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Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin

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  • Kirsten66
    Kirsten66 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2008

    Hi, all!   Everyone has says my sense of humor will help with this.  Of course, it's easy to be all light and funny about it PRE-chemo.   After my first "cocktail" (as I prefer to call The Big 3, since I will be missing my REAL cocktails during that time), I am sure I will be curled up in a ball, cursing the world and everyone else.  But who knows...it's all temporary, and I will keep reminding myself of that.  Actually, was at the hospital earlier this week for pre-surgery x-rays and blood tests, and sitting across from me in the waiting room was a little boy, maybe 4 or 5 years old...pale and bald...and it didn't make me cry, as it would have before I got cancer...it just made me feel stronger and less sorry for MYSELF...because seriously...THAT is the bad stuff, babies like that having to deal with this.  That should NEVER have to happen.  So I just remind myself of kids going thru this, or 19 year old soldiers fighting for my country getting their legs or arms blown off - that's not temporary, that's permanent.   Those things, I hope, will keep my mouth shut more when my side effects kick in.  

    Cupcake7 (mmmm.....cuppycakes!) - I will fill out my profile shortly.   Don't actually know the official Stage yet until they do the node biopsy with the lumpectomy.   But I do know - IDC, <1cm, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2+.    Some good stuff, some not-so-good stuff, but it's all mine and I'll deal with it.

    Did everyone see that there is a Lifetime movie with Harry Connick Jr. (yummy) that premieres next Saturday, 10/18, about the discovery of Herceptin?  Just making sure, in case you are interested.

    Surgery on Tuesday...Mom and Dad fly in from Michigan (I'm in Florida) on Monday.  I am ready, let's go!  Oh and second round of Wig Shopping today!  Dayum, there are some AWESOME wigs out there and so many other options too with the half-wigs (for under hats and scarves), and hats and scarves, etc.   One friend bought me two beautiful scarves, another bought me a fabulous newsboy-style cap I wore to work yesterday and everyone LOVED...and I am not gonna lie...I just threw it on in the morning and didn't even brush my hair...so there will be something good about the hair loss...less fuss, more sleeping-in time! 

    God bless us, every one!!

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2008

    Yep, Kirsten, the extra time in the morning IS a benefit. My husband jokes that our electric bill has gone down since I no longer use a hair dryer. I have thin, fine hair, and my wigs are actually a definite improvement. The first time I wore one to work last spring, the kids were SO complimentary (I teach h.s.) - although by the end of the day, I was little tired of hearing that I looked better in the wig! I'm having surgery on Tuesday, too - expander out, implant in (foob, or floob - I like it). All my best wishes to you!

    I actually went COMMANDO (is that in our Camp Chemo glossary?) today - but only to go register for the Race for the Cure. I figured if I could go anywhere with the fuzz head, it would be there. I slapped the old wig back on for later shoppping.

    My dh and I are getting away for a quick trip up north before Tuesday's surgery puts me out of commission for a few days. I hope everybody has a wonderful rest of the weekend. To those dealing with SEs, I hope they are mild and pass quickly.

    Love, Sue

    (Edited to welcome Elizabeth - I work in Glendale! And Jo Anne, my RBC got down to 8.4, and I stubbornly refused Aranesp and transfusion, so the nurses gave me frowny faces, but they still did chemo. It took some time, but I was almost back to normal at the last Herceptin.)

  • bethanybeane
    bethanybeane Member Posts: 167
    edited October 2008

    Sue,

    You sound great! I really appreciate how strong and cheerful you are. Best wishes for fast healing and prayers for an easy time with the surgery.

    Hope you have a lovely getaway.

    Love, Bethany

  • s-girl
    s-girl Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2008

    Hi! I am neoadjunt TCH too!!!  My doc plans 3 cycles then surgery then 3 more cycles. I am Stage 2 or 3 invasive ductal breast with her 2 positive.  My first went ok and I bought a wig today.  I am very worried about being able to work through all this.  I am worried about the effect of the neulasta (possible bone pain) I am to have on Monday.  But I have a great support system!  I have found it helps to mark a calendar to help to keep my eye on the progress and the light at the end of the treatment tunnel!    Thanks for blogging- It took me a while to find other neo's out there!

  • Hitchy
    Hitchy Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2008

    s-girl

    Take claritin the day of your shot and for three days after. You won't have any bone pain.
    It works for me and alot of girls at my treatment center are doing it and having good results.
    Can't hurt!

    Laurie

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited October 2008

    Hey guys;

    Good to hear that many of you are hale and hearty...kicking rump and taking names! We just got home from a weekend-long campout at our church in celebration of the Feast of Sukkot. We had a karaoke night last night. Of course, I had to join in on the title song from the musical "Hair". I pulled off my earflap beanie, and everyone got a charge out of my outing my "commando". And yes! "Commando" needs to go in the glossary!

     Sue, did I tell you I'm signed up for the Race for the Cure in San Diego? It's on the morning of my birthday, Nov. 2. I'm finally to the point I can run an above-utter-reproach 5 K. Good luck on yours!

    Time to go shower the stink off!

    Shelby 

  • AlyMarie
    AlyMarie Member Posts: 192
    edited October 2008

    Hey all!  For anybody who might be looking for cute caps to help deal with the hair loss, check out eBay item #270251941028.  I just got one and it is adorable.  Very flattering I imagine for any face shape and the sparklies are a lot of fun.  Just thought I'd pass it along in case anyone is looking for something cute that's also a little unusual. :o)

    Aly.

  • jap
    jap Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2008

    Hi Shelby,

    I am so impressed with your running!   I am afraid to do more than walk because of potential heart problems with Herceptin.  I don't have any heart problems so far (both echocards. recorded 60) but I want to be careful.

    Has anyone's doctors advised limitations on running or other cardio activities?

    Gearing up for #6 on the 20th.

    Jo Anne 

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited October 2008

    Hi everyone! It has been a bad weekend and I am still having some tiredness. I didn't throw up this time though but I only had liquids since the tx. I had started the Miralax the day before the tx even though I knew I would get diarrhea. It seemed to help to get cleaned out ahead of the weekend sickness. I also took more nausea meds too because I am so tired of throwing up. My bones hurt real bad this time from the Neulasta. I guess I just have more pain because of my other problems.I am not looking forward to #6. I wish we could just stop now. I know they won't but I can always hope. I wondered what they would say if I told them I was not doing any more TCH. I can do the Herceptin but I am just so weak from the TCH plus I am anemic and they never did schedule a blood transfusion. My doc is on vacation now and another onc will do my next visit. I go Wed. for Her and I wonder if my RBC are low if they will go ahead and do the blood.

    Ebann, you have a hard road ahead of you doing rad. & chemo.I will keep you in my prayers. Why are they doing them at the same time?

    Aly I take Protonix too but last night I ate some toast and got the worse heartburn I have had in a long time so then I took Pepcid and that did not help. I don't usually eat toast or any kind of bread and I am sure I won't again. I used to feel like I had a lump in my throat and it would not go away. It was like I swallowed something and it would not go down. They did all kinds of tests and never seen anything. they said it was nerves! Everything is nerves if they don't find anything but after I was diag with fibro and I got some Xanax it did go away. I only have it sometimes now.Carboplatin feels different though. My onc said I do have a reaction to that.

    Well, I am getting really tire so I am going to lay down some more. I can't wait to feel stronger.

    Carolyn

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited October 2008

    Hey Carolyn;

    I think you did the right thing with the Miralax. I remember on my "bad days" that they weren't as bad, in terms of overall sick feeling, if my bowels were moving actively. It's like the quicker that poison gets flushed (and it does get eliminated through the bowel), the faster you stop feeling gross! My first treatment, before I knew how to get my bowels moving well, was definitely the worst!

    Jo Anne;

    Exercise is something that different doctors have widely divergent opinions on. Probably since I was a runner before, my doc has been encouraging about doing what I can do. There's another lady here, though, that her doctor said no running. Sue is also a runner. My scans have been in the 70's so far...maybe all the exercise is actually helping me. I don't know. I'm not sure they really understand the mechanism by which Herceptin sometimes interferes with heart function. Perhaps that's why some doctors prefer the cautious route.

    Aly;

    I'm not even going to look at the cute hats, though I'm sorely tempted. I have so many cute hats, and I'm crocheting one right now. But at the same time, I'm getting sick of wearing cute hats all the time, and my husband has pointed out that since my hair is about the length of Barack Obama's right now, I might be able to get away with just outing the commando. If I was African American and a man, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I still look a bit too "shorn" for my liking.

     By the way, ladies, a couple of my nails peeled off this weekend about halfway down the nail bed. I guess I did get some nail rot. Oh well, it's all new growth from here! 

  • bethanybeane
    bethanybeane Member Posts: 167
    edited October 2008

    Shelby,

    Can't wait to see a photo of your new locks.

    Carolyn,

    Hope you get to feeling better soon.

    JoAnne,

    Gina's onc told her to keep her heart rate below 130.

    Today was MY LAST CHEMO!!!! I'm so so glad. You guys are right behind me.

    Going to the occuloplastic surgeon tomorrow b/c my tear ducts may be blocked -- have been using Lotrimax steroid eyedrops and am not streaming as much so maybe that did the trick. I'm a little nervous about having my eyes probed or lanced -- gosh, whatever. 

    I'll let you know how it goes. EEK.

    NewNasty shot tomorrow and then down for the count for a bit.

    Hang in there with me. Bethany

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2008

    Carolyn,

    Have you tried Zantac for your heartburn? I took it every 6 hours for at least 3 days the day of chemo and then 3 days after. It seemed to keep the stomach pain away. Sometimes I thought I was having a heartattach the pain was soo bad! The Zantac really helps!!! I also took Miralax the day before, day of and all that week. Then, like clockwork, diarrhea the next week! I totally got things down by treatment #6!! It did take me the longest to get over though! Sorry!Blah! Get some rest, you'll be better soon! Hang in there!!

    Donalee

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2008

    Congratulations Bethany!!! Way to go ! yayayayayay!!!!

    I had trouble with my tear ducts too! They said it was from the Taxotere and told me to take Claritin. It did take the swelling down after 2 days.

    Let me know what happens.

    Donalee

  • bethanybeane
    bethanybeane Member Posts: 167
    edited October 2008

    Thanks, Donalee.

    Ready to "go the mattresses" this week but looking forward to never again!!

    I'll try the Claritin -- meaning to take it for the Neulasta anyway. 

    Take care, Bethany

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited October 2008

    Hi Ladies! I am brand new to this forum and I have found this thread to be very informative and very scary.  I had a bilateral mastectomy with simultaenous reconstruction Sept 24,08.  I was told I had DCIS, but turns out I had/have IDS with 2 centinal nodes positive.  I am also HER3plus and ER/PR positive.

    I am scheduled to start the "cocktail" outlined in this thread on 10/20/08  I may get pushed back a week due to incision healing - will know more in 2 days.

    I think this is going to be great site with lots of support and great info!

    Let the journey begin!

    Lisa

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2008

    Welcome Lisa, sorry you have to join us. This thread will help you so much to get through your journey. I too am ER+PR+Her2+++. We are some what similar in our diagnosis. I finished 6 rounds of TCH on Sept. 17. Now I get Herceptin only every 3 weeks for a year. I am starting radiation today. This should be a breeze compared to the chemo. 

    Good luck with healing! Talk to you soon! Hang in there!

    Donalee

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited October 2008

    Thanks Donalee.  Good luck with the radiation.  At this point I think I get to pass on that step - but who knows! Have a good day.

    Lisa

  • gramma23
    gramma23 Member Posts: 482
    edited October 2008

    Hi Lisa! I hope we will be a good support for you. I know it has helped me a lot. I have 1 treatment to go but now I have lumps in my scar so we will do a mammogram to see if it is scar tissue or something else. this will be after last chemo and before rad.

    Donalee, keep us informed on your rad. I am right behind you I guess. I am worried about my blood count but will find out tomorrow I guess when I go for the Herceptin. I am not sure if they will make me wait until the counts come up or not. I have been kind of dizzy but I usually am just before the herceptin after TCH. My bones are still hurting and I feel very weak from that. Each day is better though. As for the heartburn it was just that one day and I ate some toast. I think that did it. I should have taken my Protonix first. It helps my stomach a lot.I ended up having to take Pepcid too but once everything kicked it I was good. I started eating solid foods yesterday but only a little at a time.I am so sick of Boost. it does have fiber in it so I think I am doing good with that just not too much fiber at a time. Easier to throw up too. sorry to be so crude.

    Thanks Bethany for the well wishes. I have been hugging the couch this week.

    Shelby I should have gotten the Miralax a long time ago but I thought the Senocot would do the job but it is just way too harsh on my sensitive stomach. I went to the drug store to get it and my husband said you have all that other stuff (a cabinet full but not all mine) I told him he could take it! My daughter got Ducolax for her boys when they were doing thier scope and still have some of it. I will never take that horrible stuff if I can help it. Too harsh. They did not seem to have the problem with it I had but they are young.

    I am hoping #6 will not be bad if I do what I know to do. I sometimes don't always do what I should! I dread it so bad right now.

    My brother may have another cancer in his lymph nodes on his neck. He had cancer of the tongue ( he had radiation)and then he got a sore neck so they looked at it with a MRI and PET scan but it would not show up good. He had been using the Biotenne toothpaste and mouthwash since he was still having problems with dry mouth from radiation. Finally they told him to quit using the Biotene and they got a look at the lymph with PET scan. He is going to have a biop. Wed. I am hoping it is scar tissue from the surgeries he has had on his corroded arteries. He has had several.Please keep him in your prayers too.

    Carolyn

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited October 2008

    Hey ladies;

    Thought I would change my avatar this morning. I wanted to show off my fuzz. The skull symbolizes the fact that, hey, things could be a whole lot worse, right? I was at a revival service last night until almost midnight and have a cold, so I'm too wiped to work out today, so I'll write to you all instead.

    Donalee;

    My prayers are with you for a successful and se free course of radiation. Let us know how it goes. I've heard that one of the worst things about rads is the interruption of your life. I hope you have some good books for the waiting room or a journal to write in. Maybe there's a nice coffee shop nearby for a little "reward" afterwards.

    Bethany and Carolyn;

    You are also in my prayers. Number 6? My last one (number 4) was the easiest for me physically. There is often, though, that doubt that comes into your mind about your treatments and their effectiveness after the last treatment. May the peace of the Lord that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. You're doing all you can physically to help yourselves. The Lord is good for at the very least "matching funds". Remember that He's bigger than all of this.

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2008

    Hi everyone,

    The rads have been very quick! I'm in and out in 15 min. Luckily there is a great coffee shop across the street. The cancer center is only 15 min. from my house. Also, the place I work out at is across the street too! I just had my second treatment today. They finally put the tatoo dots on instead of the permanent marker that keeps coming off! You can hardly see the dots. I have to find some tight camisols(sp?) because they don't want you to wear bras because of the extra irritation to the skin. I think the rads are making me extra tired! They told me it would. Blah!!

    We are getting a foreign exchange student this Saturday from France. He'll be here 2 weeks. So last weekend we painted my oldest daughter's room and bathroom (because it was a lovely shade of purple!) Then we got a new bed and dresser that are being delivered tomorrow. My husband left for Memphis for a week with one of his buddies so I'm left with my 15 yr old daughter and 11 year old son to help me get this all together! Oh and I have two sets of mattresses and box springs in my formal living room! Maybe when the guys come to set up the beds they'll see the bald (with peach fuzz of course) and take sympathy on me and get the mattresses upstairs!

    Love you guys and hope all who were suffering SE's are feeling better today!!Laughing

  • bethanybeane
    bethanybeane Member Posts: 167
    edited October 2008

    Dear Shelby, Thank you for the thoughtful prayers. I am leaning not on my own understanding.

    Donalee, from where in France is your student coming? Is he coming through AFS? Is this your first exchange -- I admire your generosity and energy but it should be wonderful. My daughter lived in Bordeaux when she was 16 -- for us, it was the longest year ever b/c I missed her so much and she was pretty homesick but we did it.........Wait, this year is coming in a close second!!! 

    Staying at home this week and telecommuting,,,,,,, then will ease back in next week. Monday is my simulation although I guess the treatments won't start for a few weeks. I'm sorry to hear the fatique came on so quickly -- what number are you on?

    Love to all, Bethany

  • jap
    jap Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2008

    Hi Shelby,

    How long did it take to get that fuzz?

    Jo Anne

  • shelbaroni
    shelbaroni Member Posts: 350
    edited October 2008

    Jo Anne;

    Some people never completely SHAVE it all off, but I did. July 7 or something like that was Comic Con, and I went as Avatar (Aang the Last Airbender), so I razor shaved it. Then I think I razor shaved it about the time of my last treatment, which was August 7. So what you see now is from absolutely nothing in early August. So if you consider that the last tx had a hair kill about 2 weeks after, we're talking about a month and a half to get my current fuzz-growth (Sheesh....you'd think we were talking about MOLD on a MELON here).

    Hey Sue, maybe that need to go in the glossary as a euphemism for the fuzz-head stage of regrowth: MOLDY MELON!

    Donalee;

    My son (who is now in his second year of grad school) spent first semester junior year in Aix au Provence. His hostess, Camille, was in her sixties and pretty much supported herself by hosting college students. He learned to like ratatoillle (sp?) and all sorts of wonderful things. I remember once he had a horrible head cold, and Camille's prescription was a menthol cigarette and a glass of wine. He called me and said, "You know, it DID make me feel better!" What a trip.

    As far as camisoles, if you want some support, there is a website you should check out: www.sassybax.com. They have both a bralette and a camisole type of stretch support bra made absolutely seamlessly! I've been wearing them nonstop since my mastectomy! I love them. (They were actually recommended for post-surgery, even with lat flap--with an incision in the back!) They come in a number of colors, look great under clothes, help with back flab--if you have any--and you can use 'em as exercise bras! Also, the camisole (longer one) is rather compression-y...like it provides "torso control", which might be a blessing if you have a little chemo-flub, like I do...

    Bethany;

    You're smart to stay home this week. I'm really amazed at those of you who go to a job outside the home every day while on chemo. I couldn't do it. Maybe I could....but I do home and kids and stuff..I don't know. And I don't want to find out! 

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2008

    Hi everybody -  Shelbaroni - Moldy Melon - love it. I like your comparison to Obama - I, too, would be going bare-headed were I black and male. My fuzz is pretty much the same as yours, although I unfortunately seem to be showing signs of male-pattern baldness up front!

    I've had a busy few days - Race for the Cure Sunday ( I jog/walked the 5K), up to Sedona overnight for eating and hiking, then reconstruction yesterday! Everything reportedly went well, although I have the full Ace bandage treatment right now and NO peeking until Friday. My ps said that the final results won't really be visible for 3-6 months.

    Bethany - thanks for your kind words! I try to keep the lip-quivering, terror-stricken moments under control, but they slip out pretty often (like my first trip to the oncologist - gosh, there were all these sick people in the waiting room.) Hope you LAST bad week goes quickly - one more Neunasty shot and then it's time to celebrate.

    Welcome, Lisa. Great signature line. As others have already said to you, we're sorry you have to be here, but this is a great place for support, wisdom, and sharing concerns and a few laughs. I think it was 3 weeks from surgery to first tx for me. It actually feels good to get on with it.

    Aly, thanks for the cute hat source. I actually did the Race on Sunday only wearing the pink hat they gave me. Then I went to Walgreens and got gas that way - this is a big step for me! I wore my wig in the pool all summer and even swimming in the ocean. Aly, hope you're doing well.

    Herceptin tomorrow, bandages off Friday. I'm going to see how long I can milk the family's post-surgery sympathy, starting with getting a kid to clean up the kitty puke I just noticed under the dining room table.

    Have a great day!

    Sue

    Hope everybody is doing well, especially those in treatment or just finished!

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited October 2008

    Hi campers and welcome Lisa to our camp sight.  Round the fire we share our stories and get support from our fellow campers.  Lots of boogie stories too.  Surprised

    I haven't been feeling well since last TCH.  Seems like each time I get a little weaker.  Even the Herceptin is bothering me now where it didn't in the beginning.  I am heading for round 5 next Tuesday.  NOT looking forward to it.  Such a drag for 10 days.  The good week I do have just isn't long enough.  Wonder if some of these drugs build up in your system like fat soluble vitamins do?  I'm like you Carolyn I think us older gals loose our get up and go faster as I hear you also are having a difficult time of it.  Sorry cause I KNOW how you feel. 

    I am unhappy with my onc and have an appointment with a new onc tomorrow.  Beings I have to change hospitals anyway for the plastic surgeon might as well get a new onc too.  This last time with the teary eyes I have nose bleeds and all suffy at night.  Can't get my onc to address it outside of ocean spray.  Just add the plea along with the others I have sent out...no response.  Take your chemo, go home and suck it up is how I feel they treat me.  I have lost my confidence so it is time to find someone else.  It is MY life and I need to feel confident that my care givers are doing that and that is giving me the best care they can.  Sorry to make this my wineing day.  Cry

    Well just popped in to see how everyone was doing and read all your post.  Hang in there...

  • Lisa1964
    Lisa1964 Member Posts: 760
    edited October 2008

    Hi ladies!  Thanks for the warm welcomes

    Cupcake, sorry this last one wiped you out and I AM REALLY sorry you have to change docs at this point!!

    Sue- congrats on the recon!!!!!!  I am sure it will turn out great. I am very encourage that you are up to hiking and running 5K's, makes me feel better about what I have coming up.

    Lisa

  • cupcake7
    cupcake7 Member Posts: 321
    edited October 2008

    Thanks Lisa. I feel when I have lost my confidence with the onc then it is time to move on.  I will finish up the TCH with them and then the next step of surgery ect its move on time.  I am so done with being ignored.   

     Sgirl I don't have any problems with the Neulasta shot.  So possibly you won't either.  Each person is different with the SE they get.  But whatever effects you it is only temp like was said. 

    Kirsten I know what you mean about the children.  I think , when I see these children, that I have had my days to run in the wet grass bare footed and raised my kids, and found the love of my life.  Then I see these little warriors and I feel about an inch high crying about my aches and SE.  They are the real hero's through all this.  I just pray they find that muted gene or whatever causes this so no more children will go through it. 

    I am some better today, but still in the dumps and keep looking at the calendar knowing I will face the big 3 next week.  Not looking forward to it.  I will survive it though.  The lump under the arm is smaller and I'm wondering if they upped the dose on the poison.  If so it is doing its job.  At first it was to strong and they down graded it, but now I am having more SE I am wondering if they did got back to the strong stuff.  Guess they don't tell you if they do.  Up to the onc.  Whatever they, or I, have to do to make it go away I will take the blast. 

  • carolgal
    carolgal Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2008

    Hello All,

    Just stumbled on this blog and glad I did!  I just had my 2nd dose of this cocktail yesterday.  I'm on the every three weeks regimen for 6 treatments and then I'll do the Herceptin for a year on the same schedule.  I'll also do radiation and then the 5 year pill.

    I had 2 surgeries this summer.  A mastectomy on July 30th, instead of a lumpectomy because I had two tumors.  The sentinal node biopsy showed no cancer so the lympth nodes weren't removed, but the final path showed cancer that was in 2 lympth nodes that were in the fatty tissue surrounding the sentinal nodes so I had a second surgery in August to remove my lympth nodes

    The first treatment was not bad except for a really bad episode of gastric acid reflux and indigestion.  My doctor prescribed Prevacid twice a day and then I had a endoscopy to make sure there wasn't anything else going on and it came back clear so I'm not anticipating any problems this time, I hope. Smile

    It helps to read everyone's blogs and hear about your experiences also.  Knowing that everyone has their good days and bad.  I mostly have good, but I'm just getting started on this and for the most part feel pretty good.  I work and try to excercise (walk) most days.  But I'm wondering how it's gong to be after my 4th and 5th treatment which just happens to be around the holidays.  

    But I'll get through it with great friends, family, and now this site.  Take care of yourselves everyone, and God bless you.

    Carol

  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2008

    Welcome Carol! I have a similar diag. I had lumpectomy though. I finished chemo on Sept. 17th. I'm now on my third day of rads. With this chemo, for me, the worst was the bowel issues and the stomache pain. Mirilax the day before and all that week. I also took Zantac every 6 hours starting the day of chemo for about 3 to 4 days. That seemed to help. Oh I had to stock up on the immodium too for week #2.

    Brenda, I'm so sorry about your SE's. You are almost done and you will thrive after all this crap! I hope you get a more responsive onc!!! My prayers are with you today!

    Bethany, The French student is from a town called Cholet. He'll only be here for 2 weeks. Then in April my daughter will be going there with her French class. It's an exchange. She's in her third year of French. I wish I could go with her as we are both artists and I think it would be fantastic!

    Shel, thanks for the info on the camisoles I'm definately going to check it out! Love the cure for the cold thing! hahaha I was telling my husband I am worried about what to cook for Valentin (the French boy) he said just give him wine he'll feel right at home!

    Hugs Everyone!!!!!

    Donalee

  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2008

    I thought everybody on this thread would like this quote. My husband and I stayed in a hotel Sunday night and received the complimentary USA Today Monday. Glancing through it, I found a whole page on bc and reconsturction. One of the articles - "A new age in cancer care" - was about Herceptin and began this way: "Barbara Bradfield has lived to see dramatic changes in breast cancer. When she was diagnosed in 1989, Bradfield's tumor - which produced an overabundance of a protein called Her2 - was considered especially deadly. Today, women with tumors like hers have some of the best survival rates in breast cancer." Woo hoo - I know USA Today is not JAMA, but it still made my day!

    And I get Herceptin today!

    Sue