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Hello All, Things have been a little interesting here the last several days. Theresa had been suspicious that one the tissue expanders had a leak. She was right. So her surgeon and oncologist had to coordinate things so a surgery could be scheduled to replace the leaking expander. Well, that surgery happened this morning. All went well and Theresa is now resting on the couch. The surgery created a slight delay in her tea party schedule. She had been scheduled for Wednesday but is now delayed one day to Thursday this time around. Number 3 TAC x 6.
We were able get away for a couple of days this past weekend to 1, get out of the snow 2, sit around the pool and 3, visit friends and relatives out of town. It was very refreshing and regenerating before getting back to the treatments and surgery schedule.
Overall, this whole experience has been interesting, at least from my perspective. My sweety has been doing quite well through it all. Side effects have been minimal and those that have showed up have been well controlled.
Hang in there everybody. We will get through this.
One more thing....ladies, send my greetings to your hubbies.
Scott0 -
hello ladies, just joined today i have metastatic b/c have ben going through chemo off and on for almost 4 years i am no stranger to all your fears and concerns i have gone through all you're experiencing right now so i would love to be of help to you all. It's nice to know you are not alone
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Hillary, the drug used in this study is called Abraxane (paclitaxel)(used in metastatic breast cancer and other types of cancers, but they want it approved for early stage BC protocols). The albumin allows a faster delivery to the body (30 minute infusion instead of 3 hours) and because it does not require solvents to be administered (as Taxol does), the premeds are not necessary. But the neuropathy SE are still part of the picture (and hair loss, and the whole shabang)... and I intend to discuss the glutamine thing with the onc next Tuesday when I go for AC#4...
I have work to do tonight (translations), so I won't chat too much... will be back later.
You all have a nice evening, with very special thoughts for those who are back from surgery (hi, Theresa...) and from the bar...
Hugs,
CatherineH0 -
Catherine -- Thanks for the info. I'll ask my onc as well on Tuesday at my AC#4!
Scott -- It's funny that you should say hi to the husbands. My husband is always asking how my "friends" are doing! (Actually, my sisters ask as well)!
Anglelarour -- Nice to meet you. Where are you in your current chemo cruise?
-- Hillary0 -
Wed - Tropicmom, Karen
Thu - Carynn, Piper, Melody
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Hi Jan - Thanks for the reminder! I think if we learn anything, it is indeed to speak up and ask lots of questions.
Hillary - I'm currently slated to start Taxol after the A/C. Whoo hoo! After Thursday, one more! I probably wont make that big of a deal about switching taxanes, I'm just curious. From what I read, they are identical drugs with identical SE's with one exception: Taxol seems to have a higher rate of SE's during the infusion. So, I'm curious and thought I'd ask. I'll post her answer Thursday or Friday.
Scott & Theresa - How nice to get away! It sounds like you had a great time. Glad to hear Theresa's surgery went well. Do give her my best!
Angelarour - Welcome aboard our little cruise ship. I'm sure we will be picking on you soon with questions.
Catherine - dont be working too hard, and pet those puppies for me.
SammieKay, Melanie, Jen, & Linnie - how are you feeling? Hope you had smooth sailing at the bar today.
Take care all. And thinking of Tropicmom & Karen up tomorrow.
Carynn0 -
Scott,
So sorry that Theresa sprung a leak! But so glad that they could fix it. It does seem sometimes that it's one thing right after another with BC. I pray that she recovers well. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
I just wanted to say what a wonderful partner you must be! My hubby is also a terrific partner and had been my "rock" thru all of this. He is a tremendously busy guy, owns his own business and we are building our "dream" right now - to be completed in 2 months. You can imagine how busy he is, but he is right here for me every step of the way! He never missed a single appointment, goes to the chemo bar with me. We live 3 hours from both my Mom and his Mom, yet he's driven and met my families and his 1/2 way TWO times now just so my Mom and MIL could come down and be a part of my doing my tx, then staying to help out a few days! He even takes us all out to eat (when I can - and I don't miss many dining OUT nights!) or he brings din din home! WHAT A GUY! And you seem to be one of them = God Bless YOU , Scott - I'm sure Theresa appreciates it immensly!
Jen0 -
Good afternoon ladies
Didn't manage to get on-line this morning. Not sure what happened yesterday but had to leave my class as I thought I was going to pass out. duly arrived home and went to bed really early. So have had the day off today. Hope to get to school tomorrow.
It is fun being in the future here in NZ. When you travel to LA from Auckland you actually arrive in LA before you left NZ. LA is about 20hrs behind NZ, NY - 17 hrs. I find it very difficult organising a time to ring my aunt in Pennsylvania.
My husband and children all ask if I have been online and inquire after everyone. My daughters think it is great that I can talk to people who are going through the same thing right now and who really understand.
Had a real shock last week when the friend at school I had told when dx sat beside me and said quietly - 'its back and its worse'. She had just reached 10 years. She has two tumours in the same breast she had surgery on and is now waiting on results for all the other scans etc.
Very interested in the discussion on taxol as I will have that after I finish my course of FEC.
How is the hair? I still have this baby fuzz on my head. It is still coming out but very slowly now. Very little hair on my body but still have my eyebrows and eyelashes.
Hope everyone is coping with the nausea.
Alyson0 -
It's Jen - just checking in! It's 11:25pm and I'm just now headed to bed. I had my tx bu 9:30 this morning - everything went smoothly as I had expected it to!! I did have "papparazzi" around me today for chemo, so that added a bit of fun at the bar! I was asked to be part of a study that Ohio State University - The James received a grant for. Study about having a patient navigator when you first get the news of having cancer. This person would be able to guide you thru the scary web of diagnosis of cancer and what to do and where to go next. They wanted me to do something I normally do to prove that not all people just lay around after dx and chemo (if applicable). First they filmed me at my boarder barn with my horse - riding and handling him, (last week), then today came to chemo cocktail day! It was funny for the time they were there. They were calling me HOLLYWOOD - hey, your pappazzi is here! LOL
Well, no real issues tonight!. Went to lunch after tx - and oh - my MIL is here this week as well. Went to a "posh" place called WHOLE FOODS for lunch! (upscale organic grocery store here in Columbus, OH) Not what you'd expect as a "restaurant", but the raspberry chicken salad went down very well!
No nausea, not too tired - one of my great friends brought over food from a locall restaurant - Hoggy's BBQ - one of our favorites! Enough food to feed 15 people I swear! But I ate a little of everything and all went down and stayed there no problem!
Looking forward to finishing next time! Only ONE more tx of AC left - Monday 4/9! YIPPEE!
Hope everyone else doing the bar is doing GREAT~
Later - Jen0 -
Good morning chemo cruisers!
Jen -- I wish I had your lack of SEs! I only just started to be able to eat yesterday afternoon -- day 9 after AC! As I've said in another post, the bad news is my lack of appetite and queasiness; the good news is I'm not gaining weight. On the other hand, I do have tremendous weight distribution. Despite my loss of weight, I now have what I've heard dubbed elsewhere -- the chemo belly! I'm not going to worry about this, as I plan to start walking once the weather starts warming.
Alyson -- I have found that hair that I've shaved (like on my legs) doesn't grow back much. I think that my eyebrows are thinning, but right in the middle of on my left eyebrow there are two hairs that have grown out of control -- long and wierd. I'm afraid to tweeze them as them might be the only two that survive the taxol!
I hope that all of you at the bar this week are also enjoying calm cruising waters.
-- Hillary0 -
Good Morning sisters! Finally this morning I woke up feeling just about "normal" and ready to go get things done. This #3 was hardest so far and I have 1 more AC to go (next thursday). Maybe because of the neulasta shot I had to get, maybe the zofran and its side effects....not sure just glad today I feel human because the sofa was starting to cave in and stay in.
The only thing that remains and is new this time around is the "no taste" side effects. It's like my tongue has a thick coating and no amount of cleaning it takes it away so everything pretty much is bland or the taste changed so much I can't eat it. Wonder how long this lasts....thru Taxol too?
Pat0 -
Hillary, I lost 10 lbs during my one chemo dose and I thought it was weird you could see the weight loss everywhere but my belly where I really need to lose some. So its possible the chemo is causing the fat belly as I think its actually gotten bigger than smaller? I did a weigh in Monday at rads and found I gained 1 lbs, I was expecting much more seeing how my belly seems bigger and I've had a darn good appettite the past couple weeks. I'm also walking more since I have to take a long way around to get to my rads dept from the parking lot thanks to new building going on.
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Bit of a "hangover" from #3 yesterday. I normally feel fine, but ughhhhh...hit me hard last night and still feel whoozy today.
I will be delaying #4 by one week so that I can do my Nascar thingy. Onc said it would not be a problem. My friend Martha went with me as usual and after a not so great start...I had waited 2 hours to see the onc and I was unhappy...
I told him about my nose twitching and he asked if I were a witch. Told him if I were, all bc would magically disappear and he wouldn't have a job. Martha asks him if all his patients give him this much grief. He says "most of my patients show me more respect, but I expect it from Melanie"...hah!
Hillary; the only "magic" from my nose twitching is that when it starts then just under my eyebrow starts twitching and dh laughs...and laughter is truly "magical" these days!
I would write more, but I am really tired and have to leave in a bit. DH will take me to get my Neulasta shot.
I hope everyone has a great day!
Smiles...0 -
Hi everyone,
Had A/C #4 yesterday and it went smoothly, except for a rash I developed over the weekend which they looked at and don't have a clue as to what caused it. Contact dermatitis. Doesn't itch and hopefully it'll clear up soon with the script cream. Queasiness doesn't usually hit me until Thursday and Friday so I'm enjoying my "free" day today and hoping that the decadron wires me less this time. I am dreaming. I have a new approach.... Ativan it away....
My Taxol will start in 2 weeks and talked with the onc nurse about it again yesterday. I don't know what others are being told but my med schedule is for 5 dec the night before tx, 5 again the next morning, then they give you more in the IV along with pepcid and aloxi. Two more decs at home for 3 days and the glutamine for aches, along with tylenol/advil. The reason for the high dose of decadron is the allergic reaction to the Taxol which usually occurs with the first 10 minutes of the tx. She said they usually sit with you to make sure your ok but it's just a matter of slowing the dose down if you do react in some way.
Linnie0 -
Hope you will feel better soon, Melanie... Take care,
CatherineH0 -
Hillary,
I just read your post and had to laugh. I have the same eyebrow thing happening. For weeks, I've notice that they seem slightly darker than before and maybe a little thinner. But on each side, I have one that is really long and crazy looking. I want to pluck them but have resisted for obvious reasons.
Linnie0 -
Linnie, I have been sitting with a woman going through her Taxol tx (before surgery), and, indeed, you can feel funny or turn red, and the nurse is right there to either slow down or stop the drip for 10 min or so, and then start it again... this lady had a reaction at first, but then did just fine. You will do alright...
Take care, and yes, Ativan it (I hope I'll be able to "quit" Ativan when it's not needed anymore... it's been working for me...).
Hugs,
catherineH0 -
Marsha, hello friend, where are you? Were you "lost away" during the poker game? We miss you here... come say hi... Hope you're doing OK and just working at getting strong to take the next round...
CatherineH0 -
Hi everyone.
Tropicmom & Karen, hope your day at the bar was good today.
Well, nite before #3. #3 Seems to have been a biggie for all of us, so I'm curious/anxious to get it over with. Wow! Hard to believe that's 75% done with the AC part!
Melanie - sooo happy to hear you're going to do the NASCAR thing. Have a great time and we want to hear all about it when you get back! Depending on my chemo schedule for the Phoenix race, we might have a small get together here. Wont be exactly the same, but fun nonetheless.
Will talk to you all tomorrow, have a great day!0 -
Carynn, will be thinking of you tomorrow... As it turns out, #3 was my best (less, almost no queazyness, less of a runny nose, a couple of "achy" and more lethargic days, but that's it...), so do not fear it too much, you may be just fine.
Big hugs to all,
CatherineH0 -
I will find out tomorrow morning if I will be able to have my third a/c tx depending on my wbc. In a way I hope the onc postpones it but yet at the same time I want it over with. If it is a go. I will meet everyone at the bar. Please order me a cosmo.
Piper0 -
Hi Piper! Melody and I know you'll be there with us in spirit either way. I havent had a cosmo in forever! I think we should all have one tomorrow. At least we have the right color!
Catherine - Thanks for letting me know that. I was telling DH how the majority of the board have said # 3 was a tough one. In many ways, I havent had many issues at all, so we shall see. There's a chance our hot weather here may change to rain all weekend staring with drizzle tomorrow. So, if I have to be a couch potato, this will be a good time to do it.
Karen, Tropicmom - waiting on your news!
Hugs!
Carynn0 -
Completed round #3 today. Not completely uneventful.
Asked the MD about the runny nose and congestion. He said that chemo can effect any mucosa area, mouth, GI tract... and for me it is the mucosa in my nose and sinuses causing the congestion and constant runny nose. Said to take any OTC antihistamine. Thought I would pass that along since others have mentioned.
Second asked him if I would need my ovaries out. He said no that first the chemo would probably stop me from ovulating but in order for it not to return they would chemically (i.e. drugs) put me into menopause until it happened naturally in a few years given my age.
Had a little meltdown in the office. He asked me how I was doing with the whole diagnosis thing. He had never asked that. Bam, started to cry and hard as I might, I could not stop. Mind you this is not a warm fuzzy kind of dr, picked him more for his smarts. So I am trying to talk normally and not cry, it was not a pretty picture.
Went to the tx room and had my premeds and adriamycin. Then half way through the cytoxan I got REALLY hot very fast. I tried to quietly ask for my nurse but the aide asked me why and I said I did not feel right. Soon I was surrounded my all kinds of people. They stopped the infusion, put ice on me, gave me benadryl and tagamet. By BP was very high for me 160/100. So we waited a while and then restarted it with no problems. It was good to see them respond so quickly in an emergency, wasn't sure how that would go in a dr. office. My dr came by and said it was a vaso-motor response. He said it was starting when I had the nose tingling congestion that started during the infusion,but I could not find my nurse to tell her to slow it down so it escalated. Actually not sure of what all that means. He said it could happen again. Glad I only have one more left.
Then my hgb and hct were low so they agave me a shot of Aracet (sp??) they daid it would hurt but I didn't even feel it.
Any way just thought I would pass all that along in case it happens to anyone else. The ovary thing is just what my dr said, yours may say differently and I am sure it depends on age.
Hillary, how are you doing with the nausea? My leg hair is not growing back as fast after I shaved but it is still there
Catherine you brought up the Ativan. I know that I could not make it without it now but wonder how I will do with getting off of it when this is over. But then again maybe I will still need it for the worry of reoccurrence. Anyone thought of coming off of it in the future?
Scott-do you have a brother or a clone. I could use a husband who is as loving as you are!!
Alyson-I am always amazed that the web can bring all of us together, esp you in NZ. Hope you are doing well and no more near fainting. Teaching during all of this must be exhausting. I don't know how you do it.
Jen- That is exciting that you were filmed. The navigator idea is a GREAT one. Wish I had one!!!! I grew up with horses. Miss it all terribly. We had several of our own and then boarded others. We had 30 acres. I loved it riding them off in the woods when it was quiet.
Pat, I get that coating thing too. Have you tried baking soda rinses?? They help me just a little but mostly they go away with time.
Carynn, Piper and Melody thinking of you tomorrow.
Karen0 -
Karen, I hadn't tried the baking soda, just the biotene toothpaste and mouthwash, but I'll give it a try can't hurt. Thanks.
I just can't seem to get a handle on this queasy stomach and headache. This round has been really difficult to get over and I just hope #4 is better. This evening I even had a temp of 100.6. I already have antibiotic Levaquin ready and was told to start it if I have 101.0 or over, so haven't taken it. Instead I increased my water intake, did some deep breathing exercises and now at 10:30 my temp is 99.0. Tomorrow I have a follow up dr. visit anyway so I'll let them know what's been going on.
I am trying to stay positive but this week has been awful!
Pat0 -
OK it is 12:17 am, what shall I do, what shall I do???
The joys of too much decadron!!
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Good morning all!
Pat, I hope you are feeling better today. I finally (once again) feel like I'm at the tail end of my virus.
Karen I should have logged on earlier. I've been up since 2:00 am. Yikes! I'm sure I'll get a good nap after the bar today.
I was looking back at some of our old posts this morning. We sure have gotten smart in the last month. But, I also noticed that we have lost / not heard from about half the folks we started with. If I feel good this afternoon, maybe I can post some names and we can put out an APB!
Piper - Melody - thinking of you both today. Cosmos for everyone!
Hugs!
Carynn0 -
OK gals, I had a complete meltdown after #3. Alot of it was physical but alot was emotional too. I have one friend who is in a show (I want to be in a show) another friend in rehersal for the next show (I want to be in rehersal), another holding down 2 jobs (I want to hold down 2 jobs) another going to Key West this weekend (I want to go to Key West this weekend) and other who just bought a horse (I want to buy/ride a horse). So there you have it, my little pity party. How pathetic is that? Also I seem to have lost my sense of humor along with the remote control.
I have been reading tho, keeping up with all my new buds...Catherine SO GLAD someone escaped the nightmare that was Chemo #3! Piper, my WBC is down too lucky I have a week before #4 to build them back up. Jen, I am jealous you are getting the cameras to follow you around, I sure do love cameras. Linnie and Hillary....NO WAY i am plucking one single hair on my body! Pat, know exactly how you have felt this week. Karen, after what you have gone thru with all your tx, my hat is off to you for keeping your sanity. Melanie, you would have made a beautiful Bewitched. I'm in the mood for a bagel with cream cheese, lightly toasted, think you could "twitch" me one? Glad to hear from Jel, now maybe I won't wake up in the middle of the night worried about her. Catherine and Hillary thanks for checking on me. And a BIG thank you to Carynn, my alter ego on the other side of the country. If I missed anyone, know I am thinking of everyone and holding virtual hands across cyberspace. Much love to all my new friends. Hugs & Kisses, Marsha 0 -
I am really benefiting from starting the last day of February. I feel like I have some idea of what to expect each time - thanks to all of you! I certainly experienced the decadron high and then crashed afterwards!! This is day two for me wearing a wig to work, I must admit it doesn't take as long to get ready in the morning!
Pat, I have found that keeping food in my stomach
and drinking alot of diet Sprite along with munching on oyster crackers seems to help me.
Carynn & all who are stepping up to the bar today, hope your day is easy and uneventful.
Wendy0 -
Marsha,
You have been like this rock. Always cheering us up. I love your humor. But no one can keep that up all the time in the face of a devastating illness. We all need our moments. It is OK to feel like you do. And don't be over it until you are over it. Sometimes people try to push us out of being sad before we are done being sad or crying. I am mad too when things are passing by that I want to do and instead I am sitting in a chemo chair just like you. But in the end, the most important thing is-we will be alive!!
On the other hand you know we won't let you be like this for long, we will keep our eyes one you because we care about you.
My thoughts are with you and big hugs ((((((Marsha))))))
Karen0 -
Marsha --
If you can't let your hair down in front of us, then who?
{{Hugs}}
-- Hillary0
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