Starting Chemo February 2013

@LisaMM - I will be joining you at the bar on Wednesday for Chemo 4 - only 2 to go.  I am also scheduled for a blood transfusion next week.  My neutrophils were like at .07.  But as long as I get my extra fluids on Monday after chemo - I am good.   I will also have to get the 6 mg neulasta this time - so that should be a lot of fun. 

@DizzyMom - I also had neutrophy - in my hands and feet, but not as bad as what you are describing.   It seems like my feet are always cold, even when I have two pairs of socks on. 

@To All My Friends from Chemo, February 2013 - We are going to make it -even with tingleing hands and feet, funky finger nails and bald heads, aches and pains from a drug like neulasta -   There have been moments in the past months when I wondered would the pain, fatigue and depression ever stop.  I have come to this board for comfort and support and always found it. 

Spring is a time for renewal and new life - I for one will be so happy to get my life back.  Even though radiation and herceptin for a year will be next. 

Rdrunner - so sorry to hear about your delay. I hope your fever clears and that you will be good to go next week.

Tangles: yes my port will come out during the exchange. I am done with chemo May 15. I do have to double check again with my MO. I like the sound of your injections. Mine don't hurt but they look funny. I got 30 more cc's today and will get 30 more in four weeks. We decided to go a bit bigger! No decision on permanent yet.



Rdrunner: hang in there. Sending you prayers for a quick recovery.

TNmother, it's important to hear from several people, since everybody reacts differently (for example, DH just sent me a news report on Mayo Clinic study showing specific genetic mutations may be linked to developing chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy, a common SE of Taxol).  I started dose dense Taxol last week.  So far for me it means much less nausea, GI burning and fuzzy-headedness than AC, but much more bone pain and fatigue.  I was on Neulasta with AC, but MO said I would not need it for Taxol.  I was not expecting the bone pain to be as bad as it was, since I had only minor twinges from Neulasta.  For me, the pain started on Day 3 and lasted almost constantly through Day 5.  Still some flare ups on Day 6, but Day 7 (so far) has been pretty much pain free.  I haven't had any obvious tingling in my fingers or toes yet.  Felt basically flattened, in terms of fatigue, for most of Days 3 and 4 too and have moments of it still. 

All up, Taxol hasn't been as easy as I expected (my MO said it would be "a walk in the park" compared to AC) but I still prefer it to AC.  I anticipate having maybe a week of feeling normal before the next treatment, whereas on AC I had between 0 and 4 days of feeling relatively normal with reasonable energy levels each round.

I finished 3 FEC treatments and had my first docetaxol 2 Weeks ago. I'm the opposite, I sailed though FEC, a bit nauseated but meds took care of that. With the docetaxol I thought I was fine, but 3 days later I developed the bone pain and was popping Tylenol extra strength every 4 hours and felt no relief. I spent that first night in bed moaning and groaning (not the fun kind!) and crying. Called my MO and got an rx to take at night, thankfully this has helped and I'm able to sleep well. During the day I feel the bone pain but it has lessened to where I don't take anything for it. I have developed neuropathy in both fingers and toes, despite taking B6 and l glutamine. Hopefully this isn't permenant. Despite this, I'm thankful to have powerful drugs to help me beat this cancer!

I went to a Look Good Feel Better program on Tuesday night. If you all haven't been to one, I highly recommend it. It's free and I got some very nice cosmetics and some tips to apply them (including how to draw your eyebrows in- that's a keeper!) and how to tie scarves.

Here is my favorite tip I got was how to make a really nice head covering out of a T-Shirt! (Check out the T-Shirt tie at the link below). I'm wearing one I made right now. Nice and cool and cost me nothing since I had a T-shirt right in my closet. You'll need a large or bigger so you have lots of material to twist.

They have a great website with lots of very good instructional videos: http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/beauty-guide

Tangles: It was the only day I felt good. I called my nurse today because I still have aches (day 9) and they think this cold/congestioin thing is what is doing it as the SE's from Taxol should be nearly gone by day 7. I am not taking Tylenol multil severe cold medicine every four hours to see if I can get rid of this. I am still on schedule for tx as my counts are good and I don't have any infection. I took a two hour nap yesterday and then did 40 minutes of exercises at home. Decided going to the gym while I still have this might not be a good idea. I am hoping to do spin on Sunday if this clears up.

Wildly: I think any exercise you can do is good but does it make the chemo get out of your system faster....I couldn't say. I try my best to exercise every other day (not including the days I feel bad right after tx) even if it's just doing ligth weights in my house. To me it's like telling chemo to kiss my ass!!!!

I have Chemo tomorrow so will see the Doctor. I may just ask her why I am so weak. I have to say I am a bit jealous hearing about you gals exercise. Especially when it was a way of life for me for ten years!! I don't think I will attempt going to the gym even if I feel better as I am so afraid of germs after my long hospital stay, but I would like to be able to go for walks, or bike rides. I agree moving around does help. I try to run a few errands each day or clean a few rooms in my house or do laundry. Although next week will be my sick week so I will just be on the couch. Dreading tonight as last time, night before infusion, I was up until 3:30am! Thank god for the computer to kill time. I have to stop reading up on implants though. I am driving myself crazy with that!!!

you gals that exercise have got my respect.. even on days I feel pretty good, I can't even walk that far - I just lose energy and quite often are short of breath..I do go to work (not for the first 5-6 days after chemo)and can function there fine but its a desk job.

Tangles - hoping for the best for you today..

Good luck with your infusion Tangles. Here's hoping for more energy!



My friend just found a place called The Healing Gardens in Harvard MA if anyone lives in the area. It looks lovely and soon the flowers will be out to enjoy.



Much love my friends.

I just found out that prednisone may have been the cause of such depressing and frankly suicidal thoughts. I was a hot mess. And those thoughts, that person seems so distant. I think I need to tell my MO.

I think the roller coaster ride of emotions is to be expected. We found out we had/have cancer. We had to take chemo and lost our hair our bodies have been butchered. The massive amount of drugs both pre chemo treatment and post not to mention the toxins that are being pumped in with each treatment has got to all take its toll. I spent all of last weekend after my 3rd treatment depressed and just completely messed up! I think we're all doing pretty good considering! I have felt great for the last few days...I'm going to enjoy feeling good until next time. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Tangles - yes the weight gain was unexpected! I managed to gain 8 lbs in 3 weeks.



DiZZyMom - right there with you with the sore fingers. Helping my boys get dressed and buckling car seats - oy!! Found out the hard way that my B-complex didn't have enough B-6, and it seemed to get better after I increased that. But now 4 days post 4th TCH, my fingers are yelling at me again. My poor nails - I'm afraid to touch them.

Glad I have an iPad (but even that hurts to type right now) #firstworldproblem.

McKatherine, I asked my MO about B6 and she told me not to take any more than 100 mg. as taking more can have the opposite effect for neuropathy. I also asked about l glutamine and she said I "could try it". I've been using both and might see a slight decrease in symptoms -or it may be that I'm 2.5 weeks from treatment. I figure since my fingers and toes acted up almost immediately I may as well try what I can to help. Hopefully yours feel better soon!

Wildy: can they give you a lower dose? Ask about anti-depressants. My nurse told me they treat many patients for depression during chemo. You will get through it!!! Stay strong and prayers!