April 2011 chemo

I LOVE the idea of the Fast Forward button!  So perfect.  I'll fast forward to December when all the treatment will finally be done and I can move on with life.

Artiecat -- So glad you can take the time off and you have a supportive team.  I'm finding the work thing a bit tough during chemo.  I'm a self-employed medical transcriptionist and they need their reports.  Fortunately, I've found some people to help me out a bit, but I still have some rough days.  12 hours of typing today.  I have about 8 hours to do tomorrow, but I can't do it because I have chemo.  I'll have to come home right after chemo and do some more work.  Hoping I don't feel too crappy.  At least I work from home, so I have some flexibility in my hours. 

My last A/C is tomorrow and the last Neulasta is Friday.  Can't wait to kiss that regimen goodbye.  On to Taxotere in 2 weeks, which they say is milder, and I hope they're right.

Thinking of you all.......

Wow, Merilee - DONE? Congratulations in advance! I have to admit I'm a tad jealous, since I get 21 more infusions and won't finish til September 2012. My oncologist yesterday called it "a marathon." Thanks for the white light.

The TDM1 was pretty easy compared to AC. I'm tired and achey today, but nothing compared to the AC hangover. Now let's hope it's working!

Ginger and profbee: I have a paraffin wax machine for soothing hands and fingers. I wonder if something like that would help with the neuropathy? And I love the vitamin E suggestion if it works.

Blessings to all today.

I'm right behind KG with starting Taxol today. I also have had a nice chemo break as my onc decided I wasn't going to have the last AC as the SE's were too much on my blood counts.

I thought I would start Taxol yesterday but it requires steroids 12 hours prior to treatment so I am off to get treatment 1 of 4. 

I'm still amazed my hair did not completely fall out even though I had my head shaved. It's also continuing to grow back in...DARKER and is about 1/4 long now. I must say I really enjoy wearing my scarves vs my wig!

Warms the bones and  holds in moisture. I slather on coconut oil before I dip. I have had  very dry finger tips since I started. you can cover the wax on your hands with baggies if you want to keep it on a while. The other thing I do is I slather on coconut oil, put on an old pair of white gloves from the good will and then put my garden gloves on to go out and work in the yard. By the time I come back in, my hands feel great. I have done my feet as well. Such a nice little self love thing.

Good luck everyone starting Taxol.  I have one more AC before I switch to Taxol. I'm very keen to hear the difference in SE's.

I am sick and tired of AC!  I hate being tired, I hate feeling sick, I hate having no hair and I hate that horrible taste in my mouth.  I've spent the last week feeling quite cross about the treatment. The end still seems a long way away!  I've worked out that if everything continues on schedule I'll have my last chemo on the 27th of September.

I will then have 5 weeks of daily rads to look forward to.  Sigh!!

KG1234 - what a great question.

What am I doing to get through treatment?  I am rewarding myself after every chemo.  So far I've bought Earrings for #1, Shoes for #2 and a Handbag for #3.

As I also have 12 x Taxol ... do you think 12 x Treats is too many?  lol 

Kiwimum & Merilee I hate this cancer also and all the meds and side effects.

I had my third treatment and feel it was the worst. Rashes and bone pain, diarrhea and tiredness, fungus been kicking my butt. I'll be going soon to get my port fixed so I don't have to take this medicine through my arm veins anymore.

We must keep fighting.

Hope you feel better today Merilee.

Here's hoping for a better #4.  We deserve it.

I think the mania comes from the steroids. I was super hyper and started having heart palpitations so badly I called my oncologist in a panic. Then I discovered that *I* had been taking additional steroids and not even knowing it! Decadron is the culprit. I had no idea it was a powerful steroid! When I dropped it from my post-chemo regimen and just used the other drugs, I had no problems with mania or heart issues.

I hear you all ladies - loud and clear! Hate this  - all of it, but my mantra is "Just keep swimming...." TCH - Round 3 was the worst so far - SE started earlier and lasted longer. The Carboplatin was causing a lot of hearing loss so I was switched to cytoxan. Perhaps that's why it was worse???? Halfway through - woot woot!!!! I figure if I can get through the next one, I can do it. WE ALL CAN!! When I am discouraged and think I will never resurface from this crap, I look at my 2 children and tell myself, YES I CAN!" Just keep swimming, fellow fighters! When we are all done, I am hosting Boobiepalooza and you all are invited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello new friends, this is my first post.  I had #4 and last AC on May 30th,  exhaustion is really the only side effect I am experiencing, no nausea  because I am given an IV bag of anti nausea med, .  and amazed I still have my hair.   I start Taxol June 27th once a month for 4 months.  My ? is:  Taxol side effects less, more or the same as AC.  

Wow Merilee, you are an inspiration.  I am in awe of all of you who have families to take care of along with this.  My two girls are 37 and 42.  42 yo lives near me and is definitely in charge of me!  I am happy that I shook off the lethargy today and my big loom is half way warped!!!

I had a breast MRI on Friday - go to Onc on Monday for review.  

Welcome to the newbies and returnees!!!!

I had my first Taxol on Thursday. So far no feeling sick to my stomach. I am having some pretty painful bone aches though! Rather deal with that then to be sick to my stomach!!

Hi all, thanks windlass, will keep a close eye on what i'm taking. I'm bipolar on the manic side anyway.  Never had such a clean house.  DH was laid off from work last week so that's not great.  Had a good weekend.

Does anyone know the dosage for the bone pain from nuelasta using claratin and tylenol? I have some pain this time around in my legs and hips. Is it regular claratin or claratin D?

I found that clariton and naproxen worked best for me.