Starting Chemo in December 2013
Comments
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LeeAlice, I am also a triple negative. I go for round 3 (out of 8) next Thursday. Good luck to everyone who went today, I hope you are all able to rest well tonight.
Charlotte
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YEAH, back from Round #3 of AC. I went in the morning this time instead of afternoon. Found out that you get a box lunch if you go in the morning. Ate a tasty egg salad sandwich (other choice turkey and cheese) and brought home the pudding and doritos. Just finished munching on the later. so good and salty.
Got my usual cytoxin nose discomfort at the very end. started as a burning then felt like a sinus infection, took a tylenol when I got home and it is gone now. Peeing nice red urine. Pushing cranberry juice mixed with seltzer water. Decided to take a senna pill every day to try to avoid the constipation that I got the last 2 cycles. My WBC went from 1.0 to 10.0 over the past week so the Neulasta shot is working, they also check my chemistries and all was good with kidneys, electrolytes etc. Now to get through the next few days. Good luck to all the others today, may your SEs be minimal this time around. Congratulations to those doing their final round of the Red Devil, My MO's nurse said Taxol is a breeze compared to the AC. I hope so
Barbara PS-- RHGSR you look georgous and brave
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rhgsr - I just caught up, you are beautiful! I love your smile!
Barbara- I am home too. I hope you are feeling well. My head is hurting, but I'm not sure it ever stopped.
I had a friend go with me today. That made it fun and different. I could tell it was hard for though, she teared up a few times. My mo. Gave me something for yeast when I complained about my throat burning and hurting when I eat. He also recommended melatonin to help with sleep, but he also gave me a new lorazepam script.
So, I have had several events happen this week that led to me deciding to put a message on my head. I thought I would share a picture with you guys......ugh, have to figure out how to do that.
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Hi All! Just came home from Round 3. Final Round Feb 6. No SE's yet since I am loaded with steroids & benadryl. Really wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing with their chemo. Xo amy
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I completed my last a/c today. Very excited about that. I don't have to start Taxol until Feb. 3. Just booked a week-end getaway to Boston with my husband before my next round. I'm feeling good. I hope everyone else is doing well. Oh, for the itchy rash and dry skin she recommended aquaphor. It's a cream for diaper rash, but people seem to love it.
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Good luck everyone! I'm so envious of those of you doing your last AC, ugh, I hate it so! I'm only doing 4 ac treatments so I'm half way.
LeeAlice, I noticed that too.
I started having bone pain today, 1 week after the shot. Not as bad as the first round but achey. 8 the day after treatment, I feel rested & not nauseous.
The first couple of nights after treatment I have awful night sweats too. I guessed it was the steroids.
Carol
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Kim, I'm glad you liked it, it really blew me away! The part about "awareness" not translating to prevention & cure makes me sad.
Here's the link to Pink Ribbons, Inc. again:
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finished my last A/C today. Crashed hard when I got home. Night sweats and potty trips interfere with full nights sleep. Still have to get my neulasta shot tomorrow. (Boo, Hiss) Start my Taxol and Herceptin on 1/30. Weekly x12. Asked my MO about checking heart function before starting Herceptin. He stated it gets checked at three months, then realized we will be coming up on that. Did not get an appt so hoping it wasn't forgotten.
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Hi everyone!
Had my #6 Taxol/Herceptin today. It was pretty uneventful. For those about to start it, you know we are all different, but my premeds pretty much take care of most side effects. The Decadron makes me hungry and keeps me up all night on chemo night. The next day I get a red hot face for 24 hours and then that goes away. I do get bone pain on days 3 and 4. One time it was very bad and all the other times manageable. Then I feel pretty good for the next couple days and then start again. I do not get nuelasta or neupogen shots. Boxes of raisins have kept my blood counts good so far. Today's nurse said the bone pain was more from the Herceptin than the Taxol. If I didn't have large open wounds on my chest from losing my tissue expanders I actually think I would be able to work through the chemo.
Think positive, it may not be as bad as you anticipate.
Denise4603
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Hi all!
For those of you who got your next treatment today - would it make you feel any better to know I'm really, really jealous??
I was scheduled for #3 today, but have had to postpone for a while. I think I posted that I was starting an infection around my port… it ended up a full blown staph and 4 days in the hospital again, a few more blown veins… the good part was that after that first day or two I was feeling well enough to have my husband and girls bringing in pizza and watching movies together… bad part is that they had to remove my port, and I'm waiting to get a new one next week and then for that to heal before I can get round 3…
I was looking forward to knowing I was halfway there. I'd rather be marching forward than repeating something I've already checked off the list, but trying to focus on the good - this gives me some extra "good" days to try to sleep (!), let the girls have some friends over while I'm not neutropenic, clean the house, see friends… it's been kind of a murphy's law type of treatment for me so far, so the break will probably be good for my whole family.
Hoping the news is good as you all get past that first day or two and see how things develop.
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Count It All: so very sorry about your set back. I love how you are finding and squeezing the positives out of a difficult situation.
I hope that they are able to get your new port in and functioning soon, so you can continue your forward march!
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NEskir99 - Are you doing Taxol after this? I was talking about your video post with my kids this evening. I feel that it brings up some really good topics of discussion with our loved ones. I am really interested in the plastic and pesticides that cause us to produce estrogen. I know that I can't be freaked out over everything, but by making a few changes maybe I could add to my chances of staying cancer free in the long run. Also, it is so important that we know where our donation dollars are going.
My round 4 went ok so far, I too get the Neulasta shot tomorrow and feel like it makes me feel like crap for about 2 days. The nurse told me that it coud be from the steriods wearing off, but my body aches from it. Still taking the claritin, but wonder if benedryl would work just as well.
I wish you all well,
Kim
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Count it all joy - I just saw your post. I haven't seen your posts lately and I am so sorry about the issues you have been dealing with. I hope that once you get this new port, you will not have to step foot in the hospital for the rest of your treatment.
Hugs,
Kim
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watched the Pink Ribbons video...just confirms my thoughts from the beginning. I was diagnosed in Oct., awareness month...drove me frickin crazy to see it everywhere, it was already on my mind 24/7. It seemed so commercialized...if you had it in pink no matter what the product it would sell, because it is of course helping to find a cure...so it must be a good cause.
Then each doctor office, all the " get your yearly mammogram" posters. I had my yearly mam since I was 40, I was ignorantly happy to be told nothing seen, also always told I had very dense breasts...was I suppose to know that meant they couldn't see a lump if they tried??? I think awareness needs to come from being thoroughly explained that the mamo you had is no good and you need an ultrasound or MRI. I'm pissed any one of us has to go through this, as Dr Love said, our highest risk is being a woman. I also totally agree the treatment hasn't changed that much, it's still slash, burn and poison.
Sorry I'm on a rant, it makes me so angry still....I hate hate hate PINK. I want awareness to be finding out WHY and a treatment course that doesn't maim, burn and poison us. Asking for too much? Possibly, but I never want my daughter to ever go through this. And I do realize and appreciate the much higher survival rates now than before...but I want it all..I don't want to wait 5 and 10 years to take a deep breathe and say I MADE IT. I want no woman to ever relapse or worry about mets to other organs...we have been through enough.
Wishing everyone well,,,,and sorry this is so long
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jackieak I understand your frustrated rant. It does seem crazily commercialized, particularly making everything and its brother pink. Diagnosed at 45, I feel like the chance for its return is a real possibility and that I will have to be super vigilant the rest of my life. Scary and exhausting as I sit here drinking and peeing getting ready to poison cancer and the rest of my body tommorrow. This is the reason I make the big drive to Hopkins... peace of mind that I did everything I could to kill it and watch for its potential return.
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on a more positive note, my friend's mom did taxol first and then AC. Said Taxol was a breeze by comparison.
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Watched most of Pink Ribbon but stopped when a few women in the Stage IV group said they had Stage I or Ii and now IV inspite of treatments. I did agree with Dr Love and she made me feel somehow less powerless. I will say that community and support are emotionally life saving, but when my own MO talks honestly about how little is known, how unpredictable this disease is, and how primitive treatments are, though they are working on more precision, I do feel angry. Where are this country' s priorities?? I never want my daughter to have to deal with this. I had just come home from chemo when i started watching, but will continue soon because it is really important. Yep, I am awake again- chemo night. Xo Amy
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Count_it_all, I'm so sorry about your set back. Enjoy your time feeling good!The mammogram can't see my tumor. That doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy! I found it during a self exam. Since being diagnosed at 41 and talking to women, it is amazing to me how many women do not do self exams and how important it is. I tell everyone I talk to about breast cancer, mammogram plus self exam, self exam, self exam!!! My MO says I saved my own life.
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Count it all, I am so sorry to hear of your set backs. I will be praying that you get back on track soon.
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count it all.. that simply sucks, I know any setbacks are frustrating, as we all want through this as fast as possible. sometimes its as though time is standing still.
I couldn't agree more on PINK... we were all diagnosed around the same time, so it was in our faces continuously. I don't want any pink tshirts or hats or bracelets...is that bad, its like a reminder. however that being said I did order a tshirt that says "hey cancer, *uck you...I find it appropriate.
I may even wear it to a treatment, may offend some, but its how I feel. I keep trying to add my dx to the bottom but clearly I am doing something wrong. will try again. Today I make the hour commute to meet with the radiologist, finally after rebooking 3x because of the timing of treatments. Im sure it will be a short visit but its headway.
mikesgirl: where in maine are you located, I am just in neighbouring NB canada and often visit maine, Portland, Freeport, used to make trips down to Wrentham for shopping, did boston and a red sox game last summer.
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count it all- sorry about your setback, must be frustrating. You did make me laugh though about being jealous.
Morning after #3 ac and I feel better than I have After the first 2. Trying to figure out why. I took the emend earlier this time since I had it at home. I think my mo may have deceased my steroids. Those se are the ones that are usually overwhelming me at this point. I need to just be grateful instead of analyzing it I guess. : ) I also finally put it "out there" that I have cancer and am in treatment. Maybe the prayers were heard!
I hope the rest of you that had treatment yesterday are feeling as well as I do today!
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Kimie, I'm just outside of Augusta. I actually go to Scarborough for treatments. My husband and I will be taking the Downeaster to Boston for an overnight getaway right before my first Taxol treatment. I love going to Boston. Ladies, that rash I told you about cleared up over night. No more itch. I still have dry skin though. I think the steroids I had to take helped it.
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mikegirl have been to augusta many times .. only to hit up the xmas tree shoppe and some other shopping have stayed there a couple of times. you aren't really all that far from me
Have fun in Boston, hit up quincy for me for some delish food... -
Will do Kimie.
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count-it-all-joy, so sorry to hear of your delay in treatment and having to be hospitalized! That has to be hard. It sounds like your family is taking good care of you through it. That support is so important! I hope you rebound soon and are on back on your way to recovery!
Congratulations to all who have finished a phase yesterday! Good luck with your upcoming treatments if you have more ahead of you.
I finished number 3 yesterday. It seems that the anxiety is not as bad going in, but still there...they used my port for the blood draw for the first time yesterday and it was easy; not sure why they haven't before, but I only had to have one stick at least! Feeling un-rested bc of the steroids, but other than that, good so far. Took Lorezapam in hopes of resting, but don't think it phased me. Still hanging on to some of my hair...wondering if this TX will take the rest of it.
Going for my N shot today, then going to see the Meryl Streep movie with a friend. Hoping to relax!
Have a wonderful week-end fellow warriors! Keep up the fight!
Maybe we could start a motto, "PINK STINKS"!!!
((HUGS))
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What is the video ya'll are talking about?
You know, the pink got on my nerves even before I was dx. I would get irritated when I would watch football and all the players would have pink stuff on and I'd think how goofy and "trendy" it was. So yes, when I ws dx 10/24 and felt the lump on 10/12 I could NOT get away from it!! I even had a friend ask me if I wanted to go with her to a BC awareness thing that was doing free mammo's. I was like....uhhh NO!!
Anyway, I'd like to see the video ya'll are talking about. ((hugs)) to you all
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jackieak - I too had annual mammograms and trusted them....I have or shall I say had dense breasts. My mammo in 2012 failed me. I had even spoken with my doc about having a 3D mammo that year, but she didn't recommend it. I had to have bc in 2012, due to the tumor size and number of nodes involved. I started feeling a thickening on the left side of my breast a few months before my 2013 annual, figured it was due to my crazy hormones, I am 48 and my periods were getting wacky. It was after I felt a lump in my underarm that I started freaking out and got into my doc. I was diagnosed in September. Had my MX Oct. 31.
DJJ - I agree that self exams are a must and I was hit and miss with those, especially the year prior to my diagnoses. Too busy dealing with my daughter's senior year, college, graduation. I trusted my mammogram... Stupid me. The MRI caught a little node with cancer that even a breast exam would not have caught as it was behind my nipple.
Still hopped up on steroids and feeling ok. Maybe this will be my lucky two weeks with very minimal SEs... heres to hoping.
Tangaandchris - the video touches base on the football teams. That's funny, I thought it was sweet seeing the players wearing pink. LOL Speaking of football....go 49ers. It was NEskir who posted the link to the utube video, look on page 34 of the posts, I think it's there.
Kim
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tangandchris: here is the video link. http://youtu.be/TNMELBDFuJY
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Count-it-all, hugs! It's just a temporary setback but frustrating. So glad that you were able to enjoy some pizza! (that sounds so good to me right now, sadly, no taste buds & I'm on the bland/mushy food diet, so count me jealous too
!)Mammos both failed & saved me. There's no silver bullet. I had my first (ever) mammo in April, called back in May because of dense breasts. Then May had mammo & US, and my left breast was put on a 6-month watch. In November, back for my 6-month followup, found the mass (cancer) in my right breast. I've since had an MRI and another mammo of the left and it's still on 6-month follow-up. Hoping that the timing will work to get that 6-month follow-up pre-surgery. (BS said she would try to work it this way with the insurance company.)
But, my right breast tumor is 2cm and I had a clinical exam in July. Doc did not feel it. I did not feel it. Of course, once I was told it was there & where it was exactly, then I could feel it. BS could feel it immediately too.
I ask BS how both my doc (just 4 months earlier) and I could miss it. She said that sometimes there's a mass the size of a pea or smaller, but it's close to the surface and you notice immediately. But when it's closer to the chest wall and down under many layers of dense tissue, it can be missed, even with clinical exam. I guess this is why we are not hounded by self-exam reminders the way we used to be. Self-exam is not the panacea.
I cling to the hope that the combination of mammo (esp 3D), US, MRI, and exams will work better for me in the future, since now I have all this imaging as a baseline. I believe at least part of the reason the mass was not identified in April/May was that there was no baseline for comparison.
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glad to see everyone is tolerating well...I had fewest side effects after #3, worst day seemed to be day 3, flu like yucky feeling and fatigue, I told myself I'm just working thru it and did. I think I get more anticipatory nausea now a day or two before I go, I can still smell the room I sit in and it may be in my head but makes me sick to think of it.
Seems from most everyone's experience that taxol will be easier, and I can do that! Also think that after the hair is gone and I had had it shaved at my own doing I felt better...I so dreaded losing the hair as we all have and am now somewhat used to it, can only look forward to when it grows again. We will all be growing our bodies back this spring, when all things grow and become colorful and beautiful again...I'm looking at my journey as me being born again with all new growth and vitality and no little monster cells growing within us! Happy Friday...I'm going to indulge in my glass of red wine with friends tonight!
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