For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited August 2006
    Brigitte, Congrats on getting so far along. One more TAC! Remember to take it a day at a time. You have been through a lot so far, hang in there. There is an end to all this! My hair is coming in slowly, too slow! But it is hair!!

    Darlene- More Decadron pills! Heck I couldn't wait to stop the three days I was taking them...made me feel like crap!I had nausea and sweats...I took phenergan for my nausea because after the 3 day emend I had residual nausea until day 5 or 6. Decadron made my pulse rate go up to 120 and very nervous. Maybe it will help you but it made me crazy ....I called it my evil pill. The docs finally gave me effexor for my hot flashes. I hope your doc can help you with the effects of the chemo.

    Leigh, I know you will be glad to get your port out. I am looking at having to keep mine in until next July. That sucks! But then I should be glad that I am able to get Herceptin. At least it is every three weeks. I think the worse part of it is that I am reminded about TAC when I go in for the IV because it is the same place as I got my chemo. So many people getting Chemo. Guess we never get over having had cancer. Glad to hear your rads are progressing. I have had 25 rads to the entire right breast and start the first of my 8 boosts today. I didn't start burning some until #24.

    Jeannette, My energy didn't come back until about 6 weeks out from chemo. I am a little tired from the radiation but it is nothing compared to what TAC did to me.

    Everyone take care
    Marcia
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2006
    It's aweful quiet around here. I'm stuck at home and definitely hitting the DOLDRUMS as somebody put it. Ferne, how you doing? Did you get your surgery date yet? How soon do you have #6? Bridgette, are you hanging in there? Darlene, how's it going? Should we have a hair growing race? I have a feeling mine will come in all white. I think I'll tell people I'm a white blonde. Do you think they'll believe me?
    Jackie
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  • fd411
    fd411 Member Posts: 398
    edited August 2006
    Hi JackieSue,

    Thank you for asking!

    I have to see the surgeon on Tuesday so I guess that's one of the things we'll discuss. Aug 31 is my last treatment. I'm doing OK, but now I'm allergic to Neulasta. So now they will give me Neupogen this last time.

    I didn't realize decadron had such horrible side effects. Someone I knew had to take 10 pills a day-4 days on and 4 days-off for multiple myeloma. It didn't affect her so much the way it affects us. During the on days she felt good and had energy. The off days, she was weak and layed on the couch. Her cancer depleted her red blood cells and her body could not produce new ones on it's own. I know she had side effects, but the good seemed to outweigh the bad for her. My onc decreased my dose of decadron for round 6. I've been having lots of trouble with shortness of breath, so I had to have my 3rd echocardiogram. We're both pretty sure it's from low hematocrits, but onc says with the adriamycin, we have to be careful and 'go through the motions'. Always something, it seems.

    I hope everyone is doing OK and not feeling too awful this weekend.

    Best,
    Ferne
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited August 2006
    Hello, All TAC Sisters! JackieSue, Yes it has been quiet lately! Hope everyone is doing ok. I am starting radiation tomorrow. I am also going back to work tomorrow. At least I am going in to see if they can put me in a job that I can do with my restrictions! (lymphadema arm) Although, my husband and I both know that they have jobs that I would be able to do. Lets just say it is if they want to do it or not! I have a few hairs trying to grow on my head! I also noticed that unfortunately, it is time to start shaving my legs again. I noticed really light and fuzzy soft hair on them yesterday! I will hopefully find out on the 29th if chemo has thrown me into menapause or not! I have been having terible hot flashes and no monthly visitor for the past 3 months.
    Everyone take care,

    HUGS,
    Mindy
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2006
    Drat!~ I was hoping the leg and underarm hair was a thing of the past. Maybe if it stays light and fuzzy, you won't have to shave, Mindy. Good luck with going back to work tomorrow. Let us know how that goes, and whether the rads are as draining as chemo. I hope to God not. Heading into the home stretch here, with number 6 this Thursday, I still don't feel 100 percent as far as my energy and stomach.Just want it over with and some time to recover before rads. The kids are getting ready to go back to school and my oldest is heading for college; it makes me sad that my cancer has impacted the household this summer but with any luck we will have special times ahead of us, made more special when compared with the last few crappy months.
    Mindy, my hot flashes at night have been awful, and I stopped having a period after the first chemo. I guess there are different paths we have to take if we have or have not gone into menopause; I'll cross that bridge when I come to it for now. One day at a time!
    Hugs to all, Brigitte
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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited August 2006
    I let my light and fuzzy grow on my legs for about 2 weeks before I got fed up with it "catching" on my pants or shorts or the sheets, then I shaved those suckers. lol Old habits... The good thing is that I have only had to shave again 1 other time so far, it seems to come in slower, maybe it will stay that way? Hair on my head is coming in all different ways lol, and it's finally getting longer!

    I was so happy this weekend, we celebrated out 4th anniversary, and I was alive, and had plenty of energy to go out and have fun! Wow! (last chemo was June 27th)

    Going in for my 5th week of rads (doesnt' seem that long) Monday. I'm starting to get tired of the everyday thing. But I am starting to get a little burned.

    I'm glad, now, that I chose to do TAC, and got the best treatment out there!

    Paula
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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited August 2006

    Paula, Mindy, Marcia, Leigh and all the other fine ladies here on the TAC thread - Its now 6 weeks post chemo and it seems like the hair on my legs was the first to come back- it is long and soft, so for now I am going to leave it (I don't miss shaving). The hair on my head is now like "peach fuzz" instead of "stubble" - I can now see it in the mirror - its just barely there - can't tell what color it is (or should I say will be) but ist the start of new hair. I don't see hair on the arms, pits or down below. Eye brows and lashes are quite thin still and no new growth. I continue to go "naked" except when I am outside and then I wear a ball cap. Started back to work last week after 6 week summer vacation and I am exhaused - still have 8 rads to go and then I am done!!! - of course still have the hysterectomy to schedule as well as exchange surgery. My stomach continues to bother me so my pcp has suggested that I see a GI doctor. I asked for a late afternoon appt (because work is giving me a hard time about leaving early for rads - 13 times total!!) and couldn't get in till Oct - going to call back tomorrow and see what the first available is any time of the day. My pcp increased my Nexium to two 40mg/day for two weeks and that helped (but not all the way) - when I went back to one pill day (40mg) stomach starting acting way up - so I am back on two-40mg/day. I am on a bland/boring "old lady diet" - no caffeine, soda, artificial sweeteners, citrus, cooked tomatoes, spicy foods, (and I forget the rest of the list). I never had stomach problems till chemo, so I am frustrated that it is lasting this long post chemo. My list of pills seems to keep growing - Arimidex, Nexium, calcium, Maalox, Tylenol, glucosamine with MSM, Melatonin plus whatever I need to help me sleep at night. How did I get to be so old at 50!!! Oh well ladies, I have been rambling way too long. Have a good week.

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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited August 2006
    Karen in Denver,
    SO sorry to read about all the stomach problems you are having. I had stomach problems too and my doc put me on B6 and aciphex. I stopped the aciphex the week after my last TAC. I noticed on your list of meds that you were not taking L-Glutamine or B6. I have been taking them since rads and it is supposed to help metabolize food. It is a naturally occuring amino acid. My rad doc told me to take it since I was big chested and I could have problems with being burned but I am going in for rad #27 today and I am doing great. I hope you get to get a job that is easier on your lymphadema. It is rediculous how employers can accomodate pregnant women but not women who are faced with cancer.

    Paula, I can relate to the leg hair. My leg hair is growing like crazy. My hair is getting longer on my head and my eyelashes are also growing back fast. I am having to use shampoo again. The radiation is making me a little tired toward the end of every week but I only have 7 more including today which the last 8 are boosts to the tumor site. (33 total rads). I will be glad to get these marks and stickers off of me. They decided not to tatoo me which is good because I have enough to remind me of having to go through all this as it is.

    Hope everyone else is doing ok.
    Marcia
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2006
    I'm still coming out of #6, but at least I don't have another one coming up. I'm really looking forward to some peach fuzz on my poor shiny head. I could do without the legs and underarms. Oh well. How many of us were still having periods when we started? I had my last one end the first day of chemo. I'm really hoping that they will be over and done with. I don't want to go through the hot flashes and everything a second time. I'm 51. Don't need to be fertile anymore.
    Jackie
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited August 2006
    Jackie, I am also coming out of #6 altho it is taking longer to bounce back than with the others. Cumulative fatigue?

    Well, I finally met with the radiation oncologist - who was thorough and spent quite a bit of time - examining me, going over the chart, and talking with me. The final result - he recommends no rads. So I get to go on tamoxifen and regular checks. I almost feel guilty about this when many of you still have rads or surgery to deal with. But I am still here in spirit with all of you. Have some fuz on the chrome dome - but it looks pretty snowy up top (am definitely not happy about that). I supppose I will wear my wig for a longgggg time until I can put some colour in the hair. Am not ready to join the greying society.

    Also saw the onc. who warned me that the fatigue will go on for a while - and not to push myself. Groan. I will put up with the hair growing back on my legs if I can have some more energy. Guess that something most of us feel.
    Marcia, Paula, Mindy, Leigh Karen and Karen in Denver - all those who finished before me. Can we have a hair growing party?

    Now for getting the ps to repair the hole in my belly (left over from surgery and wouldn'r heal during chemo) and do the cosmetics on my new boob. Will keep you all posted on homw that goes.

    Then - went to the diabetes clinic with my DH and came home exhausted. So it was a full day. Now maybe I can get back to some regular non treatment routines.

    Cheers,
    Jeannette
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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited August 2006

    I am SO ready for the hair growing party! Mine is also gray or white, but now something darker is starting to appear. I'm still pretty far from having my scalp covered. I have stopped wearing the wig - I cut my head a week ago and used that as my excuse, but really I was just ready to pitch it. I'm wearing hats and scarves even to the office. Radiation is okay; I've started having some itching. I was outside, with sunscreen, not in direct sun, on Saturday, and that may have accelerated or exacerbated the skin irritation. Still, not bad - 12 down, 21 to go including 5 'boosts'. Don't seem to have any lingering chemo effects except the (lack of) hair. Glad to hear from everyone - we'll have quite the list of graduates by fall! Leigh

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited August 2006

    Hi ladies - I have peach fuzz on my head - its dark right now - before BC I had dark brown/grey wavy coarse hair. Also have hair on my legs - but guess what - eyebrows are gone and I have 2 eyelashes - one on each lid. How can hair grow on my head and legs and fall out around the eyes- go figure. I am all for a hair growing party - as long as it does not take much energy and food is easy on the tummy!!! I cont to go "naked" and only wear my ball caps in the sun. Marcia - one side effect I don't have is lymphodemia - I think that is Mindy - but I do have a boss who gives me grief - felt more supportive last year than this. I need to try to keep a positive attitude. Each year when my oldest daughter leaves for college, we take a snapshot of the two of us - two years ago I had short hair, last year shoulder length and this year BALD. It will be fun to see what it looks like one year from now - will have to keep tradition even once she graduates.

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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited August 2006
    Actually the weirdest thing is that my hair "down there" is coming in so fast it's not funny! LOL Too bad top of my head wont' grow that fast. It's getting kid of bushy in places on top though after even just a few days. Right on the crown of my head, and then along the edges on top. I feel like some kind of strange rug...

    Paula
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited August 2006
    I got smooth legs so far. No complaints there. But th eyebrows are way too thin and lashes a bare few. NOw I want to concentrate all growth up top. I should be so lucky.

    Meanwhile I have to go in to work for a few hours tomorrow and have been advised to go wigless so the folks there really will know that I haven't been sitting at the beach eating bob bons. Will let you know how it goes.

    J.
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited August 2006
    Hi TAC sisters, Just got home from work! I actually have a fairly easy job for now! I am insecting the cars. (I have about 12 parts that I have to verify that they are correct, check the cars for scratches in the paint,and dents.) That is pretty much it. I know that I will be doing this job at least till November, then I go back to the doc to be re-evaluated for the lymphadema. I haven't been sleepy tired, just worn out tired. My legs and feet are really sore by the end of the night. I am assuming that it is because I am not used to standing on my feet for 8 hrs and maybe just do to chemo itself.
    I just wanted to give and update and let you know that I am still around!
    Hope everyone is doing ok. This board has been very queit!
    EVERYONE! PLEASE KEEP US POSTED!
    Take Care,
    Mindy
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  • kburns
    kburns Member Posts: 37
    edited August 2006
    Hi all! I am still here, too. Started back to work on the 14th and took son back to college on the 19th. So, I have been pretty busy. Exchange surgery is next week and DH goes in for back surgery on 9/19. Hair is coming in, but still have some aches and pains as well as neurpathy.

    Looks like next step for me will be one of the AIs. Will any of you be starting soon? My Onc wants me to get ooph ASAP and join a study comparing Femera and Arimedex (I'll be put on one or the other based on chance).

    Any thoughts on the OOPH or the study? The onc called my gyn to get me in right away...but I'm wondering why the rush. Also, I went into menapause during chemo, do I really need the ooph to start the AIs?

    Any thoughts would be helpful!!! Hope everyone id doing well....Karen
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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited August 2006
    Nice to hear from the Karen's, Paula, Mindy, Jeannette...
    Karen b. I don't have much to offer re: the hormone situation. I'll tell you what my onc told me. She used to start anyone who went through menopause due to chemo on AI's, but had some women's ovaries "roar back" into operation after a few months. Of course, the AI's are only working if you are really in menopause. I was NOT menopausal (still had periods every month on a regular 23-24 day cycle) before chemo. I had my last period a week after chemo #1, no sign of it since, having hot flashes and night sweats. She will start me on Tamoxifen, and assuming the periods stay gone will do the ?FSH? test in 6 months to a year and then do the switch. The Gtown onc said they do a half/half thing (2.5 yrs on Tamoxifen, 2.5 on an AI) for women who are like me, close to menopause age but not in menopause at the start of treatement. I would think (now just MHO) that you would want the definitive answer about whether you are in menopause or not before doing an ooph??? I'm pretty confused about this ooph thing myself, but haven't asked either team...Leigh
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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited August 2006
    I will probably start tamoxifen when I see the regular onc next, which is Sept. 12th I think. I finish rad the day before that lol. I was going to ask him about an ooph also becuase I have always had problems with cysts on the darn things, and them bleeding inside of me. If he says they come out, I am so there to get it done.

    My last period started the day before my first chemo. geeze. And I haven't had one since. I also get hot flashes, and the whole deal, but I'm only 38... ok almost 39. I guess I wait until this radiation thing is over to find out what come next.

    Paula
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2006
    Hi everyone! I just came back from my final TAC, hooray! I am feeling queasy at the moment and am waiting for the compazine to start working its magic. I could not get out of there fast enough today. My doc is starting me on Tamoxifen because my periods stopped during my first chemo round, so he can't consider me menopausal. I asked him about getting a hysterectomy and he said it was absolutely not necessary, whereas it seems on the boards that other ladies are being told differently. I see the rads people in three weeks for my "simulation" and then start that whole deal. If I didn't feel so nauseaus at the moment, I would be jumping for joy that the chemo is finally over ...
    Hugs to all, Brigitte
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  • slanderson
    slanderson Member Posts: 152
    edited August 2006
    Yea! for you!!! So glad for you to be finished. Don't worry too much about radiation. For me, compared to Chemo, it was such a piece of cake. Really!

    Congratulations!!

    Shannon
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2006
    Congratulations!! I didn't really start getting interested in the fact that I was done with treatment until a little over a week later (yesterday, actually). I'm starting to look more forward and less back. I'm starting to get some of my music students back. I had given them the summer off.

    My onc hasn't made up his mind what he wants me to use for hormone therapy. Since I'm older (51), but I was still having periods when this all started he's not sure if I'm pre or post, yet. He wants to do a blood test to see where I am.

    Jackie
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  • JackieSue
    JackieSue Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2006
    Darlene,

    How you doing? Is your mouth feeling better? Did you have you treatment this week?

    Jackie
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  • fd411
    fd411 Member Posts: 398
    edited August 2006
    Congratulations Brigitte!

    I bet you are so glad to be done with it. One more TAC for me on the 31st, then lumpectomy.

    Cheers to you, and I hope rads is a much easier journey for you.

    Ferne
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2006
    Thanks everyone! Now that my tummy is feeling better, I am feeling truly grateful that the chemo ordeal is nearly over .. just have to hang in and deal with the fatigue, sore stomach,etc for the next couple of weeks. Each round knocks me down a bit more so I'm expecting that again with this one; I'm hoping that psychologically knowing that I am not facing another round will help me bounce back quicker, but expectations are dangerous things so we'll just see what happens.
    Have a great night everyone!
    Brigitte
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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited August 2006

    Hi Karen Burns - I've been on Arimidex for 4 weeks now - had a shot of Lupron the day I started. I was perimenopausal before BC. No periods since I started chemo in March. BUt to be on AI's you need to be in menopause, and just because no periods after chemo, it could just be chemopause!!. My onc said that some people get their periods back. He didn't think I would due to my age (50) and being perimenopausal before all this. My onc also wants my ovaries out- gyn wants to do a complete hysterectomy (eliminate any risk of any other female cancer- he wants to do it abdominally to get a "look/feel") - and onc is in agreement (so am I). Will have surgery mid to late october. I could cont to take the lupron shots every 3 months, but I've opted for the surgery for the added protection. I want to do whatever I can to not venture downt his chemo road ever again (and I know there are no guarantees, but I am scared if I don't do everything). I started on the Arimidex 3 weeks post chemo. Achy bones and joints, and some "flashes" but so far its all been manageable. I try to walk before work in the morning for 15-20 min and then hubby and I walk for 1/2 hour every night. I wasn't offered a study, so can't help there. I was?am in a study for the chemo. Keep feeling good.

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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited August 2006
    Hurrah! Another TACer over and odne. Great stuff Brigette. NOw to rest and get over the effects.

    Jeannette
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited August 2006
    Congrats to Brigitte!
    Glad to get home and get on the board to see all of the replies! #5 radiation tomorrow. I go next Tuesday for my 2nd herceptin treatment. The benadryl kicked my butt last time so I am worried about how I will manage to go to work that day, but I guess I don't have a choice. I have vacation time but they said that I cannot use any of them for 2 weeks since I just started back to work!
    Off to bed I go!
    Take Care,
    Mindy
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  • DATO
    DATO Member Posts: 127
    edited August 2006
    Hi ladies,

    I'm half way done! That seems like such a milestone. I remember when I first found this thread, before the start of my chemo, and it seems like I had such a long a scary journey ahead of me, but with your help I am now half way through!

    I was getting cold sweats and nausea 3 days after my chemo. I was taking 2 decadron twice a day the day before, the day of, and the day after my chemo, then quitting. My onc now has me tapering off the decadron, taking an additional 1 twice a day for 2 days , then 1 once a day for 2 days. So far it has worked and I haven't had the sweats and nausea.

    My prechemo blood work showed that my liver enzymes were elevated this round. I am hoping that it was just from the antibiotics and vicodin I was taking for my abcessed tooth last week. I have been good this week drinking lots of water and eating protein.

    Most of my hair is gone. I haven't shaved because I am curious about when the rest will go; it is going gradually. I still have eyebrows, but the gaps in the eyelashes are getting bigger. I go hatless at work and at home. I just wear a hat outside to protect my head from the sun. I haven't shaved arms or legs in over a month and it is so nice.

    I'm in the get-a-hysterectomy group. Maybe it is because my mom died of ovarian cancer, but my ob-gyn recommended it and I'm following her advice. I'll schedule that after the rads. Like someone said previously, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I never have to deal with this again!

    Darlene
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  • NewGE
    NewGE Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2006
    Hello everyone!
    Just wondering if anyone has the same situation as to what I am having right now. It's my 17th day from my 1st TAC treatment, and I feel I have a flu (fever 99.2oF). Is this normal? I was feeling normal from day 10 until day 15. I'm afraid that my wbc count is becoming low again. My day 5, I went down to .7. Isn't the neulasta would boost my wbc until the next round? Please let me know what to do. Many thanks.
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2006
    Maybe you are still experiencing an aftereffect of the neulesta, which is known to bring on flu like symptoms for some ladies (I didn't have that happen but it does seem pretty common). Call your doctor and see what they think!
    I'm wondering if I should call my ob/gyn to discuss possibly hysterectomy, but my onc says it's not necessary; he just wants me on the tamoxifen. Is there a thread where I can discuss this or find out more? thanks ladies!
    Brigitte
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