Starting chemo Thursday, May 31 - June Group?

Steve and BillieMae-  I hope the doctors can figure it out soon!

ElleBee - The rads are M-F.  I'm not sure how long it takes, but from what I'm reading, you spend more time in the waiting room than it takes for the rads.  That's another good question I should have asked the doc.  What were your increased se?  I have 2 more Taxols and my fingernails are starting to ache.  I hope I don't lose them.  How often will you be getting the AC?  Mine was every two weeks.  That's awful about the fire!  So glad to hear that no one was hurt.

   ElleBee:

     I find it odd that they failed to do more detailed screenings and tests once they knew about the tumors which lead to her hysterectomy and tumor removal 20 yrs ago. Her periods and pain lead to them back then, now the pain is back. Hmmm....I guess I'm over thinking this stuff, end result doesn't change; we''re not out of the woods yet and we won't quit our fight until she'e 100% cancer free!!!

  Steve 

Hi Everyone, I have a lot to catch up on, but right now I wanted to tell about my experience with Taxol and fingernails.  Remember, I had the gross, black nails during AC?  Well, when I started taxol, my fingernails ached and I thought they were going to fall off with everything I did the first chemo week.  I wore rubber gloves to do dishes, etc.  The second week they were ok.

So, I iced (artic case with ice cubes and a frozen bag of broccoli) Taxol #2 even though I thought it was too late.  It worked perfectly and I hope it works for someone else.  I'm going to do it for the final 2, too.  Don't give up.  I know it's an awful feeling. 

Kimmie - so scary about the blood clot!!!  but I'm glad you got treatment quickly

Stephanie - I had bad bone pain on days 4-5 from taxotere.  I hadnt had any neulasta/neupogen at that time either so I know it was the taxotere.  the PA told me I could take my leftover norco from my SNB and they helped.

Steve - great attitude!!! 

Elle - that is so sad about your friends cars and house . . .  As for AC, I always felt hungover for like a week or so, but some rounds were worse than others, or should I say some rounds werent as bad as others.  My biggest symptom was heartburn/sour stomach.  I previously had a pretty strong stomach and never really had heartburn issues but on days 3 or 4 it would start and was hard to deal with.  I didnt have an issue after the first round, but I also had a cold so my eating was off.  After round 2 the heartburn/sour - acid stomach was really bad.  I ate nothing but potatoes which are one of the few non-acidic foods.  I got pepcid after that and it helped, but not that much.  I totally altered my diet - before I would eat spicy foods, loved tomato sauces,drank coffee every day but gave those all up (actually I lost my desire for coffee before the hearburn issues started, so weird because I LOVE coffee and cant wait to drink it again - I did have it once and it gave me heartburn, sigh, stupid cancer).  Prilosec helped but I was still eating really bland/boring foods.  After a week or so of the hungover feeling - tired, out of it, lazy, unmotivated to do anything but watch tv or nap - I started to feel better and had a few days where I felt like my old self.  I was still tired but actually motivated to do simple things.

Pam - I'm glad you are doing well.  I had a few days during AC where I felt really good/happier/stronger than before cancer.  I hope to get to that point again after I am done with everything, but so far taxotere is kicking me, but I have also been dealing with some personal issues.  I hope that is mostly done now and I can refocus and have a better round 2.

Round 2 of taxotere is on Wednesday.  I have an appointment with my doc tomorrow.  Stupid doctors office/nurse.  I realized I didnt have an appointment between chemo's and I sent an email to the doc.  I knew my doc was on vacation and that her nurse/assistant would get it.  She did, and called me back and was kindof arguing with me and was confused - I saw the PA right before my last round (which I am fine with seeing the PA instead of the doc), but I was trying to explain that appointment was before my last chemo and I needed one before the next one.  Well the doc being on vacation kinda messed things up again.  Then I emailed the doc again - and this time she got it, called me during the 2 minutes I was away from my phone to go to the bathroom, grrrh, but she was a lot more understanding and made time for an appointment for me!  Anyway, just had to vent a little.  And yes, I already have my appointment scheduled for before round 3.  Since I had shingles, thrush and neutropenia after round 1 I figured I better talk to the doctors.  I also had bad fingernail/fingertip pain for the first few days, but they seem better now.  I havent been icing and Im not sure I will.  I will be taking glutamine and b6 before, better start now.  Oh and I better start taking my prilosec too, plus I still have thrush medicine to take . .. it is a full time job making sure I take all these pills/powders/troches, etc. 

hugs pinkgirl..rant..rave..scream..cry...you are entitled..what ever it takes....

as far as se's..my advice is drink..lots and lots of water..and stay on top of the ones you can fix....

just finished my 4th round..and was the easiest one so far..big diff in the way I feel..fatigue is my worst se..and recovered way faster this go round..

this board has lots of good tips..any question..just ask..someone would have been thru that and may help you a wee bit...

Pinkgirl -  No one else knows exactly what you're going through unless they have experienced it.  You can complain all you want here -  we understand and have all taken a turn at least once.  The support that I have found on these boards has helped me more than I ever thought they would.  I totally agree with DorisMarie.  The times I loaded up on water were the ones that I had the fewest se.

 BTW,  I had a treatment today, which means - drumroll, please  -  only one more chemo!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello to everyone and thank u for u kind words and support The chemo I'm having is called f e c which is a combo of fluorouracil epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. Se are the usual sickness heartburn bloating!! Grrr constipation and or diarrhoea but this time round(4th) has been the worst I feel v emotional and low and fed up w everything and angry as well also sore mouth and glands in neck are painful. I have to have 6 rounds of treatment every 3 wks just as I start feeling ok it all starts again! Rahhh!! Sorry to go on but I knw u lovely ladies knw just how I feel bless u all big hugs 😘😘

You'll get through it Pinkgirl.  I remember wanting to give up after my 3rd tx of ac.  The emotional ride is so hard, but you can do it. We are here for you.

Marcia Yeah! I still have two more since i took a break between ac and Taxol, because my blood platelets were to low.

The se of taxol seem to get me down worst then the ac.  I was never layed up with ac but now I have so much bone pain I'm on the couch all the time.

Everyone have a great day!

Hi!  Congratulations to Marcia1111 on only having one more to go and to Ellebee for finishing.  Pamelahope, you must be just about done, too.  Right now, I'm taking antibiotics, because I ended up with pneumonia.  The best part about it is that they're still doing my chemo tomorrow and that I got it during Taxol.  I'm sure I would have been hospitalized if I had gotten it during AC.  The shortness of breath was awful, but that's gone now.  It's very easy to catch.  Just like they said.     

Hope everyone has a good week with minimal SE's.      

Keep Moving - I'm so soryy to hear that you got pneumonia, but glad it's not getting in the way of chemo.

ElleBee - Your poor tootsies!  Good luck to your children as they begin the new school year!

Ellebee, I hope that your MUGA is normal.  Good Luck!! 

Ellebee, just thought of something.  The queasy feeling was only on the chemo week for the first 3 or 4 days. 

SLKs - don't take the Biotin for about a month.  The chemo from your last treatment is still in your system and will counteract the Biotin.  I take 2500mcg a day, but you might check with your hairdresser.  My hair was a little slow to start growing but once it started it took off, it grows at my normal rate.  I have cut it at least half a dozen times and it is now about 2 inches below my ear lobes.

Keepmoving, I hope you are feeling better soon.  I never realized you could still get chemo with pneumonia.  I'm prone to pneumonia, but haven't gotten it yet this year, and it's good to know that if it happens, it won't automatically delay chemo.

 On the mouthsores, my doc prescribed valtrex the last cycle.  It seems to have helped.  I only have one now, and the second week after AC I normally have lots of them.  It worked better than any of the numbing or rinsing meds did.

I'm done with AC now, and start 12 rounds of taxol next week. The consensus seems to be that taxol will be easier, so I'm hoping that is the way it is for me!

Steelersluver, Thank you.  I feel much better now.  Prone to pneumonia?  I feel sorry for you.  Can you get a vaccine?  I had asked about it before chemo, but I think it was too close to my chemo start date.  I think I was still able to get Taxol #2, because I had already been on the antibiotics for 4 days prior.  The timing must have been ok.

Good luck with taxol next week.  Yes, I do think it will be easier for you!!!