Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Day 2 post taxol... Feeling ok... Haven't been hit by the Mac truck yet !! My onc has put me on gabapabtene beginning two days befor tx, then I have codeine to top it off if needed.. Got neulasta today.. Been napping but other than that feeling ok . How's everyone else doing?

The boards have been very quiet lately for sure. I haven't heard from aaoaao hope shes ok Netter too rain left in the beginning and I had her face book account and she shut that down too I too hope everyone is ok I try to post everyday. Taxol is definitely easier then ac but still no walk in the park hair loss is much more with the taxol so are body aches but we will do it..... I will always write in and stay with my Bc friends till the end Have a great weekend... stay in touch

Appt with onco, Monday.  Will find out what the next step is.  Assuming radiation.  I still have my brows and lashes.  Brian Joseph worked for me as the brows I had to pluck are now coming back.  My hair is also returning.  I think it looks awful, almost liked the bald head better, lol.  Can't wait to have enough to color and get styled.  Been looking at post chemo hair styles.  I have a sore spot on the side of the cancer breast.  Does anyone have anything like that?  It has been fine for a long time and of course any little thing is a worry. Been keeping track of all of you, just not much to say.  Sorry to hear of the sickness for those still on chemo.  So glad to be done that!!!!!!  It will be over for you before long.  I am just waiting for the 2014 summer!!!!!!!

I'm still here too... Have had fairly crap time recovering from last round. Yuk for some days....Tired, heartburn and rash, although xertec keeps rash under control. Definitely depressed and wondering how long to feel better and get some hair. Have a good day so rush around and do too much then suffer the following one.. Ahhhhhh

We will get through it and look back and wonder how we did..

Glad taxol is better than AC for those of you on that regime. Ocean don't know.. Is it just more insurance to do radiation? I had a bmx so the onc says none but if it was thrown in there I'd give it a go... Anything to make sure no c cells anywhere..

Hope you all are having good wend. Netter; I've looked up this shampoo etc 'FAST' it's called supposed to accelerate hair growth, one hair salon has it here- planning on buying tomorrow. Also rogaine meant to be good and biotin tabs.. Bring on more hair.. Or rather, any hair.. xx

Oh rain its so nice to hear from you....Taxol definitely hurts your muscles and bones. What is the next one going to feel like since I get the neulasta and that gives bone pains. Anyone have heart burn constantly. I say it all the time This Sucks and its temporary how much can we take....cant wait till 2014

Having a 'normal' day and enjoying it but my body knows better.  Dreading Tuesday, even more dreading the pain to follow.  How often does everybody take steroids?  I'm really not taking many up to this point.  They give some during infusion and I've taken a few for nausea.  I don't like the steroids - they make me spin in place.  Is anybody taking vitamin B6 and B12 and or the L-Glutamine to help with pain?  I haven't found the L-Glutamine but I have found the alpha lipoic acid that some are taking.  My onc isn't worried about vitamin B's but I haven't asked permission for the others. 

It's good to hear from people on this board again.  As much as my friends try to support me, they really can't relate and it's nice to come here and hear from the people who can relate.  What better way to fight off the depression than to come here and know you're really not dealing with this alone?  This board helps get me through the day!

My fingernails have been hurting - from the AC?  And my eyelashes have already started falling out.  I suppose within the next couple of weeks I will be the hairless wonder.  Oh I seriously can't wait.  (not!)  I'm already avoiding going places because I'm so tired of the looks and when I run into people I know I have to go thru the entire explanation and the pitiful looks.  It's enough that I'm trying to cope with the situation itself but when all that is added I'd just as soon stay home. 

Hang in there ladies!  Keep posting, it's nice to hear what's going on with everybody, good or bad.  We can all relate.  We'll get through this.  By 2014 we can all make New Years resolutions together and toast it with a glass of wine!

Hi Rain - no, you are most certainly not a wimp.  The Taxol caused me intense pain too.  I had heard only 40% get bad pain from it.  I had to get a script for morphine, didn't think it would be as bad as it turned out to be.  Pain lasted 4 days for me.  Next round (this coming Thurs - so soon, don't feel ready) I will be more proactive with taking pain meds.  I let it go for more than 24 hours without relief and was shaking and my legs couldn't support me I was in such bad pain.  

My eyelashes are starting to thin and fall out.  I starting to feel physically weak and not bouncing back as quick between rounds.  I take daily naps, sometimes 2-3 hours.  I'm not liking this new routine AT ALL!  Oh, and I've broken out in pimples, how nice.  

Annika - happy last AC and Happy Birthday for Monday.  

Netter - good luck at the doctor and let us know if radiation is the next recommended step.

Here is to a good week for everyone. 

Hi everyone. I am new to this site and have read many of the posts already.

My history so far. I found a lump in my left breast on 1st April 2013 and a ultrasound showed 2 lesions. After a long wait for a biopsy i was diagnosed in May with with IDC about 4-5cm and also a tumour in the lymph nodes about the same size.

My onc and surgeon decided on neo-adjuvant chemo.

I started FEC on 10th June and I give myself the Neulasta shot the next day.

I must say I have had minimal side effects from both chemo and Neulasta.

The worse I had with dose 1 was thrush under my breasts which I used Canestan cream for. I had no nausea or vomiting.

Dose 2 I had mouth sores and thrush which I took Diflucan to clear up and used the Canestan for external symptoms.

Dose 3 I just had a few mouth sores.

I have been very lucky and had no issues with Neulasta. I do have fibromyalgia and take several meds for that,so maybe this helped me through the muscle and joint pain from the Neulasta.

I start Taxotere today. I am concerned that my lucky streak will end and the side effects will hit me hard.

I hope it goes well. I will ask for the ice packs for my hands and feet and see if that works. I will let you know.

Thanks for listening and good luck to all of you

Good morning ladies. Went to the beach yesterday it was gorgeous out not a cloud in the sky. Except for the bitch that decided to sit close to this family that just arrived to meet there family that had been there all morning... she was so nasty to this poor guy who was there with his 2 sons and wife. So I told her she was wrong that they had been there all morning and she should move and be quiet she said I vote for you when you run tor mayor I said just take your stuff and move on she looks at me see I'm bald and the bitch says I'm sure you have more things in life than to worry about me. I said yes I do. Now ho find somewhere else to sit...That family came over to say thank you My Son is autistic I needed to fit closer to the water....Just a little story of how rude people can really be... Stay strong round 2 taxol Thursday for me does it get worse with each round?

dim425

You go girl! BC has made me more "forthright" also. More able to speak my mind and not care about the fallout. I'm glad you spoke up for the family!

Annie

I go for 2nd taxol next Monday I too have had bone muscle pain this sucks day seven and still some aches. I am having chemo prior to surgery

Last AC is in! I had a panic attack before it started dripping that made me nauseas and started puking..... how stupid is that!!! Oh well..now wait for life to return to my body. My lymphnode tumor is gone.....can't feel it at all not my doc either. And I've decided on my bday from here on Im spending them blessing someone else. Im so grateful for all the women who fought or ate fighting cancer.

Hi All,

Does anyone else have 12 DD taxol treatments weekly scheduled?  Just curious. Getting ready for last round of AC, and  I am curious why others have so many different doses.  I have read alot of your posts pertaining to taxol,  and was wondering if working will be alot easier on taxol than AC?  Keep the Faith.....

Feeling ok today but it's tomorrow that ir turn nasty for me bur maybe just maybe I can get one ok one in!!! I will have another resting muga test before I start taxol weekly for 12 weeks on the 26th. They all said it will be eaier....I laugh And say we'll see!!! I had the option to do half doze AC this last time so I wouldn't get so sick.....but I want every opportunity to kick cancers ass for good!!! Im so glad Im done with part one. Thank you ladies on here for support and sharing....this is the one place I don't feel alone

Ah Netter, I wish I was on to rads too already.  If you go to a vitamin store they can recommend some things to put on the radiation area for preventing burn.  I went to one yesterday and bought the L-Glutamine powder.  I've read a lot about it keeping Taxol pain to a minimum and my onc said I could take it so I'm gonna give it a go.  I also got a vitamin B-12 shot yesterday which is supposed to help. 

I'd like to say I did well in the chair but I had myself pretty wound up about this one so when I got there I had a little melt down.  I'm not a cryer by any stretch of the imagination but this morning . . . I just didn't want to be kicked in the stomach again.  They offered to put it off for a week.  NO!  Just get it done!  So they added Ativan to my cocktail to mellow me out.

And that makes me a walking pharmacy; .25 mg xanax, claritin, zantac, decodron, Ativan, benedryl and Taxol.  Surely I'm toxic.  No wonder we're tired - just metabilizing all that!

I fear the next few days but I'll let you know how it goes.  Only 3 more!!