Chemo May 2011

Sue - yes 3 Taxols left!  (Thursdays)  Back pain is the WORST today as it has ever been - cumulating I'm afraid. 

bkj - My fingernails were horrible with A/C - thin and painful.  Now with 9 taxols, they don't hurt but are lifting off the beds a little.  (More on the sides so they look wider - and toe nails are definitely lifting off - no pedicures for a while).  YOU ARE NOT A WIMP!  All SEs suck!  I never asked for relief - I had bigger problems with WBC and nausea with A/C.  Good luck!

DebRox and Cyborg,

It's hot and humid here in OH now, but it's still a good thing to be in a different environment even just for 6 days.

I had a kick of depression for 2 days now.  I'm trying my best to pull myself out of it.  All of a sudden, my mind is racing and I often find myself thinking how my life sucks!  It's a snowball effect of negative thinking that just comes and goes.  I have been fighting it with self-affirmations and breathing exercises.  i really hope it dissolves.  I hate feeling depressed.

I will be back in the Bay Area on Saturday, will have blood work done on Sunday, and will go for #4 A/C on Monday.  My fingernails are all getting black now.  Most of my cuticles are black and the skin of my hands are leathery to touch.  I really don't mind as long as I don't lose the nails!

I have gained 15 pounds already since start of chemo.  I have been eating too much!  I eat when I feel nauseous and I eat more when I feel depressed!  I cannot drink water alone as it makes me more nauseous (weird), so I chug fruit juices.  I must have jumped 2 dress sizes by now.

I thought I'd give you guys updates.  Take care everyone!

Laureen

MamaV,

I would like to get your input on all SEs from Taxol if you don't mind.  I will be finishing my A/C next Monday and will head to Taxol 2 weeks from then.  I thought I'd ask you so I can prepare myself with what to expect. 

I am scheduled to have Taxol x 4 every 2 weeks.

Thank you so much!

Laureen

Laureen:  I know that you didn't ask me specifically, but I did three rounds of Taxol so I'll chime in.  My main SE was diarrhea (but that could have also been in part because of the study drug I was on).  My blood counts were fine so I didn't need any shots or anything to keep them up.    

blondelawyer,

thank you so much for the input, really appreciate it!  so you mean, no more neupogen shots on Taxol?

I read your other msgs, and I'm really feeling for you.  I'm sorry to hear about the aggressive cancer.  I'm also sorry about your dog.  I hope you get to prepare yourself for the upcoming surgery, despite the changes in plans and schedules.

Laureen

Laureen:  I didn't have any neupogen shots on Taxol and my numbers stayed in the normal range--I was only on it for 3 treatments though.

Thanks for the thoughts--I am sure that I will get through this.  It is just all so overwhelming!  My dog seems to be doing alright--the vet is surprised that she is doing so well considering everything.  

I think that part of what makes me so anxious about all of this is not having my husband to help me make the decisions.   

Just want to add to the discussion re: BMX or MX that my lump was small 1.4 cm and my opting for BMX was because of the radiation damage from cancer 17 years ago (all my lymph nodes were radiated from my belly up) and high risk of recurrence.

Yuck, feeling sick from 2nd FEC and very tired.  Gaining weight because I keep trying to fill my belly up with carbs to ease the nausea. 

Well, i'm told steroids cause you to eat more, too. Trying exercise to counter any weight gain but I have gained 5 lbs in 8 weeks. But, I am now at the halfway mark. I am sure I will probably lose a few on AC. Plus, I already noticed that the taste buds have slightly dulled on Taxol.



Laureen, after 8 Taxol, here's my laundry list of SE's:



Neuropathy in fingers and toes (the Glutamine helped. I tried week one without it)

Mouth and back of throat a little sore (Biotene mouthwash helps a lot)

Rib pain for 1-2 weeks (weird)

Occasional tinge of blood or dried blood when blowing nose

Hair thinning but not really prominent until week 6 or 7

Facial flushing on day 2 (Is it hot flashes or just a side effect?)

Very slight queasiness in the morning (due to empty stomach) on days 3 and 4. Bread or crackers work and I haven't had to take any nausea meds yet.

Headaches on days 3 and 4 after treatment 6

Very dry skin.

Red blood count, hemoglobin and Hematocrit levels are slightly low (out of normal range) but holding steady. I don't think you will need Neulasta or Nupogen

So far, my nails are fine.(Any tips on what to do to prevent them from turning black? ICK!)



I am getting DD weekly Taxol. Maybe, doing bi-weekly will be a little easier. I notice by days 5 and 6, there are fewer issues except for a little bit of fatigue. I don't want to scare you. All of these have been pretty minor. I hope this helps.

Sue53, if you don't have a fear of needles, I really don't think you need to have the port. I would love to have the thing out at the end of chemo but, due to being HER2 positive, I will get Herceptin every 3 weeks for 8 additional months. But, as soon as that's over, the port is out. I notice it less now but it's a daily reminder too. Yuck.

Laureen - I have weekly Taxol. so my SEs are different:

Back and bone pain were mild until this week (I made it to #9 before it got bad and constant)

Rip pain here too - it's a bone pain thing.

HOT FLASHES!!!!!

Blood counts all low - but no shots needed to WBC!  Yippee!

Slight bloody noses here too

Finger nails are lifting off the nail beds on the sides - not too bad, we'll see but it looks like I might eventually lose two toe nails

VERY dry skin!

Still Nothing campared to AC! 

Good luck!

MamaV,

Thank you so much for the input.  I should look out for those SEs when I start Taxol in 3 weeks.  I really appreciate the info.

Laureen

bkj66 i am on it and mine dont hurt but my foot did hurt a few days this round it was my second one too. I think on this stuff anything can hurt us . I get diferent aches and pains every day just not the nails yet.

Candice - I'm in the chair tomorrow too. Sorry you had such a tough day! Hugs!

Candice, good for you to try to go buy something sexy. I do not feel sexy at all. The dreaded "c" word probably has taken care of that for a while. BC just sucks! Condolences about your Dad.



Bkj66, your breast tumor was completely gone after 4 AC? WOW. Good for you! My Onc said getting a "complete response" or close to it, is a great prognostic indicator. But, I was told they still need to remove an area of tissue where the BC was in order to verify the pathology. Plus, I want them to remove the titanium ball they placed in my breast during biopsy (cost approx $300, too!) LOL. You should work if you feel up to it. If you don't, just take care of yourself. Can you collect disability?

Hi Ladies - again, I was off line for a couple of days and wow - this thread moves fast!  So sorry to hear about the side effects some of you are feeling.

 Cyborg - what are you taking for the nausea?  I hate to hear that you are having such an awful time.  I was having some issues on the Gem/Carb/PARP and my onc was very quick to start changing the anti-nausea meds until we found something that worked.  I ended up with the 3-day pack of Emend, plus decadron and Kytril - dumped the Zofran and Compazine and felt remarkably better.  They also had Aloxi as another option if the Kytril didn't work.

blondelawyer - I am so sorry - you have more to deal with than one person should ever have to bear...I hope your tumor starts to noticeably respond soon!  I found that to be the best feeling when I was on the trial.  I hope your dog is improving too - I just read 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' and it was such a great book for dog lovers.  We have a 10-year old golden that's a sweetheart but she's starting to slow down and it's hard to see.

MamaV and Patriotic - thanks for the list of your Taxol SE's.  I had dose 2 of 12 today and so far it's been really manageable.  Some back pain and achiness on days 3 and 4.  Face really red and flushed on Day 2 also but nothing else that I've noticed so far.  No hair loss yet but my onc says it may start later this week (end of week 2).  My red counts have actually improved a bit since I started (they were still low from the Gemzar).  No need to have Neulasta yet - the onc keeps reminding me that the A/C will likely be worse so I have that coming, but for now am thankful that so far it's better than I expected.  I'm going to start the L-glutamine this week just in case it can help ward off or reduce neuropathy and I'm starting several supplements that a local nutritionist recommended.

bkj66 - I have a friend that had a 4 cm TN tumor with internal mammary node involvment and she was considered Stage III.  She had radiation to that area after AC/T and double MX.  She's coming up on 3 years clear.

Patriotic - I have a friend that had the DIEP at CPMC with Dr. Kind.  She had a fabulous outcome and loves him (I know 2 other people using him for other procedures and they all rave about him).  I plan to see him after chemo to discuss but also am thinking of going to New Orleans for a consult.  I am pretty sure that's the option I want but the surgeon at Stanford said I was a little short on abdominal tissue (i.e., FAT) and I find that hard to believe as it seems like there's quite a bit there!  Just want to get some other opinions.  I wasn't too excited about getting tissue from thighs, back, or buttocks so am not sure yet what I'll do...

I also read the book 'Anti-Cancer' that someone else mentioned and really found it informative.  Trying to modify my diet to be much more plant-based and I think that is helping me feel better too - if for no other reason than it feels like I'm fighting on every front available to me and that helps my mindset.

Hope everyone has a good day tomorrow - good luck to anyone that's in the chair!

dlcw