Starting Chemo in December 2013

Crazywabbit, always a good idea to check in with a well-qualified lymphedema therapist for personalized risk-reduction strategies, baseline arm measurements for future reference, and fitting for a compression sleeve and gauntlet (fingerless glove) to use prophylactically for exercise, travel, any time your arm feels heavy or just "funny", and during rads.

As for swelling during taxane chemos, a lymphedema therapist is the medical professional trained to differentiate the causes and to treat it. Here's how to find a well-trained lymphedema therapist near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified...

I'm really appreciating the privilege of reading this thread--you gals are truly inspiring. My own bc treatment was 12 years ago, and I look forward to all your friendships here lasting that long and longer! Onward!
Binney

Made it through Taxol #10 today......all my counts were good, slept the entire time.  I have been very emotional today as well, not sure what is going on.  I am in a panic because my daughter graduates the beginning of June....i have NOTHING done....haven't even ordered her Senior pictures yet!! Sort of feeling like a flop as I'm usually so organized and on top of things.  I may have to recruit her father to help, although he has no clue as to what all needs to be done.  Ugh. 

For those of you who can't sleep, I take Clomazipan and it is the best! Its more of an anti-anxiety pill than a sleeping pill but what it does for me is just shuts my mind off and relaxes me so that i can get some sleep.  It's been the best little pill ever for me. 

Good luck to all who are doing chemo today, and this week and also who are starting rads! The end is in sight!!

did ok today. 7th chemo down and 1 more to go. My counts were good. Wbc went down to 8.2 but that's still wnl  (it had been 15.5 with the neulasta so she gave me less last time) I was pretty emotionally stable today after little panic last night. Minimal tears on way over today. Took xanax this morning prior. Accessing the port has been a little more painful past few times even with the numbing spray. Today's nurse said they are using different needles and that's prob why....Come on!!! She said I could use Emla but I only have one more and Emla is prescription. I think my sister can get me a small amount for 1 more treatment where she works (I fusion unit on LI).  They didn't have any to give me where I go. I only sleep a little during treatment even with the druggy benedryl. Feel drunk like and  go into half sleep.

Had a different nurse today and I told her that the last nurse administered the taxol  real slow past 2 times and I had no trouble. Thinking of you holli! Started me at 25, then 75, then 150(I think) then 250. That's the highest they went. Don't know if we all get the same dosage but I thought you said you titrated to 500, compared to mine seems fast. It took 3.25 hrs for taxol only. I'm sure they will watch you carefully. I totally understand the anxiety. Maybe take something before to relax.

Missy- congrats on #10and good counts. Your daughter can certainly help (HS graduation?), or get help from a friend or relative. Yiu are not a flop, you are battling a war right now so your body and mind are busy doing other things. You will get it done :-)

I fell behind the last few days.  Hope all goes well and went well with everyone's chemo and rads. 

I'm doing well after my lumpectomy.  I did call the on call doc Saturday because the swelling was so bad.  "Hello Dolly Parton!" But only in one boob, so it wasn't working for me.  My breast was hard and hot and so swollen my nipple was flat.  Doc told me to come into today to have it looked at and maybe some fluid removed.  But woke up Sunday and the swelling had gone down some and the heat was gone.  Phew...the fewer needles the better!

My nurse navigator called today with my pathology.  Nice wide clear margins!! Lil bugger tumor was a tiny 7mm.  It's so nice to know that the chemo is actually working.  Also, no cancer in my lymph nodes.  Wohoo!

I'm going back to work tomorrow.  I'm so bored.  I can sit at my desk as well as I can sit on the couch.  Although, when my alarm goes off.  I may change my mind

catching up with all your posts! Congrats to those of you finishing up chemo and moving on to rad. Wish you all minimum SEs. 

Djj, glad to hear your lumpectomy went so well. It's great to hear about clear margins and neg nodes! I had huge swollen breast  2nd week after surgery. I was so freaking out and actually it was how I found this website during my search. I found gentle stretch and lift my arms helped a lot. I still had a little pocket on my breast that feels tender when pressed, but it's getting better everyday. 

Jodi, my eyesight became so bad since chemo, very blurry indeed. 

I had a tiny melt down today in doctor's office. I went to see another MO to get 2nd opinion and hopefully find a doctor closer to home after chemo. She was asking me about all my BC history and my tears just kept falling. :-( I haven't cried for a while, and I thought I am over this already. Anyway, she recommended an RO in my area and I feel good about moving forward after chemo.

I went to Boston last week for work. The weather was great, my SEs wasn't bad, and I had great time traveling with my colleagues. We had a giant cannoli in mike's pastry, a well known Italian pastry. Don't want to know how much calorie is, it was so good! 

Good night, ladies!

lisa, I know some of the ladies complained about nose hair before, I just felt it recently. My nose is so dry and clogged most of the morning. I completely feel what you said about hair on different schedule. My hair grows a bit on my head. Bottom eye lashes were all gone, upper ones have a few left. My brows are so thin and some part is disconnected, very pathetic, lol. It's still falling. Never really done much of make up in my life, I am getting better with drawing brows. 

DJJ, good for you! So happy to hear the news.

jackie, I agree...really? I look tired... I wonder why??? The things people say sometimes....hang in there! You've got this!

I used nasal spray for a while when my nose was clogged...it seemed to help.

The only new hair growth I have seen so far, has been on my head, which is fine with me.

Holli, yes, totally rad girls is what we are! Thanks:)

Keep on keepin' on, ladies!

Holli- definitely saying a prayer for you this week!!  I agree with they know now so should be ok:)

I haven't worn contacts or glasses so the eye thing threw me.  But!  The moisture if the eyes makes sense!  I bought refresh drops and the next time they go blurry I'll try that!  

Got a call tonight that a lady who is mutual friends with like 100 of mine just got DX.  I do not know her, but she requested me to contact her.  She was already on my Cheer FB page:(. I messaged her and we talked back and forth.  I just knew someone else was going to get it before I was done.  I have 1000 followers on that page, so I knew chances were good.  I told her about us here and told her to come and read our journey.  I told her how awesome the boards are to make friends, and to stay away from the scary boards.  But, I really think we have something special in this board:). So, prayers to the sisters who are just joining us and to the others who do not know yet.  We were those sisters last year.  Cancer has really pissed me off a lot in the last two weeks.  Lost 3 people and now one more to the team!  But, at least I could be helpful today. I hope I was at least.  

Hugs ladies!!  Love y'all:)

Kim, if you don't already have lymphedema you can wear the sleeve and a gauntlet (fingerless glove) during treatment and for an hour or so before and after, plus any time you're driving, traveling, exercising, or doing any strenuous activity (like vacuuming, moving furniture, gardening, etc.) Be sure the fit is good, and if you gain or lose weight check the fit again.

It's important to use some hand protection when you wear a compression sleeve, to prevent any swelling from getting trapped in your hand, where it's harder to deal with. Here's a short article about why it's important (and while you're at this site, look around at the gorgeous patterned sleeves and gauntlets they make!):

http://www.lymphedivas.com/handprotection.asp

Be well,
Binney

Hey All - my Triple P friend Robin suggested that I read this forum to get info and help - I have joined the April chemo group but have a question on the Emend.  As you can see from my sig -  I will be doing Adriamycin and Cytoxan - DD - 4x and then 12 Taxol and then Herceptin and am wondering if you all took Emend for both the AC and the Taxol chemo's - my copay for emend is 75 for each use ughhh - and not sure how I can swing that if that is the case.  Thanks all!  

Holli, good luck on Thursday.  I hope your Taxol issue was a one-time thing!

DJJ, woo hoo on the path results!  I also got Lotemax from my opthamalogist and it seems to help.  I haven't been able to wear contacts or eye makeup for about a month now (too much tearing).  Between that and the wig . . . what a look.

I still have terrible dryness, so a couple of times during the night I  use saline spray for the nose, Systane drops for my eyes, have a humidifier going all night (still! in April!).  I hope that this dryness crap is coming to a close . . . I'm on Day 6 from my last TCH.  

To all those in rads, must feel so good to be getting done with this!  Maybe the tears are wrapped up in that last stage emotion too.  I am handing my last chemo better than the prior two - I think mainly because I keep telling myself that this is it.  Don't have to put myself through this again.

leealice-ya supposed to put the Emla cream on 1 hr before chemo, thick glob and cover with sedan wr. Of course I haven't used it as the numbing spray seemed yo work until last 3 treatments when it hurt and then one nurse informed me that they are using a new needle...so that's probably it. They don't have any samples of Emla for next time but my sister on LI is going to try to get from her unit for me for 1more treatment. Getting port out 10 days after last chemo! Woohoo for you. That's soon. Our BC stats are the same except opposite side. Have you started rads?

Linda, welcome! I did not have emend, I used compazine and ativan(for nausea and stress). That was for the A/C. I didn't need it for very long. For Taxol I take a compazine and Ativan the morning of treatment. I have not had any issues with nausea on Taxol. Others here on the thread have battled it and should be able to assist you better. 

Hi Robin  - thanks - they gave me a prescription for compazine too - that was afforable -- but this emend is crazy expensive - don't know why they have me with both?  Oh well guess I will ask if there is a reason for the emend also 

Thanks jackiek - been on the phone with my insurance company this am trying to get this worked out.  Right now they are telling me $75 for the prescription (pills) for the emend - take one at the chemo center then one each day for two days - so three pills for $75 and I do that twice a month so $150 just for that - ughhh - I am fighting and telling them that my prescription coverage says $75 copay for a 30 day supply of emend so that should cover two doses and not one - I plan on winning this argument