Starting Chemo October 2014

Mary-jo, congrats on getting through the 1st taxol. Hope it continues to go well.

October starters, you have been very quiet. Maybe some have finished? Would love to hear about any bell ringing.

I don't know about others, but I have found the holidays to be a very welcome distraction. I am hoping this phase of treatment is over just before Christmas, and even if I feel crummy on Christmas Day, can curl up on the sofa surrounded by the tree and decorations and a few friends. (Only wish I could partake of the eggnog!)

We also celebrate Hanukkah, so will be lighting the menorah tonight. Beautiful.

Hope those w bad se's are feeling better, and every one is getting safely through this chemo journey. Hugs.

I have treatment #4 on 12/26 so I'm just going for weekly blood work right now.  My white count was really good this past Friday.  He said it was actually in the normal range.  My PT/INR level though for my blood clotting however, was not good.  It was too low.  He upped my meds for two days then back to normal and I get an extra blood work check tomorrow.  Then again on Friday.

All in all, I can't complain.

Finished #12 Taxol/herceptin n today! Thrilled to be done with Taxol! Now just Herceptin every three weeks for the remainder of a year. (Next Sept-Oct).

Friday I have my radiation consult. I had an accident a week after my lumpectomy and they replaced my left shoulder. I now however, cannot put my arm over my head! Should be interesting to hear my options.

Still have a bloodclot in my jugular. The MO said I may have to see a vascular surgeon. 😒

Hope everyone has a magical Holiday and a Healthy New Year!!

Nancy

Hi everyone,

I finished AC and Cytoxane in November!! Yeah so glad to have behind me. I started out December with Taxol and Carboplatin which had me nervous and I slept the whole weekend! I just had Taxol last Friday and I am feeling good which I hope stays that way thru the holidays. Only 10 more Taxol treatments and 3 Carboplatin's left. I know we will all be glad to have behind us!

Toby - I have 8 treatments of CMF in total.  12/26 will be my half way mark.  I jokingly said we should have a half way party!  Too bad, I wouldn't feel much like celebrating with a party.  Maybe a movie marathon at home with the family!

Nancy - I am sorry to hear about the blood clots.  I know the pain and fear you are experiencing as I had my own bout with blood clots.  I had one in the jugular and one under my arm.  I am still amazed at how painful they were.  Mine have resolved, but my Coumadin level is still up and down.  Trying to get it under control is a challenge.

I just finished my last chemo on December 3, 2014 and go to see the radiation doctor in two days. Assuming I will start January 5, 2015.

Starting to take vitamins once again with iron to help with my blood count. Just went to Plastic Surgeon today and am at 450 cc's so will go back to him

a month after finishing the radiation. Continue to go to oncologist every month now. Getting other breast checked also with breast surgeon.

It seems like it will never end. I just want to wake up in the morning and feel like I am not tired. Well can't give up now.

Everyone enjoy your holidays.

llovecoasters, do not be disheartened, doctors look at the numbers and percentages in their field because of the science but science does not account for it all. Think of 25% as a number given out not a determinant of what is to be, just keep living everyday. I pray that your appetite and tummy are kinder so that you will stop losing weight, as I seem to be going in the other direction with my stomach issues and weight I can only assume at some point it all evens out. At this point I would love to sit here at my desk without burping every 5 seconds to a burning throat which feels like I have a tree trunk in it, but I know this too shall pass.

In a year from now these will be conversations that we use to have and it will be something different. Focus on the destination and not so much the journey, we are getting there.

I've been taking Prilosec for heartburn and it has been life changing.

BookLady - goo luck on chemo today!  Your idea for a small celebration on your 12/23 infusion sounds really fun.  I really do enjoy talking with the women and men that are on my chemo cycle.  I may bring in some cookies on my 12/26 infusion.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to combat fatigue?  I just an sooooooooo tired all of the time.  I wake up tired and sometimes have to lay my head on my desk at work for a few minutes.  I know it is chemo related and will go away in time once my infusions are done. 

Does anyone else get up a dozen times a night to go to the bathroom? It doesn't matter if I drink after 9 pm or not. I am up about every 45 minutes, and then I get these hot flashes that start at my head and just engulf me when I am sleeping. My poor husband is huddled under the electric blanket about to freeze while I have the ceiling fan going and covers thrown all over the bed. This has become a nightly ritual.

Along with that I have a rash around my port,  and a small wire protruding from my neck in which the online nurse believes is a suture that has come through. Since none of it seems life threatening we will address it on Jan 2nd at my next doctors appointment.

We will count it all good and keep pressing forward. I hope everyone is doing and feeling well and get a little reprieve for the holidays with good health. It's not how we would have planned it, but it's still good. 

Dear She-Angel: I get up often at night, too. And then, during the day, I can fall into a deep sleep at the drop of a hat.

Thanks all for the reminders about Prilosec. I'm going to start taking it more consistently.

Last infusion on 12/23. Apprehensive, but also excited to be done.

To everyone: Here's my holiday poem to you:

To my dear BCO friends, from far and near,

Thanks for your strength and support during this last, crazy year.

While the breast cancer blues rocked my boat,

Your posts, pms and wisdom kept me afloat.

And from the murky depths of a chemo-fried brain

Percolated this silly, but true Christmas refrain:

As I look to the future, I won't be coy,

I wish for us all health, love and joy.

I know, seriously corny. Blame it on taxotere. But you have truly helped me survive this year. And I have never met a more inspiring group. Thank you.

I hope this post finds everyone doing well. It sounds like the side effects are getting worse for everyone - including me. After my first Taxol, I had a little bit of bone pain in my lower legs, constipation all last week, some numbness in the fingers and toes, and now I am breaking out in little red itchy bumps. I had less side effects on the AC treatment. And they said Taxol would be easier. I don't think so. My 2nd Taxol is next Tuesday and I am dreading it. I've been traveling all last week and now have two weeks at home. Definitely looking forward to time with family. Happy holidays everyone.

Leto - I hate the constipation thing!  It is a constant battle.  My husband and I joke every day on how my bowels are.  Uggh!  I have started making bran muffins and try to eat one or two every day and that is seeming to help.  Good luck with your Taxol.  I hated AC and CY and seem to be tolerating the Taxol much better  and just had my third treatment but when then add the Carboplatin to it every three weeks then my SE's are worse.  I get the double hit the day after Christmas. 

Good luck and I pray all of us can have minimal side effects so that we can enjoy our families thru the holidays!  Prayers and hugs to all of us going thru chemo over the holidays!

Good luck on next round, Cherice. I'll be thinking of you on Christmas Eve and hoping all goes smoothly.

I figure I'll be out of commission more or less on Christmas. So attended a Celtic advent service tonight. It was beautiful. Glad I got to celebrate early.

Wishing everyone a peaceful week.

She-Angel - I hear you on getting up multiple times during the night to use the bathroom.  I quit drinking after 7:00 pm and that didn't work either.  I wonder if it is just something with the chemo or steroids.  I too had a stitch come out and the doctor said it was a travelling stitch.  Over the phone, she said I could come in and she would snip it off or I could wait for it to dissolve.  I just let it dissolve.

Nottoday - Congrats on being done with chemo on 12/23!  Thank you for the lovely poem.

Leto - sorry to hear about your side effects, but I hope they subside soon.

As for me, my weekly blood work wasn't great on Friday but I guess it could have been worse.  My Coumadin level is finally at 2.0, but he has me taking an increased dose three times a week and my normal dose four times a week to get it consistently a bit higher.  My white counts were critically low and he cautioned me about staying away from sick people and monitoring myself for fever or anything else.  He didn't want to give me a Neupogen shot because he wants to see if my body will start to produce this week.  I sure hope so, because I would really like to get my fourth treatment in before the end of the year.  I am scheduled for the day after Christmas.  If I can keep on this schedule, I should be finished toward the end of March!

Just want to take a minute to thank you all wonderful women for supporting me through the last half of this year.