For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

Leigh,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm actually starting to look forward to the wedding. It helped to buy my dress. It has been the one thing I haven't had time to think about.

I am sorry to hear you have to go back for the biopsy. I can imagine what I would be feeling. I'll be praying for you.

Jackie

Leigh,

Let's hope the mamogram is just a glich and the biopsy will be b9. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Darlene - as you start down the path: I have been taking acidophylis (Health food store item in the frig) for the tummy and intestines and it has made an enormous difference. I didn't have it cycle one and had lots of pain. Now the pain is minor. A friend whose father had colon cancer recommended it and I am so grateful. It restores th4e intestinal bacteria (good stuff)that the chemo destroys. You need one with lots of different bacteria so go for the top of the line.
We're all hanging in with you.

I had TAC 5 today. So far I feel OK - but will have to wait out the next several days. Lots of naps I guess.
J.

Leigh, Sorry about your ordeal. As you know I had an abnormal mammogram about two weeks ago that they are going to "watch". I hope your biopsy goes well. I got a RX for effexor which I am starting tonight. Hope my hot flashes are diminished. Glad it is working for you.

Paula, You be careful at those machines! One armed bandits can give you TENNIS ELBOW!

Mindy, Guess we are on the same treatments. Except I am er-/pr- so I won't be taking tamoxifen.

In case anyone is interested I took my first herceptin IV yesterday. They gave me bendryl and tylenol pills then administered a loaded dose (6mg) over 90 minutes. I didn't feel anything but the effects from the benedryl. It may cause diarrhea but with the constipation from the chemo it may balance out! Herceptin is detoxified in the liver and kidneys. I could smell the drug when I pee like I did the chemo. I read a long list of potential side effects. My onc said that most of the heart damage comes to those that take herceptin along with chemo drugs and that I won't need any tests on my heart until I show signs of congestive heart failure He reminded me that heart failure can be treated better than cancer.

I go in for radiation #1 today. I am all marked up with permanent sharpee and those plastic diodes! They told me they usually don't tattoo breast patients since they sometimes have to adjust beams by millimeters. I was told I wouldn't get red until about halfway through. They gave me a prescription for RadiaPlex gel which is mostly aloe but told me to start using it to keep the tissues moist. I was also told to keep drinking (8 to 10 glasses of water a day). I will let you know how it goes.

On another note..are any of you getting tumor marker tests done? It is a blood test to see the level of activity from cancer tumor cells? If it is elevated there is really nothing you can do about it. My onc says the levels can rise and fall normally in the body but it is an indicator of cancer activity in the body. I know people who don't want to know about elevated results but I opted to say ok. I also discussed getting the genetic test which is about $3,000. Evidently there is a breast cancer gene that can be carried from the father's side of the family and through sons to their daughters. Most literature out there asks if your mother's side had breast cancer and now they know it could very well come from the fathers side as I suspect was the case in my situation. Some women are getting mastectomies if they have the gene. It increases risks to over 50%. Damn this disease!

Glad to hear from so many other tac ladies. Keep posting and everyone take care!

Marcia

Brigitte,
I just realized we were diagnosed on the same day. March 6. Please feel free to PM me at anytime.
Molly

Quote:

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Marcia, do those markers look like cute tatoos? They should send the rads people to art school.

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Hey, I like that idea. I know there won't be a lot of people enjoying them, but I would.

Jackie

Just a quick note to say I had the biopsy yesterday (Wednesday) and also an ultrasound followup to a couple of areas in the left that were benign when biopsied in Jan. Both of those are good news - one is gone, the other (a fibroadenoma) is smaller. It took two tries to get the calcification sample but the docs and techs at my center are nothing if not persistent! I'm hoping to hear results by Friday. That center is so wonderful - of course, I've spent quite a bit of time there, with my bilateral cancers -and so many of them came around to wish me well (and tell me I didn't have to have a PROBLEM to come see them, I could just DROP IN LOL) so they turn a difficult experience into something positive and very human.
For those of you struggling - doing a third generation chemo like TAC IS harder - but the results ARE statistically better. You CAN do it - keep working with your oncologists to get the best side effect approaches!
Leigh
PS I have SEVENTEEN tatoos, but most of them are not very visible. The magic marker was a mess (like Marcia's X's and crosses) but that washed off, leaving only the black dots.

Just checking in: round four TAC was today and went well. I feel better than I felt yesterday. I get horrible anxiety leading up to my chemo treatments; does anyone else have this problem? I am praying that I keep the nausea at bay better than the last round. Wow, only 2 to go!!!
Love to all, Brigitte

Shannon, thank you so much! I burst into tears from the moment my friend picks me up and throughout the drive to the chemo center. Today I cried because the nurse was having difficulty getting my blood for a few moments. I hate that feeling! What exactly is Atavan? I am not familiar with that. I get decadron and aloxi in my pre-meds drip ...
It does feel great to have only two to go! And congratulations on being six months away from it!!! You give me hope for the end of this particular tunnell ..

Brigitte

Just checking in. Hope everyone is doing ok. I actually worked outside for about a half hour, then it was inside to the air condition that we finally got fixed. Now I am off with my 16 yrs old and 7 yr old to go find some kakhi pants for my son. He got a job and starts work tomorow! YEAH!
Take Care,
Mindy

Here I am at number 1 plus 5 days. I am sooooo envious of you ladies who are now finishing. It helped to hear that TAC is a third generation protocol and our long-term prognosisis is better, but knowing I still have 5 more to go...... Wednesday night I was hit hard with nausea and cold sweats (or was that night sweats). I spent all of yesterday in bed and I didn't eat or drink very much, but no nausea. Today I feel almost human again. I feel really wiped out; not tired, wiped out. I guess that means I'm supposed to try to take a walk or something. I took my first neupogen shot yesterday and didn't really feel any effects.

I know that going to the next rounds of chemo are going to be harder. I'm going to go take a shower now and wash my hair while I still have some to wash.

Leigh, you are in my prayers for a B9 biopsy result.

Darlene

My breast surgeon is in surgery, but her assistant said "it looks good - fibrocystic change". She'll try to get Dr. D. to call me herself later in case there is anything else she needs to communicate. Breathing a bit easier here...Leigh

Hi all,
Just got back from spending the day at my sisters. I took my daughter there to go swimming. I actually got in the pool and floated on a raft for a little bit. I caked on the sun screen.
Leigh, congrats on the news. I have been thinking about you.
Darlene, Like Marcia said, Don't look to far ahead. Take it one treatment and one day at a time.
Brigitte, How old are your boys? With me not working, I can hardly affored my sons gas and his insurance, so he had the choice of not going anywhere or getting a job! I am so mean! LOL
Everyone take care,
Good night,
Mindy

Yeah Leigh, glad for the good news.

Round 1 plus 6 and today I feel almost normal. I'm actually going to do some cleaning up around here. Never thought I'd be happy to clean house Now that I'm through the first round I know that hair loss is going to be the next hurdle. I wasn't really thinking about it before, but now I am. I'm sure it is going to be traumatic. My best to all.
Darlene

Hi everyone.
I finished TAC on Nov. 9, 2005 and 35 rads in early Feb. 2006. I had my first 6 mo check up and every thing was good. Had 1st post bc mamogram and it was fine. Now I am on Arimidex. I just wanted to let you know, I am with you and you can get thru this.

Darlene,
Hang in there. I've decided that some of the frustration we all feel the first week after the treatment is made worse by our hormones. Even though I know that I'll be feeling better in a week or so I feel like I can't keep going. I feel like life will be like this forever. I take anti-depresents, but they can't balance all of this chemo stuff. I just have to remember that this too will pass. You can do it.
Jackie