April 2013 Chemo Group

I haven't noticed any difference in eyes watering, but I have lots of twitching around my eyes -usually at the most inopportune times.

Virginger, I am sorry about the tooth, but maybe you can get some relief. Nothing fun about tooth aches.

I have the next infusion on June 3 - number 3. Already trying to pump myself up for it. Whoever made the comment about going from calm to bitch in nothing flat had me described to a T. Hate that. In fact, I would have to say that the depression and mood swings were the worst SE for me this last time. I didn't feel very good for a few days and couldn't sleep.

It sounds like each of these rounds gets a little rougher. Or at least they get different. Hang in there, bc warriors. Every day one day closer to being on the other side of this fight!

Hey thanks you guys! I do feel 100% better, thank the gods for antibiotics!

My hair is FINALLY deciding to leave my head a bit more, it's taken long enough!
I want some shiny chrome dome action before this next month is over.
I might go shop for another silly wig this week while I have the energy before the next infusion of evil on Tuesday.

Hope everyone is hanging in there.. I keep reminding myself this isn't forever although it sure seems like at times.

Anne,

So happy you get to see your daughter!!! If their are tears they will be joyful.



My Taxol is dose dense so I get it every two weeks. Had some major roid rage yesterday with my first treatment but that worked in my favor. Never seen the kids jump up to do chores so quickly.



I have 3 more after this - last treatment is July 9. Still have 3 surgeries ahead of me but hey I figure surgery is the light at the end of the tunnel. New boobies yay.



Hope you have a wonderful visit with your daughter!!

Yipes!  Don't do what I just did!! I read up on SE of my next chemo and biologic therapy scheduled for the end of June (Taxol & Herceptin). Don't know if it makes me want to exercise to get my heart in shape, or to rest more so it won't be taxed as much!!

Daffy - Congrats on being done with the AC! I had my first round of DD Taxol yesterday. I feel pretty good today - and I've needed no nausea meds. Hopefully ill never see another Zofran again! I have a normal appetite and love that I seem to be able to take in liquids just fine. Ill try to keep you updated as the days progress. My doc says to expect some leg and hip pain. So far none. She gave me direction on taking L-Glutamine to help with the Nuropothy SE's.



I was so really nervous about starting a new treatment but I have a feeling this is going better than AC ever did.

Anne11595 and Katie....I hope that you have a wonderful visit with your loved ones.  Katie, my children are 30 and 34 and I still pay for their plane tickets.   LOL.  They both get very irritated about that so I take this tactic...."The tickets are for our grandchildren, surely you wouldn't want to deprive your own children?"  It works every time.  Like you, I am very proud of my grown children and they are both such a comfort to me during this time.  (It doesn't hurt to have 3 terrific grandsons too) Enjoy the hugs!!!

Kimham- I was telling the nurse while I was waiting on my labs this morning that my good arm was swollen over the weekend and that I have had incessant pain/pressure around my port (the port from hell). I got sent all over the center to be poked and prodded and ended up with a vascular ultra sound. The verdict was blood clots. Seriously? Another thing gone wrong. I was prescribed blood thinners and have to give myself shots for the next ten days until the pills kick in. The only parting wisdom I was given was if you have chest pain, go to the ER immediately, IMMEDIATELY. This was not comforting and I have not found any other info on my own yet. I will let you know if I do.



Has anyone had their follow up mammo and sono yet?

Pugmom - I believe they call them "Taxotears". Seems it's a SE from Taxotere. I had them for a few days but they have subsided. I've heard eyelashes and eyebrows fall out after chemo is finished.



My last treatment is Monday and I can't wait to get it over with. #3 kicked my butt.

Pugmom, I have had the eye tearing the entire time on A/C, not Taxotere, so I think the eye thing may be universal to chemo?

Well, looks like I am stuck in chemo-land. I saw my oncologist today believing that after my Adriamycin/Cytoxan - 4 rounds, I would be having surgery, then commencing with Taxol and Herceptin post-surgery. He has decided he does not feel my tumors have shrunk enough, and so I am getting ALL my chemo pre-surgery - start Taxol next week. I am so sad, I really prayed for a break from chemo, even if by surgery. Plus, with my daughter out of school, it was ideal MTX time. Mostly I am just frustrated that maybe the A/C did not do its job? I will be getting another MRI to check for any progress, God willing some shrinkage. He did tell me if 1) the tumors have grown or 2) they confirm heart damage from the Adriamycin, then they will proceed with surgery. Barring that, no deal. He told me the Taxol/Herceptin treatment is not as grueling, so I am really hoping that to be the case. God, I am so bummed out I cannot even convey it..I just NEED this cancer out of me, it is starting to feel like desperation, it still hurts which is a daily reminder of this insidious cancer working its magic. OK, enough! Can't change it, so gotta roll with it.

Chemogate 5/30/2013

Introducing Grant Imahara as Dr. Why, Dr. J’s associate MO

Previously on Chemogate : Our tortured heroine has recently agonized over two questions: had Dr. D, the plastic surgeon, seen her uncapped and balding after the disrobing debacle a few weeks before? And, what exactly was the nature of the mysterious back pain she was experiencing: old arch enemy or new dreaded malice?

This episode of Chemogate  brought to you by Chemowax: the only hair remover made from the finest wax impregnated with powerful hair-removing chemo drugs. Guaranteed to remove unwanted hair all over your entire body, from head to toes, and even inside your nose. [Not guaranteed to remove all hair from all body parts. Some body parts may experience only partial and/or patchy hair loss. Note that hair loss may include some wanted hair, such as eyebrows and lashes.  Side effects may include, but are not limited to, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, rashes, and loss of immune system.] 

We find our heroine getting another fill at the office of Dr. D, the plastic surgeon. As he injects another 50 ccs of saline into the ever-enlarging proto-breast, Dr. D makes small talk, “So, um, have you experienced any of that hair loss yet?” To this, the stunned Pamela Kay can only reply, “Yes, I have.” While she is quite perplexed that Dr. D apparently has not only hamburger blindness, but hat and scarf blindness as well, she finds some comfort in finally getting the answer to the question that has plagued her since the time several weeks before when she had to choose between covering her balding, wispy-haired top and her bare chest. Pamela Kay now knows for certain that she had covered her head before Dr. D opened the door enough to see that, indeed, she had definitely experienced that hair loss thing.

This week, our heroine’s trusty medical oncologist is on vacation, and Pamela Kay’s pre-chemo check is performed by Dr. J's associate, Dr. Why. After a thorough exam, Dr. Why spies a problem on Pamela Kay’s lab report done the previous week. “Ah,” he exclaims, “your blood plasma is at 106. That’s pretty low, and it could be even lower now! Let’s check it again and see what it is today.” Our suddenly despondent heroine trudges down the hall to the nurses’ station to get her finger pricked. Soon the results are in, “Blood plasma is 84, that’s way too low for chemo today.”

Seeing the look on Pamela Kay’s face, Dr. Why, correctly interpreting it to mean that, come hell or high water, our heroine will get her chemo today, even if she has to mug some healthy-looking passerby for a blood transfusion, comes up with an alternative. “Let’s do a blood draw from your port and send it over to the hospital for a second try.”

An hour or so later the results are in. The jubilant Dr. Why comes up to Pamela Kay and announces, with some apparent relief, “It’s 114! Chemo is on!” Happily ignoring the possible reasons for the 30 point spread between the two draws done ½ hour apart, our heroine gets hooked up to the IV.

A few hours later, having been transfused with three premeds, two tubes of the ruby-colored Adriamycin, and a bag of Cytoxan, our heroine stops in at the restroom for some needed relief. Observing the effects of the Adriamycin as she flushes the toilet, Pamela Kay jubilantly realizes that perhaps pink ribbons are used to symbolize breast cancer awareness for a much better reason than the trite “pink is for girls”/”breast cancer is for women” connection.

Next week on Chemogate: Between more visits to the handsome chiropractor, Dr. Cartwheels, and a follow-up with her accomplished breast surgeon, Dr. Smallnick, Pamela Kay hopes to banish any lurking concerns about the nagging back pain that has been plaguing her for the last three weeks.   

Heather, I am so very sorry that your surgery is delayed, especially since you are needing a break. The waiting is so very, very hard and it sucks! I hate cancer, but I love the medicine that kills it, whether that is chemo, surgery, radiation, anti hormonals. As you start this next cancer-killing treatment, big hugs to you. We are here for you.

Sandra

Heather, I'm so sorry you did not get the news you wanted.  If it helps at all, my MO originally thought I'd do the same with having surgery between chemos.  When I saw my 2nd opinion, she thought that was not right from both a treatment plan AND an emotional standpoint.  All it took was for her to say why have hair start growing back to then likely lose it all again and I was sold:)  Also, when I mapped out the course of treatment, getting all the chemo done, then surgery is likely going to shorten treatment, if even by a couple weeks.  I'm all for that, even tho I KNOW how much a break from chemo is wanted!!!!!!

Also, I was told not to necessarily expect much tumor shrinkage from my initial AC chemo.  I'm highly ER+ and that is why (can't remember specifically what was the cause of tumors not shrinking other than ER+ tumors sometimes don't shrink as much with just AC).  

Hang in there!  You can do this!!

DaffyC, I read your note to Heather and it was so terrific! That's why these boards are so helpful.  You are going through the same thing and talking the "science" is so very helpful.   I have made some decisions that I would have liked to avoid, but I make them all based on science.    I think the points you make about neoadjuvant treatment and treatment timing are so valid. I have so many questions about breast cancer and treatment timing, not to mention...how do they pick the right chemo??? If one of my docs doesn't like my questions, so what!!  There isn't one decision that we have to make that isn't hard.  I have my surgical follow up in June.  Had a great surgeon...this guy took a hunk of burning love out of my right boob...clear margins (Doh) and that boob is so pretty you wouldn't have known.  But his bedside manner sucks so I call him Larry....he hates that!!  I am coming, Larry, with my list of questions.....Sadly, I can be mean....

I wish all my friends a wonderful, side-effect free day and lots of hugs from your loved ones.

Sandra