September 2013 Chemo Group

For those wondering about flu shots. This was posted yesterday at my Cancer hospital:

If your treatment is every 1 or 2 weeks get your shot day before treatment.

If your treatment is every 3 or 4 weeks get your shot 3 days before treatment.

just back from the chemo bar! Taxol #1 done!! Now the waiting game..... praying for no side effects! Love the poems!!! I have a busy weekend ahead, so any se will really cramp my style..lol

I am back from my first taxol, too. The infusion lasted just under 4 hours. 40 minutes of premeds and 3 hours for taxol. I had no issues from the taxol, but they gave me benadryl in my premeds (which they never did during AC) and it gave me the worst restless legs. I have restless legs syndrome anyway, so it doesn't take much to set it off. I brought bags of frozen peas to ice my fingers and toes, and I couldn't even do it because I couldn't sit still. I had to get up and take my iv pole for a walk for the first hour. Ugh. After that I got really sleepy and dozed the last two hours. Peacockgirl I brought a slush drink to have during the taxol. I tried just doing ice the last two treatments and it made me sick because it tasted awful. I figured maybe an icy drink would serve the same purpose. We'll see. I had labs and my office visit with the MO before chemo, so we were there all day and closed the place down. LOL I was the last chemo patient.

MO said my anemia is getting worse. Started at 13.4 and now is 8.8. If it gets down to 8, I'll need a blood transfusion. I guess that explains why I get so tired. He said with those numbers, I could exercise but I could maybe do 1/10th of what I normally do.

Now it's just a waiting game to see what SEs I get. Hockeymommy - we'll have to compare how it goes the next few days.

Ladies to any of you know if it's normal for your tumour to move or shift to another location during chemo? Seems mine has moved and it's got me a little freaked out. I have only had my second round of FEC a week ago and we thought it had shrunk as it wasn't palpable in the location where it should have been. However it feels the same but in another place???

Also, is it normal to have tenderness at any point after chemo in the lymph nodes affected in my armpit area as well?

Hoping someone can put my mind at ease

Cat

LHL, It sounds like that chemo is kicking that tumor to the curb. Yahoo!

I also am afraid to mention any side effects I have not had. I am famous at work at the FD for saying things like, "wow, i is a while since I have had a call for an MI"... and usually within the hour we get a call for that. It never fails. So I will not jinx myself! I'll save that post for January!!!! I am happy to read of side effects that others aren't having though, because it is a reminder that I may not get them all...even in later doses.

I am doing the Race for the Cure tomorrow. My legs feel like they are made of cement, so my hemoglobin must be low, but I am going to try and jog those cement legs the whole 3.1 miles. After this, if I am as tired as I am now, the rest of the way through these rounds, I'll just have to stick to long walks, and hold off on more running until spring. Spring...I can't wait for it to arrive and for all of this to be done. I do hate wishing time away though, since my kids are growing up too fast.

LHL-I have not had any nausea from taxol. Tired and light headed feeling days 3&4 is pretty much it. But I've either gotten used to the light headed feeling or it stopped happening after about the 4th one. Congrats on the tumor regression! Here's to a complete response!! I'm so happy to hear that since mine is(was) the same size.

Amazing how different doctors are. I asked my MO yesterday about a flu shot and he does not want me to get one until after chemo. He said since some people are knocked down a bit by the shot, he doesn't want that to happen to me and not be able to bounce back in time for my next treatment. He did say that hubby & the kids have to get them, though, which is NOT good. My son gets allergy shots no problem, but any other shot freaks him out, and hubby and daughter do NOT do needles. LOL

Betterday - I'm sorry about your port issue. I wonder what it is if antibiotics didn't clear it up? Thanks for the taxol info. I'm thinking I'll probably have a steroid crash tomorrow, since I know they pump you full of them for taxol to ward off any reaction.

Is anyone else not completely bald? We buzzed my hair really short the day I decided not to use the cold caps anymore, and on top & along the sides I'm pretty much bald - a few wispy sections here & there. I have about 50% coverage in the back still, though, and a little bit in front. I just think it's crazy after 4 AC treatments - you'd think if it was going to go, it would ALL go.

Question for anyone having or had masectomy with reconstruction.  Saline or silicone and why?

LHL - I buzzed my head but still have quite a bit of dark fuzz all around. Not enough to where I wish I didn't shave, but enough to think I have a good head start once it starts growing again (which some say happens during Taxol?). I'm also surprised it didn't all come out, and I actually still have a bit of hair all over my body. I've only done three ACs though, as I'm on hiatus until after I deliver next week.

Sorry to hear about your nails, I think you had tried to ice but had to keep moving instead? Hopefully your next infusion allows you to sit still!

Hello ladies! Hope everyone is doing well. Just thought I would weigh in

Hair: My hair started growing back after tx #2. I totally credit fasting for that. I have a good 1/2 inch or so- I can pull on it without using fingernails! It is white in color and very very thin. The darker stuff that was my old hair is still there in places but it is all dead and falls out with a stiff wind. Since I didn't fast with #3 I am guessing I will lose all this new stuff. My hair really has been hurting the past couple days so I am betting it won't be long; that is what happened the first time anyway.

Nails: my nails felt weird after #1 and #2; kind of numb feeling but it was just my nails so I really didn't think about neuropathy. Now I am definitely getting the neuropathy effects. My onc okayed L-Glutamine to take so I just started that last night. My hands and toes are SUPER tingly in the shower for some reason, otherwise they are just kind of reduced sensitivity. Oh and my tongue or the roof of my mouth; I can't tell which one lol.

Anyone having eye issues? Mine are just kind of irritated. It is almost like having conjunctivitis but not nearly as extreme. They are a bit crusty in the morning, and kind of weep a bit throughout the day but not too bad. I asked when I called the nurse but she wasn't sure and all the doctors were gone for the day. She is going to check on Monday to see if I need to come in. I just don't need any lasting vision issues. Seems I don't know any of the potential side effects by way of the doctors; I have to find out here.

I just read my blood work results from Monday online and saw that my WBC was at 1.9. It has never dropped below normal so far. That kind of freaked me out. What happens if it drops even lower? I totally don't get why my sternum STILL hurts 10 days post Neulasta if my count didn't get bumped up. Oh, and the initial sternum pain....OMG it was horrible, like getting kicked in the chest by Chuck Norris. I took a Lortab and cried until it kicked in. Funny me for asking for the shot in the right arm so as to hopefully avoid the horrible pain in my left hip I had the two times before. It is always something, right?!

mamastewart: I am not getting Neulasta, and I do get some nasty bone and muscle pains. It can also be a side effect of the Taxotere. I have had crusty eyes the past few days too, but I also seem to be fighting a really minor (hope it stays minor) cold.

LHL: The neuropathy is one of my biggest fears. I am getting a little, and it is #1 on my long list to bring up with MO before Friday's treatment.

Alfranco: I had BMX and will have reconstruction about a month after chemo. I believe the plan is for silicone, because PS said it would stand up the best in my job which sometime requires me to crawl around in tight spaces, and I also wear an airpack. We discussed it quite a bit. I really had no clue, so I have to just trust him on this one, knowing what's best in my odd case.

Well ladies, I did it. My goal before starting chemo was to be able to do the whole 5K when the Race for the Cure rolled around, and I did it in 31:32. My legs felt like lead, but I still drug them the whole way. Take that breast cancer!!!! It was very, very emotional. I am not sure if it was hormones, 10+ thousand people there for the same cause, just everything bottled up inside, but I had tears streaming down my face for about 3/4 of the race. I am not sure if they were sad tears, frustration tears, or happy tears; I suspect all 3.

Kbee - wow, congratulations!  What an accomplishment!  As for the eyes, I have found artificial tears help.  What I was  told is as they dry they actually end up watering and/or crusting; so far it's worked well for me - over the counter.  Regarding implants - I was told personal decision, however, the silicone are known to hold up and retain shape better.  My PS was willing to do either one, but preferred the silicone by experience.

Kbeee - congrats on the run! That is so amazing and inspiring. I can just imagine how emotional you were!!! {{hugs}} for a good job!

If you use eye drops be sure not to use the kind that "get the red out" you need lubricating eye drops, particularly if you are on Taxotere. Your eyes can water involuntarily for the duration of chemo, and sometimes for about two months afterward. This is a common SE of this drug - it is actually caused by dry eyes, and some need stents put in the tear ducts due to scarring. You may also experience twitching of your eyes - sometimes both eyes will twitch at the same time but not in sync - it is an interesting experience to say the least!!!

Congratulations Cougar! I am glad you are all right. Is this your first child? I feel so sad for you. All this treatment is hard enough to go through but in your condition? I can't even begin to imagine what you must be going through. Please take it easy and take care...((((Hugs, hugs, hugs)))))