Starting Chemo October 2012

Options
1…3940424445…55

Comments

  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited December 2012

    Wow.  I just got the greatest deal at my onc. office.  My last chemo is in January and I went to the billing clerk to find out about overpayments on my account.  I was saying that I am at 100% coverage now but that I would have to meet my deductible for chemo and the neulasta shot in January so just hold my overpay in my account.  She had a program for people with insurance that the neulasta shot is submitted and applied to your deductible but this program will pay the onc. office for the shot.  So in actuality it is applied toward your deductible but you dont have to pay it.  She had me sign a form and then they take care of all the billing.  I dont have any more info but it is worth asking if you are going to continue neulasta in the new year. 

    Hugs to all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Thanks for all the well wishes ladies! Today was another pretty full day with ultrasound and then back to ER waiting for results. As suspected, multiple blood clots in a subcutaneous vein ...not life threatening. My leg got an infection for whatever reason and that made the clots form. Done with 3 days of IV antibiotics and now 10 days of oral. Its been a rough go since Sat. night. The only bonus I see is I had a nail fungus under my big toe and thanks to chemo, my nail is lifting! This Taxotere has been fun for round 1.

    I sincerely hope you all are well and can enjoy the holidays! I got one week now till chemo and. hoping to enjoy some of it!!!! :-)

    Xox

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toots
    Toots Member Posts: 104
    edited December 2012

    Halfcan - you have scared the life out of me over 1st tax (mine due 27th) - possibility of infections for someone who is allergic to anti-biotics is real scary! Do hope you enjoy the next week before the chemo, take care.............

    Hugs and a Happy Christmas to eveyone xxxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 301724
    301724 Member Posts: 478
    edited December 2012

    Halfcan - hoping that's the last of the bad stuff for you! You are way overdue for a break!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Toots, sorry, don't want to scare you! I have my second Taxotere on the 27th too. The day after infusion I felt terrific and did lots and then third day halfway through it was couch time. Yes, its been a tough two weeks but now I feel pretty good and going to do a little Xmas shopping! That's if my poor big toe can handle a shoe! Lol.

    Take care ladies and don't let those SEs get the best of you! Xoxox

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fight4two
    fight4two Member Posts: 146
    edited December 2012

    So happy things are looking up for you halfcan! I wanted to report that my second round of taxotere was so much better than the first round. A lot less side effects - a lot more do-able.  I was thinking it was from the extra two days of dex or because maybe AC and T were kind of overlapping on the first round? Or maybe my body was just in shock from the drug the first time.

    Unfortunately, even though I feel a lot better, I had an early blood test (1 week after tx) and my WBC are down, so now I have to take extra neupogen and precautionary anti-biotics.  I'm pretty bummed because I was feeling great and thinking I can actually do this.  Now they don't even want me to pre-medicate with the dex, and I really think thats what saved me from the wisdom teeth swollen face last time.  Now I'm really worried about an allergic reaction.  I'm scared and sad that even though I felt so much better, my body says differently.  Can you believe that my WBC was 29 (usually they are at 8) when I went in for tx#2, and now they are at 1.9?  Extremes on both ends.  I guess the dex isn't good for my counts.

    Toots, I will be thinking good thoughts for you that your WBC doesn't drop.  Hopefully you don't have to take too much dex. I will be sitting with you AND halfcan in the BGC on the 27th if I'm lucky enough that they still let me have treatment #3 as scheduled.  Until then, lets focus on how we get to feel good for the holidays. Yay!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toots
    Toots Member Posts: 104
    edited December 2012

    Halfcan - so pleased you seem better and brighter - it is just the allergy to anti-biotics that is really worrying me if something goes wrong - always had a real strong immune system, never having it had broken down through anti-biotics because of the allergy! Have always coped with infection 'naturally' when I developed diabetes it went downhill a little bit but not so much......... I will be thinking about you especially 27th x

    Fight4two - appreciate you sitting 'holding our hands' on 27th, if not in body in spirit! x

    ........enjoy the holidays and stay well, hugs xxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CelineFlower
    CelineFlower Member Posts: 875
    edited December 2012

    Hello Ladies, hope you are all feeling the love this time of year .. and if not, try my purple bubbles they work amaizingly!!

    Got my first Taxol yesterday... went great, loved the relaxed feeling we get from the benadryl..

    so far the Se's are sooo much better... nice to not feel sick... but i do feel tired .

    Today i am going to finish my shoping and hopefully do my wrapping .. lol a bit ambitious maybe but oh well its christmas! miracles abound :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LouBar
    LouBar Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2012

    Hi Ladies - I had my first taxotere yesterday morning - endured the frozen mitts, booties and sucked on the ice chips, boy my hands and feet were freezing.  Was super tired yesterday and napped when I got home but overall much better than FEC, no nausea or headaches and I'm out of bed (with FEC I was in bed for two days straight afterwards and couldn't manage much more than that till day 4).  Right now, SEs include very red, burning cheeks and eyelids.  However, still worried based on halfcan's experience and don't want to count my chickens yet but boy wouldn't it be nice if I could just start to feel better and not have any more SEs? :) ......flight4two - my WBC was bad after first FEC treatment so I get the neulasta shot on day 2 post chemo.  In some ways I am relieved with the shot, figured it will boost my WBCs sooner and prevent infections?! So don't worry about it and perhaps take some comfort that you'll get the boost.  I take the claritin the day before, day of and day after and found that helped with the muscle aches.  Not sure why you can't get the dex? Although don't know about anyone else but I think the dex impacts my sleep, day two of dex and awake middle of the night, lay there for 3 hours 3am- 6am and then dropped off again, likely when the anti-nausea pill kicked in.  

    I am so grateful for this discussion thread and being on this journey with such remarkable women - wishing you all good days ahead xx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toots
    Toots Member Posts: 104
    edited December 2012

    .............yesterday was a waste of time, got up snotty, coughing, sneezing and feeling like hell, had some breakfast - grandma always said 'feed a cold and starve a fever' had some hot lemon and honey, aspirin and went back to bed - awoke for lunch and repeated the process til dinner time - repeated.........nose is sore from running, eyes iritated from running.......but feeling so much better today - long may it last........don't need a cold right now!

    Celine - just love the idea of purple bubbles! Take the red mist from the chemo and the blue bits from everyone's down moments and turn them all into bright purple bubbles..................

    Loubar - found the claritin certainly did away with the aches and pains of neulasta woohoo..........

    Take care all hope there are not too many SEs and lots of silver linings/purple bubbles xxxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 301724
    301724 Member Posts: 478
    edited December 2012

    Glad you're feeling better today, Toots. And love your analysis of what makes purple bubbles! We are the masters of making lemonade from lemons!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    LouBar-nice profile pic...I recognize those big blue mittens! Seems to have worked for my hands. Losing one big toenail so far. Oh well..at least I feel pretty good now. Did some shopping and will wrap tomorrow. I did break a tooth this evening ... Not sure about dentists and chemo!?! With the weekend, xmas, boxing day and then chemo...when could I go anyway! Gosh, I hope all you wonderful gals are enjoying Friday night!!!! Hugs!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Poke
    Poke Member Posts: 225
    edited December 2012

    Glad you're doing ok Halfcan!! You gave everyone a scare! Taxanes are the devil, I just got a pm from another girl who had a reaction and will be switched to Abraxane like me.

    I had round four yesterday. Two days late. I got lazy and did not juice this cycle. After three weeks of down time my ANC was 0.8 on treatment day (Wed) so my options were go home (onc knows I don't want Neulasta) or get five days of Neulasta. I went home. Juiced a gigantic bag of Kale and Friday a.m. I was up to 1.4. (My doc requires 1.0 for treatment days.) Booyah! 

    Happy holidays, ladies! xoxo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LouBar
    LouBar Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2012

    Hi Ladies: well my optimism was misplaced and feeling good didn't last.  Day 5 of Taxotere, OMG, everything hurts, every bone, muscle, my head, neck etc. etc.  Hit me the evening of Day 3 and no improvement yet.  Can't sleep as everything is so tender and so very weak.  Any good remedies? Please tell me this will end soon!  Thanks......

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Caitgrace
    Caitgrace Member Posts: 48
    edited December 2012

    Loubar - I don't know if you're able but my DO prescribed naproxen and while it doesn't knock out all the aches it's a HUGE relief ( and makes you sleepy). It's just prescription strength Alieve so not too harsh on the system. I usually take it late on day 3 / day 4 and that gets me through. 3-5 are the days that have been hard on taxotere/cytoxin, so hopefully you'll be feeling better soon.



    I'm on day 3 of my last treatment -- Xmas will be hard but we are all just glad the light at the end of the tunnel is here. I'm so blessed - radiation was done prior to chemo so now just getting through the next week and in a few taking anti-hormone drugs and seeing how crazy I get on them. Then just follow up, port removal, and hopefully a life free from reoccurrence.



    The strength, knowledge, spirit, and love from all of you is a blessing that will live in me forever. I'm not going anywhere but want you all to know that you've helped more than you'll know.



    Hope everyone has a powerfully peaceful and loving holiday of their choosing. May it be full of love, friends, family and light. Free of pain, nausea, and the myriad of other ickinesses. Remember you make your spirit shine- attitude is everything - and love heals.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LouBar
    LouBar Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2012

    Caitgrace - thank you for your recommendation, I will follow-up and hope that after today, things will get better.  How great that you are on your last treatment and while I expect it may not a normal Christmas, how wonderful that "normal" will be returning to you soon :)  I especially appreciate your sentiments in your message, I find the first 10 days post chemo as hard on my spirit as body, so thank you for reminding me of what is important and to keep a positive attitude.  I look forward to reading your messages when you are all finished - all the best to you xx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    Checking in to wish you wonderful ladies the merriest Christmas.  Caitgrace-congratulations on finishing chemo!  It must feel fantastic!!!  LouBar-I hope you are feeling better this morning.   For me it took till day 10 to think I was getting better and then I got the fever and all hell broke loose.  I would expect you will be feeling much better within a few days.  This Taxotere is one nasty bastard chemo isn't it?   How can something sooo nasty not do its job, right?  It sure did a job on my toenail although it hasn't fallen off yet.  lol  Just hoping I don't catch it on something and rip it off.  Yikes!   Well, I've got bloodwork and MO appt. today for chemo on the 27th so better start my day. xox

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LouBar
    LouBar Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2012

    Goodluck with bloodwork and next chemo halfcan. And yes, this sure is a "nasty bastard chemo" and it better be obliterating every last cancer cell...hopefully your round 2 is better, you are still my yard stick and although I am looking forward to day 10 and feeling better, your situation round one has me feeling really worried.....

    I would like to say I'm improving on day 6, but very minimal.  Finding my glands are feeling swollen on my neck up to my ears, like an ear ache without the ear ache?! Anyone else feel like this? Digestive system is messed up and hubby just went out to get me another bottle of biotene (tis the season!) to see if I can get my mouth back.  Expecting a very low key evening and Christmas, family in town is ill with the flu so we'll be having a quiet two days, some skyping, movie watching, present opening, in between taming these SEs....

    Sorry ladies - not the most inspiring of messages, but thinking of all of you and hoping that you get lots of enjoyable moments tonight and Christmas day.  Merry Christmas xx 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 301724
    301724 Member Posts: 478
    edited December 2012

    Wishing a very happy holiday to all of you! 2012 has been a tough year. Here's wishing each of us a better 2013. We deserve it!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toots
    Toots Member Posts: 104
    edited December 2012

    Wishes for all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and HEALTHLY New Year when it arrives xxxxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Abby20
    Abby20 Member Posts: 102
    edited December 2012

    Hope everyone is doing well. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2013.



    I am going for session # 5 tomorrow. The last one was not bad as my onc decided to reduce the dose because she thinks I developed an allergic reaction to Taxotere.



    Love to all



    Abby

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Caitgrace
    Caitgrace Member Posts: 48
    edited December 2012

    Merry christmas everyone!



    Enjoyed the gift giving and just had a nice Xmas snack, lamenting that everything tastes funny due to chemo mouth. Last night I (naughtily) stuffed my face full of Xmas cookies as I knew by today all sweet things would taste like cardboard or worse.



    I've gained weight with this cancer bullshit but my hunny says let's get through this and then think about that. Wearing horizontal stripes this a.m. didnt help!



    Tomorrow we are off to a week in Santa Fe -- everyone around me with colds and I got a fever two nights ago (101.5) so called DO after hours line, they seemed unconcerned so I'm trying not to be...



    I've felt better overall this time around except for that fever so who knows. With some drug intervention not so backed up this time (intestinally) but its a constant balancing act.



    Having a cucumber soda that Santa brought me-- so tasty, who woulda thunk?



    Looking forward to the drink on New Years my Dr. said I could have... And though ill miss out on the "tastes of Santa Fe" while there -- I'm looking to a vacation with the family. So far everytime we have planned one, a crisis has arose and we've had to cancel. So please pray for us ( seriously, we are jinxed).



    I do hope you all are feeling well or at least better- and can enjoy food, family, fun, friends etc. MERRY XMAS!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Poke
    Poke Member Posts: 225
    edited December 2012

    Happy belated Christmas everyone! I spent the majority of mine in bed! Still feeling a bit lousy ... Love to all. xoxo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fight4two
    fight4two Member Posts: 146
    edited December 2012

    Still not sure if I can have treatment tomorrow.  Feeling great, but my MO office is still feeling iffy due to my 1.9 WBC count NINE days ago.  Even though I had a 32 WBC count six days ago.  Now they just called asking me to get another blood test. Still won't let me pre-medicate with the dex (makes me so nervous to get the infusion without the usual pre-medication routine).  They said they will just give me the dex through IV IF they decide I can have treatment. Wonder how much they will give me to make up for the 24 mg I haven't taken and the fact that they usually give me some in the IV already!

    Hoping my treatment isn't delayed and that everything goes smoothly.  Second tx went fairly well except for this whole WBC count fiasco!

    Loubar - I get the swollen gland thing too.  Its horrible for a day and then starts to get better.  I have had some actual ear aching too though. Ugh, Taxotere is no fun!

    Caitgrace - hope your fever has gone down.  I tend to get a fever every tx now, but it seems to go down and go away on its own.  Not sure what's up with that.

    Toots and halfcan, we got this!  Tomorrow is going to be a breeze for us!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LouBar
    LouBar Member Posts: 84
    edited December 2012

    So Day 8 and body is feeling less beat-up but I just can't believe how evil taxotere is!  My glands are feeling less swollen thanks for your comments on this flight4two, I was worried about an ear infection.  I also followed caitgrace's advice re. over the counter naproxen, seems better for aching muscles.  Noticing my veins in my hand are looking "burned" today in a couple of spots but my tongue is no longer white.  Not sure if based on SEs my meds will change next time? Not really sure what the Dex does that is good vs. the SEs from the Dex, all this stuff really messes with the digestive system and I don't want more in me than necessary.  I have prided myself throughout tx that by week 2 my walking distance increases and pre-chemo I'm walking 1.5 hours / day, running stairs etc.  I am expecting getting to that point this round will be a tough go.  Po-ke, I think my Christmas day sounded similar to yours, lots of bed time and couch time, hope you are feeling better today.

    flight4two, halfcan, toots wishing you all the best tomorrow...I'll be cheering for you from Ontario and hoping this round will be good for all of you.  Please keep checking in and sharing your experience / advice.  We are expecting lots of snow tonight so great excuse to keep indoors and cozy :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited December 2012

    LouBar-lots of SE's associated with Taxotere that the Dex does help with. Oh, I had the sore neck glands too just below my ear area. Same place?

    I'm not looking forward to the BGC tomorrow at all. I'm rooting for you toots and fight4two that all goes well. I can't hardly stand the thought of feeling like shit again!!!

    Poke - hope you feel better soon!

    Caitgrace - I've gained weight too but trying not to let it bug me.

    Hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Caitgrace
    Caitgrace Member Posts: 48
    edited December 2012

    Hey all, sorry to hear so many of you are feeling poopy during the holidays. My fever hasn't returned-- 3 in the house now with colds so hopefully that was it and I kicked it early. We are now on the road to Santa Fe - I'm determined to have a vacation! Still bothered by my digestive system and my mouth hurts today but small complaints I can deal with.



    All of you please be safe if out in the weather and please let the universe grace you with some ease and peace -- keeping SEs to a minimum and a way to see past your pain to your strength and the miracle of healing. Love to you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jalessi92
    Jalessi92 Member Posts: 22
    edited December 2012

    Hi all! I haven't posted in awhile and thought I'd fill you in on what's going on here. I had a MUGA scan after I completed AC chemo: ejection fraction is 62%! On that same day, Nov 27, I developed pneumonia. I had 8 nights of fevers (101.4) coughing, shortness of breath, heart rate of 133 - 136. My PCP sent me for a chest xray and put me on augmentin, prednisone, and albuterol.



    On December 5, I noticed a hole along my right mastectomy suture line...about the size of a pencil eraser. The PS said it urgently needed to be corrected, so I had outpatient surgery on December 7. He did not want me having any chemo for at least a week, so that put me at Dec 18 to start Taxol and Herceptin.



    I had a hypersensitivity reaction to Taxol. About 5 minutes into the infusion, I felt extreme heat coming from my cheeks, I turned red as a beet, felt chest pressure, shortness of breath, nauseous. The infusion was stopped, I was given an emesis basin, oxygen, another dose of Decadron, and a mg of Ativan. After the SEs subsided, they restarted the Taxol and I had shaking chills. Taxol was discontinued. The Herceptin went in without a hitch.



    The only SE I had after that fiasco (a full dose of herceptin and about 10 minutes of Taxol) was an itchy rash on my face on days 4 and 5. The MO switched me to Abraxane. So, today (Dec 26) I started Abraxane #1 and Herceptin #2. They premedicated me with 25 mg of Benadryl and Decadron. I'll be on Abraxane 3 weeks on and 1 week off, for 4 cycles. I've had no issues so far, but I am nervous about the neuropathy and nail issues. I had a podiatrist suggest Vicks for the nail problems (he said tea tree oil smells really bad, and he recommends rubbing Vicks on the nails instead). He also said that Metanx, a prescription form of B6, B12, and folic acid really helps prevent some of the neuropathy. I'm going to ask my MO, but was wondering if any of you guys had heard of that. (I've been taking 100 mg of B6 daily.) My Mom has type 2 diabetes and she raves about Metanx....it has helped her neuropathy.



    Poke: How are you doing on the Abraxane? Our diagnoses are so similar...



    Wishing you all a happy and HEALTHY New Year!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toots
    Toots Member Posts: 104
    edited December 2012

    Caitgrace - I have gained weight too so far 6.6lbs since I started treatment, but like the diabetes it will get sorted after the cancer is all clear - not going to worry about it before then.............not surprised used to swim every day but banned from the pool due to the infection risks!

    Jalessi92 - sounds like you have not had a good time of it recently honey hope it all improves for you - listening to the advice about the neuropathy - not good with the diabetes anyway x

    Fight4two & Halfcan will all be holding hands later today if not physically............thoughts with both of you and hoping all goes well xx

    Poke - hope all gets better soon and you feel better x

    Hugs to all cheers, to the silver linings - may there be lots of them and may we all remember to go look for them if they are hiding xxxxx

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Poke
    Poke Member Posts: 225
    edited December 2012

    Jalessi - Abraxane has been 100x more tolerable to me than taxotere was. I don't have the constant cramping and the insessant diarrhea. Besides fatigue, nausea, and a bit of intestinal upset it's been a smooth ride for me. I hope it will also be the case for you. I am six days post treatment #4 and I haven't left bed for the last few days ... just so tired. I know this is nothing compared to some of the side effects you all have been having. My labs looked fine yesterday and I'm finally starting to have the nausea subside. I am really starting to get anxious about getting my TE out! They are quite annoying and I can't imagine not having these rocks on my chest :)

    xoxo

    Anyone heard from nbnotes? Hope she's ok.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories