Starting Chemo January 6, 2014

Options
1…3032343536

Comments

  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Member Posts: 216
    edited May 2014

    It seems to take 1.5 to 2 hours depending on how busy they are. it is 1 hour for the taxol. They do the pre-meds and if it goes well and my cath isn't blocked it can go quickly, but if it is busy or i have to have extra meds to unblock my port it seems to take forever.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • belleb
    belleb Member Posts: 170
    edited May 2014

    Mine takes about 2 hours from walking in door to walking out. Only 5 more to go...phew!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sam2U
    Sam2U Member Posts: 233
    edited May 2014

    Thanks ladies!! Mine has never taken 2 hours, the least time has been 2 1/2 hours, but there are a couple of nurses that have issues with other nurses and they drag out the appointments.  Yesterday it took 4 hours.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • desimone
    desimone Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2014

    Hi my weekly Taxol infusion takes any where between 2.5 and 3 hours.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SmartassSmurf
    SmartassSmurf Member Posts: 157
    edited May 2014

    Mine goes at least 3 hours, but I also get Herceptin along with the Taxol. Wish me luck for having good blood counts tomorrow.

    Hope you are all side effect free.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • belleb
    belleb Member Posts: 170
    edited May 2014

    AC/T ladies: what's the status of your hair these days? I've done all my ACs and  7 of 12 taxols and although my eyebrows and lashes have thinned considerably in the last few weeks, hair seems to be growing everywhere else. I'm having to shave my legs again and I have fuzz all over my head. Is this "real" hair coming in on my head or some weird chemo trick? Lol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Member Posts: 216
    edited May 2014

    My head  is the same status it was, some sort of weird blond monkey fur that isn't any longer and no hair any where else.  This is week nine of Taxol today.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RamblingRose
    RamblingRose Member Posts: 50
    edited May 2014

    ASB...I am also starting chemo in July. I am so sorry you are having to go through this again. I guess I will se you when a July chemo thread starts! Meanwhile, here's hoping your Surgical recovery goes smoothly. I talked the MO to waiting to start my chemo because my daughter is getting married on July 20.

    ~ Rambling Rose

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • birdlover23
    birdlover23 Member Posts: 54
    edited May 2014

    I'm AC, then Abraxane (like Taxol).  I have received 6 Abraxane's, 6 more to go.  I have fine, white fuzzies on my head that appeared about a week ago.  This is how all new hair growth starts.  Some of my fuzzies are starting to get darker :)  My real hair is dark brown, but the gray was trying to take over in my part.

    My lashes are almost gone, but they are starting to grow back already.  Held onto all my eyebrows until about Abraxane #3, then they started to fall out.  I had thick brows, so I have enough left to look presentable and not make me look sick.  That was going to get me pretty down.  I have new eyebrow growth also, so I am hoping no more fall out.

    Smurf - Let us know about your blood counts!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katiegrey
    katiegrey Member Posts: 79
    edited May 2014

    I had my last taxol (dose dense) on April 28 and I'm still waiting for hair everywhere! My MO gave me a scrip for Latisse, but so far no new lashes. I did manage to hang on to a couple of lashes, but am still using eyeliner when I go out. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sam2U
    Sam2U Member Posts: 233
    edited May 2014

    Smurf hoping you had good counts today!!

    Tek after today--only 3 more to go!!!

    I just finished Taxol #8 on Tuesday, I have very fine hair growth on my head and it is all white and very very short.  My eyebrows and lashes hung on until about Taxol #5 and have been steady shedding since then, but there is already a couple of fine white hairs in my brow line.  No hair growth anywhere else.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chipmunk57
    chipmunk57 Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2014

    Anybody have any idea when our taste might come back? I swear I miss that more than my hair, lol!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2014

    chipmunk, my taste is mostly back, 2 1/2 weeks pfc. I finished on 4/21. It was terrible on taxol for about 1 week after treatment (I had DD taxol). I hated that as well, but I hate my bald head more lol!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SmartassSmurf
    SmartassSmurf Member Posts: 157
    edited May 2014
    My blood counts were much better yesterday, so I was able to get Taxol #5. Yay! It is funny to wish for chemo. 7 more to go, and then surgery. Because I did not have a clear margin, they have to go back in...I haven't made a full decision on whether I want to do just re-excision, or mastectomy. A lot to think about.

    Asb,  I am sorry to hear your chemo journey will start again. It must be so frustrating and disappointing for you. 
    As far as the hair comments, I too have some leg hair growth...but very fine and no color to it. I also have the head fuzzies. No real color to that either. My lashes and brows are barely there. I have been trying to put some brows on...but they look a little strange. I have never been great at art, and this is no exception. Hopefully my brows will come.back soon.
    Good luck everyone, and may you all have a side effect free weekend.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katiegrey
    katiegrey Member Posts: 79
    edited May 2014

    Hi all - I just finished my 4th DD Taxol on 4/28 and finally got the neuropathy pains I kept hearing about - boy are they annoying! Any tips for getting rid of them? I still have no hair anywhere, but decided to celebrate Mother's Day with a nice bald picture of me and my boys. Surgery is set for 5/15 and I'm anxious to say the least. Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there, as well as to those who love their moms. xoxo

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sam2U
    Sam2U Member Posts: 233
    edited May 2014

    Katie--what a great picture!!

    No tips on the neuropathy but hopefully the se's will leave before Thursday!  In my journey the actual mast surgery has been the easiest--I wish the same for you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • birdlover23
    birdlover23 Member Posts: 54
    edited May 2014

    katiegrey - beautiful picture, beautiful boys :)

    For neuropathy, talk to your MO, but I have been told by mine that Vitamin B6 helps.  I had mild neuropathy that went away on its own, so I have not started on the vitamins.  I have tried to go natural as much as possible, there are so many toxins we are having put in our bodies.

    Another trick - gargle with liquid aloe to keep thrush away, especially while on antibiotics.

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day.  We had nice, sunny weather here in PA!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • birdlover23
    birdlover23 Member Posts: 54
    edited May 2014

    katiegrey - I forgot...  wishing you well on Thursday, we'll all be thinking about you.  I also have two boys, just a little older than yours.  They did very well with my surgery and were very helpful once I got home.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Marren
    Marren Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2014

    hi everybody,

    I'm currently getting my 6th and FINAL CHEMO!!! I'm so excited I feel like balloons should fall from the ceiling. The tch+p has been rough, and infusions were 6 hours ! I still will get herceptin every 3 weeks, surgery and prob rads but I think this is going to be the hardest part. I'm so ready to put this behind me.

    Still considering which surgery.

    Katie- I find l- glutamine and b6 good for neuropathy and taste alterations. Did your tumor shrink during chemo, and why are you going w the mastectomy? 

    I can't wait for my hair and eyelashes to grow back.

    Chipmunk- the taste alteration drives me nuts and it was worse than ever on my last one. I could barely eat anything . It's like a metal taste w a tablespoon of salt on your tongue. 

    I also wanted to share that I figured out that the chemo has made me gluten intolerant. I was having all kinds of digestive issues(bloody diarrhea, cramping, constipation sorry tmi)

    When I cut out gluten I wasn't having those problems, when still constipation from chemo but it wasn't as bad.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Asb
    Asb Member Posts: 99
    edited May 2014

    katigrey, 

    I am 3 weeks out from my BMX. It is so much easier than chemo. The first week is hard but after that it's a breeze compared to chemo. I am sure you have seen the list of what to bring, I packed a bag but never even opened it. Sending you healing thoughts. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • desimone
    desimone Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2014

    Hi finished my 7th taxol yesterday - 5 to go - so far so good!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Brwneyedgirl
    Brwneyedgirl Member Posts: 113
    edited May 2014

    Last TCH on Friday.  Then on to rads.  The last chemo kicked my behind.  I am still trying to work may way back from it.  Experiencing numbness in my heels after round 5.  But overall glad to be almost done with chemo! I would party, but too tired.  Happy


     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sam2U
    Sam2U Member Posts: 233
    edited May 2014

    Marren--congrats on finishing chemo!!!

    Katiegray--in your pocket today--you got this!!

    Finished Taxol #9 on Tuesday--3 more to go then on to 6-7 weeks of rads, which frankly scares the heck out of me since it's on the left side with no recon for now--so afraid they will damage the heart or lungs, of course they have insured me they will take precautions, but I still worry.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2014

    sam2u, ask about respiratory gating or deep breath holding technique for protecting the heart during rads. Not done at all places. It's a newer tech to decrease the chance (which is very small) of long term damage, stenosis to the heart with rad to the L side. Mine is L sided and the local oncology center (5 miles away) does not do it but the university hospital 1 hr away does. I will be having a 4d ct scan at univ  hosp thurs and they can see if the heart would come in the line of the rad beam (even if just a little bit)and if the respiratory techniques would be of benefit. If it would be I'm doing it there if not will stay local. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katiegrey
    katiegrey Member Posts: 79
    edited May 2014

    Thanks for the well wishes everyone! Anxiously awaiting surgery tomorrow.

    Marren - The chemo did shrink my tumor, just not enough - it's still a little over 4 cm. I also have a smaller tumor in the other breast, so I'm going for the BMX to get it all out of me!

    Then....on to growing hair, eyelashes and eyebrows!! Am I right??

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SmartassSmurf
    SmartassSmurf Member Posts: 157
    edited May 2014

    So happy to hear of people moving through chemo and.on to next stages of treatment. Although I have been delayed a few weeks, this is starting to finally feel like there might be an end to chemo at some point . 

    Katie grey ~ I wish you luck that everything goes absolutely smooth for you tomorrow and your recovery is swift. I will add you to my prayers tonight. I live north of the Twin cities, do you doctor through the U of M? 

    I have my chemotherapy #6 of Taxol tomorrow morning, and meeting with the surgeon after. Not sure what to expect for surgery. I am guessing at minimum re-excision of the margin on the right...or mastectomy. Not sure what to think. Weighing the invasiveness of MX vs the possible better outcomes if I do it, I get anxious about making the right decision. I obviously never want to go through this again, but I also want this to end. Garr. 

    On a positive note, my Race for the Cure Team had 22 people on Sunday. We raised an additional $1,200 through an Active Giving campaign. I could not go this year because of my immune system...but next year I will be happy to walk with them. My team made the news because they were dressed as SuperHeroes. It was pretty cool to see them, almost felt like I was there.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CarpeVinum
    CarpeVinum Member Posts: 116
    edited May 2014


    katiegrey ~ I'll be thinking of you today. Hoping the surgery is smooth and your recovery is quick :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • katiegrey
    katiegrey Member Posts: 79
    edited May 2014

    Thanks for all the well wishes! My surgery is scheduled for 4:30 pm today, which gives me all day to have stress, anxiety and panic attacks!

    SmartassSmurf - I live in Southwest Minneapolis, near Lake Harriett, but work in Eden Prairie and my boyfriend lives in Chaska. I'm being treated at the Piper Breast Center at Abbott, which has been a really good experience so far.

    Gentle hugs to all today - xoxo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Marren
    Marren Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2014

    good luck Katie! That's cruel when they schedule it so late, you can't eat all day. Not fair.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Member Posts: 216
    edited May 2014

    OMG Katie Grey makes me glad I am a diabetic.  They schedule us early.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories