Starting Chemo January 6, 2014

tekwriter-that's strange they should be using your port for blood draws too. I did my first blood draw with it a couple of days ago. I put the cream on 45 min before put Saran Wrap on and I don't take it off until right when they are going to do it. I didn't feel anything. In fact after my chemo they left the needle in because I was having fluids the next day. It kinda creeped me out but they said it was fine. I don't even remember feeling it when they took it out.

Asb- I'm sorry to hear about well everything. I hope they figure out what's going on and the best path. And that work will be a nice distraction. 

I shaved my hair right before my 2nd tch p because it was falling out and starting to itch. I had already cut it into a pixie, and sent off my hair to hiphatswithhair.com. Which I really like. It's comforting having my own hair. And it's more comfortable than a wig. 

But I still have a lot of my hair on my head, a have some bald spots here and there. But now I'm wondering if I could have waited. The hair everywhere else is pretty much gone. My eyebrows have thinned a lot, and I'm not sure about my eyelashes. They were never very full to begin with. I hope they don't go though.

That was what I thought too, that I would use the port for labs also so would be free and clear of all the veins but they say it takes a nurse to access the port.

belleb and megomendy, similar stats also. Also wondering about recurrence rate not just survival rate with lumpectomy and triple neg. Now that I'm half way through chemo I realize I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN... EVER IF POSSIBLE! I did dose dense ac and will do dose dense taxol (every 2weeks, same sch as the ac) including neulasta. That is different from both if you. 

Anyone want to share experiences with dd taxol? Ill look on the nov and dec 2013 forums also. Anyone also continuing with neulasta with taxol? My WBC have been great with the neulasta so I'm glad about that so I shouldn't worry about continuing it while on tacol. Right?

I was also told that lumpectomy with chemo and rads have same survival rate as mastectomy with chemo (and no rads). But which is the worse of the 2 evils, mast or rads. I'm concerned if I do the rads as planned and there is recurrence, and then have to have mastectomy, then reconstruction after rads is very difficult with poor results. 

This is my mind right now, questioning, scared, hating this whole thing. 2more months seems like forever although I know many women do even more and I'm scared about the dd taxol although my mo said I should do fine. This whole experience has not been fine! 

Lisaj - I agonized a lot over my decision for a mastectomy over lumpectomy and rads.  There is a lot to consider including what you mentioned about reconstruction options if there is a recurrence.  Either option leaves the same risk for a systemic recurrence and mastectomy only reduces the risk of a local recurrence.  In my case, with LCIS dx on top of everything else they found, the mastectomy was a good choice.  There is no research of the effects of radiation on LCIS.  My MO helped me decide when he asked how I would feel after with either decision I may make.  I expected to be sad for a while with a mastectomy but worry forever with constant screenings and call backs with a lumpectomy.  Turns out I'm not sad at all.  For me this is the right decision but only based upon my individual circumstances.  

Mmm - Have you posted on the Cold Cap thread?  Everyone there is using them or has used the caps.  I'm on day 49 and still have my hair.  No one can tell I am doing chemo.  We have different regimes and I cannot recall the outcomes for yours.  I recently posted my observations of the patterns of shedding based upon having read through the thousands of posts on the thread.  You can go back a few days to read it.  I do not have a port and it is rough on my veins.  One of my veins is black.  I have some swelling.  I hope to get through one last infusion.  Ugh.

Got the news today that I am BRCA negative, so that's good. Heading in for A/C #4 on Monday and then onto the weekly Taxol after that. I am so ready to be done with the A/C!!

You are still on my prayer list warrior woman!

Lisaj ~ I chewed ice chips during all of my taxotere infusions and didn't suffer with the mouth sores that many do with it. You might add that to your regimen

Lisa, what is your taxol regime that you need Neulasta?  Just wondering cuz I've read that a few times on here and mine does not include that.

Congrats to all the ladies finishing AC, so great to see and hoping we are all through the worst of this ugly chapter!

I finish my AC tomorrow.  Looking forward to it.  Then on to 12 treatments of Abraxane.

I had to have a new port put in yesterday.  The doctor who put in my original one did not use a long enough catheter tubing, so the end was not placed in the proper spot.  Ends up that is quite dangerous for someone who is getting Adriamycin.  This got noticed because my port was always clogged, so they ended up sending me for a port study to figure out why.  The dr also made a bunch of other poor choices when placing my port.  Boy, was I furious, upset, you name it.  I had a few good cries.  The head of the department personally apologized to me and he put in my new one.  The entire staff was very nice to me, they felt so bad for me.  The new port placement went very well and I made sure to see the X-ray so I could check the tube length myself.  What a draining few days...

Myra, I'm on dose dense taxol, every 2weeks. I don't mind the neulasta if it keeps my white blood cell count up, which it is. But my rbc count is dropping, a little each time. Now s at 10.2 which is mildly anemic. They say this is normal and nothing I can do about it. Feeling the fatigue.  Once it gets to 8.0 or below they would do a blood transfusion. Anyone actually need a bold transfusion?

I go for my second infusion of Taxol tomorrow and I did not like it at all.  I had intermittent pain extreme tiredness and lots of things taste bad, and sweets are sweeter. I do not like Taxol.  I would rather have fought another few rounds with the red devil than this every stinking week.

Lisa,

I take liquid iron to keep the anemia at bay.  It tastes like metal, like we all need more of that taste, but at least it does not constipate you.  Here's what I take http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8YUQ2Y/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.  I called all around to different pharmacies and they do not carry it, so I ordered from Amazon.  Mine is at 9.8.  I was told the same thing about the transfusion.

Lots of drinks taste bad to me also, but I'm OK with lemonade, apple juice, vitamin water and gatorade.

I hope everyone's weekend goes OK

Hi, everyone. I haven't been great to updating here. I started my ddAC on Jan 9th and I am done with AC cycle on end of Feb. From this March, I started Taxol for next 12 weeks. I am getting it right now and it is my 2nd round.

During ddAC, the side effects were pretty controlled with pre medications so I didn't have to be too nauseous. I felt very tired for 4-5 days after the treatment but I was able to back to close to normal on following week. My hair start falling around my after 2nd round of ddAC. I shaved my hair because I got sick of cleaning my hair everywhere. My hair didn't gone completely. I still have some hair today. My eyebrows and lashes are still there. I was able to eat normal and try to eat whatever but try to be healthy choice. I didn't hard on myself to limit diet. I didn't puke even though I sometimes felt upset stomach or have no appetites. 

I got neulasta shot for 3 times and after 2nd time, my WBC didn't decline but increased. So my doc stop to give me. 

You ladies want to careful for the Neulasta because of it cost. I was supported by insurance and financial assistant from the facility so I didn't have to deal with it. But it was charged around $10,000 per shot to my insurance company. It was crazy.

So, started taxol. I was premeditated with benedryl and it put me in sleep. Today, nurse suggested claratin instead and I am trying it. I hope it will be ok.

I hope you all doing ok! I know it is tough but we can go through this!!!

I am also going back to my work from April! It's moving forward!

Candycandy - OMG about your Neulasta cost. I have 100% coverage for mine; if I pick it up at work and take it to the Cancer Center. I work at a pharmacy. It runs about $2800 here in Alberta. If I were to get it from the Cancer Clinic pharmacy, my coverage would have been only 65% and I would have to pay the difference. SO, anyone out there - make sure you get all the information up front about what it will cost YOU for the Neulasta. I talked to my NP/MO about the Claritin and she didn't have any idea why I would want to take it? Uh huh.

I have my last chemo this coming Thursday. I will request (again) Benedryl drip (pre-chemo drugs), have my TC 'cocktail' and the Neulasta the next day.  I am call this system - "Benny and the Jets" - for those Elton John fans out there - yes, I do hum this to myself at treatments.

Carren

my taste buds came back almost normal on Saturday 3/15, 5 days after taxol. Woohoo! I noticed when I had an everything bagel with cream cheese and lox and it tasted soooo good. Appreciating the little things! Liquids are still weird especially water but I'm so grateful for the food tastes. Hate to think about loosing it again and back to "eating pennies"!

Walked about 1.5  miles today but now my feet are hurting me. The bottoms are sensitive. And noticing my fingertips feel funny. I didn't think I had neuropathy but maybe. My doc only said to take the L-glutamine the day before, day of and day after taxol (3x/day). But I just started taking it 1x/day even now. How often do others take it? Also will start vit b6. 

Traveling to Indianapolis tomorrow to watch my daughter in ncaa swim meet! She's a senior in colege and made it to the nationals! Her first time (and last chance). Good it's on my off week. I should be feeling good. But will have to get my afternoon nap in. Traveling by plane. Have my arm sleeve and gauntlet as preventative. Will wear for first time tomorrow during the flight