Starting Chemo in May 07

Options
1…2930323435…73

Comments

  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited August 2007
    last round of taxol was Thursday; yesterday I was still on steroids so it was a good day, but today.....the pain is vicious, even with morphine and dilaudid, oh my. Maybe I've built up tolerance? I'm a little stunned at how much I hurt.

    But it's the last time, thank goodness. This will pass, and I will never be in this place/situation again, in the best of worlds.

    In any case, hope your all's Sat is better than mine...enjoy it all you can.

    Hugs,
    Amanda
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeoPat
    NeoPat Member Posts: 102
    edited August 2007
    Amanda, congratulations on finishing Taxol, but I am sorry that you are in so much pain. I also get pain, but yours sounds a lot worse. I have two more treatments.

    Pat
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aimster1123
    aimster1123 Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2007
    Hey girls,

    Lorain, you got it! My port was put in on the same side that I'll be getting radiation (because of needing to be able to play my violin on the other side) so I have to get it out first. I guess I don't mind getting it out so quickly, although that means I'll have to get blood draws with a needle, etc. But it will also be nice to have it out, I guess. I'm curious too--are you getting Herceptin?

    Amya, I'm so sorry you're in so much pain. Seems like you and I don't deal with this chemo thing very well, do we? The good thing, like you said, is that you are DONE!!!!! You just have to heal up from this one and hopefully NEVER EVER go there again. That same thought is going to be what gets me through my last one, coming up on the 23rd.

    We go to St. Louis for vacation tomorrow--woohoo!! So I'll probably be out of the loop for this week. Don't worry, you'll get sick of me again after my next tx, LOL.

    Have a great week, everybody. Congrats to those finishing up!!!

    Amy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lorain
    Lorain Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2007
    I can't remember for sure, but I think I'm HER2- (the pathology report said 'not amplified')which I think means I will not take Herceptin. I need to ask that question. I do think he said I'd be taking something.

    My surgeon said to keep the port in 2 years probably because of the size of my tumors(left 11cm, right 4.5 cm). I'd always had these lumps as long as I can remember...I guess they were hiding the cancer.

    I just had my 3rd Taxol and today I'm really achy and in pain...numbness is bad also. Hope it's better tomorrow!

    Have a nice vacation, Amy! A good week to everyone else!

    Lorain
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Hey everyone!

    I am back from vacation - as always too short but I am just being greedy since we took nearly 3 weeks (cut a little short because of chemo)

    I just got home from the "Weekend to End Breast Cancer" it's a 60km walk done over 2 days. My cousin and a friend were participants so my whole family was at the finish line for them...I bawled my eyes out - it was very emotional and very uplifitng! I would have done it too but you have to raise a minimum of $2000 to enter and I didn't have enough time to do that. So, like Leeanne, I have recruited a bunch of people to do the Race for the Cure with me on September 30th. My only "rule" is that the people who are running have to finish WITH me - and I am SLOOOOWWWW these days. I think Liz, you said it best - 'used to run with walk breaks, now it's more like walk with run breaks!' I am down to running for 2 minutes and walking for 1-3 minutes. My 5km time is something like 38 minutes (!) but what the heck - I am still out there 5 times a week - so... good for me! Once I'm done chemo and lose this extra weight I've gained - I know my running will be back to what it was - probably even better!

    Speaking of chemo...I go for my LAST treatment on Tuesday (assuming all my lab work is good tomorrow!) I am SO happy about that! I can't imagine not feeling like krap, having hair again, eating whatever I want (not worrying about heartburn, nausea or my burning mouth)!!!! I go for my re-excision surgery on the 6th of September (which is a Thursday) and I am joining Weight Watchers to get rid of this excess poundage on the following Monday!

    Then, I get a little break and start radiation, the middle of October! (6 weeks - 3 treatments)

    I am sorry to hear about all these nasty side effects everyone has been having but it is GREAT to know we are at the end of the tunnel and most of us are nearing completion of the chemo journey! AmyA (Amanda) CONGRATULATIONS on being done!!!!!

    Hope everyone has been well the past 3 weeks. Have a great vacation Aimster and Happy Belated Birthday LeeAnne. Congratulations on your EXCELLENT news Liz re: major shrinkage! Sorry if I've missed anyone...take care!
    Mandy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kimvidito
    kimvidito Member Posts: 105
    edited August 2007
    I am trying to stay very positive these days. It's the only thing that keeps my blood pressure down. My brother was here to visit this weekend. We went to his friends cottage and sat by the lake all day. My kids were so normal and had so much fun. Ever nice to see this stress subside a little for them. I will hopefully have my last tx on Thursday if my BP is low enough. I wonder if they will have to give me meds for that. I will know more tomorrow.
    So sorry some of you are having bad side effects. We are all almost done. Good luck out there
    Prayers out to all of you
    Kim
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited August 2007
    I'm on weekly Taxol/Carboplatin, so I get a rest week every fourth Friday. So this past Friday, I had no chemo and so I felt almost normal this weekend. I think the Aranesp had had enough time to boost my red cells, too. I actually had forgotten how good it feels to just have a normal level of energy. Wow! Can't wait to get back to this full-time!

    DH and I were wanting to go look at the annual Perseid meteor shower this weekend because it was a new moon and they'd be easier to see. But we had a terrible storm Saturday night and I wasn't sure about staying out late Sunday night because of work on Monday.

    I couldn't sleep Saturday night, though, so I got up at 2 a.m. and looked outside and the clouds were gone and the stars were out! DH is a night owl, so we grabbed a giant papasan chair cushion and a blanket for the back of our rustbucket pickup truck and headed out to the neighboring farm fields, to avoid the city's light pollution.

    It was really romantic and sweet to be cuddled up, watching for falling stars. DH has had so many eye surgeries that he has a hard time seeing stars now, but it was dark enough for him to even spot a tiny satellite tracking across the sky. He also saw the Milky Way for the first time since he was a kid.

    While none of the shooting stars were spectacular, it still made for a really special experience. I'm so glad the Perseids occurred on a weekend I felt well enough to go gallivanting around the cornfields at 3 a.m.!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeoPat
    NeoPat Member Posts: 102
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    I am still out there 5 times a week - so... good for me!



    Very, very, very good for you!

    Pat
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lizzzy
    lizzzy Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    My hair is starting to sprout like a little garden on top o' my head. Do you think the new hairs will survive the taxol--I'm not starting it until September so I will probably have even more growth by then.

    I'm getting fat. But in keeping with the theme of positive girl club I am sure I will get out there and run it off soon.

    Welcome back Mandy! Congrats on the walk. Huge accomplishment!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Well, so much for breaking out the bubbly to celebrate my last treatment. My white blood cell count is too low so I am DELAYED until next Wednesday (the 22nd) #%*&&!!** I am so bummed out about that! I cried on the drive home. This delays my surgery now by 2 weeks, which in turn delays my rads and ultimately my trip to Mexico. I was planning to go the first week of December but now won't be done 'til Christmas and we likely won't go away now until low season and after my daughter finishes her mid terms - so it's looking like late January or early February.

    I know this is not the end of the world but I was so looking forward to having my LAST chemo tomorrow and also feeling rather full of myself for not having delays (no neupogen or Neulasta shots here in Canada - not standard practice as we don't do dose dense) I thought it was my determination and my physical strength that kept me on schedule...what a lot of krap! I've clearly just been lucky!

    Oh well, I guess I should look on the bright side - I get a week of feeling (mostly) good, my hair is starting to grow a little and it will get another week to grow (then likely fall out again but it is fun right now to pet my head) and it's our 18th wedding anniversary this Sunday so me and hubby can go on a date and I will feel good.

    I'm sorry to be so negative - it's just so deflating to think you're going for your last treatment only to find out you have to wait another 8 days...

    Oh yeah, to top it all off, I gained 2 pounds...but that wasn't a total surprise as I just got back from vacation and many goodies were consumed.

    Today is the 5th anniversary of my beloved dog, Percy's death and the weather here reflects my mood - overcast, cloudy and grey.

    Tomorrow will be a better day - I hope today is a good day for all of you!

    CindyMn - sounds like a wonderful night with your sweetie - I am so happy for you - you deserve wonderful moments like that! Shooting starts are just so romantic...and all those wishes too!!

    Pat - I am so thankful to be able to continue to run but I'm still getting fat...oh well, it's for my mental health too! I have always said that running is my anti-depressant! I guess that's another positve to my delay- this extra week will help me to regain some of my old running stamina too!

    Take care, everyone!
    Mandy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lnmshoes
    lnmshoes Member Posts: 17
    edited August 2007
    Hi everybody,
    I had my third of four taxol last Thursday. One more to go.
    Now this week I just have to deal with the pain in my ankles and feet. This time my wrists are sore too. One more to go!! I just have to keep reminding myself.
    I saw my PS last week and have an expander in. Had it filled most of the way prior to chemo and he put some more saline in. We scheduled my reconstruction surgery for Oct 8th - One more step to completion. Now I need to decide between saline or silicone implants - any feedback would be appreciated. This group sure has been a godsend thru all of this.
    So good to hear how we are all coming to the end of chemo. I will have herceptin for a year yet but from what I hear there are very little side effects from that.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lizzzy
    lizzzy Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    Mary S.,

    I just had to make this decision re: saline v. silicone. I initially said saline but after I talked to my ps and his nurse and my surgeon and saw how many women are getting silicone and actually felt them, I decided on silicone. I think there are advantages for reconstruction patients too as well as aesthetic reasons. Because the implants need to go sub-muscular, I understand saline does not work as well. I 'll be interested to hear what you decide and what anyone else thinks too.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lizzzy
    lizzzy Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    One more thing: I'm getting memory gel implants http://www.mentorcorp.com/global/physician-information/gel-myths.htm which are supposed to be more solid and not leak like the old silicone did. They follow you in a study to monitor any complications.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited August 2007

    I got a silicone implant after my first mastectomy and plan to get another silicone implant for my second reconstruction. When women get breast augmentation, they still have breast tissue, so the saline implants work pretty well. When there's nothing but muscle and skin over the implant, I think the silicone looks better. However, I know many women who've gotten saline implants after mastectomy. For me, I felt safe with the silicone.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 634
    edited August 2007
    Hi Gals!! I BIG global hello to ALL and hugs to everyone!!

    Mandy sorry to hear of your delay!! I was lucky enough to never had a delay, but I did have the Neulasta shot after my first 3 treatments. Almost fell off the couch when I saw that each shot cost $3500 !!! Three times as much as the actual chemo!!

    LizY, I TOO have a little peach fuzz growing on my head. I am doing the happy dance, although I feel like I have been bald FOREEVER!! Everyone says how great I look and how much "hair" I have and I keep saying...bull dinkies! Easy for you people to say with your thick lush full heads of hair!!

    I feel like I am suffering from hot flashes. I get these little waves of heat...then I'm ok. Didn't have them during my treatments...now only AFTER them!! I am currently in Minnesota on a business trip and have the overwhelming urge to whip off the wig in the middle of my symposium!! Could shock quite a few people as there are about 900 pple her for this conference...

    MaryS -- I too am a HER2+ girl and have 2 treatments. WICKED headache after the first treatment (ONC said b/c it was a bigger dose the first time). Took some Advil and was fine. Had my second treatment last week and didn't get the headache. Just a little sore where they put the IV. I didn't have a port for my chemo, so my arm has been extremely sore. I keep saying I have a 'broken wing.' ready for my arm to feel better...it's very weak. Onc said it will feel better eventually. But, Herceptin is a CAKE walk compared to chemo...

    Ok girls...enough complaining by me!! Good karma and best wishes to ALL!!!

    Amy, how are you eyeballs!???? :O

    Virginia
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lizzzy
    lizzzy Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    Virginia, I like your description of "little waves of heat." That's how I feel now. I thought it would be worse. Waking up in the middle of the night dripping with sweat isn't that fun though.

    Did you see the episode of Sex and the City where Samantha whipped off her wig in the middle of some kind of talk? I feel like that sometimes too.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeoPat
    NeoPat Member Posts: 102
    edited August 2007
    Mandy, I'm sorry about your delay. I would be very disappointed about that, too.

    Pat
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lizzzy
    lizzzy Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    My only "rule" is that the people who are running have to finish WITH me - and I am SLOOOOWWWW these days. I think Liz, you said it best - 'used to run with walk breaks, now it's more like walk with run breaks!' I am down to running for 2 minutes and walking for 1-3 minutes. My 5km time is something like 38 minutes (!) but what the heck - I am still out there 5 times a week - so... good for me! Once I'm done chemo and lose this extra weight I've gained - I know my running will be back to what it was - probably even better!Mandy


    I haven't had chemo in 3.5 weeks and my running endurance is improving a bit. But I'm still only up to 2 minutes running and 2 minutes walking. But this is a good sign because I bet after surgery and last 4 rounds of chemo, it will be easy to build back up again. My surgery will probably cause a bigger setback than the chemo since i'm having bilateral mast plus reconstruction, but I'm not going to give up. I'm glad to hear you're still at it even if it slowed a bit. I'm struggling with weight now more than before since I've gotten into some bad food habits. I'm trying to increase the healthy foods and eliminate the bad ones but it's not easy once you get in the habit. I think it will be better once all the treatment is in the past tense!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    image

    Hi everyone!

    Liz, I can see the improvement in my running almost every time I am out when it's near the end of my cycle. (Remember I am doing FEC every 3 weeks). One of the "positives" about being delayed for my LAST treatment is that I will get a full week to build up some stamina before going to the sinkhole again!

    I think beign active has been so helpful and I know it will help you recover from your surgery that much quicker!! I can't recall - exactly when is your surgery date?

    By the way, I still haven't received my buffs so I am going to call them tomorrow and just cancel the order (and have them refund me - they didn't have any problems processing my payment!!) Did you return your incorrectly coloured buff? (It was from buyabuff too)

    Hope you're all feeling well!
    Take care,
    Mandy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aimster1123
    aimster1123 Member Posts: 200
    edited August 2007
    Hey girls,

    Greetings from vacation-land!! We're having a blast. Tonight, DD said, "Thank you for all the special activities today!" (Children's museum and Chuck E. Cheese's).

    Mandy, I would be SO MAD AND SAD in your shoes!! I'm having (hopefully) my last FEC next THursday (8/23), so we'll be on similar timelines now. But I didn't have a vacation planned like you, and even if I did, I would just be really bummed to have everything delayed by a week. You get so excited to be DONE that it would just be really deflating. I feel for you.

    All you runners are so impressive to me!! DH has a plan all mapped out for us to start running together after I finish chemo. We'll see how it goes. I definitely want to get into an exercise routine. I've never been good about that, and it's time.

    Virginia, my eyeballs are back to normal, LOL! Thanks for asking.

    Just wanted to say hi to everybody. Hope you're all having a good week. I'll check in again when we get home.

    Amy
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PDXLeeAnne
    PDXLeeAnne Member Posts: 119
    edited August 2007
    Wow, am I slammed by pain this go round of Taxol! Like almost to the point of tears at moments. Still just taking Ibuprofen, though I may ask for something stronger to get me through the last round. Dang it is BAD! Only one more though... I just keep focusing on that.

    I'm not even sure I'll be able to make it to work tomorrow, although I am scheduled to attend a Komen luncheon with my acupuncturist. Silly me for having said I'd go with her but I think I can rally for at least a few hours. Work is just going to have to deal without me - they have no idea how much I have toughed it out to be there throughout this treatment process, so if I miss a few extra days here at the end they will live. Least I hope so.

    Hang in there everyone... we're making progress!

    LeeAnne
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lorain
    Lorain Member Posts: 68
    edited August 2007
    Mary S - My onc said his sister was diagnosed with bc just before I came to him. He spent a lot of time reading up on reconstruction and implants. He told me silicone are now the best...that's what he recommended to her.

    Mandy - Sorry about your delayed tx. My last Taxol is the 22nd. I can't wait. I take the Neulasta shot everytime, though...and I'm doing dense dose.

    I haven't had any "fills" yet for reconstruction. Does it hurt? I'm going Monday the 20th for the first. I actually think my hair seems to be growing slightly. I'm sooooo ready!

    Lorain
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited August 2007
    Mandy - hope your blood counts pick up soon! time to get the last taxol over with....

    LeeAnne - no sense in toughing it out, get pain killers that work - the trick is to stay AHEAD of the pain, not follow it out the barn door ...

    Good to know about the silicone....sheesh, so many decisions to make...

    Does anyone know, if I decide to do rads do they take labs? Do I need to leave my port in?? I'll call them tomorrow, but if I can get it taken out that'd be nice - anyone know if it's just a day procedure, or if they have to do general anesthetic again and keep me overnight?

    Next steps, wow.....what a concept!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PDXLeeAnne
    PDXLeeAnne Member Posts: 119
    edited August 2007
    Amanda, the port comes out before rads. Its usually taken out as a quick office visit (20 mins.) with a local, at least that's my understanding.

    Of course I HATE being cut on if I am at all awake, so I have to talk to the docs and fine out my options. I had it put in under general but am thinking about doing the valium/twilight sleep thing to have it taken out. I don't want the 3 days of being out of it that a general causes...

    I think I'll call the onc office today and see if I can get stronger pain killers. Bet they'll say to tough it out though. Grrrr.

    LeeAnne
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lizzzy
    lizzzy Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    I think beign active has been so helpful and I know it will help you recover from your surgery that much quicker!! I can't recall - exactly when is your surgery date?

    By the way, I still haven't received my buffs so I am going to call them tomorrow and just cancel the order (and have them refund me - they didn't have any problems processing my payment!!) Did you return your incorrectly coloured buff? (It was from buyabuff too)
    Mandy


    Mandy, I did not return the buff. I figured by the time I got the new one my hair would be back! And I don't trust them now to refund my money since they screwed up my order twice already. I hope you get your money back. Just keep emailing them until they do it.

    My surgery is on Aug 29. I will be back on Taxol 2 or 3 weeks after that.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeoPat
    NeoPat Member Posts: 102
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    Wow, am I slammed by pain this go round of Taxol! Like almost to the point of tears at moments. Still just taking Ibuprofen, though I may ask for something stronger to get me through the last round. Dang it is BAD! ...




    I don't know how you feel about narcotics, but Percocet works well for me. I saw a different oncologist today because my regular one is on vacation. When I told him that I take a pill at night (on the days that I have pain, not everyday) and during the day if I feel close to tears. He told me, "Take more!" LOL

    Pat
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cinrae123
    cinrae123 Member Posts: 419
    edited August 2007
    Hi ladies, Well,,,,,,,i'm 10 days post my 5th chemo and I still feel like shit. Are the last ones worse than the first ones? I am so tired of feeling like this,,,,,,I wish I could just skip my last chemo,,,,,do they ever do that? I just want this to be over with,,,,,,,,,,hate it, hate it, hate it. This better be worth it,,,,,,,,cause I dont think I would go thru this again.
    Hope all you ladies are well.
    Take care, Cindy

    Just a little bummed out today, sorry.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2007
    Hi ladies!

    Liz - I still haven't phoned about cancelling my order for buffs...here I was so pleased that this cool company was Canadian - now I'm embarassed at their krappy service!

    Because of my delay, I've had to re-schedule my re-excision surgery and got it booked for September 20th. At first they said October 4th - I just about freaked out - that would put me finished rads in January - I don't think so!! So after stomping my feet, my surgeon agreed to squeeze me in on the 20th. But before I heard back from the surgeon, I put in a call to my rads oncologist to see if it was possible to do rads before my surgery...he called me back a prompt 6 hours later (!) and unfortunatley I missed his call as I was in a meeting at work so I still don't know the answer - has anyone heard of doing this?

    Cinrae - I know just how you feel about that last treatment. My 5th one wasn't that bad (nothing outside of the usual krap) but I was thinking 'what would happen if I skipped that last treatment?' Of course, I'm not entertaining the thought but I can't help but go there - especially since I've been delayed. Grrr!! A friend of mine suggested that maybe I left my white blood cells on the beach during my vacation and forgot to bring them back!!

    Oh well, I went for a run today again and I have improved every time I've gone out for the past 2 weeks - I have shaved a full 5 minutes off my 5km time from when I started about 8 days out from my last chemo - so that's progress I am happy with!! I'm just so grateful to be feeling mostly normal - I know it will only last for 6 more days but then that is it! I don't think I'll ever whine about a head cold again!! (Probably not )

    Aimster - glad you're enjoying your vacation - you so deserve it!!

    Anyways, it's late here and work comes early tomorrow!

    Have a good night everyone and for those needing it - this is for you!
    Mandy
    image
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited August 2007
    cindy in CA -((((()))))) soon the chemo will be done, it does happen....

    speaking of...my right side is having more numbness than my left from the taxol...right little toe and toe next to it, plus most of the fingers of my right hand, and right elbow......all of this numbness is new as of this evening....aargh, at what point do I call the onc? Maybe in the morning if it keeps up? would you wait and see?

    also, splurged...went to Ikea to buy a new bedspread & curtains. I feel like I've spent so much time feeling really crummy in my bed that I needed to change the juju, so I bought this bold and vibrant duvet cover....for my new bold and vibrant life, my new normal, right?

    also, saw my dream job listed....I should have faith and apply even though I'm still recovering, right? we only live once and all that?

    clearly this figuring out life after chemo is going to take some figuring out. I've applied for Cancer Care Resources' InPower fitness program, which is my next step. That and a diet change....

    what are your plans for life post-chemo? for continued recovery, etc.? strategies?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeoPat
    NeoPat Member Posts: 102
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    what are your plans for life post-chemo? for continued recovery, etc.? strategies?




    I had started working on my fitness a few months before I was diagnosed. I really plan on getting back to that. Also I have lost 25 pounds and want to lose about 30 more.

    I also want to be better about keeping the house clean. I have used Flylady in the past and that worked for me.

    Also want to cook more and be a lot thriftier about food shopping and meal planning.

    My daughter is going to public high school this fall after homeschooling all her life. She took college classes the last few years and I spent a LOT of time driving her. I even took a few of the classes with her. So this fall, I will have a lot more free time to accomplish my goals.

    Pat
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories