February 2011 chemo pals

Michelle - so glad you are home recovering from surgery.  I can't believe my surgery was all the way back in December.  It seems like I've been on this journey for so long. 

Good luck Mrs.M - here's to managing SEs - again - right?

Taxol #4 of 12 for me tomorrow.  Day before treatment is always the toughest.

 God Bless - we are strong!

EmilyinOntario Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for anyone who is finishing chemo...I'm having TCH#5 today and still have one more to go on 5/31...You definitely need to celebrate:)

I'm celebrating with all of you that are finishing up chemo this week!  YAY!

I'm emerging from "Chemo Hell" and back in the land of the living today (TCH #4, Day 13)  I have a weird feeling in my foot like there is paper stuck on the bottom of it?  I'm assuming neuropathy but I don't really know what neuropathy feels like.

I'm still struggling with my eyes.    The papilledema is still there but no better and no worse.  I'm scheduled for another battery of tests at the eye doctor on 6/21.  I'm wondering if I should just get an MRI to rule out a brain tumor or mets and be done with it.

My kiddos will be out of school soon.  I'm wondering how rads will work with four kids home all day.  But many women manage and I'm sure I will, too.

My MIL is in the hospital right now.  She's 58, active and healthy.  She had gastric MALT lymphoma about 6 years ago.  When they were to start her chemo, she had one more endoscopy that showed no lymphoma.  She said that God had healed her and walked out of that hospital and never looked back.  Now, 6 years later, she has a lung filled with fluid, a blood clot in her arm and a tumor visible in her lung.  They were to biopsy the tumor today - no word yet from them.  I'm concerned and struggling with all of it.  I believe in faith and God.  But I also believe that God works through doctors.  And I fear that my MIL may have been foolish in not following up on the cancer.  She said there was no need - God healed her, what more did she need to know?  And where does faith come into that?  Ah, it's an interesting thing to ponder and I really hope she's ok.  We've had a strained relationship for all of the 16 years DH and I have been married.  I hope we get a second chance to do things better.

I'll be hanging aroung here until June 9.  Who else is moving on to rads?  Tamoxifen?

Dragonfly - I have 2 more TCH, 5/19 and 6/9.  I briefly discussed moving on to rads with my onc. but I don't know when he'll refer me.  He said that he typically recommends that people start rads 2 weeks after chemo, but he'd be fine waiting a month if I had an event that I wanted to attend or something.  I thought about waiting until July 1 but I think I may just jump in and start ASAP just to get it over.

MIL is out of surgery.  They took several samples of her lung tissue to determine what's going on.  They pulled 2 liters of fluid out of her lung yesterday and it's filling up again.  They expect to have test results back tomorrow.  She'll be in the hospital for a week while they regulate meds to break up a blood clot in her arm.  I'm trying not to have a sick feeling in my stomach about it.  I hope it's just tension building from dealing with BC and being worried that she has cancer.  It's always something, right? 

Sending good thoughts your way MrsM....I find it amazing you are now down to just 1 more chemo treatment. It seems last Dec was just a bit ago.

If I recall correctly you will be having surgery after this is all done. Nothing but the best of best thoughts as you soon head into the next phase .  

I can't get it together to reply to everyone, but I swear I laughed at Michelle saying, "Bring on the burgers," so funny.  And Special K checking out the cat avatars, that's me, boy.  Pejkug, good grief, I HOPE your mother's growth isn't anything but benign nonsense in there scaring everyone.  But at least you can be of some comfort to her if it goes the other way, since you've been there and know what she might need when you visit her.  Mama V, you and I are on the same number and timing (I think) of Taxol, today is #4 of 12.  Do we end in June or July?  i've counted it three times and come up with a diff day each time.

I saw my doc yesterday after the labs were drawn, he said my surgery would be scheduled about two weeks after my last Taxol, and he straightened out some of my meds, I had bad cramping from constipation, we went back to a pain drug HE prescribed before, the one the nurse gave me in between goofed me up.  Also got my Valium back, really helps my nerves, they are shot on this Taxol.  Then I had to go get my regular meds, and to the groc store, came home and workmen were in the yard FINALLY planting rhododendron along the roadway, been wanting them for FIVE years.  So, they helped me with groceries, I came in and died, husband took over groc on porch and workmen, and I was DONE.  This morning, I'm more than happy to go get chemo, because I'll get a nap, always the safest I feel when I'm in the chemo room, I've been scary sick with and without cancer so long, that the nurses bring a lot of comfort to me.  Love all, Gail   P.S. Hang in, Fuzzy, you know I'm thinking of you, girl. 

Spoke with my onc yesterday before my treatment about the anxiety and depression meds.  She okayed the use of generic prozac but cautioned about taking too much Ativan as she said it can be addicting.  So I will continue to take one Ativan only at night which acts as a sleep aid for me.

One benefit of the prozac I wasn't aware of is that it almost eliminates most of the hot flashes, of which I have all day long and night, since I went into menopause at the start of chemo. 

The onc also adjusted the timing and doses of the steriods I take around treatment time.  Instead of doubling up doses I will be tapering off more gradually. I expect this to help prevent that crashing feeling I get the weekend after treatment which were some of my worst days to deal with.

SpecialK, more BS should be like yours in discussing the depression that can accompany a bc dx. I think you were so lucky to have such a conversation with your doctor.  And I agree with your assessment that we move in and out of different phases through treatment.  For me, I'd been so overwhelmed with so much for several months since my dx it took that long to sort out what I WAS feeling.  And I was feeling a number of different emotions.

Marie, it really does seem like things are moving more quickly with my treatment.  My onc mentioned that after my next and final chemo I will be getting an ultrasound, mammo and PET scan and mentioned a lumpectomy also.  That will be sometime in the summer.  The timing will help because I work as an aid in an elementary and will have the time off from school.

dogeyed - Yes, we are on the same schedule - the chemo chair awaits us for #4 of 12 today.  Last one is July 7.  Seems like an eternity away when you hear so many say they are finishing up this month.  We have 8 to go after today!  The nurses bring me so much comfort too!  They really are angels.

My nerves are totally shot on Taxol too - started Xanax over the weekend and it's helping a lot.  Still wish this was over though!

To all my girls in the chair today - be strong!

Hi everyone,  I have had 2 taxols and keep waiting for the numbness in my extremities but nothing so far -- knocking on wood about this.  Finally feeling really good, at 7-days post chemo.  Had a good swim and run workout this morning, and am feeling healthy, and the beautiful sunny weather doesn't hurt.  I think I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel:)  Two more to go.

Hi everyone I have joined the Chemo Done group. My last taxol was today.



Hang in to all the Feb gals still in treatment there is an end in sight for all of us.



No problem with my veins. Just very tired as usual on infusion day. Usually don't even make it in to post.



Rads start June 9. Thought I would have 3 weeks off but turns out I have to squeeze in quite a few appointment including my follow up MRI -doing a month early so not while doing the rads.



Jean

Update on my MIL:  *sigh*  She has non-small cell lung cancer, Stage IV.  The prognosis on this is not good at all.  She never smoked, never really around smokers, healthy and well.  My poor husband is just a mess.  We're heading to Des Moines tomorrow to be with her for the weekend while FIL works.

I asked a ton of questions about the cancer and FIL had no answers.  He said that he just doesn't know the questions to ask.  This is just unbelievable.

Yay for Jean - so glad you are done!

dogeyed - sounds like you have a successful chemo day!  The lady who is always next to me sleeps through hers too!  She likes it that way - we plan on sitting together in 3 weeks for our last infusion as we are on the same timing.

pejkug - So sorry about your MIL.  My Dad was similarly diagnosed in 2000 at the age of 82.  He did 2 separate rounds of Taxol 6 months apart and tolerated it surprisingly well.  I realize now I should have been with him for that chemo (I lived 3000 miles away) more but he was a trooper.  He was not a candidate for surgery to remove the lung mass and his mets were to his spine.  I am hoping that your MIL can have surgery and then treat her mets like the BC ladies do and manage it like a chronic disease.  Hopefully you can get some more specific answers when you go there, I know how difficult this situation is and I am thinking of you and your family.

Pejkug sorry to hear about your MIL. I hate this disease.

Everyone who is finishing up, I can't tell you how jelous I am. Your all such strong amazing women. I hope your next set of treatments is kinder.

I'm only 5 days away from my first Taxotere and I'm worried because I really haven't recovered from my last AC. Usually I've bounced back by the last week. I just can't seem to stay awake. When I am awake I'm still really groggy. I haven't done housework or paid a bill in three weeks because I just can't muster the energy. I'm pretty sure its not depression, mentally I want to get going my body just doesn't want to go with it. I mentioned it to the nurse when I had my pick line cleaned on Tuesday and she seemed to think it was a normal SE. I think I shouldn't be wondering whether or not I have to pee bad enough to get up and walk the 5 steps to the bathroom 16 days after treatment. It wasn't this bad with the other 3. I'll never get through 4 more if this gets worse. My DH is keeping up with cooking and cleaning pretty well but I don't even want to use any energy to chew my food. This can't be normal. 

Not sure about the CBC. They don't do blood work again until next week. I've been trying to eat well. I have broccoli every day. I'll try and get some more into me. Maybe DH can BBQ me a steak for dinner, after I send him shopping to get some. I know they are adding Neulasta for my next treatment maybe that will help with my counts.

Sukie, iron helps a lot so I agree with SK - lots of spinach and red meat. I get weak too and boy does it ever help. I also like sautéed spinach over eggs. Is your blood pressure low? That might be making you feel weak too. I don't spare the salt and I'm drinking a lot more fluid. Both help to raise blood pressure.