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

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  • Stephmoen
    Stephmoen Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2015

    they have me 20mg of decadron 20mg Benadryl before then have me the taxotere then my throat got itchy they stopped she called the PA and said they might have reevaluate my regimen I was very upset because this regimen has the best PcR rate but they gave me 50 more mg of Benadryl and running it slooooow over 3 hours ugh it's going to be a late day but I'm almost done with the taxotere now no more issues yay

  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited May 2015

    Stephmoen - glad they got it running!

  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited May 2015

    So any ladies doing Taxol weekly with Hercepton/Prejeta every three weeks as their Phase 2?

  • Rockerwife
    Rockerwife Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2015

    Yay Steph glad they got it going. Addie your wig looks beautiful I would've never known. As for me, I'm waiting to see if my counts rise on their own.yesterday my neutrophil count was 1000. I did four out of the five neupogen shots on days one through four after chemo. Only did four because of the reaction last time and the doctor was fine with that. I called the doctors office to see if I can go ahead and use the fifth shot and no one has gotten back to me since yesterday.. I also emailed the doctor yesterday and asked him the same question with no response. So ladies, do you think I should go ahead and use the one extra shot I have left to help raise my neutrophils? Today is day 8

  • Rockerwife
    Rockerwife Member Posts: 63
    edited May 2015

    As soon as I posted, the Onc finally emailedand said to use the remaining shot. Wish me luck that it does something.

  • swissrn2002
    swissrn2002 Member Posts: 27
    edited May 2015

    I too just did my 3rd AC yesterday, however my WBCs have been great, I take neupogen for 7 days on day 3-9 and each time it goes up, 2nd chemo it was 6.5 and yesterday's chemo it was 8.2. Liver enzymes are creeping up at 45, but doing good so far. I too want to get to 4th dose done, two more weeks, yay. Then I'll be on Kadcyla and perjeta for one year, ugh. Is anyone else taking these medications?
  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited May 2015

    Wow you guys look totally natural in your wigs! That's amazing!

    So I was researching taxol at work today lol, and Wikipedia (which is always right lol) says Abraxane is both more effective and has fewer side effects than taxol. I'm wondering why they even give us taxol at all then? It also said most of the side effects are from the solvent used in paclitaxel, not from the taxol itself. I know they both come from yew trees...

    then I got to thinking,apparently the way to cure cancer is to first turn us into sweaty bald fat boobless men, then to inject us with tree sap. Are they trying to turn us into TREES next? Well whatever works I guess...

    then the cough ing sneezing nyquil rep in the next cubicle started to freak me out, so I came home. I'd like to dedicate the song Living Dead Girl by Rob Zombie to anyone having a tough go of it today....hugs!

  • sheshe3
    sheshe3 Member Posts: 70
    edited May 2015

    Hi all! I've been MIA on this board for a couple of weeks, but have read and stayed up to date. My third tx was two weeks ago and it w a s by far my worst. I barfed and puked my way through a week and a half. Feeling better these last couple of days...I'm also triple positive and and I get Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin and Perjeta every 3rd week. On the two in between weeks I get Herceptin alone... anyone else have this regimen? After #4 which is a week from today on Thursday, my chemo will be paused so that I can have my surgery. Once healed, the same chemos TCHP for two more cycles and then Herceptin for a year. I can't remember if MO talked rads, I'll need to ask... I love reading of all your experiences and feel like I know all you ladies. Thanks for all you share.

    Sheila

  • AndreaC
    AndreaC Member Posts: 220
    edited May 2015

    Congrats to everyone who is finished chemo or heading in to the home stretch!

    Sheshe: so sorry to hear of the rough time you have been having. Sending positive vibes your way!

    I am a week post TC#2 - gradually feeling better, more energy now but I just developed mouth sores. I thought I had escaped them this time around.

    So many of you have such complicated regimes. Mine is simple...BMX then 4 doses of TC, a month off, then radiation for 4-5 weeks and tamoxifen for 5 years after that. I had 2 tumours but both were HER2 negative. One of my tumours was triple negative - on the right side - but there was no lymph node involvement there. The left sided tumour was ER and PR positive and there is lymph node involvement there.

    Stupid cancer. Getting tired of this...I had colon cancer less than 2 years ago too.

    Sorry, I am having a pity party here today.

    I'll share with y'all my favourite "serious" wig though...

    image

  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited May 2015

    The Princesss

    I just finished my last of 4 AC txs and will be starting the THP regimen June 10th for 12 weeks ..........lets keep in touch and compare some of the side effects or NO side effects would be even better. My MO told me it will be much easier than AC and that is all I hope for. When do you start? Hope it is kind to you!



  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited May 2015

    AnewBeg. - I start June 16 (last AC is June 2) - good luck to us both! :-) Hopefully it's a BREEZE. ha!

  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited May 2015

    The Princess

    AMENNNNNNNN to that!

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

    Andrea you look so natural and beautiful in that wig! Mine makes me look like a mafia wife :( Mouth sores are the BEST! My favorite is when your throat swells closed to go along with it. I'm right there with you, sister. Can still breathe fine, it just feels like my throat is full if gravel. Shall we compare smoothie recepies?

  • Karen30
    Karen30 Member Posts: 135
    edited May 2015

    hello ladies

    I'm sorry I haven't been writing but I've been reading- AC#3 really knocked me sideways I only really finally felt better on Wednesday this week and I'm back at the SPA for the last one #4 tomorrow- I did work Friday last week and then this week but Friday all my staff even said I looked grey!!!! It was pretty miserable I have a 23 mile commute into work which is no picnic when you are feeling like crap- anyway last one tomorrow I will be celebrating that no matter how I feel- then it's on to taxol- I am really really hoping it is going to be easier 12 weeks feeling like this feels like a very long time!

    Congratulations to those of you who are done with AC and good luck to those headed to the spa in the next days - wishing you all an easy time

  • gkodad
    gkodad Member Posts: 188
    edited May 2015

      AndreaC, love your wig!  I wish mine was longer, but I figured my hair was going to be short for quite a while so might as well start short.

    We do all seem to have variations of different regimes.  Right now, I'm the only one doing dose dense AC/T in my infusion room, although she said it's a common regime - just a really hard one.    The oncology nurse wonders about the dose dense taxol, so that's giving me pause.  But I have time to ask questions.   Right now A/C 3 is sitting pretty well other than the steroid headache. 

    Love the cobi scarves but they are pretty expensive.  I have several circular neck scarves I got at Charming Charlie's that are less than $20.   - I loop one over my head, twist in the back, loop over again, pull back and secure with a matching scrunchy.  No tying and everyone compliments me on them.   Plus I'll use them when this is over.


     

  • Vanmama
    Vanmama Member Posts: 103
    edited May 2015

    Today was round 3...my WBC & ANC were both low, so the doctor had to be consulted to see if we could do it. Luckily he said yes so I got a late start. When I was done, I got a shot and will need to go back for another one tomorrow. I guess that might explain why I've been really tired for the last week!

    Laura

  • Addie29
    Addie29 Member Posts: 307
    edited May 2015

    Theprincess we are on the same schedule. I will have my last ac on the 2nd then onto taxol on the 16th. We will be enjoying our cocktails together:)

  • StacyMc329
    StacyMc329 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2015

    first taxol under my belt.!. Feeling pretty darn good. Too a long nap this afternoon (prolly from the Benedryl)then my daughters graduation this evening. Good luck this week everyone:).

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited May 2015

    Addie! Your wig looks BEAUTIFUL and you are almost done. You will be riding cloud 9 vs. the red devil!

    Congrats!!!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited May 2015

    Arlene, so are you ALL done now? Congratulations!!!

  • allicat1214
    allicat1214 Member Posts: 84
    edited May 2015

    Hi ladies,

    Like sheshe I've also been MIA for a few weeks. Had my 3rd TC last Friday and it kicked my butt....

    low grade fever...not over the 100.5 threshold....but enough to make walking out to bring garbage can in exhausting. major eye twitching. mouth sores. fingernails tender. wah wah wah.

    I'm separated from my husband and live alone with my dog. My 75 year old mom comes in Fri-Sun for the treatments. I really don't want her to stay any longer than she needs to.

    But this third time around I've been pretty much wiped out....fatigue and extreme exhaustion. Had a little nausea so took zofran and the Miralax and senokot but had plumbing problems. Nothing happened for 3 days which I know contributed to my lethargy. Then hellooo..... I have Crohn's disease and felt like a mini flare. (sorry if TMI)

    Also I think things have been a little rough this time around because my husband is putting pressure on me to go to marriage counseling, which I said I would do but AFTER chemo. He is an alcoholic, verbally abusive, abandoned me all the time, and has major anger and control issues. I left after diagnosis because I knew I couldn't heal in that environment. And while he says he wants to do all the right things, the very fact that he is pressuring me shows me that he hasn't really changed....

    Anyway, I don't want to have a pity party but I just felt really alone this time around. I should be happy that I have a peaceful place to heal....and I am. I do have a strong faith and know that God is with me, but sometimes I just want to hear and or see another human!

    Oh sometimes I feel like I'm going through this so that in the future I can help other women go through chemo who are alone.

    Anyway, I've been reading all your posts. Y'all are doing great! I so admire those of you who are working full time and have small children. I feel so inadequate that I can't handle my poor pitiful issues.

    So just one more TC for me in two weeks. Then a month off, then radiation x33.

    Congrats to those who are finished and good luck to those of us who still have a way to go!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited May 2015

    It just goes on and on, doesn't it. In my case, from diagnosis (February) through surgery, chemo and rads, I expect to be done by Thanksgiving. Then, of course, the AIs. And so many of you have way more treatments if HER2+ and other factors.

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

    Neighbor (who's a nurse) to my partner: So I notice that ksusan doesn't have hair.

    Partner: Yes, and she doesn't have breasts, either!


    Good times in the 'hood.

  • sheshe3
    sheshe3 Member Posts: 70
    edited May 2015

    Ksusan your partner's response is hilarious!!! Just the way to shut down a rude nosey neighbor! Laughing my butt off!!!😂

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

    Mad props to your partner for being quick on the draw, ksusan. That's awesome! 👍

    If I may ask, how do you keep your head warm when outside? I'm gonna be noseyes just like your neighbor, but my fuzzy bald head gets so cold when commando!

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

    Actually, can we all talk about scalp and wig care for a minute? Anyone know any well-groomed bald dudes to give us tips? Just because we lost our fuzz, don't mean we ain't peaches!

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

    I'm more hot than cold, an interesting change since my perimenopausal norm was cold flashes. I'm not sure when the neighbor saw me, since I've been wearing hats or caps outside, but she might have seen me go to the mailbox. Being a nurse, she might also have better radar for why someone would suddenly be wearing a head covering all the time.

    I've been wearing this and this in the flames colors and a few similar items. Thinking about getting the stars and stripes for the 4th of July.

  • Polly_Ester
    Polly_Ester Member Posts: 34
    edited May 2015

    Hi everybody, I'm late to the party but I started chemo late April. All was going pretty good until I was diagnosed with a blood clot just before my 3rd treatment. Now taking blood thinners (sub Q, in the stomach). I'll update my profile with the chemo drugs I'm on as I hadn't paid much attention. All I know for sure is it's some cytotoxic BS, and the first 4 are supposed to be the worst. I'll be having the 4th treatment next thursday then get switched to something lighter.

  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 540
    edited May 2015

    Hi All

    On my Decadron High...can't sleep and some SEs starting to kick in. But it's Ok, because I am Done with TC!

    I want to be a SURVIVOR.

    Recon surgery July 7, I am wondering how to get "normal" back? It's been 5 rocky months since that lousy mammo, but all of you, please know You Can Do this! All of you have helped me so much, and I will continue to send HUGS and Love. I am too emotional tonight to keep my head clear. My MO agreed I have been pretty lucky with most SEs, besides my eyes and chemo brain. I try to get on here more and wish I could respond better. Just please know I am thinking of all of you and sending you hugs and strength to get through!

    Love, arlene

    image

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

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