April 2011 chemo

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited August 2011

    Keep the good faith, Sarah!  I had #6 TAC last week - the last one - we can do this!!!!  I just keep telling myself that soon it will be a memory and be proud of how I handled it!!!!!

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  • jackifp
    jackifp Member Posts: 185
    edited August 2011

    Hang in there, Sarah! I just finished my sixth one, and it kicked me pretty hard, but yahoo, it's done! You'll be there soon!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Sarah, Jacki, and Arti- you made it, it's just amazing right? When I was done with just four I thought That twas amazing that I lived through LOL I feel for you ladies doing 6 wow, impressive strength.

    I know Windlass still has some to go, who else? I am loosing track of what  part of the journey everyone is on. Is everyone close to done with chemo?

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  • CarlaB76
    CarlaB76 Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2011

    8 more weekly taxols to go for me.  Trying to make it through some unexplained severe rib/abdominal pain that does not show anything on either CT scan or ultrasound.  I just want that to go away and I'll happily deal with the rest of chemo.

    I've only gotten one email with contact info.  Reminder to send it in to me.

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  • KiwiMum
    KiwiMum Member Posts: 704
    edited August 2011

    8 weekly Taxol to go for me too. On September 27 I will do a happy dance.



    So far so good, no major SEs to speak of. Long may that continue!



    Carla, glad scans are clear on your pain site - but severe pain sucks! Can they give you any pain killers to help?

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Carla

    I had similar and it turned out to be from the gas and bloating. The Phazime helped. And an  rx for Naproxen 600.  Hang in there ladies.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2011

    Carla -  that was mine, right?

    Could you repost the invitation again?

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Just sent mine

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  • jackifp
    jackifp Member Posts: 185
    edited August 2011

    Any suggestions for my poor, acid burned throat? #6 hit me hard, and I vomited so strongly, I think I burned my throat. It's painful to swallow 3days later.

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  • CarlaB76
    CarlaB76 Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2011

    Reminder for contact information:

     So I volunteered to pull together an contact info list for our Lounge.

    Here is what I'll need to get started. Please email to the following address (spelled out to avoid phishing):

    To: carlaarmorgan AT yahoo DOT com

    Subject: BCO contact info (always include BCO somewhere in your subject line for my filter)

    Body of email:
    BCO screen name
    Real name (First Last)
    Email address
    Postal Address
    Signature information from BCO (copy and paste)

    Once I get everything together, I'll let you all know and tell you when to expect my email. I'll mess with formats a bit to find something that works well.

    Thanks!

    PS: Windlass...don't have your email yet.

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  • Sarah246
    Sarah246 Member Posts: 53
    edited August 2011

    Thanks Artiecat

    Jackifp, My throat got burned from reflux I sucked on ice to numb the burning.

    Merilee, yes it is amazing to have made it this far.

    CarlaB76, Sorry about the abdominal/rib pain. Being in pain is the last thing you/we need.Smile

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  • RangerMom
    RangerMom Member Posts: 604
    edited August 2011

    Louis 13 - I've been thinking of you and haven't seen you post here lately. I know it is getting close to your surgery date. How are you handling it all? I think this waiting is really tough and I've been trying to keep my mind occupied day and night till I can fall asleep. Just wanted to check in with you and see if you need anything from us warriors. Did you have a chance to see that forum to look at what to do before and after surgery? 

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  • geocachelinda
    geocachelinda Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2011

    I was handed a disappointment today.  My Dr. told me I cannot take a break during Taxol treatment, so therefore I can't go to my Casting for Recovery retreat scheduled for Aug 12-14.  I was really looking forward to getting away and being with other cancer survivors but I know I will not be able to participate and gave my spot up for someone else.  They said to reapply next year.  They only had room for 14 applicants and 30 signed up, so I guess I made someone happy today!

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited August 2011

    Geo!!!!  Sorry to hear your trip is off!!!!  Hang tight!  Good outlook to say you made someone else happy!

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  • pawprintgirl24
    pawprintgirl24 Member Posts: 173
    edited August 2011

    so sorry Frown geo....

    carla i sent you my info...maybe merilee is right about the pain...i have horrible bloating pre chemo life and it hurts soooooo bad!!!! tmi!

    and the burning from acid!!!! OMG!!!! i am so ready for this part to be over with!!! 

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  • CarlaB76
    CarlaB76 Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2011

    A few contact info emails have come in.  Thank you for sending!

    Linda, sorry about your trip.  Cry  But good for you to try to find a silver lining.

    Y'all, if this is gas pain, my mind will officially be blown.  Because really!  GAS?  I'm bloated, sure, and I'm eating gasX like it's candy.  But when I say severe, I'm talking like I need help standing up, or have to stand myself and slowly straighten up to standing. Rolling over while I'm asleep wakes me up!  Getting into and out of the car, pretty much any movement.  I'm barely functional it feels like.  And I have a presentation for work at 8:30 tomorrow morning and I don't know that I can freaking project my voice across a room.  Grump, grump, grump.  I'm going to be so annoyed if this is gas. (Edited to add:  And really relieved...because my mind is all over the place).

    WBC down to 1.7 this week, so two Neupogen shots (one today and one tomorrow) before Taxol on TH.  I've been trying so hard to stay positive, but I feel like I'm running out of positive.

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited August 2011

    CarlaB -- So sorry to hear about the abdominal pain.  I'm having the same problem -- it's downright unbearable.  It happened after my Taxotere #2 and #4.  For #3, I took Bentyl for a few days after the Taxotere, and that seemed to work.  Didn't work this time, though.  I can so totally relate to what you're saying -- it's so painful to stand up straight (I tend to walk hunched over), painful to make any movement at all, painful to roll over in bed, etc.  And they said Taxotere would be easy!! We went up to Jacksonville on Saturday and were supposed to bring our boat down the intracoastal waterway to Merritt Island starting on Monday.  But I was in so much pain, we had to rent a car, and my husband drove me 3 hours back home (I slept all the way because I was up all night the night before due to the pain).  Anyway, it looks like I won't be able to make the boat trip now.  I was so looking forward to it -- so looking forward to the diversion.  My onco said I could even skip chemo this week to make the trip.  Now, as it turns out, I can't make the trip, but he still wants me to skip the chemo this week and just go in and see him tomorrow to see if we can figure out the abdominal pain.

    Geo -- So sorry you can't do the Casting thing.  I know you were looking forward to it.  Great attitude, though, that you've made someone else happy.

    Hang in there, everybody.  Somehow we will get through all of this!  Can't wait to feel like a "normal" human being again. 

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  • sarahlou1967
    sarahlou1967 Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2011

    scc218 - Sorry to hear that you wont be able to make your trip but maybe you will be able to re-schedule it for sometime after chemo treatments, it will finish and then you can have your time back again. I've just finished 6 taxotere treatments and found that for burning acid especially like cystitis I started taking cranberry supplement daily which really works, for digestive acid I was prescribed Omeprezole a tablet to take rather than taking over the counter meds like Rennie antacid. I also experienced a lot of bloating something I never really managed to conquer, but do believe it was water retention and I am looking into a natural supp. that might treat water retention.

    Sending healing vibes

    Sarah Sweety xx 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Ladies

    So sorry to hear of all this pain. I will share my protocol an maybe something from it will help,

    Phazyme, Prilosec, Naproxen, and nausea meds all preventative. I did not wait to need them+

    Clairiton for the pain from the Neulasta. I had them on a time chart as my brain would not function normally.  I took Lorizapan for sleep and was able to sleep well which helps alot.

    B12 in the mornings with my vitamin. Then I also had mylanta, and milk of magnesia on hand if needed. I also use massage therapy and aroma therapy.

    I did not spare the meds after that first round of Taxotere which took me off my feet like I never expected.

    Hope things improve soon. Carla my mind went there too but for me it was my ribs, I was just sure there was something there but when the swelling went down so did the pain. My PT said that I actually had a rib move from all the swelling and that was what it was for me.

    I also used anti fungal cream on my nails as a safe guard, still will use that until my nails grow out all 4 white rings that the taxotere left.

    Don't forget water,water water.

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  • Channa
    Channa Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2011

    Hey you! I am in South Africa,had my 2nd chemo yesterday.Are you still scared? Its only natural! I am thinking of you and remember...each treatment takes you a step closer to healing,grin and bear it my chemo buddy,it is well worth it!This website is awesome,got so many answers to my questions,read as much as you can,but do NOT Google,you get all kinds of negative results and comments.Stay in the reputable site... Take care.Chantal Slippers

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Hi Channa,

     How many treatments do you have left? And what are they using in Africa?

    You are right about not googling, there are some awful things out there that are not good for the mind right now.

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  • pawprintgirl24
    pawprintgirl24 Member Posts: 173
    edited August 2011

    carla that might not be gas...???? but yeah this whole acid burning is horrible and down here in this heat it is making it worse!but it will all be gone by next week!!!

    on a positive note  i have 6 businesses signed up as sponsors for my team in the race for the cure!!i'm hoping to have some hair by then but if i don't i have a scarf i can wear!its something to look forward to

    stay cool ladies and warrior on!!!

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  • pawprintgirl24
    pawprintgirl24 Member Posts: 173
    edited August 2011

    merilee how is rads going?

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  • Teckler2
    Teckler2 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2011

    I havent posted in a while, but just caught up on reading posts...

     I finshed #6 on the 22nd, and went to the hospital with sepsis on the 23rd..but I am done with chemo, and just got drawn on for my rads., and had a negative follow up mammo- yay!

    Merillee-How are the rads going for you? 

    Pawprint- wtg- i hope you get a lot of businesses for sponsors!

    Geo- so sorry to hear you couldn't do your casting trip

    Carla- How is your abdominal pain?

    I sent my contact info~

    Hugs to all 

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  • CarlaB76
    CarlaB76 Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2011

    Got your info, Teckler.  Thanks for sending.  And a few others came in too.  Keep them coming!

    The pain is still there, it was a little less today, but not gone.  I stayed home from work today adn got a little extra rest and my 2nd neupogen shot. I will say that hearing a couple others have experienced this was SO helpful.  I was startin to doubt myself and think I was losing my mind.  Again, this group saves the day, even if I don't know the cause, I do know I'm not crazy!

    Now I have my typical pre-chemo sleeplessness.  I fell asleep around 11:30pm and was up at 2am.  I haven't been able to get back to sleep

    Merilee, even though I don't have to do radiation, I would like to know how you are handling it all.

    Good day to you all, lovely ladies.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Hi Ladies

    Thanks for asking about me. So far radiation has been a snap. I have had 8 healing beams so for and it has been uneventful and easy.

    Go to fullsize image

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  • Teckler2
    Teckler2 Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2011

    Merilee- I got 2 litle blue tattoos yesterday when the rad onc did my CT planning. Did you get any more than that? I was thinking if i get more I want to change them from a blue dot to smething pretty- like a flower..haha

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited August 2011

    Teckler

    I got one more tatoo in the middle but not on the same day as the first. I too thought I would like to make them into something like a flower LOL

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited August 2011

    Merilee - did you use any special skin lotion prior to starting rads?  What are youn using now?  I still have surgery to go before rads, but am curious about how to help my skin.

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  • sweetcorn
    sweetcorn Member Posts: 188
    edited August 2011

    I got three tattoos, one on each side and one in the middle.  The technician gave me Aquaphor and a natural gel to use during rads.  He said that the Aquaphor would be best used at night.  I put some of the lighter weight gel on immediately after radiation today and will put some on when I get home from work.

     Jane

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