Starting Chemo July 2013

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    Thanks Girlstrong,  Yes, from treatment 1 to 4, i had swelling face,eyelids for a few days.  Treatment #5 n 6-i noticed i had swelling ankles on days 10 after chemo.  I askedmy MO nurse practioner she said that normal.  Yesterday n today i noticed the swelling look a lot better n not as sored as 2 day ago. Thanks 

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  • angelanature
    angelanature Member Posts: 179
    edited November 2013


    Hi All,Soriya I never had swelling in ankles but in my hands,the numbness has been horrible,my onco had me go to a neurologist who put me on neurontin.It's not helping much I quess i"ll have to give it time.Hannariggs,I haven't started radiation yet I was supposed to start today but they have finished with my plan yet so will start next monday.Hang in there firecrackers Hugs Angela

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  • Hannariggs
    Hannariggs Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2013


    Hi All,


    Stayed home and slept most of the day. Sore throat and alot of congestion. So want to quit treatments at this point. Not sure if the side effects are from the taxotere or maybe a case of the flu(gotta love the cold and flu season). I just know my body has had it....How did you all ever make it through all of these treatments? God Bless you, ........because I am sinking fast. I did get to speak with another sister today who has had a recurrence within 3 years. She had a mastectomy but never had chemo or radiation. Now it is back, and they are wanting to run the full gamut on her. She is in a very bad way(age 68). After a huge pep talk we both felt better. I just need to take my own advise. Its alot easier giving advise than taking it. I thought I would be so happy nearing the finish line, but I have never felt sicker and weaker. I know this too will pass, but enough is enough. Sometimes I think too much is not a good thing either. I guess one never knows which way to go but to trust our doctors and the man upstairs. I go in for round 11 Wednesday. Fingers crossed......................hugzzzzzz

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    Hi Firecracker ladies!    Angela my swelling ankles look better.....but still there that soreness.  I tried to walk a  a little here n there.  Seems like we all have different symtoms. Hannariggs, hang in there,  I prayed for you that you will make it to the end.  This is suck, but you will make it.  Big hugs to all fo you ladies!!!

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    One more question, did any of you ladies drink coffe durin treatment? thanks

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    I mean like drink coffee during chemo ?  or 8 or 10 day after chemo?  i am craving for coffee lately, so i drank coffee 3 days straight. I used haft & haft cream.  I used to drink coffee daily with vanilla coffee mate(one cup a day).    

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  • lark
    lark Member Posts: 61
    edited November 2013


    sorlya - I was never told not to drink coffee. I had a small cup most days. It usually didnt taste right. Hope you're feeling better.

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  • Hannariggs
    Hannariggs Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2013


    Well, It is finally official. I have now finished my weekly chemo and on to radiation! Dr felt the risks were far worse than continuing the treatment. In a sense I feel like a failure, but sooo happy to be finished. If I weren't so completely exhausted I might even go out for a drink. Its been a long road. Now on to the final stages of a follow up petscan, radiation, and port removal. The nurses were sad to see me go and I will surely miss them. They are true angels. Now I need to lose the added 30 pounds I put on. Life is good. God Bless all......

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  • Girlstrong
    Girlstrong Member Posts: 438
    edited November 2013


    hannariggs: don't even think for once you are a failure. You did it. You made it. You had the courage to fight and you will go in to fight. I am happy your done with the chemo phase . Congrats!!! I'm jealous that you will get your port removed. I will defiantly be doing a happy dance when that day arrives for me . Good luck with your next treatments :)

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  • angelanature
    angelanature Member Posts: 179
    edited November 2013


    ,Hi All,Well got a hematoma at my port removal site(what is it with me and hematomas I had one in my lymph node site too),it's painful and ugly but hopefully will resolve itself. Hannariggs,so glad you are done,sorry you are feeling so awful.You should be feeling better in a couple weeks,I hope! I'm actually getting bored waiting to start radiation,i just want this all behind me by the new year.Soriya ,glad you ankles went down,I've been walking alittle at a time increasing my distance slowly.Congrats again Hannariggs,you got through and deserve to celebrate this weekend,even if that means breakfast,lunch,and dinner in bed :) Hugs All!!! Angela

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    congrats Hannarigs, go celebrate!  :)  Angela, my akles are okay now.  I walked 35 mins today. Lark, thanks about coffee info.  I kno I love coffee, I did not drink coffee since i started chemo n now I waned to drink everyday.   Girlstrong, how are doing with new treatment regimen?  

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  • Girlstrong
    Girlstrong Member Posts: 438
    edited November 2013

    Hi Soriya123....My new treatment started on November 1.  It was supposed to be October 31 but since this is a newer med to use for early stage BC it requires a different dosing and my chemo center didn't have it in stock so they had to have it shipped in so that it would be available the next day!  What a fiasco.  Anyway, I started Taxotere, Perjeta, and Herceptin a couple of weeks ago.  The biggest side effect was an itchy rash on my trunk, hands, and forearms.  My MO had to put me on a prednisone taper and Benadryl.  Now, a week later, I think I am OK.  This isn't an allergic reaction per se but definitly is one of the side effects noted for Perjeta.  I also had a raw mouth (bright red and burned) for a couple of days but now that has passed too.  Still, these side effects are better that AC.  AC was really on out of body experience.  My last day of chemo is scheduled for December 12!!!!!!!  Can't wait.  I'll keep you all posted. 

    Anyone have surgery coming up??

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    Girlstrong, im glad to hear you're doin good.  I am in the process of seeing my BS and PS.  My breast BS said my surgery will be in December, dont kno the date yet,  most likely bfore Xmas for sure.  I am sad that I wont  be enjoy my Xmas holiday this year with my kids.  I will be in pain :(.  

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  • Nocompromises2013
    Nocompromises2013 Member Posts: 292
    edited November 2013


    try not to assume you will be in pain - if you think it then you will feel it !!!


    once the drains are out it is much better -


    How much surgery are you having ?

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  • DonnaD08
    DonnaD08 Member Posts: 128
    edited November 2013


    Hello firecrackers. Thought I would drop in to say hello. So sorry I've been MIA. I'm not really good at this lol. Anyhow, it's so good to see you all making progress in your treatment. Congrats to all of you who are finished. I am 4 weeks into radiation and so far so good. I just started having some noticeable discoloration in my skin, especially my armpit area. It is so dark. I am also getting dark tan splotches and my pores are turning brown. Looks like I have tiny little brown freckles all over my boob. So far no real pain to speak of (just tender) and no peeling or blistering. I have 6 more treatments and I am done on the 22nd! I hope that my skin will continue to do well. I have met some lovely people at the center. One young mother named Kelly is fighting triple negative bc like me, except she was stage 3. She did not have insurance when she felt her lump which she said at the time was about a cm. by the time she went to the doctor months later it was 6 cm and had invaded 4 of her nodes. It was so sad that she felt she had to wait to get treated. However we both feel confident that we are going to beat this thing. I also met a sweet older gentleman who is fighting lung cancer. He finished his treatment 3 weeks ago, but he still stops by every day just to chat. That is so funny to me. I guess we are making up our own little support group lol. Also, my nipple reconstruction has finally healed. They look great. As a matter of fact the nurse at the radiology center thought I had my breasts reduced. She could not believe they were not natural! So everything has been going well. I'm still a bit all over the place emotionally, but I really hope that will get better with time. Now that I am finishing treatment the countdown begins. One day I believe we will all meet those milestones that will help us feel a little safer. Until then I will try to keep busy and stay vigilant in pray. I wish you all the best and I will try to update you guys more often! Take care beauties. Muah!!!

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  • 2bluestars
    2bluestars Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2013


    Hi everyone.


    Finally got my results from my post chemo MRI...I'm N.E.D.! Yay! Whew what a relief. I also had blood work, though I'm not back to normal, numbers are improving and I'm feeling pretty darn good. Now if I could speed up the hair growth. I did end up losing 95% of my eyebrows, almost 2 weeks after my last chemo. Eyelashes are still hanging in there.


    Now just getting geared up for my bx on the 3rd. Starting to get nervous. I'm getting my port removed too. Really looking forward to that. Girlstrong, my bs said the pain is pretty minimal and I'd feel like myself in a week or so in spite of the drains, don't know if it's true or not, but I'm going with that. :-)


    Donna, how was the nipple reconstruction; was the surgery long, did you stay in hospital or was it outpatient? Where did they get the tissue from? I'm a long way from recon, I have to finish and heal from radiation first, according to my bs, but am looking into all of my options. My ps says 3d tattoo is the way to go because they won't always be erect, but I like the idea of having "real" nipples. I asked bs about nipple sparing and he said he could on the left, wouldn't recommend for the cancer side since I'm triple negative. Then I run into the whole they won't match thing....good thing I have some time to sort it all out. :-)


    Hope all is well with everyone.

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    No compromises, I will have my right breast remove only and will put TE, that what im afraid off infection and thing like that. ..of couse afraid of pain.LOL  I am happy to see you lovely ladies come here to chat with us once in a while.  2bluestars, yay on MRI NED results!  I am always ha ppy to hear good news.  I wondered how Cherrie doing?   Cherrie I hope you re doing alright.  

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  • Hannariggs
    Hannariggs Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2013


    Thanks for all the words of encouragement girlstrong and angela! Those words mean so much coming from someone who knows how hard it is going through all we have been through.


    I did an overall assessment the other day. Lets see, I am still baldish, no eyebrows or eyelashes, 35 pounds heavier, and exhausted,But you know what? I am still here, worse for the wear, but alive and kicking. I feel sooo lucky to have made it, where some have not been so lucky. So even though its hard to look at that person in the mirror, we have weathered the storm. Now we have to send in FEMA to clean up the debris. LOL. As I look back on the past 6 months, I still can't believe I made it. I was so scared and frightened. All of us women here are such special and strong people. I just wanted to say "thank you" for helping me get through the rough times. I never could have made it without your support. May we all live long happy healthy lives free of this terrible disease that has crippled our lives but did not win.... God Bless all of you.

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  • soriya123
    soriya123 Member Posts: 662
    edited November 2013

    Hannarigg, well said.  Firecrackers ladies, you guys will be always in my heart.  we been thru so much together.  May we live a long life, many many years!!!

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  • Nocompromises2013
    Nocompromises2013 Member Posts: 292
    edited November 2013


    soriya I had RMx and ALND. And minimal pain but I admit IF (and it is highly unlikely) I go for recon it is the TEs that worry the C..... Out of me


    I got fitted with a prosthesis after Mx and now 5mo down the track I have lost 5kg (11lbs). So now it's slightly too big compared to my left boob !!


    The woes of life :))))

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  • angelanature
    angelanature Member Posts: 179
    edited November 2013


    Hi All,I really feel for all of you going through recon,I can't even imagine!! I am very lucky I only had a lumpectomy and the scar has healed beautifully.Hopefully it was enough since my cancer was way underestimated(lymph node involv.and size of tumor 2xswhat they thought).When I start feeling sorry for myself i think of some of you going through alot more than me. Hannariggs it does so suck being baldish,eyelash and eyebrow less but at least my breasts look the same(almost).I just hope, later down the road ,the lumpectomy doesn't come back and bite me in the ass(or the boobs).Sue I saw you put done after your chemo,I love that,can I copy?Donna,it would good to hear your doing well at radiation,I start next week(a week later than i thought)and hearing it's not that bad is encouraging.A couple weeks Girlstrong,hang in there,we're rooting for you.All of you have kept me going,and will continue to lift my spirits and listen most importantly.Hugs all,Angela

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  • Rambo50
    Rambo50 Member Posts: 140
    edited November 2013


    Hi Ladies,


    Just catching up after a super busy week.


    Lark, I hope your son is doing okay. Glad to hear that a few weeks out you're feeling a little better. This past Wednesday was the first in 18 weeks that wasn't either chemo or bloodwork!!! I'm still losing eyebrows and lashes - actually only have 2 lashes hanging on at this point - SO funny (and a bit sad).


    Hannariggs - NO failure!!! You've been successful in my book - your body spoke and said enough is enough :-) Hugs to you!


    Soriya, I had quite a bit of swelling with AC, but not with Taxol. I'm still dealing with a bit of neuropathy - nearly dropped my coffee cup walking downstairs this morning - YES, I drink coffee and have through ALL of this ;) Also sometimes feel like I misstep and might fall :( I've learned I have to be extra careful.


    I'm still not back to having enough energy to get our and walk - though it's a bit cold right now anyway (excuse???). I'm also not sleeping very well and find I'm still in a lot of pain certain times of the day. While I feel MUCH better than right after chemo, I'm not very patient and want to be ALL better NOW! Anyone else still in pain???


    My surgeries are quickly approaching (early December for prophalactic left side mx and ovary/fallopian tube removal), so I'm trying to gear up for those - Christmas shopping is an online event for me this year :) I start my aromatase inhibitor next week.


    Sue - I've not lost much weight, but have the same issue with my prosthesis - lol - guess I'll be balanced after December, and am looking forward to "lighter" versions ;-)


    Happy weekend firecrackers!!!


    Lynn

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  • DonnaD08
    DonnaD08 Member Posts: 128
    edited November 2013


    2bluestars...Regarding nipple recon, it was super easy. Outpatient surgery. I was only at the hospital a few hours. Very little pain. I was at Bible study the next night and the night after that I was at a cocktail party at my ps's office. They took the tissue from the side boob. When he did my mastectomy he left a little pocket of fat/tissue on that side for the nips. Although recovery was easy, it took a really long time (a month) for my left side to heal. I just lost the scab. But it is finally a healed up and looks great. I will still have 3d tattooing, because I so think these are going to flatten out some, but I do like having a protruding nipple, even if it ends up small. Btw don't be shocked when you come out of surgery. The nipples are huge!!! They shrink about 50% once they heal.


    Angela I definitely feel you on the lumpectomy. I had the choice for a lumpectomy, but with my triple negative status I just felt like I wanted to do more. I have no regrets. In the end I got a great result.

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  • Nocompromises2013
    Nocompromises2013 Member Posts: 292
    edited November 2013


    copy away Angela. :))))

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  • JeriGrace
    JeriGrace Member Posts: 128
    edited November 2013


    So good to hear from you, Rambo. Good luck with your surgeries. Hello to all the other Firecrackers. I am almost 8 weeks post final chemo and just lost a bunch more eyebrows this week. I still have some at the arch but now the inner ones are gone so it's a lot harder to draw them on. I'm going to Look Good on Monday and hoping maybe they can help. Seeing all those little hairs fall out was a disappointing reminder of something I thought I had put behind me. The hair on my head is growing and is almost totally white. It pretty much just sticks straight up. When I looked in the mirror today I thought for a minute that I looked like the little girl in How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Cindy Lou Who. Didn't she have like one little hair sticking straight up out of the top of her head?! I'm going to be rockin' the buffs for quite awhile longer.


    I have finished 14/30 rads without too much trouble. My skin looks very pink and sunburned but no breakdown yet. I'm becoming more fatigued but am off work so it is manageable. Radiation is just a totally different animal than chemo. Hannariggs, I'm so glad you're done with chemo. That was enough. Don't worry about the 30 pounds. They don't want you to lose weight during radiation anyway. I think you'll find it so much easier than what you've just been through. And the radiation therapists will be your new friends since you'll see them every day!


    For those of you who had chemo before surgery, you have survived the roughest part. For most people, surgery is a one-time event and then you start to heal. Not like chemo where you start to feel better and then you get knocked down again! My advice - milk that surgery for all it's worth! Let people wait on you, bring food in for your family, run errands for you. It's the season of giving! Someday we'll all have a chance to give back to another woman who needs support. Take it easy and focus on your healing.


    I want to chime in with others expressing their thanks for all the fabulous women on this board. I truly don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found this group. You made me laugh and made me cry and encouraged me every single time I went into that dark hole. This Thanksgiving, I'll be giving thanks for the Firecrackers. : )

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  • 2bluestars
    2bluestars Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2013


    Thanks for the info Donna.


    It's been 22 days since my last chemo and I'm still losing hair. WTH? I was excited when it felt like I was going to have to shave my legs, then the hairs...gone. As well as my eyebrows and now today, I noticed my eyelashes are going. So depressing! Damn. I have very few stubbles on my head, I can feel them, but not see them, I hope they don't fall out again.


    And the hot flashes omg! I think my head is going to melt right off my shoulders! My eyes aren't great either. Normally I wear reader's of 1.25...now 3.00. I really thought these would be better by now...they're actually worse.


    Grrrr! Just needed to vent. :-(

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  • Nocompromises2013
    Nocompromises2013 Member Posts: 292
    edited November 2013


    bluestars- don't forget although your last chemo was 22 days ago it will still affect your body the same way as previously ( ie your hair would start falling out - if you had any at day 16 onwards. Including eyebrows cos even the hairs u kept are only just hanging in there


    You will start to notice proper re growth at 4-5 weeks post. So you are only a week or so away from it - at first you can't believe it. It feels soooo soft and downy


    I am 8 weeks post and have about 10mm on my head. Have shaved armpits/legs once or twice and as someone else said. Why is it the facial hair that comes back first ???? Grrrr


    I can also see tiny tiny sprouts of hair at the start of eyebrow line


    You are Soooooo close :))))

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  • KTLe
    KTLe Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2013


    2bluestars-I had my last chemo Oct. 22nd. My eyebrows hung in there with me the entire 6 tx's, but now, I'm pretty sure they've thinned out. I never had full eyelashes, but they seem even thinner now. I have about 2mm of new hair growth in addition to the random strands that didn't jump ship that are about an inch long. I thought losing my hair would be the most traumatizing, but I actually embraced it. It was hot during the summer, but not for my head What's funny though is when it's windy, I'll turn my head so my hair doesn't get in my face and then I remember...I don't have any hair!


    On a more yucky note, I have been having diarrhea, which I didn't have during chemo. Anyone else experience this? My life has been reduced to looking forward to a solid poop. Nocompromises, thanks for letting us know that things will still be happening with our bodies for a while. I just felt so incredibly relieved when chemo was over that I think I forgot that I would still experience side effects.


    Hannariggs- how are you feeling? You really will make it through, my dear. We are having to be so much stronger than we ever thought we were, but we're doing it.


    Good luck everybody!! Stay strong

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  • 2bluestars
    2bluestars Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2013


    Thanks Nocomp & KT...logically I know chemo wasn't that long ago, it just feels like a lifetime I guess. :-) My dr. told me the chemo will be in my system for 4-5 weeks, that's why they wait on the surgery...just got a little excited about my hair growing, even if it was on my legs. :-)


    KT...that's funny about the wind. I can't tell you how many times I've reached up to twirl my hair around my finger and remember, duh, I don't have any. LOL My last chemo was Oct 25th...just a few days behind you. Glad to hear you have some hair growth.

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  • Rambo50
    Rambo50 Member Posts: 140
    edited November 2013


    2bluestars - I'm with you on the continued hair loss! I KNOW this final round will follow like the rest with expected SEs and all - just impatient for some normalcy ;) I'm having to wear more head layers with the colder weather - even to bed... until the hot flashes kick in!


    KTLe - I've experienced the same with diarrhea late in the game, especially since my next-to-last treatment through now, 3 weeks and 2 days from the last one. No fun for sure!


    Sue - I'm not looking forward to facial hair regrowth ;) but can't wait to see what my "new" hair looks like!!!


    Wasn't sure if I'd share this or not, but a couple of weeks ago I got REALLY down. One of my support angels, the office manager at my dental office who went through a very similar experience as me, a few months ahead of me (she finished chemo treatments in March), passed away. It was truly sudden, mets to her liver, and it took her within a matter of weeks. I was devastated since she'd cheered me at every milestone and given me the heads-up and pointers, so much like we've all done here. I'm putting it out there now because many of us are finishing up or nearing the end of a long, grueling journey that will ultimately leave us all changed women. Several of you have already expressed apprehension about future checks and scans, and I'm feeling the same. What I HAVE come away with is a new appreciation for each day, and an outlook on life that's new for me - I'm not nearly as anal, perfectionistic, or stressed about "little" things. This is something my dear angel and friend sent me shortly before she passed:


    Troubles we bear trustfully can bring us a fresh vision of God and a new outlook on life, an outlook of peace and hope. ~Billy Graham


    She also ALWAYS ended her messages to me with, "You are strong and beautiful!!!"


    {(Hugs)} dear firecrackers,


    Lynn

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