Class of 2009 - Sisters in the same time frame
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thereishope, I am 60 and I did continue to work during chemo. I did take off the week after each tx. I could not work the week after. I always had my TX on Friday, because am off on Fridays and like Lilah said, was pumped on roids for two days. It always felt like a mild case of the flu, no energy, aches and pains. Every thing tasted bad, but you have to expect that. I did not gain weight during chemo, however, when it was all over and food started tasting good again, then I just can't seem to stop. If it tastes good, then I want to eat the whole thing. I did TC x 4 and my 3rd tx was the worst. I started having breathing problems and just couldn't get over the fatigue, however the 4th tx was better and was probably my fastest recovery period. I am 7 weeks PFC and I am feeling great. I am 17 treatments into radiation and should expect to start some SES from that soon, but not yet.
I kept my grandbabys as much as possible, but couldn't do it 4 or 5 days after chemo. I was just too tired. I had no energy at that time, but as long as I just sat around and didn't move around much I was fine. Now after saying that, I think I did better in the long run if I did get up and move around. I seemed to get my energy back faster if I at least did a few things for myself. But don't overdo, because then you have no reserve to get better.
Normally by the 8th day things were getting back to normal and I could go back to work and didn't have many problems. I only work 4 days a week and it seemed like I had so many doctors appointments that I would miss 1 day of work a week.
Your concerns are not petty and don't think of them that way. We all want our normal lives back, but going through treatment, is not normal for us. Things that are important to you now, should stay important to you. I know my limits and you will know yours and you will do what you can and that is it. You just may have to trim them down some. I don't know how many treatments you will have but my chemo lasted 2 months. That is really a short period of time. It still takes several weeks to start getting better, but each day you will see a difference.
Good luck to you.
Juannelle
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By the way, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.
Juannelle
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Happy Valentines Day ladies - I did have lots of bone pain from neulasta as a SE. It was usually on day 3 & 4. I ended up taking pain pills to get through it. Mine was a little unusual as I was allergic to it and so I'm thinking I was pretty abnormal. The onc said I would only have to have it through AC but I ended up with it through taxol too because of my low WBC. I'm sending all of you dealing with neulasta now a big {{hug}}. It's not fun, but you can do it. Hang in there.
I worked every other week through AC & T. I took the week of treatment off then worked part time the next week. I usually worked about 30 hours the second week. It seem to work well for my schedule.
The thing that helped me the most on taxol was glutamine powder...it was very helpful for my neuropathy. Which I had bad while on taxol, pretty much could not use my hands after tx 3 & 4 - I dropped everything I picked up, thankfully I have no symptoms now and I'm 6 mos PFC. They originally told me I should take a lot of it but I couldn't stomach it, so I stirred about a tablespoon into some ginger ail and got it down (twice a day). I continued it for a couple of months after taxol then slowly tapered off. I still have occasional slight bone pain...left over from taxol or neulasta?? But it's not bad. Don't get discouraged..this too shall pass. Good luck.
Betsy
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Thereishope, Juennelle said it right...
As for weight ,I found I shed a few pounds after each treatment but gained them back once my taste buds came back...I am the same weight I was when I started..
I haven't worked since last summer as I work retail and didn't want to get sick from all the germs floating around this season. I am starting rads this week for five weeks and hope to go back real soon...I found chemo not to be as bad as I had heard, but everyone is different..
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HI GIRLS
I'm feeling really good theses days nearly 2 weeks since my last and final TXs ,had a day at work it was brilliant. Neulasta was yuk for me, the top half of my body was sore to touch and my legs felt like jelly, i had Clarentine before one of my shots and i found it helped a bit ,as for the weight Ive put on 5 kgs , which is just a shit cause i want it GONE and that means WORK mmmmmm
I found a low carb diet works great for me, the weight seems to fall of and i have heaps of energy but the hard part is starting up and excising ,ill walk or run, i hate gyms we live on the beach with bush lands behind us so outside excises is great .Well hope you all got some loving on V day and gave out some to your special ones as well
PRINCESS JOJO
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Everyone is so great to share their experience. God bless us all!
pam
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Hugs to all~ Hope everyone is having a great day
Jen
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How are you feeling today Jen? Any sign of the swelling going down?
Lilah
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Hi Everyone, Hope you all had a lot of love showered down on you on Valentines Day. Two of my girls were born on Feb.14th so this last week was busy.
Finally surgery is set for my MX this week. Have specialist in place because of past lymphedema, they said most likely again. For any of you have swelling in the hand, I used different types of sleeves but a burn glove with fingertips cut off worked really well to keep the swelling down in my fingers,this might work well for you too. My arm is already doubled from test, they blew four veins for contrast MRI.
So here is my kicker. I asked my immunologist and oncologist why people with autoimmune diseases can't have chemo, they said because you would die. I asked how many people have died and both said none that we know of because no doctor would ever try. Umm is this an assumption, or are the possible side effects that worrisome?
I will have six weeks of radiation after surgery, plus will be put on intravenous antibiotics for weeks. They said they will deal with the HER2 positive after surgery and they will test my breast tissue and the three lymph glands they are taking out of my arm, then see if we need to take a different path. I will be able to stay on Enbrel and also Lyrica for nerve pain. Doctors said this is going to be a harder ride than I think. I've alway bounced back from all my surgeries right away, they said this one will take longer. I'm trying to stay positive.
I did change surgeons and glad I did, so are my other specialist. I wish someone here with BC, also had autoimmune diseases or Lupus with blood complications so I knew what others had gone through. I asked at both hospitals if they knew of anyone and they said no.
Lilah, they did say that I will probably go onto Her ( however you spell it) but will test to make sure I don't have allergic reaction. I can't take steroids anymore had a sudden loss of vision from them, now Glaucoma. They never tell you that this can happen with steroids.
Thinking I'll start a whole new career after all this.
Pam, if you are coming up North in May let me know and I'd love to take you to lunch.
Wishing Everyone A Week Full of Love and Laughter
M
P.S. If I've forgotten to respond to anyone about anything I'm sorry, my eyes are giving me a hard time and I haven't read back posts for awhile, but I truly care about all of you, and keep you in my prayers.
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M360 good luck with surgery this week.
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M360, Will say some prayers that all goes well for you this week. Do something nice for yourself before you go in..perhaps a nice massage...or a mani/pedi...without the polish and extra massage..
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M360- I was actually just at a breast cancer meeting last night with a lady who had been DX with both autoimmune disease and BC, and she went thru chemo and radiation and is still alive to talk about it today. So, I would investigate this further either with another doctor or try with the one you have. It may depend on the variance of the combined conditions, so do some research. There is another lady that goes to the same group that has both also, but she didn't go thru chemo, but she had so many other health issues that the BC has been put on the back burner for now for her. Good luck to you! You are in my prayers.
Lilah-Thank you for asking
Actually yesterday when I went to PT my fingers looked better, but she wrapped them again anyway for fear that if she didn't they would swell again. Today my hand and wrist are very sore, I think she didn't wrap me tight enough. I go see my rad onc today, so I ma ask someone over ther to help me get things tighter. Hope everyone else is having a good day
Hugs
Jen
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Good luck with your surgery, M360. And I hope your arm feels better today, Jen.
I met a lady with BC at the department store yesterday - I was waiting for my daughter outside the fitting room, wearing my baseball cap. She came up and started chatting, she just finished chemo the end of December and is starting to grow some hair. she even took her wig off and showed me her hair growth! She's in rads right now, and showed me her tattoo, too. It was so interesting to sit there and chat with someone who can relate to the side effects, the hot flashes, etc. I didn't feel like such a freak.
Hope everyone is having a great day!
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Jen -- glad you are seeing some signs of improvement - hope things continue to get better. And good for you for staying vigilant!
m360 -- good luck with surgery -- prayers for you to make it through with no problems.
Lilah
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m360 good luck with surgery this week I will be praying for you.
Renee0 -
Jen ~ prayers for you that all goes smoothly...
Hugs ~
Alicia
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Ladies I am wondering if anyone else has talked to their ONC about hormone therapy yet...My onc has given me choices and I was wondering what others are doing..and why they mad these choices.
1. tamoxefin. for 5 years..scary SEs..good track record
2. tamoxefin and either zoladex or lupron injections.....or tamoxefin and overy removal.
3 zoladex/lupron injections and an aromatase inhibitor( arimidex, aromasin, or femara).
any input would be great...
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Hey Michelle!
I am on Tamoxifen and have not had any negative side effects. In fact I am losing weight on it. I take it at night before bed and hardly ever notice hot flashes. Some times I wake up sweaty - but I did that my whole life, even as a teen I would sweat at night.
I am 44 and still have my period each month too. Just because the SE are listed does not mean you will get any or all of them. Most of the women in my local support group have been on it and not too bad on their SE's either.
Good luck in your decision!
Kimberly
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Kimberly, were you given the option of ovary shutdown or removal?
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No, as a matter of fact we have not discussed that yet.
My OB-GYN is watching me closely as I am considered a polyp factory. I have my pap appt in May. So far, there doesn't seem to be a reason to go to that extreme. The first step we would take would be a D&C before hysterectomy. BUT that will be only if I need one for a reason. Unexplained bleeding or endometrial cancer signs.
The women I know that have gone those two routes had issues with their SE's from other meds also.
Kimberly
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Michelle
Let me also add that I chose a bilateral mastectomy - so I am not too worried about it returning in my other breast. That one had cancer too - already got rid of them both since they were trying to kill me.
I feel like I have been pretty aggressive in my treatment and my oncyo type scores came back pretty low. I had 2 primary cancers in my right breast and DCIS in my left breast. My lumpectomy score was 13 and the mastectomy score was 9.
Each person is so different with their plans of action. At first he was like " here is a Rx for tamoxifen, take it - don't take it - it's up to you..." Then after he read my BMX path report he really stressed that I keep taking the Tamoxifen. He also sent me to get tested for the BRCA1 & BRCA 2 after the BMX path report. Having more cancer than anticipated kind of changed his attitude with me.
You will make the right choice for you and remember if the SE's are too bad you can change your plans and shut down or remove your ovaries later.
Good luck! Hope it helps a little.
Kimberly
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Hi ladies,
I am going in for a hysteroscopy d & c tomorrow. I had a very heavy and odd period thi month and my ob doc is concerned. So, I am going in for this procedure tomorrow. I have never had one before, so not too sure what to expect. I heard they aren't too bad. Hopefully that is the case for me. It was tricky on when I could get in to have it because I had to work around my PT schedule. So my doc is taking time out of her 1/2 day off to do the procedure on me. She is the doc that made me go get the mammo that found my cancer, so we have a special relationship. I will let you all know how things go.
Hugs,
Jen
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Love all the information sharing on the tamoxifen ~ as that will start for me after my reconstruction surgery.
Jen ~ good luck tomorrow. Hoping all goes smoothly ~
Alicia0 -
Jen, hope all goes smoothly tomorrow...
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Good Luck Jen!
It shouldn't be too bad - sounds like your Dr. is taking great care of you!
Kimberly
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Alicia - I follow other threads that you are on too. I don't post much because I haven't had rads or chemo and can't add to your topics, but the Tamoxifen is not as bad as some people lead you to believe! I am having my soft squishy implants installed tomorrow! YIPPEE SQUISHY! for me! This reconstruction stuff was hard... but massages help! You will do fine! the hard part is all behind you!
Kimberly
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Way to go Kimberly... squishy is great!!
Jen I hope your procedure went well!
Renee
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Jen, good luck with your hysteroscopy.
Here's to a good day ladies!
Sherri
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Wow,
Thank you ladies for the info regarding the pelvic pain. I was starting to think I was going crazy and that maybe it was just me! Sorry you all had to suffer through all that too. I do not have to take the Neulasta shot w/the Taxol although I did it through the A/C and it did give me terrible bone pain for about a day or two. The pelvic pain has improved immensely since I first posted, although I still have an ache in my right lower quandrant that I had off and on through the A/C. So, it will be interesting to see if I get it again this next round on Monday.
Hope the class is doing well today!
Sharon
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Ladies, had my first rads treatment to day..phew that is over...1 down, only 24 to go..
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