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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
Comments
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Good morning all
Having trouble posting again never mind. Will try to it quickly this time.
Marsha, loved the story about the cute bald headed lady. I haven't been brave enough to go out sans wig. I have confused two year old Anna who lives next door. she came over with her mother when I was home with a tummy bug last week. I just opened the door forgetting that I was bare headed. Since then she has been most concerned about my hair. Yesterday she saw me with my wig on and is even more confused.
My wig has been great since its initial rubbing.
Bloods must be low as last night I had a nap when I came home from school and then was asleep by 8.30. My only real problem is a bit of a flare of rheumatoid arthritis - have had to stop taking my drugs for that which is a bother.
Hope all bar visits went well
Alyson0 -
Sounds like dose number 3 did to most of you like what I had happen to me during my first and only dose! I've noticed an odd thing. My veins in my left hand are still large compared to my right hand. I had an iv in the hand vein and looks like the chemo dose enlarged them and they haven't gone back to normal size. Makes me wonder if they will ever go back to normal.
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Hello All. I finished my first four of A and now I'm on to Taxol (I've had one of four). I am having severe joint pain, and some paralysis of the left leg and fingertips. Has anyone had the same? I am fighting through it, but it's tough.
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It's 3:30 in the morning -- I guess I can blame the steroids! With my fourth AC done, I wonder if I'll ever be able to look a campari and soda in the face ever again!
CarolMoore -- I think that you are ahead of us in the Feb cruise -- we're all about to start on taxol next week and the week after. You might want to check with the January or December gals. From what I've read in their posts, L-glutamine seems to work for neuropathy.
Jan -- It's funny, but my son noticed that my veins were larger in my chemo hand! I'm not too worried -- hoping its a temporary thing. My chemo nurse is wonderful and I really don't feel a think. The needle stick is way better than those I would get at my annual PCP check for blood, cholesterol, thyroid.
Alyson -- I've asked dh to put up a mirror on the first floor near the front door so that I can avoid problems like that! Since I'm not working, I don't have to wear my wig, so I guess I still haven't gotten used it. The wig gripper I've spoken about in earlier posts has been great for discomfort. Unfortunately, it also makes it feel as if the wig is more likely to fall off!
Catherine -- What is avastin? What clinical trial is this? I don't think that they have it at HUP -- I sneaked a peak at their clinical trial list that they had left in the examining room. You're lucky to be avoiding the premeds for taxol. Did they mention a particular kind of glutatmine to get?
Catherine, Marsha, Caryn and others -- At my chemo center, everyone gets their own room. I get a bit jealous when I hear about stories of nice social interactions and stories that you have! It might get a bit lonely during my long taxol infusions. Dh comes along, but he brings a lot of work to do and plugs in his IPods. He's great about getting food and drink for me, but needs to keep up work-wise to make up for taking the day off to take me to chemo.
{On the other hand, I can probably do without seeing/hearing the other folks puking!!}
Still waiting to hear how SammieKay did. Hugs out to Marsha, Wendy, freethought, tropicmom for today!
Upcoming reservations:
Wednesday: Marsha, Wendy, freethought, tropicmom
Thursday: Steph, Pat, Twink, Terry
Friday: Maisy
-- Hillary0 -
Hillary, here is the link to the study:
http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinica...earchid=3001763
I have to go for my shot, so more later...
Looking forward to hearing from the cocktail drinkers of the day,
Catherine0 -
Hi everyone, I'm here at the bar and thought I'd say hello! So far, so good! The Adriamycin is done, just getting the Cytoxin and I'll be done.
Hope the rest of the Wednesday crew is feeling fine. I'll check in later.
Wendy0 -
Catherine -- Thanks for the link. I don't qualify for the clinical trial because I'm less than 1.5 cm, but ER/PR negative. It's slightly wierd criteria. To qualify as ER/PR negative, your tumor has to be larger than 2 cm, but you can qualify with a smaller tumor if you are ER/PR positive!
I'm off for my shot in half an hour!
-- Hillary0 -
Hillary, I am back from my (last?) Neulasta shot (to the relief of the insurance company, I bet... most of what I'll get next will be paid by the study, heart echo included).
I feel great, like always on days 1 and 2... Took a claritine this time, just to see whether that will help with the bone aches, runny nose and red puffy eyes...
Avastin (the other product beside Abraxane) is already approved in the treatment of colon cancer and certain types of lung cancers with good results, and also proven to help in brain tumors. They are determining the toxicity of these with standard protocols for early stage BC as opposed to metastatic (already used for that I believe). It cuts the blood supplies to solid tumors... I hope the toxicity levels will not leave me at the end of it crippled because of the neuropathy aspects of abraxane or with a shattered heart and chronic high blood pressure because of avastine... but they need more people in studies (as I mentioned in earlier posts: only 5% of BC patients participate in studies as opposed to 80% of children with cancer... explains the slow pace of breakthroughs...)
Well I hope you do not have too much of a hangover...
Wishing you all a gentle day.
Hugs,
CatherineH0 -
I'm home from my last A/C!!!!!! Wow what a relief to know that is behind me even tho the SE's of #4 are in front of me. HALF WAY DONE and i mean half because I don't have radiation to contend with. May 23 is my magical day as long as everything stays on schedule. More later, just wanted Hillary to put a check mark by my name that you have heard from me. LOL Marsha
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I was interested in what CarolMoore said about SE she's having with Taxol. Tomorrow is my last dose of AC and 3 weeks after that start with Taxol. My onc. said she prefers to give it in smaller doses over a longer period of time due to the side effects such as Carol mentioned. So I'll be going in every week for 12 weeks for my cocktail. I asked the nurses also about the SE and they said "much less problems" since they give it this way.
CarolMoore: Just wondering if this option would help your situation I mean paralysis is a heck of a big side effect! I know we have to be prepared for the neuropathy and such but after ONE dose your dealing with all this....?0 -
Pat I was wondering about that also. I was given the choice of X12 weekly or X4. I have had very minimal side effects from the A/C, am healthy as horse with no other health issues to worry with. I really want to do the X4 and get it done May 23 instead of June 27! I've talked to lots of gals who did the X4 and thought it was easier than A/C. I'm gonna go ahead and try it, if I have a problem I can always go to the weekly.
CarolMoore, she is absolutely correct, you should probably be on the lower dose weekly schedule. Do you have any other issues that could be contributed to your SE? Arthritis? Any thing like that? I only ask cause most of us are moving on the taxol SOON and alot of X4's on this thread. Hugs to you, hope you feel better soon.
Marsha
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Wow, Wendy you tried their wireless connection... and it works!! Good for you... Take it easy and have a smooth landing...
Till later, then
CatherineH0 -
Catherine -- Back from my neulasta shot. I wanted to participate in a clinical trial, but there was only one that I qualified for and my oncologist wasn't happy with the way it was set up. So, no clinical trials for me. I might try to join something that monitors recovery from treatment, etc.
Marsha and Catherine -- doesn't it feel great to be done with AC#4. On other other hand, I've finally figured out how to deal with its side effects. Now there are a whole new bunch. Marsha -- did your onc give you any premeds or talk to you about L-glutatmine?
Wendy -- You're so lucky to have wireless service at the bar! I must be on the wrong part of the ship ...
Pat -- I agree with Marsha ... My onc thinks that I can do the dose-dense taxol and that has benefits over weekly. If I can't handle it, then I can always go down to weekly. I haven't been having any side effects from the neulasta shot (like leg pains, etc.), so my onc nurse thought that I should be OK with the taxol. We'll see ... At least no more zofran and nausea! The weather will be nicer too, so I can get out and walk more -- which should help prevent the incipient weight gain and as I eat all my comfort food. Yes, I do confess that I did have my Ben and Jerry's for lunch today.
OK, waiting to hear from Sybil from yesterday. We still need freethought and tropicmom from today!
-- Hillary0 -
Hi Hillary and all. I was out of town all weekend and then went bar-hopping yesterday. Uneventful, except on Monday my feet and ankles swelled up like marshmallows. I have never had swelling like that. Doc's office blamed salt intake,etc. But I didn't eat anymore salt than usual. They have been giving me the runaround about the decadron. I ask not to have it after the first dose because it causes weight gain ( increases appetitie). The onc told me he cut me back from 4 mg to 2 mg. Then I noticed I got 4 mg last week and when I ask the nurse said that I was getting 8 and was cut to 4. At any rate this week he prescribed 2 mg for next week. Don't know why he is so leary of giving Taxol without Decadron. The oncologist I saw at MD Anderson told me he didn't give it after the first dose of Taxol (this is not dense dose, I am sure DD requires more steroid to counteract allergic reaction). As far as that goes, Taxol I mean, I had dose 7 yesterday and so far no neuropathy. I haven't started the L-glutamine yet. I bought some but am not sure how much to take. I visited the pain management doc today. She has been treating my chronic back pain since 1996. She was very concerned about using Lortab because of the Tylenol in it. I use Norco, which has a much lower dose of Tylenol and if I need more pain med when I get the Neulasta shots, she will switch me to oxycodon or oxycontin. She also was very interested in treating the neuropathy if it developes. She is an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management. Where do I find your thread for Mom's with children? I would like the check it out. That is terrific, as I am sure you with small ones hae special needs and can really help each other. What a blessing and congratulations on starting that.
Take care. Hugs, Sammie Kay0 -
Alyson - Your story about the toddler reminded me of something that happened this weekend. We went out for dinner on Saturday night with another couple. They brought their 3 year old over to our house for my 17 year old daughter to babysit. I was napping when they arrived and my daughter brought the baby into my room...she saw me bald and, although we've met many times before, was clearly confused until I spoke with her for a few minutes. They left my room, I got out of bed and got ready for the evening. I put my wig on and went downstairs. This is my long 'hot babe' wig. The little one looked at me when I greeted her in the kitchen and asked me ...'Where's your mother?'. I rest my case...the wig is amazing!
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Jan - I haven't notice that my veins are any larger than usual...mine tend to be large and ropey (I hate'em but the onc nurses love'em). I have noticed, however, that after AC#2, there was a slight discoloration in the vein that ran away from the one the IV needle was inserted in. Then, after AC#3, I noticed a slight discoloration about an inch or so down from where the IV was inserted (they've been alternating hands). The veins look kind of bruised, reddish, a different color than the surrounding ones. Must be related but I don't know. In any case, I really, really, really didn't want a port...if this is as bad as it gets...I can manage. Do they have plastic surgery for hands?
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WOW!!!! Catherine, congratulations to you and all the cruisers who are taking their last A/C. I has a funny feeling today when someone mentioned being finished is 6 weeks or so. I won't finish Taxol until first week in May and then won't finish FAC until first week in July. Will I be cruising alone on this big ship? Maybe some will be still doing radiation. Hope someone will still be around.
Twink, what a sweet thing to say. Hope your bar trip was smooth. Also Wendy, Freethought,TropicMom and any other cruisers I have missed.
Marsha, you are too cool, running around in your blue convertible. Of course you are the cute "bald" girl. woohoo!!!
Phyl, congrats on dose #4.
Terry, congratulations to you and your daughter. Wow, two gold medals. I know that was such a boost for you. We need fun stuff to counteract what we are going through.
While in Houston this weekend, I watched UNC basketball(we lost, darn it) with my oldest daughter, son-in-law and grandson (granddaughter at UNC-Chapel Hill). Then I went over to my next oldest daughter and played with her 3 children and altered 10 pairs of slacks and a skirt(she recently lost 35 lbs and her clothes were falling off). It was such a pleasure to be able to bring my sewing machine with me and do that for her. I don't get the opportunity to do those things for my children as they live so far away.
A big shout out to : Jel, Allyson,Sybil,Wendy,Steph,Pat(all done with # 4 also), Maisy,TwinkC,Jen, TropicMom and anyone else I missed, please forgive me.
Hey I have the strawberry birthmark at the base of my skull also. Maybe we are from another planet, can't spell aleins.LOL
Hey Caryn, hope all is going well. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Oh, about wigs, I went to the LGFB workshop and picked up a long wig for fun. I mean really long. I look like a fool in it. The ladies there said it made me look 10 years younger, but I think I look like a transvestite.LOL But, I can put it in a pony tail and wear it with a baseball cap.
Hugs to all of you. Keep posting, I enjoy everyones posts so much. SammieKay0 -
Twink, funny thing....I have "ugly" really ugly veiny hands. A plastic surgeon I work with wanted to inject collagin into my hands. Too expensive and a temporary fix. They would need to be done every couple of years. Not to sound conceited, but people usually guess my age about 20 years younger than I am, but all I have to do is ahow them my hands. Believe me, these hands look old.LOL But yea, they do rejunination of hands. Sammie Kay.
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Eh, SammieKay, good hearing from you... a busy mom... You mention Chapel Hill, is it the small old town on the road toward Brennan (spelling?)?? We got married in Chapel Hill in 1982... we thought this little town was so charming. There was a judge of peace who owned the General Store (very western ambiance)...
Well, number 2 went very well, I am now feeling Neulasta kicking in but I alternate between advil and tylenol, and take 1 claritine in the morning... should work out. No stomach issues whatsoever and great energy (decadron, no doubt)... to sort out the mess between insurance and health providers... they'll end up doing their job OK... just takes time...
Yes, the AC series is behind me and a few others by now... I am almost looking forward to starting the next since it should be easier and much shorter...
I will not have radiation (because of bilateral mastectomy + clear margins + node dissection on one side), so come May 22, I'll be through with the "standard" protocol, but Avastin goes on until December (30 minutes every 3 weeks) with heart echographies regularly and MRI's + tests for the chemo brain study (I should have taken notes for the first series of tests...). The price to pay for being in a clinical study... abraxane and avastin are not billed to the insurance... not trivial... and the tests required by the study either...
Well, time for my beloved Ativan... and night-night
Sweet dreams to all of you,
Hugs,
CatherineH0 -
Sammie -
I also have a LONG hair wig that I wear for the barn (I have horses). It is longer than my real hair, and I also feel trampy when I wear it! My hubby loves it!!! LOL
Jen0 -
Sammie:
I will rejoiningyou at some point. Even though I am "on hiatus" after the 4 dd AC, I know they will want to do taxol on me. I just might do the surgery in the middle- I don't know. And then how does radiation fit in??? All my restaging tests are 4/18, and then the decision making begins. But I will keep you company.0 -
Psst... 14 days post AC #4.... fuzz on my head is "standing up". Does this mean it is starting to grow back???
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Good Morning:)
Hope everyone is doing well.
SammieKay - thanks for thinking of me. I'm doing great! I guess my bad days are are 3-5. I've tried to go to work every Monday after treatment and it has been tough. If I would have stayed home and rested, #3 probably would have
been a lot smoother. I think I'll take a vacation day or something the Monday after # 4.
I still havent been able to get lined up with LGFB. There are tons of classes, but very few on the weekend. I'm going to look in April again. And, I know just what you mean about the wig.
It's why I took the red one back. It's funny how much everyone at works loves the blond ones. Being a natural blond, that's the way they are used to seeing me; so when I exchanged the red one, I got very very light ones. Very different from my own hair so it's fun to change them up.
Twink - that is hysterical! "Out of the mouth of babes"....
I dont think any of us will be crusing alone. I'm hoping to do the 4 DD taxol which is the plan now. I dont know how long after we'll do surgery, but then I'll start rads. You guys better be here, or I'll have to hunt you down!
Going to be hard to go to work today. We have a "cold front" and it's down to the 60s-70's from the 90's. Beautiful spring day in store.
Thinking of those at the bar, hope you all have a great day today. Talk to you later!
Carynn0 -
Good Morning...I am off to the bar today for #4 TCH...which I will be sailing with until the end of June...so I will be here for the duration with most of you. Then on to rads. Already had my surgery.
The decadron has had me up since 4:00 and I am retaining fluid. So will probably get chewed out for gaining weight. But I am not eating differently and have been doing some walking so I think it is fluid retention from the taxotere. Yesterday was the first I didn't take Benedryl for the itching.
Hope my partners today...Steph, Pat & Twink will do well and I will be thinking of you and holding your hands. I will try to check in the evening. My infusions last about 5 - 6 hours, so it is a long day in the chemo room.
Happy Spring to all,0 -
Good Morning! Just checking in to read the latest and hoping everyone has a good day. I'm off to #4 and LAST of the red devil and will be thinking of Twink, Steph and Terry as well.
Pat0 -
Hello everyone, better late than never, right! I live in Canada, am a nurse (noted the # of nurses for Feb!,I started chemo on Feb 14th, FEC 100, Grade 3, triple neg, 7+ nodes/26. I have a lot of posts to read through. So far all I can say is chemo sucks! # 3 was delayed for a week at my request and onco agreed since my WBC was low.
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Hi everyone - I'm just checking in before I go to the bar for AC#3 this afternoon. I always feel pretty down right before treatment - who wants to feel bad all over again? But after hearing how many of you have already made it through #4 - I feel encouraged. Hopefully, all my counts will be stable so we can proceed, as I don't want to delay any treatments.
SammieKay - thanks for the shout out! Every bit of encouragement helps!
Carynn - I am doing just what you said you should have. I am taking of on Monday and Tuesday just to rest this time. I found trying to make it in to work for a few hours everyday after AC#2 too tiring, and I am hoping that if I just rest for the next few days by next Wednesday I'll feel better.
I hope everyone feels pretty good throughout the weekend, and I'll be checking in from home.
Steph0 -
Interesting, taxol was never part of my treatments. Makes me wonder what makes the decision to have that after AC.
Here's hoping y'all have a very good weekend.0 -
Jan - after my biopsy and prior to the mastectomy/SNB, my onc said if no node involvement, tx would be AC only. I had 1 (sentinal) node involved so she added the Taxol. Don't know if that's standard protocol, but that was the consensus of my team.
Phyl0 -
Steph, good luck, do not worry too much. I am day 3 after AC#4... we woke up with 10 inches of snow!!! in Denver... perfect day to nurse my Neulasta pain which is pretty "present" but not incapacitating... My dog Toby may not share that idea of spending the day... he is looking at the window, watching the snow outside... I'll let him run after a few starved squirrels...
Hi, Shirley, wishing you well with your chemo (even if we all agree it sucks...)
Big hugs to all, wishing you a decent day...
CatherineH0
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