March 2012 chemo

Hi, KCB!  I don't know if things are different there than here [in the States] or given your recent medical problems, if there is some reason the doctor didn't want to do a chest port, but as far as using your arm on the side that had lymph nodes taken, everything I've ever seen says to avoid sticks and tourniquets there, LE symptoms or not.  I'm certainly no medical professional, but I believe some of the people on these boards are, and I'm sure that some are experts in LE, and that's what they've all told me.  One of the nurses in my MO's office said something similar to me - that I shouldn't allow anyone else to do IV sticks in my affected arm but they in oncology could.  I thought at the time she meant they knew some kind of technique to avoid problems, but in retrospect, I just think she meant if all else failed, they would have to use that arm. 

Well, as someone else in the threads let me know, your arm doesn't know who's sticking it.  If you can avoid it, better not to take a chance.  

That's what led to my deciding to get my chest port, and I'm glad I did.  It made my last tx so much easier - even though I had the treatment the day after they placed the port. 

I didn't know too much about PICC lines, so I googled that; hmmm.  Not sure how that would be to have that in your arm all the time.  The chest port is out of the way and even though it's been only about 2 weeks now since they placed it, it really doesn't hurt any more and is almost entirely healed.  

Crossing my fingers that your arm gets better!!   

KCB

I don't blame you for thinking about running away.  You have been through so much.  One of the ladies on the February chemo thread had a terribe time with her arm too among other stuff so multiple sticks really inflammed her arm.  I think she was scheduled for 8 TX in all then surgery, ended up with a port then due to so many issues she was cut back to 6 (I think).  No doctor here either but I wonder about other veins in our body, like feet etc. and if veins are accessible there for this kind of thing.  Don't like the fact that nurse told you LE was a myth though. 

Taxol Hell! I've now completed 2 of 4 DD Taxol treatemnts. The SE's do seem to come like clockwork...if the first two rounds are any indication. I also get a Neulasta shot the day after treatment. I didn't have bone pain problems from Neulasta when I was doing A/C, but have it with Taxol. Must be more of a Taxol thing than a Neulasta thing.

Regarding hair: I have had a fine growth (very thin and sparse) on my head throughout treatment(even during A/C). My eyelashes are thinner and my eybrows are there but a little thinner. I can't really tell yet if they are getting worse or better now that I'm on Taxol. I know that Taxol is really hard on nails and teeth, so it makes sense that it could be rough on hair too.

Nails: My nails have not gotten discolored, but they have developed a weird crescent line across each of them since starting Taxol. I keep them short with a clear finish for reinforcement. I have to moisturize them a lot. A lot of dryness on fingers and toes. I took a chance and had a manicure/pedicure about a week ago. It's a nail tech that is really good and I really trust. She did a fantastic job of gently trimming/shaping my nails. I noticed that my nails didn't bother me as much after my 2nd Taxol treatment, and I think it's because I had them much shorter and under control.

I have two more Taxol treaments, then on to radiation. Two doesn't sound like much, but after the rough time I had with Rounds 1 & 2, it seems like it will never end.Those of you still facing Taxol, good luck, and if you need advice from someone with a little experience (2 DD Taxols), please don't hesitiate to ask.

Ok, I am beginning to wonder if my nurse knew what she was talking about - mine will be Taxotere x 4 every  weeks just like A/C.  But MO also mentioned my counts shouldn't be as affected as with A/C - so I guess I will find out when I go in for the first round.

KCB: I would really question the use of your other arm, puffiness or no...I know some of the ladies on the LE boards have resorted to using veins in the foot, etc...which doesn't exactly sound pleasant.  I think so much is still not known about LE in general.  

Lana - not sure about the hot tub - I wouldn't think that would be an issue though...may check out some of the LE threads and ask.

Lost - glad you had a great weekend and your DS is getting out and having fun too!

fedfan - ugh on the Taxol hell.

I guess the only good thing about my Taxotere treatments is going to be that I am not going to have anything I HAVE to do this summer...my mom will be around when DH is at work to help with the kids and such.  But we won't have school things, etc...that we have to worry about juggling.

Dragged myself out of bed this morning to go to oldest DD's awards assembly at school.  I felt pretty crappy but I survived.  I have to finish these "end of the year" teacher gift bags (that I have been working on for a week) before the Neulasta soreness sets in today.

Hi kltb04!  Mom's work is never really done, right?  At least you'll have the summer break, as you say.  I have been reading your info on Taxotere with great interest since I'm on the same regiment as you are, with 4 A/C followed by 4 Taxotere. I'm schedule to  have my last A/C on 6/21, so should start Taxotere around 7/12.  

KCB - My oncologist didn't recommend the port at first because they said they typically do those for treatment regiments that are longer than mine - but after all the problems I had with the IV during tx#1, I asked and they referred me for the port placement.  

I had originally thought they would use my hand, too, but the chemo nurses said that for Adriamycin, they can't because they need to use a vein that has a lot of flesh around it.  Maybe with your chemo cocktail a hand vein would work.  I'll sure hope so.  You do deserve a break after all you've been through!!

Day 3 after first Taxol and feeling much better. Got some good news on my PET/CT scan. My cancer in my breast and lymph nodes is not showing up. I go Tuesday for my MRI so I will find out if it's shrunk any. I'm sure it has since I can't feel it and my MO said he can't feel it either. Will keep praying on that. Hope everyone is hanging in there with all the new tx we have going on here.

Michelle and Corky: loving the good news!!

I finally made it to a LGFB workshop today, and actually it was good... I'm a minimal makeup person, so I learned alot. And nice to be with a group of ladies in headscarves, like me.... BUT: does anyone see the irony in having all this fabulous donated makeup and product, when most of it is probably full of suspicious estrogen-mimicking chemicals that some people strongly believe are carcinogenic? Just sayin... Still, they say it's about $500 worth of stuff, most of which I would never splurge for, so it is fun to play with...

Feeling a bit rotten with my cold.

Corky and Michelle - must add my two cents and tell you how happy I am to hear your good news. That the one thing that keeps us all going back. It's always in the back of my mind wondering if all these tx are working. Wish there was an easy test to see all those dam cancer cells dying as we go to each tx!!!!!!

Fedfan- appreciate all the extra advice and info. In the chair today for my 1st Taxol tx.



Hoping all fellow sisters are having a great day!!!!!!!!

Good Morning all!

Januaryice- good luck with your first Taxol! 

lostin mo: yup, my nails are sort of darker near the cuticle, and have little horizontal ridges...weird, right?

Going off for tea with a lady with BC introduced to me by a mutual friend...one of my first face to face real person contacts with a sister BC lady...not sure how I feel... a little nervous I don't know why...getting out of my bubble, I guess.

Hi Girls!  I am a week away from my last treatment and I can't wait!!  I'm getting excited to be out in my garden and to walk around a store without getting tired!  I'm excited about having hair again and even a little happy about having to shave my legs again!!

A note about nails... I was getting a ridge and a dark line with each treatment...now this week they have started lifting a little at the free edge.  I'm hoping they can hang on til I'm done.  I cut them really short and have been using a tea tree cuticle oil.   

ok let's see if the internet works long enough this time!

KCB-enjoy your tea sometimes I think it  would be noce to talk face to face with someone else that really knows.  

Love-woohoo on the end of chemo!! I just keep repeating "I can do this I can do this".

Cleaning house today before tomorrows tx except my cat isn't really helping me. And wishing I could find something different to eat that is good. 

Everyone have a good day today. 

Indigo -  The Kings are definitely a good team but I'm still reluctant to cheer for them for the final...it will depend on who wins the east...its just hard to cheer for a Sutter when you're from Calgary.

The last few weeks I have been OD'ing on watermelon and Mango bubble tea...and starbucks strawberry lemonade.  The colder the better...and I have lost a bit of the early treatment perogy pounds I had gained!!

My feet and hands are pretty tingly now so my last chemo will probably be a lowered dose.  I will have to still do Herceptin and reconstruction but I'm ok with that...the worst part is behind me!  Yay.

Lost-I have the dark spots on my thumb nails also. MO said it will go away as the nails grow. I just don't want to lose them.



Yes it is good to have something good happen while going through this crap. Every little bit of hope makes getting in that chair worth it. Still feeling good, just a little tired after Taxol. Think I overdid it yesterday so going to hang out on the couch today.



January-good luck today! We get to scratch another one off our list!



Have a great day all. Let's keep kicking cancers ass!

Indigo...mine starts out as a dark pink line then lightens up and turns kind of brown-yellow as the nail grows.  It is a taxotere SE.  I can see a line from each treatment.