Starting Chemo June 2014

Agent - call your dr, - dont wait, - there are things to take, - perhaps a suppository would help if you are unable to keep down the anti-nausea pills!!

I hope that you feel better SOON!!

oh agent99

That is terrible. I hope it settles and you get some relief. Not fair at all!

Thanks for the tip Canuck.  I have wondered about putting lotion on my head.  My hair is slowly growing now!  I was afraid to do anything with it for fear of it falling out or causing ingrown hairs.  I'm going to the look good feel good class Monday.  I need some serious help with my eyebrows!!   I'm Super blonde so they were light to begin with.  How in the world am I supposed to color them in!?!  The good news...my lashes are also growing back in.  The bad news...I hear that I'll lose them again.  

Agent99, I hope you start feeling better real soon.  

Basia, I'm sorry you heard that news today.  This disease sure does suck!  There is a lady on here (Jeninmichigan) who was diagnosed stage IV Her2+ from the beginning.  She has been on Herceptin every 3 weeks since 2008.  Maybe you could talk to her about her side effects and QOL being on it for so long.  The good news was that she was NED after 3 cycles of chemo.  Oh, and I would seek a second opinion at some point.  

Hey ladies! Sorry I've been MIA for the better part of a month. I just kind of felt the need to step away from it all and take a break from being so consumed with the whole cancer thing. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I guess I just needed a breather, for lack of a better term. 

Taxol #2 went much better than #1, thank goodness! The morning of chemo I looked at my boyfriend and said, "Can we just not go and say we did?' That's how much I didn't want to go through that again. Voiced my concerns with MO and he lowered my dose a bit and then gave me an oral steroid in case the pains were bad again. Took the steroids for about 2 days - they had me so wired I was up until 4 or 5 am and caused major stomach issues. Going forward those will be a last resort only!  Taxol #3 is tomorrow, and my 4th and final is 9/25. Can't wait to ring the bell!

Met with my surgeon yesterday. He said that from my physical exam, he would classify me as having a complete clinical response. Of course the complete pathological response is what I'm hoping for once we get into surgery. Since there appears to be nothing left, I'm opting for an LX vs an MX. I've done a lot of thinking and soul searching about it, and based on the research I've seen, there is no research that supports a better outcome in choosing an MX, since I'll be having radiation, as well.I don't have a family history, my BRCAs were both negative. The only wild card is the Triple Neg. I figure if it comes back, then there is something left to remove. I hope I've made the right decision, but the other thing I've come to realize, is it's pretty much a crap shoot.

Radical & Agent - hope you're both feeling better! Basia, I'm so sorry to hear your news, that's so not fair!.  

got my first dose of weekly taxol today. So far so good.

I only got 80% because my neutrophils are only at 1.16. Also my liver enzymes are slightly elevated. I asked why my liver enzymes would be up and she said probably from the AC. Cyclophosphamide taxes the liver. Great!

ugh, Basia I am so sorry to hear your news. I hope you do get a second opinion, and you are right you have time to discuss/investigate/research. The good news for all of us is that there are always advancements in treatments. Sure thinking about you.

Kimmy, good to hear Taxol 2 was better. You had a tough decision...I went for the mx, not that I had a choice. 

Agent I hope you are better!

Canuck,

Sounds like we both drop our counts late! Hoping that isn't the case with taxol. Everything went smoothly with the infusion. So far so good. Knock on wood!

Canuck - it never ceases to amaze me that you've managed all these rounds of chemo with an IV. I don't know what I would do without my port! When I had my port insertion surgery, it took 6 pokes to get an IV going, not including the lidocaine shots. I looked like a crack head for almost 2 weeks with all the bruising on my hands, wrists, and arms. I'm more nervous about the IV insertion before my surgery than I am the actual LX! 

Canuck, beautiful as ever.

I just got an oven mitt looking night arm sleeve for lymphedema prevention during radiation - it's hilarious looking. Doing my massage as well, my lymphedema therapist taught me so much about the lymph system and what to do to prevent (including measuring techniques) - I haven't had any symptoms but glad to have the knowledge. My grandmother had an "elephant" arm, but she had surgery in the 40's and they took everything, quality of care back then. I fear the lymphedema!

Hey, I just washed the windows outside and did some yard work and I feel great! There is light and energy at the end of the tunnel ladies! Honestly, the last part of this week at work I was getting shit done and felt normal. 2 1/2 weeks PFC, bring on rads so I can put this behind me and concentrate on feeling like my old self.

I too have constant watery eyes and a runny nose (because I don't have any nose hair to hold it in!).  I also have had sore fingernails and feet - to the point I couldn't play guitar.  I developed weird watery blisters on my hands, knees and feet (and crotch - all you diaper rash people - I had to get Desitin).  The Onc was concerned that it may be the beginning of an allergic reaction to the Herceptin but they go away.  Each day is a different SE!  My face has broken out twice but not as bad as it did when I started Chemo.  I go for my 5th treatment tomorrow.  It now takes me about 1.5 weeks to recover from the effects - sour stomach, constipation to diarrhea, bad vision, blisters/pain, bone pain from Neulasta, ashtray mouth, fatigue, and anxiety (this really ramps up).  I also have tree trunks for legs.  I have REALLY lost my ability to bike ride and run - my thighs are rocks and they seize up when I get active.  I've tried stretching  etc to no avail.  I have a bike on a trainer indoors and the last time I tried, I was able to do 5 minutes on it in 30 second spurts - WTF!  It used to be nothing to put a movie in and ride for an hour.  BUT....only two treatments left!!!  Hang in there everyone!

Agent99 I hope you are feeling better now.. and that you called your center.

Canuck, beautiful as always.. and I cant imagine getting chemo all those times without a port. 

Basia, I am so sorry about your news. I can't imagine how you are feeling!

Bow1965 when do you start Rads?  I think I will start November, my last TCH is October 2nd. My head looks about the same as yours too.. a little fuzz grows for a few days, then falls out again..lol

Kimmy, I had a lumpectomy..I am happy with my choice, it was the right one for me.. I was told the same as you pretty much.  I sometimes have to step away too ..I feel like my life is consumed by cancer .

Islandmama2 My liver enzymes were elevated too.. my counts are low, but just enough to still get chemo, yay for the neulasta shot.

Got my Muga scan scheduled for the 23rd YAY.

Islandmama2 yep, my onc said the same, he wasn't overly concerned about it at all. It's worrying for us when we see these things flagged,  but then our oncs don't even bat an eyelid..lol

Bow1965 I am nervous too.. I guess because it's a whole new world we are entering. I did some research on my cancer centers website, but still have a bunch of questions..lol  Did you get tattoos?  Will be thinking of you Tuesday!!!

sugar,

Your nails should grow out...you'll be fine!

I did my second to last Taxol today and now I'm waiting for my se's too. Hate that...knowing they're coming. My last will be on the 30th. I'm starting to get excited!