Starting Chemo January 2015

Eileeng, So good that you are here...in every sense. Sorry about the hyperplasia and I hope all is clear now. I had to look up "raloxifene" and found out it is also used for osteoporosis, which is good to know. Thank you.

Noor, Please wear your beautiful bald head and a look of determination for your passport photo. (I know they won't let you wear a big smile.).

PMR, Thanks for the tip on Calmes Forte. And, Jenn, thanks for Zopiclone, too. I never sleep through the night and will be thrilled if one of those works for me.

I wish I had a magic potion for all of you suffering from hot and cold flashes. I really hated the soaking wet clothes and sheets going through menapause. But I bet it is worse in Chemopause. Do any of you have the short term memory loss associated with it? It might be difficult to differentiate between what is chemo SE and what is Chemopause SE. (I use to have to hold my pills in my hand while marking the calendar, because once I swallowed them, I could not remember taking them.). With chemo brain, I just lose nouns (and days!).

I had a bad nightmare last night. This makes #7 this year. They are all BC related. I'm so optimistic during the day...I never think of scary scenarios...but my subconscious must be very scared.

Hope you all have a great Sunday...and for those in the chair this week, I wish you no SE's.

XOXO, Becky

I just finished my AC/cytoxin and started 2 weeks ago on Taxol/carboplatin. I am having the most side effects from the carbo now i am having bladder issues that i hope are not kidney since the carbo causes kidney damage. I am having a hard time finding others that have had the Carboplatin i would love to hear from someone that has gone through it i am not sure if i want to continue it and risk the kidney issues?

Cheryl- Congrats on finishing Chemo!! Even if you are done early. I am not getting RX that I know of, my next step is surgery. Your MO follow up is similar to mine. Every 3 months to start!

Sweethope

Thank you for your post of hair growth!!

It gives us hope for hair!

PMR53

Noor46 – hope your US went well today and your nodes are clear!

Jenn – hope you are continuing to do well following your first Taxol.Hope muscle aches and tingling is minimal or better yet non-existent!

Sweethope – congratulations on ending chemo! Let the healing begin!! I don't regret at all not having my last chemo.I wish feeling better would be quicker though! Thanks for the information from your PT about the swelling.It helped.I seem to have more swelling right now from the Taxotere itself – very annoying! Thanks also for re-posting the 1 year hair growth pictures.It sure puts it into the proper prospective seeing it all together like that!

Dstar – that little bit more about draining the fluid with the flat palm of your hand was very helpful. I have done it a few times and I believe it is making a difference. Thanks so much!

Brandi – I hope the cleanse is bringing you some relief! I have to make a better effort watching how much salt I'm getting as it is affecting the fluid retention I'm sure! Glad to hear some of neuropathy sensations are going/gone!I would say the same for me as well.I am surprised though that food still tastes a little off yet. Much better than it was but still not right!Is that better for you?

Jlstacey – Radiation started for me on Thursday last week.I have now completed 3 with 22 to go!I hope you don't have to have it either but so far it hasn't been a big issue.I do feel tired already but that could be worse because of the fluid retention too.I am having a horrible time sleeping too.I think it is the Tamoxifen. I am getting hot flashes and night sweats!I hope you are feeling better!

Eileeng – 8 years out! Congratulations. How long after all your treatments did you feel healthy again?I am totally grateful for all the TX options available to me but I have to admit that I'm getting frustrated with lack of energy. I hope the raloxifene is able to control the hyperplasia for you!

Cherylfg – That's great that you counted wrong and are finishing a week earlier than expected.The time we are committing to cancer treatment is extensive so any less time than expected is a great boost to our feelings. Be careful with your feet though! I hope that doesn't continue!!!

We picked up our puppy on Saturday and so far so good.She slept the first night through but woke up last night around 3:30AM.I took her out for her potty break and then it took about ½ hour to get her to settle down again.She was up at 8:00 this morning.I will post a picture of Bailey, my daughter Mallory and me when we picked her up on Saturday.Tomorrow she's got to be in her crate for about 2 hours while I'm gone for my radiation appointment.I will keep her busy before I go out so she hopefully sleeps for most of it!

Wendy

RVgal, I went to the hospital yesterday with my DH. Just 10km before arriving our car broke down! We got towed away and they dropped us at the hospital. But the u/s was very good. My nodes are clear and the original tumor is also much much smaller. The tech said they don't know if what they saw was a tumor or dead cells, they can't see the difference. Surgery will figure that out. But I will keep my lymphnodes!

I love your dog

Frugalgirl, how are you doing now? I hope your MO helped you with your bladder issues, and your kidneys are fine. I get it that you are more vulnerable to thoughts of mets. The shock of being healthy then finding cancer leaves us all with the reality that our lives changed in an instant and it can happen again. Please post soon that you are okay.

Cherylfg, you remind me so much of my DDIL. Your photo looks like her, and your posts sound like her. She is such a busy mom of two boys, 3 & 4, and has had your same cold all winter!

I can't imagine how frustrating it is for all of you suffering from sick feet. That is such a cruel SE. I hope the healing time is short and you can concentrate on other things.

Wendy, Your daughter is beautiful, and the puppy is too cute! Mallory looks like your avatar picture. And you look great and so happy.

PMR, I hope your surgery on the 4th is uneventful and you have a speedy recovery. I know we all will be sending positive vibes to you.

Every day I feel stronger, but my afternoon naps are still a must. I want to drop some of this new weight (and some old). But I read that if I do radiation, they do not want you to actively be dieting as it will change their calculations...so ice cream it is!

Noor, It is great news that your nodes are clear! It is making me teary-eyed that you get to keep your lymph nodes. I'm wearing a LE sleeve and gauntlet right now. It is painful to put on, and ugly as sin to look at. Hopefully, more MOs will be advocating chemo before surgery and the BSs will leave the ALNs alone.

XOXO, Becky

Noor that is very good news!!! So happy for you. I am sorry your car broke down though. I have my Surgery Monday. I pray chemo did its job.

I over did it getting ready for surgery and am paying for it. My underarm SNB site is throbbing and I had it Jan 5.

Love to all.

PMR53

Hello everyone,

I haven't been here a while. I am still trying to catch up on all your posts. I have gotten so busy that I haven't had time nor the strength to read and respond here. I am sorry. I really haven't gone A-WALL.

I have neurapothy in my feet to the point that it hurts when I walk, and when I have my feet up. My legs are tight with swelling. My MO canceled my chemo last week because of the neuropathy. And he said he will reduce the strength of Taxol from here on out. I have a horrible time sleeping. The dr prescribed ambien. I took it one night and woke up the next morning to get the kids to school then went back to bed. Woke up at 10:30am. But I was sluggish all day and didn't do a darn thing. I haven't taken it since.

I am still trying to catch up on all your posts but I glad for those who are finished with chemo. I think it's odd how so many of you had chemo before surgery. I had a double mastectomy back in November of last year. I was only diagnosed in October 2014. But I didn't start any chemo until January this year. Then I have radiation Still. After chemo I will be on tomoxifin.

Ok. I am going to bed now. Have a good night ladies.

Mommacat- We have a very similar story. I was diagnosed Oct 2014, bmx November 2014, chemo started Dec 30. Radiation for 7wks after chemo. I too was wondering why chemo wasn't done first as it seems so prevalent around these boards. I asked my MO if not having chemo first was to my detriment. He said that it makes no difference in the final outcome. I've decided to believe him and not give it anymore thought as it can't be changed now. I'm also dealing with neuropathy issues and have discussed reduced dose of taxol for final 2 infusions. We're in this together! Take care, Sarah

RV6gal, My taste buds work great. Right now my only issues seem to be fatigue... I constantly am on the verge of falling over asleep but I am very stubborn about it. I just make myself stay up. Don't ask me why I torture myself in this way. I just do. i still have a little neuropathy but it's minor. I now have "frozen shoulder" which sucks bad. The worst is when I get startled. If I get startled, whatever motion I make is so mindblowingly painful that I literally get dizzy and almost pass out. The orthopedic doctor has no idea how I got it and there's really no treatment for it. He says I have to wait it out and it could take a year to resolve. I'm 5 months in right now and it's getting worse. He says it gets worse before it gets better. Yay, just what I need! He said 95% of cases resolve on their own and 5% need surgery so I guess I'll just wait and see.

As far as the surgery before or after chemo, I don't think it's so much about recurrence as it is about taking less breast out with surgery, especially if you have a lumpectomy. That's what they told me anyway. They would rather take out less than more, if possible.

These past few weeks have been hard and weird. I haven't attended a funeral since I was a little kid. Last week I went to a baby funeral. This week I am going to the funeral of a flight nurse who fell to her death while doing a rescue from a helicopter. Very sad but with how loved she is, the turn out to her funeral is going to be epic. I hope her family finds comfort at seeing how many people show up to honor her life.

Good Morning All:

BeachBum big hugs to you and know you have had some hard decisions to make. It sounds like you are going forward and that's what we do!! Just when your hair was taking off Dammit!!! Can I have it? I sure need some.

I am not having my MX Monday!!! Bummer. I am at the hospital getting heavy IV antibiotics Vanco and Levaquin for an infection (cellulitis) at SNB site and UTI. Later today I get a washout of the area and a drain!! Happy Friday.

Love you all!!

PMR53

hi ladies, just wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing, I hope you all enjoyed your weekends and are doing well.

Teri

Thank you all for reaching out to me. I got home from hospital yesterday. I spent 4 nights there getting Vancomyacin and Levofloxin antibiotics for UTI and abscess to Right side SNB site. Surgeon did Incision and Drainage also. Came home with a drain and oral antibiotics. My MX is cancelled until who knows when. What a setback. Pretty bummed. Sore and tired but trying to take it a day at a time. Hoping to get drain out at SO appt on Thursday. Praying this gets healed fast and I can get on with my real surgery.

Congrats to all finishing chemo or just deciding you have had enough. We all have the right to make decisions for ourselves and our healthcare.

Love to all. Xoxo

PMR53

Teri, Hi! Thanks for waking up this sleepy crew.

PMR, Gentle hugs to you. Sorry they sent you home with a drain. It must be frustrating after mentally prepping for MX, then fighting with an infection. I've been thinking of you often.

Noor, Stay strong! Keep those nodes. Right now I'm at my LE Therapist's. I wear a sleeve and gauntlet and I have been wrapped (UGH!). Tomorrow I see the RO and listen to his schpeal about the advantages of Rads. But I know it will make my lymphodema worse, even without radiating my armpit. Decisions, decisions!

Okay, I have to go.