Chemo group starting December 2014

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  • blueflowers
    blueflowers Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2015

    I was reading through all the posts, I had my second chemo on Jan 7th, 3rd one on 28th. This time I didn't have much side effects, just extreme fatigue and bad C . But from yesterday I have an itchy rash - did anyone of you had this problem. I am taking benadryl but its helping only for an hour or two. Going to see pcp first thing in the morning.

    Any suggestions ?

  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited January 2015

    Maggie -- thanks for saying I should blog... but I think I post here and now FB enough to add up too a novella already!

    ---

    So I'm still in hospital. .... I'm not even sure why at this point! Yeah.. I still have D and risk dehydration. .. but it's not like being here is helping. .. plus I'm past my nadir and should be slowly getting better. .. I could just go in for an IV at my doctor's office when needed....

    If I don't get released tomorrow I'm gonna start planning a jail-break!

    ---

    Monday...

    They want to keep another day to see a gastrointestinal doctor. ... which is ridiculous because it's the frickin chemo. It comes on when I get the chemo. It's a known side effect. It starts to stop at the end of the cycle... I could have told them all their stupid tests would come back negative because that's what happened the LAST time. But the hospital doctor says he has to still check it out...

    I am an extremely lazy person and don't mind sitting for days reading and watching tv... but it can't be healthy to be tied up here for days on end when all I have is diarrhea! !!!

    Seriously... I can feel muscles atrophying as I text this... a and it's even frustrating me and I'm usually an easy happy type.....

    I'm actually sitting here crying now.

    4 days is enough. There's nothing wrong wwith me but the diarrhea and some dehydration. .. gaaaaaah.

    I don't even like exercise but would kill to get loose now.... and I bet it they saw me crying they'd just give me pills for that!!!!!

    My view of doctors is hitting the dumper at the moment....

    :(

    I was going a bit stir- crazy the last time I eat in for this long.... seriously. .. I can see why people go AMA or whatever . I've seriously about had it.

    But I'm trapped. I'm stuck with these guys because I need to treat the stupid cancer.

    I can't even get frustrated in private as the cleaning guy is here flushing the dawned toilet.

    ---

    Noon.. feeling better after letting off steam

    Thanks for putting up with all my drama!

    Finished a nice book. Watching tv

    Walked in place for 20 min. It's ok...

    ----------

    Ok... saw gi tract guy and he's going to try me on some different drugs so that might be interesting. Also Infectious diseases doc came by to see if I had some mysterious infection. Said he couldn't think of anything. So I guess I can't complain too much.

  • Cjfishergal
    Cjfishergal Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2015

    Hi April25...If I were there in beautiful sunny California (sigh) I would give you a big giant <HUG>...HUG!!

    Being a cancer patient sucks. Having cancer sucks. Being in the hospital sucks. You can complain to us here anytime you want to. About anything you want! We are here for you...to listen, jump on and off the band wagon...that is what friends do. I know this is not the journey in life that I thought I would ever go down...pathways in life are very strange. I found this interesting TED talk...kinda fun...and makes me laugh each time I watch it.

    Are you human?

    I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts that you will get sprung loose soon!

    I am off to the Look Good Feel Better session but will check in later today.

    Take CARE!

    Connie

  • farmdau56
    farmdau56 Member Posts: 42
    edited January 2015

    Going in for # 3 infusion tomorrow. My oncologist says that with 3 & 4 fatigue will be worse, but that regular exercise will help. Hope I can make myself get out and walk. Also hope the other SEs won't be worse. I will be taking Prilosec every day, another piece of advice from my Onc.

    As to nails...I haven't had any problem yet. My doctor says that with only 4 infusions I might not have pain/nail problems. She said there's not much you can do until symptoms occur and then she suggests tea tree oil. Have any of you been using that? (My husband HATES the smell of it!)

    Best wishes and good luck to all of you who are having chemo. this week! I'll be thinking of you.

    PS I am beginning to really dislike my wig...I whip it off the minute I get home from work :)

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited January 2015

    april25 - I am truly sorry to hear about your side effects putting you in the hospital.  The digestive side effects of this chemo are horrid.  I am glad they are not able to find anything other than the chemo to attibute it to though.  I have quit taking all of the anti nausea medicines and those side effects don't seem to be as bad...I only take ginger capsules the day before, day of and day after my treatment and (don't laugh) I take Beano before I eat anything!  The Beano seems to make a huge difference for me (I notice if I don't take it the horrible stomach issues come back).  But like we all know everyone is different and just because something works for me does not mean it will work for someone else.  Hope you are sprung out of prison soon and don't have to return after next round.

    cjfishergal - CANCER DOES SUCK!  EVERY THINK ABOUT IT SUCKS!  You are right pathways in life are strange and we don't always understand them, but they can be amazing and wonderful as well.  I did the Look Good Feel Better class last week and I absolutely loved it.  Learned a lot and spoke with some cancer survivors which does give hope during this horrible roller coaster ride called cancer.  Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

    farmdau56 - I paid $300 for my wig (thought insurance was going to cover it, at least that's what 5 different representatives at insurance company told me)  I wore it once, hated it because it didn't fit snug and kept sliding to the back of my head.  Was out to dinner with friends and had to keep going to the bathroom to adjust it.  Then got tired of going to the bathroom so just started adjusting it at the table, kept telling myself I would never see any of those people again (other than my friends) and by the end of the meal I was over the wig.  I pulled it off as soon as we got to our truck and have only worn it once since because I had to.  That stupid $300 wig sits on its stand in the bedroom and insurance is now fighting me over paying for it.  They said because I went to a provider out of network, but of course the agent told me I would have to go out of network because there weren't any network providers in a 100 radius of the city I live in, so am now waiting to hear about my appeal.  I at least documented the date of each time I talked to a representative regarding the purchase of a wig so am hoping they will have the conversations recorded.  I think my husband secretly thumps the wig everytime he walks by it.  I have purchased a lot of different hats and mix them up a lot, my boss always looks in my office to see what crazy thing is on my head today. 

    Hugs to all having chemo today and those who are going through side effects from their last round.  We are strong and will make it through this.

  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited January 2015

    I'm out of hospital!!! Really, yesterday I was cool about everything (I have occasional crazy-frustration-filled breakdowns, but then go back to ordinary mellow/ok/whatever). They kicked me out at 7pm--same as at the other hospital last month. I think I was in for exactly the same amount of time, too, on the same days! Crazy. But I can't deny there seems to be a PATTERN, even if the docs seem to think they need to check every little thing!

    I saw a hospital doctor (pulminologist), a cardiologist (had echo and ekg), an infectious disease guy (had sinus ct scan), gastro-interologist (some new drugs for diarrhea--but only on the LAST DAY!!! barely got to try the one thing out!!! and haven't filled the Rx yet), plus saw stand-ins when some couldn't come by, also saw social worker and chaplain...! I got to know all the charge nurses and assistants. It was just crazy.

    I do feel better that my heart looked normal on the echo-cardiogram. The OTHER stuff--I was pretty darn sure were all red-herrings. I mean--this was eXACTLY what happened with the first cycle of chemo! ... well... my poor insurance co. that I JUST switched to will probably have a heart-attack of it's own after all this, but hey, that's their business, literally...

    ---

    My appetite has come back much faster than cycle 1, but then I had reduced taxotere this time--and it would be less than the loading dose anyway. I wonder if the taxotere could be pushed back up since it didn't seem to make a difference? I guess I'll have to ask my MO...

    ---

    I do fear my 4 future cycles, though. I was hoping the same thing wouldn't happen this time, since I was taking a bunch of new stuff, but that didn't make a dent!

    I have a new drug for diarrhea from the GI guy... but who knows? I guess there's no choice. Just gotta go on. It wasn't terrible. Just a lot of hospitalization--more than I'd wish! I wasn't in pain. Wasn't nauseous. And this time they weren't shooting me up with painful heparin shots (funny how one hospital did and this one didn't!!!???). And because they used my port this time, my arms aren't all bruised and full of holes. Seriously--I looked BAD after I got out the last time.. plus--having to hold one arm straight all the time for days on end was not much fun, either! The port was so much more civilized and humane. I'd have enjoyed it if I could take a shower and didn't have to get woken up at 4:30am every day, and if they just had a stationery cycle I could use for 20 min. a day!!! Maybe if they put in a mini-spa treatment, and the cycle... and if I had my laptop... It'd have been more like a vacation!!! (oh... the food could have been better. The last hospital had some tasty food but they insisted on lots of fake sugar just because I'm diabetic. These guys let me have real food, but the food was SO BLAND it was painful. I had to resort to using the salt and pepper and just about anything else I could throw in, just to make it have some sort of flavor. So--better food.

    The social worker said I was having cabin fever that one day, and that was for sure!!!

    ---

    I still have diarrhea and worry about staying hydrated... *sigh*

  • MaggieCat
    MaggieCat Member Posts: 346
    edited January 2015

    ok April... I'm past thinking of your "maybe" blog... now I think you have the beginnings of a wonderful comedy.... JUst imagine, YOUR thoughts visualized... that mini-spa in the hospital room... a crowd pleaser for sure!!!!


  • Cjfishergal
    Cjfishergal Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2015

    Hello Everyone!

    April25 - congrats on getting out! I am very pleased for you. I hope everyone that had chemo this week is feeling good or at the very least minimal SE's.

    Wheelygirl - I was lucky to enough to borrow a wig from the Cancer institute in my area. No charge. Perhaps there is a place like this near you? I too bought a wig that I don't like. I bought when I had hair...it doesn't fit right and I feel like it's gonna fall off...or is moving. I tried to adjust it and it doesn't work. It is a bit long too...which bugs my neck. Even though I had long hair before. The wig expert who was at the Look Good Feel Better program mentioned that the longer wigs don't last as long due to the rubbing of the hair along jackets, clothing and making the synthetic hair fray and look crappy. Maybe that's why. The one I borrowed is short and I like it much better. Plus it fits and doesn't move...although it is hot after a while.

    For me...good news and bad news...Good news - I am pleased to say that I have one extra week of feeling good! Chemo was delayed for one week. Bad news - my MO saw my veins and said no more...I am having a PICC line put in. Jan 30. Not looking forward to that...it is what it is...I asked my MO about the lump I found. He didn't seem really concerned...said that we will look at it again in three weeks. Said that sometimes the scar tissue behaves like a bruise and sometimes a lump forms under the bruise. I'm still nervous about it. Chemo should be killing cancer...but human nature peaks it ugly head and of course I am thinking the worse.

    Does anyone else out there who had a lumpectomy have a weird lump by their scar?

    I will take this gift of a week and do some fun things! I went to a movie this afternoon - going to go shopping tomorrow for a new wig...maybe go for lunch somewhere new. Even though food is still somewhat bland...A full week...I am so excited to have this break! And between you and me - it's even more exciting because my DH is back to work (half days)...I love him dearly and know he means well...but with him gone I am free to do whatever I want without him reminding me about the germs, sickly people and possibilities of getting sick.

    Connie

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited January 2015

    cjfishergal-I do have a lumpy feel right at my incission site.  My incission site is right around the edge of my nipple as my lump was right behind my nipple and it feels hard like a lump right there.  I read on one of these sites that if you massage it with some type of oil every day it will eventually allow the skin to soften and the lump feeling will go away.  My nipple is still way to tender to do that but I will as soon as I am able.  My onc was not concerned about it either so I refuse to worry about yet another thing.  I asked about the tenderness and was told that because of where my lump was located it could be very sensitive to touch for years, not what I wanted to hear but it is what it is.

    I remember reading on one of these discussion boards that taking biotin, prenatal vitamins and using nioxin will help your hair grow in healthier and thicker but I can't seem to find that post.  My onc has already approved the prenatal vitamins but said I will have to wait to start the biotin and he said I would be wasting my money on the nioxin but if it makes me feel better go ahead.  My last chemo is Feb 4th, does anyone know when I need to start using the biotin and nioxin?  Should I do it immediately after the last treatment or wait until the hair starts to come in?

    Hugs and prayers to everyone!

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited January 2015

    Oh and I agree with Maggiecat, April25 - you should start a blog...at least it will give you something to occupy your time should you be medically incarcerated again and a light spin on things for all those going through cancer who read it. LOL

  • farmdau56
    farmdau56 Member Posts: 42
    edited January 2015

    Hi all,

    Day 3 of 3rd infusion and I am feeling more nausea than the first two sessions. Wondering if i should add the compazine...I have not had to take it up to now and the SEs sound a bit scary. I have just been taking zofran/ativan/prilosec so far. Has anyone had good luck with compazine? I am not vomiting, but just have an awful "yuck" feeling and no appetite. I'm afraid day 4 might be even worse if it follows my "normal" pattern.

    Hope everyone is doing okay today!

  • blueflowers
    blueflowers Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2015

    Hi farmdau56,

    I took compazine twice a day at the first sign of nausea, I didn't want to take the risk of start vomiting, and I was fine. I had two chemos done, my 3rd one is next week and hopefully won't have much SE.

    Take care.

  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited January 2015

    Hey, all! Thanks for the comments! Although I'm a bit too lazy to start up a blog. I used to try and do those and totally petered out after a few years...!

    I'm feeling pretty good and I have a week before Cycle 3. Can eat just about anything. Not feeling too much stomach-burning or nausea. Still have the stupid diarrhea, though, so have to keep an eye on dehydration and low potassium and magnesium...! My MO is talking about getting some sort of home hydration set up for the next chemo! Crazy, eh? Weird how some people have SE and all different and to different degrees. Mine is a total pain, but could be worse! It's mostly a big inconvenience, really...

    ---

    Wigs/Hair -- I still had some after first Chemo... but it's been falling out constantly since the 2nd week after first Chemo... I may get totally smooth up there at this rate. I still have eyebrows and my already sparse and stubby eyelashes, though. Wonder if those will go? --I sprung for an expensive human hair wig as my big indulgence right before chemo. I kept hearing about how uncomfortable and scratchy the less-expensive wigs were (and I'd tried dressing up in costume wigs in the past and cheap wigs are pretty useless even for a one-time halloween costume! So I knew if I was going to be wearing a wig that I would need to spend money (I don't know about borrowing wigs--although that's a GREAT thing, I think!). Anyway-- the wig isn't bad to wear, but bald heads will let wigs slip no matter how good they are... I have a velveteen-like band to help the wig grip better, but it still slips at the back of my head because I have a kind of flat back-of-the-head (from lying on my back too much as a baby, I think they say). It doesn't get too hot... but I'd probably not be able to wear it in hot summer weather... or at least not too comfortably. I will probably get to see how that goes soon, though, since it still pops up to 80 degrees here (S. Calif.) even now! And I'm guessing it will be a LONG time before I have enough hair again...

    Nails -- Anyone having nail problems yet? I'm just curious. I haven't been icing or anything. I did put some strengthening coat on my nails, just in case it might help, though. I'm a bit too lazy to be religious about doing that, though... (was supposed to put a coat on 7 days in a row, but have failed totally to do that).

    Just checked my nails today--I thought they were doing OK, but now I see some white areas around the moons/growing area... Hmmm... I hope it doesn't mean they're going to start loosening!

    ---

    Anyway-- GOOD LUCK to everyone on their next chemo session!

  • Cjfishergal
    Cjfishergal Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2015

    Hello Ladies!

    How is everyone doing? Round 3....I get mine on Monday. I am NOT looking forward to it. Actually I am more apprehensive about this one than the first. Maybe it's because I've have two pretty good weeks...and my taste buds are just starting to come back. Someone asked me if I considered stopping therapy...they said...if it hurts you so much...why not just stop?

    Good question.

    My answer...i don't want the cancer to come back or spread. What a strange question to ask...and I can't say that I convinced myself with my answer.

    I hope everyone is doing ok...I am not on Facebook so I won't be able to join that group. Just checking in and say HI!

    Connie

  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited February 2015

    I just got my third round on Friday. Went in for my Neulasta shot this morning. I was totally knocked out after the Neulasta shot after my 2nd round... but maybe it was due to the antihistamines I took? Anyway, this time, not so bad, at least so far!!!

    My nails are getting white-ish at the base. Hmmm!

    And I'm just waiting for the big D to come and make me have to get IV drips! bleh...

  • Cjfishergal
    Cjfishergal Member Posts: 33
    edited February 2015

    I had my third round on Monday afternoon. Feeling kinda blue today...must be coming down off the dexamethasone....

    Food is starting to taste yucky again.

    Saw the Radiation Oncologist yesterday. 16 treatments and then 4 booster shots to the lumpectomy/tumour site. He says it start about four weeks after my last chemo session. The end is near!

    April I hope you are feeling okay. I hope everyone else out in internet land is feeling good.


  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited February 2015

    Cjfishergal -- Hope you're feeling less blue today!

    It's kind of odd, but food is tasting less yucky this time around... I have absolutely NO CLUE why...

    Of course, I still have the bad "D". So guess what? I've got a person IV drip this time... It's weird, but not as horrific as I thought it would be--It's run by batteries--bag and batteries to be changed every 24 hrs. It all goes into a black bag that hangs from my shoulder and has a line going into my port!

    I'm taking immodium and lomotil and questran powder... but it's not making a dent! I think the GI guy said the next resort might be morphine! But so far, they are going with the IV drip for a week or two... Geesh...!

    The only good thing is that I'm not in pain or anything like that. And other SEs seem to be less of a problem. I would be SO fine if not for the stupid "D." *sigh*

    I've still been taking a ton of scans and tests... Just had a Breast MRI. I was supposed to get it before chemo, but didn't have time. I haven't heard the results, but MO said it wasn't urgent when he left a message, and I've had a ton of other tests, so I'm not so worried... They didn't find cancer in the PET scan, or the Bone Scan or the Brain Scan or the abdominal CT scan. Got Genetic Tests results and they were negative for BRCA and 23 other genes that might indicate a risk for BC... but then, my family history isn't terrible for BC (aunts and two cousins, both sides of the family). But the tests do show weird things that mean other tests... Bone Scan looked like there might be a blockage in my kidneys, so I'm getting another scan for that--just had an ultrasound to check (what with all the IVs, this can be a problem), but looked normal there. PET looked like I had calcifications in my heart arteries... Brain scan showed some artifacts that need to be re-examined. There were those tiny nodes on my lungs in the CT scan that need to be watched. But hey... at least they aren't finding more cancer. I'm feeling pretty good about that, at least (considering I haven't had surgery yet, and no SNB).

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2015

    April25- wow you have a lot going on, how do you keep up with it all? Really hope all tests come back good. What did you think of the breast MRI? Weird test huh?

    Had my last round of TC today. It was postponed from yesterday because of an echo of my heart showing the chemo has caused my mitro valve regurge to move from moderate to severe. Went to see my cardiologist today to make sure it was safe to continue with chemo. He said breast cancer treatment takes precedence. Having a TEE on the 16th to find out how bad the mitro valve is and my options. It has been a stressful couple of days but chemo is over whoo hoo! Radiation starts March 2nd.

    Hope everyone is doing well today.

  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited February 2015

    Wheelygirl..what prompted them to do an echo on you? They have not done any scans or anything with the exception of the MRI that I had before mastectomy. I have a few heart issues, nothing major...high blood pressure...heart murmur and leaky valve.

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2015

    ThinkingPos-I had an Atrial Septal Defect (birth defect) repaired in 1991, it left my heart enlarged because I had to wait so long to get it repaired due to insurance and preexisting condition clauses etc... and I have moderate mitro valve regurge so I asked the oncologist to do an echo before we started chemo in December that showed no changes from the echo I had 4 years ago but I started having shortness of breath, ankle and hand swelling and weakness in my legs with activity with the third round of TC chemo that MO was not worried about but I was because I know those are symptoms of the mitro valve worsening so I requested another echo and sure enough the mitro valve has moved from moderate to severe.  I was very upset at first because my MO never even consulted with my cardiologist prior to chemo but my cardiologist said it would not have mattered he said the breast cancer treatment takes precedence over potential heart side effects and would have approved the chemo even with the risks to my heart.  He said we can fix the heart but the breast cancer is much nastier beast, so there you have it.  I am just glad to be through chemo and he does not seem at all concerned about radiation.  So I am much less stressed today and looking forward to being done with the breast cancer stuff and move on to concentrating on fixing my heart, again, although not looking forward to another open heart surgery as that was not fun either, but it Is what it is.  I have a bunch of little grandchildren that I want to watch grow up not to mention a bucket list that needs to be fulfilled.

    Day after chemo and other than my chemo fog and gas seeming to be a little worse I feel pretty good.  Very tired even though I slept last night.  Due to my chemo being delayed a day because of waiting for my echo report to come back I finished the steroids yesterday rather than today so I actually was able to sleep last night.  I think that was also due to my worry level decreasing significantly. 

    I hope everyone has a wonderful side effect free day!  We are a bunch of strong ladies and will get through all of this!

  • ThinkingPositive
    ThinkingPositive Member Posts: 834
    edited February 2015

    WheelyGirl..so sorry to hear about your heart issues...way worse than mine. I have a probem where i can feel my heart stop then start again, it was never diagnosed nor could it be replicated during halter monitoring..I worry about it which is why I opted out of ACT.. I was given the two choices for regimens and often wonder did I choose right. Now going through the decision I have to make with radiation, another gray area...RO is not recommending that I HAVE to have it, sinces its one node positive and 16 negative...its up to me if I want the added protection. I need to find out what that percentage of added protection is. I had mastectomy with tissue expander and thats a risk so i hear from radiation down the road with implants and also risk of lymphedema increases. Seems to never end. Good luck with everything. Just finished my TC 4th today. Asked for 6 but MO said not really a benefit to me and I am not in a position where I had to have ACT and couldn't where they would say you need 6 TC..

  • TTfan
    TTfan Member Posts: 176
    edited February 2015

    Wow, these heart stories are making me a little nervous. I had a pre chemo echo because of the Herceptin, known to impair heart function in some people. The ejection fraction was great, and that was the reason for the echo. But quite unexpectedly, the echo also showed mild regurgitation (leakiness) in three valves , mitral, aortic and I can't remember the third. I asked whether this put me at any extra risk from the chemo or Herceptin, and they all seemed to think it was no problem and I shouldn't worry at all about the regurg findings and just proceed with chemo as planned. I'll have my regularly scheduled three month follow up echo on Feb 17th and am a little nervous to see what has happened over the past three months of chemo/Herceptin. I sure don't want to have to delay treatment, but want my heart healthy too! I hate that treatment can be almost as bad as the cancer!

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2015

    TTfan - No sense in worrying about the heart when the chemo is necessary is what my cardiologist told me.  I have known about the mitral valve regurge since my open heart surgery in 1991 but they do an echo every three or four years and it really has not changed any through the years until now.  We will know more on the 16th as far as how severe it is but I have been told it doesn't matter radiation will go on.  I do feel a bit better today as far as the shortness of breath goes, they started me on Lasix and the swelling is all but gone, only notice shortness of breath when I walk a short distance.  I am certain the chemo caused the additional damage to my mitral valve but it is what it is.  Nothing can be done so we just move forward.

  • TTfan
    TTfan Member Posts: 176
    edited February 2015

    thanks Wheelygirl, I'm glad to hear your valve stayed stable so long. I admire your matter of factness about the recent worsening! I get it there's not much to do about it, just wish I could stay as calm about it as you seem to! I think I used up my resilience staying pretty calm about the BC and chemo!

  • WheelyGirl
    WheelyGirl Member Posts: 181
    edited February 2015

    Trust me I was not calm yesterday or the day before. I have just had time to give it a lot of thought and there is nothing I can do about it. I am just going to pray I get through the rest of treatment with no more side effects that hurt my heart.


  • april25
    april25 Member Posts: 772
    edited February 2015

    WheelyGirl -- Sorry to hear about the worsening condition of your valve(s). I wish you all the best with that.

    There is a risk of major heart problems with some chemo. But it really seems to be SEs that affect some and not others, so it's hard to tell ahead of time what to do. I had heard that Adriamycin definitely had risks of heart SEs. I also had a friend who said that Herceptin caused permanent decrease in function to her heart. She had to have her treatments delayed until her heart recovered enough to start it up again. Someone in another thread had her chemo ended early because it was affecting her heart.

    I know that one of the few tests my old health insurance all-in-one HMO guys insisted on was a MUGU (the other was abdomen/hip CT), which checked the heart to make sure there wasn't anything that would be a problem with getting chemo.

    Anyway, what with my friend's problem with Herceptin, and with Herceptin being key to my treatment... that was concerning! But many, many people have no heart problems resulting from it, so you just have to be lucky or unlucky, I guess! But the docs should have done at least one heart test...

    --- but yeah... the chemo comes first and need to be done. I've got other stuff going on, like some heart artery calcifications and a thyroid goiter that should be removed in case it goes cancerous--but both are only to be taken care of after the cancer stuff is done!


    ----------

    So I'm in the middle of my 3rd cycle, heading towards the hump... and it's kind of depressing as at times it seems like this has been going on FOREVER!!!! ... Hopefully, as a few more days go by, I'll be thinking of the lessening time until it's all over, rather than that there's still SO much more to go. Ack. (It would be SO much better if I wasn't tied to the stupid IV drips EVERY TIME! It's really not much better when I'm at home. bleh! stupid, stupid SE! But, again... I'm glad it's not anything painful or permanent so far! Still... less than half way through!!! agh.)

  • Akitagirl
    Akitagirl Member Posts: 142
    edited February 2015

    Hi everyone,

    Day #4 s/p chemo (round 4) and feel like I've been hit by a truck. Ugh... I have a MUGA scan coming up before #5 - due to being on herceptin. I am starting to wonder if perhaps the taxotere causes a mass exodus of lactic acid from our muscles, which then causes the incredible fatigue and muscle weakness. Hmmm - I'll have to do some research on that.

    At any rate, I am going to request that we stop at #5 for the TC portion of my regimen. Since I only had 1 positive lymph node, since all my scans were clear, I think that 5 rounds is plenty and that 6 is not necessary. We'll see what the MO says. ;-)

    Thinkingpositive: I have decided NOT to do radiation at this time. There has been some new data that shows much higher risk of leukemia on patients who have had both chemo and radiation (doubled what was expected). Since I am only 42, I am going to keep the radiation option in 'my back pocket', just in case I have recurrence. Just something to consider...

    I hope all are doing well and am looking forward to the newness of Spring and a breath of fresh air.

    Akitagirl

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2015

    akita - I know you know this, but your Hgb may also be contributing to the fatigue and muscle weakness.  Some people experience this at a relatively high Hgb, others can drop to 8-ish and not experience it at all.

  • jcfree
    jcfree Member Posts: 105
    edited February 2015

    Had a pet scan yesterday after three rounds of chemo. The nurse for my oncologist called me in the afternoon yesterday to tell me she got my scan report and it shows a 50% reduction of the tumor in the right breast, a 50% reduction of lymph node in the chest, several small lesions and small tumors in the right breast also are completely gone now. The lymph nodes in right under arm that were positive show no cancer detected now. She said you have remarkable results after three rounds of chemo treatments. This was more progress from the chemo than I had expected after just three treatments. She said I was responding very well to the chemo. Go next week for treatment number four.

  • SweetHope
    SweetHope Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2015

    Jcfree, That is such fabulous news!

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