August 2013 Chemo Sisters

I worked throughout chemo. I had my treatments Friday afternoons and was back at work Monday mornings. For me, work was my escape from thinking and worrying and dwelling on my diagnosis.

Babs

I wish I could say I have been working. I have not been working due to many setbacks and side effects from the chemo treatments.. I just got out of the hospital on Saturday after my last chemo treatment did a number on me. Come to find out it was cellulitis in my right breast. Going in this am to the ps to have fluid drained off righ breast. Looks like the TE has been saved so will be able to move forward with implant exchange on nov 5th. I may have to give myself another week to gain some strength. I want to be strong going into the surgery to try to avoid any issues. Currently on antibiotics which is causing diahrea. It is a fiscious cycle with me. As far as weight goes I have lost 20 lbs. I look like a walking Skelton. Definitely do not like what I see when I look in the mirror. What a journey this has been for me. Just want off this roller coaster and to live cancer free.

I just got back from my MO and it looks like tomorrow may be my last treatment. It seems like those of you on TC 4 infusions and were done? I was scheduled for 6. When I told him that I have had some neuropathy issues he was concerned because like some of you had said-it can have lingering effects. He then talked about the difference between 4 infusions and 5 or 6 and how the studies don't really show the difference if more is better. So confusing. I just want to make sure I do what I can so the decision was to do the infusion tomorrow, but with an 80% dose of taxotere. If there is any increase in neuropathy then that will be my final infusion.

Tanya- I hope tomorrow is the last for you...though I don't wish you any more neuropathy issues! I won't feel fished until this yucky SE week is over. I seem to have an allergic reaction to some thing in the chemo...this time it was worse and I visited the ER this afternoon. After a couple of breathing treatments I am doing better. Still not all clear but much better. I am home now, took a benadryl and going to rest.

FMG- I had my infusion this morning. I'm kind of hoping that it is my my 5/last. I will track how my fingers are feeling since that is what my MO seemed to be concerned about. The pads of my fingers have been tingly for some days. It is not painful for the most part, but if it was permanent that would not be good.

Feeling pretty much the same on an infusion day. Steroids have not really affected me at all this cycle so far. I'm not complaining about that!

Had my last infusion yesterday. Side effects started earlier than usual, not too severe as of yet. Already tired, icky mouth, tingling hands and feet. Had Neulasta shot today. I have worked through most of treatment, but my manager is really understanding and when I say I have to stop, she lets me clock out.

Beeve, I'm with you on the dental abscess. I had one right when I was suppose to start treatment and it pushed me out a couple weeks. It was so frustrating and the pain was worse than treatment. Just one more thing to deal with. Hope yours improves rapidly.

We're not strays and losers! LOL

I had my first taxol yesterday. It went ok, but was LONG. My AC infusions only lasted 2 hours total. The taxol + premeds was 4 hours. We closed the place down - I was the last patient there at 5pm. I had severe restless legs during the first hour or so. The nurse said it was most likely from the benadryl premeds.... I brought ice & frozen peas to ice my hands & feet, but I couldn't even sit still to do it. I ended up taking my i.v. pole for a walk. LOL After that it calmed down and I dozed for the last two hours.

Today I'm feeling pretty good.... but I'm scared that I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I hate not knowing. With AC, it hit me 3 hours later and after the first infusion I knew what to expect. Waking up feeling good the day after chemo has me a little freaked. I hope I don't get up tomorrow or Sunday feeling like I was hit by a truck!

My MO told me I'm very anemic, and if my numbers drop much more I'll be looking at a blood transfusion. Boooo. I don't see him again until two weeks when I have my next treatment, so I guess we'll see what happens between now & then.

LHL-I hope the SE go well.

Today after #5 of TC I had my first SE of blood in stool. It's not dark or anything so I don't think I should be worried. I do not have a fever and I feel pretty decent so I'm not worrying about it. I'll just monitor it. I was kind of hoping it was a period because I have not had one since August. I'm not ready for any kind of menopause!!

I went out with my sisters last night. One of them shaved her head back in August to help me on this journey. It's growing back and it is so cute. She does work in a salon so she gets free style cut/color. She has it light pink right now. I am hoping mine looks that good when it grows back.

My brows have stayed put so far (and it's bugging me because they are growing all wild and weird), but my lashes are definitely more sparse. I'm afraid to put mascara on because I'm afraid they'll wipe away completely. I'm hoping they both mostly stay put at least through the tail end of Taxol, I can handle a couple weeks of ghost face but not months. If they disappear soon I will probably invest in some glue-on eyebrows!

Brows and lashes are holding steady! I have lost some, but the majority is still there.

Lashes fine but brows thinned a lot. The LGFB Am. Cancer Society class really helped in making me really confident on how to draw in very good eyebrows. They even gave me two eyebrow pencils.

Between the fact that I have just enough eyebrow left and I learned how to put fake ones on with pencil, no one can tell the difference. Look up Look Good, Feel Better and ACS on Google, they have a website with instructions. Invaluable.

LHL, I really hope you won't have to have a transfusion. Mankatostate, how are you doing since that ER visit? Cougar, wishing you the best.

I am so tired since I had that port removed Friday. It hurt but was done quickly and I'm sore but ok really. Rads Monday.

Take care everyone. Hugs all around.

I still have my lashes and brows, but the brows seem to be thinning now. Someone mentioned ACS look good feel better. At our local ACS office you can sign up for a short class where they teach you basic skin care and make up tips and they give you a free bag of high quality make up. No charge for the class either. You can call the ACS 800 # to find one in your area.

Oh beeve I am sooo sorry! Mouth issues are no fun! I pray that all turns out well. I have been complaining all day because I have this stupid thrush AGAIN and now I am feeling quit bad about complaining....Let us know how things go!

CFisher - yes, that is a henna tattoo. It didn't hurt at all because it's just a paste, this one had eucalyptus in it so it actually felt pretty nice. We found our henna tattoo kit at Hobby Lobby. It was a delicious afternoon with an artist friend of mine. I highly recommend it. It lasted a bit over a week, as long as I didn't scrub hard. If you do it and hate it, a good scrub will mostly erase it.

I have been reading through past posts in this thread, since I am late to the party. Now I am worried I am eating wrong. I see previous mentions of no raw veggies during chemo. I know I shouldn't eat sushi, but why not raw veggies?