April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

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  • Fran2014
    Fran2014 Member Posts: 140
    edited May 2015


    Yes, we all are one hell of a tough bunch!! Hopefully the SE's will be kind to us all this weekend and we can all get in some enjoyment with family and/or friends. Enjoy!

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  • GingerChi
    GingerChi Member Posts: 252
    edited May 2015

    Fran, CONGRATS on finishing treatment! I'm sorry you feel so rough, hope you are soon doing that happy dance!!

    Jen and LittleBlue, CONGRATS on finishing up AC!! YAY!!!

    Rpayton, So sorry about your work situation, like you need to deal with that right now!! I hope the new dept will be a much better environment!

    Lynne and Stacy, I've joined the foot issue club with you, I have blisters on the inside of both of my pinkie toes! One is huge! I don't think the nail will be affected, I hope not! Any input on what to do for blisters???

    Welcome Swissm! Glad you found us and that treatment has gone well for you!!

    Love your T Shirt list Kbeee! The only thing I would add is #BreastCancerIsntPink. Most BC graphics are frilly, dainty and pink which I get and appreciate.......but the reality of this horrid disease is none of those things.

    I saw the MO yesterday, labs were good and I'm cleared for AC#4 on Wednesday.

    I've been lucky with offensive comments so far. I appreciate you ladies pointing out that telling someone they look good could be insensitive. I'm not offended by it, but others are. I ran into an old friend at the MO's office...she was about to get AC#4 and I hadn't started treatment yet. What was the first thing out of my mouth?? YOU LOOK WONDERFUL! ! Which, in all honesty she did. I know we are all different, but if I ran into someone and they only commented on my scarf, the first thing I would think is "I must look like hell!" lol Glad this was mentioned so I can be more mindful that we don't all take things the same way. I did have a co-worker (who I'm not close to) ask if they were able to save my nipples!?!? I never considered saving my nipples, never discussed my surgery with her, and have no idea why she would ask that! I wanted to ask her, why the &*#$ do you care???

    I'm helping give a birthday party for a friend today. I hope these stupid blisters don't hinder me from helping out. It will be fun to hang out with the girls and have some fun!!

    I hope everyone has a low SE weekend and are able to enjoy your Memorial Day!!




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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited May 2016

    Cherie, I've bought the blister bandages - I think both bandaid and Nexcare makes them. They have padding and medication in them. My blister was in a weird spot for the bandage, so it wouldn't stay on for long. They are great for classic spots like heel, etc. Yay for clearning the way for AC 4 and final!

    I think if someone sincerely thinks I look good, I will hear that in their compliment. I am definitely thinking more of the comments from people who seem surprised that you don't look bad or are obviously trying to make you feel better.

    swissm2002 - welcome, glad to have you here, sorry about the circumstances. For you and anyone else suffering from nausea, my NP said the drugs they give you are really to keep you from puking, not the nausea. She recommended Prilosec, and I've been taking that since infusion #2, and it has made a world of difference. I mean, my stomach is not the same as before chemo, but much, much, better than after #1 when I had so much dyspepsia.

    Renee, so sorry to hear about your work situation - what a horrible thing to have to deal with along with everything else. Good for you for being strong and standing up for yourself.

    I know I have more to respond to, but cannot remember right now. Chemo fog has lifted, but I still have no energy. I'm trying to get my kids to help out, but that takes energy too. My home-from-college son stays up all night and sleeps all day. I gave him a list of things to do, but he hasn't done any of them :-( DH has gone fishing for the day. I think I'll call my sisters and whine for a bit.

    Lynne


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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2015

    I think I look good, and better than I expected, so if others say this to me in a genuine way, I don't mind. I think they expected me to look bad, and I understand why they'd think that. I expected me to look bad.

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  • LindsayP
    LindsayP Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2015

    I had my first AC infusion May 21, 3 days ago, with a Neulasta injection the following day. No problems so far. I'm home taking Zofran, Emend, steroids, and an antacid.

    I searched for "steroids" on this forum because not only do I not feel any pain, but I'm bursting with energy! I know the bone pain will probably arrive, and the fatigue, and that it's cumulative, but wanted to confirm that the extra energy was from the steroids, which I have gathered from reading these posts that it is. Does that last all the way through the treatments, every week? Will it help to counteract the impending fatigue?

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2015

    It is from the steroids. It wears off for me on the next day, which is when a few more SEs appear.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited May 2015

    Lindsay, the steroid rush keeps up for a day or two. Sometimes it is followed by a seroid crash around day 3. Hopefully you avoid this! I hope you are doing well. Keep taking the antinausea meds through about day 5 to stay ahead of it.

    If people tell me I look good on a day I tink I look good, I take it as a compliment. If they tell it to me when I know I look like hell, then I take it as they are trying to say something nice, but are not sure what to say.

    Lynne, Thanks for the blister bandages tip. I will stock up before my run!

    Gingerchi, good idea on the hash tag. Since my shirt is hot pink (so my family can find me and they were out of yellow), I think I will use#pinkiscutebreastcancerisnot...or something to that effect. I may also add #girlscheckyourgirls #guyscheckyourgirl'sgirls

    For all of you having some tough days after your treatments this week, last weekend after my 4th AC, I was sulking because I was so completely exhausted I was not sure how I could possibly even do a 5k at the end of the month, never mind a half. Today, a week later, I alternated running a mile and walking a mile for 10 miles. What a difference a week makes!!!!!! You WILL have more energy in a few days. I figure if I can do this now, I can just walk the last 3 miles next week, and poof...I'll be done! When I finish my hashtag shirt, I will post a picture. I know my awesome running partner had some plans nex week, but she must have canceled them. She told me she is doing the race with me. I am beyond thrilled!

    I hope everyone is having a weekend fillied with minimum side effects and maximum family time, relaxing time, and energy

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  • gkodad
    gkodad Member Posts: 188
    edited May 2015

    Lynne, I'm going to ask about the Prilosec - I've had horrible heartburn and queasiness this second cycle, which didn't happen the first time.  Right now, I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to get through round 3 if it's worse than round 2.  Assuming I get to have chemo on Thursday, given my ANC and white blood count. 

    As for compliments, I think sincerity always comes through....just as insincerity does.  I'm more annoyed by platitudes. 

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  • swissrn2002
    swissrn2002 Member Posts: 27
    edited May 2015

    I noticed a lot of you are using Neulasta for WBC growth. Is it just one injection after chemo, or several? I am getting Neupogen self injections on day 3 of chemo through day 9, so a week of it. i only get severe bone pain on the last day, but Tylenol works great to take it away. I also wanted to ask, did anyone have their WBC too low to do the next chemo infusion? I'll be doing labs Tuesday so hope all is good. I'm glad to hear many of you are on your last AC treatments. Good luck to you all

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited May 2015

    Neulasta is just one injection. Neupogen is a lower dose, so it is given seceral days in a row if needed. I have not had chemo delayed (yet) but was borderline on #3, I hope your counts are good enough for chemo. I have blodwork and (hopefully) my next chemo on Tuesday as well

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2015

    Neulasta is a time-release. You get one per cycle. Neupogen is not time-release. You get several over several days. Because of the time frame, Neupogen might not be used for more frequent chemos. Neupogen is much less expensive. http://breastcancer.about.com/od/lifeduringtreatment/f/neulasta_cost.htm

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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited May 2015


    Lindsay, Happy you are doing so well. Just in case, are you taking Claritin for bone pain that may show up soon? I am taking it. Don't know if it worked, or not, but am assuming it helped, as I was in pain for about 3 days......starting 3 days after the shot. My motto is be prepared! With that said, maybe you are one of the few lucky ones that do not get bone pain.

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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited May 2015


    Oh, forgot to say, I had energy too.....until after the 3rd day. Energy has returned and I am now 8 days post my first treatment. Just go with it.....

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited May 2015

    gkodad, get the prilosec. Don't wait! Also, my MO said I could take it morning and evening, and also 4 sucracarafte spread out thru the day. Sucracarafte coates your GI tract, because trust me, it looks as bad as your tongue if you have sore mouth. I also sip on pepto as needed, and take the ZCA regime for nausea, but that won't help nausea from raw stomache. Around week 2, like day 7 or so, since I'm doing dose dense, I start the live active stomach supplements and occasionally drink very diluted Braggs vinigar....anything to build up my GI for next time! Hope something helps! 😨

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  • GingerChi
    GingerChi Member Posts: 252
    edited May 2015

    Thanks for the info on the blister bandages Lynne! I got some and they do help!!

    The new slogans are cute KBeee!! I'm not anti pink, but cancer is just so much more than that.

    Welcome Lindsay! Glad youre feeling so well! :)

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2015

    did you guys get a ki67 score I never did and I'm not even sure what that means just curious I saw other people discussing it in another thread

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2015

    It's a cell proliferation score (measures the cell growth rate of the cancer). This can influence treatment decisions. On the other hand, though I have a low Ki-67, the tumor on the right had spread to the lymph node, so it was thought best to treat it more aggressively than the Ki-67 alone might suggest.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited May 2015
    First time around, I did not get a Ki67 score. This time, it was a different pathology lab. One tumor was 19; the other tumor was 40.
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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited May 2015


    Is Prilosec an OTC drug? What exactly does it do? I did not get heartburn after treatment one, but it seems a lot of you do after treatment 2! I don't like new SE surprises!


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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited May 2015

    Oh, just curious.....have you found each treatment to pretty much be the same or better or worse? Isn't there. Chart somewhere.....spreadsheet?

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited May 2015

    littlebluef

    Are you getting the A/C plus Taxol together? I am going on Taxol next round, next Wed. Im finishing up my last tx of AC.

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited May 2015

    swissrn2002

    I am getting Neulasta injection 24 hours after my AC tx. Hope that helps

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited May 2015

    Lindsay P

    Not everyone gets bone pain. I was lucky to get very mild about 6-7 days after my first Neulasta but after tx 2 and 3, no pain at all. Hoping the same for you.

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited May 2015

    Congrats to all who have finished AC this week! One more for me to go and Im hoping the next "mix" THP weekly will be kind to me.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited May 2015

    anewbeginning, I am starting taxol next...er...paclitaxol or something like that. A taxane anyway.


    Prilosec is omiprozole. It cuts down on your stomach acid. It's OTC. I couldn't function without it and the carafate! Both can cause constipation.


    Each treatment for me has been cumulative in nastieness. Although the nausea seems to stay about the same. The fatigue and mouth sores get worse. I crash harder and recover slower.


    For me, the neulasta bone pain hits the day of, and hangs around for six or seven days, despite the claritin. Sometimes long bones, sometimes shoulders and base of skull. It's always something!

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  • swissrn2002
    swissrn2002 Member Posts: 27
    edited May 2015

    I've been lucky with only one day of bone pain, my lower back,. I'm in neupogen. I take Zyrtec with the neupogen. I too was curious if each treatment gets harder. I have a lot of nausea on day3-5 of chemo, then it eases up. I've been a night shift worker, so fatigue doesn't bother me as much as nausea. I hate the steroids, they make me so hungry all the time, then I feel so nauseas from eating, always a lose/ lose situation. Currently using Pepcid, may try the Prilose for indigestion and acid reflux. I used to never take any medications , now I feel like that's all I do.

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited May 2015

    For me, after T#1, I stopped the Zofran around day 5, but then I was constantly queasy and burping. I mean constantly. I could eat, but the thought of food made me queasy. It was very unpleasant. I also had chest discomfort from indigestion. I told NP about it before T#2, and she suggested Prilosec. I thought I wouldn't have to start it until I stopped the Zofran, but the indigestion/dyspepsia started early - day 2, and so I've been taking 1 each morning ever since. I still have a some burping, but almost no nausea, and no chest pain/indigestion.

    I think that the Neulasta is what is making me feel so sick on day 3 and 4. I take Claritin for bone pain, so I don't have that (just some of the "electric shock" feelings, but very temporary), but the achy/fluish feeling, and the fatigue (although, I suppose that could also be steroid crash), seem to coincide with the Neulasta shot.

    I got a Ki67 score from my very first biopsy, and it wasn't good 27%. I didn't know what a Ki67 was - none of the path explanations on line even mentioned it, so I did a Google search and found that the score indicated that chemo would be needed and higher rate of reoccurrence. At that point I figured I'd need to go full MX. But, I sent path report to my RO friend, and she was like, "you scared me, this is not a bad report", and I asked her about the Ki67 results, and she said, "no big deal". Not sure if I still believe that . . .

    My path reports from after surgery didn't have a Ki67 score, and I had asked my surgeon about it before surgery, and she indicated it wasn't something that they used (this is at MGH).

    Lynne

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  • gkodad
    gkodad Member Posts: 188
    edited May 2015

    My understanding of Ki-67 is that it is just one of many variables to consider when there is some question about the benefits of chemotherapy vs the risks, and how "aggressive" to be.  By itself, it probably doesn't mean much.  Doctors are always trying to figure out if they are overtreating or undertreating people.    My report was all over the place - unfavorable Ki-67, favorable p53, fewer than 3 positive nodes (negative given node involvement, positive given smaller number), multiple small cancers covering a large area removed by mastectomy with negative margins (positive), my age (probability of dying first of a non-cancer related event)  etc. etc.  All in all, the suggestion was that an aggressive approach would likely be in my best long-term interests if I could tolerate it. 

    They did not do all of this with my initial cancer diagnosis, and I was just so relieved we had "cured everything" I didn't ask a lot of questions.  Of course, at that time they were saying if it didn't return in 5 years, it probably wouldn't.  Now I wonder if I would have asked about a more aggressive approach to treatment, had I better understood these variables.   Of course, hindsight is 20/20. 

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2015

    So is ki67 and oncotype the same? I never received either of those numbers and recieving chemo beofre sx hoping for pcr so I will prolly never get those numberskind of a bummer

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  • gkodad
    gkodad Member Posts: 188
    edited May 2015

    Ki67 is just one of the 21 genes on oncotype.  Some labs don't do Ki67.   If you have positive nodes, they generally are going to recommend some type of chemo.  I think the debate is how aggressive.  If there are no positive nodes, then I think the chance of recurrence from the oncotype score is an important part of the discussion. 

    Since I'm node positive, I'm not so sure how the Oncotype weighes in on node-negative disease.   I'm sure other ladies can answer that question better than me. 

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