Sept 2012 chemo

Good morning to all. Florbo thanks for your honest venting. There will be no perfect solution I know. I have until mid December to decide that is if Taxol benefits me.



Mariposa - prayers for you as you go "underground".



Justine and Waiting, hope all is well. We survived with just tons of rain at my house.



Day 4 post Taxol I feel better. I had to call MO yesteday morning due to pain. She doubled my steroids and added the claritan. I will do this with each treatment. I cannot imagine adding Neulasta which I might have to if counts get down.



Hoping for a great day for all!

Good morning sistersssssss!!!!

Watching he news regarding Sandy is crazy!!!! but it could be worse i hope everyone that lives there stayed safe!!!

Tomorrow will be my third chemo half way there not looking forward to the Neulesta shot it gives me lower back pain down throught my lower left leg.... saw my onco yesterday and siad she dosent undersand why i still have that pain so she has order an MRI for my lower back...hope everything is ok.....after FEC i will be getting Taxol with Herceptin for 12 weeks....so i was wondering.....My job has been calling me to go back to work light duty which im not sure cause this chemo had really minimal SE effects but im really concern about Taxol...im not sure how this treatment will affect me this time...

I had my parents with me since day one of Chemo....my mom has left Dad stayed cooking and cleaning.....my sister has also been here for 3 weeks..im very thankful for all the support but my sister is goig back to Cololrado which im really sad about it!!! i will miss her company i whish she would stay  ....my dad wants to stay throught out all my journey.....but its just different i love him but i am ready for everyone to go back home ...i need my space i love to be home alone and do my own things...so far i been cooking and cleaning its been ok...but how will taxol  affect me now...i know some of you already started Taxol and i would like to know how its going for those who already started....i have my last chemo on Nov 21 and then Taxol ...i asked my onco about my nails and she said if it didnt darken on my firts chemo it should be fine....and that i wll not have any more naulesta shots afer my last Chemo......which sound good to my ears!!!!...Neulestas shot really killed my back....any feed back so i can prepare myself for Taxol....should i go back yo work??? i feel good now..but who knows later.....i am a banquet sever and i need to go back to school cause this is not what  i want  for the rest of my life...

I will be applying for SSI ...not sure if anyone has applied for it??? i hope everyone is having NO SE ....

JoJo......Taxol will kick its a$$ and you know it!!!!!!!!!

Patricia, I have completed 6 of 12 weekly Taxol + Herceptin treatments, and I am working full time (except on infusion days).  I have had minimal side effects.  I do take tylenol (650 mg X 3 per day) and Glucosamine/Chondroitin (3 per day) for arthritis, so maybe that is warding off the aches and pains that others are experiencing on Taxol.  I'm starting to feel a bit of lack of energy/tiredness on days 3-4 (after #5 and #6) but not that bad.  I've started taking L-Glutamine to fend off some minor twinges of neuropathy in my feet.  Taxol can cause neuropathy in hands and feet which supposedly is reversible/temporary, and also supposedly less of a problem on the weekly dose.   But there are plenty of women on breastcancer.org boards whose neuropathy seems permanent, so best to take preventive action.

Jojo, I've been taking the glucosamine/chondroitin for years - probably at least 12 years.  I do think it helps the arthritis; I tried stopping it two different times just to check, and felt the arthritis pain was worse without it.  What's your dosage of Taxol?  Mine is 80 mg per square meter (somehow they figure that out based on height and weight).  My body in square meters is just over 2, so my weekly dosage is 162 mg.  If you're getting Taxol biweekly I would guess your dosage is higher than that, and probably harder in terms of side effects. 

Start the "Steroid Samba" tomorrow and sit in the Big Girl Chair Thursday. Only one more after that!

Hugs & Prayers to all!!!

Twins, enjoy that glow and good luck. Patin I seem to recall it was 340.

Patricia - do you mean glutamine?  For neuropathy?  (Glucosamine is for joint aches and pains - I get mine at Walgreens, but you can buy it just about anywhere.)  My center gave me some packets of glutamine to try - called GlutaSolv.  The packets are 15 mg each, and you take 2 per day, mixed with liquid.  It doesn't dissolve very well, it just sort of "suspends" in whatever liquid you use.  I couldn't find GlutaSolv at the drugstore (Walgreens) so I would have had to order a supply.  I ended up going to GNC and buying a tub of L-Glutamine which they assured me is the pure stuff (hope that's true).  On the tub it says that a "serving" of 5 grams is a heaping teaspoon, so for my 15 grams twice a day I do a heaping tablespoon.  My oncologist's nurse said to take the 30 grams per day for the treatment day and 3 days after; but if I noticed any tingling after 3 days I would continue to take it.

Home from my treatment and feeling exhausted!!!!  I got emend, so not feeling very nauseous... yet  Trying to be good about taking the L Glutamine for the neuropathy- and Lysine for the mouth sores.  I really had none last time- all I added was chewing ice throughout the chemo infusion, ate lots of popsicles, used the L-Glutamine and the Lysine, used good belly once a day,  and rinsed four times a day with baking soda.  And at the first sign of fuzzies, I used the nylasta as a rinse and swallow.  So, I am pretty hopeful I can do the same this time.

I get my neulasta shot tomorrow with extra fluids.  Thanks Jojo for reminding me to take my claritin.  It definitely helps me.  I hope you are feeling much better and can have a week of complete normalcy.

  I was up last night until 3 in the morning on steroids:-(  But I did a bunch of art about how I was feeling about sitting in the Big Girl Chair.  I thought I would share it with you - I posted it on my blog

http://breastcancerartandme.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-big-girl-chair.html

Patricia:  I think you have such wonderful and positive energy.  I think you would be wonderful as a teacher or counselor:-)  Just wanted to give my two cents:-)  If you want to talk about what it is like being a counselor/therapist- I would love to answer any questions.  Lots of people need help and hope, and that seems like a talent you were probably born with:-)

Cheerio:  I have tried everything to make my husband reach out, but nothing works.  I know he is struggling, but he is not as good as me at finding resources and asking for help.  I reached out to his friends, and one came over today to watch our son while I was in chemo.  It was nice watching my husband and his friend interact- I swear, he hasn't seem him in over a month!  I get stuck with tons of work as well- and I know he feels like he is already doing so much more than usual, but it really isnt' enough.  Oh well.  I walk a fine line of recognizing all he does and at the same time remind him of how much needs to be done!!!!  Venting too.

Englishrose:  Good luck with your infusion tomorrow!!!  I hope it goes well.  I just went with the energy last night.  I am tired right now, but the kids need me.  I will probably not be able to sleep this evening!  Oh well.

And for everyone on the East Coast- please let us know how you are doing!  I hope that you are all safe with power and no damage.

Marioposa-



What a great blog. Thank you so much for sharing. It appears you have captured what I imagine chemo will be like, I start next week. You are truley talented in the way you can express yourself. I hope you all have as minimal side effects a humanly possible good night !!

Mariposa, thanks for capturing all our deep thoughts with your wonderful artwork. I have felt each layer in my heart and soul.

Mariposa-  Wow!  Your artwork really represents how I feel.  I hope you feel better soon.  I have been doing the Claritin along with Tylenol for my Neulasta pain and they seem to help.

Arrghh! I really like dropping in on you Sept. women though I am in the Oct. group. You all are ahead of us so have more experience. My arrggh was because there is so much information and I have to keep telling myself that each of is individual and thus have different protocols and drugs. I thought for instance that Taxol (after my 4 A/C's) would cause the nail issue and also confused it with neurpathy. Yes to possible neuropathy from Taxol my chemo nurse told me today but not to nail issues with Taxol she said. Lieifie wrote that Victoria does icing as standard practice but I guess that is for Taxotere, not Taxol?

I have time as only #2 A/C today but do want to get it straight!

Mariposa, I am bookmarking your blog to read later. I started a blog too but only two posts so far. Tomorrow I figure post chemo will offer some time!

I hope all of you are safe on the east coast. Our earthquake the other night pales in comparision but maybe it is wake up call re climate change.

Marian

I have been taking glucosamine/condroitin 900 mg twice a day for years too. I had knee surgery in 2004 and virtually no cartilage left then but with gc I know cartilage has grown as my knee is much stronger and this is evidenced by the fact that I am 63 and still trekking often in the Himlaya.

But! I asked my MO right at the beginning about taking it and she checked and got back to me saying, "no." So I don't know if it because of my A/C and did not ask; there are so many questions and not always so much time.

Hi everyone,

  I had such a crappy night:(  I thought I had support group (which is in Palo Alto - about half an hour from where I live).  I generally have to leave pretty early becaues traffic out here is a nightmare.  Anyway, a woman in front of me came to a super fast stop and I hit her:(  It was not hard- but a hit none the less.   No damage on either car (I took pictures).  She came out of the car, saw there was no damage, and then said, "But I have a very bad back that now I will need to check out."  Uggh.  I swear I did not hit her very hard.  Anyhow, I was wearing a wig and it almost blew off my head on the side of the freeway.  I started crying.  I told her I had cancer and that I just had chemotherapy today and was trying to get to my support group.  I didn't mean to use the C-card, but it was all I had.  She said she had a biopsy last week, but it came back negative.  I told her I was happy for her - and that this has been extremely difficult.  Anyway, we exchanged info and were on our way.  I have no idea what she will do.  It sucks.

  But then I got home and saw all of your wonderful posts about my blog and I was happy again:-)  It makes me feel so good that my artwork resonates with others in my same situation.  Makes me feel a bit less alone and less crazy.  I would really recommend writing a blog. It has been a nice outlet to just talk through things- and inform my friends and family with updates. 

English Rose:  I spent all night after I got home making a little grammy for my daughter.  She is dressing up as Adele.  (My daughter's favorite singer) Depending on how I am feeling, I might go trick or treating with the kids- not sure.  My son is spiderman (of course)  He loves spiderman.  He is so funny- he drops his action figures down my shirt sometimes to help fight the breast cancer.  I am constantly having to pull spiderman out of my bra.  He is three and adorable:-)

I was going to dress up as a Dia de los Muertos skeleton, but realized that I have to go to the infusion center and get my Neulasta shot and more fluids.  I think it would probably be in poor taste to dress up as a skeleton while everyone is getting chemo- so I think I will just be a pirate.  We are hoping, if I feel okay, to go straight to trick or treating right after.  We will see:-)  Halloween is my favorite holiday- so I am sad I might not be able to enjoy it.

Hope everyone has a beautiful day tomorrow with no SE!!!! 

Ps.  Does anyone know of a good iphone ap to track when you have taken medications- and to alert you when you need to take one???

Mariposa, you have such a gift!

Its been a rough couple of days here, unfortunately.  Last week (1 week after chemo) I felt wonderful!  They told me my HGB levels were low and if they went lower I would have to get a blood transfusion.  I thought that it was odd because I didn't feel tired really, like you usually do with low iron.    However, the day before that my legs had started gettign sore.  I thought it was kind of a fluke but it started getting worse and worse- I would walk from one end of the house to the other and it made my leg muscles feel like I had been running on the treadmill for 30 minutes.  Then my hands started not cooperating- I couldn't manuver them well enough to tie a scarf on my head, and they also get really shakey at times.  I started thinking it must be the low HGB levels, because I already had my low from chemo and had gotten better.  So I called the clinic yesterday and went into have my bloodwork a day early.  Turns out my HGB levels had gone up (gotten better) and everything else looked great too.  So- it is just chemo and there is nothing they can do to fix it.  I was actually really upset because I wanted it to be something fixable.  I am really very worried that the way I am now is the best I will be for the next 2 months.  The hard part of this is that in my mind I feel great.  I do not feel tired, and I don't feel like I need to rest or nap- I feel rather energetic, but then I go to move around and my body is not cooperating with me.  It sucks!  

I have to take the kids trick-or-treating tonight and I am really worried about how I am going to be able to do it.  I am going to try to sit around and be still as much as possible today so that I will hopefully have more mobility tonight.  Not looking good though because just taking my daughter in to her preschool class, I could barely walk   

Sorry about the vent but I had to get it out.