Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

They dont hurt ,but the skin is peeling off,matter of fact my skin all over feels different....this chemo is strong..going for my 3rd ,Tuesday,and 1 more to go

Dyvgrl--sounds attractive!!

All you can do is laugh sometimes...

It sounds so encouraging to hear many people ending or getting near the end of a phase of treatment.  I go for #4 of AC on Thursday then to Taxol.

Ocean,

That sucks. Have you been taking the Claritin for bone pain? It's the only thing that has helped me during AC. Not sure if it will help during taxol or not but I'm gonna be taking daily. Let me know how it goes. Praying for relief!

Whew, broke through that pain cycle last night and am much more functional today....just moderate aches and pains.

No, I'd been a hold out on the Claritin, not sure why - maybe just toooooo many pills and shots?  I am going to pick some up today however.  I do get some bone pain from the Nupegeon but I've just been dealing with it.  After these last two days ..... not so much wanting to tough anything out anymore.

Have a good day everyone. 

Hi all,

Have finished T&C round four was yesterday. Thought I would feel elated but I sat in the infusion room looking at all these women and thought grrr breast cancer... No ringing of bells or any such thing, they did give me a big choc frog, right after the onc gave me the don't gain weight lecture!!! Ate it anyway, then got parking ticket on car when I went to drive home.. Sigh...

So far feel ok, taking steroids this time, resting up...

Sorry Ocean and Kati hope you are feeling better..

Take care all..

Can't quite believe chemo is done... No rads as I had mx, just more surgery there, other side proph and implant, hopefully on sept. then tamoxifen....



Onward and upward!!!!! xx

I think I'll make it to work for awhile tomorrow. Feeling much better but still not good. I'm sure my kids will be glad when I go back to work. When I'm home feeling miserable I have a pretty short fuse. I'm getting pretty nervous about Taxol. And after days like yesterday and today I totally feel the depression. I have to get back out into the normal (haha!) world! At least it's a good distraction.

Dim, how are you? Ocean, I'm glad you're ahead of the pain now. Hope it doesn't last long. I will continue with Claritin and the B vitamins. Hope it gives me a fighting chance!

Ingrid I'm happy you have finished. I wonder how long does it take to feel back to normal. I cant wait to feel normal again. Xoxoxo

Hi OceanWarrior,



I noticed in your last post you have RA; I do as well. I was not told not to take the Claritan. My first Taxol (dose dense) is today and I want to do everything to minimize the expected bone pain. Am very worried about heart effects after AC and esp. w/RA. May I ask if you had to stop your RA MEDS? I was on Humira & Metho but had to come off for chemo - So far doing okay. My ONC told me that will happen with chemo will keep it at bay for a while but so afraid what's going to happen when chemo is done. Nervous about going back on those types of meds wonder if they had anything to do with the cancer in the first place.

Hi Robin-Lynn,

Yes, I have severe RA and was trying to get a long term flare controlled with Methotrexate injections, Plaquinil, and Humira.  Humira was not giving me results so I was about to switch to a new biological, Orencia.  That was back in January and also when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  So...had a surgery to deal with and upcoming chemo which meant I was off all RA meds.  Ugh, it was a tough few months waiting for treatment to start being off RA meds.  Had to have a few additional tests to see if my heart could take the treatment and consensus was that it would be fine and to be aggressive with cancer treatment as I was a grade 3 for my cancer.  Almost as soon as AC dose dense started my RA started to get some relief.  We shall see what the RA does when all this chemo done.  Hoping for a bit of a break and not a full flare.  Keeping positive thoughts on that.

I felt FANTASTIC for two days after Taxol, energy, happy, going for outings, cooking.  Then got hit with bone and muscle pain on day 3.  It is at the tail end now I feel.  I'll be more prepared for next round.  

Good luck to all of us today, no matter what is dealt our way we shall make it through!  

Yea,did my 3rd one today of chemo...1 more to go..then 12 weeks of taxol,1 day a week...hope this will not be as bad as chemo.From reading these post everyone is somewhat different,but most the same.Thanks and keep on posting!!!!!

Dlm; I feel good!!!! And somehow, its more the mental side of knowing its over is so liberating... Soooo hang in there!!!!!!!!

Feel like I can get back on track with other issues..... Phew....

Wig is good, am resigned to prob needing it until mmmm maybe dec,, slow growing hair.....Been trying to avoid looking in mirror without it....;))

Take it easy everyone else; girls with RA, really hope chemo fixes that at same time.. That would be great..!!!

Take care everyone else, Dyvgirl hope you get some sun..

Hanna thanks for the words of encouragement so sorry you are with us but yes its a great board to get knowledge from very strong women. This whole cancer shit sucks I know its temporary just want to feel good and normal again. My eyelashes are really coming out now taxol is taking care of the last of the hair I had... agh so annoying ''''''wahhh

Well I'm off for my first taxol!! Extremely nervous.. But I'm hoping for no nausea and stomache problems !! I've been following you ocean since yours last week.. Thanks for posting how it was !! Wishing everyone that is getting chemo today a great day.. SE free 😀

Hi all, had my first Taxol on Tuesday and boy did it hit me today! Feel like I was run over by a Mack truck - just hurt all over, don't know if it's bone, muscle or joint pain but even my skin hurts to touch. Taking my Claritin and Advil...not unbearable, just super achy. Definitely different from AC - very weird. Hope it's better tomorrow because like all of you I'm sick of feeling sick. "This too shall pass" my mantra. Prayers for all

Hi everyone,

I kept on my every 2 week cycle.  Last AC, wait 2 weeks, then Taxol.  My first was last Thurs Aug 1st.  My next one is next Thurs Aug 15th.  Having a total of 4 Taxol.  

I'm wondering if they might reduce my dosage next round.  That is what one of the Onc's recommended seeing as I was hit SO HARD with the pain.  It only lasted 4 days but it was not fun.  Weird is a good way to describe it Robin-Lynn, it is like nothing else I've ever felt.  Not having any of the hand or feet nuropathy or pins and needles or whatever it is.  Also no mouth sores.  Just had pain.  I only needed the morphine for 3 days.  Back now to just my regular Emtec as/when needed.  

So sick of feeling sick and having the side effects from the treatment needing to be treated by yet more pills.  This whole regime is exhausting and takes a huge toll.  However...it is temporary, this too shall pass and we keep fighting.  We are going through a lot us breast cancer warriors.  Will be so good to turn the page on the treatment phase.  

DLM -sounds like you are doing great.

Val - how are you feeling?  

Robin - hang in there.

Speinding the afternoon with my Mom tomorrow.  She is a breast cancer survivor from way back.  We are going together to the cancer agency.  Me for hats and scarves and her for a breast form/prosthesis.  Really appreciate the resources they offer.

Spirits up ladies, we are doing our best.