June 2007 Chemo

Debbie C, love the quilt idea, what a group of warm, loving friends. I hope the sentiments see you through many more treatments. I looked at your site, what an inspiration you are!
Dawn, glad to hear your temp was well, temp! Thanks for the nadir info, I had never heard of it. It sure would explain some of my symptoms on Sunday, whew!
I can't see how you all have this bundle of energy, today is the first day I feel normal and it's exactly one week from the treatment. Granted, I haven't skipped doing anything but it's been difficult getting through some days.
Allgone, excellent news on your R breast results!! Thanks for the well wishes for my son.
Good luck with the chest infection.
Kathy, I feel your tiredness and I don't have a toddler! I just keep reminding myself this is all TEMPORARY and a blip on the radar screen in the grand scheme of things, right? As for the constipation, I had to use col-rite (?) OTC and it helped. Also, try adding Fiber One cereal to salads, soups, regular morning cereal, etc. It adds extra fiber and crunch.
Hope everyone is doing well today!

Hey Kathy, my oldest is named Christian too - but he's 14 now! I wished I had a desk job right now. I help manage a large grocery store, so I walk ALOT. On concrete floors. I'm not so sure how I'm gonna do with the chemo. My company is great though. They've already brought in a replacement for me, so I don't feel compelled to work when I can't, and they don't have to worry about no management coverage if I have to leave.

Speaking of chemo, I have a new onc, and a new start date -- Monday the 18th. I originally scheduled it for 6/20, which I had forgotten is my 15th anniversary. Can you believe I forgot that? So I get to join the club for real next Monday.

He is also doing a different tx than the previous onc. He likes TAC. There's a large study going on now comparing TAC with AC/T, but he just signed up the last person. I really don't care about being in a study, I just don't ever want cancer again!

Welcome to the gang, Sharon. What a healthy diet you have! I'll bet you bounce back incredibly fast because of it.

Honeygirl (Melody? Am I remembering that right?)--I got lots of compliments at work yesterday about my new haircut, a few folks even said it made me look years younger! (I turn 49 at the end of the month.) I was so surprised, I hate my hair short. But it's curly and thick, so it looks OK. I guess it's just that I get my sense of femininity from my hair.

Kathy, I laughed so hard at your POOP comment! I know how you feel.

To all my other 'sisters', howdy!, and I hope it's all going well for you.

Cheryl

Wow it is good to see most everyone is doing pretty good w/their treatments.
After my first taxotere I was still feeling pretty bad by day 8 and wondering why and then it hit w/a force. This was the middle of my nadir period and my white count was too low, I became very ill and my fever went up to 101 so went into the hospital for complicated neutropenia, received IV antibiotics and finally got back home yesterday afternoon. My count was 1 when I admitted and when I left it was 2.2 so not going up fast enough for me.
I will see my Onc on Thursday, have them recheck my blood counts and have a feeling my chemo will be adjusted. I'm also going to ask about getting a Neulasta shot.
Be sure and watch your temps gals. I knew better having been thru this before but like you know you can get overwhelmed by everything going on and it's easy to forget things.
It is nice to be back home and I came on in the forum this morning to see how you all are doing.
I'm starting to get hair falling out so it's only a matter of time but I'm ready.
Hugs to you all,

Hi Joanne, well your nadir period is 7 to 10 days after your chemo treatment so that is when your blood count may be low and then it will start to climb back up so that is your lowest point.
At that time you would be more susceptible to infections since your body can't fight them off as well.
I just got unlucky and picked up an infection I couldn't fight. I don't like to be in crowds, around sick people or even going to the store during this time since you are at higher risk of infection. Use lots of antibacterial soap on your hands, I have become one of those that opens doors and pushes baskets w/my sleeves if it's chilly, just watch where you are during this time to protect yourself.
Four years ago I went thru ACT and never had this happen so this was a first for me. I don't think it is all that common but do watch your temps.

Pam, I'm so sorry to hear what you went through. I'm glad you are back home and the white blood cell count is creeping up. How come they didn't give you the shot of neulasta in the first place? I'm praying you get stronger quickly.

Debbie C.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I appreciate the tips for my poopie problems--and I'm "back on track"!!! LOL! What can we do but just laugh sometimes, right?

I was tired again today when I got to work, but I'm already feeling better. Since today is day 6 for, each day from here on out will get better physically for me. By day 10 or 11, I'll be feeling normal and have all my energy back--assuming things go like tx #1. So far, I haven't run any fever, though I have a constant runny nose it seems.

And--Yes, I want a pat on the back---My hair is gone like a Nixon file and I've been wearing scarves for two weeks. Anyway--I have a wig that I was going to wear for court hearings. So??? Yep. I had a quick court hearing first thing this morning and I said, "F&*k it! I'm wearing a scarf!" And I did. I'm in Arkansas and it's hot by 9am here dammit! So, I'm glad I did that. (Now, if I had a jury trial, I'd wear a wig, but othrewise, I'm thinking not).
Sorry if that's too brazen for some of you....but I'm stoked about my nerve to wear the scarf in court......

Kathy

Kathy a big pat on the back coming from Oklahoma. I know your heat, we're baking here too and it's rough thinking about wearing something on your head.

Debbie are you doing anything about the thrush? Mouthwash or rinseing w/something? I'm glad you are feeling more normal, it should keep getting better for you.

Pam - I am so sorry to hear how ill you've been and so glad to hear that things are looking up.

Kathy - I agree.... you go girl!!!

Debbie - get something for the thrush, that stuff is nasty!! My youngest got that when he was born (he's going to be 17 this August!) and gave it to me when I nursed him!! OUCH!!

Susan - good luck tomorrow with the MRI!

Dawn
12/05 IDC er+/pr+ her2+ stage 1
3/07 IDC er-/pr- her2+ stage 2

Hi again. The onc. prescribed Fluconazole for the thrush which I just started taking today. It is a 5 day course of medicine. Hopefully it will do the trick.

Gracie, it seemed to really help me to drink water all day the day before the date of my first treatment (approx. 4 - 16oz glasses). I also continued the day of and I did not need any additional i.v. fluids. Probably woudn't hurt the bowel issue either. Before I went in for the Neulasta shot I took two ibuprofen and took two more later in the day. Didn't have a lot of bone pain. I know all of our reactions can be pretty different on an individual basis but just thought I would share what seemed to work for me.

I'll be thinking about you on the 18th. Susan, good luck tomorrow with your MRI!

Take care, Debbie

this friday will be week 8 of a 12 week chemo treatment. i am taking abraxane and aloxi for neausea. love it!! only problems i had was sea sickness feelings. my fingernails turning blue, of course the wonderful "chemo brain". thank goodness no aches and pain.

Good morning all!!
Sounds like everyone is just about up and running with their treatment. I had my port put in yesterday, not too much discomfort. Even though I didn't have general anesthesia, I was still sick to my stomach again. Seemed like general to me..... I don't remember a thing from the time he gave me the shot to "relax" me until I woke up in recovery. I also came out of surgery with either a bad case of allergies or I got a lovely cold! I've been sneezing and coughing and all that good stuff!!! Hospitals.. got to love 'em! If you not sick going in... you are coming out! On Monday I also had a visit with the plastic surgeon, she added 120cc's to my expander; that was no big deal thank goodness!
So Tuesday the 19th, I'm off to the cancer center to get my first dose of AC.Trying to decide when to cut my hair real short or go ahead and shave it. I too have decided not to got the wig route. I told someone last night that if I'm going to fight this battle, I'm going to show my battle scars!
Hope everyone has a good day!

Bonnie

Bonnie,
I agree on the general...After they gave me my shot to "relax" me, I don't remember a thing until he was flushing my port to make sure it worked. I was talking about my dogs so obviously I was coherent but don't remember anything before that, which is good! My step-daughter works in radiology and she said the "la-la land" drugs they give you just make you not remember because the patients that have this definitely feel things at the time!

My MRI went good....except, I basically was on a "boogie board". First of all, I'm 5' 10" tall and looking at what I had to get on, I thought there is no way but it all worked out. It was a slanted upwards and two cut-outs for your breasts to hang into. The hardest part was my ribs rubbing against the table and I was told to not move my torso, even between pics or I'd have to go home and start again another day. I'm not clausterphobic but there were a few times I had to concentrate on my breathing because in this tube, there's not much air movement and my head was in a brace of sorts. I only felt a coolness with the contrast, no pain, but the last two scans were pretty "thumpy"...I felt like they were poking me in the ribs, made me jump!

Crossing my fingers I'll get the all clear tomorrow a.m.

Keep up the great job ladies...everyone is doing well!

Hugs,
Susan

Well ladies, bad news, no June chemo for me. Onc just called and it appears there is another lesion, 6mm x 9mm x 6mm inferior to my original lumpectomy site. Possibly a lymp node, they really don't know. The calcs (whole reason for this MRI) did not show up but they still could be DCIS.

anyway, he wants now to try a ultrasound guided biopsy and if they can't get it with that, they will do an MRI guided biopsy. The thought of more of these is just devastating as I thought my core biopsy was worse than the surgeries thus far!

I'm leaning towards just having a mast at this point and forgetting about the biops. Maybe there's a slim chance this lesion is part of the orginal lump but I'm at the losing end of the odds every time here.

Any thoughts or input would be so helpful and appreciated. I know it's a personal decision but it helps to have others insight and perspective.

Everyone keep up the great progress in your treatments!

Hugs,
Susan

Oh Susan, that sucks!!

I agree with you - I'd be leaning toward a mastectomy (that's what I had) - sounds easier than all the biopsies and then you may end up with one anyway. I think you should call your surgeon and discuss your thought and it wouldn't hurt to call any of your other doctors for their opinions too. I had a stereotactic biopsy and that for me was worse than any of the other surgeries (6 so far) I've had in the past 18 months. More swelling and pain, etc. If your surgeon doesn't think the mast is the next step, then discuss going straight to the MRI guided biopsy so at least it would be one test instead of possibly two. Is he talking about another lumpectomy depending on the results? Then you've got to question him about whether he will be taking so much that you'll have a noticeable size difference too. Make a list of questions and call them.

I'm rambling - my brain gets carried away.......

Sorry you won't be hanging out with this awesome June 07 crew but please check back in to let us know what's up!

We have the same treatment plan - unless they change yours - so pm me if you want to talk about it when you get there!

Dawn

Susieswan...I'm so sorry!! When they found the 2 small suspicious areas on my right breast, one was 3mm and the second was 7mm. They said they would have to wait a couple of weeks for this new biopsy needle to come in. If they did the biopsy the areas are so small that they might take the whole area out and if it did turn out to be cancer they would have to do a radical masectomy. This needle they were waiting for in Toronto would do the biopsy and leave a small clip behind so if surgery did have to happen, the surgeon would know where to take more tissue from...(Did that make sense??) If it didn't just let me know and I will try to re-word or clarify. I just wanted to let you know this because if you don't opt for a masectomy, you want to make sure you get the result you want.
Let me know what happens,
Keep Smiling