Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

Everyone's hair issues cracked me up. Don't know why nose hair is so amusing, but it is. And as far as the pubic thing goes, I feel like I'm ten years old again myself. However, my DH is oddly intruiged. Too bad I constantly feel like hurling.

And, June, good heavens, woman. You could be the poster child for What Can Go Wrong on Chemo Will Go Wrong. I think we're going to have to start calling you Chemo Diva. Seriously, though, I'm really glad you're well enough to go out to dinner with the fam. Enjoy the visit with your son!

I think that is just great that you are doing a 1 mile walk tomorrow...  I wanted to do a walk this time around, but was VERY late getting started...  I have been just concentrating on finishing chemo, which I did on OCT 9th, so I guess that is enough for me for this year. 

Maybe next year....

There just didn't seem to be anything in my area...  I missed out on it...

I used to live in MARYLAND, and we used to go to O.C., Maryland for short little mini-vacations for long weekends!

Good Luck to you!

Harley

Tami, I'm so sorry you had so much trouble with tx #4. There's no way you should have been yarking.

I did see the report on Taxol/Her2-. It's so hard to know what to do with the new studies, b/c for each one that says one thing, there's another that says the opposite. It will be interesting to hear the oncs' takes on this one.

Good luck on your bc walk--that's impressive! 

Hello all,

I am fairly new to the boards but have been visiting the site since I was diagnosed in July.  I have been reading this thread most of the morning and have not only enjoyed the conversations but have also gotten alot of good information from your collective experiences.

I finished my 4th DD A/C a week ago and go onto weekly Taxol and Herceptin beginning next Friday.  The fear of the unknown with the Taxol is what bothers me as well as any possible allergic reactions.  Did anyone have allergic reactions to it?

Do you generally do better with the Taxol as opposed to the A/C?  No nausea I hope??

I had to laugh about the various descriptions of se's from the A/C, now I can put words to my symptoms.... Cat litter mouth, that was right on.   

Do you have the same weird taste with Taxol or food not tasting right issues with it?

I'm sure I will have more questions, just wanted to jump in and tell you all what a great help you have been.  I will stay in touch, thank you! 

Hi, Tara--welcome! I'm sure the Taxol girls will be along in a little while to answer you questions. Glad you jumped in to say hi!

Jackie--I'm sorry you had such a rough time of things. I've heard Taxol referred to as the "steamroller of chemos", so since you feel like you got nailed by a truck, I guess that's about right.

I've had shortness of breath on the FAC--I think it's a function of one's body straining from the chemo. So I wouldn't be surprised if the Taxol does the same thing.  Kaye has had really bad shortness of breath--was that while on Taxol, Kaye? . Don't know about the ovarian pain. If it persists, I'd get it checked out. Hopefully it's just some weird transient thing. 

Hi all,  Ive had 4 cycles of Taxol. The second hit me kind of hard but I think that was dehydration. Alot of the discomfort Ive felt has been due to constipation. If you've ever been severely backed up you know what Im saying. Other than that Ive done really well. Almost no nausea, some fatigue but not

like I feared. Its been alittle scary because I keep waiting for that "Im a cancer patient " feeling. I'm not complaining.

As for the pain in ovaries I cant say I've felt any but be sure  to talk to your dc about it. 

Ive gained 11 pounds and I hate that but dc says its from the steroids.

When Im feeling run down I get short of breath as well, I think it comes with the territory.

Hang in there - the support of this site will help.

Jackie-I'm sorry your having such a rough time with the taxol.  I felt somewhat similar after my first treatment at day 5, but I think it was more the neulasta than the taxol.  Who knows though.

Has anyone switched from neulasta to neupogen during chemo treatments?  After explaining to my onc about the migraine I had after treatment 1, he said let's skip the neulasta this time.  I was sooo happy he said that.  Then on Friday when I got treatment 2 I told the nurse I wasn't going to get the shot.  She was sooo worried for me and said if she was me she would get the shot.  And went on about how if my wbc gets low I won't get my treatment in two weeks.  I asked about neupogen because some of you said it was easier on you.  She said that's the same as neulasta only its short acting so I would need 5 to 8 shots of it and it still may not bring my count up.  I'm so confused with what to do now??? Any ideas.  I really like my onc and want to go with what he said (because I hate that nasty neulasta) but am scared to get behind. November 9th has been on my calendar as my last treatment since I started and I really want this chemo to just be over.

Any ideas?

My taxol #2 is going well again.  Yesterday I slept from 6 pm till2 then was awake the rest of the night.  I felt like I was hyperactive today.  My 3 year old and I were out running errands, then I did a bunch at home.  Slept from 5 till 8 pm and I'm awake again.  I definately have slept less with taxol, but I don't feel like I'm going to throw up so its a better trade off.

Hope everyone is well

Kidsmom

Boy, I feel like I'm making up tonight for not posting much before-

I wanted to mention about the taxol study.  My onc and I talked about whether to keep me on taxol or switch to taxotere.  His take on the study was that if your her2 negative, and estrogen +, taxol would NOT be effective.  I'm a triple negative so he wanted me to stay on the taxol.  Has anyone else had a discussion about the new taxol study with their onc?

thanks

kidsmom

Hi Tara - I haven't had a whit of nausea since I started Taxol/Herceptin. That's not to say it's a total walk in the park as it does tend to give you some muscle pains in places where you might be especially susceptible, but so far I find it a lot easier. I haven't had any icky mouth taste either and no allergic reaction. I do get a little tired the day or two after, but otherwise feel pretty good. Drink lots of water! They say weekly Taxol is easier on the body.

Jackie, I'm sorry you have had such a rough time with the Taxol. I haven't really gotten out of breath, but I sure did on the AC.  

I can't get Nuelasta with the weekly protocol, but my onc says that I can get Nuepogen if my counts start to go down. She didn't say much about how it works compared to the Nuelasta, but I have heard that it isn't as hard on you. Good to know it works well for you, Nash. I'm a little nervous about flying without WBC support. I am running a miniscule fever of 99.5 tonight, so I'm going to keep an eye on that, but otherwise feeling mostly OK.  

DeAnn 

OK, This may be a strange question but, Has anyone experienced vaginal yeast infections while in treatment?

Thanks for the help.

I'm so thankful for these boards. Who else could you talk to about all this crazy stuff??

 Kimmie, yeast infections are common with weakened immune system. I got one after being neutropenic and on antibiotics, but it's sort of been a battle each time. I just use over the counter stuff, and it seems to work. It's basically the same thing that causes the thrush in your mouth.

As for Neulasta, I had to have it the last 2 times and haven't had a problem. I do take Claritin before during and after because I had heard from several sources that it helps prevent bone pain. I also take Tylenol a couple times a day just in case. So far, so good.

Kaye, have you gotten out and walked more? For some reason, it really helps start my day.

I have my final round of Taxotere and Cytoxan on the 29th. I won't be much fun for Halloween, but my kids will just have to deal with it. Every year I've hosted a Halloween parade and potluck, but I handed it off to a neighbor this year. Can't do everything!!

I hope everyone has a good week. Better go and get my stuff done before the Chargers game. Have a great day!

Eve

Hey, Eve--we've got the Charger game on right now. My 9 year old daughter is a Raiders fan (have no idea why--I think she likes their uniforms), so she and my DH have a $1 bet riding on the game. She's so excited. You'll notice I'm here in the other room, on the computer.

However, on another TV alert note--there is a show on this afternoon that combines two of the things I spend the majority of my time thinking about--cancer and figure skating. The organization putting in on is called "Frosted Pink", and its focus is on women's cancers in general. They're putting on a figure skating show that's also going to have live music. It's on at 3 pm in San Diego on ABC--don't know when it's airing other places. I bring this up not to make figure skating converts out of all of you, but because I actually was impressed with their website--it is very well done.  It's www.frostedpink.org

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and feeling OK. Maybe even slightly intrigued.

Hello All,

The walk went well.  It was a beautiful day!  I've spent most of my life avoiding cameras but I actually did a TV interview for our local ABC station.  I still can't believe I did it and that I was calm.  Unfortunately I haven't seen it but some of my family have.  After the walk I ran a few errands and then spent the rest of the day in bed.  I was pooped but it was worth it. 

Kaye, glad you like my new aviater.  No one seemed impressed with my pic of me and Keith Urban.  Where are all the country music fans? 

Yes I had to run and check my nose hair.  I still have some but it's less than before.  I too have a constant runny nose.  Yes on the yeast infection though I thought it was from 2 courses of antibiotics.  No constipation here, just diarrhea.  I've been taking Tylenol and benedryl before the nuelesta.  I think it helps because one time I forgot and the bone pain seemed worse.  As sick as I was this last time, the bone pain was the least it has been so far.  Or maybe I was too sick to notice.

Harley, I‘ve wanted to move to NC since I was in high school (and we won't talk about how long ago that was).

Finally, Jackie thanks for hosting the pity party.  I tend to have mine alone and it's much better when we share.  I was feeling guilty when I didn't have a "positive attitude" until someone told me not to put so much pressure on myself.  Also, I heard Beverly Kirkhart (author of MY Healing Companion, bc survivor, motivational speaker) and she said it's okay to be angry, sad, etc. - just don't stay there.