October 2013 Chemotherapy

thanks Kim.  I trust that site...and you 

Last dose yesterday and feeling good? No nausea, feet a little warm but packing them in ice lol

I know what to expect over the next week..can feel the fatigue , but that will only last 6 days or so.

The T kills my gut cells from day 5, I have loperamide to control it but it's not pleasant and I am on strict instructions to DRINK.. As the gut will not absorb fluid very well and I dehydrate. Eating lots of ice blocks, it helps with cotton wool mouth. 

Over the moon that this is the last one, my hair is starting to grow but my eyebrows are thinning rapidly and I have lost my lower eye lashes...wonder how long they take to re grow. 

My fingernails do not appear to have suffered but my toenails are not doing so well. Will see how they fare over the next few months but may need to get something done.

I see many of you are finishing.....congratulations on making it through.....do any of you have fears about it returning and how do you mentally cope with it, I sometimes wake up in the morning and feel like I did 6 months ago and then I remember I am on this journey...and I don't really know what's around the corner and it's a bit scary

Hi Lonnie,

My MO advised me to take a 4-6 week break between chemo and start of Rads. I go for my consult Mon.  Tell me how you have been?

Teamkim

I have B- Complex pills , could these work as well for my neuropathy? Good thought.

furfriend2,

I am doing great. No complaints at all with taxol.  I almost hate saying it out loud!  Thanks for the tip regarding rads.  I keep hearing that 4 weeks is usually the time frame.   I've got the hysterectomy/oophorectomy issue and was hoping that I could get it done after chemo but before rads. Still need to find out if that is possible.  I'd be ok with pushing the rads back a week or two if necessary.  As long as it doesn't have any adverse effect on my recovery.

As always gals thank you for your advise. When does the darkening of the nailbeds go away? the neuropathy? The horrible scaly skin? The fatigue?  LOL

Hi all! Things are really starting to fall in place now. I just finished Taxol#8 on Friday. Some of the nails on my fingers are sensitive, hope that is all that happens. I take 1000mg B12 and B6 a day. How do you know that your nails will be affected? I met with RO today and will have sim visit on March 31. Sooo last Taxol is scheduled for Feb 21 then surgery tentative on March 14 then will begin rads sometime in April. I'm so ready for the surgery to be over with, so I can get on with things. I've had a great response to chemo, 1 more breast ultrasound on Feb 11th then I will know if Taxol has done it's job. I'm hoping for NED at surgery, but know that may not happen. Glad to see everyone is doing OK, we just need to get through this Taxol crap,. What did your nails look like if you ended up with nail problems?

hi there! 

Would you kindly tell me where you went for the chemosensitivity testing? I'm looking into all that for myself and would love to know your experience!  xo Tracy

Any advice for relieving restless leg syndrome. It's an SE that I get with the Taxol.  It goes away as soon as the treatment ends but It's annoying more than anything.  Last week I started walking around the room but I'd much rather sleep...the Benadryl has me groggy.

lonnie713 ... all I can advise is for you to talk to you mo because as I understand it there's a medication specifically for this condition.  A family member has it and has never been treated for cancer. 

Lonnie- you may also want to try taking some magnesium. it often helps with muscle discomfort.

I wanted to let y'all know that yesterday I spoke before my state senate health committee regarding a bill that would make it mandatory to inform patients if they have dense breasts. Two radiologists and three breast cancer patients (including me) spoke. I'm happy to report that this committee passed the bill; now it moves on to the entire senate and house of representatives.... hopefully they'll pass it, too. 

It was definitely an emotional afternoon. Here is my speech...

Hi. My name
is Suzanne ___, I am a physician, and I am currently undergoing treatment
for breast cancer. I was diagnosed in August, in September I had a double
mastectomy, in October I started chemotherapy, and I had my last round of chemo
earlier this month. I will be taking Tamoxifen (a hormonal treatment) for the
next 5-10 years, and have reconstructive surgery scheduled for April….. I am
one of the lucky ones.

I have known
for many years that I had fibrocystic breasts and have needed multiple ultrasounds
to examine my cysts more closely. However, until this past August, I didn’t
realize the significance of the limitations of mammograms. I had noticed a lump
in my left breast that didn’t behave like my other lumps and change with my menstrual
cycle. I mentioned this to my doctor and he suggested I go for my routine
mammogram and ultrasound and consider seeing a surgeon for another opinion.
While at my mammogram, the technician placed a marker on my breast to indicate
the location of the lump. Even with this marker, there was no evidence of the
tumor on my mammogram. Ultrasound detected the lump, but the radiologist
thought it was a degenerating cyst and recommended repeat ultrasound in 6
months. I went ahead and saw the surgeon anyway, and the rest, as they say, is
history.

Many people
have asked me why I didn’t follow the radiologist’s recommendations. The answer
I give is that I followed my instincts. Upon further reflection, I truly
believe that awareness of my dense breasts and the recollection of images from
my previous ultrasounds led me to make decisions that resulted in the early
detection of my cancer. This extended into the treatment phase. I knew I wanted
a double mastectomy as soon as I heard the diagnosis. My surgeon didn’t argue
and stated that mammograms were a useless screening tool for me.

Knowledge is
power. All women should have the benefit
of knowing about their dense breasts. Without this information, they cannot be
advocates for their own health. It is well known that early detection means a
better prognosis. If doctors were freely sharing the information regarding
dense breasts with their patients, this legislation wouldn’t be necessary.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Please use your legislative abilities to
ensure the passage of this bill. We need to hear more women saying that they
are one of the lucky ones.

Thank you.

Way to go, uds!  With my chemo brain, I am shaky, but I am pretty sure they passed that legislation here in New York.

great speech uds!!

Awesome uds!!!!!

Lonnie, smrlvr, Marley, lgkgde, team Kim, schoolcounselor - thanks for your support!! 

FYI, this bill was spearheaded by those involved with the advocacy group Are You Dense. Have a look at their website http://areyoudense.org