April 2011 chemo

This is a new one.... has anyone had any lumps show up on their head or anything? without hitting your head (as far as I can remember, the memory isn't too good)..

I had a bump that was sore on my head above my temple near my farhead last night, so I iced it, and it went down, but seems like although its not out, its spreading out towards my eyebrow and temple...  I may have banged it, but I would think to have it be this sore, I would have remembered banging it.  I just am clueless on this... anyone?????

Bad case of the never ending munchies here as well

Merilee - I'm doing much better today emotinally and physically. I'm starting to realize he is not the man i Need if he can up and walk away from me without a word in the middle of my theraphy. I'm starting to get it....I wouldn't have done that to him while he was recovering from his surgery. I would have tried to discuss whatever was at issue. I don't want someone in my life who doesn't want to be with me and be here for me. So thanks for asking. I do feel so much better. I took the weekend off and just rested the whole weekend. It was heaven.

Spent the day in the ER apparently a infection in my skin, could of been a bite, or a scratch, calling it cellulitis.  On antibiotics now hope they clear it up, my whole eye, temple check is swollen.  I have number 4 on Thursday, just hoping its all a go.... Thanks RangerMom

WOW Merilee, and this was your last one... I guess its never cut and dry right until the end there are things you never had before.  Hope you get stronger every day, I look forward to the day its my last one!  I hope this infection gets cleared up before Thurs. I don't want anything pushing my time back. Altough today my whole eye is swollen shut, I hope these antibiotics do their work real quick.  Have a feel good day today!

Hi Ladies,

Had taxol #4 yesterday.....AC memories are starting to fade, and now I'm left with the realization that I still have 8 more chemos to go.  It's going to be LOOOOONG summer.  I do want to keep trying to remember that I feel so much more human on taxol, and that I am living a better quality of life now than when I was on AC....but still., it's 8 more dressing/picc changes, 8 more blood draws, and 8 more weeks of feeling like this.  

Tuesday is usually my best day, although I am tired, since I don't sleep well on the Monday night due to the steroids.  Last night I had the neuropathy in my lower legs, to my toes.  Very strange sensation.  I've read other posts in other forums of women who are still battling neuropathy 2-10 years since chemo.  UGH!  I don't want that to happen. 

So I drank my blueberry shake with l-glutamine and took a b6 last night, and this morning it's gone.  So far, so good.  Hopefully it really helps.  But, these drugs are powerful and do strange things to our bodies.

Hang in there Sisters!!!

ginger-mea- I understand not wanting things to get pushed back.  In august my treatment day changes to tuesday because the cancer agency is closed on the holiday Monday....I was pissed, because it changes my final chemo day one more extra day.!!! ugh! and it's only 1 day! hahahaha.

Merilee-  I hope you feel normal soon too!!  I know the desperation in your words.

geocach, suzd, merileee....I've gained all the weight i lost on AC, while on Taxol.  I'm hungry all the time too. ugh!!

 Rangermom....your last post is so strong.  You are amazing. Glad to hear you had a nice rest.

For anyone doing weekly taxol: here's a breakdown of how I feel day-to-day.

• Monday- chemo day...nervous a bit, it's a long day at the agency, bloodwork/picc dressing change around 10am....then go for lunch, then come back and it's about 2 hours in the chair.  45 min for the pre-meds and 1 hour for the taxol.  Get home about 5-6pm. Go upstairs, watch tv.eat, veg out.  Rough sleep night.
• Tuesday, wake up, feel normal.  Meet friends for lunch, coffee...can get dressed, dishes, laundry, gardening..... Feel human. Usually do too much.  Sleep well.
• Wednesday, the aches begin, but not bad enough to take anything for it. Still do some puttering around, can run errands.  Feel human still, but move more like a 60 year old.(I'm 37)
• Thursday, aches get worse, still get up, get dressed, do normal things, but at a slow rate.  Will usually nap. More tired today.  Take tylenol for the pain.
• Friday, my worst day.  Aches are bad- take tylenol 3's..  Hard to walk around...feel like a 90 year old .watch lots of tv, videos, nap, eat, eat, eat.......rough sleep because of the aches.
• Saturday, I am back to feeling like thursday.  take regular tylenol,do normal things. Will usually nap.
• Sunday, back to feeling like tuesday, but not tired because of steroids.  Strange day, since I know I am back in the chair for a long day on Monday, but I try not to think of it, and make the most of feeling great.  Usually do too much!!  Sleep well.

Hope this helps someone!!   K. Ladies...off to enjoy one of my best week days. 

Hey Artiecat- yes active!  But, please remember this is how I feel on Taxol.

I literally spend 12 days in bed drooling like a vegetable with AC with each 14 day cycle. By the time day 13 came around, I was back at the clinic, bloodwork and day 14 was chemo again. I slept, cried, felt like like I was dying and  hardly ever got out of the house or dressed.  Some days I would manage getting downstairs for a change of scenery. 

I literally crawled across the AC finish line.

Getting through 8 more taxols is like a marathon, but my quality of life is much better!  I just wanted to pass out some hope to those starting taxol now.

Determined - any news on your port?

KiwiMum - thanks for the kind words. I do feel stronger each day.

Merilee - have you told your onc yet about those symptoms. i sometimes have a funny smell, I hate it and use lots of deodrant and it smells like stew or pot roast to me. Crazy huh?

 Artiecat - I'd like to hear more about your surgery. I am havingt bil mx with lymph nodes in Sept. some time, stlll need a date. Sometimes I get scared. I try not to think about it too much, its just toomuch for me right now. But please keep me posted as it gets nearer. 

KG - Thanks for the taxol rundown. I had my first last Thurs and by Sat. I felt like I'd been hit and run. Today I'm much better. And agree with you that this is far more tolreable than AC.

Ginger - please give us an update tomorrow. I pray the antibiotics take hold tonight and reduce that swelling. You gave us all something else to be aware of.

I love coming on here and hearing from you all. You really help me get through everything. So big thank you from me. 

Merilee- 

Thanks for your kind words. I have finally made an appointment with a lawyer so i can move foward. The final straw for me was catching him online cheating on me. I discovered he has several profiles on online dating and hook-up sites. I also caught him the other night telling some woman  online that the "only reason I am with her is because she has cancer". Ugh That is not the support I need.

Like you said, it amazes me how this diagnosis changes the way you look at and approach things.

How are you feeling?

p.s. #5 on Friday..yay almost done  

Holy shit I just realized something. I have had 6 CMF witch is 3 chemos x6 =18. and 4 TC which is 2 chemo drugs  each time =8. that is 24 F-N doses of chemo drugs.  Plus 6 neulasta all together. No wonder I feel like I have been dragged down a mountain by a tractor.

Most of us on the April schedule are done or nearly done. I want to propose a new thread where we can start to post how we are rebuilding our bodies and our lives, and continue to support one another, anyone else game?

I will start it and call it "April chemo warriors on the mend." Here is the link

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/7/topic/770953

Well the swelling is a little better today but the antibiotics are causing the big D

No chemo for me tomorrow, now I'm pushed back a week.. oh well I guess it is what it is

Awesome you are done Katfinn. Not an easy journey but you made it.

Teckler2 - If you haven't seen my post about the SOB who walked out on me, know that I am feeling your pain as we all are. when you love someone and they say they love you it brings you to your knees when you find out that love is gone and they weren't the man you thought they were. I did a lot of praying and soul searching after he left, and a lot of just resting and sleeping. The rest and sleep was what I needed. I got stronger with each day as you will too. Do you have a close friend or sister nearby to help you through this? You know we all are here for you. 

Love you gals, but you're kinda freaking me out!  I started on Taxol and Lapatinib...16 weeks.  I'm 12 in.  Then, I'll have surgery, THEN start my 4 rounds of AC.  So, I've got a long chemo way to go yet!  I'm with RangerMom though for part--I should be having my surgery at the end of August.  I'm still deciding between lumpectomy and mastectomy.  It's such a HUGE decision!!!!!  I'm meeting my plastic surgeon tomorrow though, so I hope that will help me make my decision.  

Look at how much we've already been through together!    PROUD of us!! 

I'm feeling like the odd man out - I won't be done with chemo until October 2012.