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Weekly Taxol group

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  • jwlindakay
    jwlindakay Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2013

    Hello All,

       I'm about to join your group as of next Tuesday. I'm having a port placed Tuesday am and then going to onc dr for first taxol/ herceptin treatment. I'm hoping to drive myself as I have to be at surgery center at 6:30am and DH doesn't do getting up early very well. Is this a good idea??...all the places are within 2 miles of home. I've enjoyed reading all the posts, especially the se's. I've not had previous chemo. Hoping it goes well with no bad reaction.

  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 784
    edited February 2013

    Hi jwlindakay.  Welcome to the club you didn't want to join.  Tongue Out  My port placement was a surgical procedure, and although I didn't have anesthesia they did give me propofol and I was completely out.  They did not want me to drive myself.  I have read of others who were awake during port placement, and maybe in that case it's OK to drive.  Are you going directly from the port placement to your first chemo/herceptin?  Sounds like a long day.  I would strongly suggest you get your DH out of bed for this!!!!

  • bcfree2013
    bcfree2013 Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Jwlindakay, port placement is surgical procedure. For me, they won't let me have it if there is nobody to pick me up after the procedure.

  • PeggySull
    PeggySull Member Posts: 368
    edited February 2013

    One thing anyone with cancer has to learn is to ask for help even if it causes others to come out of their comfort zone.



    Port placement is too painful not to have some kind of anesthetic, conscious sedation at the very least.



    My oncologist said I would need a ride to and from every chemo appt. my husband has to leave work to do this. If he complained about this in the face of breast cancer, well, that would be his problem, not mine.



    Hope this isn't too harsh but cancer is not a "do it yourself" disease. Tell your husband the truth which is doctor's orders that he drive you.



    Peggy

  • Skigirl72
    Skigirl72 Member Posts: 180
    edited February 2013

    I had twilight sedation for my port placement. I was awake and very drugged. No way would I have been able to drive. They wont allow the surgery if you come alone. Wake the hubby. You can not fight this thing alone. Surgery is surgery... you need to have a driver. BTW, the whole procedure for me was quick and I was in and out of the operating room in about 30 minutes. Pre-op to discharge was like 3 hours. You will be very sore. My surgeon said I was going to feel like I got hit in the shoulder with baseball bat. He was right. I was sore for about a week. Good luck to you!

  • Mwilson
    Mwilson Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2013

    CelineFlower.... I'm so sorry that your having such a hard time. I also have 4 more to go and I agree with you, so ready for this to end!! I'm so tired and feel weak most of the time. It sucks for sure! It's almost over for us...hang in there:)

  • CameraKim
    CameraKim Member Posts: 33
    edited February 2013

    I just wanted to pop in and say Taxol was certainly easier for me than A/C. I had the dose dense version every two weeks along with Herceptin. I had allergic reactions during two treatments (spooky), a few bone aches and my eyelashes, eyebrows and nails aren't looking very good, but after just two treatments of Taxol, my tumor couldn't be felt anymore. 

    Good luck to all going through this right now...you can do it!

  • Macho-Mouse
    Macho-Mouse Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Yes... Still here jayjayc!! I've been popping in and out :) I had my 2nd taxol/herceptin treatment today. It's going fairly well. So far tired... Lethargic... But very very mild. Craving red meat, which I don't ever tend to eat. Carbs... I hear this is how it is when you're prego?... Random odd cravings... Thank you for thinking of me. I've been keeping up with reading everyone's stories. Just layin low on the postings. So thankful I'm not alone :) xoxoxoxo

  • jayjayc
    jayjayc Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2013

    jwlindakay,



    Welcome to the tuesday spa day club (and I'm so sorry you had to join). I just had my 5th TH today and it looks like we have a very similar dx. I've driven myself to and from every treatment without any problems...... I get the pre-meds first, followed by an hour of taxol, finished up with 30 minutes of herceptin (90 minutes the first time)...... I'm VERY relaxed and sleepy during the taxol because of the pre-meds (closed eyes and not interested in talking which is rare for me)...... but manage to "wake-up" and get pretty normal during the herceptin, so by the time I'm done I'm good to go.....



    I did not get a port (rather do the weekly sticks instead of two more surgical procedures, but if it's like the out patient lumpectomy you shouldn't drive....... you can always do what I did for the lumpectomy surgery....... drive yourself there and have DH pick you up, then get your car later

  • jayjayc
    jayjayc Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2013

    macho-mouse,



    Glad to hear that your're okay..... 2 down you're 1/6th of the way YEAH

  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 69
    edited February 2013

    Celine.  It's the Taxol.  It takes huge effort to get up and get dressed.  If I walk 20 feet, I have to sit and rest,  Is there anyone who can help you?  Hang in there. you can do this.  Hugs.  This too shall pass. 

  • CelineFlower
    CelineFlower Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2013

    thank you for you heartwaming words...

    yes i have a good support system... but not day time.... everyoe works... except my eldest DD but she is about to give birth any day now..

    today is treatment day... and i have not recovered from last week ...no more good days... sigh

    after today... only 3 left..

    being sick puts me in such a dark place... you all are a bright light... thank you

  • jwlindakay
    jwlindakay Member Posts: 12
    edited February 2013

    Thank you all for your advice. DH will be taking me to the port placement and then to Rx. I'll see about driving to further treatments when I see how I feel afterwards. Damn, a whole year down the drain, but I'm looking at it as an educational experienceeLaughing.

  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 784
    edited February 2013

    jwlindakay, I'm glad your DH came around.  Cool 

  • ridergirl
    ridergirl Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2013

    jwlindakay you will become an expert on things you never wanted to know about before you are done.  I have and still am learning as I go.  Glad you found us, there are a lot of wonderful women on these boards who will be with you every step of the way.  Glad DH is going to take you to your port placement, I opted not to have one so I can't say anything about the procedure itslef but I always get someone to come with me when I'm having something new done just in case. Hope its simple and as pain free as possible for you.

  • Waitingforthenextstep
    Waitingforthenextstep Member Posts: 124
    edited February 2013

    jwlindakay,

                      I found that the Benadryl I get in the pre-meds makes me very drowsy.  I drove myself home once after a treatment, but I thought my reactions were a bit delayed.  Don't want to take a chance, so my husband picks me up after I am done with tx's.

  • Cindi74
    Cindi74 Member Posts: 69
    edited February 2013

    For the day I woke up SAD, and the day I woke up FEAR  (little black cloud over head like 

    I remembered Education research that proves that your brain is working while you are sleeping.

    So I decided to give my brain happy things to think about.  I ordered happy books from audio.com and go to sleep with them playing at night.

    The first book was 1000 years of Laughter,  Then, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House.  A great help has beem Garrison Kieler podcasts, Lake Wobegonb monologues.  Free to down load (google it).  Days I still feel achly, blah. fatigue.  But no SAD or FEAR or DEPRESSION.  I go to sleep listening (cheap earphones from Radio Shack. thin with foam covers), and if I wake up to go to potty in the night, I go back to sleep listening.  I stayed with the happy stuff at first, but then I did I'm Not Crazy About my Neck,  Bossy Pants, Anna Karenia, and The Emperor of all Maladies.  I'm on How the Mind Works now.  No depression or anxiety except on chemo day when I take an anxiety pill to calm my exasperation with the waiting room waits.  One more to go. 

    I end up listening to the books several times, guessing where I went to sleep to start over.

     Maybe some of this will help you Hugs.

  • 5thSib
    5thSib Member Posts: 119
    edited February 2013

    Jwlindakay, I can't imagine having port placement and treatment same day. Call your MO office and ask for numbing cream before the treatment. The benedryl makes me sleepy so I have someone go with me.



    I'm off to treatment 4. Have had muscle pain in my back the last few days and had some bone pain last night. Otherwise Monday thru Wednesday have been pretty good.

  • CelineFlower
    CelineFlower Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2013

    i had port placement and treatment same day... no need for numbing cream, the area was still frozen..

    tho i have not needd numbing cream for any of the treatments i was glad the first one was numb

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited February 2013

    Shirley~I finished my final AC last Friday. Now it's day 7 and I haven't had nearly the SEs I had with #3, but yesterday & today the backs of my thighs & calves have been so sore (also the bottom of one foot). I can barely stand long enough to make a cup of coffee.



    Usually today & tomorrow would be spent peeing out all those steroids. I got up at 3 am to go to the bathroom and noticed my legs are very swollen. Maybe it's just those fluids needing to let loose.



    Has anyone else had this with AC?



    Blessings

    Paula

  • Mama23
    Mama23 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2013

    Hello,

    I am 30 yrs old, I have 3 kids, don't smoke,or drink. Breast cancer does not run in my family yet I have it. Is there anyone out there my age going through this? If so I have been having some issues since I've been on Taxol and Herceptin. It has put me into menopause I guess? I have hot flashes, cold sweats, I am also having urinary issues. A few times a week I constantly feel like I have to pee, and have pressure. I also have had some vaginal burning. I have seen a urologist and GYN that have ruled out UTI and bacterial infections. My oncologist really has no answers for me on this issue and it's very upsetting for me. Is anyone having similar issues? If so please help!!



    Thank you,

    Corey

  • jayjayc
    jayjayc Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2013

    mama23,



    I'm so sorry you're part of this club...... I actually thought I was pretty young for this horrible battle (I'm 49) but have learned there are a lot of you real younguns out there....



    I had burning when I peed after the 1 and 2 taxol/herceptin and was checked for UTI's... after they came back negative I was told it's the chemo leaving the building..... since then I've increased my water intake and added light craneberry juice once a day....... things seem to have gotten better......... but even though you did not have a uti this time keep having it checked if it gets worse because a lot of ladies have gotten those from the chemo....... and I know you're probably sick of hearing this but hydrate hydrate hydrate...



    I was on birth control when I was dx and they had me stop...... so that caused serious hot flashes for about a month...... those had tapered off right before I started the chemo.... I have had some rare incidents with hot flashes on treatment but I think those have been caused by the pre-med steriods...... no cold sweats but I also haven't had a period since I stopped birth control in November....



    These boards have been an unbelievable source of information and encouragement for me.... so keep reading and when you have questions ask......



    And hang in there...... it might not feel like it now but you WILL get through this...

  • Mama23
    Mama23 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2013

    Jayjayc,



    Thank u so much for responding to me. I'm just so happy that I'm not alone or crazy! After I got shot down so many times from the doctor I was thinking I was going crazy! I am also not a person that needs to drink, I can go two days without drinking anything. I have to go in for hydration twice a week. I have noticed though that when I push the fluids myself that the peeing and burning sensation isn't that bad, now of course that I said that I will have jinks myself! That you again for responding!

  • jayjayc
    jayjayc Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2013

    Mama23,

    Like I said that's what these boards are for...... you wouldn't believe some of the questions I've asked and the awesome answers I've gotten.......  NEVER SUFFER IN SILENCE...... we are all in this together.

    And not to be a nag..... BUT YOU MUST DRINK TONS OF WATER..... minimum 2-3 litres a day...... and honestly the more you drink the better you'll feel. I've always been a big water drinker and I've even had to increase the amount and add some juice to the mix...... and I had to cut way back on my iced tea .. used to have several LARGE glasses for lunch... now I limit myself to one small glass...... and boy was that tough... but anything that makes this journey easier is worth it....

    Please feel free to ask questions, whine, whatever you need to do...

  • Macho-Mouse
    Macho-Mouse Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Hey Mama,



    I'm 33 yrs old and was dx in 10/2012. My sister in 10/2011 who is 2 yrs older than me. No family history whatsoever. No kids. Light drinker. I have gone thru 2 treatments of taxol with herceptin. I have had very little side effects fortunately. There was a lot of things I changed/modified before starting chemo. My diet for one. I thought I was a healthy eater but you'd be surprised. Hang in there... Sorry you're going thru this.

  • Eric7935
    Eric7935 Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2013

    Hello,

    I am not sure if husbands are welcome here, but my wife does not want to read these boards.  My wife finished four AC doses and just started 12 Taxol treatments yesterday.  I feel relieved for how much better she is feeling compared with the AC!

    Looking forward to learning from all of you, as I try to help her.  She was found to have triple negative at 52 years old, had bilateral m then started her visits to the "candy store".

    One really interesting thing is her changing appetite, almost like when she was pregnant!

  • Macho-Mouse
    Macho-Mouse Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2013

    Hi Eric, 

    Welcome. It is really great of you to join to help your wife thru all this :) I just had my 2nd week of taxol and I found myself eating things I never really craved before. I've never been pregnant but my hubby (who has kids from a previous marriage) said I was eating as tho I was :) Your wife is lucky to have you :) Happy Valentine's Day!

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Member Posts: 942
    edited February 2013

    Eric~Welcome!!! We welcome all BC Warriors as well as those who help them through this journey.



    I just finished AC myself last Friday, and starting the 12 weekly taxol on March 1. I'm so glad to have AC in my rearview mirror.



    Your wife is very blessed to have a man like you at her side!



    Blessings

    Paula

  • Skigirl72
    Skigirl72 Member Posts: 180
    edited February 2013

    Hi Eric- So glad to see she (and you) are through AC. I am heading in for #3 AC tomorrow morning. I will start Taxol at the end of March. My appetite has been all over the board. I don't have alot to add just yet as I haven't started Taxol yet. AC hasen't been to bad for me. I take the meds as the docs tell be and so far just some annoying SEs. No nausea that stops me in my tracks. (knock on wood and rub a rabbits foot). I have learned a lot on these boards. Welcome to the ride no one wants to be on!!

  • Mama23
    Mama23 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2013

    Thanks JayJayc! I'm sure I will be whining a lot!



    Macho-mouse, I'm glad your not having a whole lot of side effects from the taxol/Herceptin combo. I still can't believe this is happening, I look in the mirror and don't even recognize myself anymore. Thanks for sharing with me!



    Eric7935, You reading all of these posts shows how much you care about your wife, this is an emotional roller coaster, just have patience.

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