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Weekly Taxol group

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Comments

  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 232
    edited May 2017

    Taco1946 - The hair will start growing back all of a sudden. I had to shave my legs last week for the first time since mid October 2016! I'm 9 weeks PFC. My arm pit hair has not grown back at all.....

  • Bmac16
    Bmac16 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2017

    GlasgowGirl

    My sister in law went through chemo for colon cancer in England several years ago. Talking to her now, she didn't get a lot of the info I'm getting or as many options to manage side effects (I know it was different drugs)

    I have Taxol #5 tomorrow which is week 17 of 24 total. The end is within sight!

    I also am short tempered. Or is it I realized life is too short to tolerate things without speaking up LOL!

    I've noticed the chemo brain is getting worse. I keep misplacing things and finding them in odd places

  • GlasgowGirl99
    GlasgowGirl99 Member Posts: 44
    edited May 2017
    LOL Bmac16 - you are so right when you say we have realised life is too short for bull****!!!! Made me laugh when I read that 😂😂. It sounds like you have had a long journey already? Did you have 12 treatments already and now having another 12? I had my wound checked today and they are hoping the chemo will go ahead on Thursday! I am keeping everything crossed as I want to get down to single figures!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻 Telling people I "only" have 9 treatments left rather than 10 seems so much easier to me 😊😊
  • gginouves
    gginouves Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2017

    Number 8 Taxol/Herceptin is in the bloodstream! Only 4 more to go. I find myself being crabbier than normal, too. I'm already pretty outspoken, so I'm trying to rein it in. My sister invited me to stay at a lodge just north of San Francisco a couple weeks after my treatments are done. I'm glad she did, I grew up there and long to see the ocean and the redwood trees again. That should keep me from skipping a week to try to reduce side effects and just get-her-done. My kids are grumbling because they are not invited on this trip, but I want some quiet time as a reward for making it through this. Hopefully my digestive system will let me eat something besides bland simple carbs by then. Ghirardelli chocolate, here I come...

  • Taco1946
    Taco1946 Member Posts: 630
    edited May 2017

    Saw optometrist today - it's only been 6 months since my last check and there is "significant change" in my vision. Add another SE. I'm over two months post taxol so I think it's permanent.


  • Bmac16
    Bmac16 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2017

    KB870 I am there with you! I told my son I have no time for idiots or stupidity anymore!

    GlasgowGirl I had 4 rounds of A/C each 3 weeks apart before the weekly taxol. After the Taxol, I get 6 weeks of radiation. But I get 3 weeks in between treatments and I'm going on vacation for 10 days 🏝(With my Oncologists blessing

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited May 2017

    I have officially become a member of the weekly Taxol group with treatment 1 of 12 inthe books

  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 232
    edited May 2017

    Bmac16 - I went through the same treatment. I got a month off between chemo and rads but no vacation!

    KB870 - You made me laugh! I find my tolerance for people who complain about things (health, life, job etc) is zero. I've never had much tolerance for stupidity.

  • GlasgowGirl99
    GlasgowGirl99 Member Posts: 44
    edited May 2017
    gginouves - A lodge north of San Francisco with views of Redwood trees and the ocean? Oh wow! That sounds like bliss. Good luck with the last 4 Taxol - and of course no one is invited. This is for you and you so deserve the break and peace and quiet 😊

    Taco1946 - I am sorry to read about the changes in your vision. I hope it doesn't have a significant impact on your day to day living 😔

    KB870 & Bravepoint - I'm with you on zero tolerance although I still find myself biting my tongue when it comes to dealing with my family and asking them to take my mother for a while to give us a break 🙈. I am also for radiation after Taxol and hope to have a break before the end of the year 🤞🏻

    Dodgersgirl - welcome to the group. I am also a "newbie" but love coming to this site when I head to bed to read everyone's posts. And to make new friends 😘

    Am nervous about my port-a-cath insertion tomorrow and also worried they will put off Taxol #3 because there is still some spots of fluid coming from my lumpectomy scar (8 weeks post 2nd surgery). Fingers crossed everything will go as planned. Will let you all know tomorrow night 🤞🏻🙈😘
  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 232
    edited May 2017

    Glasgowgirl - Hope all goes well tomorrow!

  • Bmac16
    Bmac16 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 2017

    DodgersGirl. Glad you have round one under your belt!

    I am about to finish round 5, so far so good for me.

  • tinker-bell
    tinker-bell Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2017

    glasgowgirl

    I was nervous about the portacath too as you aren't completely asleep for it - I semi-woke up at one point and tried to open the tent they'd put over me - but I didn't feel a thing and wasn't scared and the surgeon did a great job. You actually feel very relieved once you see the Port in action, It doesn't hurt when they use it and it's so easy for blood tests and chemo. HTH!

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited June 2017

    thanks to those who sent well wishes! Will feel more confident after getting thru this week so I can get an idea of how Taxol will hit me. Had a routine for AC. Now need a routine for Taxol.

    I had issues with my port for 2nd time. You can push fluids without issue but they have trouble with blood draws. Had to have roto router flush again the get things going

    I did ice during Taxol. Fingers crossed

  • scrafgal
    scrafgal Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2017

    I've been lurking on this thread for about 6 weeks, after I found it. Normally, I am not shy, but I suppose that I wasn't sure whether I had anything impactful to say.

    I am doing #11 of 12 Taxols tomorrow. I will start FAC on mid June...every 3 weeks for 4 rounds.

    I thank all of you for the peace of mind and sense of community that you've provided me. I will try to participate more actively. I apologize for lurking and not contributing.

    So far, my Taxol experience has been decent, as others have suggested. I worry about FAC but need to close out Taxol first!

  • scrafgal
    scrafgal Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2017

    I've been lurking on this thread for about 6 weeks, after I found it. Normally, I am not shy, but I suppose that I wasn't sure whether I had anything impactful to say.

    I am doing #11 of 12 Taxols tomorrow. I will start FAC on mid June...every 3 weeks for 4 rounds.

    I thank all of you for the peace of mind and sense of community that you've provided me. I will try to participate more actively. I apologize for lurking and not contributing.

    So far, my Taxol experience has been decent, as others have suggested. I worry about FAC but need to close out Taxol first!

  • GlasgowGirl99
    GlasgowGirl99 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2017
    Hi everyone! I am about to rant so please forgive me😔. Got to radiology dept this morning all psyched and ready for my port when I was told that no, it's a PICC line we're inserting. That's what oncology have requested. After double checking when they realised how upset I was it was confirmed - it doesn't matter about your already extremely bruised and sore right arm and the horrendous experience you've already been through we're attempting it again. I was very upset, frustrated and angry but felt I had no choice but to let them get on with it. To be honest it was very straightforward but I couldn't even look at it without feeling sick for about 2 hours 🙈🙈.

    Anyway, as I had been to see BCN during week about the fluid leaking from wound and she had told me it was pre arranged in oncology for me to see a doctor before chemo I headed over to the onc dept. Once there I got my seat, ranted to them about the mix up in radiology and answered the usual questions. The nurse didn't mention seeing a doc and next thing they were putting up my pre meds. When I asked if there was anything in my notes about the doc checking my wound I was told no you haven't to see him this week but if you want to then you can???? I explained about my leak and they knew nothing. I was pretty pissed off by this stage (excuse my language). Seen a junior doc who said everything's fine, no problem with wound and take camomile tea for insomnia. I skipped out of room feeling very happy - Bring on Taxol #3!

    So I waited, and waited and waited. About an hour later I was called by the senior doctor. He took one look at wound, postponed chemo and sent me straight back to Breast Care for a dressing 😫😫

    I am now the proud owner of a shiny new Pico dressing with its own pump to drain the wound and hopefully help it heal. No chemo next week either and perhaps not even the following week 😡😳😳

    Anyone else had their cycle stopped then started again? I am pretty peeved this evening (that's an understatement) 😱😱😱
  • bareclaws
    bareclaws Member Posts: 246
    edited June 2017

    GlasgowGirl, it happens. You don't want to be having chemo, which lowers your ability to fight infection, on top of a wound that needs to heal. Get well. Then chemo.

  • stephaniebc
    stephaniebc Member Posts: 21
    edited June 2017

    i had my 12th taxol on tuesday, and a cocktail yesterday evening to celebrate (bad, i know). how long until my follicles recover? i am so so sick of being bald.

  • cdv4251992
    cdv4251992 Member Posts: 110
    edited June 2017

    Congratulations, Stephaniebc! I hope you enjoyed the cocktail, you deserve it.

  • cdv4251992
    cdv4251992 Member Posts: 110
    edited June 2017

    Glasgowgirl, I'm sorry it did not go as planned. My treatment was delayed for 5 weeks due to an infection. It's so frustrating, even more so when you started and now stop. It is important they get that cleared up, though. First things first, I hope you heal quickly.

  • stephaniebc
    stephaniebc Member Posts: 21
    edited June 2017

    thank you cdv4251992!

  • scrafgal
    scrafgal Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2017

    Congrats stephaniebc! Following in your footsteps with #12 next week!

  • tonyaberryman
    tonyaberryman Member Posts: 37
    edited June 2017

    Hi all! Had my first Taxol on Thursday, waiting for the SE to kick it.......11 to go

  • GlasgowGirl99
    GlasgowGirl99 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2017

    Thanks bareclaws and cdv4251992! know it's for the best 😊. Congrats to you steph! Am so looking forward to a glass wine at the end of this journey

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited June 2017

    had #1 of 12 Taxol on Wednesday. The fingers on my right hand and between my fingers are red and sore. But no queainess or bone pains yet.

    Feel much better than after AC 4 rounds. I know Taxol is cumulative but for now, enjoying an easier go with Taxol.

  • vlh
    vlh Member Posts: 773
    edited June 2017

    GlasgowGirl, my first chemo was delayed a month because of an infection related to draining a seroma. I had additional delays, one from a nasty infection in my eyelid and another because I was having weird visual aberrations and the oncologist wouldn't proceed until my ophthalmologist had checked my eyes.

    Scrafgal, we have to say something impactful? Too much pressure! Loopy But, seriously, I'm glad your Taxol is going well.

    Taco, sorry to hear about the vision snafu. Is it a deterioration in vision that can be corrected with stronger glasses / contacts?

    I'm still in treatment limbo waiting for insurance to decide whether they'll help pay for breast reduction surgery before proceeding to Radiation. I guess I should be more stressed about the delay, but nothing has gone smoothly with my cancer treatment and I'm still feeling super tired so I'm surprisingly calm about it.

    Lyn


  • GlasgowGirl99
    GlasgowGirl99 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2017
    VLH thank you - it is so good to hear I am not the only one who has had delays in treatment. Good luck with your insurance. Let us know the outcome.

    I need to settle myself for next couple of weeks and let my body recover. Was feeling so sick today. Pressure behind my eyes and nose and an upset stomach. Not at all pleasant. And that's without any chemo this week 🙈🙈. I am putting it down to yesterday's stress and the upset with the PICC line 😣. I have also started losing my hair. This came as a bit of a shock as I've only had 2 Taxol. To be honest it's the least of my worries today but I wasn't expecting it to start this early in treatment 😔😔

    Dodgersgirl and Tonyaberryman - I hope your SE are few 😊😊

    Scrafgal - well done - the finish line is in sight 🤗🤗
  • Taco1946
    Taco1946 Member Posts: 630
    edited June 2017

    I have new glasses ordered and am hopeful that they will correct my vision problems. I find myself relying on my current ones more and more when earlier I just wore them for computer work. Second month on hormone therapy. Have joint pain and often headaches in the morning but it clears fairly fast. Hasn't slowed me down much.

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited June 2017

    glasgowgirl99 - thanks for well wishes. Know this is a journey of ups and downs so enjoying the good days as they happen

    Hoping you feel better today. There is so much that we endure physically and mentally well beyond the just the day of chemo.

  • GlasgowGirl99
    GlasgowGirl99 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2017
    Just a quick message tonight friends!! Feeling so much better today. But hair is now coming out in
    handfuls and scalp is burning slightly and so itchy 😬😬. Think I will buzz cut it tomorrow. I would appreciate any thoughts you have!!

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