Starting Chemo February 2013

Ladies, with all of the lotioning you need to do after rads sessions, were any of you able to fit the session in the middle of a work day? I have visions of returning to work all greasy and yucky.

Sorry Dizzy. I was on another thread earlier.

My 4th chemo has been a tough one on me. I am running a fever longer each time I have an infusion. My highest was this morning about 5:30am-it ran 102.5. Plus a dry cough & irritated throat. Called my onco & he wants me to ride out the fever for another day or 2 unless I have some worse or new symptoms. Also he wants me to start taking a cough gel pill. I'm pretty uncomfortable!

The fatigue & the amount of time to spring back has also increased. With 2 more to go, i am a lil worried. stay tuned!

congrats Nancy on your final Chemo!!!! I cant wait to say that. May 24th as long as I stay well. Hubby and son have colds so I am sanitizing like mad! I too have odd pain once in awhile in the front of the thigh?? Day 5 today and feel pretty good, but I am going to stay down today & the rest of the week. I have learned my lesson, its too early if I start doing things around the house I will be in tears by this afternoon. Even though the fatigue seems to get worse with each infusion the other side effects seem better so I am grateful for that at least.......

Rdrunner - I am really sorry to hear what you are going through. You have been in my thoughts.

Melody46: next week is round 4 for me also. I can't wait to be that much closer to being done. Last round is the first week of June and then vacation to celebrate the 3rd week of June. I'm so ready to be done and get on to some normalcy...after 33 rad treatments that is!



Congratulations to all of you finishing up soon!! I can't even imagine the sense of relief!! Hope you all get to do something nice for yourself and celebrate!

I can't find the post and it very well may have been on another board but someone asked about the difference between taxol and abraxane. I was going to try to explain but I found this article that does it so much better. http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-abraxane-and-taxol/



Basically from everything I have read and the studies I have found AND from talking to my friend at a genetics lab, Abraxane is in a nontoxic carrier and works better but is more expensive. So, unless you can't handle Taxol because of severe allergic reaction or you have mets, insurance probably won't cover it.

IamNancy, congratulations on your last chemo!



Rdrunner, very sorry to hear about difficulties and hope everything works out well for you.



I'm having Taxol #2 today and hoping the bone pain won't be as bad as last time. They had trouble with my port again today. This time, couldn't get a blood draw from it at all. The good news is that MO says they will take it out after last treatment - I thought they mighty leave it in, fearing risk of recurrence. It hasn't really caused me any discomfort, other than for the first few days - but I'll still be glad to be rid of it.

Well it seems prednisone is my friend big time. Fever is gone thank you very much. Only problem is now it seems to have gone in the other direction. It was 33.6 C this morning and now is 35C. Still wrecked tired and shortage of breath. Had chest CT scan this morning and have pulmonary function test this afternoon. See internist on Tuesday.

I will say it's not all bad though. The amount of people rallying together to help out any way they can is awesome.

And your news is good too Rdrunner, happy to hear you're getting better!

I want to plan a trip so bad! I think I need to get through my exchange, find out what my Rads schedule will be. I finally decided on an implant today. After much sleepless nights over these new gummy implants and a 30 Min conversation with the PS,I have decided not to go wit them. Only bad thing is it means I now have to overfill. So weather I feel Ok tomorrow or not I guess I need to get in there and get a fill. PS said I need to be done with fills 6 weeks before exchange and I don't like large fills so I need to get moving on this.

Had onco visit today with hives/drug rash on arms,upper legs and back. Turns out after 3 big chair rounds I'm allergic to Taxotere. Now switching to Taxol for my 4th round + cytoxan (and then taxol weekly) until done June 10th. Does anyone know if there is a better drug than Taxol? I think its old school. Not happy to start a new drug, but open to group insight. My bloodwork is good, going to work 2 out of 3 weeks. And getting breast recon July 15th, followed by radiation. Plastics dr was concerned rads would interfere with healing. I'm happy for new boob and lift/reduction on other side.

Lalady - look at the link I posted about taxol and abraxane.



In other news I have a friend who told me yesterday about a study that kills cancer cells (every kind) with 100% success rate. It's in preliminary studies right now but it's something as a light for our path as we finish up treatment and do everything in our power to lessen the chance of a recurrence. Just thought I would share to add a little more hope to our futures and the people we love.

Edit...i forgot to add that it only targets cancer cells. So it leaves our own alone! .

Infusion cancelled today because hospital went on lock down. Was rescheduled for tomorrow. Then cancelled again when I told her of the bad thoughts I had. She said its a steroid crash (included more detail) but affects everyone differently. They are going to discuss a different chemo that doesn't require steroids. Meeting with MO next week. I can't say I am disappointed. I think they are going to do Abraxane.

wildlyshel... sad that boston was on lockdown, however, I really hope things work out better for you with new chemo treatment.