Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Lisa, thanks for the picture--it's good to see and remember the good times--we will all be there again.
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I love all the pictures of everyone. Happier days but a reminder of way we are all going through this, right!!??
I got postponed again today. We're shooting for Mon. now. The hardest thing about it is if I stayed on track, I'd be almost to Round #3 (half way home). Instead, I'm holding my breath waiting for #2. But, it would be a very bad thing to get the chemo with the infection still hanging around. Still, it's very disappointing. I will have had 5 straight days of iv (plus 4 the week before) and 10 straight days of meds by then.
The sore throats may be from all the pollen and tree bark in the air. My silver car is now a light shade of green from pollen. Hopefully, the salt water will help. I had my tonsils out about 2 years ago so am ever so sympathic to people with sore throats!
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my2boys What did you gargle with?I have been drinking lots of fluids. Cupcake I also have been curious how some of the names came about, I chose mine because a real good friend of mine who was with me when I got my Dx texted me on the day of my first Tx Cancer Is not for sissies Today you are a rock star and will make it through ,so that is why I picked my user name I added the Mom because I am very proud to be My boys mom!! So that is my story just thought I would share.I loved your Wizard of Oz scenerio it is perfect.Lisa Great pic !!! You look like a beautiful lady can't see you good enough! 0 -
I will try to post the pic the right way. I have it in photo bucket.
Thanks guys. This is really messed up, I am complaining about be bald and I can't wait to ditch my ball cap - however, I cannot find a pic of me BEFORE bc that I am not wearing a ball cap!
Off to feed the horses! I will work on the pic when I get back!
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Helen - beautiful family!!! Lisa
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<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyMzc*MTcyMTI4OTAmcHQ9MTIzNzQxNzIzMTEyNSZwPTI2ODQxJmQ9Jmc9MSZ*PQ==.gif" /><div style="width: 466px;"> <object width="466" height="375"> <param name="movie" value="http://cdn.photoshow.com/psp_assets/exbed_player.0.2.0.swf"/> <param name="FlashVars" value="showCode=XC9rz8ZZ&systemConfigUrl=http://cdn.photoshow.com/publish/system_config.0.2.0.xml&viewerWidth=466&viewerHeight=375&autoPlayBack=false&muteOnStart=true&useWidgetMaker=false"/> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/> <param name="quality" value="high"/> <embed src="http://cdn.photoshow.com/psp_assets/exbed_player.0.2.0.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" FlashVars="showCode=XC9rz8ZZ&systemConfigUrl=http://cdn.photoshow.com/publish/system_config.0.2.0.xml&viewerWidth=466&viewerHeight=375&autoPlayBack=false&muteOnStart=true&useWidgetMaker=false" allowfullscreen="true" quality="high" width="466" height="375"/> </object></div> Oh yeah copy and paste the picture worked well...lol I told you I was computer illiterate
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Cupcake: Thanks for trying!! Is your picture saved on photobucket or shutterfly or what? I would think the first part of the link would say that name. Try again.
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This is my healing place in SC
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Helen, that is beautiful
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Starting with page 117, the right margin on the postings has gone way off my computer screen. All the earlier pages are fine. Anyone else having this problem?
Helen, your family looks so great. And, the grandkids are, as my MIl (who was a lovely person who knew how to be supportive) used to say are "delicious". What dolls.
Sorry about the sore throats, but I am super-jealous of pine pollen in March. I've got a long wait still. We get it up here right around Memorial Day weekend every year. By the time that happens, a bunch of us will be done with chemo!!
Thanks for the support around the work issue. I am super lucky because I have almost total control over my working hours and I almost a year's worth of paid sick leave accumulated. I just have a lot of responsibility and responsibility for lots of folks. And, I like what I am doing, so I want to keep doing it as much as I can. For all of us, our first job right now is taking care of ourselves and work at this patient thing. Just doing all this extra stuff to take care of myself and takes so much time and energy. And, then there are the side effects. Like Rockstarmom, I have been pretty lucky so far. But, now I am getting tired more and it just really hit me yesterday, which was day 7 of my third Tx. I guess days 7-10 or so can be low points in blood counts. Today was a better day and all the encouragement sure helps. One day at a time on this countdown.
Magnola: Hope this delay is giving your body a rest so the next Tx will be easier. Everyone kept telling me not to count on staying on schedule, but we sure don't want to believe that it is likely that those dates are just approximations and not a promise. I keep telling myself that this is about the long run and not just about these 18 weeks, but it sure is hard to remember.
Has anyone heard from Bold? This is worrisome.
Ipohgirl: I just want to second all the responses to you. Don't be scared of those feelings and please don't feel badly about seeking counseling. Almost everyone I know around where I live who has been through chemo has gotten some kind of therapy or met with a psychiatrist, social worker, or psychologist--or at least an emotional support group run by a professional and they have told me how much it helps them (and their families and significant others). The oncology staff recommends it and the hospitals all offer it as well. What affects your body also affects your mind and feelings. There are folks who really know a lot about helping people cope and feel better. You are very lucky to be able to get all the help you need and I'm glad to see you gearing up to take advantage of it and not resisting the idea.
I'm off to try to figure out how to put a picture up that will show where "sailor" came from. Not as inspired as "rockstarmom".
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The wide screen will continue to the next page.
A link was posted that was too wide.The faster we turn a new page, the faster this will go away.
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Thanks, Lisa, our voice of experience--and with great pics, too. Loved the baseball hat comment.
Sounds like we need to post a lot quickly.
I've added an avatar. The boat is my healing place on Cape Cod, but that is not me in it. (I don't have one of me in it.)
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I am really concerned about Bold and Mason. Does anyone have a private e-mail for either of them so someone can checki? It is not like them to go this long without posting.
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I am just trying to get a new page up! However! I think pics are a lot of fun! I need to take the time to pt mine in photo bucket so they will work here.
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just helping move to a new page...
Bold and Mason logged onto their home pages on March 18th. They are okay. It is so hard not to worry when you don't hear from someone for a week or so. Bold and Mason we were just a bit worried about you guys!
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Hi All, I'm new here! I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago and had a bilateral mastectomy last Wed. Chemo starts in early April: Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin every 3 weeks x 6, then Herceptin for one year. I understand this is standard for highly aggressive her2+ IDCA (my ki67 was also very high). Is anyone in a similar boat ? How did you feel during the chemo? I'm sure this is such a common question... but I really would like to share in someone else's experience if you have or had a similar diagnosis and treatment plan. Thanks, Rebecca
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Wow....what great reading! I have been so busy these past few days (my energy level is getting better everyday) and I am taking full advantage of my energy level. This site is definately theraputic! Thank you ladies for all of your posts.
ipohgirl: I am divorced, but I have reconciled with him about a year ago. The day I told him I wanted the divorce his mother (my mother in law) has not spoken to me. We were very close, she watched our children while I went to work for the "family business" . After I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer she has called me only once. She was like my second mom! I missed her terribly through the divorce (we were apart for 9 months). So...Im not sure what is worse...a bitchy mother n law, or one who turns her back on her daughter in law after 24 years of being in the family. As of this date we still do not speak. But on a happier note, me and my ex are getting along great and he is taking very good care of me. We both changed for the better with the divorce.
duneoaks: Beautiful grand daughters!!! Hope your sore throat passes soon! My taste is starting to come back to me now.
Lisa....I love reading your posts....I always smile as I read them! I cant wait to see your pics of your new hair....I am actually enjoying my wig right now...it takes me half the time to get ready! I get to hit the snooze button a few more times before I have to get out of bed
My business partner and me (sorry about bad english.....was not very good in that subject) have been chosen to sit on the board of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Susan G. Komen foundation. We will be attending our first meeting/luncheon tomorrow. I am so excited to be a part of this. They do so much for cancer research! I know that I have said this in earlier posts, but our company produces apparel with the pink ribbons for breast cancer and we give back a percentage of our sales to the foundation. My partner, Bebe, lost a very dear friend 7 years ago to Breast Cancer and her last request to her was that she make a difference. And here we are 7 years later doing our best to fulfill that wish.
Hope everyone is having a great evening...Good Night!
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Lisa - looks like beautiful ladies on beautiful steads! Post a closer up one of you for us.
Cupcake - love your wacky Oz metaphors. Ipursuit = I pursue it (remember that OCD?) as in tenacious.
Helen/Duneoaks - it would be great to see what everyone looks like. I will have to really look hard for one of me given that I am the photographer in the family - have tons of others, but almost none of me!
I am SO EXCITED! I felt good today for first time since chemo #1! I was able to work a full day and actually enjoy it (in spite of not liking my job)! Getting my hair cut short tomorrow and not looking forward to that since my chubby face needs lots of hair to hide behind. (sorry for overdoing those exclam marks today)
Hugs from munchkin E
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Opps was the one I put on to wide?? hope not. Sorry if it was. Thanks I pur su it.
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Thanks for all the wise input about my meltdown. Everyone is right. From diagnosis to treatment, running from appt to appt or scan to scan, you don't really think about what it is going on.(At least I was sitting high on the denial pile). Then treatments start and another 4 months in a fog. Now they are done. Now what? 6 weeks of rads, then what? Who is going to tell me where to go after rads? Will I be cured? The whole thing is scary. Lexislove-I am going to look for the book you mentioned. I think it will help me. Cupcake-you wrote that some people might need meds to get thru this. You are so right. I was so worried about taking 1 tiny ativan last night. For some reason I felt defeated that I had to "give in". But after taking it, it really took the edge of the anxiety and I was finally able to relax after 2 days.
Thanks, Karen
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yep I deleted mine and wah la it is small again. I knew if anyone could screw it up it would be me...
Rebecca: Welcome to Camp Chemo. We are sorry you have to join our little camp, but you will find such a loving bunch of campers in here that will support you every step of the way. Wow just 3 weeks ago being dx and rushed into such a big surgery. You must be overwhelmed at this point. Being HER2 is the bad news, but on the other hand it is the good news cause you are eligible for Herceptin. I am here to tell you I was dx a stage 111A , beings the cancer had spread to my Axillary Nodes., but after going through the chemo, and surgery they found no cancer left so even though it is going to be a hard journey to travel you can make it. We all in here either passed through the tunnel, or going through it now or just beginning like you. Don't be surprised with all the emotions you will go through. We have all had them. Any questions you ask there will be someone on the other end that will answer it for you. Nothing at all is dumb and you can rant and rave all you want. I was so scared in the beginning. I really thought I was going to die.
Now that I will finish rads tomorrow Karen your post of" where to go now, will I be cured". I have thought a lot about it and decided that just like the spring will be here on Friday and I look around and see the dark winter skies beginning to lift I too am beginning to step into the sun light. I'm beginning to think ahead of my future. It has been quite awhile since I have done that. I am going to make plans...Maybe paint the living room a new color. I spent a lot of time in there looking at the walls and know every swirl in the ceiling by all the time I layed on the couch to sick to get up.Yes I am cancer free and I am going back to a life much more appreciating every day I have. I will not think of, "will it come back". I won't let that fear of cancer rob me of my bright days ahead. I read of that beautiful actress that went for a day to learn to ski and hit her head and now isn't with her family any more. None of us know our time and why waste one day worrying about cancer. If it does come back in a few years by then mabye they will have a cure for it by then. Look at Herceptin of what it did for us today?
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My dear dear ladies,
This is Day 14 and I'm full of energy. Cooked large batch of pasta sauce to freeze (for my two kids), made barley drink (good for sorethroat and kidneys - 1/2 lb barley to 3 pints water, reduce to 2 pints, add lemon or honey), my darling gf came and talked to me and helped me make peanut, mushroom and porkbone soup(for the white and red blood cells), I swept the floor, etc. Yippee, I functioned nornally again for today.
And of course after reading all your posts, I felt much better. Your words are better than any medicine and the love sweeter than any honey(sorry for the prolifics)!
For those who are having sorethroats, besides barley, one could also boil watercress with dates. You should be able to find them at the Vietnamese shops in the US. The watercress should be boiled whole (not pureed) and the result is a soothing, cooling drink.
Another drink is bitter melon if you are feeling on fire or dehydrated, It's very bitter, but pretty effective in combating excess heat.
My blood markers are just back and they have been halved from before I started chemo, but onco said I still passed. Have to take another one next Wed for chemo next Thurs.
About the sleeping meds, I begged my onco to give me some the last time and she did but they didn't help and I was wide awake for four or five nights. I'll ask for stronger stuff on Wednesday. I don't mind taking them as long as they help me get unconscious so that I could forget the bone pain. Some of us, like Cupcake said, do need these medication to help us get through this marathon of our lives................
And BTW, my hair is just starting to fall today. Not in clumps but I noticed a number of strands. I had longer than waist lenghth hair before diagnosis and I cut all 3 and a half feet of it to short bob just before my lumpectomy in mid February. I guess I might never get them to grow that long ever again. I wept for days and took plenty of pics before I trimmed it. Kept it in a ziplock bag and is still with me. I would want them to bury them together with me someday. The four cheapo wigs I bought at an export shop (meant for the US market) are lovely - two are short and two are shoulder length with lovely curls. Well............
Hope you find some of the drinks recipe useful. There are plenty of other soups etc but I kept to these simplest ones which are just as effective. Turnips, besides mushrooms, are supposed to be very good for wbc too, but I haven't started to take them yet.
I would like to share a song with you, which many of you would already know. We sang it all the time in campus with our guitar(C,AmDmG7) while we were students in those carefree, lazy days. How relevant it is to us today.
Today
Today
While the blossoms still cling to the vine
I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine
A million tommorows shall all pass away
Ere I forget all the joy that is mine
Today
I'll be a dandy, and I'll be a rover
You'll know who I am by the songs that I sing
I'll eat at your table, I'll sleep in your bower
Who cares what tommorow will bring..............................
Hugs and kisses
Ipohgirl
Cheerio.
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Rebecca - I am so sorry that you are joining our camp, but you have come to the right place. Your course of treatment is exactly what most of us in this thread are/have done/doing. I had my bi-lateral mast last Sept, started chemo Oct 27 and got my last infusion of toxins Feb 9th. I too will get the herceptin for a year. You will get thru this. I know it does not seem like it now, but you WILL get thru it.
Ipohgirl - What a nice post!! That was wonderful!
kjbell - Meltdowns are allowed here. If it were not for the occasional meltdown, we would all go insane! Since my tx's ended, I find myself crying at the drop of hat, for no good reason; happy tears, sad tears, the coffee is done perking tears.....
I will get a better pic up this afternoon when I get home. I finally thought of one with NO ball cap and fairly close up, but I have to put it in photobucket first and I don't think I have time this morning.
Time to vent: I just happen to live in a town that has one of only 3 "horses allowed" beaches in the entire state of Florida. You have to have a permit and a reservation to take your horse there AND they have strict limits on the number of horses per day allowed. I am hosting a ride there today with people coming from all over the state to ride. We have been planning this for a month or more - IT IS POURING DOWN RAIN!!!!!! We have been in drought conditions for 6 months and TODAY it is raining cats and dogs! Grrrr.......
Have a great day campers! I am off to play in the rain!
Lisa
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Rebecca - Welcome girl to what Cupcake I believe first termed this thread "camp chemo", where the counselors will lift you up when you need it and advise as requested.
Lisa - sorry it is raining on your outing today - I am sure you put so much effort into organizing it and now weather isn't cooperating. I hope somehow you all can have a good time of it.
Helen - you have a GORGEOUS family - like models! What does "believe:achieve" mean (from your shirts)?
ipohgirl - you are too funny! I'm not sure I would every have the time now (given trying to work) to make all those soups/drinks/health potions, but I am sure entertained hearing about them! I also loved your song. I have a friend who has studies Aryveda and western nutrition and she is going to get me some home cooked health foods. I will let you know what those are! BTW it is nice to hear from someone halfway across the planet.
Katherine & My2Boys - Katherine you hit the nail on the head. When I am scared and feeling awful, this thread has been a great soothing comfort. I guess I needed a LOT of comforting in order to read the whole thing!
Blue - re: the biphosphonates trial you are participating in - do participants get any inside heads up on prelim results? What are they doing to monitor your success in bone density or other during the trial? With the evidence that bone density provides resistance to bone mets, those campers finishing/ed chemo may be interested in these treatments.
E
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Rebecca,welcome to camp chemo. I am so sorry that you have to be here but so glad that you found us.
Helen, belated congrats on your anniversary...that is quite an accomplishment. Love the photo of your beautiful family.
Lisa, I am so sorry the rain interfered with your plans. I hope that you had fun anyway.
Ipogirl, I remember the song, It is so beautiful and evoked alot of memories for me too. Thank you for the recipes. My daughter prepares a ginger tea for me when I feel nauseous after treatment. It is just slices of ginger and lemon juice steeped in boiling water for a few minutes. It really helps my stomach to calm down.
Sailor, now I see where you get your name. Sailing off Cape Cod is amazing. I lived there a long time ago and sailing to Block Island one September day is one of my most beautiful memories. It was absolutely perfect.
Cupcake, once again you have been able to articulate my feelings so well. I think about the future and worry about recurrence. I try to live in the today. None of us know what will happen tomorrow and all we have is the right now. We have walked this long hard road for a reason and that reason will reveal itself in its own time. I have faith in this,I love life and I am doing everything that I can to beat this BC. We all are and we are so lucky that we have herceptin to help us win this battle.
Kjbell, some days I cry over an ad on tv. Our emotions are raw and we have been through so much. Hang in there.
I am praying that Bold and Mason are okay. I know that Bold has tx #5 next Monday as she is one behind me.
I went to the PS yesterday and he is letting me have rads while I still have an expander. He thinks it will be fine as they will radiate my axilla since I was node positive. He will evaluate everthing after rads are done and will place foobs in September.
I will try to post a pic (pre-bald) but it might take time as I am somewhat computer challeged. If I can't mange I will get my DD to help me later. Sorry if there are lots of typos but my eyes are watering so much that I can barely read!
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Rebecca Welcome to the group,You are in a great place here,whatever you ask will be answered in quick time,everyone is here to support and help each other! Helen Hows the throat ?mine is better now I have a stuffy nose but my throat stopped hurting if its not one thing its another !! Hope you feel better! Oh Lisa Rain Rain Go Away!! Send it to Colorado we need it badly!!! So sorry about your Ride!! Bold & Mason Where are you???????Please post!!!!!!!!! 0
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Paula - I gargled with salt water and a small capful of peroxide. The sore was gone in a day.
Rebecca - I am sorry that you are going through this tough time, but you have come to the right place. The chemo is harder for some than for others, but everyone gets through it. Everyone is here to help you, so don't be afraid to ask questions.
Magnola - Sorry about another delay. Most of us have been delayed for one reason or another during our journey, so you are not alone.
I went for my MUGA scan yesterday and the technician "cheated" and told me that my heart function was slightly improved from my last visit. Well, that is good news! The nurse had to stick me three times and she was in a grumpy mood to boot, so I ended up in tears.....hmmmm. I was kind of embarrassed because once I started crying, I couldn't stop. I asked the techinician "is she always like this, or is it just today?" The technician confided in me that the nurse is a grouch. From now on, I will make sure to request a different nurse for my needles.
My infection is cleared up and I am almost done with my expansion. I just received a call that my surgery will be at the end of April. Keeping a good thought that everything goes off without any glitches. I am ready for these expanders to hit the road!
My arm has been swelling up a bit, so I visited the lymphedema specialist today. She did a wonderful massage and reassured me that the swelling could just as easily be caused by the full expanders and she is thinking that it may not be lymphedema. She made me promise to wear my sleeve each day while going through physical therapy for the cord vein and hopefully when the chest implants are in place, I will find myself in a much more comfortable place. She also showed me how to do a self-massage of the lymphatic areas.
I was thinking about the emotional thing that we all go through when the chemo is over and I think that a big part of it for me is the constant doctors appointments/scheduling seems like it is continuing on for several months after chemo. As we begin to feel better, we want to get on with our lives already and each day it's another appointment to deal with. It can be depressing.
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Rebecca-in this forum, you will find an amazing group of women who have "been there, done that". It is comforting to know you always have a place to go, a place where people truly care. The support from these women really makes a difference. They help alleviate the fear. I can't imagine breastcancer.org not being there. Who would we turn to if they weren't?
Cupcake-one more rad session and you are done? Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sing this to the tune of "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah" by Allen Sherman.
Aunt Begonia, Uncle Nemo, I'm writing you from Camp Chemo. I'm on steroids--they think I'm witty. It's just too bad they cut off my right titty.
The infusion--it was nasty. Gave me too much Carbo-plasty. The Herceptin makes me snotty, But I don't know why I can't go to the potty.
I am losing all my hair-a. That is thanks to Taxo-tera. Don't know which end needs unloading. After several days, my bowels are now exploding.
Can't make white cells any fasta. This is why I'm on Neulasta. Lips are one big, ugly blister-- Double dare ya to fix this one, Dr. Lister!
(bridge)
Make it end! Dear Uncle, Auntie, It's so bad! I'm on a rant-y. Don't let them stick me again In the arm, or worse, in my rear end. Make it end! I promise I will be so good, A pillar in my neighborhood. Life used to be so sweet Before the tumor in my teat.
If this cup could pass from my lips, I'd give every waitress high tips. Let it end now, oh God my Savior, And I'll clean up all my horrible behavior.
Wait a minute, looked in the mirr-a. Face has never looked any clear-a! I can work out. I feel much stronger. Guess I'll put up with this crap a little longer.For the new campers in here this is the theme song that was written by Shelboni back on page 34. Man that seems so long ago. Anyway she was the one that first tagged this place as camp chemo and made this song for us. The ones who was finishing treatment became counselors for the newbies coming in and each round of one's coming in here just beginning was seeking advice from the one's going through treatment thus they were tagged as counselors. I keep forgetting to bring the song back for the one's that didn't know shelby. She was quite a characture and made us all laugh through our treatments. She has since moved on as us older counselors that are done, but you that are here need to keep the camp alive by sharing this with the newbies coming in. Yes Kjbell I just got back from my last radiation, and thus am done with all cancer treatments. I will have every three months follow ups with the Breast ONC and the Radiology ONC for a year so won't walk away quite so easy, but all the awful treatments are done. I like hanging in here with you guys and will do so for awhile if you so permit me. It is hard to go cold turkey since thinking of treatment everyday for 10 months, and besides there might be some help I can give to the newbies.
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