January 2012 chemo

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  • Kitchenella
    Kitchenella Member Posts: 279
    edited July 2012

    I had my first radiation treatment today. The treatment itself was fine. It took about a 1/2 hour because they took X-rays in between the Rads. Bad news is that one room was 'down' so they were backed up and I had to wait an hour for my treatment. That was after my first bus was slow which made me miss my connection which was also running late so I had to wait 30 min. rather than the normal 20min. I left my house at 1:30 and got home at 6:30. Hopefully future days will be better.

    Peggy 

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  • NCbeachgal
    NCbeachgal Member Posts: 181
    edited July 2012

    I am happy to report that I completed 33 radiation treatments last Friday. The skin reaction was minimal and other than that and the inconvenience of a daily appointment for 7 weeks, it wasn't too bad. I understand some patients experience fatigue, and there were days when I was tired, but not sure if that was due to radiation, work, life in general, or laziness. Maybe a combination. I hope all is well for y'all!

    Angie

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  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 532
    edited July 2012

    Peggy - I found that there were occassional delays (> hour) when one or more machines were offline.  They seem to be somewhat fickle.You could always tell by how crowded the waiting room was upon arrival. Hopefully, your days will go smoothly, with minimal machine malfunction.

    Angie - Congratulations on finishing!!!  I found that my skin continued to 'cook' for a week or so after tx.  It never got bad, but I did blister a little and peel during the two weeks post tx.  Hopefully yours will not.  Now what?  Will you need to do tamoxifin or arimidex?

     I had my port removed on Friday. It was very reassuring when my MO suggested it be removed.  She felt pretty confident that I won't be needing it any time soon.  As a stage 3 person, that sounded good to me!  I was pleasantly surprised to be given the option to have it removed under local anethesia (lidocane).  A few needle sticks around the original scar and I felt nothing.  The catheter was removed without trouble and the port followed with just a little cutting of tissue surrounding it.  I was in and done within an hour with no recovery time.  Of course they offered conscious sedation but that would have required an IV and recovery time afterwards.

    So far, no SEs from arimidex.  That is good.

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited July 2012

    Janet:  I ran into a "chemo buddy" from the infusion room a couple of weeks ago.  She was 3 weeks out from her final radiation and looking and feeling really good!  She mentioned that the radiation "stays with you" for two weeks after final treatment, which sounds like what you're talking about.  She continued to blister and peel during that period, and then it got better quickly.  I didn't realize it would continued after treatment ended, but now that I think about it it makes sense. 

    Glad to hear you're not having any SEs with Arimidex!

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  • Gayle56
    Gayle56 Member Posts: 277
    edited July 2012

    I had the worst skin issues the 2 weeks after the radiation ended but then it healed rather quickly.

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  • JoyceNYC
    JoyceNYC Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2012

    Jenn, any further news on Julie?

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    Peggy, I started feeling better right away, BUT, I am noticing weird things now 2 months post Taxol.   Like when I wake up in the morning my aches and pains are 10 times worse than before chemo.  This just kind of started - my heels, my joints, etc.  Residual chemo effects says MO.   

    Today will be #21 of 33 rads.  Rads does not seem to have set me back at all.  I have not had any fatigue except for going there everyday.  And I know you have a long journey for your treatments daily. 

    Cardiologist put me on heart meds because of Herceptin damage.  After 4 days, feeling better already.  Can walk up stairs without having to stop.  Stairs have been my worst or uphill.  Meds have slowed heart rate down (my bpm were 115 all during chemo).  Down to under 100 now.  

    But overall, I feel so much better than I did, I don't really know if I feel bad! 

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  • laurab69
    laurab69 Member Posts: 15
    edited July 2012

    good morning ladies I don't post on here much but I read every single day . I do have severe joint pain in my hips my knees and my ankles it's almost impossible to get up out of the chair I've been trying to walk the dog everyday how long do you think that will last ? I had my last chemo on may 30th .my surgery was june 20th and I meet the radiologist people on july 16th so hopefully I am at the end of all of this .1 thing I am confused about is my surgeon told me I couldn't have reconstruction for 6 months because of radiation but it seems like there are people on here who have te's already getting filled andR also going to radiation at the same time. isn't the radiation damaging to the skin and the tissue expanders ? Thanks Laura

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  • JoyceNYC
    JoyceNYC Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2012

    Good news from my surgeon: the biopsy on my ovaries & Fallopian tubes came back "perfect"!

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  • Gayle56
    Gayle56 Member Posts: 277
    edited July 2012

    Joyce that is great news!

    Gayle

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    Laurab69 - I, too, have pain - especially in morning.  I am 7 weeks out from last Taxol.  Going to ask my MO about it next week.  Every time I get out of a chair all I can utter is "God help me" it hurts so much!  Once I am up and walking, I am much better.

    JoyceNYC -- WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    I quit rads yesterday...



    CT yesterday showed no pneumonitis even though the symptoms have come back. After my treatment (12 of 28) I saw the RO and quit.



    I will now see my BS and plan the BMX I wanted to start with that she talked me out of. Hoping that they can work with my gynae and whip out my ovaries during the same surgery (right one has a cyst we are worried about).



    And I will see my MO to get my Tamoxifen script and talk about what to do after ovaries are gone. Oh, and I will of course keep going with Herceptin :-)



    Jenn

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  • JoyceNYC
    JoyceNYC Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2012

    Jenn, you sure have been through a lot!  I know that your decision to quit rads was not made lightly but with a great deal of knowledge and thought. 

    Having gone through BMX w/DIEP reconstruction, chemo & ovary removal myself, I can tell you that the toughest part was the chemo -- compared to that, the BMX was nothing!  And for me, at least, it gave me a sense of "well, there's no place for the cancer to come back" as did the ovary removal (which is nothing compared to the BMX).

    I hope you will be able to see all your doctors quickly and get yourself set for the BMX.  In the meantime, you are held tightly in my heart.

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    Got an appt back with the BS in just over a week :-)



    Had my 3 weekly herceptin yesterday afternoon :-)



    Seeing my MO on the 2nd of August (3 weeks) to get my Tamoxifen script (she wants to leave 3 weeks after rads even though I didnt do all of them).



    I feel like I just got off the wrong train and am now on the right one :-)



    Jenn

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    So glad your are feeling better Jenn. Good for you for taking your treatment back to what YOU want.

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  • riceandbean
    riceandbean Member Posts: 25
    edited July 2012

    we're back!

    "j" had her last taxol tx last thursday.

    today, more worries.  went for a ct scan and ultrasound of thryoid.  prev scan had shown a nodule in the lung and one one on the thyroid.  "j" came out from the ct and pulled me into the hall, away from the waiting room...crying.

     the tech had told her that she needed to confer w/ the radiologist because she thought "j" may have a pulmonary embolism.  a few minutes later the tech comes back and tells us the radiologist says it's a prominent hilar?  the tech does not even know what this is.

    the ultrasound of the thyroid and para-thyroid proceeded normally and without incident.

    "j" will not review the ct scan results with the onc until monday, but in the meantime i am worried...what if the cancer has spread to her lung...and all this during chemo?

     does anyone have any experience with this?

     i am so happy to see many of you  are doing well and now moving on to other therapies.  my prayers go out to you all!

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  • JoyceNYC
    JoyceNYC Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2012

    I have no experience with what you are describing, but will keep your wife in my prayers.

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  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 532
    edited July 2012

    I hate these weekend waiting periods!  Hopefully "J"'s appointment with her MO on Monday comes without any bad news.  I'm not sure what a prominent hilar is or how it might be handled.  She will be kept in my thoughts and prayers! 

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    Will be thinking of you "j". Good luck on Monday!

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  • riceandbean
    riceandbean Member Posts: 25
    edited July 2012

    thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

    well, a bit of a mixed bag...the onc called my wife on friday and said her ct turned out "fairly normal".  he noted a hemangioma on her liver that had shown up pre chemo on her pet scan (no uptake).  he wanted to have another look at it and scheduled an mri for my wife in a couple of weeks.  more waiting...but at least no worries of the nodules on her lung turning into anything else.

    the onc was very brief with "j" on the phone, we know he is very busy...still "j" is on pins and needles just waiting to see how the mri turns out in a few weeks.

    i am so glad that so many of you have moved on from chemo to radiation.  we can't wait to get going on this either, although my wife is still feeling very tired and emotional from taxol tx and the early onset of menopause - she is 39 years old!

    love to all of you!

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  • JoyceNYC
    JoyceNYC Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2012

    I'll continue to keep "j" in my prayers -- keep us updated, please!

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    riceandbean:

    I am 37 so I know and feel everything your wife is going through. BC really, really stinks.

    So glad the scan turned out well. Tell your wife to just breathe and take it easy. Easier said than done. Smile

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    Riceandbean - praying for "J" and you!! 

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    Hey all,

     riceandbean - glad you are keeping us up to date with how you are both going. Sorry to hear there's a reason to schedule an MRI but it sounds like the doctor is definitely looking after your "j" and checking everything out.

    I just spent two days at a work scientific conference - two days of listening to guest speakers talk about nothing but cancer, cancer and more cancer. Although it was all urogenital cancers and not breast cancer I was feeling so sad by the end of yesterday even though it was wonderful being able to listen to world leaders in treatment and research in this field.

    I am counting down the minutes until my appointment with the BS next Monday to talk about moving ahead with a double MX. Can't get this done soon enough!

    Jenn

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  • ang7894
    ang7894 Member Posts: 540
    edited July 2012

    I still have joint pain from hips down and tingling or numbing in a few finger tips yet I am wondering if this stuff will ever go away is anyone else have these issues? My last chemo was April 30th Taxol & herceptin.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2012

    ang7894 - my last chemo (Taxol & Herceptin) was May 15th.  I have muscle and joint pain.  When I get up in the morning, I can hardly get out of bed.  Never had this before.  Sometimes I can't get my leg in the car!  I guess it can last quite some time from what I have read.

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  • ang7894
    ang7894 Member Posts: 540
    edited July 2012

    Thanks Denise, I notice it real bad when standing for a few minutes or when walking around the block or when I have to go shopping never had this leg or joint pains before chemo. I hope this is not permanent .

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  • riceandbean
    riceandbean Member Posts: 25
    edited July 2012

    you all are in our thoughts and prayers.  thank you for everything!

    http://youtu.be/vlELGeAMToE

    http://youtu.be/_Gs3fg_WsEg

    Cheers!

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    I have an appt with the plastic surgeon on Friday 10 August. If he is happy that I am suitable for implant recon I will have my BMX sometime between late August and the end of September :-)



    Since I finally decided that the risks of rads potentially outweighed the benefits for me I have been desperately trying to make this happen. This has been made difficult because my BS is pregnant and finishing up surgery in September to go on maternity leave. She is an amazing upcoming oncoplastic breast surgeon here in Australia. She specialises in mastectomies and also does implant recons but not flap surgeries.



    She was happy to do my surgery but because there is not enough time between now and when she finishes up to complete the fills and exchange for implants she is having to hand over the inplant process to a plastic surgeon.



    So now I have to meet the PS and find out if he is also happy to do the implant route despite me having had 12 days of radiotherapy before deciding not to continue. My BS was happy that I would be OK but the PS (one that is well regarded in Australia I gather) will of course have to make his own decision... If he says no my only option, since I want the BMX soon is to go ahead with the BMX and do recon later...



    Got to keep up my treadmill exercise and get as fit as possible between now and then!



    Jenn

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited July 2012

    Hi Everyone!! How are you all doing???

    I have a question for those of you still having bloodwork done. All my values were back to normal 1 month PFC. Last week I went for my herceptin and had my 8 week PFC bloodwork done as well. My WBC, RBC, Platelets, and Hemoglobin all dropped below normal. Both MO and RO said no wonder I'm so flippin tired during radiation.  I'm anemic and going through rads. Yay!!!! {sarcasm} Anyone else have this happen??

    {HUGS} to my chemo comrades!!

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