Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

JosieDS...thanks for the info on your side effects.  I do not have the hot flashes, only the muscle and joint aches that you described as having.   I just have it in the back of my head that its related to other "things" that I don't want to think about.  So at least hearing what I have is common and others are experiencing it puts my mind at ease....well at least for a little while.  No I did not have the oncotype test.  My MO said that since I had one node positive and I was grade 3 with a KI67 at 27%, my oncotype score would probably come back high, plus it would take 3 weeks to get the results.. it just seemed like he was not interested in having the test done for me.  Now I am thinking now that I know more I should have had it done.  Did you have it and if so what did the results state if you don't mind me asking..

Thinkingpositive, Check out the Femara topic; it's been very helpful to me. I second the responses you received above. I've been on letrozole about 2 months. The joint pain and stiffness was horrible in the beginning, but has improved. I still have a hard time standing up after sitting or getting out of bed or the car. I'm hoping it will continue to get better. I also changed manufacturers of the letrozole, so that may have helped, too. I'm seeing a therapist to regaining full movement in the shoulder on my surgery side. I did the arm exercises post surgery, but after rads I noticed tightness in my side, breast and shoulder. It seems to be partially due to being unable to move due to the burns from rads and scar tissue formation. It's kind of painful, so I thought I would mention it in case it's something affecting you, too.

ThinkingPositive, I have no problem in sharing! I did have the Oncotype test. I got an 18. I was node negative and invasion negative....but I am hardly PR positive (3%) so my MO said I should do chemo anyway. I did four rounds of TC. The 18 Oncotype score is on the border between intermediate risk and low risk of recurrence. With chemo and the AI therapy, my risk of recurrence is about 8-9 percent. Without chemo, it was 11 percent. I did the chemo because my MO didn't like other factors...like the PR. I am ER positive and HER2 negative, and my KI67 was low, 7%. Mysunshine, my chemo side effects are long gone. You will get better. I too had exhaustion and bone pain during TC. PM me if you want more information.

Cats and Sunshine - You are in my thoughts!!!!    Glad your lung scan was clear Sunshine.  You are both almost through!   My round 4 was better than 2 and 3, mostly staying on top of the meds and figuring out how to manage the hives/fever etc helped.   For some reason, I had no hoarseness at all even though my Cytoxan was the same, day 4 always the worst for me too.    I am feeling so much better, away from the boards, lost track of weeks PFC, diminishing side effects, and down 4 lbs of the bizarre weight that just ballooned on (10 - 12 lbs total in chemo).    I have started radiation and Tamoxifen but am determined to be one of those people who lose weight on Tamox - surely it is taking away my appetite???????     The mind is powerful - may be I can convince myself!     Hopefully that is the best news as I found the "unearned" weight so discouraging.   

Samaileku - you made my day!!!!!!  

Love to you all, special hugs to you who are still attending the spa.  

Here's a list of SE: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/side_effects

Thanks you guys! xoxoxo

mysunshine48 and others who have been through rd #3 do you mind telling us about rd #3 or have you lived it enough and are done with it? I'm just curious as I'm just past rd #2 and we are hoping to take our usual family vacation a week after rd #3. So many moving parts in this with kids jobs, hubby's job, dogs, and then adding chemo side effects! I'm at day 7 for rd #2 and was surprised by nausea yesterday. I never had nausea with rd #1 and thought I was far enough out to be safe.

Also, a question to those who have tissue expander(s). Are you still getting fills during chemo? My ps doesn't want to fill until after blood test to see how white blood cells are doing which had basically made it impossible to schedule and I'm frustrated. I KNOW,,,,let it gooooooo, there is no control! HA!

peace!

Oh, and no, I am not getting fills during chemo. Chemo has been enough without adding fills. I am at about 500cc's now so plan to wait until 3 or 4 weeks after last treatment.

My chemo was last fall and I found the SE to be predictable on their timing. For example, weakest days would be 4-6, nausea over by day 7 and so on. I experienced more fatigue with each round. I also got some odd SE which didn't stop me from doing things (such as watery eyes "taxo-tears").

Does anyone else wonder when the phone will ring and it will be one of the millions of Drs you've seen telling you that it's all a mistake?? It's someone else who has cancer!

Congratulations, Cats! Woohoo! Chemo is done!

I'm on letrozole, too. Started about 2 months ago. The SE are nothing compared to the ones I had with chemo.

Have you joined the Femara thread? I found it helpful.

I strongly recommend you have a dexascan (bone scan) before you start letrozole. I noticed on the boards that some docs aren't scheduling this for their patients.

Congrats to you, Sunshine! Happy dance time!

Thanks, Cats, feeling pretty good today.....steroids probably giving me energy. In fact, I am going to walk to the community gym and walk on the treadmill and maybe a little on the bike. Shot this afternoon. Ugg! Then, the crash and probably bone pain, but with the relief I can focus on getting stronger. I need to find out about estrogen inhibitors, I still have exchange surgery and from what Inread cannot be on that prior to surgery. Still much to find out. Plus I am dealing with Coumedin too.

Thanks PoppyK! How are you doing after being out of trestment 7 months?

To all of you, thank you for all your support

You should be fine getting the bone scan after you start letrozole. Some women weren't even told about the bone scans until after they had been on AIs for years. How can the docs know if you experience bone loss without that baseline scan?

The last round of chemo hit me the hardest as far as fatigue went. I think I just got worn down by all of the rounds. So take it easy, rest, exercise as you can and remember to eat.

I'm doing okay. Trying to find that new normal. I have a full head of chemocurls. If I stretch the curls out, my hair about 3 inches long. Getting the weight off is another matter.

I have met several people who opted for no reconstruction. It's another big procedure and they didn't want to go through it. Some wore foobs, others just went flat. They looked great either way. But most importantly, they were happy with their decision!

Good luck with the nasty neulasta shots.

Hi Suzanne, Welcome to the boards! Have you met with a radiation oncologist? They might be the best source for information. Here's a link for info on when rads is appropriate... including after a Mx.

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/when_appropriate

It depends on the location of the cancer, how much breast tissue remains, lymph node involvement and so on.

Since the cancer invaded the lymph channels and your nodes, rads is recommended.

Hope this helps you!