Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Hey Ladies, we're on to something! Thank you Ocean - what a nice generous offer, it sounds beautiful and fun. I'm in New Jersey...pretty far but would try my darndest to get there. Celebrating with woman who have been on the same journey would be wonderful. Chemo and radiation end for me around Thanksgiving.

I would def. try me best sounds so wonderful:) This group has been a big part of my cancer walk!! My first taxol has so far been so much easier then AC.... but then I won a puke bucket from my chemo nurses for being the sickest patient through there office......I also won't be done until Thanksgiving!!!

I do taxol every week for 3 weeks/1 week off.  I don't get the Neulasta shot.  I haven't had too many SEs from Taxol.  The worst ones are the fatigue and constipation.  I've had a little neuropathy but nothing I can't handle.  I hope you do better on Taxol than on AC.  Keep your head up and the end goal in sight.

Back from my 3rd Taxol.  Again, a bit of a pin cushion took 4 pokes to find a cooperative vein but we did and the actual infusion part was a breeze and I had a bit of a nap during the 'make you sleepy' part.  Feel like I have a plan to ward off and manage nerve pain if/when it occurs and am hoping for an easy time.  Still really tired now.  Light dinner (soup and sandwich made by hub) then for an early night.  

Good thoughts, care and encouragement to everyone.

Hi Val - I've had itchy, watery stingy/itchy eyes since my first taxotere, it sucks as each time I itch the eyelashes are falling out - arghhhhh!  I was terrible on FEC but have also struggled with stomach cramps with the taxotere, I'm hoping to lower the doasge but am a bit scared by the prospect as I've been googling a bit too much information on triple negative BC and it's scared me a bit with the statistics of recurrance.

This has been a rough week.  I thought the Taxol would be easier but it's just different.  I had the Nuelasta with the AC and no real problems other than the aches.  This time the doc said my white bc is off the chart high and caused my body to go into overdrive.  This has caused lots of exhaustion and pain.  I would wake up in the middle of the night yelling in pain.  I also had a very short temper and would either snap at people or cry.  That may be part of menopause.  I probably won't get the Nuelasta next time.  Just have to get through today and then 3 day weekend!!  Yeh!!

Round four AC down! Sooo glad to have that nastiness behind me. Praying that Taxol is easier on me. My NO gave me several supplements to avoid neuropathy and bone pain. I won't be getting any Neulasta with it. Today is my very last Neulasta shot ever. Hallelujah!!

Dyvgrl - Horray to your last AC and no more Neulasta! Was it today? Enjoy your next yummy meal before metallic taste sets in. Please share what was recommended as supplement for neuropathy if anything other than B6.



Laka - I hope you can visualize the end of treatment so today is not so bad. Distraction by talking and reading helps me during infusions. Taxol seems tolerable to some... Hope that"s the case for you too.



Hugs, Nisa

Laka - I hope your Taxol tx goes well.

Dyvgrl - Wahoo!  AC is over.  That is some nasty stuff!

I'm still doing the neulasta shots after Taxol.  I find it interesting that they bill it out at $24000 and my insurance pays about $340 and makes them discount the rest.  Sorry - I'm a medical biller so I notice these things.

I had Taxol #2 on Tuesday and the pain has started today.  Thankfully the mild painkiller takes it from about a 7 or 8 to about a 2 or 3.  Unfortunately it's primarily Tylenol so it's hard on my liver which won't help my already messed up liver enzymes.  I get a vitamin B12 shot the day before my tx.  I'm taking claritin and L-Glutamine and a B complex.  I guess it helps with neuropathy - I haven't had a lot, but other than pain I haven't had a lot of side effects.  I'm not extremely tired, but I try to get at least 9 hours of sleep at night and/or a nap.  I don't have the metallic taste.  Just the constipation, pain for 4 or 5 days, a low grade stomach ache and then the browning fingernails that hurt from time to time.  ("just" hahaha!)

So, in about a month we'll be finishing up chemo and moving on to rads.  I can't wait!  We're nearing the end! But some days I still worry about recurrance and longevity and other cancers.  I hear a thousand different ways to rid the body of cancers ALL the time.  I'm being given advice constantly about not eating sugar, doing body cleanses, taking suppliments.  And then I know of at least two ladies who've had BC a few years ago and they continue with their regular lifestyles, both smoke, etc.

Has anybody else been thinking about where we go from here?  Do we just go back to the same way we were (with more worries)?

Just thinking out loud I guess.  Hope everybody has a good weekend.  I have 3 days off.  Hoping for some down time and yet would like to get some things done.  Might just be lazy.

Katiak--- I like you cannot wait to get off this nasty chemo and move on to rads...definitely nearing the end. I worry all the time too about recurrance because I can almost be considered triple negavite because I was only at 1% positive for estrogen, but my onc still wants to treat me with tamoxifen and I've read some nasty stuff it. Like you I wonder about changing life style... I don't smoke, enjoy wine and beer occasionally and well who doesn't love sugar 😄... Well lets get through treatment before we make these decision about changing lifestyles ... If anyone has advice for me regarding tamoxifen would love to hear from you..Have a great weekend everyone 😊

Oh how come my gem of a Dr said not vitamins till after tx. Only allowed one cup of.green tea and only vitamin D. I wanted to take B he said not to

Val my cousin. Like you was low with estro positive and she said tamoxifen isn't bad at all she has no side effects and after menapause you change meds. You can try it ask to be regulated on it. All of it is bad but what choice do we have.

When I walk by a mirror or a window and catch my reflection in passing, I startle myself. Thinking in a fleeing moment; poor woman. Then I realize that person is me.



I haven't cried but two times on the journey. I've managed to keep my shit together. Strong head held high keeping that ever positive smile in place, laughing joking even in those real lonely scary moments.



Today. I feel great. Took my doggy Beans for double track 30 minute mountain bike ride. It's a pale comparison of the rides I used to do.



Beans n I got back from our ride passing a large football field where practice was in session, I made sure we skirted as far around from the field as possible hugging the tree line. We made it safely to the parking lot just in time for practice to end. Normally I hold my head high and baldness and all. Today I found myself sitting in a far bleacher back to the kids and parents patiently waiting for the masses to get In their cars and drive away. While I sat back turned alone petting my dog.



And cried.



I took a picture of my self on my iPhone. I hardly see the person I used to be.

Dlm, I don't know why your doctor doesn't want you to take any vitamins.  My MO said everyone should take a daily multivitamin when my son asked her if I should be taking them.  Maybe there is something in most vitamins that concerns him/her.  You should ask what about the vitamins bother him.

Oh Rain - you made me cry too.  Only because I can relate SO well.  I even go grocery shopping early in the mornings, hoping to avoid people.  Wasilla is a small town so everywhere I go I see people I know.  Some are okay but I get tired of explaining, explaining, explaining.  Thank you baldness.  I have heard that those of us completing chemo/rads at Thanksgiving probably won't see growth until at least Christmas.  sigh.

Yes, we are changed forever.  But like I tell my friend who completed this journey before me, I can't wait to be some one else's hope.  I hope to give strength to women who must face this dx in the future.  I know several women who've been on this path before and are living a full life now.  Deedee Jonrowe is one well known Alaskan (Iditarod musher). 

I have always been a strong (physically) woman.  I do the "upkeep" chores around here - mowing the lawn, etc and usually ride 3 horses a week.  I haven't done that this summer.  I just tried to mow one small portion of our lawn and just about died!  I am SO out of shape!  I'll be one of those New Years resolution people I guess.  Pray for muscle memory! 

Yep - we've lost ourselves, but we'll get us back.  We'll be stronger, we'll be wiser and we'll be there for some one else! 

I take a lot of vitamins.  My onc said I could continue anything except anti-oxidents.  It would be nice if these guys got on the same page and then were able to explain to us why we're on that page!