Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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SpecialK - congratulations. It does go fast, although in the beginning no one believes that it will. I surely didn't. Now I am almost 2 years done with H and it feels, on one hand, like yesterday, but on nanother, like a lifetime ago. It takes a few months to get past the H in your system but you will start to feel better in ways you didn't even realize you needed to.
I stop back in to see my chemo nurses when I go for a check up with the onc. It is always a little strange to be back in that room, even briefly. I always dress up a little and look my best. It means SO MUCH to them to see healthy people that 'made it.' One time I went the nurse kept saying "I needed this so much today." I guess I didn't think about the toll this type of work takes on them (was too busy thinking about the toll it was taking on ME!). But now I always stop in, tell them I am doing fabulous, let them fuss over how good I look, and thank them over & over again. I avert my glance from the people in the chairs - still a little too triggering for me to look at directly.
ENJOY being done. Celebrate your accomplishment. In my life, completing this treatment is the thing I am most proud of - right along with providing college educations for my daughters as a single parent.
Love to all!
Amy
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Amy - thanks for your post! Especially the "I will feel better in ways..." part. I am not feeling all that great lately and I think it is because I had the unusual bone/joint aching SE from Herceptin. I didn't have it from Taxotere or Neulasta. That combined with ache from Femara and I am in pain much of the time. It helps to move around but I am also tired! I will go back into the nurses area when I go back to the onc - partly because I will continue to see them for this bone stregthening injection, but also for the reasons you mentioned. My favorite nurse told me not long ago that she had to leave oncology for a while and work in the surgery center (that is actually where I first met her!) because of the burn-out that comes with this type of work. I have always been amazed at the warm and fuzzy nature of my MO, because I imagine working with cancer every day takes a chunk of you!
I am proud of myself - and all the ladies here - this is an accomplishment! For us to be here on this forum encouraging each other through such a difficult journey is an act of grace.
And I applaud you for putting your daughters through college - awesome! I have two kids in college now, I know how hard it is!
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BTW I forgot to mention that this past Wednesday, Jan 18th marked 1 year PFC. What a difference a year makes (even if I'm still having a few nail issues, challenged eyebrows and a little neuropathy in cold weather). Today I get inked… and then I'm done, finally!
Yes treatment and SE does end and get better.
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lago - congrats on the 1 yr PFC and the new ink!
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Thanks… hopefully new ink. We are getting a huge snow storm and it started about 1.5 hours ago… granted the PS office is only 3 miles away.
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Lago Congrats:)
AmyisStrong Thanks for the encouraging words. Like SpecialK, I have constant joint pain and I'm so hopeful that maybe it will improve now that Herceptin is out of the mix. It's always good to hear how much better things will be in the future from those who are further ahead of us.
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Lago Put on your snow boots and start walking:) Your snow storm is headed for us in NY tomorrow...I guess winter finally decided to arrive.0
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lago - hope all goes well today (or whenever you get the ink - weather permitting). You are such an inspiration and encouragement on these boards. I am very impressed by your wealth of knowledge and helpfulness.
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Lago - don't let a little snow stop you! I live in Ohio and we are getting it this evening!
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dragonfly and specialk - I had my last herceptin at the end of August and I notice now that my knees don't hurt anymore. It wasn't bad but I noticed it whenever I sat down and I never had that before treatment.0
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omaz - how long did it take before that went away? My pain has been steadily increasing - didn't have the knee thing until about a month ago or so. When I stand up I get sharp pain in both kneecaps. I think it is exacerbated by quad muscles being weak so it is putting undue strain on the knees. I am finding that trying to fall asleep under my heated throw helps, but in the last two weeks my neck hurts enough that going from laying to sitting hurts like an SOB! Once I am up it is just dull pain.
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I'm so hopeful that this joint pain will improve. My MO insists that the Herceptin has nothing to do with it but I'm not convinced at all. I've still got shoulder pain (frozen shoulder is better but it still hurts), hip tendonitis and now my lower back and neck aches as well. Basically, it's tolerable once I get moving during the day but the aching is awful at night and wakes me up every night-I never sleep well. MO has blamed it on Tamoxifen. No pain in my knees though...
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My thighs improved greatly after my last Herceptin (Sept 6th). I don't get up from the table like an old lady anymore. Well earlier in the week I did but that was from doing way too many lunges, squats and leg lifts.
Yes I started strength training again. 0 -
I was thankful that at yesterday's appt. the P.A. said that Herceptin can sometimes cause this, it is a little unusual but I felt like I was acknowledged. I am a challenged sleeper under the best of circumstances but I have had major troubles as dragonfly has. I never felt like I had chemo brain, but I do sometimes feel like I have "fatigue" brain. I did ask how long until I see improvement and she said 4-5 weeks. So feeling hopeful about that...
Yay lago on the return to strength training - I need to do it too. I feel like a marshmallow.
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My thighs are mushmellows. I finally stopped looking at my boobie prizes and noticed my thighs. That's what pushed me to start. 0
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Ha ha lago!!
SpecialK - from Aug until just this year. It was a gradual thing until I realized it was gone.
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Go Lago!!!
Ladies, i found a hard ball on my armpit (the troublemakng side, the right.) I had my node biopsy only one of the first node and im kinda freaked out, just a little, the thing is like a little raisin's size. I had the crazy swelling, tree-like armpit formations on this side but never really a little hard ball. Did u guys that had nodes removed experienced the same?0 -
Seeing my surgeom soom, but just wanted to know if someone out there had something similar
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SpecialK and Dragonfly, CONGRATULATIONS!! How wonderful to be done with H and getting ready to have your ports removed. I am so happy for you both! What an accomplishment!
Dragonfly, is that your real hair that has grown back? You look great.
SpecialK, are you getting biphosphonates for your bones or to prevent recurrence? My BS recommended that I discuss biphosphonate with my Onc. Apparently, the lastest studies from San Antonio show that biphosphonates help prevent recurrence. May I ask why you are getting a Pet scan? I've never had one and I wonder why some people do and some don't.
Lago, I feel a bit stupid for asking, but what is the ink for? Sorry if it's silly question and congrats on being 1 year PFC.
I have completed 13 out of 33 rads. I hate rads! My skin is fine so far but I hate going to the treatment room everyday and I am so scared of the damage being done to my lungs despite being assured that it's only 6% that would be affected. Anyone with any word of advice to make me feel better about this? I have weeks more to go...
Hope you all have a good weekend!
Amelie
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amelie - My MO is talking with me about bisphosponates because I am already osteopenic (have been for years) and can't tolerate oral meds for it due to a gastro-esophogeal surgery in '95. Being on Femara and having had chemo there is concern about more bone loss. He would like to start me on bone preventive/treatment but I am having another bone density scan first to establish a baseline. My MO likes PET scans - I had one pre-cehmo because I had positive nodes and they had to do it for accurate staging. I had another post-chemo to double check, and now he wants one for a post-treatment baseline before removing the port. Many oncs don't do scans for early stagers.
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Awnoo,
I had something that popped up after my node disection. They aspirated it and sent it off. Best guess was it was a seroma from surgery. Came back negative.
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Saw the onc before my H today. One more for me then I'm done. Onc said 1 full year of H. Have the appt with the surgeon for deportation in Feb before my last H. Onc said the port could go when I'm finished. My group doesnt like to keep them in. No scans, no more Mugas only blood work and 6 month appts unless something starts to bother me.
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My joints still hurt really bad. Some days I can't even pick up a soda can without pain! (I still do it though...don't get between me and my once a week diet rootbeer!)
I think it's a combination of Tamoxifen and heart damage.
I dunno.
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tonlee - I feel ya! Mine seems to be increasing - it is a bummer. I was actually surprised that when I discussed it with onc's P.A. yesterday she was concerned enough about it that she immediately brought up changing to anothr AI to see if it would be better. Surprised me. We are going to wait to see if the end of Herceptin improves the situation at all.
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Amelie_Rose The tattoos are to put color on the reconstructed nipples and the areola. BTW I didn't get it today. I did manage to get down there. He was running late so I showed up 1 hour late. He still was running late. He wouldn't have seen me till 6:45 (appointment was for 4pm). It was snowing pretty badly and my husband was stuck in traffic (3 hours). He never made it either so I cancelled. Need to reschedule.0
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Thanx sewingnut!
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Lago - congrats, I so wish I was there already. Please let me know how the tattooing procedure is? Did you get to choose a shade, shape, etc.... I am wondering how natural it looks. Hope you don't mind the personal questions.
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Amelie_Rose No, my avatar is a pic of my pre-chemo hair-it's what I'm aiming for:) I currently have short, wavy/curly dark brown hair but it's growing in nicely.
Tonlee The joint pain sucks! Mine has been increasing as well over time and progressing to more and more areas-it's worst at night.
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Amelie, how is your hair coming? Any signs of it yet? Mine is growing but it is very sparse on the top. The sides are thick and I am worried it is not going to thicken up on the top.
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Ana, I have a bit of a fuzz now. It's nothing really but I am kind of excited about it because I see it as a sign that something is finally happening. I was starting to despair. Good for you that there is some thickeness already. It will even out soon, I am sure. When was your last TC? Mine was 11/29. SpecialK mentioned biotin supplements; they might be worth a try. How much do you take, SpecialK?
To add to the joint pain discussion, I too have been experiencing knee problems. It got so bad that I went to the orthopedist a couple of weeks ago and he diagnosed arthritis in the one knee. I read somewhere else on this site that chemo worsens arthritis. I only had occasional and very mild knee pain before chemo, now it's constant. Not happy about this development as I am only 51 and love to walk and hike with family and friends.
Lago, good luck with the ink (now that I know what that is). So glad you are happy with your new look! You deserve your new prize.
Sewingnut, Congrats on almonst being done with Herceptin. Awnooo, keep us posted on what the surgeon says. I am sure it's nothing. Sending good thoughts your way.
Yaya and Musicalmom, I haven't heard from you two in a while. Hope you are well.
Amelie
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