Sept 2012 chemo

Cherioo - at my appt last Friday, my MO said they would be scheduling the RO appointment.  I think they want me to see them in December.  My MO did say I would have a 3-4 week "time off" after chemo before I do anything else.  

Morning ladies, hope everyone is doing well.



Sonson - hi, I've had some muscle soreness...feels like I worked out really hard the day before kind of soreness. I'm on my third tx and I'm just taking Tylenol for it. It was worse after my second treatment and I ended up getting sick and really low white blood count, so I'm not sure if that was part of it as well. I hope it gets better for you.



Jojo and cherioo- hello, I met with my RO and he said I needed to start my rads within six months of my surgery, which was July 25. So I'll hopefully finish up chemo around jan 4 and start rads a few weeks after that. My plastic surgeon had wanted to do my exchange surgery before rads, but ultimately decided there wasn't enough time, so I'll get the implants some time after rads. How are you guys feeling about rads? I'm hoping it will be easier than chemo and part of me is looking forward to moving on to the next step, but part of me is a bit nervous.

sonson, Cocobean & Cindi- Muscle/bone/joint aches and pains are a side effect of Taxotere.  See these links for more info on Taxotere:http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Taxotere.aspx  and http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/taxotere.  Another side effect that is watery eyes.  I had the watery eyes and eye twitching after my 4th round of Cytoxan/Taxotere.  The eye situation continued until I was at least 4-6 weeks PFC and has tapered off.

I did not have rads but I have some BCO gal pals that have.  They recommend MIADERM cream and the use of Aquafor ointment as well as Calendula cream.  You may ask your RO or the place you have rads if the Miaderm is available there.  If not, you can order it through Amazon.  The Aquafor can be purchased at Walgreens/CVS/Target and the Calendula cream may be purchased at a health foods store (Whole Foods) and maybe at CVS. 

Wishing everyone here a good week with minimal side effects....HUGS to all of you..... Each of you is moving forward and getting through this time in chemoland with grace and courage. 

Timbek2:  I signed up for a free scarf, but haven't gotten mine yet!  Now  I can't wait:-)  I am glad you are having a great day!

sonson:  I have the aches you are talking about- they seem to get more intense with each treatment.  I will have number 4 next week.  Already dreading it.  I also have neuropathy which seems to be getting worse- although I am learning how to deal with it.

Melrosemelrose:  Thanks for the info about the creams!  I put some in my christmas wish list- maybe my husband will put some in my stocking:-)

Hope everyone is doing low with no SE!!!

For those heading to rads:  The Aquafor ointment is thick, gooey and greasy feeling and may be hard to get out of your clothes.  The Miaderm cream is less greasy and of course a lot more expensive.  Here is the Miaderm website link: http://miaderm.com/  and also the link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Miaderm-Cancer-Radiation-Treatment-Protects/dp/B004TB9SFE .   Please talk to your RO's about what you can or can't apply to your skin.  Most of the rads gals I know do not wear a bra when having rads.  Some wear men's cotton undershirts at least size bigger or a cotton camisole under their shirts.   They also opt not to wear their good lingerie & clothing ( camisoles/ favorite t shirts) after applying the Aquafor so that the clothing doesn't get ruined/stained.  Wearing less means less skin irritation from fabric rubbing on your skin. 

After you finish chemo, you will probably get a 3 week break before the commencement of rads.   You will be happy to have that time to rest up and recover from that final round of chemo.   After your visit with the RO, you will get marked/tattooed and will have a simulation so that the radiation is aimed correctly.  I know that idea of moving to rads brings on two polar opposite feelings--- nervous and anxious to move forward with your treatment.  There was a time that I thought I was going to have rads. However, due to my particular cirucmstances and the decision by the Tumor Board where I am being treated at, rads was not appropriate in my case.  Nonetheless, I felt the same way as each of you does about rads--- what was going to happen and how was I going to feel.  I did read the BCO.org website section on Radiation Therapy.  Here is the quick link to that section: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation.  Although I was never 100% comfortable with the possibility of having rads, this information made me feel better since I had a better idea of what the process entailed.  Just like chemo, you don't know how you will react until you've gone through the first round.

I'm in my second week of rads now and so far its ok. i've been told to expect skin reactions sometime after week 2-3. I don't think there is any way to tell if you will burn or not. Some people do some don't. An appointment goes like this: I check in, change to a gown up top, wait outside the treatment room, when I'm called in I lay on the bed and the technicians (who are lovely), fiddle and push me about until they have my little pinprick tatoos lined up with the red light beams across my body. Then they calibrate and when happy with that they leave the room. I lay still for maybe 3-4 minutes then Im done. The whole thing takes 20 mins or less. I will probably get sore layer on but I just can't beleive that this will be worse than chemo! I didn't get the usual break after chemo because I asked to do it right away so I would be finished by Christmas.



About the hair, some of mine never fell out! I buzzed it but it kept growing and it's still there. Very thin but there. Can't wait to have hair again!

I did Taxotere and I still have muscle, bone, joint pain. It's common according to my MO and can last for a long time. I am going to try massage and acupuncture and see if that helps. Anyone else doing that?

As far as exercise goes all I've done is walk my dog. Today I did a bit of yoga and realized I have spaghetti arms and jello legs. I am so weak.

Oh, and the night sweats and the sweaty head is no fun either. Just keep telling myself that at least there will be less estrogen feeding the cancer should it try to come back.

Take care everyone.

bearcub:  Oh- how good it must feel to be on your last one!!!!  I can't wait to be where you are:-)  Hope this last one is easy as pie with no SE- and that all your hair grows back super fast:-) 

cindi:  Good luck to you too!  Is this your last one as well?

One of my coworkers (and I thought really good friend) who hasn't called me in the eleven weeks since I went on disability called today.  I was kind of angry, but tried very hard not to be.  She wants to have lunch this week.  I am trying to figure out how to put away my hurt feelings and just be happy that she called.  Oh well.  Anyone else have issues like this?  How have you handled it?

Good luch bearcub.  Will be thinking of you.

Yeah Tazzy,  good trip.

One more A/C tomorrow, and on to Taxol in Dec  But first time with child and grandchildren Thanksgiving, and short trip to NYC for Book of Mormon.  Hope for good weather.  Hugs to all and no SE

bearcub, so glad to hear your BW was good and last chemo tomorrow.

I had A/C #3 today and neutrophils were good. 6 Neupogens this cycle and no S/E first 2 cycles so hoping for the same. Leonard Cohen age 78 and some exceptionally talented musicians and singers from around the world put put on an amazing concert last night. He sang for almost 3.5 hours not counting the intermisson and it was midnight before we got out of Rogers Arena yet I felt good today with an early start for bw and MO appt. then chemo at 2 PM. I honestly think Leonard Cohen energized me. We spent the first 5 min. at MO Appt. talking about him as MO has seen his 3 times.

Silver lining of course that it was last night not tonight post chemo!

Marian

Good morning!!!!!



I'm hope everyone is doing great ... I was wondering if any has lOst their eyelash or eyebrows.... During Taxol.... Next week is my last chemo and I still have them so I was just wondering if I will lose the them....



I been so anxious about dumm things .. Yesterday I couldnt get this thought that my daughter was gonna have accident and cried all afternoon.... Had to take so Xanax ...has some hot flashes and i aging 9 pounds ... How much will I gain... My rotty is shed like there is no tomorrow and it's driving me crazy!!!

Cocobean - Thanks for posting the link to that story.  Really great perspective.

Patricia - After 10 Taxol I still have my eyebrows/lashes, although they've thinned quite a bit.  And unevenly.  Left brow is twice as thick as right brow.  Why?  Simply further proof that none of this is easy.

Cocobean:  Thanks for the link to the article.  It helps.  I know I just need to let go of my resentment.  I better do some art about it:-)  I am not a teacher, but  I work as a therapist in two schools- so I totally know what you mean about this time going by so super fast.  I am actually really sad to not be in the school right now.  I love holiday projects and celebrating with all of my little clients. What grade do you teach?  I work with an Emotionally Disturbed elementary school class and one high school class.  I miss them.

Dakota:  Thanks so much for the compliment!  You totally made my day!  I have been having one of those low self esteem days (being bald and gaining ten pounds can do that to you).  So, your compliment was much needed:-)

Whenlife:  You are too funny about the eyebrows!  It does seem sometimes like things are just kind of made to be difficult.  Mine have thinned a bit and are still itchy- so I am anticipating their leaving.  Oh well.

allurbad:  Sorry about your siblings:-(  I guess we all just need to figure out how not to take it personally and just move on.  But it is so hard when people disappoint us.  Love the steroid song too!   I will be singing it next week.

sonson:  That is awesome that you are all done with chemo!  What made them decide this was your last one?  I have three left- seems so overwhelming.

Okay!  Hope everyone has a great day!

Mariposa- I definitely hear you when you said you still have 3 more chemo rounds left.  I remember feeling just mentally and physically tired after the first 3 rounds I had and wondered how I was ever going to make it through the remaining 3 rounds.  I had my teary sessions where I said I just don't like this and wish the rounds were done and over.  Somehow, my supply of inner "I go to do this" strength carried me through and helped me move forward.  We all have that ability to put our heads down and just keep moving forward through all of the not-so- good parts of chemoland.   Please easy on yourself.  Everytime you look in that mirror, you just need to say out loud that " You are strong. You are beautiful.  You can do this and are doing this!"  Hey I know what we all look in the mirror but I chose to see how beautiful and resilient each of us is.

Jojo:  It does seem a little crazy.... ready to finish to chemo but at the same time so anxious and nervous about the next phase/phases of treatment.  Just take it one phase at a time.  You will be prepared and ready for that phase.  Please post your surgery questions here.  I know that some of the gals here and I have already gone through surgery and have lots of helpful tips for you.  No matter what, I'm here for you. 

Sending lots of HUGS for all of you and positive healing and calming thoughts and energy!!! 

Bearcub, are you our first to ring the bell? WTG! I remember at my first AC hearing someone ring the bell and thinking how long away that would be and now we are all getting closer!

Bearcub Wheeeee

No bell in our clinic.  Sat next to newbie just starting.  She didn't know about this website.

So glad to be through with 4A/C.  Now if the next week isn't too bad.

Now I can worry about Taxol.

I can truthfully say that this site and this thread made this journey bearable.  Thank all of you for your excellent suggestions dealing with SE. Thank you for your instructions on chemo room etiquette.  Thank you for suggestions on hair, caps, Lookgood/feelbetter.  But thank you for teaching me courage, amusing me with your funny stories, inspiring me with your fortitude.  You have made the last four months tolerable.  Thank you.