September 2013 Chemo Group

Congratulations cougar. Take time to recuperate. Hugs

Congratulations, Cougar!!!! I am so happy for you!

Oh my Congrats to you Cougar!!!!!! I hope your joy over this wonderful event (a baby!!!!!) will help you through your upcoming treatments! I am in awe!

All the best to you & that sweet new addition!

VintageGal

Cougar - CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And YAY for a quick labor!! Neither of my kids wanted to come out... needed to be induced both times. LOL I'm so glad your little boy is healthy and you're doing well. I hope they give you a little time to recuperate before your next chemo!

I am SO achy. Holy cow. I've never had this with any of the AC treatments, so I'm blaming it on taxol, not Neulasta. Or maybe it's the combination of taxol + neulasta? I've been taking claritin every day and it's not helping, so I've been dipping into my pain meds. Yikes. I feel like a 90 year old woman.

LHL, I am on Taxotere, which is different from, but similar to Taxol. I have not had Neulasta. I do get a lot of pain, from days 3-7 every time. I have been keeping notes of side effects each day, so that at least helps me to know that it is consistent, and give me an idea of when it will end. Ibuprofen takes the edge off, but does not completely eliminate it. I also tend to run a low grade fever those days...always right around 99, so it makes me wonder if it is somy type of inflammation...who knows.......

cougar, what a blessing. Congratulations! Your children will grow up knowing what a strong and steady mom they have! To do all this and pregnant - there are no words.

LHL, I have some aches and pains too from taxotere. Didn't get it treatment #2 but did 1 & 3. Not from neulasta. I never had restless leg syndrome but taxotere and neulasta se definitely cause a similar feeling - I totally hear you. Maybe next time you can rig up some socks that can hold bags of ice so you can still walk around? And ice drinks should be fine - as long as your mouth is cold! Same here for flu shot. Can't get it until after chemo but recommended to get my family vaccinated.

Lisa - thanks for the description of the port removal. Makes me feel a little better (although not about the local anesthesia part).

Speaking of which - this is still a ways off but what are your MOs saying about the timing for port removal? I am so looking forward to it but if I need scans or whatever that need an IV might be just easier to keep it in.

Kbee - you rock and the tears well I almost cried reading about you crying! Running brings out so many feelings (at least for me) and clarity being number 1. I can only imagine running and seeing all the bc strength around. Not to mention doing it during active treatment. Very moving and overwhelming too.

I'm NOT thrilled with the idea of getting the port out with only local. Yikes. I'm a pain wuss. LOL But my sister-in-law said the same thing... they did it right in her doctor's office with local. I don't like that. I thought about asking if they can remove mine when I have my surgery....my MO hasn't said anything about how long to leave it in.

Thanks for the advice on the pain. I hate that anyone else feels like this, but I'm glad maybe it's a somewhat normal reaction to the taxol. I took some ibuprofen this morning & we'll see if it helps. For my next treatment I'm going to try taking a muscle relaxer first - maybe that will stave off the restless legs so I can sit and ice my hands and feet!

LHL and everyone: Did not mean to scare you about the port removal! I was told by the surgeon that if you request it, they will remove the port with twilight sedation. And about the timing of the port removal, I asked my MO if it was okay and she was good with the timing. I also asked the cath lab surgeon about the timing and he said it was fine too. My port was on the right, and I will be radiated on the left side. Even though I am a pain wimp, the removal really wasn't so bad because it was really fast. The reason that they decide not to do the port removal under twilight sedation (at least for me) is because it involves a longer recovery time and as the surgeon said, any anesthesia has some additional risk. I figure the docs feel it is such a minor procedure (relatively speaking), additional anesthesia beyond local is not necessary.

I think it's possible to have the port removed when you have surgery, LHL, I don't see why not, that makes sense. I also have heard that some people get their ports removed later because their MOs feel it could be possible that they may need chemo again (again, this depends on the individual case of course). Anyway, it's Sunday and I could finally shower and remove the dressing. Everything looks fine and the pain is slight, thankfully.

Cougar, congrats on your baby with the full head of hair! Wonderful! And so cool that you were able to update us right away. Enjoy your new son!

josgirl, not just anybody can access a port. I think with scans like a CT or MRI you'd have to have an IV anyway. I will have mine out ASAP.

cougar, congrats! cannot even fathom a new baby on top of all that you are going thru. good job brave mama!

lighthouse, so sorry about the aches and pains on taxol. I fear this too. One blog I read awhile back mentioned it was like "walking around like a dying troll on taxol". how fun for us.

as for me, done with A/C 2 days ago! Forgot to ask for ice chips during infusion, it's always weird to me the nurses don't suggest. But hopefully the mouth sores stay away. Got a different nurse who literally dug around in my port and finally had to lay me down to get a good stick. Ridiculous. And it hurt like hell. Sundays after infusion are always my "icky" day with the neulasta side effects. They seem less this time at least. Or maybe I am just getting used to it. New normal and all. 56 days until my last infusion. the count is ON!

LHL- I too had Taxotere (is that same or different?) and did get pain from that. The first time I also has the neulasta shot and the pain was the worst that I had, but I wasn't taking clartin at the time. The second time I didn't get the shot and I still had pain a few days after but not quite so bad. The third time he gave me a shot a week after chemo and I didn't get any pain from the shot but I had had some after chemo...so either all my pain was from the Taxotere or the clartin helped the shot the third time around. I am not sure which. Because I don't work I would just take the pain pills the few days that the pain came and I slept the days away. Do you think the steroids are causing the restless legs? If so can they reduce the amount. They did for me, but then again I started to have allergy problems so maybe that is not a good idea.

Lisa- thanks for sharing about the port. I am wanting mine out as soon as I can. Turns out they put the wrong kind of port in me so it's only good for chemo...and taking blood but not for anything high powered so I am hoping to hear it can come out soon. I was told I needed to get an ok from my rad onco first. My doc said it might not heal as well if I am having radiation??? I have an appointment on Friday so I will hopefully find out then.

My port has been used for blood draws, infusions, for contrast with CT & MRI & ECHO and nuclear medicine tests. When I went to the ER they wanted to give me some fluids via my hand, & couldn't get a vein. I didn't end up with any but it made me realize how important that port is. I have a YEAR of treatment so definitely needed a port.

VintageGal - funny about the haircut.... I went into the coffee shop next door to where I work and the owner commented on my new cut. I told him that it was only temporary as it will be falling out this week. He is a real nice guy and said oh no - I was wondering where you have been.... I got a free tea! It is what it is! OWN IT! KICK IT!

I've had several people compliment me on my hair (wig) and I just smile and say "thank you" :-)

Art - I met with my surgeon and the plastic surgeon halfway through my chemo (after AC but before Taxol). We discussed my surgery without going into too many specifics. My case is a little different, though, since I'm BRCA+ it's a given I'll have a bilateral mastectomy. The only thing up in the air for me is what type of reconstruction, and my plastic surgeon said he won't even get into that yet. I'll be having radiation after surgery, which means reconstruction will be delayed 6-7 months.

I'm still achy today, but not in PAIN like I was yesterday. Man, that was awful. Now that I know what to expect, next time I'll try to start pain meds before it hits so I can stay on top of it. I haven't taken anything today but my hips and legs are getting pretty sore so I'll probably need something soon. As awful as the pain is, I'll take this over the pukey feeling any day!

Funny about the "hair." I have got lots of compliments on my new haircut, and I just smile and thank people, too, LHL. It's ok, I'm not hiding its just that I would prefer not making every conversation about cancer. I'm the PTA VP at my daughter's middle school, and I am constantly in contact with hordes of people.

My health is private to me and I just let people know whenever I choose, not casually. Just my two cents, but I wouldn't mind a free tea!

Just had my first rad treatment today. I find it more unsettling than chemo, just because its so detached and clinical. Ah well, back tomorrow for more.

Lisa - I actually had someone (who knew I was wearing a wig) tell me that she's been so embarrassed before when she compliments someone on their hair & they tell her it's a wig. So I just smile and say thanks. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, and besides, why shouldn't I take the credit? After all, I picked out my wig! LOL Right?

Knightzoo - I know of a couple of women who have the gummy implants and they seem to like them. My PS didn't even mention them, so either we didn't get that specific or he's not a fan. Something to ask down the line I guess. I hear you on the headgear. I have had so many issues with things not fitting or being uncomfortable. I usually end up wearing a simple bandana.... cheap and I can make it fit how I want! LOL If I go to work or out somewhere else I wear my wig, but around the house or to the kids' games, etc... I go with the bandana. I stole my daughter's pink one and my son's navy one, and then I bought a black one with purple butterflies on it. Good to know the level of aches and pains may get better. I hate to think of it getting worse each time if I feel this bad after Taxol #1!