February 2011 chemo pals

My swelling was definitely from Taxotere.  It was/is pretty severe and still happening 6 weeks PFC.  I am on a diuretic at a low dose but depending on the day it doesn't always help.  I have been swelling significantly more since I returned to work about 2 weeks ago.  I am on my feet a lot and I think this is not helping!  I was having a lot of radiating pain in my node arm but that has dissipated in the last week so maybe progress is being made.  MO felt that the pain came from swelling in the arm (from Tax, not LE) and nerves being pinched.

SpecialK - did you get your repeated lab results?  Praying for great results this time around.

Mamaoftwo - I just posted to you on another thread.  Rads is troublesome, but hasn't been too terribel to me so far.  I'm 14/33 and no huge issues as of now.  Good Luck tomorrow!

pejkug - Thanks for thinking of me.  I asked last Thurs. when I went for the repeated lab and my Herceptin tx when the results would be back and they said Monday or Tuesday.  My understanding of the process is that my MO gets an email when the lab comes back and he has to review it before I can get a copy of it.  Last time I ended up speaking to him on the phone directly on another subject and that is when he told me about the unusually high result of the first one.  If I have not heard from him by later this afternoon I will call the office.  I am having my TE replacement surgery tomorrow so I will be distracted after that!

mamaoftwo - good luck with rads.  Most people seem to have said once you get started it is fine - like anything new there is nervous anticipation.

Hi Melanie Ann- that is so reassuring!  What are you using to do all that lathering?

I'm glad you're doing well with rads, Melanie!  I'm 16/33 and doing well with it as well.  My RO was happy with my skin today - it's just the tiniest hint of pink - and told me to keep doing whatever I'm doing.  It was a huge relief because I got som many lectures about how"large breasted women generally do poorly with rads"...blah.  But so far, so good.  Th RO said weeks 3-4 are when skin reactions generally occur.  Has that been your experience?

SpecialK - any news?

Special K - Wishing you well on your surgery today!

charlottesmama - Welcome to the PFC club!

I opted for a bmx, otherwise I would have had rads.  Will continue to pray for the ladies dealing with that.

Thanks for the hints about swelling.  I am still having some, mostly in my hands and lower legs.  The onc nurse told me that my kidney function was low on my last labs and that could be part of the problem.  She said to drink lots of water and elevate my feet.  I am SO TIRED of water.  I am so trained to drink water through the night (from chemo).  Does anyone else do that?  I never did that before chemo.

One more thing, I am getting my port out on Friday...woo hoo!  I know it is a baby step...but it is a STEP!

Hello Sisters, 

Thought I'd drop in.  Our dog has been sick, I think I mentioned he was at the vet hospital over last weekend.  He's 14 years old, went to hospital because having tremendous trouble getting up and walking, plus he got diarrhea for a couple weeks and was reluctant to eat, so that made his walking ability zero.  The vet did not change that situation, but releasaed him because we missed him. 

Well, the doc gave him a steroid shot, gave us steroid pills, plus an anti-diarrheal kao-pectatetype stuff, and an antacid.  Through tremendous effort, WE have managed to get that dog up to where he walks by himself for short distances, and a large hot spot on his rear we cleared that up by cleaning and putting lotion, and we have finally found foods he will wolf down.  We've been working so hard with the dog, we have "shifts," that the seriousness of the situation yanked me right out of my post-chemo whining mode, and eventually my will to fix the dog made my aches stop, altho I'm still exhausted.  We are on the fence about putting the dog down, but will keep fighting as long as he improves and doesn't go downhill.  So, that's where I'm at in my personal life.

Seems like someone was asking about swelling of hands and feet.  My feet have been that way for years on account of I have peripheral neuropathy from my busted up back problems.  But it's raging now from the chemo.  The one thing that helps my feet feel better, but not sure it helps swelling, is to sit on the side of the tub with my feet under lukewarm to coolish water, just sit there and let the water soothe and cool my feet.  I dry them off, put some kinda lotion on them, and I get right on the couch and put my feet up on a pillow.  My hands, cool water again in the sink, lotion.  I massage both feet and hands a couple times a day, trying to run along where the nerves go, I am hoping feeling will return to them.  But basically they've remained swollen and red.  My swollen arms and its redness has really settled and I didn't really do anything to them, so I guess it's all just the way chemo does.

All of you who are struggling with more surgery, more chemo, lousy lab reports, and so forth, I really feel for you, having to keep pushing when you have nothing left to give.  I guess my dog Gandalf is my lousy lab report!  At least he didn't get sick while I was in the midst of chemo, is what I tell myself when I pick our 75-pound Siberian Husky off the floor for the fifth time on a bad day.  But we all do what we gotta do, I guess, until we wind up in the hospital.  My surgery is in less than two weeks, I'll be SO glad to get that boob off of there, really don't like the idea of having cancer on me.  I just hope our dog is much better by then, I couldn't stand the thought of him not being here when I get home, and I told husband he just wouldn't be able to give him ALL the good care we've been giving him, until I get straight.  Maybe I should hire someone to help me AND the dog... an RN who breeds dogs?  Smile.

Until next time, love Gail

Hi ladies,

Thanks for your concern, means so much to me.  I had my surgery yesterday afternoon.  All seems to have gone well.  My PS put the left side TE back but possibly did not fill it even to the 120 cc that is in the right side as it appears flatter.  I have only peeked at it, it is covered with gauze and I woke up with one of those compression bra things on.  I am thinking that he left it with less saline in it so that the incision would heal without pressure since I had issues previously.  When we spoke prior to the surgery he did not mention this plan, and I did not talk to him after the surgery, so I will have to wait until I go for the post-op.  That being said, it looks good and the skin is smoother (not the raisin I had before!) so I am happy.  I am in more pain than I thought I would be and had a hard time staying asleep last night.  I made a serious dent in the recordings on my DVR.  Also, I will be putting in a call to my MO today to see if he has looked at my repeat CA 27/29.

jen1832 - I am stealing the emla cream idea prior to fills, excellent! I went to work the other day with mine and had to put it on my port an hour before leaving to get Herceptin. People at work were like what the heck?

dogeyed - sorry about your puppy - I know how hard it is. I put down my 17 year old cat about 18 months ago. He was like one of my children - loved that cat. He never left my side, I moved him all over the country, he grew up with my kids, was part of the family. His picture was always on our Christmas letter, I miss him terribly. The dog has tried to take his place but he isn't as cuddly - cat weighed 9 pounds, dog 50 pounds. Know I am thinking of you.

mamaoftwo - sorry your rads got off to a rocky start. You were probably more stressed because it was your first and had the pressure of trying to make a subsequent meeting. I was surprised I waited in the lobby at the hospital for 30 minutes yesterday. We had car problems on the way there (only 10 miles from home) and at one point DH was behind the car pushing it but it re-started and we made it. We had this problem once before - it is one of those little computer things that makes the gas and engine communicate. Of all days! I was picturing myself running down the side of the road to get there on time! As usual, ridiculousness surrounds me! I shared your stress! I actually resigned on Monday. I realized that I could not do my job to the best of my ability and take care of my health, and it has to take priority right now. Between Herceptin every third week, now fills at the PS downtown (40 minute drive) and physical therapy for my node arm, I could not work my full shifts every week which is not fair to my boss and co-workers. My job was physical and stressful so I think it was the right decision, but it was hard to do. They have all been great to me there and were so happy when I came back on 7/1. 

SpecialK,

My onc does the tumor marker test with each blood draw. Mine has gone up and came back down. Any type of inflammation will cause it to go up. I would guess chemo would be considered an inflammation! Glad your surgery went well. Here's to growing some hair  =;0)  joann

SpecialK So glad to see you are back from surgery and doing ok. Glad you quit the job to focus on your health-I know it was a tough decision. Also relieved to hear the tumor marker result dropped and is getting closer to normal-no doubt it is related to inflammation as the MO said and will continue to drop in time. It's a good sign:)

Melanie Hang in there with the Rads-you are almost done. I had #21 of 33 today and I'm just slightly pink as of today. We are going to be just fine! Mamaoftwo I hope things start going a bit more smoothly with the Rads-waiting makes everything worse. You would think our treatment providers would understand and make an effort to minimize the wait times to reduce our anxiety...

Dogeyed So sorry to hear about your dog. I hope you are able to rest and take good care of yourself as you prepare for your upcoming surgery.

Divine - it is a blood test.  Many oncs don't use them because they are notoriously unreliable (at least in this situation I hope they are!!!)  It is like a PSA blood test for prostate cancer - many false positives.

MAMAOFTWO,  our Husky has one blue eye.  Yesterday after he had diarrhea early in morning, he had NO diarrhea, first time in weeks.  Husband said he wants to bronze the first real one that comes out.  This morning, he didn't want to go out, it WAS pretty early, and within a half-hour let 'er rip on his bed, which I changed with little trouble.  But today of all days, we are to talk to the vet.  We want to keep trying another two weeks, puts him past my surgery, but if vet says no, that his opinion is Gandalf ain't gonna get no better, we have to face reality.  THANKS ALL for the support.

SPECIALK, glad you made a decision to let the job go.  One good thing, they didn't throw tomatoes at you when you left, so I suppose when you decide to give work another try, they might need you back.  But then again, could be by then, you'll find you a GREAT job that is less demanding.  I really worked SO hard all my life, and when it was over for good, I laid on my couch for two years trying to get over the whole dang thing.  Smile.

MELANIE ANN, oh, I did SO appreciate your story of walking outta that clinic when they made you wait so long, and then your frustration with yet more waiting.  I walked out of the hospital like that one time, they were going to put in my port, I got all hooked up to I.V.s, etc., and then proceeded to wait, wait, wait, three hours went by, and I finally scooted my I.V. bag pole out into the main nursing area and announced, "If someone doesn't release me from this hospital, I'm gonna tear out these I.V.s and leave in my gown."  They let me go proper.  Of course, I had to go right back down there the next week and go thru it all over again, but I was in the OR within an hour.

MAMA Vicky, how are you making out with any continuing side effects from the chemo?  We're both two weeks out, and even tho my attention was on my dog and I ignored legs a couple days, it's all back again.  My legs are the worst thing, the bones hurt so much, been taking Vit D as they asked.  Still exhausted, despite steak and chicken, still can barely walk on swollen feet, fingers are numb.  I'm glad I'm done with chemo but I really thought by now I'd feel better.  BYE ALL FOR NOW!  GG

Hi girls.  Its been awhile since I have posted, so I wanted to say hi!  I how far we all have gotten since February.  Keep it up and continued prayers go out everyday for you all!  I do creep the page often and its good to see you all!

Dogeyed and all - I am still in tons of pain. Everything aches. I thought I was the only one. Thought I'd feel better by now. Legs and feet still puffy and tingly. Chicago heat and humidity probably not helping one bit.



I start rads wed. Ug



Vicky

dogeyed - charlottesmama also had neoadjuvent (chemo before surgery) and yes, it does depend on your cancer type and tumor size.  It is easier for your surgeon to get clean margins if your tumor can shrink prior to surgery.  If it makes you feel better I was diagnosed 8 1/2 months ago, I won't have exchange surgery until the end of the year at the earliest, and will still have Herceptin infusions until 2012, so you are not alone!