Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

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  • Cuculi
    Cuculi Member Posts: 148
    edited October 2013


    Thanks Nisavilla! I will try that! When I read pencil I was thinking in something else...did not know that it could work on skin!!!


    About the treatment... I want so badly to finish soon...


    The comment regarding radiation and causing lung and bone cancer is scaring... I also believe that is not true... I know women with only radiation and they are doing very well!


    Dlm, I have been recommended radiation...it is confusing... but in your case, maybe because you had a mastectomy? I had lumpectomy... just wondering...

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  • Laka
    Laka Member Posts: 31
    edited October 2013


    Ladies I have a question . Has anyone had a strep throat during chemo and if so was your chemo canceled because of strep? Low fever . Thank you

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  • Angstapp
    Angstapp Member Posts: 121
    edited October 2013


    Cuculi - I was actually thinking of putting a complaint in about the specialist that said that to me (more about her telling me my cancer will come back and to save the radiation for then when I really need it), all along the way my doctors have been overwhelmingly positive and fabulous - and then I struck her!!!

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  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited October 2013


    Angstapp - my radiology onc told me radiation can cause cancer but so can a million other things and her comment was "but you'll probably die of some other cancer before the radiation has time to cause cancer". Um - ok. Was that supposed to be reassuring? Anyway, I had a lumpectomy and am doing radiation. That's all I would have done had my oncotype score not been so high. Mine was 34 so that's why we did chemo. I have a friend who did a lumpectomy and radiation only.


    Someone asked about a stomach ache. I had a low grade stomach ache during my Taxol regimen. It never got bad but it was always there. Gone now. ;)


    Laka if you think you have strep you better get on an antibiotic. Call your onc - I don't know what strep does to you but it takes me down for the count. I feared it more than anything while I was on chemo.


    Tuesday would have been my chemo day if I were still on it - it was sure nice to go by that day and not have to do it! Radiation starts Monday.


    dlm - I expect my hair to come in white and fuzzy. I'm not looking forward to it. Chemo hair they call it. I have fine blonde hair anyway - never had it referred to as beautiful - but I'd sure like to have it back! I'm losing a thumb nail and all my nails have turned brown. Does anybody have white lines across their nail beds? I'd like to think that all this means the chemo did it's job in there and got to every fast growing cell there was!

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  • Robin-Lynn
    Robin-Lynn Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2013


    Angstapp, she needs to be fired!! To tell someone their cancer will come back is awful and unfounded and that rad will give you cancer is terrifying - scared me just reading it- probably cause I'm doing rads now!


    Dim, how long have you been on Tamoxifen? Was glad to hear no side effects - nervously anticipating starting it soon.

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  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited October 2013


    I haven't had chemo in 3 weeks and I'm starting to get the peach fuzz as well. Now that I'm done, my eyebrows and eyelashes are falling out and my nails turned brown on the ends. I also have the white stripes across the nail bed. Thanks for the poison!!

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  • Angstapp
    Angstapp Member Posts: 121
    edited October 2013


    My nails have got the white lines as well, the white on the tips is now spreading up the nail too and color starting to turn yellowy - yuck.

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited October 2013


    i have had the white lines since AC, they are lifting in the front a little bit but my dic says the nailbeds look good and he is not thinking I will loose them. I have 5 more taxols to go and my head is covered in thin white fuzz but hey better then none...... I have to stay healthy.....with me loosing my insurance at the end of the year I have to have my surgery in Dec !!! Can't wait to be done.......so tired of putting my life on hold.

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  • NisaVilla
    NisaVilla Member Posts: 574
    edited October 2013


    All my fingernails but one developed first the while lines across, then at different rates and slowly the ugly brownish came in, and 2 are fully gone. I did not know how sensitive my fingers would feel without the protection of fingernails! I have used up lots of bandaids to protect them but they come off easily. Just hoping this is the last of SE's post chemo. My peach fuzz is turning darker than my real hair color. Will I be a brunette next? I want dark blue eyes to go with that, lol!


    Nice weekend to everyone, and minimal SEs to those still doing chemo.


    Nisa

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  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited October 2013


    curculi my treatment was different it was 4 AC and 4 dense taxol every other week. Yours seems to be spaced out more than mine and yes I feel the back bone to my treatment is tamoxifen. So I started that as well I'm not doing radiation so surgery for exchanged is definitely November 13. Good bye to 2013 here we come stronger than before for 2014

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  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited October 2013


    I've been on tamoxifen for 25 days

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  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited October 2013


    why are the nails coming off! I keep hard as nails on all the time and so far so good!!! How post chemo are you loosing your nails!!! Fuck cancer it sucks!!! Sorry but that's how I feel... It rips you out of your normal life and puts you in a whirlwind. I'm thinking of being one of the blue men for Halloween. Or a chia pet lol!!! Last year I wasMarilyn Monroe what a difference a year makes. But I'm here and with my girls that's what matters!!!!

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited October 2013


    4 more taxols to go, getting a little tougher !! My genetic testing came back negative yiipppiiii so happy :)

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  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited October 2013


    Anyone here take Femara without first doing Tamoxifen? I'm not interested in dealing with any of the advertised side effects - just wondering if it's as bad as it sounds...

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  • NisaVilla
    NisaVilla Member Posts: 574
    edited October 2013


    Annika - Happy for you! Every bit of good news should be celebrated.


    Dim - Wow...wish I could pull off a Marilyn Monroe!


    Dyvgril - I know someone doing really well on it. It was one of 3 choices my onco gave me. Hope you do fine on it.


    Ocean - Where are you girl?


    Hugs to all, Nisa

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  • OceanWarrior
    OceanWarrior Member Posts: 96
    edited October 2013


    Hi Ladies,


    Supporting from afar but sort of drifting in my own ocean world of the unknown. I've taken a break from talking about Cancer but, with it having been Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend, topic was on the table a few times with a few people. I present myself as I've got it all under control and just moving forward. Truth is I'm kind of lost and need to start digging into info and get better prepared.


    Its been 4 weeks since last chemo. So great to be done with that of course. I cancelled the appointment I had to meet with the Radiation Onc as I know clearly that is not the best option for me. Waiting....waiting...waiting... for my Plastic Surgery consult to discuss mastectomy and I guess reconstruction. I've had my head in the sand for a couple of weeks - too fearful to read and learn about what is coming next but high time to do so. All I know at this point is that reconstruction sounds like a big ordeal and a major surgery. I'm also in denial about the hormone therapy....need to grow up and dig into that too. Lots to think about. Ugh.


    Thanks Nisa for calling me out of the shadows. Reminds me that this stuff is real and not going to just disappear. Gentle hugs to everyone and huge cheers of encouragement and support for whatever stage of the journey you are currently in.

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  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited October 2013


    Ocean-


    I feel your pain. I quit chemo after 6 treatments instead of 16 - I just couldn't take being toxic and destroying healthy cells any longer. I've decided not to do rads or hormone therapy either. After an argument with my BS's nurse about hormone therapy - the very issue I was trying to point out was posted here - http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20131014-3


    I can't go through the next 10 years in a brain fog - not with the job I have - this is one of many studies done on hormone therapy and memory loss / cognitive impairment. Every time I find research to prove my fears / back up my decisions, I wish I could send it to my doctors and scream - SEE!! I'm not crazy!! All I can say is be true to yourself and take the time to do the research and make the right decision for you. I can't remember who suggested the book Anticancer - but I read it - and everything I had been researching is also in that book. I am following the recommendations there as well as what my Naturopath recommends and I've lost 12 lbs in less than 3 weeks and I feel almost like the old me again. I have energy, I can go up the stairs without seeing stars and sweating like I'm gonna have a heart attack. Hubby and I enjoyed our anniversary - we decided to get Fitbit Force's for each other and a gym membership. Can't wait to get started! Read the book - it really helps - and follow your heart!

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  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited October 2013


    Hi my fellow warriors - found a link to a free necklace if you use the coupon "Survivor" when checking out - only costs $4.99 for shipping - only good for today though - check it out http://www.stampthemoment.com/hand-stamped/necklaces/survivor.html


    Chin up ladies!

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  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited October 2013


    I am NOT doing the hormone therapy either. They are now saying it needs to be taken for 10 years???? How do you know if it works? I have heard of women getting breast cancer again while taking the pill! I have been through enough and done with all of it! Only 4 more rads:-))) And hopefully will never see a cancer clinic again!!!!!! I have a hair appointment the week of Thanksgiving and soooooooooooo excited, lol!

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  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited October 2013


    Netter,


    There are so many side effects with hormone therapy. There are more ways to kill cancer besides just depleting estrogen. Your body needs a certain amount just to function. 10 years is insane!

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited October 2013


    3 more taxols to go, getting tougher !!! My muga came back with a drop from %70 to %59 so my onc took me off herceptin for now, another muga at a bigger hospital with newer machines in two weeks hoping it was either bad test or my heart bounces back. My hair is growing yiiipiiii it still works lol!!! I did. 5 K speedwalk on saturday and felt great. Starting a to play in a kickball league in nov. Surgery dec 5 then back to my beloved soccer in january. I so want my life back.....wish sugar could be a part of it lol!! Make it a great day ladies, this place sure kept me going during those hard hard days!!

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  • candi07
    candi07 Member Posts: 188
    edited October 2013


    Its interesting to hear that some people have hair growth while on Taxol. Does it start to grow then fall out again during Taxol treatment or does it keep growing?

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  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited October 2013


    Four weeks yesterday since my last chemo. I'm still having some neuropathy and leg pain but not usually too bad although the neuropathy has been bad a few times and my fingernails a lifting. I started radiation last week so I'm 7 down, 26 to go. It's quick - I'm in and out in 20 minutes. I go in the morning before work and so far haven't had side effects. whew! But I'm moisturizing like crazy and bought emu oil today. We'll see how it goes - hoping my last day is the day before Thanksgiving.


    No hair. :( I did dense dose AC and dense dose Taxol so my hair never stood a chance. I have heard of people growing hair on weekly Taxol.


    I'm a sugar addict. Seriously. I quit smoking 17 years ago and I rarely drink anymore and no sodas but sugar? sigh . . .


    I asked my onc how long I'd be on hormones and he still says 5 years. I asked about the 10 year study and he shrugged. Which hormone blocker depends on whether I remain menopausal or not.


    I hope everybody is moving on and doing well. I SO needed this forum during the thick of it all. What a refuge! Thanks to everybody for being here and sharing. I'll still be around . . . love keeping up with everybody.

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  • Angstapp
    Angstapp Member Posts: 121
    edited October 2013


    Hot flushes arghhhhhhhhh, onco recommended a mild anti depressant to combat it but can't bring myself to do any more drugs - but now thinking maybe I shd. Have explored natural avenues but not working!


    Kati I'm the same 4 weeks yesterday since my last chemo, have a bit of fluff on my head but still feeling very achy and bone tired, all my nails on my hand are 3/4 white and splitting from the tops - looks like a manky french manicure lol.


    love to everyone xoxoxo

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  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited October 2013


    I finished my rads yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have started blistering, only a little............very dark skin. A big rectangle of even darker where the boosts were done. It is sore and itchy. All of you have been a wonderful help to me in my darkest days. Hope that we never have to do any of this again EVER!!!!!!!!!! Good luck to all and lots of prayers going your way:-)))

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  • Dyvgrl
    Dyvgrl Member Posts: 471
    edited October 2013


    so happy for you Netter! Go knock back a few and celebrate!!

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  • candi07
    candi07 Member Posts: 188
    edited October 2013


    Congratulations Netter!

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited October 2013


    Congrats Netter !!! Can't wait to be done and get my life back :) I have 2 more taxols , surgery ,rads and another every 3 week herceptin but it feels like Im almost done !!! It feels so good to be ending the chemo, my hair is growing though my husband admitted it's mostly grey lol !!! He has been saying very very light....maybe baby blonde but as it's getting longer 1/8 th of an inch maybe more om top.

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  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited October 2013


    5 weeks out from last chemo today and no sign of hair. :( In fact I'm down to just a few eyelashes on each eye. My fingernails still hurt daily and at least 4 of them look pretty dead. I'm trying to keep them as short as possible. I've done 11 rads, 22 to go. I'm so over this! Like everybody else - I'm ready to move on. I'm still feeling pain from the Taxol - much milder now. Seems the side effects go on and on . . .


    dlm - how's the Tamoxifen? I'll be joining you on it probably in December.


    Annika hang in there! You are getting close to the end - like the rest of us.

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  • Laka
    Laka Member Posts: 31
    edited October 2013


    Hey ladies, I'm having a mastectomy next Wednesday . Any suggestion or advise?

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