April 2017 Chemo

DodgersGirl and others-I'm about a year ahead of you (April 2016 Cheno group), and things are WAY better now. I feel pretty good. Things are going fairly well. I have hair (short, curly and not my style, but at least it looks intentional).

I remember being where you are now. Plan something to celebrate the end of your AC treatments-milestones are important. And remember, a year or so from now, this will just be a bump in the road in the rear view mirror.A crappy bump, but a bump nonetheless.

DodgersGirl-I TOTALLY get that!!

Tonyaberryman, good luck with AC4 today.

When will you start Taxol?

For Mother's Day, we visited my parents where hubby bbqed a great meal. I set up my zero gravity chair in the shade,put on sunglasses to protect my eyes.and enjoyed a beautiful spring day..... knowing next Saturday will suck. Sigh.

Sorry you have to go thru "hell week" again but prayers that things will be better because of the AC treatments

Sounds like we're all sharing similar thoughts, feelings and SE's...I'm woke up this morning to a shingles outbreak...no fever & I actually feel better than I have since last Thursday...waiting for a call back from ONCO as she needs to contact infectious disease since I had an infusion (IVIg) Tuesday that was supposed to prevent this.

I had such an emotional weekend...so unlike me. Not a pity party, just weird! I'm so thankful that I have an understanding and loving husband. He bought me beautiful flowers and a wall hanging that says: "let your faith be bigger than your fear". I cried and cried...lol. Jeez...I start to tear up thinking about it...

My cousin survived colon cancer last year...she told me it helps to name it...she named hers "Heinous Squamous Anus"...I haven't had a very creative mind lately but I'll be working on this and thought some others might get some help from it?!

Prayers for all...we WILL be Champions!!! Cancer is just a 'thing'...

Most of us are mother's and we can recall how the dread and pain of childbirth is quickly forgotten...so shall this be, as we come out the other end healed!

Thanks Momjbjc - I appreciate it! I needed that day to get it all out, and I surprising felt better yesterday. I went out today in my baseball cap, and I have my final wig fitting tomorrow. So, I am in a little better place than a few days ago

For those finishing AC I totally think a celebration is in order!!! I agree - we should all start putting little celebrations on the calendar that we can look forward too. I have my next treatment on Wednesday and I have been wanting a facial for so long! I think I will schedule one for 2 weeks from now to celebrate another round down

Dodgersgirl - Wanted to update all the ladies especially you...... so last night wasn't that bad for #4. Only slept 3 hours, didn't drink that much water, making me feel yuck I did managed to 12 glasses of water. I just ate coco coco pebbles, only because I was craving it, had 2 bowls, no taste buds. Tuesday's are normally my up Day and then then it hits again, I will update as the days go on. I feel so accomplished and feel relieved the red devil is finished.

Good luck ladies, I can see the dim light at the end of the tunnel, we are unique and strong fighters , we've got this!!! 💪❤️

Girl, I've been eating since 5:30 this morning!!!! I never ever want to experience the red devil again!!!! I know you take your last AC tomorrow, I was thinking about you while I was receiving my last dose.

Hoping the last dose is easy cheesy, EVERYBODY I ask tells me Taxol isn't as bad, as AC. My gf said she lost her toenails, but they grew back. I can deal with that as long as they do. Her hair starting growing back during Taxol as well, hoping that happens for me , I miss my hair 😩.

Good luck my friend, please let me know how you're doing tomorrow if you're up to it

Yay DodgersGirl! Congratulations on completing AC! And the 50% reduction in tumor size is wonderful news! Hope Taxol X 12 goes smoothly, with SEs few and mild.

I'll be watching for your updates - we're on the same chemo regimen and I'm supposed to start AC tomorrow. Going in for an early port check today. It was placed on Monday and while discomfort has been negligible, there's still some redness (and lots of Itching so I wonder if I'm sensitive to the adhesive) and last night I found a large water blister had formed under the clear bandage about a 1.5" away from the port - probably from a combination of hot weather and rubbing against my bra strap. Hope this doesn't postpone the start of neo adjuvant chemo. I'm already 35 days out from DX.

Get some celebrating in before May 31. You deserve it!

notanisland-- do you have anti-nausea meds for AC? I definitely do best when I take them as scheduled, drink water, take Claritin for Neulasta, and eat every few hours on days you are taking anti-nausea meds. I also rinse mouth with water, salt, and baking soda after eating which seems to have kept away mouth sores. Oh, and I are ice chips during AC to help prevent mouth sores. I drink ginger tea to help with queasiness and wear Sea Bands, too.

Glad AC is over. It is certainly doable, just remember the yucky days start getting better and there are many good days before next AC

Best of luck.

I am just checking in. My MO said today that after chemo I will be getting infusions every 3 months (?) with a new drug to prevent bone mets. My bone scan was clear. I have not heard of this before. She said it isn't chemo and you don't get sick. I guess my port will be staying in.

Yeah Dodger Girl you did it!! I hope very few to no SE. My MO said that Taxol is way easier than the red devil. I was thinking of you all day today.

Bahahahaha, HUGE bowl of cereal!! I'll start Taxol June 1st, moving my chemo to Thursday's so I can recoup Friday, Saturday and Sunday and work Monday through Wednesday.

Hoping you have minimal SE's

I can't believe I just found this group! Reading everyone's journey has been so helpful.

I started my chemo March 28...almost April. I haven't had the same experience with the side effects that most of you had. I wrote off my first round response to stress. My hubby was dx in Nov with Stage 3 lung cancer and I was the primary caregiver for my mother-in-law who is 89. John had been in the hospital 2 weeks prior to my chemo with an infection, moved my MIL back East the week I had chemo and we were getting ready for John's surgery the following week to remove his upper right lobe (hoping to save the entire lung...which ended up being successful). I was sick the entire 3 weeks.

Second round was the week after John's surgery but my sister flew in to stay with us for 5 weeks (I have an awesome sister, I know!). This time I received acupuncture while I was getting chemo and did much better but still felt sick off and on the entire time.

Third round, acupuncture wasn't available but thought I had this beat. Was sick starting Friday, went in for followup after chemo (Get it on Tues, followup is usually the following Mon or Tues). Went in for followup and had to get fluids plus potassium and magnesium, felt better afterwards. Day 9, I was up all night sick with diareha and still feel ill. Not sure if I can make 6 rounds of this...tired of feeling sick all the time. My husband did so much better than me...I feel like such a wuss.

Going for an acupuncture session on Monday...still trying to stay positive but never feel better more than a 4 hours stretch..I guess I should be thankful for that!

I need a little cheese with this whine!