Starting Chemo October 2012

i agree!

i finish chemo on march 7 ... and my eldest daughter id due with her second child on march 9th!!

what a great way to end chemo...

Well I am officially PFC!  Last of 4 rounds yesterday of TC.  Met with the radiation onc today and will start radiation on 1/28 for 33 treatments.  She said the last 8 will be boosts.  So I am off to that discussion board.  Will check in periodically with all my friends.  Good luck and hang in there.  Thank you for all the help and support and I may see some of you on the radiation winter boards!  Hugs

I agree....any day we wake up we're survivors! Very smart!

Loubar- I do the same thing. I passed a woman in the grocery store with a hat & we both kinda looked at each other and had that "I know what you're going through" exchange but neither of us said anything.  I was at the grocery store again and the sweetest older woman tapped me on the shoulder. She asked if it was too rude to ask why I was wearing the hat. I assured her it was fine and told her. She said she asked because she was a lung cancer survivor and she just wanted to encourage me and let me know I could get to the other side.  I thought it was sweet.  I live in the south, so people are more forward.  They just want to say, "bless your heart" and wish you well.   Other than that.....I don't see anyone...especially no one my age.

Marlene- best of luck with your little one. YOU are SO strong!  To get through all of this all while pregnant! You're amazing, and your little one is already a tough little fighter! 

Halfcan- I have the same thing....but mine is in my thighs.  I can't walk for too long, and just getting up the stairs is awful.  I have to stop half way up and let my thighs scream, then do the same at the top.  Hoping it'll pass for both of us!

Toots-thanks for all your uplifting words!

I'll continue to peek in.....almost feels like we're graduating and going different directions.   I wish everyone the best! Low side effects and time passing quickly.  I pray we all make it through without any recurrence!!!  NED (no evidence of disease) needs to become our constant companion!  My chemo is done (herceptin until Sept. though)....I'm off to the surgery thread.  Thanks and love to all!

Congratulations to everyone that is 'getting there' and heading out of chemo whoohoo!

301724 - enjoy the vacation - come back rested and rejuvenated!

My next taxotere is due 17th - next Thursday - saw oncologist last night and because I was so ill from the last one he was really concerned - result he is going to do a reduction from 175 mg to 140 mg on the next!

Just getting back to almost normal now, eyes still runny, sore and 'gritty' still constant noise in ears hard to describe - when my kids were young I would tell them to put a shell to their ears and 'listen to the sea' that is the constant noise in my ears although when it was at its worse is went up to a high pitched whistle!

We discussed radiotherapy, last Taxotere 7th Feb, he wants me to have a bone scan when I have done, then 4 weeks free before rads start............not looking forward to that - 74 mile drive to hospital and back every weekday for 3 weeks........concerns me more than the rads LOL

Prayers for all and I hope there are lots and lots of silver linings for everyone. Take care and lots of hugs xxxx

Hello everyone- sounds like a lot of folks are getting ready to be done with this phase of treatment! Yay team! For those still finishing up -- stay strong and joyful as the completion date is coming!



I've drawn so much inspiration from all on this discussion board. Now it's hard to leave...but guess I need to seek out info on the tamoxifen (read some the other morning and was happy someone here started a board talking about all the people who have few side effects cuz it was starting to look pretty awful).



I'll keep all you travelers for radiation in my prayers and thoughts. I was so blessed to go through radiation on the "partial/concentrated" course. 5 days straight twice a day; but that's it. The St. Louis cancer center had apartments and dorm- like rooms for people staying in town during treatment. I know not always an option ...



For me the hard part of radiation was anxiety about placement or the equipment possibly malfunctioning or people forgetting me etc. I found myself counting, and because I was anxious I would count faster so it would seem like they were zapping me longer...by the end I was a wreck. Lol so remember to breathe! They do have so many safe guards I shouldn't have worried ...



I've been a bit down, which I read happens often at the end of the treatment...definitely Halfcan, I have the same thing where my arms get so fricking tired ... But try to push and move . By the end of the day bed is SO nice, I miss my midday naps but need to work etc now. Knowing I was lucky to not have to over the last few months.



All my live and wishes for continued endurance as you push to the finish line, ladies! May Kali-Ma give you the strength, protect you from all that is hard and wicked, raise you up to feel the light and the wonder in this life, and reveal all the blessings you have everyday!

My last treatment is this coming Monday. I am so relieved to have reached the end of this process and looking forward to moving on to Radiation and completing that as well.  I haven't posted a lot on this site but I check in often and get much encouragement and support even though I am the silent type. Thank you all and I will see some of you on the radiation board, etc.

Cheers,

Poke - at the center in St. Louis - the nurses all threw confetti so I wouldn't worry too much as long as its in your area!

Loubar - still took my anti-nausea so think it is just one of the SEs from the Taxotere?

Love to all xxxxx

Wooohoooo Halfcan - with you tomorrow with confetti and cake  

Had my last chemo today WOOHOO!!!!   Sorry that I've been primarily reading and not posting for the last few weeks, but I am very happy to be done with chemo for now. 

Halfcan -- Congrats on ending your treatment tomorrow!  My nurses made fun of me b/c my blood pressure was reflecting that I was excited that it was the last treatment, but I brought them brownies so they couldn't make fun of me too much

YAY!! so happy you girls are finished ...

gives me hope lol

doing taxol TX today... after today 7 more to go...seems like forever!!

woohooo nbnotes - cake and confetti for you as well...  hope you and halfcan find the last one is the best one with the fewest side effects!  Amazing how we adapt to manage the SEs...keep us posted, good news is great to hear!

celineflower - those seven more will go by and soon you will be celebrating, do you have more sessions as you haven't had surgery? have you made any decisions re your surgery yet or still deciding.  For what it is worth, your body has been through a lot perhaps consider what will be easiest from a recovery perspective if there is no difference from a prognosis perspective.  I had a the partial mastectomy and despite it still being a bit hard (scar tissue?) I recovered fairly fast and without significant pain.   Just be kind to yourself, you deserve it xx

poke - how are you doing post #5? although I'm lethargic I am much better than #4...I"m usually dreading the next one but this time I"m so ready to get it over with....we're almost at the finish line woooohooo:)

Hooray halfcan!!!!!



Loubar: I'm on day 5 post #5 and I'm just in bed. So tired. Slight cramps and a little nausea but tolerable for sure. Just so tiiiiiired!!! ONE MORE!