Starting Chemo January 2015
Comments
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Marjo – July 11th will be here so quick. What a great way to celebrate the end of Taxol. Once rads start, you will find that time goes by very fast as well.I'm very sorry to hear that your friend has just been dx, but I'm sure you will be a great source of information and help to her. It is refreshing to hear her treatment was handled so quickly. Our healthcare system takes a beating most of the time but hearing that and how great your medical team has been for you, is uplifting. Congratulations on your new place and happy shopping too!
Sweethope – that's crappy about the effects on radiation on the LE! Hopefully the last ½ of rads goes by quickly and doesn't cause too much more trouble so you can get that under control again. Sorry you have had to deal with that at all though.
Lara – It is great we have this website to share information so you can ask your medical team in Flower Mound what they recommend to avoid LE during rads. Maybe wearing a sleeve during treatment like Sweethope would be a good suggestion. BTW, my feet feel like you described yours also! They bother me a lot at night too for some reason.I will have to ask my MO about that when I go back in July for a follow up visit. I'm hoping this will go away but starting to think it won't.
PMR53 – I had a little chuckle about the brown helmet comment. I am starting to see some darker hairs coming in now but it seems so slow! I miss my hair too but I really miss my eyelashes. I'm not seeing anything yet on those but I do see my eyebrows coming along. Such a slow process and I'm very impatient!!!
I am sick of being sick and tired too! I wish everyone a speedy end to TX and a quick recovery!
Wendy
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HI all,
It's been a while since I posted. I will also finish Taxol on July 10th
. I have 7 treatments done now with #8 on Friday. I had a rough time after #6 and basically slept for the first 4 days, except to get groceries,which was a disaster. From my car to my apartment my arms gave out twice by just turning to jelly from weakness. I was also having a lot of nausea and difficulties tying my shoes because my fingers felt like sausages. My MO decided that was too extreme, so they cut me to a 90% dose for #7, and wow what a difference! I have barely even needed naps this week and most of the sensation is back in my fingers. I am still shaky and nauseous, but anti-nausea pills seem to control that. Other than that, it is hot flashes in hot weather and usual muscle achiness.July 10th can't come soon enough for me. 5 more treatments left, then a 3-week 'break' which I understand will be full of pre-rad stuff before starting rads in August. I hope I get my appointments for those soon. 6 weeks. Looking forward to October when I will have my surgery and hopefully be on the final healing end of this journey.
Still dancing though...one day at a time.
Jenn
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At a Women Warriors' cooking class yesterday, I sat next to a woman who had lymphodema from just having two sentinel nodes removed. I hope you all go to a lymphoma screening at a cancer center near you. They are held once a month, don't take up much of your time, and you will get a baseline measurement of your arm. Hope you never ever get this, but just having the right information and a measurement to file away, just in case, is a good thing.
BTW: We made a mango salsa that was yummy! The ACS also hosted an Ice Cream Social on Monday evening with a barber shop quartet and a fashion show with men and women in different stages of their cancer treatments and a 23 yr. survivor. Hope you all outside the U.S. have an equally active Cancer Society.
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Which leads me to wonder where is dicecleland from Dubai? Hope you are well and tolerating chemo.
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Marjo and Sweethope- thank you so much for all the LE info. I'll definitely check on doing a screening. I'm impressed by your team.
Spookisgirl- glad to see you back! I'm sorry you have suffered so many SE!
I just had my 11th Taxol infusion today! One week and I'm done. I think this has been the longest six months of my life. My BMX will be July 31st and my PS can't get me in for DIEP Flaprecon until next February. Arghh....
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jlstacey, I'm getting out the dancing shoes to celebrate at the finish line! Almost there. And it has been the longest 6 months of your life. The wait for the recon will give you time to heal, and get stronger. Not really a bad thing. I feel so much better going to Yoga, and being in the LiveStrong program at the Y. Loving that for sure. And I am amazed how much better I look with all of the exercise. So a good thing in the end. I just regret that I never made "me" time before this crap started. But I do love Yoga, so relaxing, and my stress level has been so much better. Good Luck, let us know what time the dance party starts! Cheryl
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Jenn
I am sorry about all your SE. It's amazing they only cut it 10% and you had a better outcome. You have had a long 6 months and need a break. I pray July 10 comes fast and you begin to recover. Will you have BMX in October? I am dreading my surgery in October. I got a LX in May but have decided BMX. I pray that all of this is worth it.
Cheryl- I glad to hear you are doing yoga I have done it before and now that I am recovering from surgery I could do it too. You have inspired me. Is this Yoga for BC patients ? Also do you wear a wig or go with hat? My hair is 1/4 inch. Glad to be on break!
JlStacey- glad to hear your almost done too!!! So happy for you. Why can't PS do this surgery sooner ? If I can ask, did you ever think of TE? I don't know what to do for recon for sure. I have to decide by October.
Wendy- glad I made you laugh about my brown helmet hair. I am getting used to it.
- Sweethope- hope you are feeling good! Mango Salsa sounds delicious ! Yes where is DiceCleland ?
- Love to all.
- Sorry for italics and bullets. Not sure what happened.
- PMR53 almost 54
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PMR53/54, when is the birthday party? I go to Yoga at the cancer center, and I love it. It is customized to all of us in the class since we are all cancer patients, survivors, and care givers. It is a gentle movement class. And I feel so much better for it.
I wanted to share my picture from the Relay for Life that I walked the survivor lap and many more last week. It was a great experience. And so much fun. But I'm on the left, and that is really my hair. I finished Taxol on 11/25 and I already had a haircut 4 weeks ago. I take 800 mg of Biotin daily, and have since I finished Taxol. But I really like my super soft and wavy "do". I can do my hair in 5 minutes and leave on the fly for work. Not too sure if I will ever go back to the coloring, blow drying, and fussing with a flat iron. This is way too easy!! Your hair will grow, once mine started it went a little crazy. I hope yours grows fast!
Cheryl Kathy Karen, friend from Radiation
Currently on chemo
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Great pic Beachbum!!
I found out yesterday they are going to keep me at the 90% for the rest of my treatments. Next one in 3 hours. I hope the SEs stay light!
PMR--I had an Lx in December, but because they found an entire bed of DCIS around the IDC tumours that didn't show up on any scans almost all of my margins were too small for it to be considered a success. So a UMx is necessary for my cancer side. Since I am going to do reconstruction and refuse to have an FF cup reconstructed, I am doing a BMx so both sides can match. That and it is disconcerning that there turned out to be a huge block of DCIS that didn't show up on my ultrasounds, mammos or MRI. I don't want to be worried that it could be hiding again in either breast. I am nervous about the surgery too, but have to get through chemo and rads before I can worry about it
My PS won't even see me again until later because there is so much time still.I will echo--this is definitely the longest 6 months of my life.
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LCH033,
You mentioned pain in your feet and only have 3 more treatments left. Make sure you are taking care of your feet. I have neurapothy so bad in my feet that all my toes are numb. The balls of my feet are numb and so are the heels but they are painful. My MO and I decided to stop my chemo treatments and I only had 3 more to go. The neurapothy also formed in my right hand but it is only numb not painful in my hand.
The hope of stopping my chemo is to prevent the neurapothy from becoming permanent. And in my case there is no statistical proof that by not finishing the last 3 treatments it will change the outcome of the cancer possible reoccurring.
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BeachBum- love love your picture. You look healthy and happy. So glad you got to walk the Survivor walk. My clinic has Yoga but it's 30 miles away. I may be able to go to another one closer.
My birthday this year is going to be a quiet but fantastic one. I plan on watching the sun come up over the Haleakala Crater in Maui. Always wanted to do this. Just me and DH.
Spookisgirl- makes sense what you have planned for surgery. I was going to do a Uni but changing my mind. I have the summer to decide. Hoping the time goes fast and you get chemo completed at 90%🙏!! Is your PS in Victoria? I visited there and loved it. We did the Empress for tea, wax museum and Buchart gardens.
Have a good weekend sisters.
PMR53/54 (6/30) lol
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Yep, PS is in Vic. Love it here even though I am an east coast girl originally. The Cancer clinic here has been great.
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Beachbum, great pic!
Spookisgirl, Rads are shrinking my LX girl. If I was a young hot dancer, I would want a matching set...good call.
PMR, You just reminded me that my birthday is on Tuesday. I'll be watching the Rads machine rise and set on my left boob! Maui sounds like much more fun.
Cat, Congratulations on being done with chemo! Hope this will cure the neuropathy...it sounds miserable.
Have a great SE free weekend, Everyone. XOXO, Becky
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Beachbum - You look great! I'm sort of leaning towards leaving my hair untreated too but I guess I will know for sure when I see some real growth. Right now, I see a lot of white hairs and patches of dark. My head sort of looks like a dalmatian! LOL
Spookiegirl - I hope the 90% treatment made a big difference and you are not having too many SE's! Keep on Dancing!
PMR53 - Helmet hair or not, I think it is great you have enough hair to color! A trip to Maui for your birthday sounds wonderful!
Sweethope - Wishing you a happy birthday tomorrow! I hope you will to something special.
Mommacat4 - I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with neuropathy issues. I have some issues with my feet but luckily my hands are good. Did they recommend anything to help you with this or is it just a question of time? I find one of the worst times for me is at night as I am trying to fall asleep. They tingle and feel like they are burning sometimes especially if I have been walking and/or standing on them more that day. Very frustrating! I hope yours improves quickly now that you are done chemo as well!
LCH033 - I am just going to echo Mommacat4 and hope that you are being helped somehow with the neuropathy issues! I am just about 12 weeks PFC and can't believe I am still dealing with it.
jlstacey - Only 1 more chemo to go! That's is so wonderful! I remember the burst of good feeling I had when I knew I was done. It is a long haul but look how far we've come!
In addition to the neuropathy, I can't believe how dry my skin still is! I have to admit that I'm not drinking the same amount of water that I did through chemo and Alberta tends to be on the dry side, but the dryness is annoying me now. I guess I just thought things would get better a lot faster. I will have lots of questions for my MO when I go back on Jul 9th for a follow up.
Wendy
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SweetHope
After Rads today I hope you get to enjoy and pamper yourself!! Hugs to you Dear!!
PMR53
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Wow! Thank you!
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I was thinking we should start a list of who is done with Chemo. Here is what I have.
PMR53 - completed 3/16. Herceptin only
MommaCat-done
Spookisgirl - almost done
Beacbum-done
LCHO33-almost done
Sweethope- done
RVGal-done
JStacy-chemo complete
Marjo- complete Chemo July 11 and then Herceptin only
Suladog- chemo complete, Herceptin only
Lorie- chemo complete, Herceptin only
Noor46- chemo complete.
TeriMP- chemo complete 3/15
Tortylass-chemo complete 3/26
If I am forgetting one of us let me know. It's been a long 6 months. Some of us are dealing with so many SE from chemo, RX and surgery too. I pray for us all to complete this BC fight and be survivors for many years. We can help the others that come to this sight with so many questions. I am blessed to have found it.
Love and hugs
PMR53
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PMR,
Add me to the list, started T/H on Jan 29th, 12 wks and done on April 17th , herceptin alone until end of Jan 2016.
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Me too...finished 5-13-15, will continue with Herceptin til Jan 2016
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SweetHope, Happy Birthday! I hope you have a magical evening!
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Sweethope, happy birthday!
Pmr53, I finished chemo too 1-6-15
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Sweethope- Happy HAPPY Birthday!!
Beachbum- your photo looks great! I do need to get out and exercise. Yoga sounds good too. I have to find childcare to do it though. I also don't really want to lose weight before recon because I'm doing DIEP Flap. I'll be doing a dance party the week of July 8th while DH and I have a vacation in the Florida Keys! Then I'm having a party to thank my friends, celebrate the end of chemo and keep them sweet to keep helping.
PMR53/54- I am having a BMX July 31st and will have tissue expanders put in then. I'm not looking forward to seven months of TE! Your birthday celebration sounds wonderful and so well deserved!
Solidified- I hope your last chemo went well and the SE were minimal. Your surgery choices make total sense
Mommacat- I'm so sorry about your horrible neuropathy. I hope that it is improving now that you ended chemo. In the last few days I have felt some to tingling in my hands and feet. Because I'm about to finish chemo, I'm not worried about it. I feel very blessed that I didn't experience what has caused problems and pain for so many of you.
Noor- congrats on finishing June 1st!!!
My kids are out of school and both seeing therapists. My 9 year-old daughter is stressed about my upcoming surgery but her therapist is definitely helping her. I'm focusing on them for the next few weeks, instead what needs to get done around the house. I think they my attention.
I have a fun week- physical tomorrow ( for insurance, so stupid under the circumstances), last chemo Thursday and CT Scan early Friday!
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Hello everyone,
SweetHope, Happy birthday. Enjoy! You deserve it.
Pmr53, that list is great. I will be taking Tamoxifen for ten years, don't forget cherylfg and Brandi in the list.
Beachbum, great pic.
Rv6gal, my MO prescribed Gabapentin for the pain caused by the neurapothy. It helps reduce the pain but does nothing for the numbness or tingling. I have to be careful when walking especially barefoot. I stepped on my shoe the other day and tore the skin under 2 of my toes but didn't know it until I saw the blood because I couldn't feel it. Neurapothy is nothing to be taken lightly so if any of you have numbness or tingling and/or pain please get it checked out.
Jlstacey, I haven't had any change since ending chemo. My MO said it could take a long time to start feeling any changes that is providing this neurapothy is not permanent. He doesn't think it is permanent so hopefully I won't have to deal with this the rest of my life. He tried to keep it from getting worse by ending my chemo 3 treatments early.
My hair had grown to almost an inch. It is very soft and salt and pepper looking. It seems to be straight not curly but I guess that could change as it gets longer. I am not going to color or perm my hair. I don't even think I will cut it for about a year. I am very thankful just to have hair back again. I still wear a head cover because it is way too hot and the sun is way too intense not to cover my head. It is going to be 111 degrees again today. It feels like it's 130 degrees. The steering wheel is so hot I can't touch it.
Well ladies, have a wonderful day and praise God that we have come this far in our treatments and recovery.
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Momnacat- that is very hot🌞🌞
Thank you for adding to the list! I want to include everyone of us.
My neuropathy is better, just residual to left heel. I hope yours resolved the further away from chemo you are. I am glad your hair is growing. An inch is pretty darn good. Mine is a slow grow.
JStacy- I am so glad your done Thursday. Finish line at last. Surgery is quick for you! Hugs to you for all you are going through. No Rads??
Have a good day all !
PMR53
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mommacat- I hope it isn't permanent. Are there therapies you can do? 111- That is crazy hot! I just looked at where you live. A friend of mine from high school used to live in Glendale.
PMR53- I'm not sure about rads yet. As of now, I don't need it. After we have final pathology on breast tissue and SNB results I will know for sure.
My hair is at least 1/4 inch long, if not longer. I just don't know what color it is! It's light- that's what I know. I finally got brave today and went bald in public at the local swim club. It was hard to do, but I felt so much cooler! I'm not sure why it is so hard, but it was.
Jena
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Happy Belated Birthday Sweethope!!
I actually went to get my head shaved today lol Because not all of it fell out during the AC phase I had longer pieces mixed with shorter and the entire this just looked scruffy to me. Now I am all the same length all over and since I have a scalp again it should grow better (I hope!).
Jena--I can relate to not really knowing what colour your hair is! Mine I think has finally decided to be red again, but it is hard to tell. When it is short is almost white (but not grey--red hair reflects light, instead of absorbing it--so it is almost invisible in the light), but as it grew some it darkened down. Some of the strands seemed to have two colours on them--one pre, one post AC. Now that I have it shaved short again it seems like it is going to be red again all over. In about a month I hope to be able to tell for sure!
mommacat--sorry to hear about the neurapathy. knock on wood I have mostly ok so far although on treatment days everything goes all tingly--hands, feet and face. Mostly I feel the reduced sensation in my hands. I am starting to get some bad swelling though, especially around my right ankle and foot and that is starting to cause pain.
Anyone else feel/felt like they were carrying around 25 lbs of extra water while on taxol? I usually feel bloated the first couple days after treatment and night of, but this time it is almost constant.
Jenn
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Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone. I had a nice quiet day. DH bought me a new iPad with more storage for photos of grand kids and games. This weekend we drive 4 hours to see my sister and family.
RT is going fine...22 down, 4 more whole breast, then 7 boosts to go. The girl turned pink and hot after Monday's tx, but it returned to normal by the next morning. I'm not using any lotions yet...I don't want to hold the heat in. Fatigue is something else...I took two naps yesterday...first was after my morning coffee...second was after lunch...all I have to do is close my eyes and I'm sound asleep.
I swear I've got polar bear hair growing on my head. Polar bears have transparent hair that reflects white. Looking at mine close up, it looks odd.
Jenn, I have had several rounds of edema where my skin is so sensitive from being stretched. I'm real concerned about your swollen foot. I hate to keep harping on and on about lymphodema, but it can affect your feet. Please have it evaluated.
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Sweethope- I was totally exhausted during radiation too. Glad to hear your skin is holding up so far. Enjoy your weekend with family!
Jenn, I would ask about your foot as well. I get swelling in my left foot/ankle which I will mention to my MO. I did hear Taxotere causes fluid retention so maybe taxol does as well?
Jena, I don't wear anything on my head either and to be honest I tend to forget about it. I think it makes me less self conscious that way. It is refreshingly cooler which I like.
Mommacat4, ouch! I can't walk barefoot at all. I just lost a toenail yesterday too! Sure hope this all goes away
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Hi PMR53, please add me to the list as well, I finished chemo 03-19-2015.
Wishing all you ladies the best!!
Teri
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chemo is done! Hallelujah!!!!
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