August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!
Comments
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I am so sorry for all of you having S/E from Chemo I am 2 weeks after # 3 and the 3rd one was best I am halfway done now start Taxatore next monday.Taylor the hair thing is hard because when you look in the mirror you feel sick I try to wear baseball hats and go around topless @ home my kids are great with it.I wear a wig when I go to my local resturant or something and cant wait to get in the car to take it off I hate it.By the way I live close im in London My sister is in Windsor.We will all get through this and one day it will just be memory we will think about once in awhile.good luck to everyone in the Chair this week.
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Praying all had an event free treatment day and will have minimal to no SEs too!
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Back home and outta the chair! Feel ok right now. getting ready to have dinner. I may have a minor ( I hope ) setback. I have found a lump in my left breast. I will get an US next week, onco is 90% sure it is a benign cyst. But, now I feel like I am starting the whole damn process again. Oh boy!.....
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Praying that its nothing Ellen xo
Sandy thats funny that your sister lives in Windsor
Hope you all get a good night sleep!!!
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so sorry to hear Ellen, I am freaking myself out over the same thing, keep wondering if this is something or just from the surgery. i will have to get it checked I guess, but hopefully it is nothing for both of us.
Sorry about the hair Tanya, I have days where it really gets to me and then days where I avoid the mirrors and dont do so bad. I am trying to be blase about it.
My grandson who is 3 said Holy Cow grammy, you got no hair!! We tried to explain it was the medicine for my 'boo-boo' that made my hair fall out. He may never take medicine again!! -
VTellen, I am praying for you and am sure it is nothing but I can understand that it is worrying for you the day before my MX they said they saw a shadow on my left breast and had to have it biopsied but it was nothing , but i too was freaking out. try not worry too much (easier said than done I know) I was also told after my MX that my cancer is Lobular and not ductal cancer which means I have a bigger risk of it coming back on the other side, wish I had of know I would have opted for a BMX . couldnt even imagine having to do this again, (hugs to you )
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Ellen, praying that the lump is a cyst!
As long as my blood counts are back up tomorrow morning, I'll have AC #4 tomorrow. I'll be halfway done! Going to the Look Good Feel Better class tomorrow afternoon.
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Ellen -- I am praying that everything is B9. Please keep us posted.
As far as my severe itching/burning -- they've just told me to watch it. It's bad and I will reiterate it on Wednesday when I go in. I hope they can either take me off Taxotere or reduce the dosage. I just don't want it to get worse. I break out in rashes and it goes away, but the itching & burning comes back and jumps all over in different areas (back, legs, palms of hands, feet, ankles, wrists -- you name it)
I actually found someone on the boards who had the same reaction with this freakin' sh*t. I guess I'm allergic to it.
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Maddismommy, the race for the cure was so fun. Good luck and just have fun! I am glad smeone is running inyour honor, that is so great. Have fun!
VtEllen, I hope all is neg and it is just a cyst. **fingers crossed for you**
I had my first taxol today. No side effects while having infusion. I was never told iit was a 3little hour infusion. My appt for the infusion was 1230a and didn't even get in a room until 130. My H&H are done to 8.3 and 24.6. No wonder I haven't felt well. But they gave me some extra fluid today and no headache. Whoooohooooo. #5 down. 3 more to go!
To all of you who had a treatment today, hope for minimal se.
Hugs
jenn -
Chrys- T/C buddy in the next chair yestyerday has had a reaction to the T each time they gave her the infusion. I saw the red rash move up her chest and 1 ear turned bright red. They just took a break for 5 mins and then restarted vveerryyy slowly. But, my point is , that between that dose and this one she got a red itchy rash . Started on her back, moved over her shoulders down her chest all the way to her knees. Benedryl and a prescription helped. I assume it is an allergic reaction to the Taxotere. This last dose was #3 and she did not get a reaction.
Michelle- good luck today on #4 and reaching the 1/2 way point!!! You are much more energetic than I am , I just come start home and get in my suggly wear. We made dinner and watched a couple episodes of Modern Family, then hit the hay!
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Michello, Good Luck today wow halfway there isnt it great , I will be at halfway mark next thursday and cant wait, I think so far it is going very fast hope it stays that way, I have to admit I feel great other than the few bad days after , I dont have any sickness/fatigue TG, but just wish I could just get used to the hair thing LOL .its the only thing getting me down.
Sandy115, right there with you with the wig thing , I dont wear it round the house either I dont mind going bald (well patchy) around my DH and son and last night my dear 17yr old son told me I looked like a model, (HAHAHA) I know he is just trying to be kind to me but it was very sweet of him , I already am counting down the days till I have hair again.
Good luck to anyone else having treatment today , sorry but I have a problem keeping up with all the dates . WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS !!!!!!!
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Ellen - Prayers that this is nothing! Just B9!
It's a really dreary, kind of depressing day here, but I feel pretty good! Tired still, but absolutely no other symptoms of anything today. I've got the rest of this week, then treatment number 3 on Friday.
Dinner out with girlfriends tonight!
I hope you all feel well. Especially the bunch of you that had treatments yesterday!
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Tx 2 today!!! My head cold seems to have skipped town, thank god!!!! The steroids had me up most of the night, BOO!!!!
Good luck today Michelle!!!! I'm only a 1/3 way there after today, not that I'm counting?!?!
So, my fave hairpiece thus far is my 32 dollar halo....great investment!!!! It looks ridiculous at first but awesome under scarves, cute hats!!!! It honestly looks the most real and the most comfortable and I have 3 different wigs....all equally awkward no matter what I do with them. I highly recommend a halo to everyone wanting to wear some hair every now and than.
Chrys...I would definitely have your onc lower the taxotere..... It cant hurt right? You have been so uncomfortable that if it works that would be great!!!!
Grimbol....your grandson sounds adorable!!!! And if he's anything like my stubborn child you're probably right, no more medicine for him, he'll think his hair's gonna fall out...
Tanya.....I'm SO proud of you!!!! And glad you atleast have the weight of the worrying about the clumping out of your head off your shoulders!!!! We're gonna all get through this and we'll be loving our new heads of hair in no time!!!!!
Happy s/e free Tuesday ladies!!!! I need to go make mine and DH's lunches soon.....I'm off to see the wizard at 11:00. -
Does anyone else sit in the chair for 7 hours plus??? I have to be there at 8:30 and am lucky to be out of there by 4, and i'ts all infusion, no waiting. They are going to slow the Taxol down tomorrow due to the reaction I had last time, could be longer still!!!
My son and family leave today, boo-hoo!! tough day ahead. Then tx no 3 tomorrow.
Hope everyone has a good day today.
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Mine is approximately 3-4 hrs infusion time....start to finish.... That's including the benedryl, the anti nausea they pump in me, etc.... 7+ hours is a long time, do you have a port? Maybe that's where the difference comes from? I have a "power smart" port that like helps pump it in pretty steadily??
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Grimbol- my appt yesterday started a little after1:00, met w/ nurse, met w/ onco. Finally got in the chair at 2:00 or so . Left at 5:00. That is for T/C plus all the initial stuff. But, I haven't had an inkling of a reaction, so they crank my drips up pretty high. Plus, they always get my vein w/ first poke!
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Oh and thanks everyone for the well wishes and prayers! I am trying to think positive, but I am sure I will be a nervous wreck going back to the "scene of the crime" as I see it. The little US lab where I got the first bad news. This new lump is about 4mm in my other breast and doesn't really feel the same as the first lump, although it could just be because it is deeper under the skin. I am confused as to how a tumor could not be shrinking under the chemo? And, I mean really, I could do w/out the extra stress! Thinking about making myself some brownies now..... why not? seems to be one of my chemo cravings!
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Grimbol - My treatments have been lasting that long also. The first time I had a reaction and they had to slow down the taxotere, then I needed a second IV 'cause the first one stopped working, and they couldn't find a good vein. So, by my second appointment I had a port, but I got held up because they needed the doc to look at it 'cause of the infection, then they couldn't get the port to work for 2 1/2 hours...so first appointment was 6 hours, second one was 6 1/2. (The IV's only took about 2 1/2 the second time). I'm hoping things go a bit better on Friday!
Ellen, I have confidence that this is nothing to worry about!
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Because I had a reaction to my second taxotere infusion, they have "slow dripped" me the last two times--I'm in the chair for 6-7 hours, even with a port. My onc said that there has been a high rate of negative reactions all over the country to the lastest "batch" of taxotere. Are you kidding me? Does someone just cook this stuff up in their kitchen? You'd think with so many lives at stake they'd have the recipe down!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, Ellen. I'm so glad the CDs are helping a little. Best to everyone with tx this week!
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Robyn enjoy your night out
Good luck tomorrow Grimbol!! Sorry you have to be there so long.
Ellen enjoy your brownies mmm
Michelle and Madismommy good luck today!!
Hope your doing still doing well after your Taxol Jenn!!
I've been such a pooper that when everyone leaves in the morning I just want to hang out in my pj's and lay down well my sister came over told me to get dressed and made me get out for a walk..I hate how I'm feeling, I hate how negative I've become..all I'm taking is ativan and they are doing nothing!! I'd have some wine but I'm scared I'd probably kill myself while having chemo in my system..Sorry everyone nobody except you all understand what I'm going through nobody here gets it! They keep saying how good I look with the wig and without the wig they say how cute my head is blah blah blah
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Hi, capinva: My doctor prescribed Emend BEFORE you start chemo and it prevents nausea before it starts. I just started chemo almost 2 weeks ago and had my first treatment (A/C). I take the Emend with breakfast and then do the chemo. I also take 2 other drugs the day of, and 2 days after including Emend during those days too. All I can say is it works! Not once did I have nausea symptoms or vomiting. Key is, the Emend prevents it before you get sick. It will not help if you get nausea first. Hope this helps!
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vtEllen: Hello, yes, I am on the same path as you. I just started chemo 2 weeks ago, same regimen, 8 cycles of chemo over 16 weeks, the 6- 8 weeks radio., then 5 years of Tamoxifen. The only thing I am worried about is the side issues during and after chemo: I am premenapausal so I will go into early meno because the chemo stops your periods. So, now we have to deal with that on top of being treated for the cancer. As you know, Tamoxifen is to block estrogen so it will also produce menopausal symptoms. What a road we have to travel, but once this is over, life will be great.....it already is! :>) Have a great day!
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Hello girls - just popping in...still recovering form the weekend of wedding fever
Circus left on Sun , so I've been home alone for the past couple of days.Next tx is on the 28th, oof.Every time I even think abt chemo , I feel a bit hangoverish..eek.Today is the first true fall day here - reaining , windy and lower temps.Finally , I couldn't wait for that to come , bc of the hospital A/C , I always get a strong reaction from those.Lower temps means that the hospital A/C will be SHUT OFF. My tx is about three hours or so , but I'm on a fast drip , plus I don't take as much as some of you I think..We'll see , it's #3 for me ( AC ) and after Oct I get switched to Taxotere.
I wish there was an app to tell you the approximate dates of every tx , so that I can schedule appts with other doctors though..I'm not good with math! Headache for me! I tried to schedule PS and I got an off date.Oops.Have to go back and reschedule.( Being deaf , can't call and schedule.Urgh )
VtEllen , hope your new development isn't anything that would make you worry even more.It'll be fine , and it might be calcifications? Get that looked at , anyhow.
Grimbol ,what a sweet grandson you have!! My nephew knows that I had a boo boo that made me lose my hair , but he's too little to understand anything else.(1 yr old ) but he's the apple of my eye.I intend to stay around for him and any future siblings.
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Ellen - What?!?! As if you don't have enough to worry about!!! But it's B9, I just know it! Sending hugs your way!!!
Chrys - I wish that I could take these horrible side effects away from you! I hope your docs get this under control!
Tanya - I know what you mean about the hair depression. I wake up every day and my first thought is "I want my hair back!" But I am glad to be waking up; and now sometimes during the day I forget that I don't have hair (sometimes). Great job on taking the bull by the horns!
Jen - Congrats on Taxol #1; the end is in sight!!!
DebinUtah - Hahaha! I cracked up about the "recipe"; no kidding, huh? Is someone cooking this stuff up in their meth labs? LOL. That does not put me at ease at all. Sheesh.
I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with everyone and commenting directly! Love to you all! Hope everyone is feeling ok and good luck to all getting treatment this week.
Madismommy - You're beautiful! Love the pic! Hope the Wizard treats you well today
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Vivie - Hope you're recovering from Weddingpalooza! I agree - whenever I think about chemo or the smell of the hospital or the steroids of anti-nausea meds, I get nauseous. YUCK!!!
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Taylor777 - Hang in there! We all have those days! It's rainy and dreary here today, and it would have been really easy to stay in bed after everybody left this morning. But alas, 17 yo son missed his school bus, so I had to get up, showered, dressed, and drive him to school. It might have been a good thing, or I'd still be in bed with the TV! I stopped at my friends' store for a coffee on the way back, and caught up with them...
These friends have offered me a golden retriever puppy, to be born next week...ready for adoption about 8 weeks later. I already have 2 dogs, a 9 yo pug/boston terrier mix, and some kind of stupid, giant hound that's 3 years old and out of control (my son's dog). I REALLY don't need another dog, but I would love one. Especially a golden retriever. Free. Hubby says no, but he's manageable. Part of me says no, too, but part of me feels like this could be part of my recovery, my own affirmation that I think I'll live the 15 or so years I need to take care of it. Very undecided at the moment....well, not undecided, I make up my mind firmly, and then change it every hour. Hmmm...
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Robyn- I am a pet addict. 3 horses, 2 goats, chickens, geese, 4 cats, 3 dogs. The 3rd dog is the most recent addition and I have to say she is a lot of fun! She is a border collie cross from the shelter and i just got back from walking the three of them through our woods ( the sun is shining weakly here in Salisbury ) And, I understand your attraction to a puppy - this cancer stuff just doesn't have a lot of fun to it, but an adorable little puppy sure does!
Taylor- If this bluesy stuff continues, so that you legitamately don't feel like getting out of bed, you might want to ask for a small dose of Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro or one of the other wonder anti depressents. Someone else posting on here is taking something. I was getting close to it a couple of weeks ago, myself. I think the ativan is sedating, and that can make you feel "down" as well. But, hang in there! We are all having our sad, dark days. As I said to Robyn, there isn't much fun to what we all are goig through....
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I did the big shave last night - so depressing. I managed to make it 5 weeks past my first tx because I tried the cold caps during my first infusion (HATED the cold caps, so stopped). This morning my 2-year-old kept looking at me and saying "mommy, I don't like your hair like that." I tried to wear my wig today, but it was so scratchy and hot, and my kids and husband didn't really like it. So I'm in a scarf. Feeling so exposed. Maybe I'll try one of those halos that madismommy mentioned - where did you get it? I feel like it's going to be so long before I have hair again. I'm doing AC x 4 followed by taxol x 12 - seems so much longer than what most of you are doing. Is anyone else on my protocol?
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Istreet, CONGRATS TO YOU , you made the big step and although it is HARD , it will get easier , I cant say I like having no hair, but just have myself in a routine now , get up get dressed as usual and then put the wig on and off to work I go I try not think about it too much, and I have the Halo thing also its very handy for the times you dont want to wear the wig, I thing you can oder them form Headcovers,com
Taylor: I am sorry you are feeling so down, but getting out is the best medicine I try to do all the normal stuff I can the only thing I havent been able to do is go to our local for a drink , havent plucked up the courage yet, but will soon as I want to feel as normal as possible, on my bad days I take a valium which my Dr prescribed for me as I was terrified of going for first Chemo, I only have a few but they have gotten me through my worst days, I wouldnt take them often as I beleive they can be addictive. Hang in there and it will get better , and I am sure your family are right when they tell you you look great !!!!!!
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Lstreett....I bought mine at my local wig shop I went to but head covers.com has the same ones....and wigs.com had them too.,,,, very good investment in my opinion....looks totally real with a hat on!!!
hope you find one....hugs to you on the hair loss, it's SO hard!!! Honestly been the hardest part for me. Just think, losing it makes us one day closer to getting it back.
Hi tanya62....welcome to the club no one wants to join....glad you found us though!!!! I take emend the day of and than day 2 and 3 after my tx....worked great the last time, hope it continues!!!!
I'm sitting in "the chair" right now...... I think I have about an hour left??
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