Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Bobbi - I am so sorry you are feeling so blue. I have those days too. Luckily, my blues pass fairly quickly. Maybe your walk will make you feel better. Sending hugs your way!
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Bobbi, I hope you have some good sunshine on your walk. That can do miracles for a mood. You are in the home stretch girl. Your last TC is behind you and you will start to feel better. Look at all the other ladies who've posted here. It just takes the last little bit of patience you have. And BTW, it is just fine to complain here. We all do from time to time? Who else could possibly understand?????
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Sandra ~ You look wonderfull! I was actually thinking about you just yesterday, wondering how you're doing and if we'd hear from you again. So glad you got to Sun Valley! Having lived in Vail and Aspen, I share your love of skiing and can relate to the joy of being out there, especially after bc & chemo!
I don't know if you've had a chance to read up on it yet, but did you know that there seems to be a suspected link between bc and thyroid disease? I don't know a lot about it, but I've come across it enough times to have added the supplement kelp to my regimen. I haven't heard about chemo damaging the thyroid -- just that many women who are dx'd with bc also have dx'd or undx'd thyroid issues.
Bobbi ~ I know just how you feel. Just when you think you're done with chemo and its SE's, the lashes and brows decide to leave - not to mention the thin skin and lingering fatigue and body aches. But you'll be surprised at how fast your lashes and brows grow back. It's also a great time to treat yourself to facial masks (I'm sitting here in a pink moisturizing one at the moment!), and gentle massages and other little pick-me-ups to regain that feeling of control over your body. About a week ago, I did an ionic foot bath cleanse. Still not sure what I think of it (beneficial or hocus-pocus?), but I'd love to think it rid my body of some leftover toxins. If anyone has an opinion on them, I'm curious, because I still can't decide if the benefit is real or not.
Well, I'm now 19 weeks post my last TC, and one week post rads. My next milestone will be doing something with this very thick, curly and dark hair that I don't recognize! In the mean time, I'm celebrating the end of what turned out to be a year of tx, while trying to simplify my life and restructure my priorities.
For those of you still doing TC, there is not only light at the end of the tunnel, but a new strength that you will gain from having dug deep to find the courage to go through it.
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Bobbi & Holtbolt--thanks for the nice compliments. I think us "oldsters" to chemo need to check in from time to time just to reassure you little tadpoles that things get better. Bobbi, hope the walk cheered you up.
Deanna--Yes, I am aware of the posited link between BC and thyroid dysfunction. There's even a thread started on this topic, though the information is quite confusing. I'm also aware that hypothyroidism is quite treatable, and hardly a "big deal" compared to BC. It was just a shock to me because I do not exhibit any symptoms of hypothyroidism and, as recently as 5/06, had perfectly normal TSH. So I'm kind of bummed out, but I'm seeing my Onco next week for f/u, and I will bring the topic up with him. My gut take on this is that the chemo damaged my thyroid, and there are some hints of this as a possibility in the literature. I'm so happy to hear you are done with the rads too. The year 2009 beckons. Whoo-hoo!
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Sandra, please don't stress about the thyroid thing. Hypothyroidism is soooo common, especially among post-meno women. I was dx'd with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (... otter is subtracting...) almost 8 years ago. I think I'd had it for much longer than that--I had some classic symptoms of low thyroid function; it just hadn't been dx'd by anybody.
So, I've been on Synthroid since 2001. My dose was stable for about 4 years. Then the BC thing came along... and, 10 days into my first round of TC, it was time for my PCP to recheck my TSH levels. (He does that every 6 months.) My TSH was up a little, and he wanted to increase my Synthroid dose. But I decided to wait until after I'd finished and recovered from chemo and get my TSH rechecked.
Sure enough, my TSH was back down to where it had been pre-chemo. In fact, I had him decrease my Synthroid just a smidge, because I didn't want to be over-treated. He's rechecking it in another couple of months.
I've heard about the BC-thyroid connection, but I don't think anyone has shown cause-and-effect yet. So far, it's just a very common endocrine condition (hypothyroidism) occurring in the same women that are getting BC.
otter
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Otter, isn't there evidence of common linkage between pten pathway dysfunction and breast and thyroid CA?
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Sandra,
Congratulations. You look beautiful, happy and healthy. My dh is planning a post chemo trip in May for us and you make it seem like it really will happen.
Thank you for sharing your happiness and optomism.Sue from Florida
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KMMD,
My twelve year old daughter had a benign thyroid tumor last year, which was extremely rare, now with bc at 41, I am having brca1 and 2 and pten testing...there is some link with benign thyroid tumors and early onset bc...hoping that we do not connect the dots but it was something we needed to find out...
Sue from Fl
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Sue ~ I had a benign thyroid tumor and surgery for same 28 years ago. And my sister, who is a 2x bc survivor is on synthroid. Neither one of us has a BRCA mutation, so I don't think the presence of thyroid problems + bc necessarily means a genetic link -- at least not a known one. Deanna
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Deanna,
Thank you..I will be so relieved if the two are just random occurances...there is something called Cowden's , or pten disease that they are looking at...in addition to brca...I pray that it is all negative especially for my young daughter. As though bc and chemo wasn't enough to worry about!!Sue
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kmmd,
Yes, it's true that a small fraction of breast cancers can be traced to a germline mutation in PTEN, which, when not mutated, serves as a tumor-suppressor gene. Germline mutations in PTEN result in a very rare condition called "Cowden's Syndrome," in which there is a hereditary predisposition to develop breast cancer, thyroid cancer, renal cancer, and other things.
Although there have been reports of mutations in the PTEN gene in some breast cancer cell lines, I haven't been able to find support for the argument that spontaneous cases of breast cancer in women are associated with mutations in the PTEN gene. In fact, I found papers to the contrary: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/1021
and http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Doi=48768
I also haven't been able to find a link between hypothyroidism and PTEN mutations. Yes, people with germline PTEN mutations are at increased risk of developing thyroid cancer; but that's totally different and far less common than lymphocytic thyroiditis leading to hypothyroidism.
I haven't done a thorough literature search, though; so just because I haven't found something does not mean it doesn't exist. I do pay more attention to the traditional, refereed medical journals, than to the fringe stuff.
otter
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I can use some help ladies.
My body has been remarkably tolerant of chemo up to today. I'm two weeks post 5th treatment and I can barley climb the stairs my muscles hurt when I change position. I've also noticed that I now have red sore marks where they drew blood and gave chemo two weeks ago.
Does anyone know what this might mean? I have never done the Nulasta (?) shots if that makes a difference. Is is blood counts or Iron deficiencies........?
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Renee
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Oh, I forgot.....haven't stoped crying all day.
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Hi Renee, Wow, I'm sorry you're feeling so badly. I have terrible muscle pain and weakness from chemo. It's like I've worked out to failure just walking thru the house. Sitting hurts. It all hurts. I take a lot of Ibuprofen Rx strength. I also don't heal since starting chemo. I still have adhesive marks from the monitor things when I had my port put in the first week of Dec. As well as the IV marks in my hands. Since these are new symptoms for you, call Onc tomorrow and see what he can give you. There is no need to suffer. Get something that will give you some relief. And it's ok to cry. Sometimes that's the only thing that can make us feel better.
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Thanks to folks who responded about hair -- I just shaved the fine fuzz off my head - day 9 after my final tx. I'll try to report back on when it starts growing back in "for real". It sounds like it might be several months down the road.
If people are reading this who are just starting chemo and worried about weight - i've lost over 20 lbs over the course of 6 rounds of chemo, so that can happen too! i just couldn't eat much for the first week to 10 days after tx -- and I really do love food! I'm at a healthier weight, so i hope i can keep it off during radiation and tamoxifen. I have tried to go for at least a walk every day that i felt ok, but there were many days with not much activity.
Best of luck to all and thanks for posting your news - it really is helpful to read about people's experiences.
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Thanks Firni,
"Work out to failure" is a great way to put it. All my other side effects have appeared shortly after infusion so this one has really concerned me. I wanted to make sure it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Remind me to keep my mouth shut about how tolerable chemo is. I've guess I've been fortunate not to have many of the side effects mentioned in this thread.
It's interesting to see the difference in weight loss and gain. Sama Is that a typo on your Dx? I'm surprised you're not a stage II with two positive nodes.
Renee
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Bobbi, yes, I had itchy palms starting just after the 4th and final TC. There was a bit of a rash---you really had to squint to see it---too, that came and went. Sometimes it was my left palm, sometimes, my right. On either palm, the itch came and went, intermittently during a day, over a period of a couple of weeks. Haven't had it in a while. I am on day 23 of my 4th cycle. I hear the itchy palms and soles issue occurs with TC. Maybe for women on 5 and 6 TC itchy palms and soles contiinues/worsens? Hope you are feelling/doing well. Genie
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Otter--thanks, I had a feeling you'd know the data
Renee--I too have experienced severe muscle weakness, its bothered me the most of anything. If anyone has any tips for helping with it I'll take them. I try to get in a good walk every day because I'm afraid if I don't the weakness will accelerate, but its to the point I'm having trouble opening things because my hands are so weak. I'll be happy when this is all over.
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Thanks for all the weight info gals....for me fear of gaining weight has been the worst. I struggle with the same pounds on and off every month for my entire adult life.....coming out of treatment with excess weight just is not an option for me. That would put me over the deep end.... I hope everone is feeling well today. I am day 6 out and feel like I am back to normal....ready to take back my life for 2 weeks until next tx!!!!! This is starting to get old!!!!!
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Bobbi & Genie2-- I have some minor neuropathy going on that may be related. My hands and feet do not itch per se, but I do have some odd sensations that aren't the norm for me. Not really tingly or anything, but sensitive in a weird sort of way. I also have had intermittent rash. Not on my hands, but on my chest, neck and face. Benedryl is what my Onco said, and sure enough, knocked it right out. I'm on day 19 overall, with two 2x down and 4 to go.
Renee, don't feel bad about feeling bad. My meltdown was Sunday. It's better to get it out and get on with it than it is to brave through it. Just cry when you need to. It helps, not until you're finished, but it does help. As for the tired-- OMG yes. It has hit me at various times, but it's never been as consistent as it is today. I keep thinking, "I feel better, why can't I get anything done!" DUH, because every muscle in my body is convinced that I suddenly weight 300lbs! If it makes you feel any better, Auntie A tells me this is quite normal and that I shouldn't worry about it until it's all over. Then I will need to rebuild those muscles that are atrophying (word?) before my eyes. Some days she's a blessing, some days I just dunno, haha! But this IS normal and part of the deal, so I quit fighting it so hard. I'll just rest with the knowledge that when it's over, I can begin taking my body back.
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To all with bone and muscle pain and weakness, I started taking Claritan D again today. For some reason, it makes a huge difference. I usually take it the day of and 2 or 3 days after my Neulasta shot. I had gotten to the point of needing narcotics to get rid of the pain and weakness. So, now I guess I need to ask Onc just how much Claritan I can take. Like every day for weeks at a time? That can't be good for you. Oh right, listen to me. Like chemo is great for our bodies. I'd rather take an antihistamine than a narcotic at this point. I sure wish it would also act like an antihistamine and dry up my nose for crying out loud. It doesn't tho. At least without the pain and weakness I can get on the treadmill and start building up again before I need a wheelchair.
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Webwriter, love the new picture.
Firni, I take claritan daily, have for years due to allergies, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be helping my muscle weakness like it is helping yours
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Thanx for the tip Firni! (again!) I keep thinking to get OFF the meds week #2 (I'm doing dd) and every time I do I fall through a hole in the floor. Why do I keep doing that? I was on Benadryl for the rash, Claritin for the Neulasta and Zyrtec for the ungodly SNOT IN MY FACE.
Stopped them yesterday. Wham I can't move. DUH. (Picture Webbie smacking bald forehead!)
Thanx kmmd for the compliment. I'm LOVING my free head! haha!
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kmmd thanks for letting me know it's ok to take the claritan daily. Try the claritan D. You have to sign you life away at the pharmacy for it so they know you're not going to make crack with it. I usually get the generic. It's a lot cheaper. The plain Claritan didn't do anything for my pains. I guess I'm no better than you, webwriter as far as stopping taking drugs after a week. For some reason I think I should be feeling better. It isn't working out for me either. So, I guess I'll just keep taking that handful of pills twice a day until I'm done with chemo. I do like myself better when I'm functional.
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Darling Web. Just darling. You have a great shaped head. Doesn't it feel better having it over with.
My husband was out of town yesterday on a business trip so I unknowingly gave myself permission to have a meltdown. My DD (21) caught me red handed and red faced and was nice to me for a change. (The world still revolves around her pretty little head.)
Thanks everyone for calming me down. I thought I may have cancer of the everything.
Kisses
Renee
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Since I opened Pandora's scale, anyone open to sharing food options and choices that might help with the weight issues?
Most of my weight gain came on after the 4th treatment (15 LBS). I looked back at what I was eating initially and I can see what I did wrong. I used to have a berry shake or plain yogurt and sugar free apple sauce every morning now I have an omelet with lots of cheese. I can go on and on but I'll start out with this one.
Berry shake
In a blender mix.
One cup of yogurt
One to two cups of frozen berry's (I like strawberries and blue berries.)
Half a banana
You can add milk if the blender gets stuck.
Any takers sharing food choices?
Renee
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I have a little obsession with oven roasted vegitables theses days.....brussel sprouts,peppers,mushroom asparagus....I cut them up to about the same size...drizzle with a little olive oil and the best balsalmic vinagar I can afford , roast them for about 15-20 minues in the oven....than I take the whole concoction and throw if over the organic lettuce mixture that you can get at costco....it kind of wilts the lettuce....and the juice acts as the dressing.....so delishious....sometimes I sprinkle some goat or feta cheese on too....
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sama710-
this is so encouraging...thank you so much for your post!
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hmmmm.....just reading along. I have hashimoto's thyroiditis and was diagnosed at age 37 or so. It was after my first pregnancy/delivery. I am 45 now and diagnosed with breast cancer in sept '08. I have completed 3 cycles of TC and will do the 4th (of 6) cycles next Tuesday. I haven't had my TSH tested since starting chemo. I will have to ask about that at my next infusion. one more thing to think about, huh?
It seems there are so many "things" that coorelate with BC: vitamin D deficiency, the thryoid thing, diet, etc.
what to focus on!?!?!??
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Going in for round 3 in a few hours. You know, a few weeks ago I was all excited about being 1/2 way done. Today I keep thinking, "I can't believe I'm only 1/2 way done." Keep reminding myself after today, I can say I get through this and only one more, and quit bitchin, some people are doing a lot longer then this. It's helping part of the time.
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