June 2007 Chemo

Hi All,

Well... 3 down... 5 to go!!! Someone needs to pinch me! I feel great!!! I finished at 2 pm, and by now, according to my last two treatments, I should be experiencing the dry heaves.... There never seems to be rhyme or reason to this stuff! I am hoping that if and when I get the queazies, it will be tomorrow. Kacie, my high school grad is having her grad party on Saturday. Silly me... 250 of her "best" friends, relatives, neighbors and probably a few nosey strangers are due to show up here on Saturday at 3pm. Wish us luck! Actually, I am blessed with some really great friends that have been helping me all week and they plan on running the show... God bless them! Ok... I have been reading our posts, and I know that there has to be a few comedians in our midst... lets share some funny knee slapping stories... Laughter is the best medicine. Here goes... My son John, 14.5... is this funny outgoing kid that is going through puberty. He is growing up under the guiding wings of his three older sisters... (poor Kid).. Anyway.. Our house is like grand central station most days... It is not uncommon for me to come home from work and find 5-or 6 kids here hanging with my kids. Well, last night Kacie had a couple of her girlfriends over, and it was the first really warm day we have had this season. Northern Wisconsin... Back to the story, One of the girls came over with a bathing suit on and she was very shall I say healthy... John's poor eyes were buggin out of his head, so I suggested that he go clean his room. Boy they hate that when I do that. Anyway, after he went to his room, I told the girls that they needed to stop torturing the boys and to put a cover on. They kind of giggled, but got the message. I then went up and was gabbing with JOhn, and tried to talk birds and bees.... I talked about some likely situations that he may find him-self in, like being around girls with big boobs... and he looked me straight in the eye and said "That girl is heading for some big time back problems" I was dumbfounded...

To everyone who isn't feeling well, my good positive thoughts are sent your way. Fresh air, fruit, and naps!!!

Peace,

Terri

Hi SouthernCheryl I so agree, the Taxotere is a nasty burger. Try to rest as much as you can.
I sure didn't look forward to going to #2 yesterday but I did.
You might talk to your Onc about the subset question?

I agree too about the costs, I don't know how people do this w/o good insurance. Just added stress on top of everything else.

Hi Cy, good to hear from you, get your rest.

Terri, my gosh you are moving right along and sounds like you're doing pretty good. I'm so glad you are having so much good help w/this grad party, sounds fun but a handful! Enjoy and take it easy,

Oh Terri, how blessed to have your pubescent son worrying about the girls' future back issues!! Give it another 6 months!! Are you going to Madison for your treatment by chance or are you too far away from there?

Kathy, my oldest daughter use to sleep walk and would do the same kind of thing and we'd laugh and laugh the next day about what she was on a mission for. I wonder what pirate food is?! I have a personal obsession with Johnny Depp so maybe you were dreaming about him! I would have been looking for more than pirate food!!!!

I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I'm thinking of taking my girls to go see that Evan Almighty. I think it looks like it could be very funny and I could use some good deep belly laughs.

Cheryl, I hear that's a "better" type of carcinoma to have, correct? Doesn't usually spread? Happy for you if that is the case.

Where's Debbie K?!?

Everyone have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Susan

Hi all--

Just got done with round 2 of TAC today the Taxotere gave a slight headache but they said it could of been the Emend. Really tired now so I am going to take a nap. Maybe the nausea will be gone when I wake up!

Wish me luck!

Hugs to all...

Hi all,
I hope everyone has a good weekend planned. My blood test today came back real low for white cells so I guess I'll be trying to avoid germs all weekend. The onc's PA won't give me a Nuelasta shot until it drops below a certain point. And that's OK with me.
Cheryl- I know what you mean about not ever going back. I have given it fleeting thought myself. This stuff is so difficult to understand. Is this guy your new onc? Maybe he will give you some straight answers about things.
Gracie, Honeygirl and Bonnie - Nausea is such a bummer. The chemo has got to wipe out all good bacteria from our digestive system. I'm wondering if replacing it by eating yogurt would help a little with the nausea.
Pam - Can they reduce the amount of taxotere you are getting each time? I hope you are able to get some relief soon.
Kiddegirl- Hang in there and keep us posted!
Terri- Your son's "back trouble" observation is just great!
Kathy- HA! I loved the sleepwalking story! No doubt your son will be watching now for the next event.
Have a nice weekend,
Linda

Happy Aniversary Debbie! Hope you had a wonderful dinner.
Linda , I was wondering about eating yogurt to help my stomach lining also. Guess it can't hurt.
Kathy , that is so funny about the sleep walking! I wonder what the "pirate food" consisted of!?!
Well , for me , I am day three after my second treatment. Still have nausea , and am not sure if it is from the shot of neulasta , but my legs are aching. Didn't think I would make it through work yesterday , but I did. Went straight to bed when I got home! Felt a little better after a nap.
Well ladies , I hope everyone is having a good weekend. At least one that is not filled with to much nausea and pain. Hugs and Prayers to you all. Melody

Good morning, all,

Melody, I can't believe you were at work day 2 after treatment! For both of my treatments I have stayed home through day 3, but have done some work on my laptop between naps. You are really tough to get right back to it so quickly.

Our dinner was wonderful. I had my favorite, prime rib, and a nice glass of merlot. I even wore my wig and my husband said I looked great. I found it gave me a bit of a headache, hope it stretches out a little bit.

Terry, I really agree with you about the costs of all these appointments! Thank goodness for insurance but even the co-pays add up.

Well, I need to go get groceries before I get too tired out.

Take care all, Debbie

Hello Fellow Travelers. I started chemo (4 AC, 4T) on June 14. Had relatively few side effects and felt almost normal after 5 days. I've been on an emotional roller coaster from hysteria and panic to dispair, grief and sort of OK since the diagnosis (Stage III ductal, three "suspicious" nodes and maybe inflammatory BC). In fact, that last episode of the Sopranos made me so angry, I forgot entirely that I had cancer for at least ten minutes. Anyway, I can tell the "respectable" 6 cm lump is already smaller which gives me some hope that I might live beyond next week. This will be a long battle for the upcoming year and probably longer but the support on this site has been wonderful and informative. Next chemo is July 5. Does anyone know if the effects are cumulative?

Hello Debbie:

The plan is to have a modified mastectomy after chemo, then maybe more chemo and radiation followed by anti estrogen meds.

They gave me Emend 125 mg prior to the infusion along with 2 dexamethosone. For the next 2 days I took Emend (80 mg)with the dexa and the 4th day, just the dexa. I had some gassiness, constipation, turned reddish, spaciness but no nausea or vomiting. I hope the next treatment goes as well. I drank loads of water, took Colace and prune joice and resorted to a laxative after 3 days of no results. Then, I started to return to "normal". Hope you're doing well too.

Hello Chemo Cousins!
Well here it is day 5 (1st tx of AC was Tuesday) and yesterday and today I have been feeling pretty good! Imagine that! Food isn't as disgusting as it was the 1st 3 days, I'm a little tired, but trying to rest as I need it. IF the tx are all going to be just a couple of days of nausea and alittle vomiting, I think I can handle it. I haven't as yet had any se from the Neulesta shot, however I've been taking a little tylenol, my onc said it was okay. I have been having trouble staying asleep at night, nothing a little xanex can't take care of though. I do think however I will ask for this Emend, that you have talked about..... the compazine really takes a while to have any effect on me. Oh well!!!
Hope you are all having a great official first of summer
weekend, and are feeling as well as you can!

Bonnie

Hi all, I am 48 will be 49 in 3 weeks, been with my partner Randy for a year, we re-met at 30 yr. high school reunion and started dating. I live in Newport Beach, CA and was recently diagnosed. I have not seen the pathology report, looks like I need to ask the Oncologist next week when I see her. The suggested course of action is chemo for 3 months then a lump removal does not look to them as if it has gone to the nodes, but time will tell.
I have learned a great deal reading here today.
Has anyone tried any herbal regiment to compliment the chemo and surgery?

Hi, Savanah:
I am starting chemo on Monday, and I take a boatload of herbal suplements
Here goes:
Supplements (pill or powder)

Maitake Mushrooms (also called Maitake MD-fraction): Japanese mushroom taken in pill form that is great for the immune system. Older men and women in Japan live much longer on average than American men and women. Research shows that most of them use maitake regularly.
· Protects healthy cells from becoming cancerous
· Enhances immune system’s ability to ‘seek-and-destroy’ cancer cells
· Helps healthy cells during chemo
· Helps prevent the spread of cancer

Maitake and breast cancer: 73% of patients show significant improvement or regression of tumors!

Quercetin: Comes from plants. Found a lot in onions. A flavenoid. (the pigments that make the pretty dark fruit and veggie colors.) Taken in pill form.
· Inhibits tumor growth by making the cancer cells unable to divide and make more.
· Reduces the side effects of chemo

Quercetin and breast cancer: Of all the cancers it helps, it helps breast cancer the most.

Papain (papaya enzymes) or Bromelain (pineapple enzymes):
· Helps you absorb quercetin, so it can work best
· Increases the manufacture og cancer-blocking cells
· Enhances immunity
· Inhibits cancer from spreading
· Helps with effects of radiation and chemo
· Tastes good! Chewable tablets. (Can’t get the enzymes as much just by eating the fruit – most is in the parts of the fruit we don’t normally eat)

Ip6: big name is ‘Inositol Hexaphosphate’. Comes from whole grains and legumes, but it is hard for our bodies to eat enough to make it worthwhile for fighting cancer. Taken in powder form with water. It has no taste, and looks/feels like cornstarch.
· Causes cancer cells to ‘shut off’ so they can’t make more
· Stimulates healthy cells that kill cancer
· Strengthens the effectiveness of radiation and chemo

Oxygen: Comes in liquid form. Mix with water or juice. Little-to-no taste at all.
· Dr. Otto Warburg received the Nobel prize in 1931 for the discovery that unlike all other cells in the human body, cancer cells do not breathe oxygen. That is why they are ‘mutant’ cells that cause us harm. Studies have shown that taking an oxygen supplement can kill cancer cells, like Raid to a bug.
· Besides the liquid form, it is important to stretch every day to bring oxygen to healthy cells, and also get some type of light aerobic activity (like walking) 5 days per week.
This should get you started on your research!

Hi Shrink I personally have found that se's can be cumulative but it may depend on the individual and their meds so maybe all don't go thru that, hopefully, yours won't build up.

Bonnie it's good to hear from you and nice to know that things are going pretty good after a few days. Good for you.


Gracie, my goodness you poor thing, I hope you are feeling better today. Are you at your nadir when your counts are down? I'm sorry I forgot when you started. Do you have some Immodium AD? That is supposed to help w/the D.
Hugs to you and hope the pain is going away now.

I'm on day 3 from last treatment and have spent most of this time resting on my bed, just don't have the energy or feel good but no major complaints. Feel icky inside and spacey, walk funny sometimes but hope this time goes better than last. My eyesight is even going weird, driving me batty!

Good Sunday evening to everyone,

I just put some fried chicken in the oven, yum! I seem to constantly crave all kinds of oriental, thai, vietnamese food and fried chicken. It is amazing to me how many other things don't appeal at all. I have totally lost my taste for coffee; hope I get it back later. Do you gals have these odd appetites?

Had a good weekend and got lots of chores done and a few naps thrown in. Tomorrow is my nadir day so I will probably be pretty tired, but then expect to be good the rest of the week.

Hope you all had a good weekend. Hugs, Debbie