Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

Hey Ladies,

Lots of talk about Taxol! My 1st of 12 weekly starts on Friday. I already have darkening of several of my nail beds from the AC, so maybe I will try the dark polish. I would hate for my nails to get worse or fall out. I am also using Udderly Smooth to help keep my hands and feet moisterized.

Unfortunately, I caught a cold and hope it does not interfere in getting my treatment on Friday. Thankfully, no fever yet. I am taking off the rest of the week to try and rest up. All those little kids at work and their germs aren't helping me...lol.

Has anyone lost their eyebrows or eyelashes? On Monday, I noticed that my eyelids were swollen. I was wondering if that is a precursor to the eyelashes falling out. I have also noticed that my eyebrows look much thinner lately.

At any rate, I guess I will (hopefully) get to see how I react to Taxol on Friday. Good luck and few SE's to all of you!

Dianarose I don't have a set plan of action after chemo yet, but I meet with my breast surgeon on the 27th...so I hope to have a plan for surgery then. I know it will be surgery, radiation, ovaries out, reconstruction...not 100% sure of order

Thanks LOL I"m exhausted thinking about it all! But I'll just be happy to be done with the poison part :-) Im hoping they can do the ovaries at the same time as something else too.

Diana, I think it's great that you are starting violin lessons--what initiative!

I had my second Taxol, yesterday, it was uneventful. The neuropathy from the 4th AC has worn off and the neuropathy from the Taxol hasn't started yet so I'm getting a short reprieve. Also I think my taste buds are improving, a bit. By the 4th week of AC nothing tasted good and I have aversions to a lot of textures--even to bread; during the last week my husband was making soup and asked me to taste it to check the seasoning--I said, "There's no point I won't be able to taste the seasoning." At the infusion center today my nurse passed along a gift bag of natural skin care products. A former patient created the line and she brings gift bags for other patients, every now and then. I think that is so thoughtful and generous. The line is called Violets and I love it.

Nfullblume, I can't believe how many prunes I eat and still needed to take a senna & colace a few nights ago. Luckily I'm OK with the taste of prunes. I'm hoping the C will modify during the Taxol rounds, we'll see.

I always eat a popscicle during infusion and have not lost any of my taste

I did my first Taxol treatment on Tuesday, January 10. I had a little numbness and tingling, but as far as the bone and muscle pain, WOOWEE. I talked with my medical oncologist yesterday. I told him, I didn't know if I could do three more dense doses. I may have to switch to smaller, weekly doses. We will discuss this next week.

Nfullblume - Are you doing anything to present nail lifting? If so, please let me know.

Pamela I would call your dr about the pain/swelling in your arm...I think they can give you a sleeve or compression thing to wear on your arm for that.

Glad they are looking after you Pamela. Hope it comes back clear!

No blood clot and the dr on call basically said my dr will talk to me next week about it. I looked up lymphedema, hoping this isn;t permanent. One of the first things my MO's nurse asked me was if I had my blood pressure taken in this arm or any blood draws. Well I've had 2 infusions, a Neulasta shot & 3 blood draws from this arm. She said it's recommended not to use the side that you had nodes taken out for anything. Why wouldn't the cancer center tell me this? I even asked the chemo nurse last round if it mattered and she said no. Just hope it's not too late to heal this so it's not a life long problem!

Had ninth Taxol yesterday and been doing the count down to number 12. Well MO informed me yesterday she is not taking me off it any time soon. Didn't see this coming. Has anyone been on Taxol for longer then the normal regimen? I am not vain but was so hoping not to be bald forever! There are ten states on our bucket list we wanted to drive to this summer now staying on weekly chemo makes it impossible. I feel bad for my sweet hubby that taking care of me is his retirement 😢. At what point is too much Chemo in our bodies?

Hello All!

Just found this group and I am glad I did. I stated my chemo regime November 1 2016. I get Taxol, Carboplatin, Herceptin and Perjetta every 3 weeks. I completed round 4 on January 4. I have two more rounds, followed by surgery on March 10 and then I will get herceptin every 3 weeks though November 2017. I have been tolerating the Chemo rather well but have felt more tired this last round and I have caught a cold.

Things have been going well but now I have had a scare. On Thursday I noticed a marble sized painful lump in my good left breast.

I called surgeon and OC (both were out on Friday) but my OC did call me back. He feels it isn't anything to worry about that the Chemo regime should not allow any new cancer to grow. I see the surgeon on Wednesday for an appointment to go over my double mastectomy on March 10. and OC said have surgeon check it out. I have been extrememly positive about this whole thing but I have to admit now I am worried. Anyone know if Cancer can grow in a new area while you are on chemo? Anyone have any thoughts on what it may be? I am hoping that it is a swollen glad or somrthing since I am fighting a cold ....but just don't know. Thanks in advance. Looking forward to talking with you all.

Hi Hopfull2 thanks for your response. My OC said the same thing. I did the bad thing and goggled it ....and I did come across people that said you can get another tumor while on chemo and also came across people that stated that Cysts in your breast can enlarge due to hormone changes. Hopeing this is the case as my cycle has been all wacked out since I started treatment ( after round 2 I had my period for 21 days....because chemo side effects aren't enough lol ) and since then it hasn't come back. So fingers crossed its hormones!!! The lump I found is painful and you can feel it. Unlike the two tumors I didn't know I had in my by right breast except that there was something unusual on my mammogram. Hopefully my visit with my surgeon will ease my mind. Thanks again! How are you doing with your chemo?

hey ladies,

I haven't posted in awhile, I hope everyone is getting through treatments well. I've been muddling through, I have 3 more treatments left, I'm up to the Taxol stage which is way better than the Red devil. I wish I had gotten a port, every treatment leaves me feeling like a pin cushion and I think I'm out of veins. I've lost about 20 lbs since being diagnosed, I think it's mainly due to having no appetite and being sick with bronchitis. My biggest worry is low blood count, I don't want to get a blood transfusion

Pamela, my understanding is that the chemo drugs promote weight gain and throw you into menopause which promotes weight gain...yeah, I'm screwed. I was up 10 lbs at my last infusion. I bought a treadmill at New Years, just before infusion #4, but honestly #4 took a strip out of me and I've felt crappy since. I NEED to get back on the treadmill today. Also going for groceries today, so more greens, veggies, etc. As you said, Christmas is over, so no more chocolates and sweets in the house. Hopefully getting moving a bit more (while I can) and eating even better will help.

hi plantchild. , this 4th treatment kicked my butt. I'm still in bed with cold symptoms. I have a low running fever. I told my husband I don't know if I can do this 2more times. It's too hard. But then I look at my kids and it breaks my heart not giving it my all.

Pamela, I have gained a little. Not much like 5lbs but def have not lost weight. But I do take steroids day before day of and day after. I'm glad I gained weight actually was getting too thin .

Diana rose. , hope your feeling bett