For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

Cold is MUCH better today. I kinda said the heck with it and took NyQuil last night. Boom, out for the count. hehehe There is no aspirin in it, and the antihistime is in the sleeping pills they tell us to take, and the cough part, I was like oh well. Then there was the alcohol <evil grin> I slept like a baby for 5 straight hours. Just a little sniffly today, but spirits are back up.

I feel terrible that you guys have to do herceptin. It's like chemo is over, but it's not, but it is. The tough part anyway. I figure I'll already be a little out of it from chemo, so get it done the next day like the onc said. You guys will get your hair back while on herceptin right? We can have hair chat then lol. Mine keeps trying to grow back between chemo's. Gets to an annoying stubble then quits!

It's another dreary humid day here. Perfect for taking it easy and napping! That's what they told me to do until next week.

Mindy where in Indiana are you?

Paula

Hi Jen, welcome to the TAC thread. It has been so helpful for me these few months and we all can relate. You can read about all our symptoms. The thing about chemo is that you never know how you will feel from one day to the next. Just know you have lots of people here who support you and understand and that can make a world of difference.
Keep posting and ask questions. The first one is always frightening just remember to take care of yourself first.
Hugs
Marcia

Hi everyone,

I start TAC on July 10. It has been informative (and scary) to read of the experiences of those who started this regimen earlier and are now almost finished. I'm glad to see that there are some new people here too, so that we can go through this together.

Darlene

Anyone have trouble with pain in the incision area after chemo? I had full range of motion but after chemo I have trouble lifting my arm. It feel inflammed and tight in the scar.

Darlene and Jen,
Welcome aboard. When you read all of our past posts, remember that no one person had all of these symptoms. Take it one day at a time. The wild part of this ride is that there is no guaranteeing how you'll feel each time. The good news is that you can find out that you're not the only one dealing with the symptoms you have and you will survive. We also allow whining. Some days we just plain feel like complaining.

Jackie

I forgot to add to my earlier post. Quess it is the chemo brain! LOL!
Karen in Denver---- How are you feeling? Hope that you are doing ok

Mindy

Hi Karen, Good to hear from you - have a GREAT time at the beach. Be SURE to get waited on - my DH says I am overdoing as soon as I feel even a little bit better.
Doesn't it feel great to be down to ONE? Leigh

I have noticed that our thread has been quiet the last few days! Hope everyone is doing ok!
Paula- Hope your cold is getting better!

Take Care,

Mindy

Paula, Glad to hear your cold is better. Let us know how the port removal goes and if they at least give you a bullet to bite on when they yank it out ..(j/k) It is raining here too but we needed it.

Mindy, Glad to hear from you. Thanks for helping us keep everyone updated. We need to stick together until we get past this.

Jeannette, Saw the pictures of your vacation place on the link you posted. Looks like you were really in the wilderness, prairie land. I hope you had a good rest.

Molly you had #4 a week ago. Are you doing ok?

Karen/Kburns- I can’t wait for the weight to go away. I hope your ultrasound turned out to be normal.

Karen in Denver, Congrats! Just one more to go. Did they give you any rationale why 25 radiation treatments? Just curious.

Terry Jill how are you doing?

Jackie – Isn’t #2 tomorrow? If so take care and good luck. Perhaps this one will be easier since you have one behind you. (One third of the way! Whoo Hoo!)

Jen – It has been 4 days since your first TAC. How are you feeling?

Leigh- Are you planning on using any special shampoo when the hair gets going again? Have you seen the post on “Help me get through treatment” Hair growth pics a la Karin Stack? Nice to see hair growth documented.

Everyone else on the thread check in now and then if you feel like it. We are going through the toughest chemo! Everyone have a good week.

Hugs,
Marcia

I'm to do 25 rads also. They didn't give me any idea why that number, just told me 5 weeks, 5 days a week lol.

I'm off to do all my "pre-chem" running around. ie: grocery shopping, the bank, wal-mart.. and this time I am taking the dog to the vet for his shots, poor thing.

Paula

Hi everyone,
Getting ready for #5 tomorrow. Got all of my errands done today and tried to work out in the yard a little but the rain and tornado warnings put that to an end. Hubby took me out for a steak and shrimp dinner this evening for my last dinner before my taste buds go crazy on me! LOL
Paula- Just think last one for you tomorrow! Congrats!
Marcia- when do you start radiation and herceptin?
Molly, Jen, TerryJill, Kburns- How area you guys feeling?
Jackie- Good luck with #2
Leigh-How many rads do you have to have? My onc is making my appt with my rad doctor so I am curious to see when I will start.
Jeannette- sounds like you had a nice trip!
Karen in Denver- Just think only 1 more to go!
Everyone take care and I will check in sometime soon!
Mindy

Well, I'm going to try to get a few hours nap before I have to go in today lol it's 3 am here right now! Hope I can get some sleep. But who really cares! It's my last one, and I know I will sleep afterwards! After I hear how my hubby is doing that is. Hope his physical therapy goes all right.

Good luck everyone going in today, think good thoughts, and have lots of hugs!

Paula

Hi TAC Ladies. Great to hear from some of you. As promised I am reporting on my visit to the radiation oncologist today. This was my second visit. I had an initial visit in February. Here is what I learned today.

First off my stats: stage 1 grade 3 IDC micro metastasis surrounding 1cm tumor. Lumpectomy R breast, reexcision clean margins. SNB 5 nodes all negative. ER-/PR-
Her2++. Finished TAC x 6 on 6/14/06

Today I had a CAT scan where they marked my chest with a blue marker and put clear tape over the markings. My rad/onc will calculate the radiation dosage from these measurements. I go back July 11 for an orientation and remarking if needed and start radiation July 12, exactly 4 weeks from my last TAC. I could have started July 5th but I think I needed the time to feel a little stronger. I was told I would have a sunburned appearance toward the end of my treatments. I am to have a 24 +9 protocol. A total of 33 rads. 24 External beam radiations to the entire right breast then 9 boost rads directed to the bed where the tumor was. She told me to start taking glutamine 15 grams BID. She said radiation can swell breast tissue and cause a pitting appearance like an orange peel, and Glutamine can help prevent that. She decreased my vitamin E to 400-500units from the 1000units I had been on and doubled my vitamin B6 -100mg to twice a day. She said my treatments would take about 10 minutes each and to plan to be there about 30 minutes. I was told to wear a shirt that buttons down the front when I came. I am really excited to get this going.

I think my port is twisted under the skin. To be honest I won’t be disappointed if it has to go even though I have about 16 more IV herceptins to go. I won’t have my mammogram until this Friday. I guess I will always get a sick feeling every time I go in for one now.

Hope all is well with those finishing up with their treatments. Keep posting how you are doing. I am one of your biggest fans!
Hugs
Marcia

Yesterday I had my last TAC, good old number 6. They couldn't access my port, they thought it had turned on me, so I just did a regular IV. I had the port taken out about an hour ago, didn't feel a thing except the numbing shot. Didn't even have to knock me out.

I don't think it has hit me yet that I'm done with chemo. I feel tired, and well.. tired. And that's about it so far. Can't excersise, swim or heavy lifting for 5 days. Like I was going to do that after chemo anyway LOL. MY plan is to lay low and recover all week, and weekend.

Anyway I'm falling asleep at my keyboard here, so I'm going to go fall into bed!

Paula

Paula, Congratulations on finishing your TAC as well as getting your port out. If you aren't careful you might start feeling like a healthy person in a couple of weeks.

Take care of yourself and thanks for the update.
Marcia