Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan?
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Firni: "a little pile of ash...with edema." Had to smile you describe it so well. Hope the effexor helps. The neurontin has really helped me. Forgot a dose one afternoon. I was miserable and thinking boy I that that was working now I'm dying again. I'm such a chemo brain moron. I'm driving home from work that day and all of a sudden it hit me I'd forgotten my afternoon dose. I mean, wouldn't you think the hot flashes would have reminded me? geez. We fought for 5 months to get the oncotype test paid for too. I serously think if your score is low, sure they love it no expensive chemo, but if the score is high and you have to take chemo all of a sudden they don't believe in the test and don't want to pay for it.
Nadine, sorry not on it, so can't tell you how well it works
Webbie: wonderful to hear from you, hope rads finishes well and your surgery is a breeze
Afighter: taxotere will screw with your emotions and cause depression, found I just had to flow with it. Congrats to you for walking, please work on keeping it up. I found I physically could do less as chemo progressed, but you'll lose less strength and recuperate faster when its done if you can keep it up. Can they help you with the vomiting? That shouldn't be happening, same with the headaches, call and get some help. You can't stop the emotions, muscle aches, weakness etc, but the other things they can do something about. We're all here for you
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Afighter, you sound pretty darned normal given the circumstances. I think we all cried a lot. I didn't realize at first the heavy emotional burden BC was. But like you, I cried all the time. I am not a crier. It really wasn't until after my Txs were over that it all really hit me tho. Really depressed and angry for about a month after. I'm feeling better now. And of course the drugs do a number as well.
I was the one who posted about not having manual lymph drainage massage until after chemo is done. As far as exercise you normally did, you can keep that up as long as you can. Being as active as you can is a good thing. Some women are able to keep up quite strenuous exercise, but don't be alarmed if you just can't do those things for awhile. When you see your LE therapist, she will be able to guide you as to what is appropriate during active treatment and what you can do to help prevent LE if you don't have it. The theory is that if you have pooled lymph fluid and active cancer cells, forcing the fluid thru can spread those cells. Once Tx is over, including rads if you're doing that, all those cancer cells should be dead. My onc did not tell me this, but my LE therapist did. Ask yours about it.
Do let your onc know about the leg swelling. Edema does seem to be an issue with many of us.
I'm sorry about your headaches. I never had those. Sounds like your hair will be falling soon.
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Hello afighter--you said that you are getting horrible headaches. I was wondering if you are drinking enough water? Water is the key to minnimul SE. I heard that if you are not drinking enough water you would get headaches and other SE. I drink alot of water all thru my infusion and after (especially the first week) and I have not had bad Se at all. Only some tiredness. I had 2 tx already and hoping my 3rd goes well too. Just thought I'd share that. Good Luck Geri
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AFIGHTER...I had headaches everyday the first week following TC. Was advised to add electrolytes to my water and it really helped. You can get packets of electrolytes at a health food store and just add to water, or buy some Gatorade. There is also a bottled water called Essentia that contains electrolytes with no flavor so it just tastes like regular water. However, on about day three or four water did not taste right with a thick hairy tongue. So the flavor of Gatorade or added packets to water seemed to make it go down easier. Hope it helps for you.
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Afighter - I am 2 1/2 weeks after first treatment and my fatigue went away about day 6 and I pretty much felt normal. I went back to the gym this week and have been doing some light weights and so far so good. I met with a trainer I worked with before - he knows I'm an overachiever - and he suggested I not try to build any strength, just do what I feel up to. I've taken it down a notch on the cardio and just try to keep my heart rate steady and am doing very light weights. Good luck.
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greytmom, PAP, gmp300, Firni, kmmd: Thank you, thank you, thank you!! All of your comments really help. When I awakened this morning, it was the BEST I have felt since the treatment began. I acturally felt like my old self...so glad.
As for the SEs, the only ongoing ones are the body aches and headaches. However, there has been nothing today.
Gmp and PAP thanks for the water advice. I drank 3 liters a day for the first 4 days...this includes the first day of chemo, but have to admit that I scaled back after that...simply could NOT stand the taste any more. However, the SEs are worst than the taste of that much water...I thnik...; so, I will do whatever it takes to not have to experience the stinking SEs.
Firni: I took note about the pooled lymph fluid and will inquire about it at Monday's appt. And yes, I am scheduled for rads after chemo is finished; so, that was helpful.
Greytmom: I am excited to hear about your reentry into strength training...it gives me hope for my own reentry. I just hope that I get a good LE therapist. I hear that some of them are very old school and do not think exercise is good for you.
Ok, here is the other bit of info I have come across... no lifting over 15 pounds with the arm in question. Has anyone heard this? True or not? I have been following it because I am afraid of setting off the lymphedema, but wish I did not have to worry about it.
Well, ladies, that is it for now. Going to drink more water!! Headaches BE GONE!!!!
Love to you all,
Afighter
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Afighter, My LE specialist told me that anything I had been doing previously would be ok for exercise. But not to take up new things. Like tennis if I didn't play. If you are lifting weights, you should scale back on the weight and do more reps. As you lift, if you aren't having problems with more reps, you can increase the weight a little. Just take it slow. Mini trampolines are super for stimulating the lymphatic system. As far as just carrying stuff around the house, I'm not really paying attention to if something is over 15 lbs. May not be the best behavior, but I haven't had any problems. You will have a good list of questions for your therapist. If they don't believe in exercise, see if you can get someone else.
I'm so glad you are feeling GOOD today.
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Afighter, you may want to talk to your onc. 3 liters a day is a lot of water. Mine told me I was overdrinking, and when I was admitted to the hospital thats what my labs showed, so sometimes too much isn't good either. With headaches like you're talking about I'd worry that you may be drinking too much as much as I would too little. You may need to talk to them, get some labs drawn, and see where YOU need things to be.
re: weight lifiting. If someone told me I could only lift 15 lbs I'd go into a non stop depression. I use my lymphedema sleeve and am careful and don't limit myself to anything more then I ever did. Good gravy, why did we go through chemo etc to have people limit our lifestyle? Go to some of the other threads on exercising and weight lifting with lymphedema. Some think exercise is good for it as long as you're careful and increase what you're doing slowly.
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Hello Ladies! Wow...so glad I found this thread!!! I start Taxotere on Tuesday the 30th so have been reading these posts with abandon! Just wanted to let you know that there are those of us who read and appreciate the tips and knowlege you share...0
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arnie: I remember reading everything I could on this site and trying to prepare. So hard to get ready to go into this. We are all here for you
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Thank you kmmd... I just finished 4 AC and was just now feeling ok again then I have two days before TC. eek! So glad you guys are there...I appreciate you all soooooooooo much I'm here for you guys too! It's so hard to explain to friends and family how that bond is between bc sisters.... hopefully they'll never have to fully understand... 0
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The Lasix took about a week to totally work, it was up and down before that. Good luck! Keep us posted!
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Webbie, good to see you. Always makes me smile to open a thread and see your smiling face next to a post. Hope all is well and little monkey is enjoying her summer
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today is day 14 and my hair is coming out by the handful. Just waiting for hubby to get up to shave me.
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TCGGal: always a sad day, even when you prepare for it. Hope you are otherwise feeling ok
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My Hubs, says wait one more day to shave it...I think he doesn't want to be seen with me bald today at the 2 grad parties we have to go to. I am just worried about my hair flying into the food!
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TCGGal, such a rite of passage we all had to go thru. Losing your hair can be quite traumatic and tearful, but after 6 months of no hair, I really came to enjoy not having to deal with it. Now that it's finally coming back in, I don't think I'm going to let it get very long at all. Once the chemo and steroid bloat was gone from my face, I think I've gotten used to how my face looks with no hair around it. It's all a rather exotic feeling really. BTW, my hair is about 1/2 inch long now.
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I am so glad to find this group!!! I am starting TC on Thurs, and more scared of doing the chemo then I was on the mastectomies and DIEP flap!!!! I have been reading everyone's entries and it sounds like everyone has different responses to the treatments. I was wondering, do alot of people try to work during treatment? I am an OR nurse, on my feet 8 hrs a day, no breaks, and stuck at work if I feel crappy!! I am still home for atleast 3 weeks healing from recon, but was curious!! My best to all of you!!!!
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pjcrn, everyone is so different. A lot of women work thru chemo but I don't think it was easy for them. I did not. There is a nurse thread you can go to and probably get some good information about the ability to work with the type of work you do. I don't remember exactly what the thread is called. Something like nurses with BC. Go to the top right corner of the page and click the search button to find it.
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Thank you so much!! My husband and I think it would better not to work, but my onc seems to think it might be better to?!? My biggest challange is to just get thru this week!!!!!! My nerves are shot! Thanks again, and I hope all is well with you!
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pjcrn: Just my opinion for what its worth, but I think it would be very difficult as an OR nurse to work during chemo, and even for some weeks after. Your Onc may not understand the lack of flexibility that an OR nurse has in her schedule and the difficulties it would impose on your patients and colleagues if you had to unexpectedly call in on bad days.
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kmmd: your opinion is greatly appreciated!!! It is the same one I had, and you have helped me realize that it is not just my fears, but reality!! thank you again.
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I am supposed to start 4 rounds of TC and H in a few weeks. They want to install a port. Any suggestions on whether arm, side chest or chest is best? Also, has anyone used ice gloves for neuropathy and nail issues?
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I get my port on Tues, and all the imput I have gotten is that the chest is best. I am having it put in on the left side, because after my recon there is more room for it, until they do my revision. I hope this helps!
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I had mine put in my chest...they really didn't give me any other options. Hasn't been too bad, just hate it because mine is on the right side right where the seat belt and bra straps are... I don't know when I'll ever wear a bra again... Hope you hear from someone that has had theirs in their arm or side of chest. It's not a bad procedure pjcrn...will be thinking about you on Tuesday...
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Webwriter: Thanks for the information on the Lasix taking a week to really kick in. I was beginning to think it wasn't working right or something. I guess I need some more patience.
Arnie: I agree with you on a true sisterhood. This forum has been my life line...people who really do understand what we are going through. We know the hard cold facts where others just want to tell us how wonderful we look or those comments on how we are doing so good.
On the no hair topic. Love quick showers, no shaving...no primping the hair. Hated having to have my head buzzed but now really loving the freedom of no hair. My hair is growing but not real visible yet. Biggest decision is which hat will I wear outdoors....Loving the freedom!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
Nadine
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SOPRIS-I chose to have port in the chest rather than in the arm, but think the arm might be ok as well. I had more tenderness following the implant than I did with the lumpectomy, but no real issues with it. My naturopath suggested vitamin B6 (50mg) for neuropathy. Haven't needed it, but thought I'd pass this along to you.
ARNIE-I was given a little handmade pillow to wear under the seatbelt where the port is placed. It really works well. It's really small 6" x 4". You could also try a washcloth folded up or some other material just to pad it and keep it in the car. Just some thoughts.......Patti
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Hubby shaved my head-it is so much better now, I was sick of all the hair falling everywhere. Now I am like a fuzzy bear with some small bald spots. I have such pretty headscarf on-we have 2 grad parties today. Oh, BTW this is day 14 for me, T/C.
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Thanks PAP... I usually just hold it away from that area...but can sew so I'll have to whip up a little pillow... great idea! Why didn't I think of that...lol Must be the chemo brain
Yep, Nadine... I don't know what I would've done without this site... It has also been my lifeline since January... so glad we have each other!
((((((((((((hugs to all that need them))))))))))))
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TCGGal... congrats! I agree with Nadine....I have actually enjoyed not having to fuss with the hair and showers are sooooooooooo fast! lol My gs who is just 3 wants my hair to grow back though... He misses twirling his fingers in it.. I keep telling him maybe by Christmas...0
