Starting Chemo in April 2014

I'm taking Dexamethasone 8 MGs twice a day the day before chemo, chemo day, and the day after chemo. So far I haven't had any nausea. 

Hello Ladies! I've been MIA, I know, but I just caught up on everyone's posts.

Thanks so much for the compliments on the wig! I'm glad it gave everyone a big laugh.

SO, the SEs for Round 3 were terrible for me. I'm in what is SUPPOSED to be my "good week", but I'm still battling mild nausea (it just never went away!), and the FATIGUE. Geez. I've never been SO TIRED. And my muscles are always screaming at me. You know that feeling the day after a really good workout, and your muscles are sore and tired and weak? That's me ALL THE TIME. GAH! And don't even get me started on the dry mouth and chemo tongue. Blech.

AND, I have gained 8lbs so far! EIGHT POUNDS in just 3 rounds! I know, I know, better to have chemo-induced weight gain than cancer. But STILL. EIGHT POUNDS. And most of it appears to be water retention. I haven't been this puffy since pregnancy - even my ankles are swollen. And my pants don't fit. Which annoys me more than anything. Stupid pants. It's a good thing cancer patients get a "Wear Yoga Pants All the Time" card, right?

Footballnut - I have a friend who is a cancer survivor who keeps throwing the "don't eat this and don't use that product and avoid these things" lines at me. If I followed all the "advice" out there, I think I'd have to live on lawn clippings. Seriously. And in all honestly, I've been a very healthy eater for a long time, but I still got cancer. So I say enjoy your weekend away, eat delicious foods, and be sure to tell us all how fabulous it was when you return.

mmtagirl - I haven't had so much the emotional SEs, but I do forget things. A lot. Like VERY a lot. Losing words is the worst. It's common for me to start a sentence and then forget what I was going to say a few words in (trying to carry on a conversation with me is a HOOT). And during certain weeks, I really don't even like driving anymore, because my focus is just GONE. It's like my brain just decided to let me handle the whole chemo thing without it. 

Ddkath - Your husband is a rock star. Give him a big HIGH FIVE from me. And regarding the bone pain? Taxotere can also cause some serious body pains, and in combination with the Neulasta, it can get pretty nasty. Be sure to mention it to your MO. If he thinks it's due to the Taxotere, there are things he can do to help.

Anyone else's nose run ALL THE TIME? Seriously, it's too bad there's not a market for snot. I could totally cash in. 

Jhodro,  I'm on weekly Taxol now (#6 of 12 tomorrow) and take two 8mg Decadron the night before and 2 the morning of, which cause sleep issues both nights.  I discovered OTC Unisome for sleep during my AC - it really helped me then & now.  My MO is anti sleep aides - nurse told me she's had too many women who can't sleep without them post chemo.  Unisome is just about the only OTC sleep aid that does NOT contain Benedryl, which hypes me up instead of making me sleep.  I take one about an hour before I want to sleep the day before and 2 the night of Taxol.  Works like a charm.  Before I take anything I always check with my MO office.  Good luck!  Everyone needs good sleep - especially us.

Footballnut - I say eat whatever you can tolerate!  As for me, a little ice cream before bedtime is my daily treat.  Now's not the time to go on a health food kick if your taste buds are off, and it sounds like you were eating healthy before bc anyway (me too:-).   Speaking of taste buds, mine were shot to hell on the AC.  I was ravenous when I did eat, and couldn't wait to gargle with my baking soda & salt water mouthrinse and brush my teeth after - felt like there was a slimy taste in my mouth and struggle to find something that tasted good to me.  Happy to report that Taxol is different in that regard.  Food tastes so much better.

May all you brave ladies struggling with SEs have fewer and fewer of them.

I have trouble remembering things and I know it.  But my husband has taken a new tack that drives me nuts.  When he hasn't told me something (and he tends not to) and I say "I didn't know that" he says "I told you".  It's like Gaslight.  At first I believed he really had told me and I remember NOTHING which is a scary feeling.  But now I'm wise to him.  I know he hasn't told me some important things and he's just saying he told me to get off the hook.  

Cold, You should write more, your observations are so funny and your word choices are the best. I would read  your blog if you did one. Everyone here sounds like they would, too. Not that you need to be doing that as a public service to us, but it would be wonderful! 

Nose hair and drips, fatigue off and on, check, check. As far as impassioned advice to eat this way or get this skinny or work out this much goes, I suspect it comes from a fervent desire to control what is otherwise still a huge cluster of unknowns. A beloved MD here who was all into alternative diets, meds and lifestyle succumbed to cancer recently, as have other local folks whose lifestyles were impeccable. It makes me feel that good health practices are still good, but not curative. Michio Kushi's family, total macrobiotics, had cancer in two generations. Its frustrating and hard to grasp the complexity of this disease. Do the things that make you feel your best.

Congratulations on completing chemo, mickishelley!!!!!  I think you are the first from our group to make it through.  Good luck with the upcoming surgery.

congrats miki!  So happy for you!!

Everforward I am with you!  I'm in the chair next wed for round 3 which will also be my final round of FEC. Like you I've yet to have mouth sores. I notice that I have more fatigue now and if I don't push myself I can sit and do nothing all day very easily

The worst SEs for me was round 1 with nausea and a bit of vomiting. Since then a bit of stomach cramping, feeling wired, dry  mouth and the hair loss. Other then that I've felt great

The worst is when I sit at home alone and let myself veg. It's then that I start to go to the negative

I have to kick myself in the ass and remind myself that I can still have a long life and die of something else other then this cancer shit. Breast cancer does not get is all. When my day comes I just hope that it's many many years from now as go we all!

Enjoy your day all!!

Congrats Mikishelley!!! Celebrate like you never have before, but take small breaks LOL.

Ever - good luck I hope #3 is a breeze for you and you continue having minor SE's (lucky!)

I passed all of your comments on to my husband, and he was so happy that y'all liked it.  It has been really helping me with progress, and it's a nightly ceremony now. "Time to pop my balloon!", I get my hubby my MIL, and my 5 fur babies in the room and I pop it! Its the little things

mikishelley- Congratulations!!!!  The swap is gonna be a piece of cake and it is almost like instantly you can breath again  

As for me I will be starting Taxol, Herceptin and Perjeta on Monday.  I am not looking forward to being in the chair all day BUT I will be getting my trusty friend Herceptin which is gonna keep me dancing with NED forever.  

My side effects have been out of control and at this point I just hope my digestive track can recover.  I am hopeful and so in my oncologist.  Now I move onto the target drugs to kill the beast.  

First, I would like to thank all of you who gave me feedback on the port procedure.  Your assurances made me feel quite positive about the experience and it did go very well.

I had it installed in the AM and then went to start my 2^nd round of taxol (3 on 1 off)  I have had a few side effects but nothing really bad.  I am losing my hair albeit slowly and I still have overall coverage.  It is just thinner.  My fingernails are bubbled from the cuticle out about 1/8^th of nail.  I have a lot of bone pain in my hips and spine and my gait is causing stress and so pain in my knees and feet.  I did have a lot of swelling in my feet but I took parsley tablets and that went away.  All in all I feel pretty lucky when I read of what so many are going through.

Here is the kicker.  Today I had my appointment with my MO just before my treatment.  He said my blood count was lower (2.7 or 1200) and my C-125 was down for ovarian cancer but up for the breast cancer.  I just let it pass when I was in the office but the more I think about it the more I am freaking out.  No one has ever mentioned ovarian cancer to me before.  I was sure that at my age they had dried up and blown away. 

Has anyone else had this happen?  Any feedback?

I am also going to post that on another discussion board.  Thanks

Mikishelley - Congrats!!!!  So they really DO let you ring a bell - love it!  Will have to find out if my MO has one.  So cool.  Glad you felt well enough to go to your daugher's 5th grade graduation.  Everyone of those milestones is important.  We have 7 grandchildren who all live nearby ranging in age from 22 month old twin boy & girl to my 13 yr old granddaughter.  We are always going to one milestone event, recital, game, concert, you name it for them.  Makes us feel like we are going through our kids' childhoods again.  All those moments are special.  Enjoy!

Amyo: Ned is no evidence of disease. For those of us Her2+, it's really supposed to help attack any cells that might be producing the HER2+ (rogue ones).

Thanks Jhodro!  

amyo- Herceptin is used for Her2 ladies to prevent recurrences.  NED= No evidence of disease (also teased as my boyfriend) who left me in March.  Perjeta is also a new drug that was released in October of last year supposed to help prevent recurrences of her2+ breast cancer.  Ask your oncologist about them if you are Her2+.  

First taxol today and so far so much better than AC!  I know it's a little early for the happy dance but so happy for way less nausea, headaches, dizziness, etc.  Just a sort of uneasy feeling in my stomach but that's without taking anything for nausea!!  And because I didn't have any reaction to the taxol next time I drop my steroids by half and then off if all continues well  I had some brief burning in my right foot and hand twice today, lasted for less than 5 minutes, but I will mention it to my MO and talk about icing next time.

Could it be?  Is there really life after AC?  

Two people in Calgary rang their done chemo bells today, and one did a video and dance.  It was encouraging to see, but I have a question.  What about those in the chairs that day that won't ever get to ring the bell?  I am thinking about ringing it at the end of all this, but I would hate to hurt anyone that doesn't get to ever stop chemo.  And I could always celebrate away from the centre too.  Any thoughts?  

Thank you all for the congratulations. Wow I thought #3 was bad. I can hardly move this morning. Hello my old friend fatigue!