Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

Hi Paulette, the Abraxane is similar to Taxol, but it's a more expensive drug. I'm on a clinical trial for TNBC so I am getting this instead.

I've found the Abraxane to be pretty manageable, and I'm almost done. Mainly, I've dealt with fatigue and bone pain, mostly on Days 3-4, but that has increased as the days go by to include Day 2, and part of Day 5. I'm able to drive into the office on Days 6 & 7 (1 hour each way) and even on my worst days, I am out and about shopping, doing things with my son, and the like. It's only in the past week that I've developed sensitive gums, dry mouth and dryness in my nose. I've also had neuropathy on and off since Week 5, but it comes and goes. No GI issues to speak of -- just a bit of heartburn around weeks 7-8 which went away.

I'm really worried about the nausea with AC, but I guess I won't know until I start!

Im on day 4 of Taxol #1 and the fatigue is the same as AC for me. I have literally just been laying down the past two days. Anyone else have so much fatigue? I think my RBC counts are maybe too low. I also had Carboplatin so maybe that’s why. If every week is like this I will never get a recovery time. I will have to talk to MO about this. Luckily my daughter had a sleepover last night and my husband took her out shopping today.

Paulette, yes I am doing weekly Taxol. My MO was on vacation this week so there was a lottle confusion. They added Carboplatin too this time but I’m not sure I will get it every time. Before she left, my MO said if I got Carboplatin I would need blood transfusions. So now I’m thinking this is the problem. My fatigue doesn’t seem normal.

Rdeeside - I was on Carboplatin every three weeks while doing weekly Abraxane. The weeks when Carboplatin was part of the mix I was knocked down on day 3 & 4, and had major GI issues with it. The weeks I had Abraxane, only, were much easier. The Carboplatin really hit my WBC, to the point I had to give myself Neupogen shots for 4 days after every infusion (weekly). But, the Neupogen worked, so giving myself a shot was worth it.

I hope the fatigue gets better for you. I was part of the July Chemo group, but have been following this group off and on. So sorry you had to be in the hospital for six days, I hope everything is better from here on out.

-LoJo

Autumn - my nausea was unmanageable with the medications. It was horrible. Even at night I was awake with it. If you find this to be the case, ask for the Sancuso patch for nausea. My cancer center is just starting to use it regularly. I only used it after my last infusion - how I wish I would have got it sooner.

R - I am not as fatigued with the Taxol as you, but I have heard that the Carboplatin does that. My hemoglobin is low however. I'm trying to eat more iron to raise the number, but it is hard when young don't want to eat really!

Paulette - I do #3 this week and I too am just exhausted of it. But what choice do we have

Paulette - sorry to hear that - nausea is the worst! Taxol 3 is this Thursday - my big SE is muscle and joint pain. I'll be feeling great then BAM! Pain meds dull it, but still feel achey. I've been avoiding afternoon naps and sleeping much better at night. This is no fun, but for me better than AC. Are you taking the anti-nausea meds - if so, any relief

VL, yes I’m taking the anti nausea meds, last night I took zofran at 8 pm and 9 pm felt a little nausea, so I took Ativan around 9:30 then just went to sleep. Even on day 4 I took my zofran to be safe.

Cherry - I feel much better today, thank you. All these SE make us all crazy. You have chemo brain?

Rdeesides, the nurse was right about the water part, it does make a difference with Taxol, wasn't hydration important during AC? In the booklet I took about epirubicin it says that it dries your skin and the lotion is to be applied several times a day.

My last week after 8th infusion was one of easiest, my first was the toughest and the fourth too, I attributed it to Herceptin given every third week, so I geared for the 7th and it went pretty much ok, nothing in particular. I drink all the time, mostly organic English breakfest with lemon. I have these huge cups, well, if you can call a jar that can hold 800 ml liquid. The tea gets cold and I drink it anyway, poursome water into it I am constntly hydrated. I ran out of lemons today and found two limes, now when I drink my tea it reminds me of DR vacation where I drank everything with lime, tea in the morning but mostly mohitos and Cuba libre on the evenibgs,yes, I am a girl who mixes cola with alcohol. And every morning before breakfest I ran two miles along the shore and I told myself look at this, you do not know when you will be coming back here. Now in retrospect I can only say it was like I knew something was wrong with me, except that I didn't and felt great until I ate some clams and got big D.

What is your favourite vacation spot? Any place in US? I was planning to go to California this summer but we decided to do it next year because we already visited NYC this spring. We booked South France in July, I got diagnosed in June and I still cannot believe that we could cancel everything without loosin much money, people who rented to us were so understanding.

Cherry

Cherry, I don’t see bone marrow in US , I read what you said, now I’m drinking more water. Also we need to keep in mind we need salt when we drink so much water. If you come to California what would you like to see? Ocean? LA? Northern California wineries got burned down now so might now be a good place to visit.

Rdeeside- I spoke to my old friend who was a BC nurse for long time, she told taxol is not an easy treatment. We can get there, let’s fight this beast!

Cherry, if you do, let me know, I grew up in SF and I live in Bay Area. I went to school in San Jose best time to see Bay Area is around September after summer so you won’t run into that many tourists. Do not miss the coast line it’s beautiful.

Hey ladies, I noticed you said there was a FB group for the ones in this group. If I misunderstood I could always make one. In this format it’s harder for me to post and keep up with everyone.

My FB name is Sammi Rosen within Heather as my profile picture. Please feel free to add me. That way I can read your posts and follow everyone better.

Thought I had posted and update last Friday and was letting you guys know Heather’s mass actually feels half the size it did last Wednesday. That happened in 2 days after her 2nd Taxol treatment.

Let me know the link to the FB group or if there’s not one made already I can make a group just for us that have been posting in here and for anyone that would like to join it that’s going through everything about the same time as you ladies❤️🙏🏼💪🏼

Samm

Sammi, what a great news, hope it wipes it out for good.

leatherette, sorry I haven't read in awhile. Yes, I thought #4 was the most difficult. I just had #5 last Wednesday and it's not as bad as number 4. Except that I am really worn out. I am fine if I'm in bed doing absolutely nothing but if I exert any energy I start to get a little nauseous. I had these horrible esophageal spasms after #4- felt like really bad pressure in my upper abdomen. Oncologist gave me a prescription Prilosec and it has helped.

How is your number 5

what fantastic news, Sammi! I'm glad you're joining our Facebook group!

This week I am spending long days at a writing retreat on Madeline Island. The instructor had bc in 2000 so she is very compassionate and encourages me to rest when necessary. (I took two short naps yesterday.) i also slept 12 hours last night--I'll be completely tuckered out by Friday when it ends--but it is oh, so worth it! I am so excited to return to the book I'm writing and to exercise my writing muscles! I'm a happy woman this week

Leatherette - send you prayers and good vibes. I will have my #6 on Friday.

K - I didn’t know you’re a writer. Would love to read it one day.