Starting Chemo July 2013

Hi Marsha...I'm on the home stretch! I'm heading out for #7 today, then last one in 2 weeks! I'm super excited, also a little scared to stop the chemo. Wish I they would do the surgery the following Monday after my last chemo, but the bs says I have to wait 4 weeks to heal from the chemo. So that is 4 weeks of no treatment with the cancer tumor, though I had a complete pathological response, its still in there, the "shell" of it anyway. So scared it will start growing again.

marsha - i'm almost done. Thursday 10/17 is my last taxol. Glad you're back at work and feeling good about it.

Donna - thank you for your wise words. I think there were just a few things that built up this week and made me start freaking out. So glad there are women here who can understand and offer encouragement. No one else can fully get it and it gets frustrating to have to try to explain or justify my feelings to them. I have to keep remembering not to let fear rule my life like you said.

Hugs to all of you.

Hi All,my last chemo is this tuesday,yah but ... I still feel conflicted,happy and excited,then wait a minute I'm done with chemo? My brother had lymphoma 15 yrs ago and went through a year of chemo then had a big party after he was done,1 month later went for a scan and the tumor had come back twice as big. He then went through a stem cell transplant with massive chemo and whole body radiation. Good news he has been cancer free since. I'm scared to celebrate or feel a sigh of relief. Change of subject,Lark,I am addicted to my "natural"glue on lashes.After alittle practice I have better lashes than ever,it really looks amazing,and makes me feel beautiful,Arden natural lashes with waterproof glue,lasts 4 to 5 days. My brows I use wax brush on instead of pencil,true cosmetics,llc. Whatever makes us look "normal" and makes us feel good is worth it. For me,no matter how horrible i feel if i look better i feel better. That's not for everyone just i my case it helps.Hugs to all my friends,Angela

Donna, yay on your negetive scan, so happy for you.

Donna - So happy that you got good news!!! What a relief that must have been.

Angela - thanks for your tips on both products. I always thought the lashes would look too long and unnatural, but it might be fun to give them a try.

Hope everyone is well enough to get out and do something fun this weekend. Hugs to all.

One of my facebook friends posted an article about preventing breast cancer and I can barely hold my tongue. You know breast cancer can be prevented if you stay a healthy weight(check), exercise (check ) and drink less than three drinks per week (how about three drinks per year). I'm so aggravated. Would you ignore it or comment?

GraceB1, so sorry that you're having such a bad experience. I also landed in the hospital after my first Taxotere, although my reaction was not as severe as yours. My doctor reduced the Taxotere by 25% for the next 3 infusions and although they weren't easy, I didn't have to be hospitalized again. Just wanted to let you know that there are options that your doctor will consider and you will make it. I wanted to quit many times but now I am 3 weeks post final chemo and proud to have made it through. Keep fighting!

I just had my last dose of AC. I start weekly injections if taxol and Herceptin October 31. I feel like this is never going to end ....... Any words of encouragement are welcome

Hi Ladies, I started chemo in August and last week I had my last Red Devil and cyclophosphamide infusion, I have 3 weeks off and then I start a 12 treatment protocol of Taxotere. I was just curious how those of you that have had the same protocol tolerated the Taxotere vs A/C?

Thanks,

Shary

Hi Sisters,

On week six of 12 taxol's, and although Taxol is easier(in my opinion) than AC, it presents its own problems. I have iced since the first infusion of Taxol, and I still ended up with neuropothy. Numbness and loss of feeling in toes and hands. I have been fighting fatigue, and now fighting strep throat AGAIN! On the positive side, I still work 32-40 hours per week. So very much doable. Even though it sucks going in each week, the weeks seem to be flying by. My daughter and I have done one fund raiser and have a concert planned at the end of the month. With the proceeds we plan on buying gas/grocery cards and handing them out during Thanksgiving to the patients. I have looked in the eyes, and met so many of the patients in the waiting room and we felt it was time to do something for just for them. Its bad enough to have this damn disease let alone being depleted of any/all your savings to receive treatment and then to try and have enough gas to get to weekly or daily treatments. I wont even mention the costs of prescriptions. It may not be a lot, but every little bit helps. I also took up knitting when I was first diagnosed. I have made over 30 scarves and hats that I am taking to the patients. Knitting has been so therapeutic for me and may bring comfort to those that cant afford a hat/scarf.

So happy that we are nearing that finish line, and so great to hear how everyone is doing. Bring on 2014. We are the firecrackers, and I personally can't wait for that 2014 fireworks display to ring in the new year.....HUGZZZ to all

Hannariggs, thanks to you (and your daughter) for your thoughtfulness toward your fellow chemo warriors. So proud of you, Firecracker!

congratulations to all the ladies that have finished or are finishing your treatments. It is such a good feeling. I start radiation tomorrow. I hope everything goes well. Hang in there ladies.the finish line is in site. We got this!!!

So many things to respond to. If I run out of time I'll finish tomorrow.

Twohobbies - so did you respond to the facebook post? I think its fine to respond so people aren't misled into thinking that it wont happen to them if they follow these simple rules. Its just not so. Just provide information in the right tone so people will take it seriously and not shrug it off and think its just you having an issue with it.

Grace - sorry to hear how hard the past week has been for you. I hope you're home and doing better. Definitely talk with your dr about your options. Cutting the dose has to be better than stopping completely. Hang in there.

Girlstrong - what is your schedule now for taxol & herceptin? I haven't heard of doing taxol as an injection I thought it was always an infusion. I know it's so hard to continue, but our best chance to knock these cells out permanently is to force ourselves to do the full treatment. Switching drugs is kind of scary, like starting all over again and not knowing what to expect. For some taxol is easier so give it time and just keep going. For me the fatigue has been the worst part, but thats because my rbc's took such a hit with AC and haven't come up at all on taxol. I've had bone and muscle aches and some nights I've needed a pain killer to get to sleep, but I've been able to tolerate it with just advil during the day. I've had some neuropathy, but not too bad.

Shary - from what I've heard I think taxotere is very similar to taxol so you can see my message to girlstrong. Its seemed like with AC there were so many different side effects..nausea, mouth sores, constipation, loss of appetite, headaches, etc. With taxol those went away almost completely, but were replaced with achiness and neuropathy and of course the fatigue that I mentioned. I hope taxotere will be easy on you. Anyone on taxotere have a better response?

Hannarigs - you almost made me cry! You could have sat through your tx focused on yourself and you would have had every right to do that. But you looked around and were touched by other peoples needs. I love that you found simple, but effective ways to help and encourage them. Bless you for your caring heart and helping hands! Wish I could hug you.

Angela - I'm so glad tomorrow is your last tx. This seems to have been harder on you than most of us. I hope you can start healing and feel normal again quickly.

Hang in there girls. Hugs to all.

Hi Ladies

So much seems to have gone on whilst I have been away. So I am not going to try to comment individually too much

Rambo in answer to your post chemo bloods etc. I had mine drawn today (32days post final chemo) and will get results Friday. So can let you know more then. Since I am not doing rads I suspect she will just check oestrogen levels and put me straight on tamoxifen. My onc appt is slightly later due to having been in UK but am really interested to see what my bloods, liver and hormone levels are doing. I have no scans planned and don't expect to get anymore done since CT and bone scans were all clear in June They dont like scanning unless there are suspicious symptoms and I have none

To all those finishing up chemo awesome job - Angela and anyone else that finish line is getting closer for all July firecrackers and a month out my stamina is definately back to where it was prior to chemo - after all the walking around disneyland , Paris and London. A mere 18holes of golf this morning felt easy ( and I got my best score for 2013) so the old me is back detoxified and better than ever before and we will all experience that sooner or later

As Hannariggs (I think) put it - we are all so fortunate to have been able to help, encourage and be there for each other on this crappy journey - this forum has been an absolute lifeline for me - congrats to you and your daughter for being so caring and generous

Donna - so pleased for you re scans - that's awesome news

Xx

HI Mellie289; you won't be the last one in this group; I may be . I start weekly Taxol/herceptin on Halloween. I am glad that this is not dose dense. I had enough of that with AC. AT least you will be done with chemo for the holidays!! My end date is mid January. Anyone else in this group sticking around that long? 6 months of chemo seems like Forever.