December 2012 chemo group
Comments
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Bren58 ~ nice job with the exercise! I went to the community center today and decided that I had to walk even if I don't have energy (since there seems to be no end to this chemo fatigue). I was able to do 1.5 miles and felt good about doing it. It has been many weeks since I've really tried to exercise. I wish I had your same level of commitment. You are inspiring me......
Welcome Amelia5437. I'm glad you found this site. Chemo is definitely a journey made easier by the women in this community.
Jenjenl ~ wishing you good energy for the bowling birthday tomorrow!
Be well.
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Welcome Amelia,
Gosh you sure do have a lot of information about various blood tests that I have never even heard of . Will have to look those up. As far as scans - I had queried my onc about that prior to chemo and his remark is they do not do them with early stage breast cancer. I even had to push for MRI's of both breasts - so I don't think my insurance could cover a PET scan or CT unless I showed symptoms. I will insist on another set of MRI's though after radiation is done.
The eye twitching I am having is actually eye-lid twitching. It seems to go away when I don't read . When I was out shopping and having dinner this afternoon - eve - it did not happen at all. Hopeully one of those short term side effects.
Hope everyone has nice 3 day weekend with your families. Friend Gwen adn Jen Jen - I admire your crafting ablities - sounds like fun. I had this idea last week that I might leard how to play the guitar this year . Something i've always wanted to do ! We shall see.....
Sandy
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Amelia, my onco said the CA scores bounce around during chemo. She's not going to start monitoring them until my next visit, which will be 6 weeks PFC. She said once score above the reference range isn't necessarily a major concern, and that to be higher in the reference range is perfectly normal for some people. She said they look for a pattern, so if you are 25, 15, 30, 22, then jump to 80 and stay high then they might dig deeper.
As far as having scans after treatment, my onco doesn't normally do them either. Although, I DID have one because there were spots on my lung and liver on the initial scan so we had to follow up on those to see if they were nodules or mets. But my onco said palpation will be the best screening tool, since I have no breast tissue left and expanders/implants then any potential recurrence will likely be near the skin and easy to feel. Plus, they do the blood work also.
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Yep, I have the eye twitching, too, and have from the very first treatment. It has settled mostly in one eye now. And my vision is pretty blurry at times, too.
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I have the twitching... I posted a couple of weeks ago about it. Except mine is moving to other parts of my body. My lids will actually close they twitch so hard, all day long now, and under my eyes and by my lips, now it is in my calves and in my feet and in my hands and fingers... it started just a little and now does it constantly... it is so annoying... mostly my eyes, when they close.... and my vision is horrible... wearing +2.50 on top of my contacts and vision is still blurry.... thank god I am done so hopefully some of this will start to go back to normal soon... this last chemo kicked my ass again.. and still is... need some normalcy....from my pre cancer life....
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Wow - it must be the Taxotere ! Glad I'm not the only one.
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Hi ladies,
Yup, I have the eye twitching and the eye watering as well. My onc said muscle spasms are common on TC and the eye is a muscle too, so there it is. It's annoying as heck at times and I really hope it subsides after chemo is completed. I gave up mascara and I walk around with a pocket full of tissues...
Amelia welcome to the boards. This is a wonderful group of ladies and we share lots of info on this thread. I am not sure what all of your numbers mean as my onc has not shared that with me. We have only talked about my WBC and my readiness for each round of chemo at my appts. Perhaps the other ladies can share more with you on that.
steiner18- I have also gained weight from the TC which is very annoying. I was a pilates lover and pretty fit before my diagnosis but I haven't worked out other than a yoga class here and there since October. So that leaves walking and it was 26 degrees here yesterday, so that eliminated walking for the day... Let's stay focused on losing the cancer and then losing the weight. One thing at a time, right? I am told that rads are not as tough on the body so maybe I will be able to workout more once chemo is finished and the weather is warmer.
I am very excited that my last TC is this Friday - Woo hoo!!! and I am hopeful that the SE's aren't too bad. It would be nice to finish strong.
I hope you all are well and your SE's are treating you well today.
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Donster and Steiner: Yeah, I have a bit of TC weight gain too. I think I'm up about four pounds so that would be a pound per infusion. I have cut way back on exercise and I eat whatever satisfies especially during the no tastebud time. But like Donster says one thing at a time. I know I feel better when I exercise but I'm having a little pyschological thing going on. I worry that my wig will fall off or go askew while at the gym! I could also be taking a weekly yoga class where I work but don't for the same reason. Today my coworkers are starting a couch to 5K running program and although I'd like to go ... it's a little intimidating given my treatments and SEs.
New SE this morning... my nails hurt. Ugh.
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Hello ladies! I belly up to the TC bar today, for the last time ever! My feelings are complicated, since I am SO ready to be done with this chemo crap. But I dread going back into the cave and feeling like hell again. I felt great this last weekend and full of energy. It was almost like I had never been diagnosed with cancer. It gives me hope that normal life will return when we get thru this. I am hoping my MO will answer some of my questions about starting radiation. I sure hope it's easier than the chemo.
I took photos of my bald self with my two brothers this weekend. The resemblance between us is very noticeable when I don't have hair! I think that is the first pic I have taken of my bald head. For posterity.
Time to get ready for my trip to the bar. Wish me luck! -
MTJulie - Good luck today! I wish you an easy week of SE's. I admit I am smiling everytime someone finishes with their chemo. Much to celebrate as we all near the end of this protocol.
FriendGwen- the nail thing - I found darker polishes made my nails tingle, but the sheer shades and french manicures have all been fine. I hope this works for you too.
My yoga class is through Life with Cancer and it is offered at the hospital nearby my house. I go with a scarf on my head but some of the ladies show up bald. I wish I could do that. Maybe in the weeks ahead I will own by baldness in public...not quite yet...
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MTJulie, I am so glad you are finishing TC today! I hope all goes well and tht your SE's will be manageable and mild and you will be well on your way to feeling "normal" again.
My nails only hurt that day after tx, but I am icing them during the taxorere part of the infusion.
About the weight gain. I have put on about 10 pounds, but that just brings me up to what I was before dx. I had lost about that much between dx and first tx. 2 more tx's to go, so I am hoping not to put on any more weight.
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Mt Julie - big congrats to u on your final Tx - woo hoo . I know what u mean about not wanting to go back in " the chemo cave " but at least now it is with the confidence that this is the last time and it will only get better from there !
Donster - I am one week behind u - it will be my last on 2/28 !!
Nails - I have not had any problems on little fingers or little toes . But I am ingesting double the amount of fat free yoghurt and milk than before starting tx - ao wonder if that is making them stronger ?
I had to get up in middle of night to take ibu - I have a low grade fever again - It has hit days 9-12 on previous 2 cycles - like my mo says I just " run hot " at that time I guess
Got lots of reading to do today - book club book " gone girl " is really good o far and my Beth Moore Bible Study workbook !
Wishing all a food day
Sandy -
Sandra, hmm...I have been waking up hot at night the last couple nights. My husband even commented last night that my forehead felt warm. And I'm about 13 days out today. I wonder if it's treatment related.
Donster and MTJulie, congrats on reaching the near end! I know what you mean about mentally preparing yourself for the last one while at the same time being relieved that the end is in sight. If it's any help for you, my last one was not my worst.
Went to the chiropractor today. My first adjustment since November, I was long overdue. Hard to get a good adjustment since I can't lay flat on the table face down due to my TEs. I may have to go back a couple more times to get some relief from this kink in my neck--it's been giving me headaches.
Feeling so swollen, bloated, beached whale-like. I hope the weight drops off soon. I am also mid-menstrual cycle so I know that's probably part of it too. I've got two weddings this spring that I intend to be in better shape for. I'm a bridesmaid in my SIL wedding in April, and my cousin gets married in May. Hopefully my TEs will be more expanded by then and will help me look more proportional.
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I am so wild bc of the steriods...I tell people not to call Monday night bc it's dangerous. House is clean from top to bottom, kids are asleep, ate dinner, took my sleepy pill and ready for round 4 of 6.
Today I ate lunch with a friend I met through chemo. It was her 3rd round on my 1st. She is TN like me and on same treatment. It was so nice to see her looking good and happy. She said in the last two weeks her eyelashes and eyebrown went.
I had a really good day, don't get many of them so enjoying while it lasts.
Good night my friends.
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Hey Jen Jen - so glad you got to have a nice lunch with a friend on this same journey - I think friends and stayging connected socially is so important to our self esteem and recovery . Good luck on your TX tomarrow - you are getting closer to the finish line
Steiner - it is so weird - I feel like I have a temp - but the thermometer says I don't . But I have this ache in my bones - almost like my marrow is working overtime to generate those wbc. Since I do not get the neulasta or neupogen shots - I hope my marrow does a good job
. These cycles for me are so up and down - I went on a 3 mile walk Saturday with GF - and then Sunday and today ( days 11 & 12 ) I feel like crapola !! -
On a lighter note - I've been using the Brian Joseph coniditioning on my brows and lashes and they do seem to be holding on and looking quite conditioned.
Has anyone else had good luck with this product ?
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Ugh - I am wide awake
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jenjen, I hope all goes well today with your tx. I am right behind you tomorrow with #5.
I want to get these treatments over with, but I am not looking forward to them. The last one was the worst so far and I feel like my stomach never really fully recovered. I am still taking the prilosec, but I feel like I have to use tums a couple times a day also.
Seiner, I hope the Chiropractor can give you full relief and the headaches will go away. Now that your chemo is over, hopefully it will be easier to shed the steroid/chemo weight.
Sandra, I have been using the Brian Joseph gel since a week before tx started. So far my lashes and brows have only thinned a bit. I did stop using it on my lashes because of all the tearing. I figure why waste it on my lashes when it just gets washed off with the tears minutes after I apply it! Hopefully my lashes will hold on through the last 2 tx's.
Hope everyone had a good day. We have an appt with a new BS to see what his opinion is about taking out the lymph nodes in my axilla. For me the chemo decision was a no brainer. The decisions about lymph node surgery and rads are much more complicated
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Bren - I'll be doing radiation after chemo. There was some discussion of surgery but in the end I decided the 20 minute of rads per day for six weeks was probably less annoying and with less chance of lymphoma. That was where I ended up. I hope it will prove to be the right decision but who knows!
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Bren58- I also had a positive sentinel node result from my surgery. Like FriendGwen I will be doing radiation after chemo. We came to this decision with my oncologist, breast surgeon and radiologist. My plastic surgeon was sort of bummed out. as the final result of the implants will probably not be as lovely as it would have been without the rads but what the heck, it's about getting healthy. And at 49, a wonderful husband and 3 children later, it's not about the beautiful boobs anymore...
I had a very, very narrow clean margin after my mastectomy so the doctors felt radiation was in order for cleaning that up. My sentinel node was also positive but I personally did not want to go through another surgery to remove additional nodes. There are risks involved in all that we do.
You've been through this before. Talk with your doctors, ask all your questions, make sure you are comfortable with your decision. It is a very personal decision in the end.
I wish you a restful evening.
Donna
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jenjen, I've made many new friends at the cancer center. One of them is young like me (well actually all of them are young, none older than 45), but we've become good friends through this. She brought me over a goodie bag after my 3rd chemo full of lotion, chapstick, bath salts, candy, magazines, etc... And I set her up a Meal Train account to help get her through chemo. It's nice to have someone going through it with you who fully understands what you are experiencing! I hope your treatment today went without a hitch and your SE are minimal....and that you can get some SLEEP
Sandra, I got really achy bones too after my 3rd tx but not my 4th one. But I also attributed it to my marrow trying to produce more WBC. Like you, I have not received Neulasta, although my neutrophils did get very low with my last 2 txs.
Bren, best wishes for you as you meet with your surgeon and try to decide on surgery. And also with rads.
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Donster - I will be doing radiation too . I think one ( that is doing rads ) of us needs to start or join a rads board . Any ideas . I think mine will start in April as they said I will have one month off after chemom. Your profile says 3 d conforming radiation - is that something special - he 3d part ? I have only started to educate myself about the radiation part ....
Steiner - it is so good to know someone else does not get the neulasta shots or neupogen shots and that they have the aches mid cycle . Does your MO do your blood counts mid cycle ? Mine does not - only rhe day before rhe next chemo. I am so surprised by the variance in protocols for the blood boosting shots - I asked if I cold,get them and they said because my counts were normal or even high ( WBC was high before tx#3) they would not give them to me .
Bren - yes best to you on your meet with the surgeon . You are such a kind hearted lady to all of us (((hugs )))) -
Well, I am day 3 after my last treatment and am feeling better than I did at this point last time. My tongue is starting to get funky, but I must say that my attitude is way better knowing that I don't have to go back and do it again in 3 weeks! There really is a light at the end of this tunnel and I can see it from here! So hang in there you ladies that have further to go. Good health and better days are ahead!
I also will be doing radiation. I haven't talked to a radiologist yet so don't know when exactly that will begin. I am interested in the study in which they did it for 3 weeks with more rads per time. I will have to travel 2 hours one way for treatment so that would be nice if I could shorten it some. My MO discussed it but said it would be up to the radiation doc. I also had one positive node so I guess that raises some questions. And since I only had 3 nodes removed, do they radiate my lymph node area? I have not done much reading about it yet.
I never received the neupogen shots either. I had blood work one half hour before my appt with the MO and if my numbers were good, which they always were, I had the infusion. But i am not getting the dose dense treatment. There sure is a wide range of ways to treat this nasty thing, I guess. -
I am back from tx#5. After 4 treatments with no problems at all, this time around I had a reaction during the carboplatin bag!! My fingers got really itchy, numb and hot. When I told the nurse she immediatley stopped the drip and called the Dr. He said to stop the infusion and go straight to the flush since it was the last chemo bag of tx. I have been home a couple hours and the itchy, numbness is starting to go away, but the nurse said it could take several days or may be permanent. It is my dominant hand too! Always something.
I had my appt with the BS's. Both think I need to have the ALND surgery and rads. The pathologist for BS #2 not only saw the Triple positive cancer in the lymph node that was taken out but also saw DCIS in the remaining breast tissue left from the BMX in 2000. I still have to meet with the RO, but it looks like it is going to be a long year!
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Bren58 ~ So sorry to hear about your reaction to #5 and the pathology findings! That's a lot of difficult news to digest in one week!! You have really impressed me with your acceptance of the treatment experience, and I hope that you are able to find peace with the long year ahead. Are you done with the chemo chapter of your treatment?? (I didn't know if the reference to "last chemo bag of tx" means that you are done??)
Wishing you much peace and much strength and LOADS of support as you move forward.
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Nicole, I still have one more chemo to do. It was just the last of a long line of bags for today.
I guess I will be joining the surgery boards, the rads boards, then lymphedema boards and finally the "I want to kill myself board". Just kidding about the last one!
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Finally got to see the radiation Dr today, I will be starting my radiation next Monday just two and a half weeks after my last chemo treatment, and will do seven weeks 35 treatments. Will let you know how it goes...
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Judaday, glad you are able to move on the next phase of treament. Hope all goes well for you!
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Bren58 - you have had quite a week. I am sorry for that. Hang in there and take good care of yourself and let others take care of you too.
My little guy said to me months ago, "Mommy, do whatever the doctors tell you to do. No matter what it takes, you get better". That has been my mantra since my diagnosis. I hope this helps you today as well.
Stay strong... Come in off the ledge.
I am thinking good thoughts for you today and sending you a ((hug)).
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Bren - I am also sorry to hear you have to go for the additional mode surgery . But I guess you can be content that the dr's are doing what is needed to make sure you thrive in the future . When I was contemplating whether to do the chemo I called my BS who I respected and trusted (and who did a great job ) and asked his opinion - he said i needed to ask myself rhe question if in 5 or 10 years it comes back and I did not do the chemo would I have regretted of I did not do the chemo ? I think the same could apply to your situation . Auou are a strong lady and you will get though this and be well
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Mt Julie - Congrats on crossing the finish line - woo hoo !!!! I will be right behind u - and I am supposedly either driving or flying so So Cal on 3/14 to visit 2 colleges with my son so I better be ok ( may wear a mask if I fly though )
Judady - I am also doing rads and may ask to only have a 2 week break after chemo instead of a month - my rads doc also recommended rhe long course of rads - 15 mims a day 5 days a week for 5 weeks and then a boost to the lumpectomy area at the end . She said there is the option of a shorter course but she would recommend rhe linger one for me . I have not done a lot of research but plan to . Will u be joining a rads thread ?? Let me know and I will join the same one
wishing all a good low SE day '
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