Weekly Taxol group
Comments
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Hello Sisters in Pink! I have not been an active poster here, but sure have been finding so much support from all of your wonderful posts the past several months! I had my #8 of 12 Taxol today. 2/3 done! Yeah! So excited for all of you that have finished and those that will be finishing soon! It is so encouraging to see the support offered to each other here among all of the gals! My Taxol treatments have been so much easier than my AC treatments. Some tiredness on day 3, but nothing a short nap doesn't take care of for me. My treatment days are on Mondays so by the weekends I am able to enjoy most any normal activities. I have even had some hair regrowth starting. Maybe a 1/4 of an inch. Slow, but there is hope of having hair again! The highlight of my summer was my Son's wedding on July 12. It was a big concern after I was diagnosed back in February. How would I feel for the wedding and the realization that I would have no hair. Well I felt great, they gave me that week off of treatment. And I've grown quite comfortable with my wig, only wearing it to special events and the like. Sticking to my hats and caps and scarves most of the time. But, many people have said to me "so why didn't you lose your hair?" when they see me wearing it. Of course, when I first started wearing it I was so self conscious and felt like I was holding up a big blinking sign "Lady in a Wig!!". But it has gotten easier, and I even had it styled for the wedding. I thought if all the girls could get their hair done, why not the Mother of the Groom! And it only cost me $8!! What a deal!
This past week after my 7th Taxol, I did start experiencing some Neuropathy in my fingers and toes. Nothing too major, but it was there. When I told my nurse today, she said if it gets worse they will consider reducing my Taxol dose. I'm hoping it won't get too bad, as I would rather finish out the normal course to make sure I've thrown all I can at this beast!
Have any of you had issues with your tumor markers going up as you received chemo treatments. Mine have gone up 7-10 points each month since starting chemo. My MO gets the readings monthly to watch. She is not overly concerned, but has ordered another Chest Cat Scan for tomorrow to make sure nothing else is going on. Of course I'm concerned, but had a Pet Scan last month, and nothing abnormal showed up then. So believing for a another good report on this one. I am feeling pretty good other than my tired day. Still managing to get out in the mornings to walk 2 miles on the track most days. It makes such a difference in how I feel the rest of the day. Kind of gets me going for the day.
Sure hope all of you are having SE free days and those finishing up are seeing strength and normalcy returning to your bodies!
I'm attaching a photo of my husband and I at our Son's wedding reception! Also a purely fun one from the photo booth at the reception!
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Could someone post the mix for the salt and baking soda mouth rinse? My tongue feels a little weird and not much taste.
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Ach Brigadoon, dear Sassenach, you know it well! I am counting down to August 9th and watching my favorite book on tv ! ❤️❤️ Are you a big fan? Honestly, who doesn't love a man in a kilt with a sexy brogue accent?
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home mom, did you get ahold of the salt and soda recipe? 2:1, 2 parts baking soda, 1 part salt.
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Welcome Wampuscat! Glad to hear you're doing well overall and love the photos! The wig looks fabulous and you can't even tell that it is one. Congrats to your son too!
Mscaruso, happy to oblige! We need a laugh through this shit!
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wumpuscat- love the wig! No wonder people don't know it's a wig, looks great
After taxol #7 the bottoms of my feet are numb. Fell down a few steps! Will see what my MO says tomorrow 
I am also getting some hair on my head now and I might need to shave my legs soon, still holding onto about half of my eyebrows and lashes. Hope they stay 2.5 more weeks to the wedding I have to go to!
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Looks like I'm not the only one who can't sleep tonight
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nope, I was up too. Ambien fighting with decadron I suppose. Shitshitty night and I have a lot to do today. Juzt call me crankypants.
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ADJ Thanks! How much water? Is it an 8oz glass?
Feeling better today, although I had a small pitty party last night after I noticed my lashes have thinned and some are missing from the bottom. I'm just really really tired of this crap.
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Homemom
Hey. You are allowed pity parties, ok? Oh, and as far as the salt and soda rinses, some people like to mix with small amount of water to where it "bites,". But usually 1/2 tsp in about 6 ounces of water. I prefer warm.
Anita
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Thanks ADJ Feel better today since i put on makeup, a wig and went to work for a little while.
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Help needed from Homemom and Sinsin! My first attempt at applying cake lashes didn't go so well. I purchased the lashes recommended at Ulta. Mints ructions looked easy but I had a hard time applying them.mmput the glue on my hand, worked from the inside out, used a tweeter and I still ended up with what looked like a double set of lashes with my few remaining and glue everywhere. Then I got worried that removing the glue on my natural lashes would be too much trauma and I would lose them. I need to preserve what I have for the wedding Friday! DH pulled through for me and told me I looked good without the lashes and not worry about it. Still, I would like to see if I can make them work with practice. Any advice?
Brigadoon and Sinsin, I have been invited to an Outlander party next Sunday. I will probably go but the Jamie Frazier in my mind looks nothing like the actor. Still trying to get through her new book. I have been told to stick with it and it gets really good. I haven't had the concentration to stick with anything too long this year!
#5 is history today! Feet doing their burning tingling thing tonight. Hope the glutamine takes care of that. Otherwise, no complaints!
Take care, all!
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mmtagirl: I used to apply lashes for my daughter while she was in dance. It was not easy - - but it got easier with lots of practice.The glue on the hand is definitely the way to go. That is how I used to do hers. Do you have anyone who could do it for you? I am sure a salon would do it for you at a decent price? Good luck, but I'm with your DH - you'll look great without them!!
And funny you mention concentration to get through books - - I had 4 books on my kindle that I had started and not finished. I realized this is the first time ever that I had done that. I hope I'll be able to get back to all and finish them soon. I want to check out the Highlander series too!!0 -
I get to do #8 tomorrow
Glad I didn't have to postpone another week. The numb feet have earned me a 10% reduction in my dose But at least I still get to do it. Found out today they want to continue my blood thinners for a year! I really can't fathom injecting tinzaparin for a year ( I am going to be one huge bruise ) but I will take it one day at a time. And I get to add a second needle on days 3 and 5 of neupogen because my counts are too low again. Drinking water like crazy, hoping they only have to stick me once tomorrow Good luck with your treatments everyone! The end is in sight!
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Mmtagirl, check this video out. She explains it pretty well (even suggests blending the corner lashes together) just ignore her putting the glue on the lashes.
A girlfriend is coming over and we're going to have scotch and chocolate fondue (we're NOT eating haggis haha) and watch the premiere. I am SO excited! Gabaldon has been heavily involved in the show so I am hoping that it will be one of the few book adaptions that is true to it's source. I agree that the actor playing Jamie doesn't look how I envisioned him either but he is handsome and there is no way they can hire actors that fit everyone's opinion and portrayal. Your Outlander party you're attending sound a fun! I would love to do one or go to one but I am not doing it for two people haha!
Also, let me know if you're still struggling with the lashes!
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Clarrn, why are you on thinners? Also, can you take Aspirin like Bayer or even children's aspirin instead? I can't imagine having to give myself a shot everyday either. Hang in there and good luck on #8! Each day is another down and one more closer to the finish line!
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Sinsin- I had a PICC line that clotted around it, 2 days after I had it put in, while I was on a dose of enoxaparin (another blood thinner given to most hospital patients while bed ridden to prevent clots). I had a clot at the beginning of April as well, also around my first PICC. Apparently, my body can't handle the foreign object and I clot. So no more PICC lines for me or ports... hoping my veins hold out. It's getting pretty tough to get an IV in me. The aspirin doesn't reduce my clotting factors enough
So I will follow your mantra... 'just keep swimming' until I am through all this.
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looks like I am not the only one not sleeping tonight! Hope I make it through my meetings tomorrow without making a poor decision or say something foolish, LOL!
I will watch the video, Sinsin, later when I can turn my volume on without disturbing DH sleeping soundly beside me. Thank you. Enjoy your scotch and chocolates:-)
Clarm, really hoping you can catch a break and have some easy rounds ahead of you. I don't have a picc or a port. I have to say they have found veins easy enough but I do have phlebitis in that arm and some of the veins are getting "tough" according to the phlebotomists doing my weekly draws. I have 7 treatments left.
Hang tough everyone!
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I agree with jhodro, get someone at a salon to professionally apply them for you. You don't want to be distracted by eyelashes that might not be applied correctly. I have never put them on myself, my daughter n law did the morning of the wedding and I haven't used them since. I will be in he same boat!
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So who has iced their fingers and toes? How did you or how are you doing it? After one treatment of four, I'm going to try it. I need to know the best way since I'm in the chair over 3 hours with this one. The doctor's office is almost 30 minutes away too, so keeping things frozen will be a challenge. My first treatment included seeing my MO so it started at 8:45 arrival and I left there are almost 3:00!
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Clarrn so sorry to hear that your journey seems to be getting harder and harder. I was on lovenox before and during each of my pregnancies, it was tough but I got used to it. The bruises didn't last very long. I don't have a port either and after my surgery on 8/11 I'm going to be down an arm for IV's to continue my herceptin until next April. So I feel your pain!! hoping you can catch a break at some point!
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HomeMom. You can always ask for ice there. That was a big problem for me too. I only iced my hands effectively. The contraption I came up with for my feet never really covered my toes. What I did was put frozen peas in 4 quart size bags, i then split the bags into 2 gallon size bags (2 in each). Starting about 10-15 mins before I would wrap my hands in bandanas and put them inside the gallon size bags in between the bags of peas and I would sink my fingers in. I iced 9/12 times, twice I forgot my peas and the last infusion I forgot all together. I'm 2 weeks PFC and I have minimal neuropathy in my hands and fingers. My feet are worse but still tolerable, it feels like I am wearing tight shoes all the time.
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They don't have any ice there. They even told me that they have not had many if any women ice their hands and feet. They kind of brush off the idea to be honest. They told me to take Glutamine powder with juice or water three times a day for the first five days, and that will keep neuropathy at bay. I don't feel any tingling or pain in my feet or hands, my nail beds at the bottom of my fingers are a darkish gray and I don't want it to get worse.
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HomeMom: Sorry they aren't supportive. Do you have a deep freezer? Or maybe a neighbor that night help keep whatever you use cold until you need it. The peas were good because you can shift them around and put the cold ones on the outside. Good luck!
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I have a freezer of course - not sure if a deep freezer is better then the run of the mill kind. I am concerned about keeping it cold enough to work given my travel time, doc time, and then the actual chair time.
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Homemom, I ice. I pack two quart bags of peas in ice in a cooler and they seem to stay frozen until it is time which can be several hours depending on the day. They are mush by the end of the treatment, though. I put on a pair of fuzzy socks my nurse gave me and set the pea bags on top. For hands the nurse gives me a pair of latex gloves and a bowl of crushed ice that I keep them in. I started glutamine last week and the neuropathy seems a bit better. Night of infusion (last night) feet and especially toes were burning and tingly but it is better today.
Right ankle through the heel and mid sole hurts today and is getting worse as the day goes on. I am limping. Not sure what it is related to. I did a step aerobic glass on Monday and was fine. Didn't do any exercise yesterday and was hoping for a nice walk tonight. I don't think it can be neuropathy, can it?
As for the lashes, if I can't get it done myself I don't think I will bother for the wedding. A little extra eye liner and keep my fingers crossed that the remaining lashes hold on. Lost more eyebrows today. Hope I can at least see my brow line to pencil in. I am just the aunt/godmother and not MOB so I can be a bit more of a wall flower. Although, my niece wouldn't mind if I switched wigs throughout the night to see who noticed. Lol!
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mmtagirl - how are your nails doing the the ice? In the recliner I'm not sure how I would keep the peas on my toes. My toes aren't changing color either, so that is interesting.
I had small pain in my ankle last night, I'm not used to any aches and pains so I hope the glutamine does it's job.
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Happy to report my lovely nurse threaded that IV on the first try LIKE A BOSS! My poor little vein held up the whole time. I love my chemo nurses!!0
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I was told that the ice and glutamine won't help the nails, only the neuropathy. My toe nails are fine but my fingernails are very week and starting to get ridges and my thumb nail has lifted. Otherwise, doing ok.
I also use a recliner and in a very inelegant way I prop my legs up with knees bent with a pillow on my lap. The peas rest on my feel and the bowl of ice is propped on my pillow. Nor pretty but it works. I see a niche market for better ergonomic chemo wear!
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So icing them won't help your nails keeping them from getting darker and lifting? I thought the darkening was part of the nails lifting. They told me it would grow out. I'm concerned about it getting worse as far as getting dark etc. I am in sales and people see my nails.
LOL at the business opportunity....hey, neccesity is the mother of invention right??
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