Starting Chemo in October 2015

Yay MDW-I hope your chipotle bowl is tasty! ( I think they are past that e.coli problem)

I've been feeling yucky from # 5-went for much-need fluids this morning. I am trying to eat more protein and was able to get down some scrambled eggs, greek yogurt with blueberries and some wasabi and ginger potato chips. not too bad!

I missed a few posts so I'll try to catch up later. Happy Friday!

Amy, I'm sorry about the yuckiness. Glad you went for some fluids and that that helped. Wasabi ginger chips sound yummy to me!

Kimmer, so I'm almost sure that rads will happen for me--it's a certainty if I have the lumpectomy. I have both MRI and mammogram scheduled for next week, and hopefully my surgical oncologist will commit to moving forward with the lumpectomy shortly thereafter.

My MO recommended chemo plus targeted therapy pre-surgery for me for a couple of reasons. One is that I'm HER2 positive, and going the neoadjuvant route meant I could take both Herceptin and Perjeta--Perjeta is currently only approved by the FDA to be taken prior to surgery. And the other reason was that, if I wanted to do breast conservation surgery (which I do), shrinking the masses further would improve my chances. I actually have more than one thing going on in that crazy left boob--there is the primary IDC mass, and there's also DCIS. I just shorthanded it in my DX, but suppose I should clarify it there. There are also several lymph nodes involved--they just biopsied one, but there are indications that several are affected--and I suppose I should clarify that as well.

I had to go pull up the report from the biopsies back in September to get the grading info. Both the IDC and DCIS are described as Grade 3. As far as the staging, I had a conversation about that with my MO when we first met back in early October, and it was interesting-- he declined to define a stage--at least to me--for the cancer. I don't know if this is just his philosophy, but he said something like, once you know it's cancer, defining the stage is less important than moving forward with treatment. The notes from the biopsies don't include stage info, and I've never seen one defined in any of the documents I have. I suspect it's either Stage 1 or 2. It hasn't spread to my organs or bones, per the pre-chemo scans, so it's localized, which I think is usually Stage 1. But it had moved into my lymph nodes, so perhaps it would fall into Stage 2....

Hi everyone! Hope you all have had a good weekend!

Does anyone else have a CONSTANTLY runny nose? Mine is driving me crazy! I have to blow my nose so often that it's red and swollen all the time. A box of Kleenex is my constant companion. My nostrils get so dry and chapped that sometimes they bleed. I have tried slathering on Aquaphor, lotion, Bacitracin (I'm so afraid of infections!), and just about everything else but no relief. Any suggestions?

And does anyone know if the stubble that grows now, between chemo rounds, is here to stay? I was shaving my head down because the stubble was uncomfortable against the pillow at night, but now that I only have one round left, I wonder if it's here to stay. It doesn't seem to be falling out anymore....

durhamgirl, yes i have had a constant runny nose since i started chemo, it is one thing that i cant wait to be rid of - so annoying.

I am also wondering about the stubble, i never lost it after my hubby buzzed my head. I posted the question on the "hair hair hair" thread, and didnt really get an answer.

Hope you all are having a great weekend

Durhamgirl...yes, I also have a constantly runny nose! When I went to the Look Good Feel Better class last month, I asked the other ladies if they had the runny nose problem. Every one of them (there were 3 others) said yes! I have found out that if I keep my head covered, my nose doesn't run as bad. I have no clue why!

Well, started taking my steroids this morning for round 5 tomorrow of my TCH. After tomorrow, only 1 more round of full chemo! I'll be on Herceptin until October, but at least that won't have any side effects! Plus instead of it taking all day, that treatment should only take an hour to 1 1/2 hours at the most!

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a resource that I just signed one of my kids up for...it is called Camp Kesem, and it's a free week long overnight summer camp experience for kids who have a parent (or other immediate family member, I think) with cancer. There are 70 or so chapters/locations throughout the country, so maybe there is one near where you all live. They are taking applications NOW for summer sessions--it's a pretty quick online application. I have heard from people whose kids participated that it is a really outstanding camp. Here is the link to the Camp Kesem website: http://campkesem.org/

Kimmer, I think I should have tried the gradual re-entry into work. I went back full time after 4 months out. I've been back two weeks. The first week, I was exhausted by Friday and this week was even worse. I went home a little early Friday and immediately laid down and went to sleep for 4 hours. By Saturday, I was running a fever. So my MO called in an antibiotic. I also have abdominal cramps and, of course, the big D. I can't tell what is chemo SEs and what might be some bug I picked up at work. This is so frustrating. I just want to feel better.

I was hoping that this would be easier on the Taxol, but I keep having things crop up. The mouth sores had all but disappeared, now they seem to be coming back again. The big D is relentless. Everything still tastes weird. I want to be normal again.

Durhamgirl, I had the runny nose, too. It seems to have stopped on the Taxol and now my nose is rather dry. I have heard of people recommending coconut oil.

MDW, I'm so impressed that you cooked such a great dinner! I'm on my own and I'm just not motivated to cook much since I know it's not going to taste right. I'm running out of things to eat.

Here's hoping that everyone has easy treatments and no SEs this week!

DurhamGirl: wow, thank you so much for mentioning Camp Kesem! I'd never heard of it and just went to the website to check it out. I'm stunned that this exists and is free. What a brilliant idea for a camp! There are two that are local to us, too, which is awesome. I have a 7-year-old son who turns 8 this summer; not sure if he'd be ready to try an overnight camp yet at his age, but I'm going to talk to my husband and son about it and see what they think.

igay1ord: good luck with your Round 5! And I stand in awe of you (and anyone else who does it) for continuing to work the entire time you've been going through this. I've kept working but have taken big chunks of time off--AND I've had the option to not physically go into the office.

ncSue: I'm so sorry that you're so wiped out and now sick after returning to work full-time. That is a major bummer. I hope you feel better as the antibiotics kick in. I was thinking about stopping by my office next week after a mammogram appointment I have early Wednesday morning, but your situation is making me think hard about that. If I pick up a bug (and I know that head colds and stomach bugs have been making the rounds at work), it could interfere with my sixth/last chemo scheduled for the following Monday. Might not be worth the risk.

I'm also sorry to hear that you're continuing to be plagued by SEs on just the Taxol. I totally know what you mean about wanting to feel normal again. Wishing for better days ahead for you.

I spent most of today at my son's golf tournament (I just watched; my husband caddied for him). Even though it was damp, cold and windy, I was glad to be outside. Though now I'm even gladder to be in my yoga pants and snuggled up under a blanket on the sofa. ;-)

Cheers and hoping the week ahead goes well for everyone!

ncsue sorry about the sick, that sucks!

I plan to do a 20 hr week my first week back to work, then a 30 hr week the second week. Hopefully i will be ready for 40 hrs - that third week is also when i start rads, so sure hope i am not getting myself in over my head!

I have my final chemo tomorrow ladies, quite excited to be finished, this is all dependent on my neutrafils, hoping and praying the number is higher than 1! Would love your thoughts and prayers against another reaction to Taxol - i have had a reaction every time. It's not a huge deal, it just takes so much longer when they have to stop Taxol and give more benadryl. Ugh! I head to the hospital at 7am for bloodwork, then Taxol at 8:30.

So what have we decided about "the buzz"? Do we shave it off or hope it grows???

Kimmer, ugh to the consistent reactions to the Taxol! I'm sending good thoughts your way and hopes that this time, things might be different. But a huge YAY!!! to final chemo. Those words sure sound lovely together, don't they? Final!!! Chemo!!!

Personally I'm shaving this chemo fuzz off. I suppose it would fall out on its own when the real hair comes in, but I want to start clean. I was a bit bummed to read earlier on (think it was Jclc83's post?) that the real new growth won't start to come in until ~6 weeks post chemo. I hope it's sooner....

I am going back to work full time ( third shift)in two weeks and I'm dreading it. I have been unable to work since I started this journey. I am so fatigued and exhausted. I just went to the bathroom and had to rest when I was done. Funny and sad. I feel like I'm 100 years old.

I just left my fuzz on my head. We'll see what happens when the real stuff starts sprouting. I feel like a Chia pet.

I hope everyone feels better soon

so sorry your chemo didn't go today igay1ord. ugh. Weird that your platelets are low. Wish I could give you some of mine which have been elevated since that allergic reaction after the first round and has not resolved. Fingers crossed you will be in a good range to have chemo next week. xo

igay1ord, so sorry you weren't able to go forward with infusion as planned! That must be so frustrating and disappointing. Sending good wishes your way for your platelet count to come back strong.

AmyBeader, back in September, I did a round of biopsies and one of the things that was biopsied was an enlarged axilla in my left breast that turned out to be positive for cancer cells. I've had zero surgeries so far; only the biopsies and all the various scans. I called my biopsy day "Biopsipallooza" because I petitioned to do them all in one day in order to avoid going back and forth for the different types of biopsies they wanted to do--and so I could get answers faster. Some were ultrasound-guided, others were MRI-guided. All in all they took five different biopsies because there were also a lump and an enlarged axilla in my right breast that were of concern, though everything on on that side ultimately turned out to be benign.

I'm sorry the side effects haven't abated with the reduction in the chemo drugs--that's got to be aggravating. I've often wondered about how much impact skipping the last dose would have. I have to imagine that they the dosage and duration have some sort of safety margin to be sure they're not cutting it too close in killing the cancer. I will admit that I've thought about this in part because I've fantasized that my MO would say to me, "Eh, things are looking so good...we can just skip the last chemo dose." A girl can dream, right? ;-)

well ladies, i reacted AGAIN to Taxol, so it was another long day, but I am finished!!!

MDW They dont have a bell to ring, but there were plenty of nurses that gave me hugs and best wishes. Sigh. Now for the side effects to hit. Each day it's something new, so fun!!!

Andra you running during chemo just blows my mind!

I now look ahead to rads, my sim is Jan 27. I plan to stay on this board, and maybe I will see some of you on the winter 2016 rads board, as that is where i will be hanging out mostly as i enter that phase of treatment

You are all awesome and it's been so great getting to know some of you. Thanks for your support

Hello ladies,

I'm feeling much more awake this week and somewhat happy that in three weeks time I'll be done with the worst of chemo. The weirdest thing is: The SEs are comming on much slower and less intense. The first cycle was the worst, every following one was a little more easy to go through. This one gave me no cramps, hardly any pain, and no D at all, I was just more tired. Fancy that. I would not mind for the trend to continue through the last cycle.

Andra, I'm glad the steroids gave you some respite from those pesky antibiotoc's SEs and sorry to read they are back. I totally get you on getting freaked out if your body fails you - yet again. I need to believe I'll bounce back once chemo is over and done with and I whosh the same for you. The immune system does not only fight infections, it also repairs and strengthens the body when neccessary. As yours is a bit on the low side it might be the reason recovery might be so slow.

Ag23, I only get cued in on the values for red and white blood cells as they analyze just after taking the blood. They take another vial for more extensive tests, but frankly, I never asked but just trusted them to fill me in if something was amiss.

Yay for tasty food, signatures and a walk in best winter weather, MDW. It took me ages to figurea out that one has to dial "public" for every line of diagnosis and treatment. :-}

ncsue, it must be pretty hard to go to work on low days. I could only have done it for a few hours last week. A boss like your's who accommodates your needs sounds really great. You're hopefully feeling much better by now? BTW: I most certainly have those moments where I might pig out on sweets but fortunately there are none readily available since the christmas stuff vanished.

homeschool4us, how great the port remembered how to do it's job properly. That must have been quite a relief.

TinaB71: So great you do well getting Taxol. I hope it stays that way and SEs are minimal.

My nose is dripping, too, DurhamGirl. And the stuff that regrew during chemo weirds me out, too, but I decided to just let it grow because if it is shaved short it will behave like velcro again and be even more uncomfortable. If it starts looking even more like a vultures head I might change my mind, though.

Jclc: It hopefully never grew into a full blown cold?

igay1ord, delaying the last chemo treatment must suck royally. If you're getting shots to produce white blood platelets it happens a lot of those express produced ones aren't really fully formed. They count when the blood is tested, but they degrade quickly. Anyway hopefully the delay isn't too long and then you are done.

AmyBeader, as far as I know the reason for continuing SEs despite lower dosage is called "coasting effect". The body can't get rid of chemo substances in just one cycle, for some it can take up to half a year to get it all out of the system. And while the stuff is inside you, it does it's work. Good and bad.

Kimmer, congrats on finishing chemo. May the SE on the last cycle be benign.

Have good days and restful nights all