Starting Chemo in March 2014

Also, I have seen ladies here post before about having one nodule and chemo kicking it's ass so stay positive! There's lots of chemos you can do!! Chin up girl and go pour yourself a much deserved glass of wine! 

Jen- I finished AC on 4/24 and still had lashes and brows. I had Taxol #1 on 5/19 (had a delay in starting Taxol/Herceptin/Pertuzamab protocol after AC  due to a respiratory infection with fever which prevented me from starting when I should have (5/13).) Anyway, I started to notice eyebrow thinning in between AC and and Taxol #1. Since Taxol #1, I've started to notice serious thinning of eyebrows (mine were light to begin with it so it makes it even worse but without using an eyebrow pencil, it looks like I have almost nothing) and I've also started losing bottom eyelashes. Top lashes seem to still be in tact but I've started to notice one or two falling out when I put on mascara, so I know its only a matter of time. Frustrating. 

On a more positive note- my stepmom went through breast cancer several years ago (same protocol as me-AC, Taxol) and she lost all her eyelashes but not her eyebrows. So, everyone is different! Maybe you won't lose yours.  Fingers crossed for you! 

Jen- I don't think so. I've just joined these boards. I'm in Short Hills. Where are you? 

I've lost most of my eyelashes now and don't bother trying to put mascara on the remaining ones as it will just highlight the gaps. My eyebrows were hanging in just fine till in between the FEC third round and the start of my taxotere. They are now at probably a third of what they were, they still look reasonable as I had super thick eyebrows, but I definitely notice they are a lot thinner and have gaps in there.

Very close indeed! I plan to do radiation there since its every day and less than five miles from me.   You are in good hands!

Oh, sinsin, I am SO HAPPY for you!   Terrific news!   Definitely something to celebrate!

xrayalli, I am so glad you are also done with another phase!!   :-)

kiwilady, my brows and lashes sound like they're about in the same shape as yours. They also look like they're a lighter color, if that's possible, but maybe it's just my imagination.  I'm wondering if they'll all fall out still.  I gave up on the mascara, too.

I go back to MO on the 12th.  She will discuss lung/ any other scan then, I guess.  I think the fact that I cried the whole time I was there yesterday really threw her off.   That'll be three months since the other CT.  Also will start arimidex then.  I'm not looking up anymore about that drug!.  Today is the first day I didn't cry all day; had to go to nursing home to move my mom out of the horrible place into a better one, which was successful.  I swear, if my lung node is nothing, I will get down on my knees and be so happy I won't know what to do.  I really am praying for a chance to move to Texas and be with my sweetie for some happy years.

Sinsin- great news! Congratulations! 

Alli- good luck with AC. Wishing you minimal SE's! 

Hope everyone has a good weekend! 

Hi Everybody-

Was just reading about the lung nodule discussion. Jmg- I have 2 nodules that were discovered on a chest/abd/pelvis CT, that was a workup for my breast cancer diagnosis. They're small and both on the right lung, and my breast cancer is on the right, and I've never been a smoker. But I was told not to worry, it was just an incidental finding. I needed more convincing, and my MO explained it's likely a certain percentage of the population have these nodules anyway, we just don't have contrast-enchanced views of everybody's chest to know. Also, these nodules were not "lit up" on my PET scan, so they don't seem to be active, or dividing rapidly. I don't remember if the MO was going to follow up with another CT of the right lung at some point down the road.. I'm hoping it's not an issue at all. So, did you get a PET scan? How were the nodules picked up?

Also, anyone have any tricks to combat throbbing leg, feet and hand pain? It's accompanied by roaming muscle cramps that start and stop. It's not so much burning though, but I bet this is still in the neuropathy specturm. Darn- I thought it would come on gradually, but 2 days after my first Taxol infusion and WHAM! Super ouchy. 

txplanner, im taking b-6 and glutamine.  Ive only had three treatments so far but so far im good.

you could go from dose dense to weekly, which probably has less neuropathy.  Studies are being dine with alpha lipoic acid, 400 mg twice a day, and glutamine is cheap, on line, but controversial in that it may protect cancer cells, but no one really knows.  5-10 mg up to 3 x a day.  On second dose dense paclitaxel- have flu like body aches and skin sensitivity, and fatigue.

Our Easter egg hunt.

WifeWBC,

Your family is beautiful!!!! So glad to hear your wife is doing better. I don't get too sick but get so tired that I  can't do much. I walk up a flight of stairs and my heart rate goes up to 120-130's. I'm very impressed that she can walk 4 miles!  I have 2 more rounds, she's 1 week ahead of me, then more surgery to clean up the margins. It will be interesting to see if the cancer is all dead (I hope I hope I hope) Hope the last one goes as well for her.

Sinsin - and anyone else having those horrible sweats where you wake up freezing and drenched.  I was having those also - combo of chemo and menopause and it was/is horrible.  I had to get up and change my PJ's and put a towel on the bed cause the sheets were soaked and someone suggested wicking PJ's.  I found some online but didn't order them cause I remember seeing wicking danskin exercise clothing at Walmart.  I went and picked up a pair of shorts and a top and it made a world of difference.  It moves the moisture away from your body so that it evaporates and doesn't soak your cloths - so you stay dry therefore no freezing shivers.

This is the type of thing I bought but it was shorts and a top - they have the word wicking on the labels - it is a folded label - some of the danskins are not wicking - so read the label, the wicking ones are about  6 bucks a piece.  I now own 4 sets and wear them every night and my sleep is so much better.  

http://www.walmart.com/ip/FAST-TRACK-Danskin-Now-W...