Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

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Then last week she told me that I am now type II diabetic. The steroids raised my blood sugar too much. So I got this nice diabetes pill, and have to prick my finger three times a day. However, I also have Hepatitis C, thanks to some bloodtransfusions in 1978. Well, that medication raised my liver values, so I got a call yesterday to immediately stop the diabetes medication.

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Robertin, I am very sorry you have to go through all this. Chemo can get really scary when it exacerbates or complicates other medical conditions. Hoping everything turns out OK for you. How does your blood sugar feel?..

Mizsissy

The day of my mastectomy, the injections for the SNB were the worst emotionally of anything I experienced. I'd been prepared an hour before with EMLA cream so only one of the four injections actually caused any discomfort (fairly significant but the doctor was quick).

It was lying there on the table, silent tears, a nurse holding my hand and stroking my forehead and whispering reassurances, the doctor pretty much ignored me - no eye contact at all....somehow this procedure seemed like torture in my mind.

Then I was told to massage my breast to get the dye distributed throughout the breast. I had to laugh "I've been groping myself since I found the lump 1 1/2 months ago - another 30 minutes isn't a problem."

Yeah, I hated the SNB injections. It was a moment of meltdown for me. Maybe the worst of this whole experience.

Cindy

A friend sent me that book. I cried as I read it because the honest truth of her reactions and responses to what happened to her hit so close to home.

Cindy

Amera - I have to admit that I rolled my eyes and complained to my husband when that issue of newsweek showed up in the mail this week. "Ugh - can I get a break from cancer for a minute?!?" But - I sat down and read the article last night and it IS wonderful. Like you said, I could totally relate - especially when he talked about putting up a cheerful front for others and how that is so expected of us.

I'm curious about why the ER for a fever? I've heard it mentioned here many times before and it seems like the last place anyone would want to be with low blood counts and an infection/fever would be an ER waiting room. The one time I did have a fever after my first chemo I called my onc (who happened to be the doc on call that night) and he just called in a heavy duty antibiotic and then had me come into the office the next morning. The antibiotic brought the fever down pretty quickly without taking anything else. I guess if it hadn't I would have gone into the ER. Anyway, just wondering why they would use the ER as the first line of defense.

Hi ladies,

Well I'm back from the onc. It appears my tush is inflamed, irritated etc. possibly from the Taxotere - he gave me ANUSOL HC ointment (hydorcort) and told me to do epsom salt sitz baths. I immediately did one when I came home, and it did help. I apply the ointment in the morning and at bedtime, he says this should do the trick. I sure hope so. Funny thing is the twitching has basically disappeared ( I guess I have a new pain to dominate my life), and the Tylenol #3 did help, so he said to continue with the Tylenol # 3 as needed, since it will help subside this pain as well. I just have to be careful not to get constipated, as this will not help the situation. And as my Jewish BC sisters know, matzah is not exactly a laxative!! So it'll be more prunes and prune juice for me. OY!! I went down to the hospital looking like a true BC patient today, and I think my onc. was a bit startled to see me this way - usually I have my wig and makeup on - not today, just felt too crappy - no makeup, no wig, just a little wool cap on - it snowed here today - I think he felt really badly for me today, with the way I looked and of course how I was suffering with my tush.
So that's the end of my "tale" - sorry, couldn't resist that one...
I hope everyone else is feeling better, it does seem like a rough week for many of us -
Amera, thanks for the link to the Newsweek article.
Robertin - girl, you just vent all you want. Sorry it's been a bad few days for you too.
Viddie - I hope your fever goes down. I know what you mean about going to the ER, but go if you have to.
Jan - Sorry you've had a rough week too. I think part of the reason is that we're all on our 4th or 5th infusion, and it's all cumulative - so we're feeling it one way or another.
Mizsissy - wow, it sounds like you got a great report on your treatment. It is great to have confirmation from the top of the top.
And Tina - your 10 year old is just venting - we know you know it, but as you say, it's hard to hear it.
So that's it from me for now, it's been quite the day. I hope I'll sleep a bit tonight.
hugs to all,
Caya

Nancy, I don't know why you are getting 12 Taxols except that they must be lower doses. I can't imagine you'd be getting the same amount I am in each of my 4. I'll ask my onc when I see him Monday. - Skye

Congrats on your last Taxol, Mary. It's a good week for both of us in that dept.

Nancy and Skye, I met another kindergarden mother from my daughters class six weeks ago and discovered she had BC two years ago. (Became fast friends as soon as we realized we both had it...it certainly forms a quick bond.) Anyway, she about fell off the chair when she heard I got any Taxol at all, as she only got 4 A/C's and that was it. Her tumor was twice the size of mine, she's ER/PR/HER2+ like me. She goes to the same hospital, but diff. doctor. (Her good friend, a patient of my doc., passed away five months before her dx, so my doctor kind of unnerved her, which she knows is irrational, but...). Anyway, I felt terrible for her...I think she thought "OMG! I need more chemo."

Caya, glad your on the road to recovery. It was probably good that you went in looking like BC Woman. They do take you more seriously if you look the part.

Slept well last night..got into bed at a decent hour. Enjoying a nice quiet am w/no kids up yet. No school in OH today...Good Friday. It's funny, depending on where you live, what days you get off. All my years in South Florida, we got all the Jewish holidays off but not Good Friday. It's been kind of fun moving all around the country and seeing how things are done in each place. (It's been hard to, reinventing your life each time. Columbus is a great place to raise kids...and to have cancer. Great hospital, docs. Great cost of living. Who knew! If you told me I'd be here six years ago, I'd never have believed you.) Off to COSI (great kids museum) today w/my friend, Wendy, and seven kids.

Jan, Tina...I know how all you folks hate the idea of going to the ER, I once did on a bad recommendation from Nurse Ratchet, but there are some times when you need to go. It is possible when your white blood counts are low, for your body to lose its ability to fight infection. A spike in temp is the first warning, and then things can go from bad to worse rapidly. That's when they need to get on IV antibiotics so you don't go into septic shock. We've all gotten through this without getting to that point but it's important to go the ER to avoid this situation because the hospital is the only place they can do this for you.

Thanks for all the positive feedback on my onc visit yesterday. I was glad to know there was such a warm, capable person close by in case I need him. If I ever get a recurrence I'll change my medical plan...

Mizsissy

Hi All,
Caya and TPPJ, I hope you are feeling better. Mizsissy, such good news, I am so glad you got the second opinion. Now you can have some peace of mind moving forward.

I start the 12 taxols next week. My dr says the reason for 12 vs 4 is to mitigate the side effects. We end up with the same amt, just stretching it out. I must say (again) that the idea of going thru that door 12 more times has reduced me to tears on several occasions.

I do have a three day trip the day after the second treatment, so hope I feel ok. I have business meetings two consecutive days, but then the third day I am spending with my kids, who all live in Northern Cal. I am looking forward to that.

I don't feel I ever really bounced back from the fourth ac. I don't have my usual energy, but don't really feel sick. Just depressed and fatigued, and the endless mouth sores, which I manage with salt rinses, mouthwash, vit E, but which always lurk and just love to break thru. And I have been awful about watching my weight the past few days so have stayed off the scales. I feel like I need to reward myself for getting thru each day with some Starbucks Mud Pie ice cream, not a great choice. But sooooo yummy.

I hope you all have a good day today, and a lovely weekend.

Melia

Hey Ladies,
TPPJ, I feel for that lady you met. I guess we each just have to trust our oncologists...and maybe second or third oncologists like Mizsissy did...to figure out what we each need. I remember questioning my onc over whether I really needed the Taxol, and he said it was still the standard of care for my dx which is ER+PR-HER2+ Stage 2, 2.1 cm, 0 nodes. But I think each person's formula is different. He didn't offer me the option of getting 12 smaller doses, and now that I'm halfway through I feel like just plowing into the rest of it and being "done" with it. (except for the rads, year of Herceptin and five or more years of tamo, etc.)
Amera, I think every husband just wants this stuff to be over for us. It's really hard to accept that our lives have changed for good. Not that we can't enjoy good health afterwards and our lives return to outwardly normal, but we are different now for the long haul. I still recommend the book, Breast Cancer Husband. It has helped my dh in many ways. And therefore helped me.
Caya I'm glad the treatment is helping. Thanks for the Easter wishes. Can you guys believe I am still making Easter baskets for my 26 and 28 year old sons, plus the oldest's girlfriend? I had told them not this year but then I couldn't resist. It's something I love to do so I decided I needed to this year more than ever. And I did make it to church last night in wig. I love that "I'm bald and let'em look" attitude, though. It's bound to happen more as summer comes.
Finally Mary, that's so great they celebrated with you at your last treatment. Whoo-hoo!!! - Skye

Hi Sisters..
Well the smaller doses of Taxol to minimize SE's makes sense but why not everyone. I am far from small and fragile, more like big and fragile ( fragile only on the mental side that is) I can't imagine the Onc. looking at someone and thinking yeah we can poison the heck outta her or no this one gets the smaller doses cause she's a wimp.Guess what I am trying to say is WHY? Why aren't we the same? I am so not looking forward to Happy Hour which is in less than an hour, suppose I should get dressed? Happy Good Friday!

I had a fight with my husband too. I don't see how the cancer has changed his life a bit. And I asked him twice the other night to go away with me for four days after I finish chemo. I wanted to go mid July, since I finish chemo late June. He is training for a marathon, which he runs a couple of times a year. The marathon is late July. He won't go b/c he doesn't want to break his training. I think cancer trumps his run. He doesn't. So I am going alone. I find this hard to understand. I told him that in 39 years of marriage he has never hurt me this much. He is baffled. He is used to doing things his way, and I guess he is surprised that I care so much. Oh well, I am still going. I need to let this go.
melia

Melia - that stinks but I am glad you are going to take your vacation. You do need it. I am baffled sometimes by the husbands. I think I need to read that bc husband book everyone keeps talking about. Maybe it will give me some insight b/c I can't seem to understand this from their perspective at all. Maybe he gets some comfort or sense of control back from pretending that nothing has changed?

Hello all:

Had a good week, although DH forgot my birthday. He brought me home the most beautiful pink roses yesterday, and you could tell he felt really bad. Oh well, I still turned 52!! Yikes that sounds old.

Lynn, I also had my SNB while I was under the ether. How was your SEX party. What did you buy? Speaking of sex, our group doesn't talk about that much. I find that lately for Dan & I it is almost non-existent since starting chemo. Is this common? Or is this a taboo subject? Also, was anyone told not to have sex right after chemo for a few days?

I go for my radiation simulation on May 8. I will be getting my tattoos that day too. Who else is doing radiation, and starting in May?


Amera, I enjoyed that article on Johnathan Alter.

Cindy, you are very pretty bald, I wish I could say the same, but for some reason I was born with sticky out ears. Also, with no eyebrows, my nickname is Humpty.

Tina have fun at the museum. Tami, husbands are a trial sometimes.

Viddie, I ended up once in the ER with a temperature of 38.7. I'm suppose to go on anything over 38, but I waited, and it didn't get better. Can cause yourself problems if you don't watch fevers. My doctor now has me on CIPRO as a preventative from Days 5 to 12....nadir period.

Mary, I have had 2 MRI's and will be doing a 3rd one on May 1 for a spot on my liver. Actually have 3 spots, one they know is a cyst, one is a hemangioma, but the 3rd they're not sure. Waiting til chemo is over, and then they may do a biopsy.

Melia, hope you have a fabulous trip...where are you going?

Caya, that allergy is enough to make your "Bum Hum". Hope it clears soon.

Mizsissy, sounds like you are on the most effective medical protocol, and I'm glad you got the 2nd opinion. Peace of mind is important too. I would be willing to come to Michigan for a group meeting. I could fly into Toronto and meet up with the Ontario girls, and then we could maybe drive down. Have you ever heard of the Grand Hotel from the movie "Somewhere in Time". It might be a fun place to have a meeting for a weekend? Here's web link: http://www.grandhotel.com/


Nancy, hope your TX goes well today.

Jan, did you get a port? Also, are you still on FEC or did they switch you to one of the Taxanes? I'll be doing all 6 FEC.

Robertin, you sure have been thru alot. What are they giving you now for your diabetes?

Shorti, hope you are doing well, and I agree with you, I like scarves the best too.

RobbinJaye, I live in my own tropical world about 20 times a day. These hot flashes are the worst.

Rebecca are you okay...haven't seen a post from you in awhile.

Dar, did you start back to work?

T4T...hope you are better than you have been.

Love to all...Big Hugs

Joni