Starting Chemo in March 2014

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  • WifeWBC
    WifeWBC Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2014

    cool pic sinsin.  It's a nice feeling to be done chemo.

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  • cmp106
    cmp106 Member Posts: 48
    edited July 2014

    WifeWBC- I'm still going through chemo but I've heard the leg fatigue (which I'm starting to experience) can develop/worsen even after chemo ends before it starts getting better. Hopefully your wife's fatigue makes a turn for the better, soon. 

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2014

    WifeWBC, I haven't started the Tamoxifen yet but I hear that some ladies really struggle with it and it can (not to say that it certainly will) cause emotional ups and downs. Something to consider.

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2014

    WifeWBC,

    Is it the muscles in her legs that hurt? My legs have been hurting for about 5 days now. It's the muscles. They constantly feel like I just started working out weight lifting.(like that would ever happen) My arm muscles feel like that as well. Since I haven't started hormone tx or rads yet I think it must be from the chemo even though I've been done for a little over 4 weeks. Is everybody else starting hormone tx right after chemo? My MO doesn't want to start it untill I'm done with all my tx. Still need another lumpectomy to clean up margins then rads for 6 wks. So my hormone tx will not start untill November. I hope we're not waiting too long. Wendy

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited July 2014

    Wendy you are on the same schedule I was on last year.  Diagnosed first week in February and started Hormones in November following rads.  I don't think it is too long.  

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2014

    Generation, I have been done with chemo for two weeks now and I still have sore leg muscles. I did my boot camp DVD for the first time since my diagnosis and I thought I was going to kill myself. LOL Awoke this morning with pain in my legs, butt and back so I did yoga today. It hurt at first but it soon worked the acid out of my muscles and though I'm still sore, I don't hurt. So hang and there and maybe try yoga. I definitely don't recommend boot camp. 

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2014

    jbdayton thanks so much for your response. That makes me feel much better. Hope you sre doing well, and thanks for checking this thread. Sinsin, thanks to you also for the info. I'm trying to work out as much as possible without overdoing it yet. Congrats on finishing chemo!!! Wendy

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2014

    Was wondering why my legs feel like they weigh a hundred pounds each, then I read the posts here about leg and muscle pain. I have only been done chemo for 10 days, no rads for me and hormone therapy hasn't started. So must be after effects of chemo?

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited August 2014

    Yes, chemo side effects can last up to 6 weeks and somethings, possibly longer. :(

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2014

    It's not fair, like most of this crap we deal with!

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  • heroldman
    heroldman Member Posts: 22
    edited August 2014

    Good to hear that you are done with the chemo Alli. Hopefully the SE's you and everyone else are having will quickly fade away. My wife is done with her rads and has been cleared by the RO to meet with the MO about getting the Taxol started. If her blood work is O.K. the Taxol will start 8-14. Her hair has grown about a half of a inch but I guess it will go away again. Compared to everything else this is not a real big deal but her hair came back a totally different color. It will be interesting to see what color will show up next time.

    Sending good wishes to everyone. 

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  • lgoldie
    lgoldie Member Posts: 120
    edited August 2014

    Completed chemo (had to skip last one due to peripheral neuropathy).   Will be done with whole breast radiation tomorrow and boosts next week.  Then done.  I think I have PTSD from all of this and just since 1-1-14   Does anyone else feel that way?


     

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  • cmp106
    cmp106 Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2014

    lgoldie- I definitely feel that way and I haven't even started Rads yet. I'm just plain exhausted. 

    Heroldman- just curious, was your wife's chemo treatments split up where she she did radiation in between? I remember she was on chemo and then read she was doing rads and assumed she was through with chemo. Sounds like she still has taxol to go. Hoping she has minimal side effects on the Taxol. I just completed 12 rounds of weekly taxol and will start rads at end of August. I found the weekly Taxol to be easier than my DD AC but started to noticed side effects after treatment #7 or #8 that continued to build up to the end. I just finished #12 on Monday. Good luck! 

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  • heroldman
    heroldman Member Posts: 22
    edited August 2014

    Igoldie. All of this is so stressful. I am sure feeling like you do is normal. I am even feeling that way.

    cmp106. My wife did have the rads split her chemo treatments. Something that may have confused you is the fact that when I did her treatment profile her taxol treatment got marked as private so it did not show on my posts. I did not notice this for a long time! I blame my stupid computer. This had to be computer error since I am not a moron. : )

    Thank you for your kind thoughts. She is so very tired from the rads. This is so hard for her since she is a type A+ personality. I have read about the taxol SE's and am nervous. I do know that they are going to take their time with the infusion. We were told to plan for 5 hrs or more.

    So you are starting your rads in a few weeks.  Hopefully your rad SE's will be minor.

    Good luck to all.


     

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2014

    I am just under 3 weeks out from my last chemo, is it normal to still have some nausea? Feeling pretty icky today. I see my MO tomorrow,he'll probably give me my Tamoxifen prescription and the go ahead for my surgeries. 

    Hope everyone is doing okay :)

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2014

    Alli,

    I'm almost 7 weeks out from chemo and twice this last week I had slight nausea. Not enough to take any meds but enough to make me feel icky too. Hope your appt went well today. I just had my surgey to clean up my margins this AM. Am feeling really good right now. I skipped the ALND part in favor of radiation to the nodes instead. There is supposed to be less chance of lymphedema that way. Hope you're feeling better.  Wendy

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited August 2014

    Yeah, those nasty chemo side effects can still rear their ugly head even post chemo, neuropathy especially. I awoke yesterday so fatigued it was as if I was back on the rough chemo. It was nucking futs!

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2014

    Well, I went in to my appointment yesterday expecting one thing and came out with a completely different scenario. My MO, who is German, mumbled something about radiation and I was like, wait, what? We talked about this at least twice, that I should be okay without it, I had ALND, chemo and will have hormones for 5 years. Now he wants me to talk to the radiation Oncologist. It is still my decision, he said he supports me either way. I will talk to them on Tuesday and my plastic surgeon. I felt like e rug was pulled out from under me! Sign, another decision, one that I thought I had already made....

    Still getting the nausea, MO said it could take 3-6 months to get back to normal, yippee. 

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited August 2014

    Sorry Alli! But atleast here the RO out. It is my understanding that if there is any lymph node involvement then rads is a must. 

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited August 2014

    I've been done with chemo since 8/4...   my teeth hurt - like the enamel is wearing away - like I might jump out of my skin if something cold hits them.  Anyone else experience this?

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  • Xrayalli
    Xrayalli Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2014

    Sinsin- radiation is an anatomical treatment, like surgery, and since my tumor was small, and I only had one out of 19 nodes involved, radiation will serve me no purpose. The placement of the tumor also plays a part, mine was not near the chest wall. So I was pretty happy with this news....:)

    Jen- not sure about the teeth except I think they can become more sensitive with chemo, just looks like yours is acting up late, that kind of stinks!  I just made an appointment today since I had to cancel my last cleaning since it was during my chemo. 

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited August 2014

    Is anyone having tumor markers monitored?  My doc called yesterday to say that my ca27-29 is a little high (46, should be under 30 or 38 depending what you read) and I needed to go get it re-checked.  Everything I'm reading says this is an unreliable measure for all but stage IV patients...  I'm confused then why my doc is doing it.  

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  • Macintx
    Macintx Member Posts: 118
    edited August 2014

    Jen, my teeth became very sensitive towards the end of chemo too.  I switched to a "sensitive" toothpaste (I think it was Colgate brand since Sensodyne costs way more and had the exact same ingredients) and it helped a lot.   I'm almost 3 months pfc and they are only slightly sensitive now, like only if I eat ice cream.  It just takes a while to settle down. 

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited August 2014

    Jen, about 2-3 weeks post chemo my teeth got very sensitive to cold. Both upper and lower back teeth. Very bad ache that hurt sooooo bad. Thankfully, it only lasted for about a week. Hopefully yours will go away soon. Wendy

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  • Sinsin
    Sinsin Member Posts: 358
    edited August 2014

    Jenwith4kid, my MO checked mine a few times. It's not a precise or clear means of checking progress but it can be somewhat indicative. If it's high then that usually indicates active cancer but not a guarantee and you can have normal range and still have active cancer as well. I think they basically use tumor markers as a guide line more than anything. And as to the teeth, yes chemo can do that and make them sensitive. Mine became that way at the end of chemo and last a few weeks. Hope it goes away soon for you!

    Everyone, I hope you have a nice and side effect free holiday weekend!

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  • cmp106
    cmp106 Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2014

    Jen- my teeth were definitely more sensitive during chemo. Mostly on the taxol. I used biotene toothpaste since it was more gentle. Also, my MO doesn't do the tumor marker testing, I think for the reason you mentioned...not necessarily a good indicator for early stage. 

    How radiation going? My times for last week and this coming week are 11:30, so several hours after you. 

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited August 2014

    my teeth are driving me crazy! The sensitivity as well as a toothache that ive had intermittently over the years.  And I cant take ibuprofen because I have surgery coming up.  Boohoo me.

    Radiation starts a week from tomorrow. 

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2014

    Hi Ladies, ovaries are out!  Surgery was this am, was home by 1:00.  I'm a little sore - taking Percocet, but I think I could probably make do with Advil - will switch tomorrow. (But my teeth didn't hurt today!)

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  • Generation3
    Generation3 Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2014

    Glad your teeth are better and hoping you remain relatively comfortable from  the surgery.  Make sure you take the pain meds if you need them. You've been through enough and don't need pain that can be controlled. Have a good day.

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  • Macintx
    Macintx Member Posts: 118
    edited September 2014

    Jen, did you have to do bowel prep for your surgery?  I've heard some doctors make you do the same prep as a colonoscopy the night before.  I am having mine out in October, and my gyno didn't mention it, but I didn't ask either.  Just wondering.

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