January 2016 Chemo!

question about glutamine-how many of you are taking it? im concerned because although ive read that it can help with neuropathy, there are also numerous studies that indicate glutamine aids in tumor growth so there seems to be some controversy around it. im kind of scared to take it now.

Hey ladies,

Just finished my first Taxol. Like Jill...mine was uneventful and I wore/rotated icing mittens and footies. Will see how days 2-5 are but decent today so far:))))

ladies

I had first taxol on Monday, uneventful day 1 and 2. Today, the worst pains. Muscle pains. No tingling of hands and feet. Just terrible groin, hip, thigh and arms. (ok everywhere).

NP told me about this side effect and to take pain meds for the couple of days it last. Sheesh. Still better than AC.

I got a surprise free hair cut today. I've been going to the Great Clips since by hair fell out on day 15 following my first chemo. I did not want to go to my regular stylist or anyone else who know me. I didn't want to do the whole mourning of the hair thing. Today was my third visit and at the end the stylist told me she needed to adjust the bill before I paid. She put in a "Clips of Kindness" discount. All I had to pay for was the shampoo. Of course I tipped her nicely, she did not have to do that. Your local stores may also offer this discount. I know treatment is expensisve and every little bit helps.

I'm wondering, are those of you who are experiencing pain on Taxol on a weekly schedule, or dose dense? I'm getting #10 of the weekly tomorrow, and haven't experienced that kind of pain at all. Also, I didn't get a commitment on L-glutamine either, but the nutritionist and MO definitely steered me toward 100mg MAX of B6. I replaced my B complex with just B6. Here's the email - but DEFINITELY check with your doc first:

"Peripheral neuropathy, caused by certain chemotherapy drugs, causes numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. It is thought that vitamin B6 can aid in reducing neuropathy by maintaining the covering on nerve endings. In doses from 50-200 mg, B6 has been found to be effective in treating neuropathy. However, at doses higher than 200mg, it actually has the opposite effect and can contribute to the neuropathy. Therefore, we generally recommend a dose of 100mg B6, if approved by your doctor. Vitamin B12 at 1000 mcg may also help with symptoms of neuropathy.

The other B vitamins in the B complex vitamin are generally safe, but they do not contribute to the neuropathy treatment. We generally recommend taking only what you need, a separate B6 and B12 supplement as opposed to a complex. This helps ensure getting a therapeutic dose without ingesting excess or supplements that are unnecessary. Certain B vitamins, such as folate, can interfere with effectiveness of treatment, so be sure to ask your doctor before starting any supplement. As a note, other things that can help with neuropathy include adequate hydration and acupuncture."

Paulinek, yay! last chemo for you too. Hope your surgery goes smooth and well.

I did a lumpectomy as well, so I will be on rads after chemo. I have read that recon would be difficult after the breast is given rads. So I have some worries about this, I worry if there is a recurrence and have to go for a mastectomy, then the option to do a recon might not be a choice.

MissBee, My doc recommends I take Tamoxifen for 5-10 years as well. I might be given a break in between to try for a baby, since I don't have any kids yet. After chemo and rads, popping a pill everyday is a blessing if it helps to keep the cancer away. MissBee you are strong and brave and persistent, we have all come this far, we will make it to the end of the line, maybe not with much grace hahaa and instead with nausea, diarrhoea, pain, fear, and staying up at night worrying, but somehow we will all get there. We are warriors!

MissBee, heehee love that we can maintain a good sense of humour through this. Hope all goes well with the adoption. You are about the same age as me, I'm 33. I was told I could get off Tamoxifen in about two years too. I think they are recommending 10years because of our age, they say cancer in younger women are more aggressive.

Miss Bee and Sarah: I'm also looking at 10 years of Tamoxifen and I have a friend who was in her forties when diagnosed whose doctor told her she'll be taking it longer than 10 years-likely the rest of her life-which she has every right to believe will be a long one now that she has past that 5 year point. Yay!! She reports that the worse thing is her lack of libido.

How can Tamoxifen lower my already barely-there libido? Gee, my husband will be thrilled.

Neulasta pain...Day 4 of 3rd TC infusion and Neulasta patch. Have pain in my thighs like muscle bruising. Feels like it might be black and blue, but the skin looks normal. At first I thought I might have bumped into something, but it's probably from the Neulasta. Anyone experience this. Also...SOOO TIRED

good morning everybody. I'm on day three after my first docetaxel. No steroids and I'm definitely feeling it. So tired after that steroid high! My upper body is a little bit achy and my hips too, but nothing horrible. My hands were very dry and achy last night, I could barely wash them, so I covered them with cream before going to bed and they feel much better this morning.

I am also worried about tamoxifen, and my libido ( and weight gain), but trying not to focus on it too much yet. I still have to get through chemo then rads.

Hang in there everyone!

I did some research for one of the nurses here on diabetic neuropathy and while I was at it, on chemo induced neuropathy. I came across the same thing on the B vitamins. I take B vitamins since way before chemo, then added the Alpha Lipoeic Acid when I heard that would help. The studies are less conclusive re chemo neuropathy with ALA than diabetes, but all I can say is - no neuropathy here.

Someone was talking about muscle spasms....my right eye twitches like a...well, a lot. Generally that starts for me when I'm super stressed, so I figured that was it. I wonder if it's the Taxol. I had more muscle aches in the beginning with Taxol, but they leveled off. I have those kind of aches with weather changes, though, so it's not really anything out of the ordinary for me.

Another fun SE, and I guess my only real one, is that the physical therapists here are noticing lymphedema/swelling in taxol patients who've had lymph nodes removed. I have a fat fist that will not go down despite absolutely perfect compliance.

I see my MO today and have my acidophilis, liver cleanse, and ALA with me so he can veto or not (lol).

Jill: I'm so against tamoxifen, I don't even want to take it. Weight gain, sex crap, there just doesn't seem to be enough of a benefit. Isn't all this chemo and radiation ENOUGH? But like you, I'm just trying to stay on the next thing and not worry about that yet.

Frill - my electronic health system accidentally canceled a few of my seasons. I would always call and the told me to still come on in. Might be worth a call