Taxotere/Cytoxan starting February 2012.

Good Morning Ladies,

kat2nich: Hope you are doing well! You went yesterday, correct?

RuthieG (WAHOO, last one!!!) & skydiver: Good luck today! Wishing you the best!

lmlola59: Ok, I use Google Chrome as my browser and since the last time I posted this website kept telling me "scheduled maintenance". I kept checking back and the same thing. Finally, I decided to switch browsers and open Internet Explorer...EUREKA, it worked!! So, perhaps others are having this problem hence why not that active.

woodburns: Mom is getting stronger & stronger!!  I took her yesterday to see her Primary Doc. and he was VERY impressed with how well she is doing! I too have tolerated the Chemo very well with minimal SE's...I think it is good that we post so others know it is DEFINITELY different for everyone! Right now, I am just dealing with the nail beds being sore...still no lifting/coming off. As for allergy symptoms, they have been better EVER since I've had the infusion nurse run the Cytoxan slower. So each round it's gotten better and better (some sneezing and runny nose...no more major dryness of the nose or blood) I have noticed eyes tearing this round, nothing major.   

Brittle: When I went to see my Reconstruction Surgeon before surgery I went in asking about the DIEP (I know I didn't want the TRAM as I didn't want muscle removed). He was very honest in saying he doesn't specialize in the procedure and if that's what I wanted I would need to go else where, where they specialize in this (after looking at me he felt I wouldn't be able to have the surgery any how as not enough fat for procedure). He also mentioned he doesn't even like to do the TRAM as well as the outcomes are not great. I have a few friends who have friends how went with the TRAM years ago and are NOT happy and have NO strength in doing certain things due to muscle being gone! They are also NOT happy with how they look! I'm backing you Brittle on telling the ladies to do their research and if seriously moving towards this to be SURE in finding a Dr. who specializes in the procedure!!

I wanted to let you know I've emailed with Neli and I want to share with you there is ALWAYS hope...I checked with her to make sure she was okay with me telling you...She received some news from her Dr.'s in which she was told there was Cancer found in two Internal Mammory Glands - very suspicious nodes...it was found when mapping for Radiation through the CT Scan very close to the sternum...(PET Scan was then performed)...You can imagine how DEVISTATING this news must have been...she was put through another surgery...but guess what???? Low and behold, they were all WRONG!!! Her pathology report came back and there was NO cancer!! ~ Don't EVER give up HOPE!!!

On another note, Jason told me Tues. he wasn't feeling well and felt feverish. He came home early. So, her I am PRAYING not to get sick as well as for mom. He stayed home yesterday and I made sure mom and I stayed out. I refused to kiss him, touch him, etc...LOL...I kept him sequestered...I actually told him to book a hotel room...LOL! Knock on wood, so far so good, mom and I are doing well I just thought it was kind of funny he's sick and mom and I are holding strong! He went to work today.

Non-hair story: I am over wearing scarves/bandanas... I actually prefer NOTHING! When I'm home I'll wear nothing...With this said, I've had a couple deliveries to the house and I answer with nothing on my head...when they're gone I then realize...oh no...LOL...surprisingly, nothing has been said from the delivery people...and no astonsihing looks when I answer the door to make me think, oh my gosh!!  

Hang in there ladies...

Hugs,

Bonnie

Hope is faith holding out it's hand in the dark ~ George Iles

Bonnie - thanks for the update on Neli. Please send her a hug and tell her that she is in my prayers.

I'm glad your mom is also doing better.. You're both fighters!

Bonnie - thanks for the shout-out.  Yes I had my 3rd TX yesterday, only 1 more to go.  Woo Hoo !!!  I'm getting my Neulasta shot today and using Claritan, so I'm hoping it reduces the aches and pains.  I'll let you know. 

 Kathy

Imlola59: I got Lupron shots as a fertility measure as I wanted to do what I can to make sure that the chemo didn't make it so I can't have kids. I had the options to freeze eggs or embryos as well/instead. But 1, it seemed like a lo9t to put my body through and involved hormone injections which worried me since my tumor was er+/pr+ and the sucess of pregnancy from frozen eggs isn't as good as from frozen embryos, but being single, I didn't someone with which to make the embryos and didn't want to need to deal all that stuff too. My MO said that being 26 (27 now) and going through chemo, it will probably not cause in fertility but there was still a chance it might, and the Lupron was just an extra procaution to help keep my mind at ease about that. Though since I'm going to be starting tamoxifen by the time the lupron is not in my system anymore, I probably won't truely know if I'll have reglaur cycles and such again for...well... up to 5 years I guess. Blah.

Good Morning,

Thought I would weigh in on the Google Chrome webpage issue.  What has happened is that Google Chrome saves a copy of a webpage visited.  So when you pick a favorite or it is your home page it will load quickly.  To correct getting a webpage that is no longer valid do the following:

For any Apple computer, Macbook, IMac, etc.:

Click on the word Chrome in the left hand top corner.

You will now get a box.

Choose Clear Browsing Data

Where it says obliterate the following items: Click on the box:  I chose from beginning of time, you can use whatever time period you think will clear the page.

Make sure these boxes are checked:

Clear browsing history

Clear download history

Empty Cache

Delete Cookies

Now Click Delete Browsing Data.

For a PC (Windows Machines):

Click on the little wrench in the upper right hand corner next to the address box.

Choose Settings

In the left hand pane: Click on Under the hood

In the right hand pane next to Privacy:  Click on the button Clear Browsing History

Choose Clear Browsing Data 

You will now get a box.

Where it says obliterate the following items: Click on the box:  I chose from beginning of time

Make sure these boxes are checked:

Clear browsing history

Clear download history

Empty Cache

Delete Cookies

Now Click Delete Browsing History.

This should clear up your problem.  Hope this helped. 

NikkiEliz, thank you for sharing. Lately I've been having a harder time being The Queen of Upbeat, and I come back to this site to hear some good, honest bitching. Because no matter how well we're doing (and this is an impressive bunch), this blows. And you are too young. WAY too young.

 Most of us here already have kids, or are already on the other side of the decision to have more. Mine are 7 and 8 and my husband would have loved to have another one. Today we got the rather definitive news that that discussion is off the table. I can't afford to delay tamoxifen for a year or more, and when I go off at age 45, I will have missed my window. Although I have been happy with just my two boys, having a DISEASE dictate these important decisions was saddening. I will be putting your ovaries on my prayer list, my friend.

 I've also gained weight. All of those pink books with their fuzzy fonts tell us this is no time to be dieting... but the last two weeks, I have. Early on with the stress of the diagnosis and terror of upcoming mastectomies, staying thin was easier. But now, with Easter candy and edema, I'm up 10 pounds and it's just adding insult to injury. If I must be bald and fake-breasted, at least I want the rest of me to look as good as it can. So it's been a lot of veggies for me, and Lasix. And even though I have the most incredible husband who tells me every single day that I'm beautiful (and bought me a stunning chemo graduation ring!), I'm terribly terribly vain. I hear you. I'm too pooped to exercise, so it's quinoa and berries, salad, and no snacking. Blah.

Up at 4am writing this on my steroid high. I can't sleep after the mega-dose they give us in the chair. Anxious about the side effects, even though it's the LAST time, because each round they've hit me sooner and harder. But this is the Beginning of the End, and I'm looking forward to a wig burning party with lots and lots of champange and my own hair. My social worker is Hester Hill Schnipper (famous round these parts for her books, she herself has gone through this twice for two separate tumors). Hester told me that MOST women feel comfortable going out without a head covering THREE months after their last treatment... it's chic short, but there is coverage. I am also most comfortable in a soft hat and wear that around the house. My mom and mother-in-law would prefer me to wear the wig all of the time, and I think everyone but my husband would freak out if I went scalp commando. But I loathe them. My halo wig is the best one, but still have to wear a hat and they're all scratchy. Blah is right.

 Maybe sleepy time? At least I'll be able to taste the coffee this morning and for the next couple of days...

 xo,

 Britt

Hi Jaebon, you are in good company here.  It is quite a journey to go on.  It is good to get the first Tx over, isn't it?  Sometimes the fear of the unknown is the worst.

The hair thing has been really hard for me.  I had my hair cut off in ponytails to have a halo made from it and so went with a short cut (under a purchased wig) for a week.  I took the package of hair to FedEx to ship it and they of course had to ask me what was in the package...I quiety said 'uh, hair'.  Unfortunately FedEx just called and told me that they have been unable to deliver the package since no one answers the door and no one has returned their calls at the receiving end.  I think it must be a one-person shop and she is on vacation.  I guess my hair is spending more time traveling than I am, because they're going to be sending it back to me if no one answers the door today.  

Yesterday I had the final buzz since my hair was falling out like crazy and was very itchy.  I hadn't realized how much sensation there would be in the scalp as it was happening.  I feel much better with it basically all gone (except a little stubble).  My wig was not to my liking so I've been having it cut and shaped (I've gone back twice now) to get it more comfortable.  I had it too long (to match my real hair) and it was heavy and overwhelming.  I have my good days and some less frequent bad days, but like you I am counting down the days until the end of treatment.   

Things I'm doing to ward off side-effects (all doctor approved, but most originated from the wonderful ladies on this board):  Daily Vitamin B6 (100 mg/day) and L-Glutamine (10g/day) to prevent/lesson peripheral neuropathy.  Neulasta shot: Clariton 1 day before, day of, and at least a week after shot for bone pain.  Saline spray for nose/sinus dryness.  Biotene mouthwash, toothpaste, and spray for dry/sore mouth.  Prilosec continuous for stomach heartburn.  Miralax or Colace as needed for constipation.  Thermometer for taking temp.  Ativan for sleep the nights I take Dexamethasone and for nights when sleep just won't come easily.  Advil/Tylenol as needed for headaches (after temp is taken to make sure there is no fever).   Flavor packets to add to water so I drink more...hydration, hydration, hydration.  That's all I can think of for now (sounds like a lot anyway!).

Hello ladies!

It's been a week or so since I last posted I believe. I had a rough 4 days or so with my third treatment. I really felt like crap but today I'm back to feeling somewhat normal. I actually met 5 women today on the WNY Discussion Board for lunch! I called it my support group blind date (lol). They were all great women at all different stages in their treatment.



Bonnie - I spoke to Neli as well! Great news! I'm pretty happy for her! Good things do happen. So excited for your last treatment as well! My last will be the 26th!



Gobucks - yea for your last treatment!



I'm playing catch up with everyone's posts but I welcome the newer ladies and I hope everyone is doing well.

i am having problems with constipation. i have taken colace stool softner and nothing has happened. i was thinking if taking some phillips on top of the colace but im afraid. i dont wanna set myself up and be on the toilet all night long. lol  so any suggestions would be great.

I am 16 months from my last round of TC. I was in very good physical condition when I started and was able to exercise the during all four rounds of chemo. Try and stay with it, it will help. My hair started to go 2 weeks post first round. I shaved my head. Bought an expensive, beautiful wig I almost never wore. Beanies were my head covering of choice. I will say, a good cashmere beanie was a must to sleep in... It felt odd having my head on the pillow without hair. I can't remember when the fatigue really set in. I didn't really "go down" until after my 4th/last round but even at that, it was just 3 miserable days.

You can do this. It is very doable.

FYI - My hair came back thicker than it ever was and wildly curly!

PM me any time if you need support.

Stacey 

I found that about day 12 after my first treatment, i'd run my fingers through my hair and have about 6-10 strands in my hand each time I did so. So I decided to take things into my own hands as I thought it would be MUCH harder to see if fall out than to just get rid of it and had friends over for a cut my hair off party and then got it buzzed right down to a 0. The little buzzed bits continued to fall out until I was much closer to bald than buzzed and it was really itchy and annoying so i eventually shaved it off completely. It wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be, and I'm 100% glad I did it because it would have been really hard to lose my hair as opposed to choosing to get rid of it that way for me.

Jaebon, those are very similar supplements that I am on (with the meg dose of vit D...glutamine....melatonin, etc.), hope they hold us up well. I haven't been on the alternative medicine boards but have been to a naturopathic doctor who specializes in oncology (trying to get any upper hand over this diagnosis!).

My hair, like  NikkEliz, started to come out in significant amounts of strands on day 13 for me. I actually thought it was on the cusp of all falling out = bald. But I had it shaved that night and have since shaved it close again. Mind you I can easily, but slowly, pick it all out now as there really isn't much holding the stubble. But until I am shiny bald I think I will enjoy the little bit of hair I have. 

Anyone have an ETD on eyebrows though? Lashes?  

Hi-- I'm new to the boards/site as well. I'm on the backside of my 3rd treatment of 6 with TAC.

Amen to everyone is different. My hair started falling out around day 15-16. I first noticed it in the bottom of the shower, then when I combed it and big bunches came out. I did cut my hair a few days after diagnosis because I knew I'd be losing it and thought shorter hair would be easier to lose and less mess. Finally shaved it to about 2" all over on day 17 and then down to a buzz a week after that. My head was sore and still gets a bit sore at a certain point in each treatment cycle. Gotta say I kinda like the no leg shaving and no bikini line though! :-) Not that I'd be shaving my legs anyway. 

Just wanted to join the group and have some co-chemotherapy partners. It's hard enough to do this alone, so to have some shared experience is really great. 

Looking forward to getting to know you all. 

i take 5000 iu of vit D a day.