Starting Chemo in December 2013

Lorreymom - They think my blood clot was from my first AC IV.  I am so glad that I have a port.  I have to take 400 mg. of ibuprofen 2x a day and heating pad 4x a day.  It is almost gone... finally.  

I will have 6 1/2 weeks of rads after the chemo.  Are you all getting a break for a few weeks before?  I think that I am supposed to have a month break between chemo and rads.  I will talk to my MO about it next week.  I haven't really looked much into it, as I am trying to get through this chemo first.

DJJ & Kimmie - If it's not one SE, it's another.  So stressful.  I am feeling a little tingling in my hands as well.

Kim

I live in Dripping springs, TX so I will have to find that body balm. I will do 5 weeks of rads starting May.

I have TAC chemo #4 tomorrow (out of 6). Ready to check it off the list. Nesting today- cleaning house and washing clothes because I probably won't feel like doing much of that this week. 

leeAlice- I will ask my friend about the lady. She us supposed to bring me some. 

3 more taxols to go for me and I get my port Friday.  They did prescribe me the cream to numb it before access!  No more IV and super excited.  I didn't mean ton stress anyone out about rads;). For me, I have to think about it now because our family has to move to Houston for it.   I am so happy it is during the summer so my girls can come.  I have an internal node that MD has to radiate personally. Joy!  That is why it is on my brain now.  We are looking at medical apartments and all and I just thought I'd ask.  What a bother.    But I am happy they found that stray node and can zap it anyway.  Praying chemo might have done the trick already.  

Keep it up ladies!  The weather is going to get warmer and we are going to be at the finish line!

I stepped out on a limb today and put away all of my chemo meds...(except for Ambien, for sleeping). That was the best part of my day!:) It's the little things!  Still having a little heartburn, but probably bc of what  I ate today. I have been eating non-stop this week, even though everything doesn't taste quite right!

I hope everyone else is doing well!

keepthefaith, I too have put away the zofran, Ativan, steroids...I'm taking ibuprofen for the body aches and my melatonin to sleep...although I may keep the diladid around for some of this back and rib pain is intense, have that left from my BMX.

I too have been eating too much, why I don't know, really doesn't taste too great, all taste the same, except for spicey things and I should stay away from that!  I did have a glass of red wine with my dinner tonight and it has made me sleepy, but I did enjoy that and managed to do some stretches today and some walking...the guilt of being so lazy is getting to me!  Weekly physical therapy tomorrow, it is really helping my arm cording, and I have allot less tightness.  Sometimes I wonder how we all do this, so many issues to deal with.

day 3 post Taxol first dose for me.  I have heartburn, but that is about it.  Nice! After all the nastiness of FEC.  I wasn't even mobile at day 3 post FEC and today I am planning a walk out in the fresh air.  

Kim - I will be getting a month break between chemo & rads.  My RO wants most of the chemo out of my system first.  She says less chance of SE & problems.  

Just read an interesting paper on components in broccoli & how it can enhance Taxol's cancer fighting abilities and reduce side effects.  Guess we are having broccoli for dinner tonight!

Take care & fight on! 

bloodwork is all good for tomorrows treatment, taxol #2, treatment 6 of 8........so close..here comes the sarcasm... I can hardly wait for more hot cold flashes, waking up soaked and freezing, for my taste buds to take a hike, oh and the numbness and tingling, hmm what am I missing oh yes the all around shitty feeling.  *end rant* ...

Count it all joy - Re the blood clot in my arm.  My lower arm swelled and hurt like crazy where the clot was.  The skin around it even turned red.  It is almost gone now, there is a small hard bump, doesn't hurt.  My MO told me that it might take awhile for it to go away completely.  Pretty sure that this was caused from the IV Chemo. 1st round.

Lorreymom - I eat a lot of fresh broccoli, will have to eat more.... Thanks for the info.  Where did you find it?  

Kimie - Glad your bloodwork is good.  Rant anytime.

Kim

day 3 post 1st taxol, it's a lot better than AC nausea-wise. I start to feel fatigue, aching here and there, not too bad. Do any of you see nail changes? Bottom half of my finger nails turned bluish purple. It is much more noticeable today. There is no pain or anything. Am I going to lose them? 

Kim - wowl, that sounds pretty hard to miss!  Sorry for that added pain and worry.  When all is said and done, will there be anything left that at least one of us hasn't gone through?  

... As soon as I typed this, I realized that if I logged on to the Stage 4 board, I would quickly realize that isn't true at all.  Grateful for the blessing of where I'm at on this path, and it is hard to dwell on where many others are.  Sometimes it is hard not to think of what it means to hear studies celebrating 5-year survival rates, as if that's our goal in going through all this misery.  MY goal is to daily help my girls grow into amazing young women… love on my husband… care for my mom as she ages… encourage the younger women in my church as they are caught up in the duties of raising little ones… listen to my daughters as they learn to be wives and moms, and hopefully have something useful to say… master French cooking via Julia Child… enjoy being alone in the house again with my dear husband… 

can't do all that in 5 years.  Thinking maybe 30 or so. 

Yes Kimmie.  My husband is Mike.  I have been with him since I was 17 hence "Mikesgirl17".  My actual name is Kathy.  I wish more people used their real names.  It would be so much easier to connect the faces to the post.  Good luck.  I'll be thinking of you too. Somehow it makes it easier knowing that someone else is going through the same thing at the same time.  (Not that I wish this on anyone.)  Have a good day everyone.

Mary- I like your goals. My goals also go way beyond 5 years. I think at the five year mark is when we breathe a sigh of relief that going thru this is what worked and keeping us cancer free. When do you go for taxol #4?

Good luck today to the Taxol girls going today

My nails are hurting but still look great and are growing but MO said some will turn blue/black and might fall off of pull up from the nail bed. She said to get tea tree oil to put on them and bag balm for my hands and feet.

Day 2- was tired and headachey last night, slept pretty good last night. Very weepy both time and last chemo. I don't know if its the chempause. I'm sure I have plenty of reasons to cry, I just cant think of a specific one right now but I cry anyways

just saw MO. He suggests Taxol every 2 weeks for 4 cycles rather than weekly. You get the same total dosage of Taxol. Supposed to help reduce incidence of neuropathy. All I have ever seen is it done weekly. Anyone have any thoughts on this ??

Last red devil on Thursday. So glad to be getting that behind me. 

Anyone staying on Claritin to help with aches and pains associated with the Taxol?

Holli

keepthefaith & NEskir & quirkygirl- I'm way late (got behind on posts for a few days), but I am so pleased for you to have finished with this whole chemo experience!  I hope you quickly regain some of your strength… or have the grace and patience to wait if it takes longer.  We won't have much useful information to share as you pave the way for us all with starting rads first, but we can still cheer you on and glean from your experience!

I was supposed to have 3 more cycles of full Taxotere, Cytoxin & Adriamycin, but had a meeting with the MO last week.  He said  my body is just not handling this well, and recommended greatly reducing each of them for my last 3 rounds.  Then my husband and he talked today, and he is going to remove the T for round 4 on Thursday, and then wait to see how I get through this cycle.  He is concerned that my body will only increase in sensitivity.  Trying to walk that tightrope of killing the cancer and not dying from something else while I have zero immune system.  (I'm having deja vu /chemo brain - did I already say all this last week??)  Wondering if this could possibly mean my first "easy" cycle??

Leealice - I find I need a good cry every couple weeks for a day or two, even tho sometimes it's on a good day.  Is that hormones?  Utter tiredness?  fresh realization of all this means?   Not sure.   But I hope you just give in and have a good cry when you need it.  

RHGSR - your kids are so little!  Can't imagine how you are juggling everything.  But I'm with you, let's plan for those grandkid days and big messy kisses!!

You all are the BEST!

Mary