Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited December 2015

    I've gotten used to going around inside the house with nothing on my head. Now with one son home and the other arriving tomorrow, I've gotten a bit paranoid that I''ll forget to wear a chemo cap while they're here. They've never seen my head with the half-inch buzz cut, let alone the thinned fuzzy gray mess up there now, and I'm afraid if they do, and something happens to me, that's the image of me they'll remember, not the original "normal-looking" me. Vain, I know, but I can't help it :(

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  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 794
    edited December 2015

    exercise - I always have all day pain after the Neulasta but it's gone 48 hours later. When I started the DD taxol, the pain continued in my lower half for 5 days. My MO said since bone pain is a SE of both Neulasta and Taxol, it's a double whammy. It's not as bad as last time (maybe the Claritin), but still quite painful. Menopause could definitely be contributing.

    Does anyone else's scalp tingle right before a hot flash? So weird. Sometimes it wakes me up.


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  • ozigran
    ozigran Member Posts: 16
    edited December 2015

    Hi all. Had my 1st of 12 weekly Taxol yesterday. Feeling pretty good despite only 4 hours sleep last night. Had a phone call from MO today saying my liver function test was a little above normal. Strange, nurse never mentioned anything before Taxol, she said my blood work was ok. Have another blood test on Tuesday before 2nd dose on Wednesday. MO said she would monitor the levels and I will have to have a scan if no improvement.

    Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited December 2015

    My dear sweet dog made it to 12-yrs-old today! Each day with her is a gift; I am so grateful to have her with me :)

    We wish you a Merry Christmas! Happy Holiday! Joyful Whatever You Celebrate!

    image



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  • Cinque
    Cinque Member Posts: 240
    edited December 2015
    That is one good looking dog.  Happy birthday.  So much good news going on in our forum.  Hair growing back, tumours shrinking, chemo finishing.  For those that have a few to go take heart I found it so hard and discouraging the last couple of rounds but today was my last

    I made it and so will you.  My hair started growing back whilst on docetaxol  it sounds like Annies hair but it kind of symbolises new life for me..  Happy holidays lovely ladies thank you for advice, sharing your experiences and for being there xxx Maria

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  • Shopgal2
    Shopgal2 Member Posts: 649
    edited December 2015

    cinque congrats on finishing chemo

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited December 2015

    tessu, your dog is a total Sweetheart!

    Wishing joy of the season to all of you.

    Hugs, Octogirl

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited December 2015

    Woohoo Cinque/Maria! Love to read people's posts about their LAST DOSE --- great reminder that this chemo is NOT forever! My last dose will be next Tuesday, but right now I'm concentrating on enjoying Christmas :):):)

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  • Artista928
    Artista928 Member Posts: 2,753
    edited December 2015

    I start Taxotere for 4 rounds every 3 weeks on Tuesday. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!

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  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 794
    edited December 2015

    cutest dog, tessu!Huge congrats to those that are all done. I can't wait to get some energy back

    Despite the Neulasta incident, my counts were high, woo hoo! I love that nasty little devil, it works! I have my 4th Taxol (3rd DD) next Thursday. Ringing in the New year with a hefty dose of poison. ;)








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  • Minnesota_LisaFR
    Minnesota_LisaFR Member Posts: 316
    edited December 2015

    Cinque Maria - Congrats on your last! Everyone who finishes inspires me to keep my eyes on the finish line....

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  • AnnieB43
    AnnieB43 Member Posts: 724
    edited December 2015

    image

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  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 794
    edited December 2015

    merry christmas, ladies!!!

    Husband is sick and I'm running a low grade fever. Did my very best to be merry and bright for the kids all morning.




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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited December 2015

    GO AWAY, cajun's fever!!!! NO FEVERS ALLOWED TODAY!!!


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  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 794
    edited December 2015

    hahaha, thanks :) all the kids got the stomach bug too, but we still had a great christmas. Fever is all gone, thanks to tessu.

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited December 2015

    Wishing all you strong and brave ladies a restful sleep tonight with pleasant dreams :)

    I got to cuddle 6-week-old wiggly toller puppies

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  • Cinque
    Cinque Member Posts: 240
    edited December 2015

    Its already started my last chemo done on Xmas Eve and my husband just said everything will be back to normal in a couple of weeks time....awesome they really have no idea.  

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  • Shelly52
    Shelly52 Member Posts: 153
    edited December 2015

    For those have have completed chemo - has anyone considered doing a cleanse of any kind? Colon, liver, etc? I've read a few things but wonder what you all think. 

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  • Minnesota_LisaFR
    Minnesota_LisaFR Member Posts: 316
    edited December 2015

    Shelly - Where are you in your treatment? I know you've started Taxol - how's the neuropathy?

    Grey - If you're reading, please give us an update. I've been thinking about you a lot. Have you found a new provider? Did they get you on a Lovenox (Enoxiparin) alternative that's working for you?

    Tessu - I hope your Christmas with your sons was wonderful. And thanks for curing Cajun's fever. ; )

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited December 2015

    Back to earth after a lovely holiday :( : Went for bloodwork this morning, and just took down the Christmas tree. We usually leave it up through New Year's, but with chemo tomorrow then SEs, this was best. Had my husband pick me up some clear nail polish --- the chemo-deformed parts of my fingernails have reached the tips, and the edges are disintegrating. :( Bracing myself for tomorrow....

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  • El_Tigre
    El_Tigre Member Posts: 520
    edited December 2015

    I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and 2016 will be a better year for sure!


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  • tkemp67
    tkemp67 Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2015

    Went Wednesday for #5 taxol, blood count was too low

    doctor said it was best to skip a week. I am not happy about this, I had February 16th embedded in my head as last chemo. Has this happened to anyone else? How do you get blood back to a normal level, doctor said nothing I could do, my body had to build back up. He said something about having to lower the dose, this week???? If I needed the original amount of taxol and they cut back will that put me at risk? I go back Wednesday hoping it will be better.

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  • Minnesota_LisaFR
    Minnesota_LisaFR Member Posts: 316
    edited December 2015

    Tkemp - I have gotten through 6 (of 12) weekly Taxol treatments with many barely-adequate white blood counts, and I anticipate this will happen to me some time in the next six weeks. I asked my PA what I could do to boost my counts and she too said "Nothing." (She did say to be sure to eat a well-balanced diet, but had no supplement or particular diet advice.)

    Hang in there. We'll ring our bells in February - maybe just not exactly when we'd planned.

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  • El_Tigre
    El_Tigre Member Posts: 520
    edited December 2015

    Tkemp67 - I hope your blood levels get back to normal. I have not had that happen to me but I remember reading about another brave woman having to wait because of blood counts on this forum. I'm sorry you have a delay, I know it's frustrating that you have to wait.

    I am aiming to get my last dose on 12/31.I hope I can get that last dose and be done with it, but i have a neuropathic itch and I'm afraid that my ONC might delay or split up the last dose.

    for anyone interested in mediating to planet music

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  • Shopgal2
    Shopgal2 Member Posts: 649
    edited December 2015

    cinque congrats on last chemo 🎉🎉🎉

    Tkemp are you weekly taxol or DD? I never skipped a week, but I was DD and had reduced 3rd & 4th dose. My mo said I could have stopped at the 2nd taxol & I would have had 80% of my total chemo. I completed all my chemos, and with the reduced doses I still had over 96-97% of the total amount. Mo said it would not put me more at risk. Plus I starts rads in Jan & that will kill any stray cancer cells. Sounds like reduced doses are common.

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  • tkemp67
    tkemp67 Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2015

    Minnesota_LisaFR- During AC, my counts stayed up, but I guess that was due to the neulasta. The blood count has gone down with each taxol treatment. I hope you do not have to skip a dose. I was definitely emotional for days after.

    El_Tigre- So happy you are almost done, and really glad your blood counts have stayed up the entire time. Tell me your secret! I thought we were on same schedule? Did you have to have 12 taxol treatments and 4 A/C? Thanks.

    Shopgal2- Yes weekly Taxol. Good to know that a lot of people have to have reduced dose, been worried about it.

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  • El_Tigre
    El_Tigre Member Posts: 520
    edited December 2015

    Tkemp - I am on 4 AC and 4 DD Taxol. so far.. so good except the itch.

    My hubby and I try and eat alot of iron and some red meat the week of my treatments. It's working I guess, I'm still below average but high enough to get it.

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  • Aga
    Aga Member Posts: 80
    edited December 2015

    Exercise- what type of surgery are you having?  

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  • cajunqueen15
    cajunqueen15 Member Posts: 794
    edited December 2015

    tkemp, the exact same thing happened to me. I had 5 neupogen shots and took e-coli k12. It delayed trx 6 days and I started to panic. I had to push HARD to get trx on the 6th day. I know my body and I need the neulasta, so I switched to DD. I have had 2 DD Taxol + Neulasta without incident and scheduled for 3rd on Thurs. Counts are WAY up today, so plan to proceed. My MO said that the only time weekly Taxol is rec'd is for trip neg. BUT DD is more toxic, more risk of neuropathy. I always have bone pain, but no other issues. I'm actually getting an extra dose... 1 weekly and 4 full DD.

    ETA - I have an absurdly high ki67 score (78%), so I need every last drop of poison, lol.

    Does anyone know their molecular subtype? I am guessing I am Luminal B or that rare breed of basal like that is not triple negative, but I don't know for sure.



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  • tkemp67
    tkemp67 Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2015

    cajunqueen- So I guess I could go back Wednesday and blood still be low. Because they didn't give me anything!

    A/C was suppose to be the worse, the strongest and blood count stayed up with the nuelasta shots. Definitely caused a lot of bone pain.

    I am ER+ and HER -

    My MO said most people handled the weekly taxol better. I dunno, I just listen to the doctors. I didn't get any second opinions. When I found out I had BC, I got apt with BS the same day I found out. First surgery less than a week after. second surgery within 2 weeks. Then Started Chemo 2 1/2 weeks after second surgery. I couldn't think or comprehend what was going on. All I could do is cry. I was in total fog. I just wanted it out of me. Now I am scared I rushed everything and maybe I will regret my decisions. I guess all I can do is pray and have faith it will be OK.

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