Chemo May 2011

bkj66:  My fatigue sometimes came later in the cycle with AC (I've only had 3 doses and it hasn't been consistent for me yet).  I think that this stuff just wears on your body.  And you could be experiencing the cumulative effects of it.  Sorry you feel so weak, but give yourself a break and just go with it as much as you can.  Wish I could make it better!

That is so true blondelawyer-each treatment was so different, in fact, I think my worst treatment was #3 and my one with fewest se's was #5!

Laureen, my mo recommended l-carnitine because my fingers hurt so bad I couldn't even do buttons or squeeze toothpaste, even typing hurt. He told me to take 2 500mg 3 times daily. I can't believe what a difference it made. No more sore fingers, which mo said was a form of neuropathy. I didn't buy the l-aceytl carnitine, just the l-arnitine because that is what he recommended, I don't even know the difference, but the acetyl was more expensive.

I am not looking forward to abraxane! I had such a hard time on taxol last time, and preferred ac, and this time ac really kicked my butt! In my defense, it was my second time and I did 6 treatements every other week instead of 4 treatments every 3 weeks 8 years ago, plus the fact that I am 8 years older!

Have any of you on taxol, taxotere, or abraxane gained weight? I can not afford to gain weight! I need to lose weight.

Robyn, you are getting me excited! I may have hair regrowth?! I might have a head start as I also have 4 weeks off! Anybody know if you lose hair on carboplatin? If so, my hair regrowth will be short lived!

Hello May ladies. Beagles girl hope you are feeling better, I too had 2 dizzy spells, they were over quickly but they scared me.  Bkj66 I too feel very weak, went to the dr on monday and he ordered blood work for wednesday and well i was super low on my wbc so i have been getting Neupogen, started on Wed,then thursday and Friday. tired of going to the dr. and i have to get blood work on Monday again. But seriously I haven't been feeling well at all. Robyn I am so glad you are not having major side effects on taxotere, I wish I was the same. I also did the 3 fec and had the first docetaxel, uggh horrible. But hey so happy you are getting hair back. I feel like my hair has been growing for a bit but still falling off all at once, lol, is that possible? 

Well Ladies, here's to getting over this and being good again. God bless and take care, enjoy the weekend.

Hi everyone. I hope you are all having a good weekend. I am officially done with Taxol and am now happy to move onto AC. Last week's MRI results show the tumor is smaller by about 2/3 however, the overall BC area is similar to pre-chemo. I am having a hard time with this, as I was expecting that most all of the invasive BC had been eradicated. I saw the BS on Friday and she said I am doing as expected, as the Taxol usually breaks up the tumor and weakens it and then the AC is essentially the "death blow," for lack of another analogy. I sure hope this is true. So now, AC looks better and better. LOL. How sad!



Blonde lawyer, glad you have a new plan. It's highly doubtful BC could progress on AC, IMHO. What a great trip to take before your surgery.

Did a 5k walk today! Before hand I thought I would have to take a short cut, but kept passing them up! There were even a few hills, but not too bad. I am not too much into pink stuff, and this walk/race was for ovarian cancer, not breast cancer, but it was so great to see all of the support out there. I couldn't believe the amount of signs, t-shirts, either supporting those fighting the disease or in memory of loved ones. They also had people holding signs with interesting facts about ovarian cancer, very good for awareness. I think I may be stepping over to the pink side, I know sometimes it seems like it doesn't help those in need, but I really like how it helps with awareness and also brings people together of all walks of life, young and old. I saw a very old man with a walker, walking carrying a huge sign/attached to walker, with a picture of his wife who he lost to ovarian cancer, the sign said how much he missed her and he will always love her. It brought tears to my eyes. So much sadness, yet so much support and caring.

I saw 2 of my nurses, but not my doctor! Disappointed not to see him, he said he would be there but there were so many people.Overall it was a great morining walking with my sister.

Bak94, I really dont know how to answer your question. The BS says that the Taxol can pulverize (interesting choice of words) the tumor, breaking it up but leaving un-palpable pieces of the DCIS scattered around. So, my tumor is smaller by about 60-70% (by feel and MRI) but the MRI still reflects BC scattered around a larger area. I got a copy of the MRI and viewed it myself. I can see the contrasting area dotted with BC. So, is this the Swiss Cheese effect? I have no idea. It really made me question the neo choice. I left the appt very disappointed and it's putting a bit of a damper on my weekend. Onto the next chapter. What choice do I have now?



Congrats on your 5k! Great accomplishment.

It's so quiet!

Hope everyone is hanging in there! Still on my chemo break, so I am feeling pretty good.

I'm all juiced up on my final round of steroids. Unfortunately they do t give me energy, they do the opposite and make me emo. I was crying today about heading for the chair tomorrow.



But it is the final tx. Then I can finally feel like I'm on to recovery, not just recovering enough between treatments to knock myself down again. My hair can start to grow, my energy will come back! Can hardly wait to feel somewhat normal again and do normal things!



Ksmatthews: I too have to be careful what I read or where I venture here. It can be very depressing.



Hope everyone out there is doing well, as best can be while we fight this battle! Hugs to all!!

Last AC today!  And hotels books for Hawaii!!!  Now, I just need to get through the next 3 weeks before surgery.  I had to see a different oncologist today because mine is out of town and she said a couple of things that freaked me out, but I am now calmed down and not freaked out.  I am going to just talk to my regular oncologist when he gets back.  10 days until Hawaii, 3 weeks until surgery.  I can do it!

I am so excited!!! I just called and got my numbers (next week is chair , every 3 weeks). My WBC is 10.4 and my abs neu is 8.3 !!! 

We are going on a trip. We are going to spend a couple of day up north. I am so happy I can do this.

I was even told that I could go swimming!!

OH and my physical therapist told me that YES my leg will get better. I should be fully recovered in 9 months but should be able to walk without walker in less then 2 months!!!

Today is a good day!!

I hope you all have a day like today, soon if not now!!

Candice

Got my  last a/c today and i also got a answered prayer! I did the gene testing because i have family histiory of this beast and Mine came back saying i DONT carry the gene!!! I am so happy -I have 3 children  2 of them are girls and i never ever want to pass this on down to them. Praise GOD!Now i got to get through this week and hope i bounce  back to feel like a human again soon.

Checking in 3 down 9 to go of the taxol. Today after tx slept most of the afternoon. I was very loopy right after not sure what caused that.



Slight nueropathy of my fingertips, and getting the pain in the bones already. Still having roughing hard time eating due to aversion of food, but no nausea.



I find that I am really emotionally fatigued, I want to be done, I want to engage with my kids, I find trying to remember what it was like having energy. I am stronger than this and I get up every day and move my arms and legs to do what I must to get thru this. But I am getting tired and weepy.



Sept here I come, I'm getting my life back

Hello all,   I do not have time to go back and catch up with all of you, but it looks like a lot of you are now finishing up your chemos that started in May.  Congratulations to you who have completed yours.  Me, well, I am going to be starting a new combo next week providing we get it all approved.  The halaven was a failure and for sure we need to get something going that is going after those liver mets.  I never did lose all my hair, but think this new treatment will take care of that.  Wed. I will be starting Xeloda and Ixempra.  I do not know too much about the Ixempra other than what it says on the info sheet the onco gave me, but I did find some threads on here with people taking it.  This board is a Godsend IMHO and I think most of you will agree....although my onco doesn't like it when I tell him things I learn from here. 

I hope everyone is doing well and that you have many years of remission once you are all done with treatments.   Just remember, this too shall pass.   Marybe

38-I am so happy for you! That is great news about your leg being able to heal. And I hope you have a great time on your trip!

Beaglesgirl-I haven't started the taxol yet but I have been so emotional! I think my coworkers think I have gone crazy, which is probably true!

Marybe-I hope that lxempra and xeloda kick some cancer you know what!

I had a crazy fit at work yesterday because there was suppose to be a station in for me, but there were still more people than stations and I am the one out. I almost turned around and walked out, but I had clients that had waited a long time for me. Later I got pulled into the office by one of the three bosses and was told not to say anything to anybody but her and basically lectured me. I told her that I just had a fit and if she would have been back there I would have told her too. I left her office and went straight to the bathroom and couldn't stop crying. I feel like they just don't get it. I am tired to start with and then I have to haul all my stuff out to wherever they put me, then I have to pack it all up and put it away when I am done. While everyone else is just happily working away in their spots. hAving cancer has put me low on the totem pole, even though I have been there longer than most of them. I now bring in less money so I am not important to them.

BK (changed username for security reasons)