Starting chemo November 2012

Megan, thank you!  Your thoughts on bravery really speak to me.  I'm not brave, just doin what I need to be doin.  If I feel like crap, so be it.

Mary, trust what you are doing is very valid in treating breast cancer.  I'm triple positive and my MO put me on taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin (every three weeks).  The first and only treatment I had put me into the hospital for 5 days.  It is strong stuff and has years of clinical trial data behind it.  My nurse navigator who has been in oncology for 23 years says she always prefers adriamycin for breast cancer patients, but she knows she needs to get with the taxotere program because it has so much data behind it.  So do your best not to second guess, but talk to them to get reassurance.  You are their patient and are paying them to help you.  :-)

decided today to get my hair buzzed on monday  couldnt stand all the hairs in the shower drain- got appt with lgfg ladies at noon and chemo at 230...

Well most of the stubble from shaving fell out last night well I have a few patches of stubble..and my head is cold...Live in WI and although it is warmer then normal this weekend..it is cold! The good news in my book is Tuesday is treatment 2 and I will be half way through them! And I got a fill on my TE this week and I actually have a chest...actually probably bigger then before bmx!

Dakota, yes, it's going to be even more demorilizing. Your eyebrows are going to fall out too, you might get bloated, you won't recognize yourself. And then you get the last chemo. And you feel that everything is over. And it's not. But suddenly, when you don't expect it, you see little hairs on your head. And your eyebrows start coming back, then your eyelashes are following. Your energy levels are getting higher and you feel "normal" again.

It's going to take time, but we'll get there.

Dakota - I think we all go thru the what happened to me syndrome.  Look in the mirror and now I look sick.  No hair, eyebrows and eyelashes disappearing, skin is dry, dark circles under my eyes, not to mention the scars from surgery all of this leaves me thinking who is that in the mirror? 

I've been in somewhat of a pity party mood lately.  Partly because I don't feel good from the UTI infection but partly because of the hair loss, looks from people when I have a hat on, the holiday blahs.  I'm the one that decorates every room in the house and this year I just don't feel in the Christmas mood. 

Good morning everyone! I took my 7th Neupogen shot yesterday and last night I was hit with the most excruciating bone pain in my lower back and central chest. I could barely breathe!! I tried to relax and tell myself it would pass, but it didn't and I ended having to phone the help line. The nurse got a doctor to call me and she told me to take 2 Tylenol 3's, and one extra strength Ibuprofen. They worked in about 35 minutes and I was able to go to sleep. I had to take the same again at 3:15am and then again this morning at 10:15am.  I have never experienced such bone crushing pain in my whole life - sure don't want that to happen again. And it seemingly came out of nowhere - last time I had absolutely no side effects from the Neupogen. Go figure - so what I am learning is that the only thing predictable about this Breast Cancer treatment plan is it's unpredictabilty!!!

Dakota - ((((((hugs))))))) to you. 

Paula - The steroid fall just sucks.  I'm wondering if stopping the steroids gets worse as treatments go on.  I seem to be more weepy with this treatment and the energy crash was worse.  Hope you feel better tomorrow. 

Hi Adagio - I had a similar response from my last nulasta shot. Minimal pain until I had my third shot. The bone pain was excruciating from head to knees. Hurt to touch any part of my body so laying down was a problem. Tylenol did not make a dent in the pain. Lasted for about 48 hours and now I'm just tired with chemo muscle fatigue. Not sure what the next shot will bring on and whether this is cumulative too. Anyone else experience this?

Loafer~Do you know about taking Claritin for the bone pain associated with Neulasta? You take it the day before the shot and for several days following. It also works for the bone pain associated with arimidex ( estrogen sucking drug ).



Txjunebug~Yes the steroid fall sucks, but thank God it only lasts a day or 2, at least for me it did. I was one week post first chemo yesterday. Today I feel so much better. I certainly pray it doesn't get worse than this.



Keetmom~Hang in there. You're almost through the bad part. I'm getting Adria/cytoxan, but I get an extra week to recooperate in between, as mine is every third week. The downside is, it's going to take me 12 weeks rather than 8 to be done. Then on to 12 weeks of taxol.



We will get through this Girls, and we will be stronger because of it!!!



Blessings

Paula

Interesting about the neulasta shot - I didn't get one this time, but the NP told me Friday that she will be giving me one after the next treatment.  I mentioned to her that I have heard about the pain it causes.  She asked me if I had any pain meds left and said that I would probably need to take them after neulasta.  I wonder why all docs are not proactive in telling us this?  Really sorry that some of you are hurting so badly because of the neulasta, and hope it passes soon.

I'm with you on being in a "funk."  My scalp itches, my face hurts, and I just feel ugly!  Here's to better days for all of us.

Martha

Loafer, I'm with you, Taxotere # 3 day 5 and I'm more fatigued than I was with the previous 2 rounds

I managed to get out and about but for short times. wasn't going to as coming off steriods, I was very sooky lala yesterday....everything anyone said or did was just getting to me...my face felt like it had blown up, I was bloated and I just lost self control.......today I'm miraculously a new women ..... lol hubby thinks i'm going crazIER!!

 Apart from my 'furry' tongue and everything tasting blah.....my neuropathy in my feet are a little tingly and parts are peeling...almost like I've been in water for days....but they say to keep moisturising !

Is anyone else going through this and what are you doing to get through it ?

Re the Neulasta shot..I get 1, 24 hours after chemo.....I must say, this time around bone ache was VERY minimal.....all I took was panadol and I was fine....

Hope all of you are doing well with minimal SE's.

Good luck Michelle for Fridays #3.....eat lots of your fav foods and an extra special treat

Adiago, Like most of these girls, I receive only 1 Neulasta (Nupogen) shot 24 hours after my chemo treatment.  Granted everyones treatment is different and I don't know your treatment schedule but I hope your 7 shots means you've had 7 chemo treatments...Let us know how you make out.  Don't forget that Claritan before and a few days after the shot. 

QUESTION: Port Issues: Has anyone had issues with their port?  When I lift things more than maybe 8-9 lbs or bend over from the waste and touch the floor, it feels like a straw is puncturing my neck, almost like it wants to come through the skin - yesterday my daughter saw a stitch coming out of my skin at the port site and the neck site (which now has a bit of a scar/scab)?  I get my lab work tomorrow so I'll ask the chemo nurse but I was wondering if any of you are having issues...

Looks like a lot of You girls are having a down week, maybe it's the stress of our treatments,  the Christmas & New Year holiday season, wonering if we can manage all that needs to be done, still have energy and a smile on our face.  Hope things get better for everyone.  Praying for better days ahead - Love you Kids. The Mom

Anyone start to loose eyebrows and lashes yet? I am doing cold cap treatment so I'm still holding onto some hair. It's very thin with grey growing back in at roots. Just not sure what I'm going to do when lashes/brows fall out. Appreciate all of your support! Hang in there for the holidays!