October 2013 Chemotherapy

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  • MsJean63
    MsJean63 Member Posts: 42
    edited March 2014

    I went to MO yesterday, she walks in and says two more taxol left.  I said that's not what you said last week.  Last week you said 10 was usually enough.  I didn't even bring my chemo bag and my finance couldn't stay.  She worried about neuropathy in fingers and toes because it could be permanent.   She said we could skip this week and come back next week.  I maybe back for my 11th taxol on week 12.  Either way I've made plans for end of chemo  celebration with my friends who have helped out during chemo next Thursday.  Does anyone know what dose they are getting for weekly or DD taxol?  I'm getting 175 mg weekly.  Yet according to drugs.com 175 mg is the DD amount every three weeks.  Is 12 weeks important?  If you miss a dose should you make it up?  My MO did say we could lower the dose next week.  Like I needed this aggravation so close to the end.

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  • Macy187833
    Macy187833 Member Posts: 182
    edited February 2014

    Hi ladies, just thought I would drop by and catch up on this thread. I haven't been around lately but I have always tried to read this thread when I can. My regimen was different than most of yours so I participated more in another thread but always liked to stay caught up with you ladies who started at the same time as me! 

    I had my second to last chemo this week. Woohoo! Getting there. I'm glad so many of you are doing well. We've got this!

    Is anyone here starting rads in another month or so? I know there was a winter rads group started from this group but I'm a spring rads girl. Looking for some warrior sisters. 

    Hope everyone is well! 

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  • smrlvr
    smrlvr Member Posts: 422
    edited February 2014

    Macy, I have my rads set up,appointment on 2/28.  I should be starting rads the second week of March.  I have been reading the winter rads group and there is good info there.  I don't know if there is a spring thread yet.  But I am here with you on the same schedule.

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  • ROAREUS
    ROAREUS Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2014

    I just finished my chemo treatments on 1/30/14 and am scheduled to start radiation on 2/24/14.  I had a harder time with taxol than I did with AC.  My question is...  When do the bone, joint, and muscle pains AND neuropathy go away?  I feel like I am more tired now than I was 3 weeks ago.  That may be because I didn't get a neulasta shot before the last treatment.  Thoughts?  Similar experiences?

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited February 2014

    Hi Macy

     I don't think I will start rads til April. Surgery in March so rads a few weeks later...?

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  • Gramof2boys
    Gramof2boys Member Posts: 194
    edited February 2014

    Hi, October girls, I just finished Taxol#11, one more to go! My surgery is scheduled for March 14th. I'm doing a left mastectomy with ALND first, then radiation for 5 weeks. The next step will then be right mastectomy and reconstruction. This is such a long process, ughhhh! I had a breast ultrasound to follow up response to chemo on Tuesday and they couldn't see the breast mass at all!!! The radiologist said I may get PCR by the time I have my surgery, fingers crossed. What a journey this has been:(  I also got my BRCA results back and it was negative. So some good news this week, I will enjoy my weekend! Hang in there everyone!!!

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited February 2014

    Vivian - congratulation on your last chemo!!

    Macy & Smrlvr - I have my simulation on 2/26 and will be starting rads in March.

    Roareus - I had my last Taxol on 1/16 and I'm starting to feel much better as far as bone, joint and muscle pain.  Still seem to get tired at times but that's getting better too. Seems like a slow process or at least slower than I want it to be :-)  As far as the neuropathy (feet & hands) - that is still there at about the same level.  Both my PCP and my MO have indicated that the neuropathy could last weeks, months or forever. :-(

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited February 2014

    Macy & Smrlvr - I started a Spring rads thread.

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  • Sandrac3
    Sandrac3 Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2014

    Oh wise ones of the Oct chemo board.......I am a lurker and have followed everyone journey while on my own and now I have a question I have not seen asked. I just finished #11 of 12 taxols Friday. Did anyone give gifts to the nurses at their center? And what kind?  I saw a guy give chocolates last week for his last treatment. Any other suggestions?

    Thank you in advance!! Smile

    Sandra

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  • ROAREUS
    ROAREUS Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2014

    Thank you for replying Pam 358.  Of course falling on the ice last Tuesday didn't help.  It was one of those cartoon falls, where I tried to get up and couldn't and fell again.  For a brief moment there, I thought I would have to start screaming help to get off the ice.  I had my simulation on 2/6/14 and start radiation on 2/24. 

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited February 2014

    Sandra - I didn't bring gifts to my infusion center but I'm also related to my main infusion nurse and plan to do a dinner out at some point. But I have seen people bring in flowers as well as candy. 

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited February 2014

    My last chemo was just a regular day. Quite anti-climactic actually LOL I will be back there every 3 weeks for Herceptin through November so will still see all the nurses for many months to come.

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  • Sandrac3
    Sandrac3 Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2014

    Thanks for the replies Pan & Vintage!! I may do a combo of chocolates and soaps and lotions. A little bit of something for everyone. 

    Thanks for the suggestions!!

    S

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  • Pam358
    Pam358 Member Posts: 294
    edited February 2014

    My RO wanted me to have an updated chest CT Scan before my radiation simulation on next Monday, so I got that done today. My MO does not routinely do a scan at the end of chemo. I do wish my RO had mentioned this before I had my port removed - oh well!

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  • Gramof2boys
    Gramof2boys Member Posts: 194
    edited February 2014

    I have a question for those of you who did Taxol, did your nails hurt? I have one more Taxol on Friday then I'm done but my nails hurt and are slightly discolored. This is the only SE that I'm experiencing other than tired. What did you do about your nails. I may bring something to the nurses on Friday, don't know what yet.

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  • SchoolCounselor
    SchoolCounselor Member Posts: 452
    edited February 2014

    hi Gram,

    My nails did hurt and are discolored. I cut them short and  it seemed to help with the pain. 

    It's growing out now, but I have a ridge for each chemo. Weird. 

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  • kcat2013
    kcat2013 Member Posts: 391
    edited February 2014

    Gram, my nails hurt, plus they are yellowing/peeling and lifting from the nail beds--yuck.  I have my last Taxol on Friday also!  

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited February 2014

    Yes my nails hurt & several of them got discolored & bumpy. I think that happened around Taxol #8-9 for me.

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  • ROAREUS
    ROAREUS Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2014

    My nails didn't hurt but they are still very discolored and weak.  I keep them short and not use them to open anything.  I finished chemo on 1/30/14. I did DD taxol.

    I actually had a worse time with taxol than AC.  Three weeks later, I still have bone and muscle pains.  This whole cancer thing SUCKS and I am just freaking pissed and scared at the same time.  Mentally, I have doing far worse since chemo ended.

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  • ROAREUS
    ROAREUS Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2014

    Hello,

    I finished on 1/30. I was on DD ACT. I had a much harder time
    with taxol than AC. The bone, joint, muscle pains were bothersome to
    say the least. I am still experiencing muscle and bone pains,
    especially in my back. Hurts the most when I move my torso from side to
    side. I guess I thought it would be over with the end of chemo but
    that doesn't seem to be the case. My 3 year old twins love to be picked
    up and I love to hold them, so that adds to my pain I am sure. Then my
    husband hurt his knee and couldn't shovel the snow for a few days so I
    did a little bit of shoveling. Then I fell on the ice last Tuesday.
    Pain in back was getting better yesterday then I got up at 3am in pain.
    First time I got up from sleeping with pain.

    So, my question is
    for those of you who did taxol. HOW LONG WILL THIS SHIT LAST???? I
    know it's cumulative but what the hell does that mean? I need
    timelines.. Of course I am sitting here thinking it has spread to my
    back. And I am just angry and sad these days. Not sure what to do with
    myself. I am not ok at home. I am not ok at work. WHY ME? WHY US?
    Then I think to myself that I never ask I me when good things happen to
    me so I am I question why me with this. It just SUCKS.

    I am sorry I am complaining. I am just really in the dumps right now.

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited February 2014

    ROAREUS

     I am 2 weeks post chemo, 12x Taxol. My pain was primarily in my knees. That isn't a SE that lingered for me. We are all different for sure huh?! My most PITA SE is the runny bloody nose I have had since A&C started last Fall.

     I have heard people feeling so much better almost immediately, others it takes several months. 

    I hope your pain eases up. Anything like Advil or Aleve help?

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  • lonnie713
    lonnie713 Member Posts: 236
    edited February 2014

    schoolcounselor, how are you? I hope recovering nicely and getting some rest.

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  • ROAREUS
    ROAREUS Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2014

    Hello Everyone,

    I finished chemo three weeks ago. They did
    some blood work today and noticed that my Alkaline phosphatase (ALP),
    liver function test, is elevated. Normal is 33-97 Units/L but mine is
    at 144. Anyone with similar experiences?

    Thanks,

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  • Sandrac3
    Sandrac3 Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2014

    Roareus-I didn't have ALP test but my my AST and ALT were way high. Normal AST (14-46) mine 540. Normal ALT (13-69) mine 963. But mine were high from diagnosis in September till end of November. Since then they've been in the normal range and no one knows why. Why they were high or why they returned to normal. One theory is liver was ramping up to fight the cancer, another that I had some kind of virus. Hang in there!! Keep asking questions and have them keep taking the test. GOOD LUCK!!

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  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 619
    edited February 2014

    I went yesterday to gastroenterologist and scheduled a colonoscopy to have a base. This will be my second one, I had the first at 40. Today my ObGyn read my blood test results and told my my results are great, CA125 of 6 and vitamin D is low at 29. Need to take vitamin D for a month, 2000 twice a day, then tests again. This pm went to PS and he was very lleased with the healing, although he told me to not to exercise or move my right arm up (the one with the sutures) for another three weeks. I will see him then. 

    I also asked about the lump I found in my lower ab and I got different answers: hernia and fat. I will call PCP to make appointment and figure put what that is. The three drs. that saw it told me not too worry but  i prefer to at least know if it is a hernia. I feel I am finally finishing tests and going back to normal, a normal much better than before, more thankful about all things and people around me.

    That's all for now, going to bed. Good night!

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  • MsJean63
    MsJean63 Member Posts: 42
    edited March 2014

    I went to MO on Wednesday prepared for my final taxol, but we decided to skip it too.  So, I only did 10 of 12 taxol.  I was getting neuropathy in my hands and feet and she felt it wasn't worth the risk of making it worse or permanent.  Technically I was done with chemo Feb 5th.  Still have bone pain especially in my hips.  Can't get comfortable sleeping on my side.   Finally, the bloody nose stopped yesterday.  Had it since Christmas.  White fuzz growing on my head, it's very sparce on top, hope it fills in better. Appointment with radiation on monday, so on to the next phase.  

    Has anyone taken part in clinical trials?  My MO wants me to take part in a blind trial when I start the hormone therapy.  It adds a second pill a day that is normally used for kidney cancer or placebo to see if it reduces the reoccurrence of BC.  Lasts 54 weeks, then followup for 10 years.  They don't compensate for anything, I have to pay copay for office visits and blood work.  I sort of feel guilty about not participating, because where would we all be today if it wasn't for past clinical trials?  My oncotype was 14, so odds are in my favor.  I could end up with the placebo or have side effects from the second pill.  I'm torn.

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  • Gramof2boys
    Gramof2boys Member Posts: 194
    edited February 2014

    Well I'm done with chemo, last Taxol was yesterday!! I am kind of scared now as the chemo was a safety net for me. Now on to surgery in 3 weeks, hope it goes well. My hair is coming back, kind of gray but hopefully it won't stay that way. I am trying to get on with my life and want things back to normal but it's hard. Hope everyone is doing well!! We will get through this!!!

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited February 2014

    Good going Gram! I finished Taxol Feb 4. What is your surgery date? Mine is March 13.

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  • Gramof2boys
    Gramof2boys Member Posts: 194
    edited February 2014

    My surgery date is March 14th, one day behind you Vintage. Good luck with your surgery, we can compare notes, lol!!! I'm having a left mastectomy and ALND with a temporary implant until I finish rads. I will have recon sometime over the summer. I worry about doing reconstruction because I am 57 and it's a long surgery and recovery. We will see.

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  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited February 2014

    Gramof2Boys

     Cool, we sure will be here comparing notes!

    I made the choice of just having the BMX now....maybe recon later. Sometimes I think I am SuperWoman but have to face reality. I am 60 years old. I have other health issues & actually was going to have a prolapse surgery this winter but well that didn't happen.

    I had a lumpectomy & the nodes removed last Aug, was hoping that would be the extent of surgeries but no....so for me, after dealing through all the chemo & rads coming up, I am fine to not having the recon started yet. Plus I will be healed by Summer, can be outside & especially off on motorcycle rides!

    Talk to you soon!

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