Chemo in May 2014

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  • nancybel
    nancybel Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2014

    I met with my RO and she recommended no Rads for me due to no node involvement and the MX.  I'm so happy about that but of course still worry if I'm doing enough. For me the benefits of doing Rads were not enough to do them.  I have one more TX to go on Monday and hope all goes well.  the fatigue has lingered this time around.  

    LeSpring, I know it's a difficult decision, but after making it there is some sort of relief in knowing you've made a decision. :)  Good luck to all

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  • Missyjean
    Missyjean Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2014

    JKLB -I went to see the NP before my chemo treatment for labs/ check-up and I asked for one last expander fill before my radiation sim scheduled for the next day.  She was having trouble finding the port even though I told her where it is generally. She went WAY to low, as in about on my MX scar and punctured the expander. Saline came squirting out. She paged PS but she said there was nothing to do except replace it which doesn't make sense at this point. I was so mad. It did deflate some but not all the way yet so hopefully I won't be too lopsided until I get reconstruction in December.  The PS said this practitioner does fills all the time and doesn't understand what happened. In the grand scheme of things I know it's not a big deal but right after getting chemo, feeling crappy and being so fatigued, I had myself a big pity party about it. 

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    Lespring - smart move!

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  • JKLB
    JKLB Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2014

    Nancybel - I would have had a pity party too!  I also have my last TX on Monday.  I am with you on the fatigue.  My arms and legs feel like they weigh a ton.  Very strange felling.  I am much more tired.  Ready to get this over with and move on to Radiation. 

    Lespring - You will Survive and Thrive!  Thank you for all your help through this journey!

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  • JKLB
    JKLB Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2014


    Debiann - forgot to weigh in on the work situation.  I am blessed that I have been with my employer for 16 years and have banked sick leave to keep my paycheck whole while taking short term disability.  It was a difficult decision to leave my work for 5 months, but it was the right one.  It amazes me that so many continue to work, usually because they have to.  Certainly, my decision to step away from work, has played a significant factor in my lack of bad side effects.  My job is extremely stressful.  If I had that to contend with work while going through this, there is no doubt my body would be reacting differently.  Also, I would have been letting my projects and team down with my lack of focus and productivity.   In fact, I feel strongly that the stess of my job contributed to my getting this disease.  Not sure what I'm going to do about it.  You gotta make a paycheck.

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited July 2014

    So happy for those finishing up, 2 more tx for me, can't wait to get this over with. I'm with you on the fatigue, a weird tiredness you just can't explain to others. If I'm sitting I don't feel too bad , but can't do much standing. No energy even for the necessities like paying the bills. Don't even enjoy reading, which is usually my favorite thing to do. Both the brain and body are on strike. 

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    As far as work for me, I sell homes for a major builder, so it is commission only. I have spent the last four years building up my Realtor base and they call me directly when they have buyers. I've been blessed that my new boss has just told me to come in when I can and stay home when I can't. I also have a work partner that has been a life saver. If I took a leave of absence, I could end up losing most if not all of my commission on sales I worked months ago. 

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    Two more days until me last TX. I cannot wait to be done! Going to try doing this one without the Neulasta shot since I am sure it is of the devil. LOL I would rather land in the hospital for a couple of days than deal with the bone pain and other side effects I get from it. 

    Today I scheduled to meet with my surgeon and plastic surgeon to here what they have to say about me having a mastectomy and reconstruction. I also meet with the geneticist on Monday when I'm still a bit down from chemo. Thankfully my husband can go with me for that. If not I'll be turning my recorder on because I won't remember anything. 

    I'm anxious for my hair to start growing back. I want to know what kind of hair I'm getting. LOL

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    lespring - You're completely done? I'm jealous! I have 2 more months of this with the Taxol infusions (4 treatments). Then rads....ugh.

    I need to look on the bright side, no more A/C. That stuff's the worst!

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    Well, I'm supposed to be starting Rads around the middle of August, but I'm waiting for my genetic testing to come back. If I decide to do a mastectomy I want to do it to healthy, unradiated skin. 

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    That makes total sense. I hate this TE, the fill is going into my numb armpit and I have one more fill to do. Lucky you you didn't have to have the Aux. Node dissection. It's all my fault though, could kick myself, but it is what it is. 

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited July 2014

    Why are you blaming yourself for the ALND homemom? 

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    ALND?? debiann I felt a lump 2.5 years ago and went on the response of my doctor's physical exam that it was fibroid cystic. I allowed work to keep me from going back and getting the mammogram. I'd most likely not even be going through chemo if I had just gone back!  It's all good, I've forgiven myself..... most days anyway!

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited July 2014

    ALND=aux lymph node dissection, I think, or I'm now making up my own abbreviations, lol. I'm in your boat too, we have to stop blaming ourselves. I always had clear mammos, so when I got really busy at work at we had the winter from hell here in the northeast I didn't think twice about being 6months late for my checkup. I started to have nerve pain, couldn't feel a lump, but quickly scheduled a mammo, and BAM there it was.  So I kicked myself in the ass because it could have been caught sooner, but the tech reminded me that perhaps it would not have shown up earlier, so it was good it I was late. Lots of tumors are missed on mammo, may not have made a difference if you had gone earlier.

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    debiann - Ahhh that  makes sense. I'm not up on the acronyms they use here. I probably should take a minute and check that thread. My doc told me essentially the same thing. They don't' know how it starts and I don't know that it would have been any different. Mine is a non aggressive slow moving cancer and it could have been the same issue. No lymph nodes for you, that is fantastic!

    I have told me self over and over that I still caught it fairly early (per my RO) and it's good I didn't wait any longer.

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited July 2014

    No lymph nodes but I won the her2+ lottery and the bonus prize of a year of herceptin. ARE WE HAVING FUN YET GIRLS?

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  • HomeMom
    HomeMom Member Posts: 1,198
    edited July 2014

    Yeah, I have met a woman who went through the same thing 7 years ago. She still takes the hormone blocker so she can have a glass of wine!

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    DONE!!!! Last chemo done! Here is me, looking like Alfred Hitchcock in my prayer quilt. HomeMom, I had 3 nodes removed but thats it. My armpit and the underside of my arm to my elbow are still numb. Glad I don't have to shave right now because it feels really odd!!! My oncologist agreed to let me go without the evil Neulasta shot this time, a bit reluctantly because I run fevers with ever round. Now if I get a fever of 100 I have to call. (normally its 100.8) and not wait to see of fever reducers work. I would rather end up in the hospital a day or so than deal with the side effects of that shot! MO said about 10% of people have severe reactions to the shot no matter what they do (take claritin, etc.)  and I'm just one of them. I toughed it out for 3 rounds and don't want to do it again.

    image

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited July 2014

    Yay lespring I am so very happy for you! 

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  • Lakegirl1
    Lakegirl1 Member Posts: 316
    edited July 2014

    Lespring...Congrats!!!  You made it!!!  I have my last one tomorrow!!!!  I am ready to move on to the next step!

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  • Missyjean
    Missyjean Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2014

    Yay lespring!! Lots of us are finishing up!!! Hopefully for those of us going on to rads, it will be much easier. Chemo was just mean😷 Good luck tomorrow lakegirl!!!

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  • nancybel
    nancybel Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2014

    Congrats Lespring!  The fatigue has been much more difficult this time around.  Not sure if it's cause I know it's the last one or or it just finally caught up to me.  Either way, yay for no more chemo!

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  • Lakegirl1
    Lakegirl1 Member Posts: 316
    edited July 2014

    You can put this in the books, last chemo is DONE!!!  Lespring, we did it!!!  

    Now, we grow hair!!!!  

    Fortunately, I didn't loose it all!!  MO and his RN's are very surprised and just want to touch it when I go in!!!  

    image

    I feel like that baby with the crazy hair that stands on end.  Cute on a baby, not so much on an almost 44 year old!!!  LOL!!!

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    ROLF Lakegirl1!!!! Reminds me a bit of a baby chick, which is better than the Alfred Hichcock look I have going on. I have a ton of very stiff spiky hairs poking through. They're all white, of course.

    My good friend IRL is 2 months ahead of me. I saw her on Tuesday and she said it was the first day she could say the chemo fog had truly lifted. I know my family will be happy mine is gone, as well as me being done with steroids! 

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  • writinghelps
    writinghelps Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2014


    Hi All,

     

    I haven't posted in a while. I don't think I have anyway. I am definitely experience some brain farts after round #3. But I've been keeping up with all the posts.

    Like clockwork (day 10 ish)  the rash on my face is back. I'm convinced it's from Taxotere. I am not sure why I think this, just a gut feeling. At my last appt the NP said it's hard to tell with rashes what cause them. But because my doc thought that the steroid caused it the first round she must have had that in her head and cut back on the post dose. Well that didn't help at all.

    So today I called the on call doc. I didn't want to at first because I knew they were just going to tell me to go to the ER (which I don't think it's that bad yet and I kind of hope it will go away because I've read a few others experinces that suggest it will). And he did suggest I go to the ER to have it looked at before prescribing anything.   I told him it's not too bad yet, could I wait and watch and hopefully hold out until Monday to be seen. He said sure and said I can take benedryl. I forgot to tell him I was also still taking Claritin and could I take them both.

    I saw a new RO Friday. My old RO was an hour away and I can't drive that 5 days a week for six weeks. I was kinda hoping he'd say no rads since i am considered to be in a gray area by some with just one positive node but he didn't. So unless this rash messes with my next round, I'll have that round (My LAST!) on the 29th, and rads will start in Sept.

     

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    Two more days to get through the worst of the side effects. Barely holding on. Running a temp tonight so will need to go in since I didn't get that neulasta shot. I should know by now when I start feeling weepy to take my temp. Couple more days and life will turn around and chemo will be behind me. Right?????

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    Oh, and my eyebrows fell out. I am officially hairless. 

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  • JKLB
    JKLB Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2014

    Lespring - Right!  It will all be over soon!  Now I am sad to hear about your eyebrows.  I just had my last chemo earlier today.  I still have some brows and eyelashes.  I was hoping maybe they would stay....oh well.  Again - I means the poison is working.  If it is killing hairs, it is killing cancer.  So we should celebrate!

    I was weepy last night with anxiety about this last one going poorly after the other three going so well.  Not so far.  It went very well...no nasty side effects....yet.  Now I am weepy with thankfulness.

    For those of us moving on to radiation:  Do you plan to stay on this discussion board or will you move to one specific to radiation?  It would be nice for us to stay together.  I will have my SIM on August 4th and likely start radition August 11.

    Lots of Congrats to go around to those that are finishing chemo.  I am so proud of all of you for sticking it out and getting it done!  I am blessed to be in your company!

    Joy

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  • writinghelps
    writinghelps Member Posts: 88
    edited July 2014


    lespring, I've been wondering how you are doing without Nuelasta. Besides the fever is it much different?

    I saw the NP yesterday about my face rash and she said I could skip the Nuelasta for the last round. Although I don't think the Nuelasta is what caused the rash, I think it's the Taxotere. Anyway, the Nuelasta shot is being shipped to my house and i'll cancel it if they nixing it. However, what will the rash do without it? I'm thinking it will help the rash not move to the stage where I looked like an Orc. And I hate to have the shot delivered and then not use it. Although I've reached the catastrophic deductible with my insurance and now I have no co pay, so it's not costing me anything. I jokingly asked the NP if I could sell it on the street. She plugged her ears and was like "la, la, la, la". But seriously, if I could do that, I could pay off all my medical bills, it's like a 9K - 11K drug!. I wonder if I could donate it to an organization if I don't use it?

    JKLB, I scheduled my sim for late August and will start rads in September. I wanted the month of August off. I'll stick around here but will also join the Fall rads board when someone starts it (I don't want to be that person).

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  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 464
    edited July 2014

    I just got a copy of my bill for the first time yesterday. The Neulasta shot is billed at $8,623. Cancer is where the money is, apparently! 

    My counts tanked last night and I ended up in the ER. 500 gets a ticket to admissions. I'm at 800. Waiting for my clinic to call me back to tell me what I'm going to do. I've been waiting for 2 hours. Oh, and the nurse who de-accessed my port last night didn't flush it with heparin after, so I need to go in to make sure it didn't clot. 

    How do I feel without the neulasta? I'm still really fatigued, and there is *some* achiness in my bones but I think because I've been running fevers. Other than that I feel MUCH better than when on the Neulasta.

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