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

Sunshine, Thanks for the reminder on the lymphadema. I had thought about that initially when we thought about traveling, but it slipped to the back burner while my mind has been on chemo. I'll make sure to add the precaution to my lost of things to talk to the surgeon about.

Sue, yes and no. I initially picked ctca because I didn't like prior experiences I have had in several Phoenix hospitals AND because a close family friend went to ctca for colon cancer treatment and highly recommend it. (This being after he had some really horrible experiences at the same hospitals I didn't like.) When we made our first trip to ctca, I could not have been happier with the level of compassionate care I received from literally everyone we interacted with. On top of that, the MO I was assigned to (who had just joined ctca as an MO and as head of their clinical research program) was not only highly experienced in triple negative, but also went above and beyond establishing a bond with me as a person. He, and all of ctca, really commit to the mind & body philosophy and that really convinced me that ctca was where I needed to be.

NOW for the NO part of the answer. Dragging myself 1500 miles from home (and my 11 y.o. ds) every 3 weeks is taking its toll on me emotionally. Just as the tsa lady who witnessed my breakdown over the sheer thought of what it will be like to fly 4 more times after this for chemo, for surgery, for x number of check ups and tests for the next x years. There is no doubt that I am making a hard situation harder by traveling to ctca for treatment. That said, I won't trade my MO for the convenience of not traveling. At least not yet.

Hey ladies! You all have been very busy!

Way to go Kbee! That tshirt actually got me a little emotional.

I'm heading for AC#4 on Wednesday. The fatigue has been cumulative with me. It took me slightly longer than a week to recover and feel like myself again. But, when I finally feel like myself....girls, I feel good! I'm guessing from everyone's posts that #4 is the worst? I'm just happy to be halfway done.

I've noticed my fingernails have started to blacken and the bottoms of my feet are sore, like when you've been out dancing all night. I even have small dark sporadic spots on the palms of my hands.

and yes, littleblue, I can't wait to get my port out too! It's in a weird spot and sits right under my sit belt. And isn't the most attractive sight when trying to wear a tank.

Good luck to anyone heading to chemo!

Littleblue, it sounds like the schedule is:

• Last TC on Thursday/last Neulasta on Friday
• Have PT/lymphedema education and prevention consult (with a sleeve Rx and follow-ups as needed)
• Check blood work in 3 weeks
  • Get port removed after this, hallelujah, as soon as I want, which is A-freaking-SAP
    • Have some sort of emphatic whoop-ass port-removal celebration
• Go for radiation sim/positioning ASAP (no wait required as long as I can hold my arms in the position they need)
• ~7-14 days later, begin radiation
  • Repeat daily for 6.5 weeks (includes boosts)
  • And probably start tamoxifen
  • While becoming highly buff and being one of those women who doesn't gain weight on tamoxifen. Can you say "weight-bearing upper-body exercises" and "Zoomba"?
• Get a pocket bra and set or two of removable boobs when I can stand to try on anything constricting
• Try out air travel/lymphedema risk with a short flight in the US
• Go on a women's only vacation somewhere with a topless beach and have all the fine middle-aged lesbians and bi women say, "Ooh, you're so brave and beautiful! Let me know if your wife ever leaves you!"
• Have a recurrence
• Live another 48 years to a nice round 100

just wanted to share a photo of me and my youngest who's 2 1/2.

addie29: how many pills a day do you take? I take a total of 4 pills a day...seems like a lot!!

I also take 4 mg but would like to go up to 8mg since taxotere is causing issues they also gave me 20mg iv day of infusion ugh just thinking about it makes me want to cry I don't know if I can do this 3 more times! Addie love the picture we have to hold our little ones tight during times like these

ksusan, you Crack me up! It's good to know what to expect. Especially at the topless beaches! I think you are brave and beautiful and I would totally hit on you lol, but it would make my husband sad and i would never disrespect your wife! 😊I plan to live to 100...my great aunt had cancer and a bilat no recon in the 1980s and she is 102 and going strong. My cousin had it in 1993 and she is fine...never thinks about it. Why shouldn't we all? Statistics say we will and in this I plan to be totally average!

Gingeel, all my fingernails have black near the cuticle. Just waiting to lose them on Taxol. Barf. And my feet are messed up. Should a been icing all along post run. Kbeeee did warn me...

ankledolphin, Dang I only get Dex in my IV! No other steroids, and it's never enough to even keep me awake! Must be a CT thing?

Addie, what a cute daughter! She looks just like you!

Ok, finally got my 13 miles...it only took me 3 days lol. Kbeeeee is such an inspiration!

How's everyone else doing? Hanging in there? Feeling good? Still want to hike in Glacier next year? Happy Monday!

ankledolphin, I take 16 mg the day before and after Taxotere, and get 20 mg before the infusion.

Addie my MO made it sound like it's going to be a breeze compared to AC... After reading some posts I'm nervous too but we have to hope for the best for us....... prepare for the worst hope for the best.... This too shall pass

omg, addie! Your daughter is so cute and huggable! Thanks for sharing.

Reading everyone's post..YEAH for those on AC #4 and wishing you few SE. For everyone at the bar this week, I hope your bodies understand that there are many years ahead of a really great life. I am meeting a friend who had a very aggressive, rare BC (she will tell me which one) on Wed for lunch....she is 3 years post treatment and counting.

Like littleblue's t-shirt: Boom, Cancer! It's a chronic disease and we will hold it at bay!🌈

I put my feet on ice for 15-20m every evening to deal with the sore, dancing red feet syndrome. I also have random dark spots appearing on my feet and palms, darkening nail beds. I think I am going to join KSusan for her walk on the beach...sounds like fabulous feedback will come of it! And I do like my reconstructed breasts which won't droop. :

ankledolphin

My regimen of decadron was the same as yours. 8mg the morning bfore, 8 mg the night before. 10 mg in the IV bag at infusion, 8 mg that night. Then 8mg in am day after, 8mg at night. Decadron helps prevent the taxotere from causing serious fluid retention and anaphylaxis. I had No nausea, little fluid retention and no allergic reactions. Did have a "steroid crash " on the day after stopping the decadron, but moodiness and fatigue better than nauseaa, vomitting, or allergic reaction. Your dose is standard for taxotere. But if it's bothering you, talk with your MO, and maybe adjustments can be made. Wishing you few SEs, and Hugs!

Arlene

Anyone have tips for hot flashes? Had treatment #3 Friday and this round has hit me hard. Racing pulse, hot flashes, extreme fatigue, heartburn have been the worst this round. Hope all of you pushing through. All in my prayers!

Good luck ladies!! I'm onto AC#4 today and I think Addie is too! I think there's at least one other lady going today? Then we're done with AC! GO US!

I hope those that got meds yesterday feel good! KBeee, good luck today too!!

That other lady might be me. I'm in for AC 3 this afternoon. Heather

Good luck Heather! I will be thinking of all of us, hoping this is an easy treatment today!! whoever is missing gross weather, it landed here -it's 55 and rainy :-(