Starting chemo Thursday, May 31 - June Group?

Hi everyone yes I was infectious when in hospital they couldn't find the cause but I think it was from mouth ulcers grrr. Now I'm waiting for the hospital to ring me to come in for next treatment (no5) still worrying about neutropenia and it happening again hope everyone is ok😘

Ok! Finally all caught up with you ladies! I have to say that I am not loving AC so far. The first day I was just tired. But days 2-4 I was exhausted! I havn't slept that much in years! And I was going about my usual activities (working, shuttling kids, etc.) and felt like I was barely hanging on. By day 5 I began to feel human again. I stayed ahead of the constipation and heartburn with meds. No nausea per se, but the thought of eating anything turns my stomach sometimes. Yesterday I was on my feet for a long time (6 hrs.....working) when I started to feel dizzy/light-headed. Anyone else get that with AC? I ate something but it didn't go away. Also, days 3-4 I had this weird achiness. Not bone pain. It felt like the tissue under my skin HURT...if anyone touched me it really hurt....like sore muscles, but it was my skin. Anyone else? Maybe from the Neulasta? Sheesh. Not looking forward to round 2.

ElleBee, I think you should call your onco about pain in your skin. That sounds like an unusual side effect. Also, does your doctor know you are working full-time at a job where you stand for six hours at a time? That sounds really challenging in AC treatment.

Stride: I talked with a few other ladies in another forum, and they experienced the tissue pain with AC as well, so I am not too concerned. It only lasted two days. My onc nurse said "you might wake up in a couple days feeling sore, like you ran a marathon"...I think that's what she meant.

My doc knows I am working still. He knows I am feisty. I don't think he is concerned about my activity level. 

Kimmie: Not sure I can maintain this energy level for long....we'll see how my counts do. My mindset from the beginning is "I am not going to give in to chemo or cancer"...I am going to try and live life every day as I ordinarily would. Now with AC, this might not be entirely possible, but I am going to do my best! Still have not missed a day of work! 

Having Faith-  Good for you.  I had my last one yesterday and the onc nurse did a little "happy dance" as she unplugged me!!  They are so great.  I have two weeks rest before my initial appt. for marking and form fitting or something??  Then start the following week.  I'm the one that lives about 90 miles from the hospital, so will stay with our daughter through the week and when we wear them our or vise versa, we will get a motel.  People say rad. is a piece of cake compared to chemo......!  So glad the hard part is over.  Bless you all. 

Yippee Havingfaith and Stephanie on being PFC :-)

Kimmie - sorry about the docs not reading charts ahead of time, but I'm glad they are giving you a break.  Were you doing weekly taxol or every 3 weeks?  

    Everyone:

  Glad to say that we are beyond the last treatment! Still some lingering SE's but the good news is she is back to cooking and eating with only a couple quick trips to the bathroom!!! Still not sleeping very well, hot cold, hot cold, and intimacy is still a solo project; but that makes it even more special on lucky nights! SHE HAS A QUARTER INCH OF HAIR!!! I can't for her first hair cut! Now we're wrapping our heads around reconstruction...a very intimadating part of this journey! Any and all insight will be very helpful!!!

  Best of wishes to all of you,

  Steve and Billiemae    

Steve and Billiemae, glad everything is going well finally.

I had my mapping yesterday and on Oct. 1 I will have my simulation and then have my first of 25 radiation Oct. 2nd.

Take care!!!

Radioactive- I'm on dense dose Taxol every 2 weeks. I'm getting a 5 week break! Yay! I really don't think I will take the last 2. I still feel pretty raunchy and I'm almost 3 weeks from the last treatment.

ElleBee- yes, unfortunately A/C sucks....Cancer just sucks period!

Hello everyone,

I hope all is well.  I had a rough road this last treatment #5 - one more left then on to double mastectomy and reconstruction.  Did see the ps yesterday and I loved her so that is good news. 

My white count slid down - onc failed to tell me that only told me about platelets again being low - all he told me was he would reduce my dose for #5 and hope everything comes up for #6.  He called me 2 days after treatment to say he was ordering Nulesta shot - a little late since it is supposed to be given day after (never even talked to me about it) so I get the meds in the mail and will use them after #6 to hopefully bounce my counts so I can move on to surgery now that I decided I am def. going thru with it.

Very scared about tissue expanders and the mast. itself - I do not like to be in pain but I also have so many drug allergies it is hard to prescribe pain meds so not sure how this will go.  The fear of unknown is getting the best of me.

I am finally feeling well enough the last couple of days to get out and get a short walk with my dog and do some shopping.  I have a wedding coming up Nov. 10th and then surgery will be shortly after that.  I am just hoping I feel well enough to enjoy the holiday's and family visits etc.

THanks for listening.

Michelle

Ellebee I did not get my last treatment - my platelets were low again and now my white count went to 3.1 not exactly sure how bad that is but it was bad enough not to get treatment until next week.   I don't have a surgery date yet but it most likely will be mid - november so hopefully all will be well.  I am going the implant route vs diep  - plastic surgeon recommended it and explained all the differences so I am happy with that decision.

Hope everyone is doing well and good luck with your treatment next week.

Michelle

Oh V,

I'm so sorry to hear your news. I wish you didn't have to go through this.

I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 mets. It has now spread to my chest wall, both lungs, trachea and spine. I started radiation in September of 2013 and Abraxane in Nov of 2013. Onc says I will be on chemo for the rest of my life

I'm beginning to wonder if my surgeon got it all in the first place. I had a knot where my left breast should have been back in Dec 2012. I asked my plastic surgeon what it was and he said scar tissue from my mastectomy. He then did my reconstruction. I never thought anything about it til I had trouble breathing in August of 2013. That's when my PET showed the recurrence and mets. 

I hope you are doing well with your treatments and I'm sorry you are having to go thru this crap again.

Experience? I'm a pro lol ! I had my stitches/ staples come undone. My incisions started necrotizing and I developed seudomonis - not spelled right- in my breast . My breast literally rotted out before my eyes. 

July 4th 2012 I watched a surgeon cut the dead flesh from my breast- nothing for pain, no anesthia and done in the emergency room. I spent June- Oct on antibiotics. I know it's all too much TMI, but I really thought all the black discharge wAs cancer- now I really an convinced it was. I will answer any question you have. I never want anyone to go through what I did.