February 2011 chemo pals

DivineMrsM....Thinking about you with your last treatment on Fri....

Congrats to all- Dragonfly- YEAH for completing TC today- Hang in.

Tomorrow is my last TC- then will have herceptin for a year. I seem to get cold symptoms and a little fatigue w/ herceptin ever so slight- nothing compared to the TC.

We are getting there everyone- even those who are into July- tomorrow starts June and you'll be there. For me getting past treatment 4 made it easier mentally. Not necessarily physically- but it's manageable. 

Hang tough Feb chemo pals- getting there. Yes I get very nervous before each treatment- once I get there I am ok- partially because I get scared about my counts- something is always somewhat out of whack- hemoglobin, wbc, neutrophils or platelets....never seems to really worry my MO that much but I do fret over it...

Positive thoughts to you all- great folks here in this group. And my chemo triplets- Dragonfly & Special K--we all started same week- same protocol- and I feel like I know them and some of you too- just from the great support.

Yall understand like no one else could- lonely scary journey we are on. Thinking of you all this week- in the chair tomorrow morning 9am eastern time- positive thoughts & prayers welcomed. (And I am thinking & praying for you all).

Lisa

Good luck girls.  You  all are still in my thoughts and prayers.  So very soon you all will be done! YAHOO!!!!!

Special K, was it you that had a rash on your hands?  Well, whoever it was, my hands have stayed bright red during so far 6 Taxols (6 more to go), and it has crept up a little on my inner arms, plus I have burn rash on lower arms from not having SPF on them when our car broke down and sun got on them, and the chemo girls said to put more lotion, and I have.  Is it supposed to go away after all this and what is it?  I'm not really worried about it, just thought I'd ask.  I've read some side effects can stay with a person for months after treatment.

Others, Taxol 6 was better than Taxol 5, don't know why, I ate a lot of spinach and whole potatoes, my favs, and it prevented the big C, which it was the opposite with my AC treatments.  But today I am so low, gotta go get doc exam and labs in an hour, I'm nervous but not about that, just bad nerves in general, so thought I'd post.  I'll be glad to get back home and take Valium and pain reliever, etc.  Then tomorrow Taxol 7.  After that I only have to go in Thursdays to get Taxol, so I'll be left alone in the interim.  I have begun to walk, one of my pre-cancer obstacles to normal living.  I had mentally blocked myself from being happy and cancer opened my eyes.  Husband and I want to get a German Shepherd Dog again when our two 14-year-olds go, it's been a long-term discussion, and I knew if I couldn't walk such a dog around and around our fenced half-acre, dog would not be happy, thus my beginning to walk.  I don't know what I'm saying, just wanted to open up and share.

I noticed a couple new people came in a couple pages back, I wanted to acknowledge you, but I was just in no mood at the time.  I honestly do NOT know what I would have done without all of you to come to with my concerns and jabber, and I have noticed some other chemo people from couple years ago are still visiting each other, perhaps we can do that somehow, I would surely miss our get-togethers.  I LOVE YOU ALL.  GG

MamaV, far out, one hand!  I hadn't thought of that!  I found out my BP was a little high, so perhaps Taxol pushes it up, don't know, but it explained my nerves in part.  I am much happier home now, until we both go back in tomorrow.  Thanks for saying hello, cheered me!  GG

I hope everyone is doing well! 

Thundershowers, I had some D also at times from TAC - but may have been from the Zofran.  It only happened my first treatment, though. I did take Immodium on the oncology nurse's advice.

This fifth TAC was rough but I felt better after day 6 and was back to work yesterday for about 7 hours including working lightly outside in 95 degree heat with my wig on my head no less.  I've got to get busy deciding about surgery now.

I have had an extremely irritating muscle spasm on my non BC side/port side pectoralis muscle with pain.  I guess it is from the Taxotere. And I've had a very limited number of small skin eruptions- one on my leg, two on stomach - just random that itch, turn red and then go away.  I also think that may be from the taxotere.  Thank goodness they went away because of course they scared me to no end, particularly during the chemo induced depression during the week following my infusion. 

Congratulations Dragonfly !  Best wishes for a healthy and happy life after chemo !  Donna

Well said divinemissm- this is the best support group ever.Some I know better than others, but I appreciate all the comments and support.

 Today I finished TC- I have 2 weekly Herceptins then go to every 3 weeks after that (Staff in MO office said each MO chooses how to transition from every week to every 3 based on his review of research/protocols etc). I was happy, thrilled, and scared today. Didn't sleep at all last night- unless a nap of less than 2 hours counts! 

Thanks Emily for your note about being out of chemo 20 days. With tx 4 and 5 I never really did fully bounce back, and after tx 5 weakness worse than any prior cycle. So I hear you that it won't come back fast- I am scared about that. I wonder if others might think chemo is done I should be fine- and yet I hear from other Breast Cancer warriors it takes up to a year to truly feel almost (but not 100% better). So, I know it will be a slow climb up. I do like getting my taste back for food even if I am weak. It's chemo day- day 1 of TCH 6 and i have heartburn already- that must be steriod b/c it started before I got chemo from the premeds. UGGH.

I'll likely be 'going into the black hole' tomorrow or Friday, so won't likely say/do much. I feel like a person in prison who gets put in the black solitary confinement torture hole/cell every time I get chemo. Guess it's a silly analogy- there's no way out but to do your time!!!!!

Love you all in ways I could never express- those who are in this are my heroes and so honored to meet you on this board.

And love to my chemo triplet pals- Dragonfly and SpecialK- one day apart same regimen same cycle etc. 

As someone else said- nearing the finish line and sliding to home plate! My hemoglobin was lower than last time- I need some heavy duty food to help get me to 10. I hope my exchange surgery will be able to be done- but have to be hgb of 10 before 7/6. YIKES! Hope so. Then things wind down to herceptin every 3 weeks- and Arimidex for me- I'll be on those 2 threads for guidance Arimidex and Exchange surgery.

You all are great- if you are on facebook add me if you want to- private message me & i'll give you my name there. and/or my personal email.

Off to solitary confinement of chemo SE. Happy days and positive thoughts to the bravest women I have ever met- all of you- I mean it.

LIsa

Alison - hello, west coast friend!  I knew you were right behind me - I will be done tomorrow and I am glad you will be soon as well.  It is a great feeling - however, my steroid induced lack of sleep is not great!  I am about to paint my nails in prep for tomorrow but when I am done with my frozen peas I will take great pleasure in tossing them OUT!  I always stress about what to wear to my tx because the hour of frozen peas for Taxotere makes me so cold, but it is so hot here I roast if I dress too warmly!  Ah, the dilemma.  Layers are the answer I guess!  Did you re-shave your hair again?  I seem to remember you had some question about the straggler hairs. Am I correct?  Mine never completely fell out but the hair coming in seems to be kind of red - very interesting since my natural color is not red!  I guess I won't be the same after this experience, why should my hair be the same?  I plan to stick around for a while on this thread - I will not be done completely for quite some time and I am attached to my Feb ladies!

So happy for my Lisa and Beth - I will be a triplet tomorrow with you both! 1, 2, 3!

To all winding it up, or have been done for a little while - a fist pump, Jersey Shore style.  To those with more to go - you can do this, you WILL do this!  You are all brave and beautiful, every one of you.

Sending you love, Kathie

SO HAPPY for everyone finishing up this week! Your all amazing. This has definitely been a journey I was glad to be on with all of you. (Although I'd have rather not packed my bags in the first place.) 

(Hugs) to Springfield. 

Taxol #7 for me today - Lord help me and everyone else in the chair today!

Hi all- glad more folks are getting to the end of this phase. I just got neulasta- even w/ claritin/aleve on board- it always seems 24 hours post chemo i start to feel so much worse. But knowing it's the last time feels good even though bad! (that probably makes no sense except to you all who understand!)

I haven't asked about hair- but my plan is to shave my head about day 17 or 18 after this treatment- to get rid of anything old. My reasoning is I have stragglers- they grown in but then stuck in a small phase- then fall out or have to be pulled/shaved off. I'd like to have a fresh start to know what grows won't be stunted if that makes sense. Maybe it's part psychological too- to want true post chemo hair. Anyway, that's my plan.

Time for a nap. 

Lisa

Dogeyed - How did Taxol #7 go yesterday!  I thought of you when I was in the chair for #7 too!  We are now down to counting on 1 hand!  YIPPEE!

Ladies, I finished my last taxol June 1st. I'm so happy, I can't believe it yet. I want to thank you all for your wonderful words of encouragement. I've made friends for life. A long healthy life!!! I'll keep stopping by and checking in on my Feb/Fab girls that still have more chemo, rads, surgery. Hang in there the end is here and a better future awaits us. Congratulations ladies on finishing chemo!

 I love you all! You're in my thoughts and prayers!

D.O.N.E.!!!!!!!!