Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited January 2014

    Woohoo KTF!!!! So so exciting and life affirming. ❤❤❤

    SC - hope you get answers soon!

    Audra - I had bad pain with the Neulasta but six days after my first shot I was at 11 and likely running that high due to an infection I was fighting.  On Monday (2nd chemo day) they were up to 22.  MO thinks its due to the steriods.  I definitely think the shot works.

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    Hi chemo sisters -- 

    Keep -- Congratulations on the new year's grand baby -- what a way to start a great year!!

    SC -- We are all in your pockets tomorrow.  I hope they find a solution for your back pain.  I am so sorry you are having to deal with this!

    Momat -- so glad the cranberry juice did the trick.  My MO gave the Ok for taking cranberry pills throughout chemo -- it is a way of getting the benefits of gallons of cranberry juice without having to drink all that juice ( but you still need lots of fluids!)

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited January 2014

    Tatum says Happy New Year!

    image

    Had to share:)

    ((HUGS)) to all~

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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2014

    Beautiful!!! Adorable!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    OMG, Keep!!!!  What a cutie patootie!!!  Thanks for sharing the pic!

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited January 2014

    Love that pic..... thanks for sharing!!!!!

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2014

    perfect baby. Thank you for sharing.

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited January 2014

    So darling!!!  

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  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited January 2014

    What a little doll!  congratulations Grandma!  My oldest is having a baby in June, I am super excited too!

    SC- Praying for a great outcome on your tests !

    I am still exhausted and on couch, tired of being tired!  


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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2014

    it's over!!!

    imageSorry it's sideways!

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2014

    congratulations SC.  I hope you start to feel better.

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  • QuirkyGirl
    QuirkyGirl Member Posts: 383
    edited January 2014

    Wooooo for you SC!!!!!!  :D

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  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited January 2014

    YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    Yay SC!!!!  LOVE the cute sign by kids :)

    Praying for minimal side effects, maybe you won't have any you will be sooooo happy you are done!!

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited January 2014

    Yippee.... SC!!!!!  You made it to the other side!!!!!  Doing the Happy Dance for you!!!!  Hope your side effects are minimal!!!!

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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2014

    MO also recommended a PET scan and to see a Psyiatrist. I have made both appointments. 

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  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited January 2014

    I think we will all need those appointments...

    I feel absolutely crazed at times and didn't get pet scan to begin with just lots of ct scans...seems easier to do all at once...

    Praying for great results!  Hopefully back strain,

    I know my back and neck are hurting as I'm on the same couch daily in same position....

    getting a massage Monday...:)

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  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 96
    edited January 2014

    Well, I had that great energetic day Tuesday after TC #4 on Monday, and it did go downhill from there. 

    All my muscle aches came back yesterday, more intense and more extensive -- shoulders and surgical sites (including September tooth extraction) as before, plus rib cage, lower back, and even hips and legs, which are new. My left shoulder now hurts as much as my right, which is where I thought I had a rotator cuff problem -- maybe it's all chemo, or just spending too much time in the same positions and inactive?!? 

    The ribcage achiness makes me aware that I'm also more breathless -- maybe my low RBCs? (My WBC numbers are fine without neulasta for some reason.) I might not notice the breathlessness so much if our house weren't at 7000 ft elevation, but it's still kind of scary.

    I'm hopeful this will all start easing up by Saturday as for the first 3 infusions, but in the meantime I'm just not doing much at all -- if I sit still, nothing hurts, but even reaching for a drink on a side table punishes me. I'm also trying to remember to be grateful I don't have other worse SEs, like nausea, infections, headache, etc, that some of you have.

    Anyhow, thanks for listening to me gripe. I try not to whine to my DH, since it upsets him and there's nothing that can be done except just wait it out. But I know that when you all describe your situations, it helps me put my troubles in perspective, and that helps my mental state more than I can say! So maybe I just did everyone else a favor by complaining (hah)!

    (((Hugs to all!)))

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  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 96
    edited January 2014

    SC, your post came while I was b*tching about my own troubles. So happy you are done! And the sign from your kids is priceless! Go get that PET/CT scan ASAP -- I'm betting it will relieve your mind as it did mine!

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  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 521
    edited January 2014

    HOOOOOOOORay for you being done too Blueongrass!  Forget if I said it on the very day, but if I did not - SOOOO happy you are done!

    But awful you are having more pains...seems I get more each time too, and new ones...

    I am getting scared to death to do that last one...my esophagus and stomach are raw today and burning and cannot imagine what our organs and gi tract looks like from all of this! 

    You are lucky the wbcs stay up !  That is a plus...

    My husband, sweet as he is, is restless...outside doing things now...I know he can't sit with me 24/7 but sometimes that would be nice...I am SOOOOOOOO tired of being tired....I know I say it daily...

    Yes, LOVE hearing others trials and effects..It DOES help...

    We are all going to make it through and be on the other side soon!  I just know it!

    Praise God!

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  • Tobyholicdeb
    Tobyholicdeb Member Posts: 19
    edited January 2014

    YOU LOOK AWESOME! I hope I look half that good when I get done. I start tomorrow and I'm stressing about it.

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  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 96
    edited January 2014

    Audra, I wish I were done, but I'm in a clinical trial where I get 6 rounds of TC, not 4. But I'm very lucky because I haven't had any truly evil SEs so far; and I'm expecting the longer treatment will wipe out all my stage III BC buggers. 

    So today, let's celebrate that idea; and YOUR upcoming last chemo in January (you will do fine!); and my last chemo around Feb 10:-)

    (I think I'll go add my last TXs to my profile now!)

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  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 96
    edited January 2014

    Tobyholicdeb, so sorry you need to be here, but you will find this a comforting place to visit during your journey. We are all here for you!

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  • FairyDogMother
    FairyDogMother Member Posts: 253
    edited January 2014

    image

    My former co-worker, a good friend from Argentina, me, and my hubby. 

    Chemo # 3 is done.   One more chemo Jan 22, 2014! Today’s theme was a hit at the infusion center lots of smiles and pictures.  AND my nurse gave me BENADRYL for my throat swelling, tongue swelling, and lymph nodes.  She went rogue and asked my why the MO didn’t approve each time.  I love this nurse, she says its protocol.  Tomorrow I head to the throat doctor since MO didn’t believe I was having issues.  I also meet another patient who fired my MO for the same reasons.  Good to know I’m not the only one. 

    2014 is looking so much better!  Fight on Warriors!

    Bluegrassharp- Good thing you are doing well.  

    SchoolCoun- LAST CHEMO!  Happy Dance.  

    audra67-I hope the pain will decrease. Are you getting sleep?

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  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 96
    edited January 2014

    FDM -- what a great picture and attitude! BC clearly has no chance in your neck of the woods!

    PS -- where do you get all the darling costumes? If you make them, I'm going to feel truly like a slacker!

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited January 2014

    Thanks ladies!

    love the pic FDM!

    Happy Dance for you SC !!! whoohoo! best of luck with your scans, etc. Keep us posted.

    BGH, I think we all need to "vent"  sometimes and this forum is the perfect place to do it. We can relate and sympathize.

    I have been very lucky so far with SE's. It seems as though my seasonal allergies symptoms are not near what they would normally be with the cedar counts higher than they have been in three yrs, per the weatherman. Anyone else experience a decrease in seasonal allergy symptoms while on chemo? Maybe it just dries you up...? Hoping it will be permanent...probably way too much to ask for, though!

     

     


     

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    SC -- Happy dance & pocket party!  Love the sign!!!  Doesn't it feel GREAT to kick that chemo to the curb?  Glad the scans were ordered -- you are on the right path to feeling better.

    FDM -- Adorable -- thanks for sharing the picture!  I love your positive attitudes and the support of your friends and DH.  What's the theme for next infusion?  Hope the Benedryl helps, and that you get some answers to the throat and tongue problems -- thank goodness for practical and compassionate nurses!!

    KTF -- I also had no allergies during chemo.  The one and only good SE!  Normally I have continual postnasal drip and sometimes am hoarse in the morning from the irritation to my throat.  I take Zyrtec for it.  During chemo, didn't have any congestion or anything.  At first I thought it was the Claritin and/or Benedryl I was taking, but had no allergy symtoms even when I wasn't on those.  So far allergies haven't come back, but I am not even a month out from last chemo.

    Welcome Toby!  I know you will find this to be the place where you can ask your questions and give voice to your fears, but also celebrate the milestones and find the caring support of new friends.  We are all in your pockets -- you can do it!

    BGS & Audra -- I am so sorry that you both are miserable -- ugh, this chemo is rough stuff!   It damn well better work, is all I have to say!  Hugs to you both, and be good to yourselves.

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  • momat927
    momat927 Member Posts: 173
    edited January 2014

    Hello Sisters, 

    SC-  YAY!!!!   Tell us about life after chemo sometime !

    Keepthefaith- tell Tatum Welcome to the World!!! 

    Teamkim, i will get cranberry pills.  I drink so much juice and it helps but then some burning returns if i get forgetful of water and juice during the day.  Snowstorm due tonight. If dr open, may just get urine culture. 

    Today, i went food shopping alone. My husband can care give for a few days, but then seems strained &exhausted. We are not spring chickens though i am a pretty young 65.  So today, at Trader Joes, I kept forgetting what I need & even forgot the list & suddenly felt so weary i wanted to sit in the shopping cart. I didn't.... But I did cry!!!  In the middle of a check out line!!!   I couldn't  go on one more second.   Of course I tried to hide it from others and did pretty well but one observant woman kindly moved me ahead in line.  Wow. It was a surreal moment.  

    Now i am on the couch and refuse to move. Here's to allowing oneself to veg. 

    Love to all, momat927

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  • momat927
    momat927 Member Posts: 173
    edited January 2014

    forgot question!  I am sure this was addressed somewhere on discussion boards--  my buzz cut is now departing.  I have bald patches which i can live with, BUT i have a rash whever i am bald. Does anyone know about this & possible remedy?  I have been using just Burts Bees Baby shampoo & wash on my head and then some Cetaphil or olive oil.  The rash is tiny clusters of  pink bumps. Thanks, momat927

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited January 2014

    momat, I hope you feel better soon. Yes, do allow yourself to veg:). You deserve it! Isn't is crazy how this effects so many aspects of our lives? It has given me much more grace and compassion than I used to have when someone is out of sorts or even acts out...you just never know what someone else is going through.

    good luck with your TX tomorrow Toby.

    thanks for the info on allergies, Teamkim. Good to know. I have been worrying about getting congestion, sinus infection or bronchitis while on chemo, so maybe that's one less thing I'll have to stress about:).

    ((HUGS))

     


     

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2014

    Momat, I still have a rash all over my head. My doctor told me to use OTC cortisone cream. I haven't used it yet because she said to only use it sparingly and my rash covers a huge area. It is itchy but not too bad so I am just hoping it will go away. 

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