Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Deanna,
My onco office was so upset by this mornings events that they have already gotten a verbal report. We know that nothing is official until the written report, but it appears to be good news. The lymph node is still enlarged, but it has not changed so they are saying it appears to be a normal node for me. I guess if it had grown that would be a concern.
And I agree with you about looking forward to 2009. Although many of us still have a road ahead (I still need at least 6 weeks of rads and then AI's for 5 years) in my heart and in my soul I know the future is brighter for all of us. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!
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Gail,
I am curious if you had a mastectomy. The reason I ask is that our DX is similar although my size was larger, actually 3.5. After an MRI they discovered a second cancer in the same breast which brought me to chemo. My original oncotype dx said I did not need chemo. Then we all agreed with the second dx that I should for safety sake. At that point they first recommended a mastectomy and chemo, but no radiation. The radiation onc said I have such a good chance of not seeing a recurrance after treatment that I decided to keep the girls (at least for now) and go to chemo and radiation and five years of one of the AI's. I had three oncologists (2 med, and I radiation) assure me that there was no risk in not having a mastecotomy at this point, because even if the worst happened I did have a recurrance, it would be caught early enough now with all the testing, including MRI's that I will be having. Mammos never showed any cancer.
So I guess if you did not have a mastectomy, I would question the lack of need for radiation and why they do not feel it would be a benefit and more insurance. My nodes were also clear,and my margins on the tumors clean. If you are unsure, I would ask to have a consult with a radiation oncologist and let them weigh in.
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Gail,
The reason I had rads was because I had a lumpectomy. My surgeon told me that the rads take the place of a mastectomy when a lumpectomy is performed. (Those having a mastectomy can have rads in certain situations though)
Goodfight - glad to hear your scan was stable!
I wish everyone the best of Health and Happiness in the upcoming New Year and for many New Years to come!!
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Just checking in to wish every one a terrific, cancer-free and Happy New Year. I am now 4 months post-chemo and feeling great. I am taking Femara, and so far not experiencing side effects from it. I have about 3/4" of dark brown hair and am still wearing wigs when I want to look special. My lifestyle has changed dramatically in the past few weeks as I now go to the gym every other day. I am ten pounds skinnier than when I was diagnosed with cancer ten months ago, and I have never been SO fit--even my double chins have responded to exercise. I have shoulders and am not embarrassed to let people see my arms!!!
I know it's tough getting through chemo, but don't use it as an excuse for being a couch potato. Whenever you are feeling up to it, get out there and walk or move or do whatever you can do.
Hugs to everyone. Cancer is a bitch, but you can do this.
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Just checking in to wish every one a terrific, cancer-free and Happy New Year. I am now 4 months post-chemo and feeling great. I am taking Femara, and so far not experiencing side effects from it. I have about 3/4" of dark brown hair and am still wearing wigs when I want to look special. My lifestyle has changed dramatically in the past few months as I now go to the gym every other day. I am ten pounds skinnier than when I was diagnosed with cancer ten months ago, and I have never been SO fit--even my double chins have responded to exercise. I have shoulders and am not embarrassed to let people see my arms!!!
I know it's tough getting through chemo, but don't use it as an excuse for being a couch potato. Whenever you are feeling up to it, get out there and walk or move or do whatever you can do.
Hugs to everyone. Cancer is a bitch, but you can do this.
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Has anyone experienced peripheral neuropathy, particularly in their hands/fingers? I'm having this and it's no fun at all. I can hardly write or do small motor things with my left hand, and I'm left handed!
Wishing everyone a happier, healthier, peaceful and abundant New Year. God Bless us every one!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
I have a little more energy today, and actually got my presents for friends and cookie boxes for the management office of my apartment complex finished up. Family presents knocked me out and so I am a bit behind. But I'm done with feeling guilty about all this. Those who love me love me, and those who are annoyed about lateness with gifts and whatnot, do not know me at all LOL!
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Unique, I love your new picture. You are fortunate to look so cute in hats! I sure hope you will make a quick recovery, now that your chemo is over. Happy New Year!
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tbird57 -- take vitamin b6, shown in clinical studies to reduce neuropathy. Dose is 50-300 mg per day (I took 100). If the symptoms get worse, (even if they don't -- it sounds bad enough!) talk to your oncologist about it. For a few people, they get pretty severe and the oncologist substitutes another chemo regimen.
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Is there anyone that goes around bald.....in public....all the time? I do and I'm amazed at the response I've gotten. I've done it so long now that many times I forget that I'm bald and I don't notice anyone staring. When we go out to dinner with friends I often tell the servers that I'm not feeling well and ask for a glass of water when in fact I feel fine I'm just trying to show everyone the chemo does have some benefits. Honestly, I get a glass of water immediately.
My DH always tells me to take my caps off because I look better without. I'm so used to it that I don't understand why chemo patients wear anything at all unless they're going outside.
Funny thing is, I'm a very Conservative dresser and you wouldn't catch me dead with a tattoo. I don't like to draw attention to myself. People are so compassionate and understanding so I just can't fathom anyone criticizing me for going bald.
POWER TO THE BALD PEOPLE!!!!! LET'S START A REVOLUTION!!!!!
Sorry. It must be the cold meds I'm taking today.
Renee
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HI Renee -
Power to the baldies!! You have a great shaped head. I have an ok head but it's small and round so, whatever! I was shocked and still am everytime I walk by a mirror(I keep forgetting that I have no hair
) but most hats and so far, my wig makes me feel irritated and sweaty so I've been doing the bald thing too except when it's 30 degrees outside - then I got some great hats that cover the ears at Kmart!! But take them off as soon as I'm in the car and warmed up or any public indoor space and I really can't exercise with a hat on. I always make sure I'm wearing lipstick and big hoops. People stare and little kids are fascinated but so far it's just easier and my significant other prefers it. The only thing I must do is wear a soft cap to sleep as we turn our heat all the way down and live innercity brick 6th floor which gets pretty cold and drafty at night. I will join your revolution - you go girl!! We all have to do it our own way and helps to share out stories. Unique, I love you new picture and hat!! I still can't figure out how to upload?download? a photo of myself - ugh technology and chemo brain combined.Bobbi
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Hi Renee,
I just posted an update of a new Photo of me BALD! I'm like you, I prefer to be Bald. Bald is Beautiful!!
Jerri
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Being from Northern Wisconsin I wear hats 9 months out of the year - it's a necessity if you want to be warm. And I have quite a collection. So this is good time for me to be bald...soon to be bald. I admire your tenacity.
Lani : re: neuropathy - In addition to B-Comlplex vitamins, i'm taking L-glutamine... as recommended by others on this thread. My first round of chemo was today - no problems yet. When you're neuropathy start?
Kathy
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That's what I'm taking about. Let's stand up and be proud..........and all that other stuff coaches spout off. If you're afraid others will think this is a fashion statement just pin on a big pink ribbon. LET'S GET OUT THERE AND DO IT LADIES!!!!!!!!
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Kathy, I didn't notice the tingling and numbness in feet and hands until after the 2nd tx (maybe one week after), then with each tx it was a bit more, and lasted longer. I still have occasional twinges of it 3 months after the last tx, but nothing like one week after the last tx.
I didn't like the way I looked bald, but I'm OK now that I have about 1/4" of hair. Now that I'm not wearing bandannas any more, everyone says either "are you in remission now?" or "did they get it all?"
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Hi Caren, Yes to your question on Dec 31 - I did have a mastectomy. But we have several things in common - they found a second tumor and cancer was on the way to lymph. SN's clear but the pathologist said "assume and act like you have positive nodes (what ever THAT means). So I did the TC cycles. Also I had terrible peeling hands but did finish the 4 rounds.
I met with a radiation onc. - said that I don't meet most reasons for having rads - but still in the "gray" area in that it might do some good. That is confusing to me so I'm still investigating. Thanks for your info & happy new year!
Gail
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I was hoping someone might be able to help me. I finished my last tx of TC on Dec 16. Before the chemo, I had a bilat mast with reconstruction on Sept 3. I did not have lymphatic involvement, but I have never had any scans. I saw my onc yesterday for a follow up and asked her if I needed an MRI or anything else and she said no. Is this usual. I just want to make sure I am getting treated properly.
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ilovemykids- I have also never had any scans other than bone density before starting Arimidex
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Hi, Elizabeth ~ Good question. Did you check the informational area of this website? I just did, and here is the first article I pulled up by searching "Follow up." What they're describing sounds pretty much what UCLA does. That search pulled up additional articles; I just didn't take the time to read them all.
http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/ask_expert/2006_02/question_03.jsp
Hope this helps. Take care ~ Deanna (P.S. I'm doing rads now. 2 down; 26 to go!)
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I'm curious to know, has anyone else been feeling progressively better after each treatment? I'm on 3 of 6 now and most of my side effects are gone within 4 days. I even asked the onco if he reduced my meds. I was anticipating getting sicker with each infusion. I'm not complaining but I haven't heard this on this thread.
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Thanks for helping! I wanted to make sure my onc was doing what the others were.
Take Care....Elizabeth
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Gail,
I did not have the mastectomy so I can't advise you on rads after that. But there is a lady I have met that lives near me that did have rads after mastectomy and chemo. I will check with her as to the reason why. I remember being surprised she had to have rads, since when I was discussing mastectomy for me they told me no rads. Also at that time they said no chemo, just the mastectomy. I was gung ho based on that until they added the chemo as an insurance policy after finding second malignancy through an MRI. (which I did to see if the opposite breast was clear, since cancer in first breast never showed in any mammos, even after we knew there was a 3.5 cent. tumor) The second site was on the same side of the same breast but a different quadrant and it was 90% DCIS, only 10% had invasive. I think that is why they were not overly concerned with the dx. The radiation onc had even said, if I had not had the MRI and we did know about it, the radiation would have irradiated it anyway, so maybe I could have avoided the chemo.
But now that I "graduated" from chemo yesterday, I am glad I did it. It's over and I have given myself, and my family, more insurance and peace of mind.
I see the rad onc on Friday with my list of questions, but do not think I will start tx's until early Feb.
I will check with the gal here about why she had rads after mastectomy and get back to you.
Caren
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Elizabeth,
I did have some scans prior to starting chemo. I did not have a mastectomy, just two separate lumpectomies. The second lumpectomy as a result of an MRI (see my post above). But my onc as routine did do a full catscan (chest, stomach and pelvis) and a full bone scan (not bone density) prior to treatment. I even asked if I needed a petscan, and he said no based on the results of the other two scans. In the catscan they did see something that they did not feel was disease, but did need a followup to see if there was any change. So three months later I had another catscan of the chest and that was all unchanged, which is great news.
Yesterday, after last chemo, we did talk a little about follow-up. I will go weekly for a couple of weeks for blood checks and an onco physical. Then I will see them every few months for bloodwork, and if anything unusual shows up they will send me for additional scans and tests, meaning liver, kidney, etc. I hope maybe some of this info is helpful.
Just keep asking questions and reading until you are comfortable with your decisions.
Caren
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I just confirmed today that I will be doing T/C 4-6 cycles starting January 21st. I have to have a bone scan and a cat scan next week. The doctor said he routinely does them more to get a base line than to look for something, at least in someone with my pathogogy, age, ect. The nurse said that my doctor has alot of faith in the TC regiment and that if I am tolerating it well he will likely have me do 6 cycles since the study on 4 vs 6 is not in yet.
I need to read through this thread to get prepared for SE and everything. I already have a boutique ordering some wigs for me to try on in my color. I am getting a normal hair cut tomorrow so that I can take a nice family photo this weekend. Then I will cut it short after I start treatment in prep for the loss of hair. I am trying to appoach all this as a challenge and initiation rather than just something horrible to get through. I will learn about what my skull looks like and about my inner beauty and strenth as well as the goodness and weakness of humanity.
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Thanks, Caren, I am curious too why your neighbor had the rads after mastectomy. I suspect she had some residue close to the skin or chest wall - but am interested in what she says.
Thanks & Happy New Year 2009!
Gail
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Caren,
Congratulations on being done with chemo! How many cycles did you have? Any difference on SE as you progressed through treatment?
Kathy
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Kathy,
I was originally scheduled for 4 rounds of TC, but after the second tx my hands turned a purplish red and began peeling very badly. My onco was concerned because he had a previous case where the woman's hands ulcerated and it took months for them to heal and it was very painful and dibilating. After consulting with another onco that I had seen for a second opinion at Moffitt CC they decided to change my regimen to a cousin of taxotere called taxol. That was given to me at a lower dosage, but I got treatment every week for 6 weeks, so it came to the same total as the 4 TC's would have.
I think I was very lucky with SE's. I had the hand/foot thing and an ongoing case of mouth thrush. But the thrush was kept under control with meds and never progressed to sores or throat problems. I never lost my tastebuds or had any trouble eating anything. I was lucky never to be in bed for one single day through the three months. I still walked regularly at least 3 miles, usually 5 times a week.
I had some annoying things.................my toenails are very sore. But I am happy to say that I can finally see the podiatrist next week. With the weekly chemo you really do not take big dips and big highs between treatments.
I am relieved to say, now that I am finished, it really was not so bad, and didn't seem that long either. Now on to rads in another few weeks.
We are stronger than we think.
Caren
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Hello! I am beginning my first treatment with Taxotere and Cytoxan Jan 12. I've been trolling through this topic for a number of weeks now so think I have a general idea of what may or may not come as far as SE's. I am happy to say my onc. seems to know her business; any questions I've asked (many based on info. from this site) have been met with knowledge and explanation. I do thank all of you for your willingness to share your experiences and knowledge. Your concern for all who are sharing this experience is obvious...........
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No one posted recently so here I am, checking in! I finished my chemo on Nov. 17th, and was REALLY TIRED for about two weeks, but now I am feeling pretty much my normal self. My hair started growing back in also!!! It is a thick carpet about 1/4" long but that's great after the sparse strands with the scalp shining thru.
I go for my radiation prep next week.
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Unique, thank you so much for checking back in. It's very encouraging to hear from someone who's made it through... I've have my first TC treatment and now, on day 14, I've just pulled my first handful of hair from my head. Time for the buzz cut I guess (sigh). I'm sooo looking forward to my last treatment on February 28, but I've a couple more to get through first. Thank you for guiding the way and lighting the path.
thegoodfight, my hands are starting to itch, but I haven't had my 2nd tx yet. I'm curious and concerned about what happened to you, but glad to know that you had an alternative that worked better. My onc was trained at Moffitt, and I'll see him again next week so I guess I'll need to tell him and see what he says. Thanks for your post or I wouldn't have known that this could be as serious an se as it is!
Not looking forward to that next Neulasta booster, but my onc says it gets easier with each round. I sure hope he's right!
Off now to see if I can find where I left my optimism... Cheers & good wishes to all.
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