Starting Chemo July 2013

Finally finished now! Yay!! Thanks for your messages. I was very glad that my blood counts had come up a little. Not enough to feel a difference yet, but at least they're starting to climb. We talked about follow up plans. I'll see my mo in 4-6 weeks, then see her every 3-4 months for 2 years. Then every 6 months. I'll have a mammogram in January. Since I had radiation before chemo we have to wait 6 months from the end of radiation to do the mam. Then I'll have mams every 6 months on the affected breast and once a year on opposite side. No other scans unless there are symptoms. I asked when I can have the port removed she said to wait until my blood counts are normal then I can do it anytime. She said some people choose to wait a couple of years to remove it in case there is a reccurence. I don't like that attitude and don't want this alien in me for that long! I hope to get it out after my next appt. She said most people start to see hair growth by 4-6 weeks even though it will be very thin and fine.

Sue - please let me know how tamoxifen effects you. I was surprised yesterday to hear that my mo wants me to start tamoxifen too. Even though I'm considered triple negative, my pathology was 5% positive for estrogen. It was so low that they treat me as triple negative, but my mo said as long as there is a small amount of growth due to estrogen I could get some benefit from tamoxifen. Ugh. I thought I was done with drugs. Now I need to read up on tamoxifen risks and side effects. She said we can wait to talk about it more at the 5 week visit and start it after that. But I need to see if the risks outweigh the benefits.

The mo also explained their survivorship program to me. Its not a support group although thats available if you want it. It's actually follow up with a nurse practitioner who will spend a couple of hours with me making a 'care plan' and 'treatment summary'. She's supposed to talk about symptoms to watch for, make a plan for other doctor visits, communicate with my primary, talk about other screenings, preventative care, ongoing symptoms, and lots of other stuff. It sounds worthwhile and I hope it will make me feel like I'm not on my own waiting for problems. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone wants to ask if your cancer center does anything like this. It sounds like a new program for mine.

The steroid effected me more than usual this time. Only got about 1 1/2 hour sleep even after taking benedryl. Hope I can settle down for a nap today.

Hope you're feeling that determination to keep pushing through this! Stay strong girls.

No, I'm not diabetic but even ice cream doesn't taste good right now. I'm living on chicken soup and will never want to eat it again when this is over. I just want to get one rant off of my chest and then it'll be gone forever. I have bad veins. That's why I got a port. Unfortunately it doesn't work to draw blood from but takes the chemo and IVs with no problems thank goodness. After 8 days in the hospital (and pretty dehydrated) and twice a day blood draws the lab techs were fighting over who had to get me. I "intimidated" them. I told them they could try any where they wanted but the back of my hands because it hurts too much and the sticks never work anyway. It took an average of two sticks per success and half of them left a huge bruise. I never said a bad word to them. Half the time I was barely awake (5:45am). Maybe next time I'll show them how intimidating I really can be. Just do your job right. My mom was a med tech and I swear I can find a vein faster then these community college graduates who do it for a living. One wouldn't even stay in the room while the second one tried. Yeesh! OK - over and out.

Just wanted to come on and wish you all a great weekend. I finished my first week of rads. I feel just fine. Unfortunately I know that won't last, but for now it's good. I have a very busy weekend planned. First a breast cancer black tie gala to benefit the Tigerlily Foundation. They are an organization that supports young women with breast cancer. Then Sunday I get to cheer on my beloved Washington Redskins at FedEx Field as they play the Chicago Bears. This will be their breast cancer awareness game. Last year I had the privilege to cheer the team on the field as they came out of the tunnel. What a thrill! Anyway, I hope you ladies have a great one and I hope your SE's are tolerable. Much love...Donna

Grace-So sorry to hear you are doing poorly. Hopefully they have the treatment under control. How many more treatments do you have to do? Nothing tastes good to me either. I just eat because I know I have to. Not that it tastes good.

Gma-Not sure about the Brian Josephs on Herceptin. I just know I have heard to keep using it 6 weeks after chemo treatments. Apparently what you do have left can fall out after treatments if you don't keep using. Not sure I want to find out, so will continue to use it. Have lost some, but not really bad yet. Still 5 to go.

Congratulations on completion Non!!!!! I wish you all the best, and pray for a complete recovery.

Has anyone had a cold during their treatments? Onco wanted to postpone my last Taxol due to my cold. Labs were great, just a nasty cold. I told him "no way, I am here and we are doing this". Ya, probably not the wisest thing to do. LOL. Drinking alot of tea with honey, which tastes like sewage. Will be so happy along with all the rest of you to have normal taste buds. Since I am on antibiotics for the cold I had a tooth filled yesterday that needed a screw put in it for stability. Are you kidding me? I am getting screwed in more way than one, and I didn't even get a kiss. Think I hate dentists more that doctors. At least it made me forget about the Taxol side effects for awhile. Have a great weekend all, and enjoy the nice weather while we still have it......

Marsha I cannot draw eyebrows either, or at least consistantly.  I just gave up and stick to eyeliner and mascara cause I have 35 years of experience at those, while I never die eyebrows.  Mine look quite funny because I have few long brow hairs but now the others are starting to come back so its kind of a five o'clock shadow in between the longer hairs.  And I think the black nail is from chemo. Mine didn't turn black but you could see white bubbles underneath and that is where they are detached from the nail bed.  I tried keeping them short and polished for strength, but it didn't work.  I still have it wrapped in a bandaid.  I'm afraid to pull it off even though its only attached one millimeter. I do think this gets me out of doing dishes though. 

I may have jumped the gun a little by attending the Tigerlily Event. While it was a beautiful event and I met some amazing people, the stories of those that didn't make it were extremely difficult for me to hear and I got very emotional. What's crazy is the room was full of survivors that were thriving. There was a fashion show with at least a dozen survivors. I met people whose mothers were 20 year survivors. Yet I came away focusing on the 2 that they mentioned who didn't make it. Why? I don't know. Giving into fear I suppose. Anyway I have decided that until I'm done with treatment and I can get a little time behind me I think I might have to avoid some of these events. I might feel better later. I actually have one next weekend that is unavoidable because I am being honored. But after that I think I will take a break and focus on my own recovery. I hope that doesn't sound selfish, but I have to get back to a positive headspace. I know I need that in order to deal with all of this. Boy I bet I sound like I'm rambling, but that's what I get for responding at 2:30 am. Anyway, hope you all have a great Sunday. I know I will enjoying the game.

Donna I completely get it and its not selfish to do whatever you have to for your mental health.  I am similar in that regard.  I did some one-on-one therapy at the local cancer center round one.  They wanted me to join a support group but warned that most were a lot worse off than me.  I decided it was better for me to not think about it week after week.  If I don't hear the bad stories I am more positive.  I even got off these boards and just lived my life.  When I got the recurrence I was still glad I had spent that time not thinking and worrying about breast cancer.  Now I have to learn it all again-moving on and nor worrying about distant recurrance.   I remind myself that  my cousin is a 28 year survivor.  So try to focus on the roomful of thriving survivors and others you've seen in life surviving and even public figures who had breast cancer and are still living.  There are more surviviors. Lets plan on being in that group.   

Hi ladies, I was just catching up on the posts. I'm so happy for those of you who have come through and survived the challenging chemo! I've been living these last few weeks just waiting for my final chemo on Oct. 22nd. I foresee myself bawling my head off during the entire thing. Like some of you, I didn't think I would make it through all chemo tx's. I was ready to quit after #3, but somehow, I made it this far. This will be my 6th tx and I've never heard anyone ring a bell, so I'm thinking my infusion center doesn't do anything for your last tx. I was thinking of shouting out,"My last chemo, baby!", but then I thought pts who have more tx's might not appreciate that. I have had a cold for two weeks now and was wondering what I would I do if my onc said I couldn't have my final tx due to that and was relieved to hear that a few of you had the same experience. I'm assuming when you told your doc you were doing it, they didn't argue:) I am on the fence about radiation. I'm so sick of tx's that I don't want to go for 25 more. My rad onc put the ball in my court,because I'm a Stage II and had the lymph node dissection. Also, have any of you who are/going to be on Tamoxifen considered not taking it? Stay strong, ladies! We really are stronger than we ever knew we could be:)

Mellie-Thanks so much for starting this group:)

Hi All,Hannariggs and KTL so sorry about your colds,I can't imagine having to deal with that too.Went to my radiation eval yesterday,I'm trying to get proton radiation because the damage to heart and lungs is almost eliminated,it's so much better than traditional radiation.Today I have to get mapped out and they're not sure if I will be able to get it thanks to my naturally large breasts.Because the breast falls differently when i lay down(floppy doppy)and the proton radiation is so targeted it may not work for me. It's alarming though to hear that traditional radiation over the left breast damages the heart and 10yrs down the road chances of a heart attack really go up. I really hope and pray my breast behaves and i can get the proton radiation. Hugs to all,Angela

Hannariggs,Taxol is the absolute worst!! A week later I still can barely move without serious pain.The radiology oncologist said he had heard that from alot of patients. You'll make it! Hopefully once it's out of our system we'll feel our age again not 100.Hugs(gently)Angela

Hi Lark,well in my case i have very large breasts 32g(even though i weight 130)and only had lumpectomy,and the proton tx center is in my state(there are very few worldwide).For all those reasons it made good sense.The radiologist showed me a graph of traditional vs proton and the amount of radiation to the heart is huge with photon,with proton none.You have to remember they are very excited and proud of their new technology.Because my boobs are still firm and intact(as they put it)i can get it.Yah!They fall exactly the same way each time i lay down.They casted my whole upper body and i got 4 permanent tattoos,they whole afternoon i was naked,bald,and marked up by various people,alittle unsettling but we do what we have to do and the staff were great. It will still take at least 3 hours everyday vs one hour to get this tx but i'm just willing to do anything to reduce long term se. I'm lucky they have this machine close enough to do it.Hugs Angela

Hi All,

Angela-Congratulations on your treatment! Good God girl, you must be all boob(said in a loving way)! I only wish I weighed 130 pounds. I think my right leg weighs that much. LOL.

Went for infusion today and the good news is, NO CHEMO! Dr is too worried about permanent side effects. He said I wouldn't have to make it up(doing the happy dance). He is starting me on Taxotere in another week. Only 4 left! I have a horrible cold, and I think he is worried about adding chemo to the mix will make things worse than better. So hopefully a week off will help matters. Is anyone else doing Taxotere? What are the side effects to that cocktail? I also found out I will be doing a clinical trial for arimidex when the chemo is over. Is anyone on that? He is also saying for 10 years, but I guess if it keeps the demon "C" away I will take it. Have a great week all...........

grace, I saw my eye doctor after the first treatment and got ductal plugs which were a big help. I wouldn't get new glasses right now but they may be able to help you.

So I'm done with carboplatin and taxotere as of today. I felt sick immediately which is unusual and could not stay awake for the chemo and cold capping. But it's over and I hope that getting sick sooner means I'll recover before the weekend. I have my next muga scan nov 4 and hopefully I'll go back on the herceptin in 3 weeks.

Hey ladies. Finished my first week of rads. So far, so good. Not really feeling any SE's yet. I am fatigued, but I don't think I really ever got my energy back from all of the chemo and surgery. Still need to take daily naps and am in bed by 10. Not looking forward to week three when they say the skin issues start. I pray for a mild reaction. Well I hope you beautiful ladies have a wonderful week!