Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin
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Well gang, I'm all packed and ready to go. Actually, opening ceremonies for the 3 Day are in 9 hours! All the details for the kids are taken care of, and I'm trying to wind down enough to go to bed. Thank you for all your support and good thoughts. I'm taking you all with me. I'll post some highlights Monday. Have a great weekend.
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Hi all! I am taking TCH. I've been doing fine. Did loss my hair, but have a couple of cute wigs.Last Sat. evening I became so ill I had diarrhea and vomiting and could'nt stop. Wound up driving myself to the ER at 3 in the morning. Went throught all kinds of test.The onc believed I picked up an infection as my white count was very high. Got out after 3 days and went in a day later (which was today) had my last chemo. Feel fine now. I'll be taking radiation and I continue with herceptin. I was so scared, but alls well now. Hope your all doing well. Hugs Deedee
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Cali4 I remember when I first began and was totally prepared with wigs and scarfs and had my hair cut short. One day I was sitting there and pulling on my short hair and it was coming out each time I pulled on it. I cryed, but never really thought to much about it until the next tx and it happened again and I just broke down and cryed. I then realized that even though mentally I thought I was prepared the tears showed it still was very traumatic. You have every right ot let it all come out. We have all been there and know what your saying. In here is a safe place with sisters who truly do understand.
I am feeling really good, but some lingering SE like the nose bleeds and at night it all stuffs up. Just to be up and doing things on my own knowing it is over is just a tremendous joy. I am going to a class at the hospital on sex after cancer. I wonder if anyone there knows anything about vagina dryness. Doubt it, but they sure will after having ME in the class. I will surly tell them from the cancer patients point of view.
Thanks Bethany for the cream name. I will get some.
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Cupcake it is good to hear you are doing better.I hope the Se start going away. I think I contacted a virus but I am better now just a little tummy ache. It may have come from the blood transfusion area but I am not sure since I was all over the hospital that week. I was trying to punch buttons with my elbow and paper towels etc and of course wash my hands all the time.
Shelby I sure hope all goes well with your trip. I know your family is proud of you just as we are too.
Deedee78, I am so sorry you got so sick and had to take yourself to the hospital. I am glad you are better now. I will take a Herceptin tx the day before Thanksgiving and I sure wish I could skip that one but I know that would not be wise. Congrats on the last tx. I am happy I am finished with my last TCH and Cupcake is too. Well, at least I hope I am finish with them. I am not sure when I start Rad. but will probably find out Dec. 3 when I go for my onc visit.
My hubby had a bad night last night but would not listen to me about taking some pain med and putting a heating pad on his back before we went to bed so needless to say neither one of us got much sleep. I got more than he did but was not restful. I am hoping for a nap. I am going to try to find a wedge for him to sleep on as a pillow. this was suggested by a man who had the same kind of surgery he had. I am not sure he will like it but we need to try something.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Carolyn
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Carolyn, both of my parents had bypass surgery and they slept the best in a recliner for the first couple of weeks. After that a bed wedge is great. They eventually got one of thos craft-matic adjustable beds and thought it was the best invention ever. Hope you and hubby can both get some sleep tonight.
Go Shelby go!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!
Cupcake, I think of you and Carolyn when I count down the days till my last tx (Feb 9th).
DeeDee congrats on your last tx.
Lisa
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Lisa, I hope the time goes by fast for you and few SE. I am wishing my rad was over now. I do want to find out why I have the lumps in the breast I had the one removed from. I try not to worry too much though. they said probably scar tissue and one person on here said it took a year and a half for hers to go away so maybe that is all it is. I know a man told me that the chemo would go by fast because his wife had it and I told him it may have gone by fast for him but I doubt it went by fast for her. It is not the chemo tx that are so hard except time it takes to take them but the SE is what seems to take forever to go away. I do have my taste buds back and I always did get them back the last week before the next tx. I wonder if that was a good thing or bad but at least it gave me something to look forward to. Now if the Herceptin will go by fast I will be happy. I am looking forward to the MUGA to see how my heart has faired with this stuff. I just hope for no more blood transfusions but I do feel better after I get them. I am ready for my hubby to feel better too! I hope next year is a better year for us and everyone for that matter.
Are you having a big Thanksgiving? We are having it here but my daughter is making it. they have friends coming from Maine so my house is the place we will eat since she does not have hers finished yet. They do have a floor poured now though.
Carolyn
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Well I'm into a short term pity party. Had been feeling so much better now -- 6 weeks out from TCH - have 2nd Herceptin by itself tomorrow. Radiation is easy and I actually look forward to seeing the wonderful people there everyday. B>>>U>>>T, Friday I tripped and fell flat on my face, splat on my right breast(the sore one) which was still Smurf blue is now ALSO green & purple, boo-boos everywhere --hands/face -- and I sprained my elbow -- so now I'm having trouble doing some things for myself ----- have my arm in a sling -- I guess "I'm suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous MIS fortune." Grrr.. Ok, I'm done now.
Hope all stay well,
Looking forward to hearing about Shelby's camp/run -- Thank you for thinking of all of us, Shelby.
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Oh Bethany, to borrow a phrase from another thread - THAT SUCKS! Hopefully you'll feel better soon - as I told you, my husband fractured his elbow last Sunday, and he went to an orthopedic doctor (surgeon?) this week, and he told him just to use it as normally as possible - no more splint or sling - and it's still sore, but he's able to do most basic movements. So hopefully, you'll be able to use it pretty quickly. But OUCH! 2009 has GOT to be better for us!
I'm having Thanksgiving here. My daughter is getting married next spring, and her future in-laws are visiting and so they'll be here - the first time any of us (but her) have met them. So I've been busy busy shopping and cleaning. Then the next weekend, my sister-in-law and niece are coming for a long weekend - they're two of my favorite people in the world, so I'm looking forward to that. My niece is an onc nurse, bless her.
Deedee - sorry to hear you had such a horrible night. I had one of those during chemo - everybody in the house was mildly ill, so I'm sure it was a bug of some kind, but it hit me hard - nothing moe fun than sitting on the toilet with a bucket between your legs! Glad you're feeling beter now, but so sorry you had to spend time in the hospital.
Hi to all - take care of yourselves! I'm also looking forward to hearing about Shelby's weekend.
Sue
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Campers:
You're not going to hear a lot from me tonight, because I'm going to have another drink, marinate the outside of my body in Epsom salt and go night-night. But just know that the San Diego 3-Day with some 5500 walkers, brought in over 11 million for breast cancer detection, research, and treatment. I'll start telling the fun stories tomorrow. But I have to tell you this before I go to bed: those who started about the time I did with TCH--I thought of you often. I thought of you coming down the coast from Del Mar to La Jolla Shores. I thought of you as I photographed the surfers at Windan Sea. I thought of you in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and the endless trek around Mission Bay. I thought of you while climbing the heartbreak hills of Point Loma and amidst all the cheering in Old Town and Hillcrest. And I cried for each one of you during the survivors' march from Petco Park in downtown San Diego. More later this week. Ciou.
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Oh Bethany OOOUUCCCHHH!!! You poor thing!! God, I hurt just reading your post. I have 6 more radiation sessions, one more "whole shebang" session and then the last 5 are the "booster" sessions that are targeted only to the area where my tumour was and not the entire breast/underarm. Let me tell you that I will be glad when this is over. I am soooooo sore and my armpit is burnt to a crisp and peeling. As sore as I am I cannot even imagine falling and landing on my boob. I hope that you feel better soon.
DeeDee, I had the EXACT same thing happen to me once during chemo. I spent 10 straight hours sitting on the toilet and throwing up into a bag because it was coming out of both ends and wouldn't stop. By the time I finally made it to the hospital the next morning I was so dehydrated they had to give me 3 1/2 liters of I/V fluid. I'm glad that you're feeling better now.
So, I had a CAT scan on Thursday because my poor belly has just never been the same and of course I'm completely paranoid about every little pain now and my radiation Onc is trying to make sure I'm thoroughly reassured.
) Everything came back fine except for my lungs which show some patches in both lower lobes which they say is an "inflammatory process" (stupid doctor jargon!!!). I have been reassured about a gazillion times that it's not cancer and not going to turn into cancer but you know how I am. ) I'm told it can happen sometimes because of the chemo but of course, I can't take the anti inflammatories they would prescribe because I'm on flippin' blood thinners (can I win just once, please??). Anyway, it probably hasn't been helped by this last month of coughing with the two colds I have had. I'm probably making my radiation oncologist crazy by now with all this "OH MY GOD THE SKY IS FALLING" anxiety! (lol!). I made his nurse laugh on Friday because I told her that I figured by now they were probably both thinking "for God's sake, someone get this woman some Xanax!!". )Have a great night everyone!! Blessings to you all!
Aly.
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Good Morning Everyone,
Just checking in to say hello- I have been busy with work and rearranging furniture (wow its been a while since I felt like even thinking about that one) and getting ready for Thanksgiving. I thought my hysterectomy was going to be Nov 20 but insurance denied it and we had to go through the appeals process- they approved it 5 hours AFTER it was originally scheduled LOL.
I am thinking I will put it into January since I dont want to have major abdominal surgery and come home right in the middle of the kids Christmas break where I have 24/7 of 5 kids home- 2 college aged and 3 younger ones. Sure would make the holidays a little nicer and I could finish year end at the job and year end is a HUGE workload (I do IT for the HR department).
Homemade rice kristy treats with sprinkles added by an 8 year old-PRICELESS!
Kristy
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Bethany! I just can't imagine falling in the first place but to fall on my boob (which is still tender) is not even in my mind. I hope you feel better real soon. My boob is having pains for you you! I have to go for a H tx Wed. I would like to skip it with all the stuff I need to get done.
Sue I hope you hold up good for all your company. I am dreading it a little but only because it is more than my family. I have a lot of cleaning to do and with my husband home it is harder to get done.
Aly, I am sorry you are scared about the cancer but I totally understand. I would hate to go through that chemo again! I am ready to get this all over even rad. I am hoping 2009 is going to be a better year for all of us. A little Xanax is not a bad thing but does not make you forget about cancer unfortunately. I take it for fibromyalgia.
Shelby, glad you made it and I am looking forward to hearing your experiences. I would never have made it. I am glad so many did!
I hope everyone is doing good during this week. I feel for those that are having SE and I think about those who are still in the middle of chemo. My brother will be finding out Wed. if he is going to have chemo. I dread it for him. I just hope he is one that has few SE but with him being my brother he will probably not. I am hoping they have a med like Herceptin for him but I am not sure. I know they have some more kinds that target the cancer now.
Carolyn
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KristyAnn, I am glad they gave the okay for the hyst. I don't blame you with not wanting to have all the kids home while you are recouping. I had one at age 29 and I did well so I hope you do too. the main thing was not lifting anything for a while and not driving was hard on me. I had children and none could drive so it made my husband have to do a lot but we made it. I hope you are careful with moving furniture and don't hurt yourself. I never even think about moving furniture anymore even if there was a place to move it to. My house is not where too many things can be changed. Oh well that just means I am not tempted. I do have to get busy cleaning though.
Carolyn
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Bethany:
I was giving the posts a closer look this morning. Yowza! I'm so sorry about what happened to you! Have you ever used Arnica? It's a homeopathic remedy that really works! You can get the little pellets to take systemically and the gel to apply topically. It really helps with any bruising and the pain from inflammation. God bless you!
Aly:
I know it's hard not to worry. I have an MRI and follow-up mammo on the "good side" coming up soon prior to my surgery and I'm scared to death...even though there's no reason to be. I'll be blessing you with faith and good thoughts. Just remember how much of a miracle drug Herceptin has been for women in a lot worse shape than you are. I met a woman on the 3Day who looked to be in her mid-20's. She'd been diagnosed with stage 4 at the age of 21. Here she was on the walk, full head of hair...so she's been off chemo for a couple years, and she's on Herceptin and a couple other things which I can't remember. Keep that picture in your mind.
Brenda;
Replens might help with the dryness problem. You can get it in the drugstore. It's something you just use every 2-3 days. I find that it helps a lot.
I'll have to post more about the walk later. Gotta go pick up kids and finish making dinner. Whew!
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Thanks Shel. It is hard not to worry. My problem is I worry about things that I don't need to worry about. Someone says I have some patches of inflammation in my lungs and instead of going "oh, OK, hopefully that will clear up soon", I go OH MY GOD I'M DYING!!!! (lol!). I'm actually going for acupuncture tomorrow for the first time. The naturopath thinks she can help me with my anxiety which would be amazingly wonderful. We'll see how it goes. She also gave me a natural anxiety potion that's plant based which I will try as soon as I get the OK from the anti coagulation clinic (because I'm on Coumadin).
I hope everything goes well with your MRI and follow-up mammogram. I'm absolutely sure that it will!!!!
Aly.
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Aly, I am sorry you have so much anxiety. I find faith in God gives a lot of comfort. I can find several places in the Bible that are encouraging but just because I trust in God does not mean nothing bad will happen to me it just helps me deal with things that do. I know that should I have a dreadful disease and lose my life I will live with God and Jesus. The hard part is leaving my family but they are Christians too and they will get over it knowing I will be in a better place and if I should live then I will have to struggle until that day comes to go home to heaven. Pray and read the Bible and it may help.
Carolyn
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I started TCH last Friday and so far i've just had mild nausea and a little foggy brain. I am hoping to score some wigs pretty soon before my hair falls out!
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Shelby, I can't wait to read some stories from your 3-day adventure. Just the little you have posted sounds fantastic.
I hope you all feel great for the upcoming holiday and have a great time with freinds and family.
I have a question. Does anyone have a trick for "eating thru" that horrible taste when food hits chemo mouth. I would feel fine if I could just eat. Everything I put in my mouth turns to "sawdust meets NYC Sewer system".
Have a great day all.
Lisa
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Carolyn, thanks for the kind words. Last night while I was laying in bed I asked Jesus to calm my fears, to give me strength and to lift the sadness and anxiety so I can enjoy my family and my life. I am such a controller it becomes hard for me to turn my burdens over to Him and then let them go. I say, Ok, I'm turning this one over to God, and then I *still* worry on it. Maybe He will help me with that as well.
)Blessings to you all and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
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Lisa, the only thing I could really eat that tasted close to normal during Chemo was McDonald's regular hamburgers. They're fatty but my Onc said whatever you can get down is good enough. What I also found was that meats like chicken and hamburger and steak also tasted fairly normal. I had the most trouble with cheese and milk and stuff like that. Bread tasted weird too. The whole bad taste thing is really difficult. I also found that Crystal Light lemonade tasted fairly normal as well because water just tasted like tin and I couldn't get it down. I hope you do find some things that taste at least close to OK for you!!
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Thanks Aly, What I can get down seems to fluctuate - figures. As for liquids, ginger ale is fine and so is apple juice. It is the solids I am having trouble with. So far, kids breakfast cereal is the only thing that comes close. I just sent hubby to the store for some Captain Crunch
This bad taste is hanging on longer this time. I am not worried about healthy food. At this point any food will do. Maybe I will try the golden arches in the morning!0 -
So some of you wanted to hear about the walk.
The first thing that comes to mind to tell you about is the incredible energy and spirit of giving among the thousands of volunteers that made up the crew and the "cheerleaders" from the community along the way. The creativity in some of the costumes and the theme-oriented "sweeper vans" (which would transport people who could no longer walk to lunch or to camp) was incredible. Very reminiscent of Mardi Gras. There was a hooker van, full of women dressed like prostitutes who played (and danced to) old Donna Summer tunes, a pimp mobile that picked up "street walkers", an 80's van that played music from that era, a 50's diner van, and a doggie van (for those whose dogs were barking) that played "Who Let the Dogs Out?" over and over. We had men in drag, men in bras, lots of pink tutus, and lots of bad, bad boob jokes. It kinda got out of control after awhile. We had people handing out candy, stickers, band aids, all sorts of food and drink...even little cups of beer along the bike path in Mission Beach. To me, the most wonderful of the support team was a small unit of metro bike police from San Jose who accompanied us on their bicycles the entire way, blaring music from boom boxes on the back of their bikes. They joked with us, encouraged us, and helped us.
Although, in some respects, it was a big party, there was a lot of mourning going on as well. There were a few, mostly older, men walking by themselves in memory of their wives. We met one gentleman from Boston for whom it was his fourth walk. There were family members all with photos of a mom or gran they had lost on the backs of their tee shirts. There were big groups walking for a co-worker. Some of the tee shirts were enough to break your heart. Sometimes my husband and I would purposely walk around a group because we couldn't emotionally handle what was on the back of their tee shirts.
There was maybe a handful of women I saw who were as hairless and, therefore, as newly out of chemo as I. But most of the survivors had at least a couple years behind them. In the survivors' parade, I walked next to a woman who was a 5 year survivor. I saw one woman who was a 23 year survivor on the sidelines cheering us on!
This wasn't just a bunch of athletic jocks! Walkers represented an amazing array of ages and fitness levels. The biggest physical challenge most confronted was blisters on their feet. The line at the medical tent was longer each day, mostly blister issues. My husband and I were blessed enough to avoid blisters altogether by gooping our feet with Body Glide, wearing two-layer socks, and changing both socks and shoes midday. Then at night, we soaked our feet in Epsom Salt. But now that I'm home, I'm so tired. I'm continuing to do a little exercise every day just to keep the kinks away. But tomorrow, I'm getting a massage. That should really help!
All in all, the experience wasn't unconditionally positive for me. Physically, it was exhilarating but exhausting. It felt good to get out there and show myself and the world that three and a half months out of chemo, I can walk 60 miles and camp out 2 nights. But emotionally, it was tough. It's always been hard for me to see myself as a "cancer victim"...I know the whole thing they want you to project is that you're a "survivor". But you have to be a victim before you can be a survivor. And sometimes, I just don't want to think about cancer. I don't want to wear pink ribbons. I just want to be a normal, healthy woman with normal, healthy aspirations and drives. I don't know if I'll do this event again. For myself, I'd really rather run a marathon next year, God willing. But it does feel good to know that the money I raised could possibly buy a mammogram for 20 indigent women, and who knows how many people in San Diego we made more aware of early detection.
But the biggest thing I wanted to tell you ladies about this walk is that I thought of many of you along the way. I saw your pictures in my head and thought about how brave you've been through treatment. If there was a way that doing this walk could make all your side effects and fears go away, I would do it again tomorrow.
By the way, I found out today that I have a follow-up MRI on Monday preparatory to my surgery in January. I would appreciate your prayers. I'm a nervous nellie like Aly. It'll take at least 2 Xanax to get me in one of those machines again, since I'm claustrophobic. I wish they would just put me out like they do little kids!
The smartest thing I did today was tell the director of the community theater production of Wizard of Oz that I'm not going to be involved in costumes. I was literally having panic attacks about it, and I realized that it was just too much with the surgery coming up and family things. Maybe this whole thing was allowed by God to teach me how to say "no". Do you think?
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Lisa;
By the way, I had been working with a clinical nutritionist before I started chemo who got me going on a really clean, organic diet...no dairy or gluten, and I was doing really well. Then chemo started. That goat yogurt (I could have goat dairy) started tasting like s&*t and, in fact, most healthy foods tasted like they'd been laced with an emulsion of metal filings and platypus manure. There were days when all I could eat was Jello Instant Pudding. I remember drinking a lot of Trader Joe's Pomegranate Green Tea (comes in bottles) mixed with bubbly water when water tasted like filtered urine. Chocolate became an entire food group in my diet. Adding butter to anything made it a little more palatable. In a strange way, I think your body tells you what you need at the time. But it is temporary. Of that, I can assure you.
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Shelby,
I just read your post on the 3-day event with tears streaming down my face. You put into words how weall feel, but can't exactly figure out how to say. I cried for my mom and dad (lost mom in 2004 to this) and I cried some for myself and I cried for my friends on this board. Yes, we will be survivors, but no one but us understands how long that rode is to get there. Thank you and your husband for taking the time, effort and energy to take part in this great event. It is evident that the toll on you was much more than just physical. God Bless.
PS: Food. Before cancer, I was a Eat Clean Diet (the one with Tosca Reno) freak. Now McDonald's sounds great!
LIsa
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Shelby: Thanks so much for the post. I understand, to a small degree, the emotional turmoil of seeing the family and friends supporting or commemorating a loved one. I couldn't read the luminarias at the Relay for Life last spring - I was fairly newly diagnosed, had just begun chemo, and had a hard time coping with the reality that those luminarias represented. I had to go since my seniors made a team for me, and I had to support those great kids, but it was hard. I didn't participate in the survivor's walk, either. Like you, I certainly did not want to think of myself as a victim and I didn't feel like I had survived anything yet. I did a little better at the Race for the Cure, but I know what you mean about not being able to deal with some of the T-shirts and signs. Now, add the physical exhaustion of a 3-day walk and 2-night camp to the emotional exhuastion of dealing with the enormity of so much illness and loss, and I can understand your response.
Bless you, Shelby!
Wishing everybody a wonderful Thanksgiving, even if your turkey day dinner is a burger and fries. Whatever you can get down, make it your feast.
I get my tattoo tomorrow, marking the end of reconstruction, then Herceptin. H is one of the things I'll be giving thanks for this year, for sure!
Love, Sue
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Good morning! This is the day that the Lord hath made.
Amen to everything you have written above, dear Sue.
I don't have the right words to let you know how grateful I am for your gift, Shelby. And, thank you to your husband too.
As the Chinese say: "May you live in interesting times." We are doing our part.
I am grateful for the richness of this experience, the fact that there are some joyful people who are able to treat us, the chemistry and physics, for my family and friends, and certainly for all of you.
Happy Giving Thanks day to you all. Love, Bethany
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Happy Thanksgiving Everyone....God Bless you all.
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Good morning...and happy Thanksgiving! Just wanted to get that in before things escalate to Formula One Qualifying speeds around here. I'm about to go get my post-event massage before my son and my brother-in-law come in from the near and far east (United States, that is). I discovered a new organization called Project Athena, the mission of which is to enable and sponsor women who have endured breast cancer or other life-altering medical situations to achieve their athletic and adventure-related dreams. I'm thinking of applying for membership. Because I feel like the Butt Kicking has just begun.
My hope for all of you is that in whatever ways you need to and are able to, you can PUSH BACK a little every day, doing things that you couldn't do yesterday. Lisa, even if it's to eat something healthy (maybe chocolate sauce would work as a condiment on veggies??? Where's Donalee--she knows the ins and outs of chocolateering!) If it's cleaning your house, or part of it. Taking a walk...and it starts slow but pays off. Butt Kicking isn't just for marathoners. Butts must be kicked one butt at a time. And I remember when my pushing back consisted of getting out of bed and brushing my teeth, because I knew that if I could brush my teeth without having to sit down, I could make it downstairs. And if I could make it downstairs, I could sit on the couch and look at my emails. And so on.
Well, I won't repeat the epic novel I wrote the other day. But I just wanted to cheer you all on. God bless you all!
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Butt Kicking is Excellent!!!
Did my kicking today. After sitting around for 4 days I got up and went out and groomed my horse! Not earth shattering, but my horse loved it and it did me a world of good.
God Bless to all and have a great Thanksgiving!
Lisa
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Hi Everyone,
Lisa, I found a little root beer before eating helped with the more normal taste- someone at the American Cancer Society told me to try that.
I had Herceptin today- requested a nurse I wanted and she got the IV in 1 try- sure beats the 7 sticks last time- I told the nurse and the head chemo nurse I would be requesting one of two nurses for all my remaining treatments (my Onc told me to do that)
My hysterectomy is scheduled for January 8, 2009- had it scheduled Nov 20 but ended up having to go through insurance appeals process and they approved it 5 hours after it was scheduled- I dont blame the insurance company, the hysterectomy is based on specific cancer and body chemistry and it really did not fit the "normal" hysterectomy recommendation. They offerred me Dec 18 but that is the day before Christmas holidays for all the kids so I declined that date.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Kristy
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