Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

KatiAK ~ Thanks for your response. I was wondering if you had moved onto the Taxol b/c I have heard that Taxol is hard on the ol' liver as well. I am not on Taxol, but one of it's "kinder" cousins, and there is actually a slightly HIGHER risk of increased liver enzymes with it, but I still worry. Your response made me feel better though. It's nice to hear that another Onc shares the same train of thought as mine does.

I hope the rain stops for the state fair! Have fun.

Ocean, about the chemo brain.....................................................................................oops, caught myself dazing out the window.....that would probably be the thing I notice most.  

Just had first Taxol.  Will be taking the Clariton because of the Nuelasta shot anyway.  I told Onc Vicadin doesn't do alot for me so she gave me a script for Ultram I think it's called.  Does anyone else use this and find it better that Vicadin?

I honestly don't understand why people would get addicted to V's.

Today I went to visit a doc who assists cancer patients with side effects of cancer treatments and she mentioned several trials I should get involved in, different diet and sleep protocols, and memory loss recovery. One of the most alarming side effects to me is chemo brain and the fact I may not go back to normal cognitive function when I'm done with treatment. The scarier thing is that hormone treatments can cause permanent memory loss, depleted cognitive function and they want us taking that crap for 5-10 years?? I can't live in a fog like that. One of the trials she mentioned was taking Metformin during chemo so that it kills the cancer stem cells at the same time that chemo is attacking it in other ways. I've contacted my normal doc to see of she'll write a script since she suggested it before my bc dx anyway. Is anyone here on that trial?? I'm on round 3 of AC so I won't get the full effect, but hopefully will still benefit from my last round and the 12 rounds of taxol. I've decided to forego the hormone treatment because the SE's are too harsh. I am getting a total hysterectomy after rads anyway. Diet and exercise plus supplementation will take care of the rest. Rapid thought process requires estrogen to function so a little can't be so bad. Cancer sucks, but I want quality of life as well so I'm trying to strike a balance. Some of these treatments have such wicked SE's that it doesn't seem worth it for a 2% less chance of recurrence. The math isn't adding up for me. Anyone else opting for other treatment options?

Well first Islip is the center of long island -NY - k Murphy and I too have been looking into western medicine. I heard tamoxifen is a tough drug. But many woman take it with little side effects. Dvygrl if it deplets the cells of estrogen and progesterone id rethink it only because we have already put our bodies through poison so lets continue to stride for long healthy life after treatments. I also feel no one knows their own body better then yourself. I only did 3 AC Bc I was so sick..in bed coulldnt pick up my head for 6 days and so sick for 12...Called onc and he agreed sometimes 2 or 3 is enough. When will they figure out how to treat an Individual and not the disease. I just don't get it......Taxol is no walk in the park. But with 2 left ill get to the light at the end of the tunnel and they its time to make lots of changes to my Life.. Diet exercise and eating right even though I always eat right....off to work!!! Have a feel good weekend!!!xoxoxo

Netter,

The in situ, I believe , would be one of those two cancers you mentioned.

I was first diagnosed LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ)--- the in situ means hasn't left the lobules....when they did a second biopsy they found an area where it was now deemed ILC (invasive lobular carcinoma)...because it was no longer in situ in that particular area, it was now in the lobules.



Same would be said for DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). Means the cancer is in the ducts.

When it is IDC (invasive lobular carcinoma) it has broken out of in situ and spread.



So I am not upon how many cancers you would be declared to have....and I am not questioning, just explaining what I learned..I never thought of my two LCIS and ILC as different cancers...I sort of thought it was a "progression"...going from in situ to being in the surrounding tissue.



I do not know what protocol you would be offered. I believe the Tamoxifen is for people who are estrogen positive as it suppresses estrogen.

There is a TN (triple negative) thread on the board that might have more answers as far as treatment after chemo.



Pat

Just realized you are triple negative. Tamoxifen isn't going to do anything to help as your receptors don't respond to estrogen or progesterone. I'd check out the triple neg board on here and see what the standard treatment is...

Alibeths -

My surgeon told me she wouldn't save them because they are breast tissue just like everything else they are removing, so it's possible for cancer to remain in that area. Why go through all of that surgery then have cancer remaining in your nipples? I'd have them removed. I am having a free flap reconstruction, so they will be rebuilt along with the rest of my breast and tattooed to match the other side. What kind of reconstruction are you doing? You need to decide that before having surgery, because it dictates alot of what gets done during the mastectomy. I had a skin sparing one so that I can have free flap done. They installed a tissue expander so that my skin doesn't get all jacked up during radiation, but stays the size I need it for recon. Decide that part first, then have the mastectomy done to accomodate the type of recon you're gonna do later. Unless you've decided not to reconstruct - then it doesn't matter. Good luck!

Ocean -

you should totally go out with you're pretty bald head! I've seen lots of beautiful bald women out there. I don't like wearing hats either because it's too hot. I'm not gonna pass out to keep others happy lol. Yep I'm bald and beautiful. Like it or leave it! Good luck with date night - plan something fun, wear something sexy and just enjoy being close with your partner!

Hi everyone,

So glad I've found this thread.  I started chemo in June and have 2 chemo's left to go - hurrah!!!

I've really struggled with the chemo, sick as a dog on FEC, was told by onco that Taxotere would be a walk in the park, pffft, had that last wednesday and only just got home from hospital!  Bloody hell, my body is a complete chemo failure!!!!

Has anyone has had Taxotere and has had peeling fingers???  And little blister things - what if anything did you use to help, and all my skin is beginning to flake off?  Does it get worse with the more chemo's you have?

Thanks everyone and looking forward to reading about your journey's

Ange 

Netter - my mother-in-law had 3 different kinds of cancer, she had a bilateral mx, did chemo, rads and hormone blocking medication.  She's doing fine some 12 years later.   Well - she has other issues - not cancer related.

Dyvgrl you are amazing!  I just can't do it but more power to you!

No peeling fingers but my fingernails are turning brown and they hurt!

I went to the barn tonight and played with the horses.  I didn't ride - mostly did chores then brought horses in from the pasture during a very rare Alaskan thunder and lighening storm that included a 10 minute downpour.  Spent 2 hours out there and it was 2 hours of life!  I loved it!  Such a wonderful evening.

Have a good weekend!

Kayezzy66-

I take emend with my AC treatments. It works well for nausea. I was also doing Aloxi at the same time but it gave my bad headaches so now I get an 8 hr does of Zofran along with the Emend. Really helps get me through the first few days.

Kay,

Does insurance not pay for your meds?? That's a lot of money for an anti nausea med. Geesh!

Ange, Monday will be my last chemo and taxotere has NOT been a walk in the park. Lots of SE's (some mild, some not! with neuropathy and edema being the worst -keep me from being able to walk from discomfort- but no peeling of toes. Good luck to you with the next 2 infusions. Aquaphor was advice I received for extremely dry skin and it helped me enormously. Perhaps you could try that? Nisa

Hi Ang - My eyebrows have thinned out and still have about 50% of my eye lashes as well. I read here that they are usually gone after infusion #4. All courtesy of Taxotere!