For those starting TAC in March/April 2006....

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited November 2006

    Paula - sure hope you are feeling better quickly and everything gets sorted out for the good. And you too Marcia. Mindy - hope your daughter is over the flu and feeling better. I was talking to my neighbor the other day, who just happens to be an oncologist - he was asking how I was feeling and I said just tired of being tired. Nate said it will get better and I said, thats what they say! He then said, you don't trust anyone anymore!!! How true! He really was being sweet. Once we get bad news, it takes a long time of good news to believe it again. I think its like the saying that for every negative, you need 7 positives (in regards to praise). So we all need lots of positives. I have nothing to mammogram, so my follow ups are tumor markers as well as a breast exam and lots of questions. I am due for my pap and pelvic the end of the year. Ovaries are gone and gyn said when he did the ooph he said my uterus looked good. So hoping everything continues to stay normal. It is just one day at a time!!! Wishing everyone feel good days.

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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited November 2006
    Well, near as I can figure out it's my back somewhere that's killing me! It's like right above the hip where it hurts, and it only really hurts when I sit down. I must have pulled something there, and I know that takes a long time to heal up.

    The good part is that nothing else is wrong! lol I'm back on Tamox and all that. I might break down and see a chiropractor soon.

    Paula
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  • FrannyK
    FrannyK Member Posts: 58
    edited November 2006
    Karen and gals
    I've been following your posts going thru TAC...I'm 1/2 way thru...#4 is on 11/21 so far so good but I noticed you gals had a handful of remedies you relied on...did you have the watery eye/nose problem? Help I'm drowning. My nose is a faucet. My doc mentioned this in side effects of TAC but I had no idea it would be this volume!!
    thanks
    Fran
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited November 2006
    Fran,
    My nose and eyes ran constantly and I've only recently noticed that this has stopped happening. I didn't do anything about it, just lived with it and carried around plenty of kleenex. I was unable to wear my contact lenses after the first few treatments; my eyes were too watery and the lenses kept clouding up, but that has also cleared up. My last TAC was in late August. Hang in there you are doing great!! Love, Brigitte
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited November 2006
    Hi Girls,

    I have been so remiss in keeping up with all of you. Peejay, sounds as tho you have had enuf.

    Fran, for the watery eyes my doc recomended something called Health Eyes. I never used it - just kept lots of tissues handy.
    Karen, Mindy, Brigitte, so good to here you are doing well. Yup we all face mamo and the unknown from here on in.

    My head set is that the TAC cleaned out the cancer and now it's up to me to live health. Am starting on an excercise routine - walking for the most part.
    Right now my biggest issue is a lousy gallbladder, sent into overtime my the chemo. So it's due to come out in a couple of weeks. The hair is only about 3/4" long - but looks modishly spikey and many peole think I have had an ultra hair do. Actually I think this looks better than before BC. Go figure!
    Still lagging with the energy - but that will come.
    I will try to keep up a bit more with all of you - having been hanging out in the wagon train a lot.
    Jeannette
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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2006
    Hi TAC Ladies,
    I should be thankful that this thread gets harder to find each time. It means that most of us are getting along with our lives. I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for in that for most all of us, we have gotten TAC behind us. Hopefully we will all prove to be NED (no evidence of Disease). I am thankful for all of you who have been there to listen and share your experiences with me. May your holiday be spent with family and loved ones and may your memories all be special.
    Happy Thanksgiving
    Marcia
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  • DATO
    DATO Member Posts: 127
    edited November 2006
    Hi TAC sisters,

    I haven't posted in quite a while because I have been so busy at home and at work. I am doing really well. I can't believe that I am done with chemo!!!! My last treatment was Oct 23rd. I started rads on Nov 9th and I'll be done on Dec 22nd. I just read really quickly through some of the recent posts and I am glad to hear that people are doing well. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

    Darlene
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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited November 2006

    Hi ladies - I hope everyone is doing well. It is nice to see that more and more gals are finishing up their chemo and other treatments. The other day, a friend wished my hubby a Happy Thanksgiving and told him that we had a lot to be thankful for. You know till he told me this, I had not thought of it this way. Yes, I am thankful my cancer was found - even though it was stage 3, and I am thankful to be done all the treatments (except recon). For now, I am NED and for that I am truly thankful. Also, I am thankful for all of you TAC sisters and your wonderful support these past several months. Wishing everyone feel good days and a Happy Thanksgiving holiday. I hope it is everything you want it to be.

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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2006
    Karen, I hope the recon goes well for you. You were a higher stage than some of us and I am scared about being stage 1. Thank you for sharing your experience as well.
    Hugs
    Marcia
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  • Lori_B
    Lori_B Member Posts: 9
    edited November 2006
    Hi, I guess I'm the new kid in town - I start my TAC chemo on 12/7, and am pretty scared - in fact I've read all 31 pages of this TAC forum! I told myself I would just look for useful hints, but I think I've gotten a lot more than that - your experiences have helped me trust that I'll make it through, no matter how hard it is.

    I am er-/pr-/her2-, and have the BRCA2 gene mutation. (Really should have picked my parents more carefully!) On July 28 I had a bilateral mastectomy with a tram flap reconstruction, and a full hystectomy all in one surgery. (Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time...) I've had a hard time healing up all the pockets and one area where the skin died (probably due to the almost 10 hour surgery,) and that's why chemo was delayed until now.

    Thanks for leaving me a well marked trail to follow - these woods were looking awfully dark!
    Lori
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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited November 2006
    Lori, So glad you found us - it is a LOT of reading, but I think you can get both a pretty full range of the TAC experience and encouragement that it's doable.
    I'm doing well other than my second post-treatment cold; have three doctor's appointments and an MRI and Mammogram all scheduled for December and January, routine follow ups and my annual ob/gyn checkup. Hair definitely looks like I chose to have it this short, based on comments - and it's salt and pepper, a new look for me! Looking forward to the holidays - last year I had the abnormal mammogram of Dec 9 hanging over my head - and a 2007 NOT focused on my health!
    All the best to you all (Jeannette, Karen, Marcia, Brigitte, Paula, Mindy...et al)- keep checking in!! Leigh
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  • FrannyK
    FrannyK Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2006
    Hi TAC gals...I just had #4 TAC on 11/21...and this seems the worst chemo so far...never had nausea till now...even tried a worthless compazine..and my poor stomach always hurts..but I think Protonics doesn't work as good as Nexium..now I'm back on Nexium...anyway..now I know what bad feels like..seems i sort of breezed thru 1 - 3...but 4...man. Does the dose get larger toward the end?
    take care
    fran
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited December 2006
    Hi Fran, I had TAC this summer and had a similar experience: number 4 was awful. The dose didn't change, it's just that your body is getting worn down because the chemo is accumuluting in your system. Blech. I am sending you a big hug; the memory is very fresh and I wish I could give you a big hug in person. When my stomach felt badly, I ate popsicles. Loved the orange ones. My stomach was squirrely for several weeks during and after chemo. Hot tea also made me feel better. Keep hanging in there. You do get through it ...
    I am going next Friday for my mammogram. Fingers crossed that all will look good. My skin did fine through rads (last treatment was November 6) so oncologist wants me to go ahead and get the mammogram now. GULP ...
    Hope everyone is doing well!
    Hugs, Brigitte
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  • jpsgirl96
    jpsgirl96 Member Posts: 240
    edited December 2006

    Hi Fran, For what it's worth #4 was my worst - and 5 and 6 were both 'okay', more like the first 3. Don't know what was up with that - just don't want you to worry that it's going to be worse and worse. It wasn't for me. I had very little nausea but what I did have was in 3 and 4. Thinking good thoughts. Leigh

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  • FrannyK
    FrannyK Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2006
    Brigitte and Leigh, thank you for the words I can't tell you how often I go back and dig thru all you gals' posts to see how you dealt with TAC side effects. Right now I have the sandpaper eyelids with tears & salt tracks running down the side of my face..yikes...i put vaseline on my cheeks to help. My doc wants me to see a tear duct expert to see if ducts are clogged. One thing just keeps leading to another huh?
    Fran
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited December 2006
    Fran,

    Many of us had the teary eye thing - a result of TAC and the fact that the hair ends in the tear ducst are gone (so my onc explained). she recommended Healthy eyes eye drops to help and noted that other eye drops made it worse.

    Anyway, the whole thing cleared up a few weeks after my last TAC. So hang in there and in the mean time if people think you are teary - that is their problem.
    Glad to see that some of us are still checking in. I usually hang out in the wagon train but nice to come back and see how we are all doing.
    Jeannette
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited December 2006
    Hi All, Just thought I would check in since I haven't posted lately! I am still working alot of overtime and trying to get ready for X-mas. My friends daughter passed away a couple of weeks ago, so that has been rough! Hubby and I are going away for the weekend to do a little shopping, but mainly just to get away for a few days. I hope everyone is getting along ok. I am still doing Herceptin treatments every 3 weeks and haven't had any problems with them. I have about 1-1/2 inches of hair on my head. It is straight and I did have natural curly hair before chemo. (I am hoping that is stays this way. It looks like I have alot more gray also, but I always highlighted my hair before. I am ready to have it colored now, but don't know if I should wait. Anyway, I guess I better get going. It is almost that time of the day! (WORK)Everyone take care andI will post again soon!
    Love and Hugs,
    Mindy
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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited December 2006
    Mindy, Great to hear how well you are doing. I am glad you are able to continue Herceptin. I could only take 12 weeks worth. It is good to hear that your hair is growing. Yes I know about the gray too because I have some now too. Don't work too hard and I hope you are enjoying the holidays.

    Take care
    Marcia
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited December 2006

    Hi everyone. I'm going for my post-treatment mammogram tomorrow and am a little bit nervous. Am just wondering what other kinds of tests you all had post-treatment, after all your chemo and rads was finished. My oncologist did a blood test two weeks ago and I haven't heard anything so I'm assuming it was normal. Mammo tomorrow. And that's it for now. I've heard some women get bone density tests; he says I'm too young for that (I'm 47). I've also heard some women get PET scans. He says it's not necessary. Should I push any of this? I'm more than happy not to go running anywhere for more tests but also want to be vigilant about my health care moving forward. Thanks for your thoughts! Love, Brigitte

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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited December 2006
    Hi Brigitte,
    Congrats on being so far along with your treatments. I can relate to the nervousness about your mammogram. I had one on the operative breast after chemo in June and I go for a full mammogram and ultrasound on both breasts in January. My rad oncologist said that MRIs tend to over read and then you have to decide if you are going to biopsy every speck that shows up. I finished rads in August and had a bone density because at age 51, chemo sent me into menopause and they needed a baseline density level. I later had a total body bone as a baseline ordered by my onc to scan to detect cancer or arthritis. (If I wasn't glowing in the dark before now I must be now) My testing schedule is that I have a tumor marker blood test drawn every three months and 1/2 mammogram and ultrasound in June, full mammograms and ultrasound in January for the next 5 years. I sometimes wonder if I will be one of the 5% where the stage 1 cancer comes back within the next 1-3 years. I have pain in my incision site at times and yes it is frightening, but hopefully these tests will detect cancer once again if I am one of those 5%.
    Good luck to you Brigitte, Don't assume anything is normal...give the office a call just to make sure the test results came back. My oncologist says he becomes concerned when the marker level rises in the high 30s.Ask your Doc about his.

    Take care
    Marcia
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  • DATO
    DATO Member Posts: 127
    edited December 2006
    Hi Lori,
    I know how you feel about just starting down the TAC road. I started TAC on July 10th and found this thread in June when most of the original group was close to the end. I got so much out of reading about the experiences of others. I finished TAC on Oct 23rd and I'm now almost done with radiation. This is doable and TAC is the most potent cocktail to kill those cancer cells. My experience was the first 2 treatments were the worst, and they got progressively easier; it was almost as if my body was getting used to it! You can do this!
    Hugs and prayers,
    Darlene
    Stage 3A, ER+/PR+, HER2-
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  • FrannyK
    FrannyK Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2006
    Hi TAC gals, About the tearing eyes and constant runny nose with TAC...my doc referred me to a opthamologist that was a lacrimal specialist...the optho said the Taxotere changes the surface of the tear ducts & passage to the nose..and eventually closes the tear duct. I was two days away from TAC 5 when i saw him. He said my ducts were closing but with steroidal eye drops I could make two more chemos. If this had happeend early like TAC 1 or 2...he'd have recommended stents in the ducts...surgery. Now my eyes/nose have pretty mucht stopped running. Anyway..he was a wonderful doctor...so compassionate. Nice to meet those kind. His mom had breast & now ovarion tho. Sad.

    take care girls:)
    fran
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited December 2006
    Dear Marcia,
    Thank you so much for your information and encouragement. My mammogram went fine. They did both breasts and took another look at my right breast because of the dense tissue but the technician said it was okay. Phew. They will probably just keep an eye on it. The blood test also looked normal. So far, so good. I am hoping to avoid all doctors' offices at least for the month of January, just to give myself a break! I would like to have a total body scan but perhaps they are waiting for more time to pass since my last treatment (rads finished in early November). We shall see. Thank you again. Hugs, Brigitte
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited December 2006

    Okay, let me correct myself. The report came in the mail yesterday; there is an area of my right breast that they want to keep an eye on. They want me back in six months for another mammo. It shouldn't surprise me but it's still a little worrisome. I'm going to surf this site and see if there is anything I can do to help prevent a recurrance. Argh ...

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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited December 2006
    Brigitte, Please let me know if you find anything of interest regarding recurrance. My last mammogram in June showed a 5mm cyst and they said it was there at the time of my diagnosis last January but it didn't look like cancer because of the well defined boarders with no increase in size but they were going to watch it. Every little ache or burn or twinge I feel in my breasts I think..."Is this the beginning of a recurrance?" Drives me bonkers! I have been trying to search the web and would like to know of the early detectged breast cancers that come back in the first 1 to 3 years following treatment...WHAT TYPES ARE THE MOST FREQUENT and RAPID? Are we talking mostly IDC and er/pr/her2 + or Neg?
    I read that a lot of recurrances are due to failure of initial treatment (mostly surgical) WOuld love to know if anyone finds out any info.
    Take care
    Marcia
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  • susanmcm
    susanmcm Member Posts: 1,324
    edited December 2006
    Hey, TAC Warriors,
    I'm one of you, class of '05. Just checking in to see what's new and exciting. The good news is I don't have any TAC advice. It's been so long ago, I've kinda forgotten all the problems!!!! I finished June 1, 05. Seems like a distant memory. I've had a gazillion hair cuts! i now struggle with various side effects, but is that from old age, chemo or AIs. who knows.

    I'd like to invite ya'll to visit us over at the wagon train circle if you like.

    hugs,
    susan
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  • Brigrf
    Brigrf Member Posts: 74
    edited December 2006
    Hey Marcia,
    I actually found some good information about modifying my eating habits and adding vitamin supplements to help prevent recurrance. There are no guarantees. But I've decided to avoid eating red meat (beef, pork, bacon, etc) more than one serving per week; cutting back on sugar consumption and sticking to a low fat diet. If you check out Andrew Weil's site or books, he recommends vitamin C, selenium, B12 and few others for preventing recurrance. So I'm bumping up all these things. I spoke with my surgeon and my oncologist today and neither of them are worried about the mammo results, but they will be keeping a close eye on me. If I were you, I would insist on another mammo because June is quite awhile ago and I'd want another look at that cyst. Let me know. I am still researching recurrance stuff and am convinced that stuff that sounds like a miracle cure is probably too good to be true; if you surf around a bit on the alternative therapies site you will know what I mean.
    Hugs, Brigitte
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  • peejay
    peejay Member Posts: 131
    edited December 2006
    Wow, that's weird, I had put up a whole post in here about how I was doing, and it disappeared! I'll just sum it up fast for ya lol.

    I'm great.

    hehehe Tamoxifen is going well, and I am changing my antidepressant from Paxil to Lexapro, so that I won't be running into whatever it is they discovered about that drug combination. Its going to be tough, I've been on Paxil for YEARS, probably at least 10, but hell what can be worse than cancer?

    Paula
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  • MarciaA
    MarciaA Member Posts: 178
    edited December 2006
    Paula, glad things are going great for you!

    While I am here I just want to wish everyone Happy Holidays. Christmas at my house will be a little quiet this year but I will like it. Decorated a tree and the outside of the house and did some baking. I just didn't quite have the energy to go all out like I usually do. I hope everyone on these boards enjoy the holidays and get to see family and friends. There were times where I wondered if I would even see another new year but I am glad this year is behind me. I wish everyone a Happy New Year....We deserve it after 2006. But I have to keep it all in perspective what I have learned this year as well.
    Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me. You were all part of this journey and lesson about cancer and I am glad I was in good company.
    Take care and a BIG Hug to all of you.

    Marcia
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  • mindyk
    mindyk Member Posts: 87
    edited December 2006
    Hi Everyone!
    I just wanted to say hello and I am getting along ok. I want to also wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I am so gald that 2006 is coming to and end! We have all been through so much this year, it is time to have good 2007! I would have not been able to get through this year without each and every one of you! THANKS!!

    Take Care,
    Love and Hugs,
    Mindy
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