Chemo May 2011
Comments
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Thanks MamaV! I see your posts over in the hair thread. We're so impatient, aren't we? I'm going to try putting on false lashes before I go out tonight. That could end up being very funny. And I'm going to put my wig on under my motorcycle helmet. I'll tell the tale tomorrow
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Ha ha! Have fun! I wore false eyelashes for 3 months!!!
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3 more to go!!!! Well, I was just told that I will be doing avastin for a whole year! Started in auguust so will go until august of 1012:(
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Yay LifeLover! I am glad the chemo chapter is done for you... go heal and start to live life again.
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I had my last chemo October 6th, 2011. They blew bubbles at me... a bubble party. Took my picture. I had on my brilliant blue wig. It was great!
Surgeon appt is Monday.
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Twisted Steel, congrats on having your last chemo! What a brilliant image having bubbles blown at you wearing your blue wig! Good luck with your surgeon on Monday.
I love blonde lawyer's wig. Am thinking of getting a pink one. Would be fun!
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2 1/2 weeks out from last chemo and i have no energy . I didnt expect to feel so weak for this long .
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Hi Justme,
I'm sorry you are still feeling so weak.
My last chemo really did me in. It was on the19th of September. I just started feeling better yesterday - almost 3 weeks after. My onc says I shouldn't expect to feel "my old self" until about 6 months post. The numbness and sore fingers are the worst lingering side-effect for me. Oh yeah, and the brain fog.
We will get there!
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Hi all. This is my first post. I am about a week and a half out from my last taxol. My legs are so sore that I feel like I just ran a marathon. Did anyone else have this type of leg soreness post chemo?
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Oh yeah, my motorcycle ride on Friday night wearing my false eyelashes (they took me one hour to get on correctly!) was a hoot!
I tucked my wig in my jacket and put it on after I got my helmet off. During the comedy show, one of the eyelashes came loose but my sweetheart stuck it back on for me.
Sometime during the ride home I lost one of the lashes.
No matter, I had a great time out laughing and enjoying the return of some of my old energy.
Nicole, I did have some leg soreness and a lot of weakness but 3 weeks post they are on the way to getting better. I am struggling with gentle strength training exercises though. Hang in there and rest as much as possible so your body can heal itself. You'll know when you're ready to push it a bit. Congrats on finishing your chemo!
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Lifelover - again thanks for the smiles!
Nicole - I did the exact same thing. I developed leg soreness and neuropathy after the taxol (12 weekly) was over. Lasted about 4 weeks total, but lessened starting in week 2. Hang in there sister!
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Congrats to all that are done with chemo and moving on! I can visualize fake eyelashes stuck everywhere! Ha Ha, my hands are to shaky to put on lashes, so I just do the eyeliner thing, which is also hard because of my shaky hands!
I guess there is a decsion on my ssdi claim but I have to wait for the mail notice or call tomorrow, as today is a federal holiday:(. Online it just said a decsion has been made.
3 more abraxane to go, then surgery(bmx) then rads then the hysterectomy and then more Avastin until next August and then hopefully reconstruction. Still have a long road ahead of me....
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Hang in there bak. You do have a long road - but take it one day at a time. Hugs!
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Actually pretty happy thinking that there may be a long road ahead, even if it includes treatment, as long as I am still kicking!
BlondeLawyer-Do you start rads tomorrow? Did you already get set up for it?
Pretty dang lazy today. Need to get on the shower and then go to the store. Kinda resting up for work tomorrow. My eyes are extremely watery lately, I think it is the chemo but not sure. L carnitine is not helping my fingers and toes and much as it used to, getting pain and numbness. Am I the only May gal left doing chemo? What is my doc trying to do to me? Oh, it's probably because he gave me a month off between ac and abraxane, plus I had 6 ac instead of 4.
Congrats twistedsteel and nicole!
Beaglesgirl, are you starting rads soon? Feeling ok?
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Hi Bak!
I am one week PFC- I have been trying to call in a refill for my pain meds since last thursday only two days after my last treatment. finally got ahold of my docs nurse today and they took care of it today. I have been in pain- lots of bone pain as I have had for most of taxol. I just checked my vmails and my dr. left me a voicemail saying something like I shouldn't be in so much pain by now... blah blah blah. really? I usually am all the way up to my next treatment. Its wierd - like they think that my body is going to just know that I'm not going to have tx tomorrow therefore I shouldn't been in pain this last week.
frustrated. this is why I had never called for more pain meds- they make you feel like a junkie. I rather just take what I have until they're gone and then bite down on a leather strap. >:(
Other than that- I am actually doing fine! I am fatigued but can't wait to meet with my RO this friday and hear the plan for my radiation tx. I want to get the show on the road and get this over with.
(((hugs )))
L
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Bak, you have a great attitude about your journey. I hope your side effects lessen and disappear soon. I too had the watery eyes and they are almost gone 3 weeks plc.
Beaglesgirl, I feel bad about calling for meds too and here in the UK they are so money conscious (because all of our meds are paid for if you have cancer). I try not to feel guilty because it's not helpful to relaxation and getting over the chemo side-effects. At 3 weeks PFC I am still having soreness in my hands and feet but it is better than it was during chemo on Taxotere. I hope your pain goes away soon. Keep your mental strength. I find keeping myself busy with anything - even drawing (which I'm not good at but never mind) helps.
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my doctors are "you sould not have pain, if you do we need to put you on more pain meds" When I was on the chemo I was taking 9 pills twice a day. now that I am past chemo I take 2 pills in the morning (both pain meds) and 4 at night.
You should not have pain higher then a level 3 most of the time
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Hi Ladies,
Just wanted to update everyone that I had my last chemo today! Will be resting for 3-4 weeks and then will hit radiation therapy. Congatulations to those who have received their chemo diplomas!
Laureen
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I just started a NOV mastectomy group on here. Come find me if you're doing surgery in Nov.
I got my date... Nov 3. Modified radical. Overnight in hospital. 2 drains.
Gonna enjoy the living hell out of the 3 weeks between now and then, that's for sure.
If any cancer remains alive, I will have to do simultaneous rads and Xeloda. Keeping fingers crossed for total tumor death (TTD).
TS
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Laureen - YAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Congrats!
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I have pain and numbness in my hands and feet that are getting worse, I don't take anything other than the l carnitine and it seems not to work as well as it did in the beginning. My nails are downright ugly and sore. I am worn out!
Congrats Laureen!
Twisted, I am sure I am on the same plan as you, if cancer is found at surgery I will probably do more chemo with the avastin, ut after rads. I don't think I can do avastin and rads at the same time. I have surgery in November, but not until Nov. 30th, but I will join the group!
38, I like that your doc keeps your pain under control! I have more numbness and soreness than pain, except when I was doing those nuepogen shots, then I had pain! Moslty just exhausted, anybody else just tired? So tired I don't even want to go to the store, let alone work. I think I have to take the day off today. Putting a wig on might just put me over the edge!
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I was approved for ssdi! Now what? I have never not worked in my life. I think I can still work my short 2 days a week, but I will be off all of December for surgery. Took today off because I am exhausted. We are having downpours and it is rather depressing. Maybe I just need to cut the ties with work and not work at all, but then what will I do? I go back to school in Jan., maybe that will be good for me. I am just not feeling good, anybody else feel bad on weekly taxol or abraxane? It is really getting to me, and I only have 3 treatments left and If I could quit right now I would! I am depressed, sad, sick, tired. I'm scared too, scared of the cancer coming back while waiting for surgery and rads after chemo. Tired of chemo, but also afraid to stop. I don't know what I want. Yes I do. I want my old life back! I want to feel good, be working, going to school, exercising. I want this cloud to stop following me around, I want to be happy and not worry anymore. I want my friends to be like they used to be. I don't want to be so needy anymore, I want to be lighthearted again. I want to feel good! No more bloody nose or sneezing, no more numb painful fingers and toes. Most of all I want out of this pity party that I am having today!!!! I should be happy, I just got approved for ssdi! It takes a load off my financial worries! My hubby won't have to work so much overtime anymore! Thanks for listening. I feel like I am going crazy.
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bak94,
i don't know what to say other than, yup... been there. i know what you mean. i know how you feel. i know the love/hate of chemo. the fear that any minute spent not battling will give the damn tumor a chance to take hold again. i know how much it sucks to touch anyone or anything with the fingertips always aching and tender. i know what it is to be so f*%#ing sick of being sick. I know what it is to have no nose hairs, be bald and paint on eyebrows. I know what it is to feel crazy.
So I wait out the crazy moments. Sleep as much time away as I can. Cry when it overcomes me. Smile when it overcomes me. Laugh when that overcomes me.
Cancer sucks!!!!
TS
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Bak94, I totally know how you feel. Please hang in there dear Lady. I felt the same way. Now I am starting to feel amazing. No more nose bleeds. No more colds. I am feeling my fingers and toes again. Nothing can stop me now. You will get there. In the meantime, do you have to work? I give you a huge amount of credit for being able to do that. I haven't been able to work other than housework. I haven't done any full time teaching since pre-diagnosis in February. I've started back several house a week now and that's enough while I work on getting my full energy back.
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Bak,
we were a healthy young family living the american dream in 2008 when my husband had one of those freak cardiac arrests that happen to 1 in300,000 ppl and passed away at 42. I went to my chiropractor because i got a very bad headache and was about to drive from Denver to Missouri for the funeral and thought if he could help then my ordeal would at least be pain free. He adjusted my neck and started a process that I could never have known would change my life forever
He damaged my carotid artery so when the kids and I got to the visitation I walked up with our 4 yr old and collapsed. Ultimately my massive stroke would happen after returned to Denver.
fast forward 3 years later and much much heartache from that medical crisis- I got a letter awarding me ssdi a month before chemo.
I don't know which one of those events flattened my spirit more- because while while becoming disabled is helpful financially its also a huge loss. I cried for days. Just kept looking up at the skies and begging no more please!
But we find our resilience in the people and furry ones that surround us- the things in our lives that make us happy. You can do this sweet lady you are stronger that you feel this day. check out the hits on this thread alone... there are thousands following the few of us that are strong enough to share. (((((hugs)))))
L
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bak - hang in there - it's Taxol depression - no joke! Mine lifted about 1 week out! Almost there girlfriend! Almost there!
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About the sore legs: I had my last infusion August 9 and was still incredibly weak after a month. Then the weakness in my arms and legs was replaced by incredible soreness. I am now 2 months out from that treatment and I am just now able to start walking regularly every day even though the last soreness has not yet disappeared from my thighs. But: two months ago I barely had the strength to get to the bathroom. Now I can walk four miles.
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Beaglesgirl you have been through so much. Sometimes it seems like one more thing and that is it! But you are right. We just have to keep moving forward. I do think part of my emotions is due to the decadron. After tomorrow only 2 more. I did not expect the abraxane to be this difficult. It was pretty easy to start with and then hit me! Starting to feel better just in time for my next one! Doesn't help that mo upped my dosage.
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ruthil- that makes me feel much less like a freak case or junkie or whatever. its normal as normal gets with cancer in your life. doc shouldn't have questioned my pain although now that days have gone by maybe he was just worried. I am so hypersensitive these days. ugghh.
i will keep trying to shine up my social skills (the in person ones) I feel like I was put in solitary confinement 6 months ago and I am a little cooko for coco puffs now.
L
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hi beaglesgirl,
will you be having radiation tx? i have a planning appointment on the 24th and radiation starts 31st.
Laureen
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