Starting Chemo October 2012

Dear wonderful ladies, hope you are managing your SE well. I am on day 8 post #5, and nothing like this one, really knocked me down with sever nausea, vomiting and diarhea. I went yesterday to the clinic to take fluids via IV and gradually started to feel better.

Happy for those who are having their last chemo soon

halfcan - glad to hear this round is better for you and your temperature didn't elevate requiring any action.  I found with FEC, each round was easier and I adjusted what I did to minimize SEs (i.e. didn't eat pre-treatment) so hopefully the same for me with the T?!  It is odd though given the cumulative effect that it gets better with no adjustment to meds - do you think we just generally manage SE better? I know for this next round I have stocked up on biotene, aleve, ribena and blueberry popsicles  noranelly - I like halfcan get the 8mg Dex twice a day for 3 days - not sure if you can seek another opinion from a MO regarding your options? abbby20 - hope you feel better soon, I had the diarhea for two days this round and in the evening of the second day I had 1/2 an immodium pill - seemed to work and will be doing that sooner this round if necessary.  

My eyes are still watery and the salty tears are really messing up the skin under my eyes.  I have appt. with eye Dr. tomorrow just to make sure nothing to worry about.  My hubby says it looks like I am recovering from having two black eyes....pretty - goes well with my bald head and those scant eyebrows and eyelashes that are just barely hanging on  At least I can say, finally today, day 16, I'm feeling better - off for a long walk.  

FINAL CHEMO TOMORROW, please join me in the Happy Dance tomorrow at 12:30 PST!! Breast Cancer twice in a lifetime is ENOUGH!

Congratulations Rainmaze!!!! Go girl once is enough in any girls lifetime never mind TWICE hearts, prayers and dancing feet will all join you xxxx

......feeling so sorry for myself - it is so good to hear something good........

..........2 more for me before I finish and just hope they get better, temperature has been a little elevated ever since late day 2 feels like someone has unkindly taken a cheesegrater to my ears nose and throat sleeping only if drug induced and when I do spend time throwing blood out of every orifice after where it has just built up.............not eating, diarrhoea has been constant now 4 days, eating/drinking virtually impossible and worried about how much more comes out if I put anything else in......not good at all...........please can only get better..............going to contact my dr/nurse...............

Hopes that everyone is feeling better minimal SEs and some silver linings on the way round xxxx

Congrats Rainmaze - how great for you - enjoy the moment. 

Sorry Toots to hear you are having a tough time.  I have been putting a bit of vaseline up my nose with a q-tip before going to bed which seemed to help with the dryness and bleeding nose.  Hugz to you. 

Thank you all so much for the hugs so appreciated and the hint with the vaseline to stop the bleeding everything just so raw - first of taxotere - wishing it was the last - so good to hear it may get better and not so bad next time............

Son picked up a prescription from dr for some 'gelclair' to help the mouth ........and 'immodium' to try and block up the other end..........drinking water constantly but only through a straw to stop me dehydrating..........

Feeling a little better.......temp still elevated, glass and straw in hand.........

.....thinking of all of you, take care xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Halfcan - I'm doing well - eye Dr. wasn't worried just said to use moisturizing eye drops and to use a warm compress as glands seemed swollen under eyes.  So enjoying my first "good" weekend in 3 weeks and back in for #5 on Wednesday. So, so glad to hear that #2 is better for you, I guess after your next one you are done? I'll have 5 weeks of radiation next. 

Just wanted to pipe in that I'm on my third Taxotere, and each one has gotten easier for me, as well.  The first one was beyond horrible, and the following two have been manageable.  Hoping the trend holds for my fourth (and last!) Taxotere on the 10th.  Also, hoping that my counts are up, so that it can actually be my last tx.

Hello beautiful ladies and happy new year!



Made it through my family vacation to Santa Fe on my feet! All the bots down with a bad cold/flu --but somehow I escaped. It slowed them down enough so I could keep up! Walked ALOT. And though was exhausted at the end of the day, think the walking kept me feeling good. So it was day 7-14... And really except for loosing my ability to taste sweets, and getting a lot of gas (?) didn't have SEs the whole time. Maybe the universe just decided we needed a family vacation?! First and only for 8 years! Aside from weekend trips to the grandparents.



I am saddened to see you all struggling with the taxotere, unsure whether I was just extremely lucky or if it was dosage or maybe that I hadn't been knocked down by other chemo treatment/major surgery.



Congrats to rainmaize and others finishing up, it's weird to still anticipate/steel yourself for the next treatment --and then realize/remind yourself there isn't one. I'm gonna pack up all my "chemo" stuff this weekend.



Hang in there Toots and all struggling with SEs; it's all to survive and won't last forever. I know you all are so strong. Try to find a moment in all the rotten for smiles, love and gratitude. Pet a puppy. Kiss a baby. Watch a raunchy comedian on tv. Watch the snow fall and marvel at the wonder that snowflakes are each perfect and special--just like the women here.



Guess I need to start exploring the anti hormone therapy group and see what this next stage has in store for me. But I'll be around... Xo

Feeling so happy that so many are finishing their chemo amd moving on............it is such great news for all........and the rest of us will get there soon............

Day 10 - much better today even managed some breakfast, everything starting to heal feels so good to almost be back to normal........not quite feeling like I could run a marathon, too exhausted - but at least looking forward to having my grandkids to visit today...........chicken and chips prepared and chocolate cake made for them......................they will love it!

Thanks for all the advice/well wishes when I was at my worst it was just so appreciated...........

Love to all and stay well xxxx

I had my fourth and last AC on December 17th so technically would have started on taxol tomorrow but I'm starting on a different kind of "chemopause" as I wait for Miss Witchy to appear. At 38 weeks, the ultrasound had her estimated weight at 6 lbs 12 ounces on Friday - yay! I am envying you ladies moving on but I'm going to try to just relish this little break and appreciate that some of my strength will be rebuilt (but not sleep apparently!) when I start on taxol & herceptin in February.

Thanks to everyone continuing to share your progress - it really helps to know what others are experiencing. I was very lucky in not having too hard of a time with AC so I just hope this trend continues for me in 2013... 

I am SO happy to see everyone starting to finish up their chemo!  I have my last one on Wed. (but I continue Herceptin til Sept).  I am bringing a cake with a big fat #6 on it!  It's funny to dread something yet want it to arrive quickly! Seems a little warped. (50 shades of chemo...haha!) I see my BS on Thurs to get the details and hopefully a date for my surgery.  Wishing that portion was already over, but glad I got chemo 1st. Incredibly nervous for my pathology after surgery.....then I'll really know how invasive it was.  

I continue to wonder when you're oficially considered a "survivor"......is it after all your treatments, at 5 yrs.....or do you get to wear that badge while you're surviving treatment?  The chemo, the surgeries, the testing, and most of all, the emotional roller coaster you ride! I've been through some sh*t in my life......mom and daughters trying to commit suicide--yes...all 3! (mental illness runs in my family), losing my dad, my husband's affair (he's made this up to me every single day for the last 12 yrs though), 2 major back surgeries.....but this REALLY sucks! I try not to pat myself on the back too often, but I think we all deserve to!  Women are tough! Facing death, staring it down and walking away is something to be proud of.  Congratulations to all of you for going through this with such dignity and strength! And thank you for sharing yourselves so candidly here for the benefit of others!

Sorry...it's the middle of the night and I'm a little goofy.   Love to all & here's hoping for no side effects this week.    ~Andrea

My two cents worth - you're a survivor any day you're on this earth! Claim it and be proud of it!

301724 - response to what is a "survivor" immediately brought tears to my eyes to my eyes too so that must be the answer - thank you so much x

Loubar - I probably only get 'out and about' and only invite friends here for 1 week in 3 - the week before my chemo when I am feeling good.  I must admit wear a wig out in public have tried so many different styles and colours latest is a mass of long blond curls - but only in public...........I know so many people that have been there personally but most of them a long time ago.  Went out this morning with what used to be my aquaearobics club before all this they all have coffee in local hotel after the class and all tell me how well I am looking - you just think they forget to add 'in the circumstances' it hangs in the air, but also put on a bit of a show myself 'mouth sore but I feel fine' sort of thing.......and they only ever see me at my best...........know one lady that used to join us regularly has only been back once in 6 months but she had herself locked in the house and didn't appear anywhere not just with the ladies......would drive me crazy I spend that week doinng and seeing as many people as I can........... but I suppose we all deal with things so differently............if we were all the same it would be really boring! Don't know if my meanderings have helped or made things even more muddied........... sorry x

Hugs and silver linings wished for all xxx