrunk, clear margins). The fear cancer put into my mind was pretty strong. But with time, I got stronger. I just stopped taking the ativan and only had about 2 nights where it was hard to sleep as I adjusted.

Today as I went for my every-three-month check-up with my onc where she gives me the results of my blood tests I thought, I have become very courageous. I think a lot of women get stronger through this difficult journey. The first couple times I waited for these results I had tough weeks of waiting. Not this time. I decided I was not going to worry about the results and was going to live my life without letting the thoughts about possible recurrence ruin it. If she gave me news that indicated more treatment was necessary, I would handle that at that time, rather than worry about it before. I am happy to report my tumor marker number is good. I am thankful. And even thankful for the chemo which I didn't enjoy and the surgery which I wouldn't have chosen otherwise and the radiation which was very unpleasant. Whatever it takes to get through, I will do.  

Good luck to you. Try to enjoy life as much as you can between now and your surgery!

bkj66,

I don't mind questions at all, I have found everyone so helpful on these boards.  I had BMX and TEs at the same time with sentinal node biopsy.  I knew from ultrasound tumor was small 1.1cm and unilateral, but made up my mind I wanted BMX.  Intraop they told my husband the sentinal nodes where negative (3 tested), but on futher exam one was positive for cancer .27cm.  I elected to have axillary node disection several weeks later, in hopes they would be negative and to avoid rads.  Fortunately the rest of the nodes where all neg.  My PS does not like to do TEs if there is a high chance of Rads, so I took my chances.  I have done well with the surgery, I was expanded to 150 cc in surgery and am about the size I want to be.  I will have my exchange after chemo and some summer vacation time at the beach.  The TEs are hard, and not very comfortable, but they look good and I know the final result will be better.  I think having the TEs and not worring about clothing thru chemo has given me one less thing to worry about.  I hope this helps.  I am starting to feel better tonight, tomorrow should be a much better day.

Hi Pam.....

Not quite one of the 20% if for no other reason than I was on a study that required SIX dose dense AC, so was dragging around #4.  Taxol was a breeze for me after that.  But I agree that if I had stopped at 4, I would have had only one week of real dragging.

I have a funny story about kidney function.  It was monitored during treatment, and then I had three follow up exams with blood work.  The last two triggered the GFR (glomular filtration rate) flag which suggests I have kidney disease.  The algorithms also assume that women my age have relatively low muscle mass.  So in my case, an indicator of how fit I am.  My kidneys are fine.

My oncologist just shook her head and laughed (this was last October).  She was amazed at how fit I am when I saw her on Monday for my 6 month visit.  So one year post final chemo, she has pronounced me "100% back".

Important to know when starting out that you can get there.  I know, time to change the picture, but want to point out that this was taken six months after finishing radiation.  I skied 10 more miles that day. - Claire

I have to ask...I see most women chose to have the mx first before chemo. It may be a really dumb question but I'm new. Why not do the chemo first? Anyone please chime in. Thanks

RangerMom: that's not a dumb question. If the tumor is really big, many times chemo is given first to shrink it. Then surgery.

My mx was first, then dose dense 4 tx AC and 4 tx Taxol (also rads). I just want to add one thing to what everyone has written. Sometimes, no matter what all you do, you do get sick. After my 4th and last tx of AC, my white blood count bottomed out - even with the Neulasta shot. I was put in the hospital for 3 days and given blood transfusions. Felt much better then! I had to have a colonoscopy (a week after I was discharged) due to the symptoms I was experiencing. Turned out I had chemo-induced colitis. That was a relief to me because I was thinking really bad thoughts! Like my friend said, "They'll fix you up so you can go back and have another tx."

Your onc and chemo nurses are there to help you get through your treatments. As someone earlier wrote, tell your doctor all your symptoms. Your body is not the same during chemo as it was before.

If you are just starting, I wish you the best.

PaminWV..I just want to tell you "thanks" for your matter of fact, sensible thread...Your facts were straight on to what most women experience...Too many times when we heare the word "chemo" we freak out...and though it is a big deal at the time...after awhile it is really not that big a deal..I'm two years out from chemo..w/agressive cancer  TN Grade 3....I have NO se's at all...none.

My oncologist said she prefers neo-adjuvant, but only because she's an onco.  She said it would not matter in the end whether you did chemo before or after surgery.  I had my BMX with TE's yesterday.  It's good to know the source of the trouble is no longer within me.

Michelle

Neoadjuvant chemo is given not only to shrink the tumor to facilitate saving a breast, but also lets the docs see if that particular chemo is working on the cancer.  Sometimes better than waiting for imaging or surgery to prove or disprove the efficacy of the chemo.

Thanks for your post. I am mid-chemo, doing neoadjuvent Taxol x12 and then, AC x4. The Taxol's been a breeze. I am even exercising for 45 mins every day, to get healthier, keep up energy and hopefully, keep up my blood counts. Thanks for de-bunking all the myths about AC being so torturous. I have a vacay planned in the middle of AC and was wondering if I was being a little too lofty in the expectation department. I just look at it as a way to keep my mind off of BC and stay as busy as possible, if I can.



I agree with you on the protein. I have upped mine and my blood work looks great so far. I've also dumped sugar, altogether and feel great.



To those who asked about neoadjuvent treatment, I was skeptical at first. But, now, I see the tumor shrinking (after 3 DD cycles!) before my eyes and that is amazing to see and experience. It really pulls me up on those days when I feel like feeling sorry for myself.

My experience was very similar. I had 4 rounds of FEC prior to surgery and 4 rounds of taxotere after, which means I was doing the chemo thing for about 6 months, with BMX in the middle.

It was obviously not the "funnest" things I ever did and I sincerely hope never to have to do it again, but I lived to tell the tale and that is the most important thing. I agree that it did not resemble the bad 80s film that I had imagined. Chemo treatment has, thankfully, progressed.