October 2011 Chemo group

Moonflower, the biotene gum helps (stimulates saliva production). lorikristine, you said it sister!

Moonflower, I also have had a cough, but only if I inhale deeply. Then i get a tickle at the bottom of my throat that causes me to cough. Makes it tough when I have to sneeze or yawn.

The days seem to go slow right after chemo - finished my 4th treatment last Thursday, been more tired and dizzy from the SEs, also expecting company this weekend, so am anxious to get my house in order. Planning on a long nap this afternoon. Trying to get laundry done too. Some asked about work, I work 3 days a week, but the week after chemo I take Mon and Tue off and work a half day on Wed. Thus is isn't so hard. I don't envy you having a mastectomy in the middle of treatment, that would be so hard to face. I still have two more treatments to go, the week after Christmas will be getting number 5, and then one more in Jan - TC - so far not too much peripheral neuropathy, occasionally if I let my hands or feet get pinched from the way I'm sitting. I am noticing a significant dryness all over my extremities though - using lots of lotion after showers and in between, always putting lotion on. This week I celebrated my birthday with friends and found it hard to eat anything fun, chocolate cake didn't taste good, but the chocolate milkshakes from In & Out sure help. My day is expanding as the stomach is rebelling from whatever I had earlier today... Oh well... one more day down and hopefully by Thurs will feel closer to normal again. I find that the fresher the vegetables are and cooked, the more they taste like what they are, with an occasional exception. Fruit is a little more difficult to decide - I just put them in a shake so have a blend. Christmas will be done early for me this year as we celebrate on Sunday this week. Merry Christmas everyone blessings and peace to each of you as you continue to walk this walk of BC. 

I cough all the time to...I do think it is becuase my throat is so dry and I have sinuse drainage and left over gunk from a cold 6 weeks ago.

As long as you are not coughing up gunk, but just mention it to your onc next time.I chew orbit bubblemint gum and it seems to help ( I dont care for biotene anymore ) my cough and dry throat issues.

Lori - congrats on your last AC !!!! I was so glad to put that behind me.

 I got to go to our Christmas lunch today for work - I had a Portobello Veggie Panini - and it tasted wonderful.   I love it when I can truly taste something and enjoyt it. Tis the little things..

Thanks!  I'll be glad to get this 3rd one behind me!!

dia 123: my hair mostly fell out by Day 14 after Taxotere/Cytoxan. However, I only had one round of that treatment, on October 4, since I was alllergic, and now my hair is starting to grow back, too! You may not get your hair back yet if Taxol works like Taxotere, which I think it does. Good luck with getting some sleep soon.

So far Taxaol has just made me very tired from all the benedryl.

I was there for 5 hours...what a a bummer, but I did sleep for most of it.

Just very gorggy, with very little nausea, which is a blessing.

I did throw up the burger I had for lunch, I guess it was just to rich....but I was hungry after treatment.   I also heard your whit blood cells crash on this and they watch it close,

my face is really read and puffy from the oral steriod.  I hope it only last for a day or two like the IV ones did..

My doct said to try aleave for any joint pian which may or may not hit for a few days.

Goint in for the neustla shot today - I am so tired aif appointments..

Good Morning Everyone!

It has been pretty quiet on here so I hope everyone is feeling well and just too busy to write.

Tappy I know some people talk about taking Claritin to help with the bone pain. I get upper back and shoulder pain and using a heating pad seems to help a little.

Terry I hope you are doing well after your surgery. I have been thinking about you!

I got a HUGE surprise on Friday night. I am a middle school band director and the kids dedicated the December concerts to me. They also put out a donation bowl and collected enough money to purchase an iPAD for me! I couldn't believe it. My 8th graders also sent the most wonderful letters. I really could feel the love of my students!

I have been feeling great this past week. I am making Christmas cookies, shopping, sewing some presents, and cleaning the house. How wonderful it is to do normal tasks. 

I hope everyone has a great day!

Mary

I've been doing pretty good too. felt real bitchy those first couple of days after taxol. had some bone pain in lower legs-but he said I didn't need the neulasta shot this time around-I'm getting the t axol weekly. appetite good. mouth issues not as bad with taxol.

But I've got this left knee pain that comes and goes. the NP at oncologist suggested it was probably a bakers cyst. I googled it and it looks like it is one.

was going over my bills from all this crap. I can't believe how much hosp charge for stuff-each bx was around 9K, port 9K, mast 22K-just have to pay the copays. No wonder Interventional radiologists make so much. These are the type of docs I work with and they are all loaded.

I'm just really wanting this christmas week to get over and out of the way. It also seems my friends have forgotten about me. Its kind of sad when friends on facebook-whom I've never met-ask more about me than my nearby friends. IDK I guess they are busy-I can't even seem to connect with my sister. she lives rite down the road-all she talks about is twilight. feels like my brain is mush and all I think about is BC.

Hi ladies - Just wanted to pop in and say hi!  I had an ultrasound today (2 weeks post treatment 4)to see how my tumors are responding to neoadjuvant and thankfully they are responding!!!  My MO told me there wasn't much change when she's palpated, so I've been very concerned,  but actually, they are shrinking (not a huge amount) but they are shrinking and they are much, much softer according to the surgeon.  According to him, they were hard as a rock when I first saw him and now they are very squishy!  Therefore, I feel a lot better.   They said to stay the course and complete the six treatments of TC.  So, its good news that the TC is working, but I hate the fact that I have to go through two more treatments.......they really have been getting harder each time....Oh well, so I am going to have a rough Winter....that's what I keep telling myself.  By the end of February, chemo and surgery will be behind me!  Nice to read everyone's posts!  Hang in there!  Keep Fighting and Happy Holidays!!!!!!

My momma said that if I get addicted to the stuff shell send me to Georgia. There's a good rehab place there. So I take a xanax every nigt and then later if I'm still up a ambient

I never took a pain pill with my surgery....the drains were uncomfy....but I did not have pain...it was tender and during the healing process you could tell the nerves were acting up...but as it healed that went away. It was mostly just aggravating because I am a side sleeper and it was hard for me to be on my back ........  My port surgey was painful but he had trouble getting it in.........but the double mas - was not - so dont fear the surgery.   I had lymph nodes taken from both sides and under my arms was tender....but not really painfull 

The bone pain does feel like labor  - good way to describe it, it is mostly in my legs and hips....I took the Claritin - but I am thinking this could be from the Taxol as well.

I've also found that melatonin can help me sleep...I'll usually take it about an hour before I want to go to bed. Although if I'm still awake an hour or so after going to bed, I'll go for 1/2 an ativan as well. I also took a full ativan the night of my tx and the two nights after, when I was still taking the dexamethasone, to counteract its effects.