Chemo May 2011

Ah, twisted. I have done that before! It's like a reminder call-YOU HAVE CANCER-come to your appointment. You are almost there! In my eyes you made it though 12 taxol, you can do this! Taxol was a bear to me 8 years ago, abraxane has been much more kind to me so far. AC is rough, the fatique was crazy for me, pretty much useless for a week!

I had my first avastin today with my 3rd abraxane. My doc asked how much I was working and I said 2 days, and he said "only two days" and looked at me weird! I know he is a work a holic, but now I am thinking there goes my shot at ssdi! I still have at least 2 surgeries and at least 2 more months of chemo. I know a lot of you work through it, but part of my problem of working is mental and standing on my feet all day, plus my fingers hurt, nails are lifting and my wig makes my head sweat like you wouldn't believe. Bless my clients, but they like to ask me about how I am doing and I just don't like talking about it all day! OK. all I do is post about me me me me me me. I promise I will stop!

Awww twistedsteel.  I understand that feeling.  I will be thinking about you on Monday!

Twisted Steel, I HATE those reminder calls too!  Your so close to the end.  I have my 5th of 6 treatments next Thursday and definitely feel like time has stalled on me. 

Bak94 -  I have been working thru treatment, but have cut my time a little.  I work at a desk, I was once a hairdresser myself in my 20's and can assure you there would be NO WAY I could work full time as a hairdresser during chemo.  It's crazy just to think it.  Your job is much more involved AND don't forget you don't want to risk getting sick by being around so many people.  If your having problems with your nails you don't want to work with your hands either.  Don't beat yourself up because your not working as much as some others, every job is different and you do have a demanding job.

Just talked to my Plastic Surgeon. I knew when MO confirmed the Rads that it was going to delay the whole PS  ... but 6 or 7 months! I'm in a bit of shock, sad actually. I guess my port is going to stay in that long to? thats when it was going to be removed. 

oh twisted steel... that is awful. I take back my whining over waiting for PS. I'm so sorry, I don't know much about hand foot syndrome. 

Hi everyone, I don't post very often but so excited to know that I have just two more chemos to go. I began on may 30th. Four DD AC then four DD Taxol. The dose dense taxol has been a little tougher than I thought. I have run fever for a few days after each one. And the bone pain! Ugh. I'm sure most of that is from the neulasta shot. I also began physical therapy for a shoulder problem I'm having. It hasnt been a good year health wise for me. I've always been so healthy before all this. I'm just so ready to get this chemo behind me. I'm doing research now on what type of reconstruction I'd like to go with. Then rads after that. I'd like to hear from you guys to see how you're holding up,
hugs,


Diana
Diagnosis: 5/19/2011, IDC, 5cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2-

Solange, are you doing reconstruction before rads? I have to wait a year after I finish treatment for reconstruction, I haven't had surgery yet, still doing chemo. I will probably do diep.

Margie-congrats on being done! Yes, it is scary being done, but exciting at the same time to start feeling better! I am nervous about bmx, mine will probably be late november or december.

Twisted-I agree with Robyn, I couldn't believe the difference l carnitine made. I started taking it about halfway through ac and wish I would have taken it from the start. My doc also said 1000mg 3 times a day-I couldn't believe how much it helped!

I had a busy weekend, and then my husband got a horrible cold/sore throat crap, and yep you guessed it, now I have it! No fever, so doc just said to make sure I call if I have a fever or start coughing up yucky stuff. So far so good, just tired with a runny nose and sore throat:(  First cold since diagnoses, missed work today.

When I had my BMX in April I had the first part of my reconstruction done and my PS put the tissue expanders in. Now that RADS are going to be involved my plastics doc said that after Im done with radiation I'll have an appt. with him a couple of weeks and then a couple of months later to monitor the healing of my skin. He estimates a 6 to 7 month wait on the exchange to my permanent implants. The goal is to work with our skin at its best post rads condition. I'm not pleased about the wait but I understand and Im grateful that the TEs look ok and don't give me much grief anymore.

Blondelawyer-How did your Monday appointments go? Are you starting rads soon? Did you find out for sure if you have to do more chemo? It sounds like they got of gertrude out with surgery!

Sometimes I am happy, as I feel pretty good on abraxane and sometimes I start to feel sorry for myself. I have been eating bad and have not been walking much, I need to get it together! I do think it is an important part of healing, plus it put me in such a better mental state.

I had a fingernail break off really short, where it had lifted, so I cut all my nails as short as I could, looks like they are haning on at the base! Happy to say that it is not painful.

My appointment on Monday went pretty well.  I was having an emotionally difficult day and am honestly really tired of trying to be positive about this whole experience.  One of my drains was really bothering me, so I stopped by the BS's office to make sure it wasn't infected.  He thinks that it is just irritated (and so do I). The bonus was I got most of my staples out--I have 8 left.  But, the nurse mentioned that I have a "little" dog-ear from the surgery.  It isn't little by any means, so I am upset about that.  I seriously look like someone took a hacksaw to me.  And my surgeon is supposed to be one of the best in town.  Ugh...I hate looking like this.  I was able to handle the hair, but this incision thing is really throwing me for a loop.

I still have both drains in, but one is only putting out a little fluid, so I'll get that one removed on Friday.  I am hoping that the other one slows down too so I can get both out.

I am having some trouble with range of motion on the Gertrude side and that is annoying me.  I am doing my exercises but everything feels so tight and it hurts.  

Anyway...apparently my doctors presented my case to the tumor board, which is the center's multi-disciplinary board where a bunch of doctors get together and talk about patients.  Everyone was in agreement that radiation plus oral chemo was the appropriate next step.  There were differing opinions, however, as to what to do after rads. Some think that I should do more chemo because my cancer is so aggressive.   Others think that there is no evidence to support more chemo.  My onco suggests seeing how I respond to rads and the oral chemo and then go from there.

I go for my rads planning appointment next week and should start rads on Sept. 12th.  I'll start the oral chemo (one week one, one week off) on Sept. 19th.

I have to say that I am hating cancer right now. The onco-pysch is uping my anxiety medication a bit, so maybe that will help, I don't know.  I am also seeing the exercise doctor tomorrow.  He is just always so darn upbeat that I might feel like punching him  I am hoping that he can help with this stiffness and tightness though.  

I was also told I'd have to wait for about a year for reconstruction and I find that frustrating, especially because I am will eventually need to find a job, etc. and then I don't know if I will be able to take off a bunch of time for reconstruction recovery.  I'm guessing the DIEP will be my best option (I'm fat and the docs say that the rads will make implants not an option), and so I may end up going out of state for the procedure. I really just want all of this over with so I can move on with my life.  

Okay, enough whining from me! 

Blonde you whine all you want!!! Thats what we have each other for!!!!



I'm 8 weeks PFC tomorrow. Almost done with rads and trying to get some normalcy in my life - ha! My eyebrows are back in full force, eyelashes are dark and full - just need a few more weeks to get back to their length. Hair is about 1/2 inch long all over - starting to fill in. This GI Jane look does not suit me so I expect to be wigging for many months to come.



I read these boards every day and am following everyones progress with prayers and hope!

Justme - I have had 25 rads and I am barely pink!! I have been religious with the aloe and nothing else. I'm definitely one of the lucky ones (maybe my consolation for the horrible chemo) but nobody on the august rad board has burned. Just a few pink girls and some itchy. No worries dear friend

Twistedsteel - it's called Fruit of the Earth Pure Aloe gel - my RO gave me the name of it and said ONLY use that - it's working beautifully

Ah, good for you Laureen for going to school this fall! I am not going back until winter quarter. but I have 9 more weekly abraxane and surgeries still coming up.

I don't feel good. This cold is kicking my butt. No fever, but my throat hurts! I can't sleep, because I cough. I kinda wish they would cancel chemo, I don't want to feel worse than I do now.

Bak94 - thanks for replying. Hope you're feeling today. Summer colds suck especially when you're dealing with chemo, etc. I just finished having my chemo day and as you said...my Onc said she thought it was highly likely my BS would delay reconstruction for awoke. I'm really bummed out to hear this. Ive been having more down days than usual and it was just one more thing. I know it could be worse though. Thanks for letting me vent,



Diana