Sept 2012 chemo

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  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2012

    fight4two, I don't know how (or if) Taxol and Taxotere differ in how they work against cancer cells.  But I have heard that Taxotere causes permanent hair loss 3% to 6% of the time.  I understand that Taxol does not cause permanent hair loss. 

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited November 2012

    Awww my beautiful sisters!!!! i ot some sleep....i had to talk to my sisters so they can all be on the same page...i dont want to deal ith any of it!!!! so they are leaving Friday!!! i cant wait i wanna put up my Christmas tree alone and enjoy my holidays .....i feel that this Holidays ill be smooth and quiet i usually have everyone here and BBQ till midnight and play games..This year ill like to be home watching movie and enjoying my hubby and daughter!!! thank you for all your hugs i really need it that from all of my sisters!!!!..............so i figure no matter what happens from here on today i will learn to say no to anyone that just wants to invate my space!!!..i just to nice some time!!!!!....im though but family its hard to be though ....lol...i hope everyone voted!!!!!!!! Prayers to all everyone and no SE tonight!!!

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  • MsTori
    MsTori Member Posts: 402
    edited November 2012

    Patricia- popping over from Oct board.....but saw your earlier post. Good for you! :-)

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  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 363
    edited November 2012

    Patin

    http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2008/weekly-paclitaxel0408

    This is a report of clinical trials with the two drugs.  Note, 2008 is dated in this fast moving period.

    This is one of the better websites.  Some stuff may be too technical, but it may answer some of your questions. 

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  • Foreverchanged72612
    Foreverchanged72612 Member Posts: 223
    edited November 2012

    So here I've been going along in chemoland thinking wth?? I haven't had any real SEs other than the ones from the steroids. I just had my ninth taxol and herceptin treatment on Monday. Then last week boom!Hot flashes waking me up every night! I still have my hair but it is starting to fall out...after 9 treatments. Worst of all, two days ago I discovered a lump in my other breast.  The breast that had been completely cleared when this whole thing started. The clean breast. What. The. Hell??????? I have a check-up with my oncologist on Thursday. I go from 'things will be ok' to 'what the bloody he'll is going on?????'

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited November 2012

    Mr Tori!!! i havent heard from you in awhile glad you keeping popping up!!! yeah right im glad they are leaving!!!

    Forever:....take it slow and wait to see what they say...dont stress you havent had all the results back..im glad that you are almost done with taxol...i will start soon....i dont want any pain!!!!!!!!!! but if it works bring the pain on!!!

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  • florbo
    florbo Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2012

    Sherbab,

    Thanks for the helpful airplane travel information.  I am so looking forward to getting away for a little bit.

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited November 2012

    Ok stupid question. Steroids? Where do they come in??

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  • Cherioo
    Cherioo Member Posts: 305
    edited November 2012

    Dakota when you get your chemo they give you steroids I. Your IV to help with SE

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  • Dakota212
    Dakota212 Member Posts: 1,153
    edited November 2012

    Cherioo-



    Thanks for letting me know!! Have a great day 😄

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited November 2012

    fight4two, See the site that Cindi74 linked to above. Both weekly Taxol and tri-weekly Taxotere are fairly equivalent in terms of disease recurrence. My MO made the decision to go with Taxol based on my celiac disease; he felt the lower GI side effects of Taxol would likely keep me in treatment whereas he had some doubts that I would tolerate the full Taxotere treatment. hth

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited November 2012

    Patricia - enjoy the quiet time without family. My sister wants to do the "big holiday" get together, and I'm like you, just want to spend the quiet time with my husband and sons watching movies.

    Foreverchanged - I will be praying for you that the lump is nothing to worry about. 

    I had my last AC yesterday and had the worst nausea and side effects since this started. Literally slept all day and night, unless I woke up from the great night sweats or the nausea. I have gain 15 pounds on this great journey and almost had a nervous breakdown right on the scale yesterday. it's not like I have been eating like a crazy person, doctor said it's being thrown into menopause and the steroids and swears I will lose half once I'm done with chemo. 4 Taxol to go, hopefully I won't gain another 15 pounds with it.  Sorry, just needed a good vent, lose both breasts, lose hair and get fat is just not great for self esteem.

    I hope everyone in the BGC this week has minimal side effects.

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited November 2012

    Dakota...they also give you pills for 5 days 

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited November 2012

    Butterfly!!! this year just wanna relax....enjoy every gift wrapping smell that christmas smell..no chemney here just sun but i will enjoy it sooo much......yes and yes...everyone will be out for this weekned!!! and my daughter is oing to Orlando too for some friend time too...she needs it..and my hubby just loves staying home helping me clean.......

    Today i got my new juicer from Omega HD  vrt350 a little expensve but i will continue to use for the rest of my life i will make soy milk from scratch!!!!...yeah....ladies i have so many plans for my time off ....soy milk learn excel learn photoshot and see if i can pick some  classes ...i just dont know what type of classes i wll be picking up...finish my 2000 puzzle...my hubby said he will get a second job or due all the over time just for me to enjoy every day...and do what makes me happy!!!!!!!! i love my hubby!!!

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited November 2012

    Patricia - your hubby sounds awesome, enjoy the classes and the juicing.

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  • Mariposa123
    Mariposa123 Member Posts: 267
    edited November 2012

    Good morning everyone!

    Foreverchanged:  I agree with Patricia... try to find ways to just sit with how well things are going- and not worry to much about what you don't know.  I also know that is alot easier said than done.  In my support group we talked about finding ways to be "warriors" not "worriers".   Sounds like you are in excellent medical hands and your body has done such amazing things so far!  Wow! You kept your hair after 9 treatments!  How many more do you have?  You are in my thoughts- sending lots of positive energy your way!

    Flight4two & Cindi  Thanks for the link to the difference Cindi!  I have often wondered about it as well.  My doctor didn't put me on the Adriamycin because I have a lot of lung issues- and I guess it can be harder on your lungs.  I also hear more people who are her2neu positive getting taxotere- but not sure if that is protocol or not.  I know that Dr Pegram had talked about TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, hercpetin) as pretty standard for her2+... but I am by no means any kind of expert.

    Butterfly: I am so with you!!!!  All of my pants are tight:-(  I am so nauseous, and find the only time my stomach is okay is when I am eating... and I have this horrible taste in my mouth, so I eat to cover it up... Yuck!  And I am sooooo not motivated to exercise.  The night sweats are intense.  I just want to lay around.  I am glad your doctor said that perhaps you will lose the weight after treatment - maybe there is hope for me as well!   I think we both need to look at this like our screen names- (mariposa is butterfly in Spanish)... we are entering our little cocoons, and when this is over we will be amazing butterflies:-)  I will keep my fingers crossed.

    Patricia: Everyone says we have these great lessons we learn from cancer (which usually irritates me, but I know it is true).  I totally need to learn what you are learning about setting limits with people and saying no.  let us know how the juicer is!  I want to buy one but get all bogged down in what kind.   Your hubby does sound wonderful:-) 

    Okay- new side effect I noticed last night.  The bottoms of my feet have been super sore.  It hurts to walk barefoot.  Does anyone else have this?  I looked it up, and I guess it might be Hand Food Syndrome?  When I first heard about this,  I thought it was the same thing as Hand food mouth disease (but it is different).  Now I am completely worried it will become debilitating and I won't be able to walk.  Okay, better start focusing on being a warrior not worrier.

    I better go clean my house!  I need to go to Target, but today is my low WBC day- so I have been stalling.. but I really need some paper towels.  Uggh. 





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  • suzilla
    suzilla Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2012

    Hello to all! I am new here so i am hoping to gain some dear frienships and support. I have IBC, but do know that it didnt spread to any other pat of my body..which is great!



    As for being on chemo, it hasnt been an easy ride for me. I had 4x dd of a/c treatments every two weeks and i have experienced the se's from it...but am grateful to have finished my last a/c.....now i will begin with Taxol....i have been worried of how its gonna affect me...like do i need to take the neulasta shot too i am doin 4x dd taxol every two weeks too...the neuropathy that accompanies taxol...do u still get nausea and vomiting with taxol.....i wanna keep fighting and my anemia doesnt help i kack energy to fo anything sometimes but push myself to somehow...any one have any advice...i was an active athletic runner and loved soccer....i get so depressed when i cant do the things i used to...how can i deal with this issue?.....anyone have any advice or support for me?

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  • suzilla
    suzilla Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2012
    Hello to all! I am new here so i am hoping to gain some dear frienships and support. I have IBC, but do know that it didnt spread to any other pat of my body..which is great!
    As for being on chemo, it hasnt been an easy ride for me. I had 4x dd of a/c treatments every two weeks and i have experienced the se's from it...but am grateful to have finished my last a/c.....now i will begin with Taxol....i have been worried of how its gonna affect me...like do i need to take the neulasta shot too i am doin 4x dd taxol every two weeks too...the neuropathy that accompanies taxol...do u still get nausea and vomiting with taxol.....i wanna keep fighting and my anemia doesnt help i kack energy to fo anything sometimes but push myself to somehow...any one have any advice...i was an active athletic runner and loved soccer....i get so depressed when i cant do the things i used to...how can i deal with this issue?.....anyone have any advice or support for me?
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  • suzilla
    suzilla Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2012
    Hello to all! I am new here so i am hoping to gain some dear frienships and support. I have IBC, but do know that it didnt spread to any other pat of my body..which is great!
    As for being on chemo, it hasnt been an easy ride for me. I had 4x dd of a/c treatments every two weeks and i have experienced the se's from it...but am grateful to have finished my last a/c.....now i will begin with Taxol....i have been worried of how its gonna affect me...like do i need to take the neulasta shot too i am doin 4x dd taxol every two weeks too...the neuropathy that accompanies taxol...do u still get nausea and vomiting with taxol.....i wanna keep fighting and my anemia doesnt help i kack energy to fo anything sometimes but push myself to somehow...any one have any advice...i was an active athletic runner and loved soccer....i get so depressed when i cant do the things i used to...how can i deal with this issue?.....anyone have any advice or support for me?
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  • suzilla
    suzilla Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2012

    Sorry to all..... i didnt know i posted that many times....

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  • butterfly14
    butterfly14 Member Posts: 253
    edited November 2012

    Mariposa, I am glad I am not alone. Hopefully we are in the cocoon and come January, we can transform into the beautiful butterflies. I am just happy to be at teh chemo half way point. Off for Neulasta shot.

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  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 363
    edited November 2012

    Patricia,  I don't know if you have any photoshop experience, but now, if you buy the program (latest is 11) they have short video training lessons on almost everything.  A course at your time convenienc;, you can replay over and over, and you can e-mail questions.  I have been with Photoshop Elements since # 2 which my husband bought.  He took a community college class. I never took a class, but have learned a lot over the years.  I have over 50,000 pix, and it's how I spend my retired time.

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  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 363
    edited November 2012

    suzilla, you can delete the extra copies.

    Mariposa,  I took 500 mg of American Ginseng for fatigue starting the day before chemo and going 7 days.  Don't get the kind that has ethenol in it.  I ordered from Amazon because the health food store didn't have pure.  There was a trial I found on line.  They took more than I. My oncologist approved enthusiastically, but didn't say how much.

    I blamed the ginseng for the sour taste in my mouth that started for the first time after my 3rd time, but if others have it without  the ginseng,  it may just be the build up,  I didn't get down the gallon of water days 4,5,6--but found on day 7 I could with trick or treat small amond Joy.  I did have much less fatigue.

    I always gain 5 to 6 lbs on chemo day???  I do eat a big breakfast and drink a lot of water before and during, and I think they give me a lot of saline (last time maybe because of very low blood pressure)  Then I lose almost all of it over the following week.  I THINK it is mostly fluid retention. I weigh at home every morning with only panties on so it is not clothes or stuff.  I haven't managed to do much exercise at all. There are two stories in my house and I used to go up and down stairs several times a day.  After chemo--not at all for about 10 days.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited November 2012

    Good Afternoon to one of my favorite group of people!!!! Smile Hope all of you are doing well and are having minimal side effects.  I know it is struggle here at times physically and emotionally.  Hang in there, ladies!!!!!  There is life after chemo and the days you are feeling good while in chemoland is just a glimpse of how wonderful your lives will be once you have finished chemo.  Hold on to those good positive thoughts and energy!!!!

    I gave Suzilla this chemo thread link so she could get hooked in with this great group of gals!!!!  I know that once she reads some of the prior posts, she will see how supportive each of you are.

    Sending out lots of HUGS and positive calming and healing thoughts and energy!!!  Ladies--- You are doing this chemo thing and doing it well!!!!

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  • Terri07-11
    Terri07-11 Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2012

    I understand completely about not being able to do things that you used to do.  Every morning I took our retriever for a 2 to 4 mile walk or hike and after starting chemo, I realized that I just couldn't do it.  Now, I just go whenever I can.  The week of chemo, I go for a short walk, maybe about a mile or if I am really tired, I just don't make it.  The 2nd week after chemo, I do whatever I can. Sometimes the second week is worse than the first with side effects.  And thank goodness! the 3rd week, I can go for 4 miles, which is what we did this morning.  And if felt wonderful!  Walking in the sun and enjoying the smell of autumn with winter around the bend!

    Of course, my next treatment is next Tuesday and it is already weighing on my mind.  But I am trying very hard to live at the present, not fret about what is to come.

    So, I guess the best advice is to remember that this will NOT last forever!  Get thru the treatments and come out the other end ready to run!

    DON'T GIVE UP AND DON'T GIVE IN!

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  • jojo2373
    jojo2373 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2012

    Patricia - sounds like you have a wonderful husband, god bless him!  Hugs to you for all you have been going through.

    Forever - hoping the new lump is nothing and you can have no worries.  It reminds me of my last visit to the MO when she measured my tumor and it grew.  I had a big WTF in my mind.  

    For all the "feeling fat" worries, I am in the same boat.  Nothing worse than getting up in the morning and looking at a bald and bloated shell of myself.

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  • kidsandlabs
    kidsandlabs Member Posts: 138
    edited November 2012

    Just got back home from chemo. Competly exhausted, drinking as much water as I can to flush it all out. Hoping SE are not as bad as last time.

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  • Cherioo
    Cherioo Member Posts: 305
    edited November 2012

    Suzilla welcome to our wonderful group. We are here for you

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  • Cherioo
    Cherioo Member Posts: 305
    edited November 2012

    Good Evening my friends, I wanted to check and see if any of you are getting the darkness in the finger nails yet. I started last week . I cut my nails real short and I am trying to save them. Also noticed that my eyelashes are falling out I just started the Taxol only a week ago

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  • twinsplus1
    twinsplus1 Member Posts: 43
    edited November 2012

    Don't have much time but thought I'd share a little tip that has helped me greatly.

    My oldest, dearest and bestest friend Facebook introduced me to a friend of hers who has battled lymphoma twice and is looking at round three with the nasty beast. Anyway, we were talking about the bone pain and how awful it can be and she said she used the microwave-heated pads. I told her I had been using an electric blanket... just wrap yourself up like a burrito, lay there and breath. It covers more surface area. She told me I was brilliant and she couldn't believe she hadn't thought of that before. SOOOOOOOOO, I thought I'd share my brilliance with my favorite chemo chicks (that would be YOU), too!

    Finally feeling almost human after last Thursday's treatment. Same SE's as the last two times but everything seemed to hit a little harder and a day earlier this time. That's ok, Just one more for this chick. Then I get to think about oopharectomies and follow-up DIEP reconstructions. Will this ever be over?!?

    Hugs and prayers to all!

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