Starting Chemo in December 2013

Hello ladies - I am really nervous about neuropathy, as my MO told me after my last appt. that it can happen after chemo.  However, on a brighter side, I will be attending a 6 week group medical appointment for cancer patients re nutrition, supplements, etc. put on by Sutter.  There is just so much info. out there is makes my head swim.  I want to add supplements, food changes, etc. into my life plan when I am finished with chemo and my MO isn't much of a help with that.  This doctor that puts this class on is more on the holistic side of medicine and I hope will be able to put me on the right track.  

For those of us taking calcium (Of which I am not yet, but plan to)  - I read that we should try to take calcium that is algae/plant based, as we absorb it better than the rock based... and Vit. D, phosphates,  magnesium, and Vit K help us absorb it.  Also, we should break it down to several times a day, whereas taking it all at once.  

Kim

Had my first round (1st of 4) of Taxol and thank God I did not have any allergic reaction to it. Port problems ... no blood draw but it was flushing so they could still use it for the infusion. Longer day but went home feeling good, still feel good today but I go for my nuestra (sp) shot this afternoon so I know I will have some down days. The best noticable improvement so far is the "chemo smell" is gone...haven't smelled it in my urine or anywhere on me....that alone is a big blessing of being done with the AC!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well after this weeks tx's....we are all 1 week closer to that finish line!!!!

and that's a wrap!  For taxol at least:). Had #12 today and done!!!  I had a flight home again which is awesome!  Next week I get an ultrasound to see how taxol did I guess.  I already have a flight there and back.  This Pilot for Patients in our town is the greatest thing ever for all of is traveling to MDA or St. Jude in Memphis.  What a blessing. 

I wish I had the link, but just today in Facebook MDA page they said no multivitamins!!  I read it and it basically said they want you to get it from food.  I won't because I just am a but picky. Really trying hard now to make those changes.  It said even if you don't change eating habits that it could do more harm than good.  Never cited a specific research or anything.  It was from a nutritionist there I believe. I am going to ask my oncologist and see if she thinks it nonsense.  Weird huh?!  

I am only allowed to take the vitamin d and calcium per MO. Multi vitamins have some vitamins in them that are counter productive to the chemo. He feels that the iron/protein are going okay with diet alone, since I have not been anemic when blood levels are checked. We have discussed other supplements and all have been a big NO from him. 

my multivitamin doesn't have iron ( due to the big C avoidance) or a few others in them.  My MO always asks if I'm taking my vitamin, she didn't prescribe it but has never said not to.  MO's are really not too great it seems at answering many of our questions, I give her credit for the yoga and and exercise and the vitamin E for mouth sores...but she isn't a nutritionist.  That class sounds awesome, I may look for one here.

I often wonder if I should take a certain item , or eat something, or even have a glass of wine...then it comes to me...what else could take my hair away in two weeks, make me look green and pale, and all the other things chemo has caused..I think a vitamin and a glass of wine couldn't possible beat the poison in me.  Still going on zero sleep, it's going to be a Valium night.  Yeh for Friday!

I am up too and have been for 3 hours:(. Steroids for sure since I just  had. Chemo yesterday.  Starving right now so steroids 100%.   I have been looking online and stuff I should not-you know- statistics.  I even yelled at myself for that and decided to take a nice bath instead.  My hair has  grown longer but not new sprouts.  I am correct to assume it will all be gone after I start FAC right?  Did you go completely bald on AC?  Eyebrows and eyelashes made it through taxol too.   Will they be going as well?  I'll definitely have that alien look down since I already have Barbie Boobs from BMX:). You Know no nipple look!  Doesn't bother me but surgeon said he is making new ones anyway.  Be nice to not have them!

Anyone got some good protein ideas besides meat?  Meat allowance for the week is like 8 -12 oz is what the nutritionist told me.  I bought Nature valley protein granola bars, almonds, peanut butter and Kashi cereal, cookies and bars.  I really have enjoyed the Kashi stuff and so has my HUSBAND!  I HAD two packs of cookies:). Oatmeal raisin with something and Oatmeal chocolate chip with flax.  Great ingredients in those.  Well- I got one oatmeal chocolate!  ONE!  Lol!  I need to make a grocery run today anyway.  And, my parents came to watch the girls two weeks ago while we went to Texas and they ate almost all of my Kashi cereal which was Raisin brand kind but all organic and y'all really is yum!!  Please please give me some good recipe ideas for healthy stuff.  The kind I can sneak in on my kids!!  Some suggested adding squash, carrots and more to spaghetti sauce but purée it or buy organic baby food and dump it in there.  Got to help my girls start healthy now praying none of them very have to fight!   

my MO doesn't want me to take any supplement during chemo. She suggested to get them from food. I read a book written by a Harvard BS who had BC, she mentioned about taking vita and calcium. I am going to take them after chemo.

Robin, sorry for your hard time with taxol. That' a lot to deal with. I hope your new treatment plan will be easier. Btw, I love the picture you posted.

As many of you, just had my 4th taxol, no sleep, night sweat a LOT, anybody know when chemo pause will be over? 

Jodi, my red count is also low. I think mine was low even before chemo, just under the normal range. It doesn't bother me too much.  For you, it probably due to chemo, and it will likely come back after chemo. Having high ion and protein diet may help. Most of hairs were gone after 2nd AC. But some hold on. I shaved my hair, now I can see some tiny growth. My eye brow start to fall off much later, thinning, but not gone. As for diet, I also like to learn more. I think beans and lentils have high iron and protein component. Dark leafy greens and eggs are also good. I just heard a 30 (?) years study over the radio that animal protein are suppose to have all the bad effect on your health. Sometime these study results are all over the place. It' hard to know which one to believe. 

hey Jodi. I lost my hair about 14 days after the first AC. Someone said on here that the pubic hair is the first to go. Odd, but it was true for me. I wonder why? A few days after that started falling out, the hair on my head started to go. I could run my hand through my hair and come back with a handful of it. I buzzed it off. Then ended up shaving it bald. 

As for iron, what about Quinoa (sp?). I know it is a good source to protein so I would assume iron too. 

kimie- you are almost there!  I have 67 more days:(. 12 more weeks, but it will come to an end too.

When y'all start rads come back and give us May chemo finishers some tips!!  I've been reading up on it a lot lately.

jackie, I took 8 mg instead of 20 mg steroid in pill before taxol now since I didn't have much reactions. I still look like a blowfish too and red face is so annoying. What' your dose? My mo prescribed a mouth wash seems to work for thrush.  

December Ladies - Did any of you have lifting of nails? MO says he thinks they will grow out okay, but one of my thumb nails seems to be lifting. It looks like the nail is pulling away from the side. Any suggestions? Will tea tree oil help or is that just to help prevent infection?

It looks like my BMX will be on April 7th unless there is a cancellation, and I can get in earlier. This is a little over 6 weeks past my last chemo which was onFebruary 21st. My BS says this is about as long as the MO wants the surgery to be done, but that is earliest everyone is available. Should I be worried about that? As if I can change it, right?

On a positive note, the MO and BS said they can no longer feel the tumor. That is a prayer answered. I am praying for the same for all my BC sisters on this forum and everywhere around the world!!!

southernbling - no nail issues here at all, asked oncologist about it the other day he did say you see it more with taxotere then taxol even though they are sister drugs, I have been using opi nail envy on fingers and toes religiously and my nails are the nicest that they have ever been, go figure.

keepthefaith - my onco was mad basically when I got there because I had surgery!  They said they do chemo first now.  I think it might spare lymph nodes and they can also tell if the chemo is really responding.  

my BS first recommended chemo first, we knew there were at least two positive nodes, she said we could save the breast if chemo first.  We then saw spots on left from an MRI, they were benign cysts, but since I have such dense, crappy breasts at this point I just wanted them both off, I didn't want to save the breasts just to worry about not seeing it again and missing things in my dense breasts.  I wanted them both off and ASAP, took all the right nodes and no disease found in left, I don't regret my decision, and my BS also said later I made right decision, she has to give me the option of chemo first and breast conserving surgery.  I also did not want to do rads if I didn't have to.

I will have my temp implants replaced with the gummy bear formed implants about 3 weeks after chemo, I'm so far happy with this process, even though it was painful to fill the temp ones.  On the left I kept my nipple, so the right will have a better chance of matching...it's a long haul

My BS was thinking the surgery first, but after consulting with the MO, he agreed to chemo first. They were looking at my grade 3, high Ki67, and the size. They thought originally my tumor was 1.3 cm, but other tests said more like 1.9 cm. The BS, MO, and RO all said I would be an excellent candidate for lumpectomy given the size and location and my breast size if I decided to do that. They also consulted with Sloan Kettering before going with the ALND. I had my ALND and port placement at the same time.

The MO was concerned about lymph node involvement, and the radiologist got my BS in the room because she was sure from the ultrasound she was looking at that the lymph nodes were cancerous. BS said they wouldn't know until they were checked. Thank goodness they were clear! I got that news late on the night of Friday the 13th!!!  I usually don't like Friday the 13th!

I guess the chemo vs. surgery first depends on a lot of factors. I just trust that my MO and BS made the best decision for my treatment. That is helping get me through this nightmare!