Starting Chemo in May 07

Post chemo plans...it's what keeps me going when times are rough!!

I have surgery scheduled for September 20th then rads after that. In the mean time, I am starting Weight Watchers on September 10 to help me get rid of the nearly 20lbs I gained during chemo, I am going to continue to improve my running times and build up my stamina again! I start playing indoor volleyball the third week of September, I am running the Race for the Cure (5km) on September 30 with a bunch of friends and family, I am going away for a weekend in the mountains with my hubby the day after my surgery (!) we are planning on doing some gentle hikes and lots of smoochy smoochy!, I am going to coach the running team at my son's school for a race in October, I am planning to go to Mexcio the week before Christmas with my hubby and kids to celebrate all 'active treatment' being done! and I am going to have either a party or take a group of my friends and family out to thank them for their incredible support during this journey! Whew!! I am tired and EXCITED just writing it all down!!


Hope you're all having a great day!
Mandy

Liz - those are some wonderful plans...this pic is for you!

So far, it sounds like everyone has some great plans for when this part of our journey is over!

I'm still trying to get a hold of my radiation oncologist...we keep missing each other - well, that's a lie. He's called me back once and I've called him 4 times! I'll ask again - does anyone know of any reason why I couldn't do rads before the surgery (re-excision)?

Wishing you all a good day
Mandy

Hey girls...just posted on another thread the following....

Well, I did it. I had my last treatment today. They gave me a purple heart completion certificate. I told the nurses that I hope the next time I saw them, it would be in a mall or something. : )
I also told my doctor that I wanted my port out. He told me that he always recommends that his patients keep them in for one year "just in case". I said "I WANT IT OUT!" So, he told me to tell my surgeon that it hurt. That way, they would take it out.
I got on the phone with the guy who is doing my hysterectomy (ASAP - Trip Neg, BRCA +) and he told me that he could take out the port at the same surgery for the hysterectomy. That was great news.
My onc told me to wait one month for the hysterectomy to make sure my body is healed from this freaking Taxotere.
So, hopefully, I'll have that surgery in October, then, have my implants put in sometime in November and be able to celebrate Christmas with all of this behind me.
I really love that idea. I also might have enough hair by then to go without anything on my head which would be super awesome!!
I'm sick of being bald!!
Anyway, I'm staying on this discussion board, even after I'm all done because, I don't know how I would have handled all of this without you ladies. (And, men!!!)
I feel great right now, only a little lower back pain. I hope that my pain doesn't continue for months like some of you have described. I'm so sorry for y'all for that.
I'm so ready to get back to my normal life with a few exceptions.....less stress, less taking life for granted and way more praying for good health.
I made it! So will you!
GROUP HUG!!!!
: ) Traci

PS The giant bra cracked me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again it's been a while since I posted.
I finished my Taxotere/cytoxin on Friday. I'm almost a week out from the last treatment and I'm still feeling down. I have no energy, walking down the hall I get tired out.
I still have hair on my head and some of my eyebrows and lashes but they have thinned. I have hair on my legs but it is baby fine. My nails are my worst problem. The nail beds hurt each time for almost a week after treatment and they have changed colors. Just in my fingers. They are a brownish color. I know some people have lost their nails and I'm hoping that doesn't happen. I mean finish chemo and then loose my nails.
I have a CT scan next week and then meet with the onc to talk about the results. I wont need a muga scan since I didn't do the adriamycin.
Good luck with final treatments and I hope all side effects are kept to a minimum as you all finish up.
The light at the end of the tunnel is very bright and I'm glad I finally made it.

I SURVIVED!!
CindyKS

That's OK. I tried to answer the phone with the remote.

Thanks for checking on me Mandy! I've been laying low - this 7th tx really kicked my butt. Took me a week to feel good enough to go back to work. I figure if I can't stand up long enough to get ready for work then I shouldn't go. But I did go yesterday, and survived.

This morning I got up and put my feet on the floor and holy crap - my right foot is ALL messed up. Seems to be typical for me that the symptoms of neuropathy hit a week after the Taxol. I'd forgotten that my onc recommended l-glutamine and vit b-6 WEEKS ago (doh) and I'm going to start that up today. Better now than never and hopefully it will help.

This foot thing (which makes it hard to walk, quite frankly, as if my light-headedness and Taxol induced extreme knee pain wasn't bad enough) is so depressing. I feel like "how much farther down can I go?" Do you know what I mean? I try and stay positive and remember that this is temporary but ENOUGH already. I feel like so much damaged goods.

I have a long way to battle back to health. I haven't gained weight on chemo, but I've lost a ton of muscle tone. I am going to have to continue to change my diet (I am such a sugar addict) and get back to the gym regularly. I'm so easily winded now... I feel like I'm 90 years old. Where's my walker?

Maybe time for me to find a shrink so I can pay a profession al to hear me bitch! In the meantime, thanks you guys.

LeeAnne

Loved the px, Mandy. That's how I feel many a day - not too hopeful but hanging on.

Lee Ann - ditto - it's Ok with us to talk about the discouragement. We all feel it.

----------- Shrink

"I'm afraid there may be two gods, and each thinks the other is taking care of me." (ashleighbrilliant.com) I go to this site when I need a chuckle. I tend to be a little irreverent.

Does everyone have this much trouble with the Taxol? Do people generally miss a lot of work?

I was thinking about taking a few classes at the university in the fall but I'll be starting my Taxol in September.

Thanks LeeAnne. I'm sorry you're having such a tough time. I think everyone's body reacts differently. You look so healthy to me, so it doesn't make sense that you would have such a hard time and I wouldn't. Don't be so hard on yourself. You are not responsible for what you're going through.

Anyway I bet you're looking forward to getting this all behind you. You're close!

Liz, I can't remember. Are you getting dose dense Taxol, or weekly? I have done both and found the weekly had much fewer side effects, because the dosage is lower. I've also heard "they" think weekly Taxol works a little better, but maybe that's just for triple negatives like me. Hmmm...

In 2005, I did dose dense ACx4, Taxolx4 and I made it to work full-time most days. What type of classes are you thinking about taking? Taxol really gave me mush-for-brains, so I would avoid taking math classes IMHO. LOL

Welcome home Amy!

I'm glad that you had a great holiday! We have a massive IKEA here where I live - honestly it's HUGE! My kids are too old for the playroom but if this had been here when they were little - I'd have been there more often. Plus, the restaurant is soooo cheap! You can get breakfast (scrambled eggs, croissant, sausage links, and hash browns for 99cents!!) You play in a bluegrass band - how cool! I love bluegrass! AND you play classical - how eclectic!

BTW, I laughed at one of your earlier posts about your echocardiogram. I had one done a few years ago and the technician also had a student with him and he also told me I had a "beautiful heart"! I was feeling quite full of myself until I read your post - apparently that comment (especially in younger people) isn't that unusual!!

LeeAnne, I hope you're feeling better today!

Liz- you must feel so good to have your hair growing back. Mine is fuzzy with about 3mm growth but since I have one last FEC to go, I'm not sure if it will hang on or not. Oh well, it sure is exciting to see something in the mirror! I don't think I'll ever complain about my hair again!

AmyA - How are you feeling? I hope great - you're all FINISHED!!

Shrink - you must be on a break from treatment since you said you start taxol in a few weeks? I hope you're feeling good!

CindyKS - Don't answer any calls from your remote!

Pat - Hope all is well with you!

CindyMN - Are you all done with chemo too? I hope so!

It's my 18th wedding anniversary tomorrow and we usually do something special/romantic. This year, I am keeping things very low key as I don't feel like dressing up (too fat) and certainly don't feel pretty (too bald). We'll probably just go for dinner somewhere and that'll be it - but still, 18 years with the same man AND I am still crazy in love with him! I am so lucky!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I am so jealous of those of you who are finished tx and so happy for you at the same time! I go on Wednesday - yippee!!!

Take care,
Mandy

Happy Anniversary Mandi, Enjoy it. It's great to hear how in love you still are after all those years.

Cindy, I responded to you in the TCH forum. i've seen this during residency but haven't had this problem myself.
Leslie

Hi Mandy:

Thanks for thinking of me. I actually started chemo (AC) in June but jump on to this tread frequently since you all are one month ahead of me. I start Taxol on Sept. 6 unless the BS wants to operate before (enough shrinkage?) and then do the Taxol after surgery. So, I'm on track so to speak and have been one of the lucky ones with minimal se's from the AC. My hair seems to be making an effort to appear. Does anyone know if it disappears again after Taxol? Best wishes to all.

Hi all,
Thanks for the information on Saline vs silicone. My PS recommended the Mentor silicone implant and I felt the difference and am going to go with those.

It is so exiting that we are all almost if not to the end of the chemo. My last Taxol is Thursday YES! Leanne, I too have had the pain down my legs and lower back. Seems like each treatment is getting worse. Last two times I took Percecet over the weekend following and the evenings for the week following. I am trying to make it to work but I agree it is getting harder. Last week I worked 10am - 5PM to get a little extra sleep in the morning. Seemed to help.
Post Chemo plans:
Lose weight - I really didn't gain but was on the right track at the beginning of this year so I want to get back on track. Already joined Weight Watchers.
Reconstruction Surgery - Oct 8th, so looking forward.
Change some eating habits.
Would really like a winter vacation but don't have anything planned yet.
Hang in there everyone. Together we can make it thru.