August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

Justina, wow!  I will check it out.  I reread my portacath post-op directions.  I can't swim until next Friday, so no swimming in the ocean this beach trip because we will be coming back Wed. AM.  So is the store called "Just for You?"  Thank you for your help.  Best to you.

Wow! I started tx in late July, but most of you will finish before I do.  I have my 3rd AC next week, and 1 more 3 weeks later.  Then I have 12  weekly tx of Taxol!  I am stage IIIc, though so that is probably why.  I also have 6 weeks of daily radiation following that.  

Justina - I believe we have the same treatment regimen as far as chemo goes.  I'm going to ask my Onc about the shortage of Taxol that I've been hearing about.  Have you asked your doc about that?  I'm wondering what the solution is if there is none available.  

hows your adriamycin do yor have a port too

Chrys..so far I'm getting some leg pain , some fatigue and I'm not really sleeping at night. Thanks for the idea of the journal. I had my neulasta shot given by my nurse and I cant beleive were supposed to inject the others ourself ughhhh!!! Hope your doing ok and no S/E's..

Hi Celina ..I have a port it was a little uncomfrotable for about 6 days but now I dont feel a thing and I love it!!

Hi Jbagley..I know it sucks that after all we have to do to beat this is lose our hair too!! And our such young children have to be apart of this makes me angry!!!!

Shortage of drugs:   Seems like this is going to affect a number of us.  A friend's young daughter with leukemia in California is being impacted too.  Here in central NY Taxol is in very short supply and I've been told there likely won't be enough for me, so I'll be given Taxotere instead.  The onc says it'll have the same chemo-effect in terms of disrupting/killing cancer cells, but I seem to get mixed message about the different SE of the two.  Some things I've read say Taxotere will be worse.  I'm supposed to take it once/week for 12 weeks.   

Any others know yet how the shortages might affect them? 

No drug shortages here that I'm aware of...just water. (Water main breaks during the flooding after Irene). They've cancelled all non-urgent surgeries, but I've not been told no chemo yet! I'm off to number 2 in about an hour!

Hoping this port starts to feel better eventually! Taylor, you give me hope! I really didn't mind the needle sticks so bad! 

jbagley:  I have the exact same reaction to the neulasta.  Very sore and sensitive upper back and shoulders.  Seems to only last for 2-3 days after the shot.

Wishing us all some zero-to-mild SE today. 

Robyn..I promise the port is going to start feeling better..It hurt like hell that first night had to go back to the hosipital the next morning cause it felt like I had knives in my neck, I ended up being allergic to the tape and it took 6 days and I sometimes forget the port is there.

Hair is shedding a lot now its freakin me out Im so sad think this will be the hardest/Scariest  thing I have had to deal with in my life, but other than that I feel great TG

Dianamaps Sry about your daughter being upset thats gotta be hard , My kids are grown up so they wont be freaked out, My son is gonna shave my head I pity him LOL as I know I will be a mess but he wants to do it, and from my experience of Taxotore I found it to be ok just about 2-3 yukky days no sickness just flu type sympoms and no other SE's at all. I am actually looking forward to round 2 next week as I feel I will be getting closer to the end. Good Luck

Good Luck to any of you having TX today and cant wait for the day we are all taking abot our last TX and getting back to our lives again. 

At my onc's office they were giving out reprints of this article, 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/health/policy/20drug.html

that talks about the chemo drug shortages.  

Hi ladies,

Just got back from an accupuncture session.  Started them because of low back pain; can't say for sure that it's helping my AC side effects.  Will report back to you later.  The Ambien is not helping my 2am insomnia.  Can't seem to get back to sleep.  I have some Ativan lying around from my sister's death 3 years ago.  Will try that tonight.

Happy se-free days to all my bc friends!

Sigh. Site where the installed the port is infected, so now I've got antibiotics to help mess up my stomach. Then it took 2 1/2 hours to flush the port in order to use it today. Once we FINALLY got started, the infusions went very well. I dozed through the taxotere this time! Still a little sinus burn from the cytoxin, but nothing major. I go back Tuesday to recheck the port and have the neulasta shot. Now that there's an infection present they won't mess around. Ugh. A very nice Reiki therapist came through and provided some treatments today. She was fun! Feeling pretty good, drugged and tired, so I agree koalakid, good time for a nap. Cranky with my boys, (17 yo son, 6 yo grandson) they drank all my stuff while I was gone! I'll have to find a hiding place!

On another note, I got to watch the Red Cross land a couple of helicopters outside the window. They're delivering cases of water bottles to the hospital, town water main is broken. It was pretty cool. They were HUGE! I'm fortunate to have a well, so I don't have any problems, but will be sharing with friends as they need it! Thanks for asking Ellen! 

Hello there!

  Hair loss is continuing here..*sigh* 

 Grimbol happy late anniversary , and glad that you feel better! 

  BOO , I have only 7 more tx's to go thru..#2 is Tuesday..I go in Monday for blood draw and check...but I wonder how I'll get THAT done..as I had done a CAT scan ( chest area ) and the CAT tech decided it was a fine day to destroy my veins..I have a bruise at the crease of my elbow...it hurts! ( 3 sticks to get a VEIN , ugh ) and the other arm is a no go bc of the MX side..

 I should have demanded an port...*sigh* kinda late now , but I'm not a big fan of getting searched for veins ALL the time.