Chemo May 2013

K... Time to put on my big girl pants.... I don't want anyone to see my granny panties under my skirt as I go in kicking and screaming like a child to my cocktail apt..... Haha



I can't promise dry eyes, but I think I'll reward myself with Wild Buffalo Wings tonight for dinner before the mouth gets all freaked out! Been craving Asian zing... LOL then, of course have my meal of pills ready to combat SEs....



MIL surg went well... Expected to recover well. Thanks for the good thoughts!



Hope everyone is having a good week?



Lorrie

Elkatho..... Glad you'll get relief from the hives. Mine stopped a day or two ago... I have a feeling after the cocktail I had today, they'll be back.

My nurse today suggested nuproxin for my bone, joint & muscle pain... I'm not suppose to take anything but Tylenol drugs too.... But....



Carla, I love your upbeat attitude!!! Thank you!



Annie, I hope your treatment was as uneventful as mine today. I actually caught myself dozing off... Woke myself up with a little snore and looked around like..."who was that" haha



Today I'm exhausted... I'm not usually after a treatment, but I can't shake the sense of dread for the days to come.....



The good news is that the hubby said he'd pick up Buf Wild Wings on his way home!



Happy thoughts to all....



Lorrie

Lorrie-Gee thanks. My fingers are crossed for your s.e.'s this go around.

Couple of days ago went to my plastic surgeon re the back of my hand not healing. Was concerned that it was still infected. After looking at it, he got me set up with an infectious/wound care dr.. After assessing myhand, he believes that it is not infected but it still chemo burned and will take another couple of months to heal. I mean it looks and feels sooo much better than it did, but it still is very slightly swollen and around 3 or 4" dia red. He o.k.'d chemo so I am on for next week. Last chemo was May 30th. Been feeling physically good for about a week and going to enjoy that for maybe another week. Got a picc line today. And am looking forward to my daughter and two grandsons to arrive any minute. They will spend the night. ))



I wish you all good evening



Carla

Gully & everyone else with family in the services please pass on my THANKS! And thank YOU, the families who serve & sacrifice as well!



Elkatho

What did you're doc/nurse say about you having som heavy breathing?

So the other day my hubby and I were talking about my boobies. How when I first spoke with the plastic surgeon, he said you have twins now. After your masectomy (right side only) I can make them look like sisters. Right now, all I have is an extender and no nipple. So I told my hubby, they're just cousins. He said yay, once removed. Lol



Thanks Patty. It is good that chemo is starting again (I guess lol). Am enjoying the family. We are all going to watch a movie in a couple minutes.



Carla

Hello,

This is my first post!  My name is Louise and I felt my lump during the Easter long weekend.  From that moment until I actually found out for sure what I had, I was just a mess. I had an idea that people knew I had cancer, but nobody wanted to give me a definite answer.  The job of telling me that I had cancer belonged to the Oncologist.

I was diagnosed on May 8 (Left breast invasive ductal carcinoma, 3.5 cm, ER+/PR+/HER2 3+) and was scheduled for my first chemotherapy session on May 17.  I am following the AC protocol.  I am still clueless as to the treatment process I am to follow, but I am slowly educating myself via my research on the Internet and of course asking hospital staff all sorts of questions.  My first 4 treatments will involve this "reddish" cocktail and I'll have that every 3 weeks.  Since I am posting this blog in July, you should know that I'm about to receive my 4 treatment (on July 19).  After these treatments, I'll be having chemo every week for 12 consecutive weeks...not sure which medicine will be involved for those treatments.  I figure I'll be done chemo around November 15 and I will be having surgery thereafter.  After that will be radiation therapy.  I think but am not too sure that I'll also have harmonal therapy.  All in all, I suspect that I will be done in March 2014.

So far, so good!  My doctor says that the mass in my breast has decreased in size.  That news makes me happy because the chemo seems to be doing its job.  However, going through chemo is not that fun....well the side effects are not fun at all I should say.  I have noticed a pattern in how my body reacts and how I generally feel and I can honestly say that I don't look forward to the 7 days following a treatment.  Despite hating the side effects, I must say that my morale is fairly good because I am surrounded by friends and family members who support me 100%.

Speaking of support, I have had lots of that through CANSUPPORT....for free!  You can view the services I have access to at www.cansupport.ca (with McGill University/Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Québec, Canada).  I suppose it is equivalent to  www.cancercare.org in the USA.  So far I've had a free makeup session and received a makeup kit worth more about $300.  I go to art therapy classes and have been having a great time doing art in the company of other breast cancer patients/survivors.  It feels so good to know that I am not alone and that I have someone to talk to on a more personal level during these sessions.  Best of all, I feel great after doing some art for a few hours.....so therapeutic!  I've started going to the gym thanks to a one-year free membership at Curves.  Over the years I let myself go in the area of physical education, but my cancer has scared me to such a point that I've decided to get back in shape.  I really have no choice in the matter.  

I know this might sound crazy to say, but I am feeling like a princess!  I HATE cancer with a passion, but I am determine to fight this fight.  Receiving all this support, whether it be from friends, family members or CANSUPPORT is truly giving me the boost that I need to fight my battle head on.  I decided to join this community because I want to surround myself with all the support I can get....but also find an avenue to give back too.  Just as I need support, others like me need it too.  We are here to fight together!

Carla53

So funny! I like the analogy and your hubby rolled right with it....a witty guy - which is fun to have around especially when going through our challanges. A keeper for sure.

Annie

Lorri, I followed your lead and put on my big girl panties this morning.  Thanks for the post it helped me get myself together.

Today was the last of my dose dense AC and I am glad I'll never have to go through this again.  #3 knocked me down hard so I am expecting #4 will be similar but I'll get through it.

Some good news from the MO, when I start Taxol in 2 weeks I will not have to do Neulasta or steroids.  Also, their experience is that the vast majority of patients find Taxol easier.  I want to be in that group.

Wishing everyone a weekend with family and friends and manageable side effects.

Robin

Kerri,

I think you should be fine by next Friday...not that I'm a doctor!

Funny about the sleep and waking up to think it is the next day, that is something I would do!



I'm just coming out of my 3 days of "lost days". I've moved from the couch to my recliner to my bed...almost like Goldilocks! I hope this lefts by Sunday, I have a baby shower...but I will be there no matter what shape I am in! Maybe I can try out the bassinet!



Stay on top of the heartburn...mine starts the first day too, I would think the IV meds would be enough!



Pat

I found out yesterday during cocktail that they stopped giving me pepcid in my IV on treatment #3.... Hence, my bout with reflux last time. I started my day today with prilosec, benodryl & anti nausea meds and headed off to work... No issues whatsoever! Yay!

Gonna enjoy what time I have left pain free before I feel like closing the coffin lid for a week. Lol



Hope everyone is feeling well...

The fetal position seems to be the most comfortable today. Neuropathy is creeping up to about my mid calf area now... I'm walking weird. And the aches/chills have officially arrived... I hope the hard onset means a swift exit as well....

Onc said that the neuropathy may take some time after chemo treatments are over to go away, but it will eventually..... I sure hope so!

Awake from sleeping off and on this evening.. Finally get to sleep and wake from the hot flashes!! Then freezing in 5 mins.. Uhg!!

Tastebuds already going and thrush already starting.. Started my Diflucan ASAP this time..

Today is my 1st wedding anniversary.. Hopefully get to celebrate when I'm feeling better..

Hope you all have a good week!

Kerri

Kerri, Happy Anniversay!  Celebrate when you're feeling better.

Lisa, I picked up some alpha lipoic acid and I've been taking vit b12 for a few years now because I have gastroparesis.  I've also picked up a vit b complex.  I'm worried about  neurapathy when I start Taxol in 2 weeks, I have had carpel tunnel for years but omega 3 has been able to keep the symptoms away for years so I'm increasing my doseage.

I always get hot flashes, I have the wind tunnel effect going on in the bedroom..AC, ceiling fan and a desk fan going. For a change I got the chills last night and couldn't wait for a hot flash to come...to lazy to get up and throw on a blanket.  

Feeling good this weekend so far much better then AC #3, hope it holds for the next few days which are always my worse.  

My MO said that when I start Taxol I won't need the neulasta or steroids!  I hope that without them I'll have fewer SE.  I mentioned I was feeling depressed after AC #3 and was told that it's normal, most people go in fighting but after surgery and about 1/2 through treatment most people feel down from being sick and the SEs.  My daughter picked up on my mood and asked me to come up with a list of things that we could together on the days I feel good that are local.  So we started a list; mostly things we can do in Philly or SJ.  Some as simple as going out for coffee at a side walk coffee house and visiting my great Aunt.  Other ideas are going to Ellis Island, the shore or tubing/kayaking.

All my best to all,

Robin

Robin: Thanks for posting what your MO said about how people feel after infusion 3 or half way through treatment. I too was feeling down following treatment 3 and I was really aprehensive about going in for #4. After #3 I was feeling worn out! Its been 7 months for me since this all started. It has been 7 months of stress, anxiety, fear, pain, drugs, and fatigue mixed with various side effects of course. This all of you know! I dragged myself in for treatment four last Tuesday and I am now done with the chemo. But as someone else mentioned I am glad its over but nervous at the same time. My mind keeps saying....now what? More surgery! thats what! Guess I will have to drag myself in for that as well. More pain does not appeal to me right now, but at the same time these TE's have to go! Trying to keep positive here, and wish you all the same. We are getting there slowly but surely!

Kate: I am at home too! I have been watching Dexter on demand, on season 7. SE from round four are kicking my butt and are with me still.  Very tired, numb fingers, no taste....blah blah......I am just holding down the couch! Hubby is our kayaking! argh..........

Lisa, glad to hear you have some more time with your Navy boy! I miss my girl so much! We get to talk on the phone now on the weekends if everyone behaves! Her unit is called the WarDawgs. Yesterday one of the dawgs did something stupid now all the good pups are paying the price with no phone use for a week. I think they should have put that Dawg in the pound and not punished the good pups! Just saying.....

Hi Ladies...been a while since I've posted.  All done with dose dense AC (was nauseated through most of my treatments and just couldn't bring myself to blog anything here as just looking at a computer and reading would make me sick).  Just has my first round of dose dense Taxol on Wednesday.  On Thursday, I was over the moon because I was feeling so much better than I ever did with the AC.  Come Friday and my 5th neulasta shot, by Friday afternoon, pain was starting to settle in...especially in my lower extremeties.  The pain has been unbearable.  I'm not sure if it's from the neulasta (which really hasn't bothered me with the other 4 shots) or if it's from the Taxol.  The pain is deep (from my hips downward) and my feet feel weird.  Plus, my taste is off...  I feel like a 90 year old lady rather than the 40 year old that I am!

Anyone have suggestions for how to control the pain?  I took a hydrocodone but that just leads to more constipation.  My next treatment is Taxol with Herceptin.  I can't wait for all this chemo stuff to be done - I have been rather emotional (not normal for me).  At times having difficulty seeing the positive side of things...just trying to take it a day at a time.  I find my bad weekends to be my worst and then it gets better.