Starting Chemo in December 2013

Jodi- my #3 was a "surprise" and my MO told me that it was that last pregnancy that probably caused my lump to grow enough where I could feel it. So I too believe he saved my life. Such a great testimony and blessing. 

Sitting in the chair getting my last AC!! Woo Hoo!! Will start Taxol on March 6th. 

Wishing minimal SEs for everyone this week.  

yeah taxol #2/12 done,  MO office was running an hour late so everything was late. CBC was all good, WBC 8.1, hg 10.5 one week post taxol. I had benedryl, decadron and kytril in premeds. Taxol over just 1 hour this time. Stayed awake. Sleep for 2 hours after got home. Getting ready to put meatloaf in oven.  Hoping everything went well for the othe chemo gals today, esp happy for Hollie on her last AC. So happy I do not need any more neulasta, at least for now. 

Looks like I will go to work on Monday, 3 days per week for now. 

To help celebrate the end of chemo in May. I bought a ticket to the only Ringo Starr concert in PA.  He will be appearing June 8th at our local Community Arts Center.    I guess that dates me, I turn 60 next week and I definitely had a crush on the beetles back in the day. 

Barbara

Barbara that is an awesome way to celebrate! I realized today that we are halfway through our chemo time. 10 weeks down and 10 to go! 

I had #2/12 taxol today also. I am running a low grade fever 99.4. And my throat is killing me when not medicated. I didn't see dr today but the nurse asked him and Dr isn't very concerned about it. I'm not sure if I should go out or stay home. What do you gals think? I am so tired of not being able to plan things cause I don't know how I will feel.

blessedw2 - if it were me, I would stay home and rest.  you can't know why the low fever, better to get back to normal quickly, before you enter your lower blood count days.    As Barbara says, be checking your tongue/throat for thrush.  Easier to get cleared up if you catch it early.  I do hope it passes quickly for you.

Mary

blessedw2 -  I got sore throats a few times after taxol.  Here's hoping it is just that!  It was a sinus drip since nose hairs are basically gone my allergies were acting up.  But I took a Tylenol severe cold and it would get better.  Don't take my word, but just hoping it could be something easy like that. 

I should be asleep! I have blood work at 6:15 and report for port surgery at 7:00.  

Barbara- love the celebration!  I am waiting until next May when it will all be done, and my middle one will graduate kindergarten on her bday.  The family will be heading to WDW. I can't wait.  Now, just have to figure out how to save some money for that lol!  Cancer is expensive!!

Good Morning all!

I'm 2 weeks out from my last AC, haven't posted in a while.  I finally caught up on all you posts.  I was wiped out from this last treatment, feeling tired still.  I guess the low red blood cell count is to blame.  My biggest challenge has been the big "C", all the meds really  F with my system.  I feel like I look the cancer patient part, minimal eyelashes left, dark circles under eyes AND I've put on a few lbs.  even my flannel pants are snug grrrr.  Trying to not be too hard on myself while I recover.

I'm glad to hear that Tax. Seems to be a bit more tolerable for you all.

I am pre-disposed to BC, but I live a healthy lifestyle & was doing ever 6 mos. Breast Oncology Dr. visit, mammo/MRI, it still got me.  BC is an epidemic in this country.  Environment, food supply, chemicals we put on our body?

I'm amazed at the amount of young women here with young children, I can't imagine the energy it takes everyday!

Dragonfly, I'm at Dana a Farber too, our dx are very similar.

 I've also worked through treatment, wearing scarves & hats, I don't like my wig, itchy.  If it was warmer I think I'd go bald.

Good luck everyone!  Kathy, are you buried in snow up in ME?  We are here, I'm all set with winter!

Barbara, I hope your second opinion works out for you, it's hard to make so many decisions.  I knew when they saw all the cysts. Fibromoas on my left I just wanted both gone, no cancer there but I didn't want to keep worrying about it and opted for radical on right and a nipple sparing masectomy on left.  I have no regrets there, the implants are a pain, but I believe I will have great results once the permanent ones are in.  My spared nipple looks great, and the sizing is now comparable to each other and to what I had before.

I see my genetic test report states there is likely no need for ovary removal, I had only my uterus removed years ago due to extensive bleeding, I worry now I should have taken ovaries since mine is hormone positive, my scans saw a cyst in Oct on one ovary but Mo said not to worry about this,,,,but I do.  My decision to not do rads is based on mostly my own research and studies I've read.  The RO says I'm on the borderline, and he of course says do it.  My Main concern is heart and lymphodema, when he said 1 out of 3 get lymphodema that made me very wary.  As well as the AC and heart palpations I had, I decided enough is enough for me.  

Here's hoping we all can enjoy our weekend!

good afternoon ladies! 

Thanks you for your replies. The event tonight is at UF honoring cancer survivors and families. It includes a reception and then free admission to the gymnastics meet. I thought it would be fun for my kids, 8 and 9 yrs old. My husband said he would still take them if I decide not to go. I'm still undecided. Ugh! What do you do for thrush?

I have a couple of questions for everyone

1. What is everyone doing to celebrate their last chemo?

2. I was pretty sick and immobilized with the AC. I also put on quite a few lbs. Now that I feel stable enough to move without fear of hurting myself, I have decided to work on getting my strength back and some weight off. I will be having some serious lung surgery after chemo and want to be as strong as possible for that. So far I have walked my block the last 2 days. What is everyone else doing to regain strength?

I've been going to physical therapy because I had my surgery first ( since every one was so certain I didn't have positive nodes and I ended up having them). It has been a tremendous help with the chemo not just for my physical (although I am still pretty weak) but for my mental too. Not sure if you can request physical therapy after chemo or not (or if insurance would pay) but it may be something to look into. 

Holli

crazy wabbit- WDW is Walt Didneyworld;)

Weight- ugh! I have gained 10 lbs!! No more!  Then again, I say just get through chemo and then hit it!  

no exercise plan as yet.  This week it's been a struggle just to stand in line at the post office or walk up my stairs at home.  Very weak and so easily exhausted, my legs feel like lead.  I'm one week post my final TC.  I think recovery is going to be a slow measured process.

I have two TC treatments to go. Have a total of six. I am holding up and SE have been minimal! Fatigue from day 3 to day 8.

Deb: I found this website that may be useful to answer your questions regarding to taxol am taxotere. It said although weekly taxol has the same overall disease free survival as taxotere, weekly taxol group may live longer. Did you try to ice hands and feet? I just had my weekly taxol, 2nd dose today. My nail is changing color and the nurse told me it's still OK and they will just closely monitor me each time. If it gets too bad, they may let me rest for a week before continue again. 10 more to go! http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summa...

I am feeling ok so far, just sleepy and tired, good appetite. I also work during the process, only taking off during chemo and doctor appointments. I spent a lot of time at my desk, so it was manageable. Working to me is a nice distraction for my mental health. :-) I try to go to gym three times a week- not that consistent. I found it helped build the strength. I was so bad the first time after starting chemo and can barely do 5 min in elliptical, but now I could do 30 min at low resistance.  Some progress, still have more chemo weight to lose. 

Take care, everybody!  Hope you have a great weekend!

J4DC,  Thanks for the article.  That helps. 

Hey chickies, day 5 out of my last taxol and I feel like someone chucked me down the stairs, several times, just pain all over and it sucks, doing my best to keep on truckin, I feel like if you stop you just stiffen up more. 

I am experiencing some numbness in my fingertips and feet which is a nuisance, as for the fingernails and toenails I have been pounding the opi nail envy to them almost daily, be nice to hang onto those, I still have some eyebrows that were thick to begin with and some eyelashes, but who knows if they will stick around.  oddly enough my hair still grows on my lower legs.  I have also been experiencing occasional spotting and had a full period 2 cycles ago, that blew chunks royally.

DJJ how many treatments of Taxol are you doing. I only have 4 every 2 weeks. I am done on march 17th, 8 treatments in total then the rads.

so envious of you all and your trips to the gym, before all of this .I was doing boot camps and the gym, that went all to the birds when we discovered a 10cm hernia in my abdomen from previous bowel surgeries, had to quit it all and wait for surgery on that.  good times. That's been all taken care of..

we are buried in snow here on the east coast in Canada and its getting rather depressing.  On the brighter side the sun is out today.  We normally go south in the winter for a week, but not this year.  booooooo....means next year will be even bigger!!