Hi guys I'll put my daily thing on here for whoever wants to try, I'm on third taxol and not too much nueropathy so far. I mix 2 glutamine caps and acidophilus in yogurt smoothie. Then I take b complex vitamin and acetyl l carnitine once a day. Hope it helps!

I'm also drinking fruit zinger herb teas with lime or lemon probably half gallon at least to flush. Tastes pretty good with no sugar

Devastated.

 No tx today. My ANC# was .9.  I'm delayed now by one more week.  Instead of tx I got an extra week added to my schedule and a neupogen shot, with one tomorrow and another on Friday.

I cried for a long time.  My onc. said this wasn't that common--my bone marrow not recovering, but she assured me there isn't some other kind of seconary cancer going on.  She said that from now on I'll be getting neupogen every week after chemo so I can finish up these last five.

My dear hubby tried to help me look on the positive side saying that the chemo is workng really strongly, taking out my white cells but getting the baddies too.

I can only feel bleak and absolutely discouraged by this.  I feel like this is never going to end and quite frankly asked myself right after the nurse told me--why am I doing this at all?

Anyway. Too down to write more right now.

C

Claire I know how disappointing it is to have a delay in treatment. Please take the time to rest and let your body recover and strengthen.



Prayers and good thoughts,



Laura

For mouth sores, I used Ora Gel several times a day. I had a couple of annoying sores after 2nd tx but none afer 3rd tx.  Yahoo!!!!

   I teach 2nd grade and my students certainly have learned  a lot this year about cancer. They have been so sweet and kind, asking some of the funniest questions about my wig and some of the meds/remedies I use to help with SEs.  I try not to take meds too often unless I go into our classroom bathroom but they sometimes see me putting the ora jel on or taking some of the Biotene.  I have a boppy pillow in my classroom that I prop my feet on when I get tired.  We sit at the front of the classroom often, myfeet  propped up on the Boppy, reading to them or teaching a lesson!!  It's really tough for me to have to do this.  Not very good at sitting down and teaching!!

I wish I had gotten on this site sooner.  I have read some great tips about SEs that I could have tried. I have been very blessed and fortunate to have been able to keep working.    All of you are very courageous!!!   God will see you through!!!

Carlynn

sidekick- congrats on your last treatment! Mine was today..it is hard to believe it!

MMM, my Taxol dose was 185 mg.  But I'm a big girl! 

Phyllis

Faithhopenluv, it all depends on the amount you're given (which is based on your weight) and the drip rate your nurse uses. I get DD taxol every 2 weeks. My first infusion lasted 5 hours from start to finish, each one since has lasted 3.5 hours from the start of pre-meds to the end of the taxol drip.

I did DD Taxol last summer.  I had an hour of IV pre-meds and hydration (benedryl, Pepcid and Aloxi) then my Taxol infusion was 3 hours.  It's done slowly to avoid an allergic reaction.  The dose is somewhat dependent on your weight, I was about 123.

I had elevated liver enzymes before my second Taxol treatment but they returned to normal before the third treatment.  FLislander's point about drinking plenty of fluids is right on.  I tried to drink 96 ounces every single day from the day before my first AC treatment until I was well past my last Taxol treatment.  That included soups, juicy fruits and veggies, popsicles, whatever...

I didn't get neuropathy - I took Acetyl L-Carnitine, L Glutamine, and Vit B6 specifically for that purpose.  I took a pre-natal vitamin to help support my red blood cells - I found one with lots of folic acid and iron.  And I took generic pepcid every day to relieve the heartburn.

Hang in there, it will be over before you know it.  (((Hugs))) to all.

Just an update: officially no uti, still dont know whats wrong but the docs dont think its taxol related. Though they did say the steroids and lowered counts can make you more susceptible to utis so watch the wiping :-)



Phgraham, we r going to back to our same routine. The hospital hasnt let me out yet so im going to be further behind u. Keep posting how ur doingon the fac forum :-) hugs

Thanks everyone!

I had my 5 th Taxol today and so far no neuropathy..taking Vit B and Glutamine...so far so good. I have to say that I cried horribly on Monday...I had a tissue expander removed due to a staph infection...now i have to have a TRAM flap. I am a nervous wreck! Not a choice...something I have to do as I am young and don't want a constant reminder of my cancer by being without a breast......what a road to travel. Surgery, Chemo, Major Surgery and then 5 plus weeks of radiation. I had to get over the crying this week and know being cancer free is the most important and going on with my life happy. Happy would not be having to look in the mirror each day with my "cancer reminder" of no boob. So I move forward...look for the good in the TRAM flap....tummy tuck! I have lost so much weight through this but have enough and will embrace getting through this chapter when it comes. 7 more taxols to go...getting good at drawing on my eyebrows and really-no one can really tell.....may we all find strength during these difficult days.....

Dear Beth, Andiemom and the rest of you who gave me encouragement-

On wednesday I felt like  another mile had been added to my ultra-marathon.   I am SO weary, not physically, just emotionally.  It helps to know that both of you had delays too and somehow found a way through it.  

On the positive, my hubby keeps telling me if it's taking out my white cells it's killing the baddies really well too.  I like to believe that.

At least my hair is growing in--pretty dramatically.  And I met with my surgeon again, the one who did my lumpectomy, and my plastic surgeon who I know from other issues, and I forgot how much I like them. They are WONDERFUL guys and my p.s. says I can stay small and don't have to have frankenboob surgery with a lat flap.  He just returned from a conference about reconstruc. and there are some wonderful new cutting edge (pun intended) techniques that make reconstruction so much easier now.  He's done about 700 rebuilds, and has worked with my gen. surgeon for years, so I'm really happy that he'll be taking care of me when I get to BMX/recon.

I have to wait 9 months after rads for the above, but that's okay.  My PS also told me about a woman he's working with who had all 53 nodes removed and 50 of  them were positive, and it was quite a while ago and she's doing great. So he had a good story to lift my spirits.

I hope the three neupogen shots work.  I'm trying not to have expectations or make plans for chemo's end yet, since it seems to be somewhat of a moveable date for me.

Love to you all

Claire

Hello all. My legs from the hips down still hurt and I hope it dissipates by tomorrow. Doc said it should only last a few days. I had to sleep with a heating pad across my knees and use Percoset to sleep. 1 down, 3 to go!  Hope it gets easier each time and not harder. I am so glad to be relieved of some of the other AC SE's. They were a hassle.

I'm also eager to keep moving on and hope for another clean blood test to keep the pace. We will see.

And, kelleysgroi, the whole thing throws me for a loop many days. Sometimes we slow down long enough to think about things, and realize the journey we are on...and, wow. But we are on it, and doing okay and making it one day at a time.

Here's to a good night's sleep for everyone, encouragement all around, and a big hug from here in PA. (Just not too tight! My expanders are in the way!  )

Hi bayareamom,

The frustrating thing about delay is that I never got sick..no fever, nothing.  I felt fine (except some fatigue--chemo or low WBC? No telling).  I'm now fearful that tx will have to be stopped--I know I'm worse-case scenario-ing it all.  Or that it will add another month to my tx, like you.

I was almost to the point of being cavalier about driving to my tx each week. Now i'm back to being terribly apprehensive since I don't know what my WBC will be from now on. Hopefully three neupogen shots will help and weekly ones will help even more.

Good luck to you too!