Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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BGH - Yes, me too! I started having pain in those same spots after chemo (lumpectomy site, sentinal node dissection site, and port.) It's kind of a flash of pain that comes and goes, not a constant pain. Fortunately for me, ibuprofen makes most of the pain go away. I see my oncologist tomorrow and plan to ask for Ativan to help with sleep because I have insomnia most nights and can't get comfortable.0 -
PatAlameda and Bondsy -- thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one with surgical site pain SE.
We live in the foothills of the Rockies, up a 4 mile gravel road -- right after both surgeries, the drive home was a grin-and-bear-it endurance challenge. But slowly post-surgery, everything got better, especially once a friend suggested that I keep a small pillow in the car to press against my chest. I'm back to using the pillow in the car after both chemo treatments. So far I've been able to ignore the discomfort on my almost-daily walks.
Applying a heating pad under my left arm against my scars is soothing. And there seems to be some evidence that heat can kill breast cancer cells -- with 11/13 + lymph nodes I figure I can use all the help I can get! So I'm typing away on my iPad tonight with a cozy warm armpit
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Bondsy, hope you get better rest tonight. I got a script for Ativan as part of my pre-chemo anti-nausea arsenal, but it also puts me right to sleep, too...a blessing on those days when my mind refuses to turn off.0 -
hi Ladies - it doesnt take long for the posts to add up when you dont check in for a few days
Wrenn i hope all went smoothly for you - you seem to have waited so long to get started i am sure i remember you posting in july or august - your profile pic makes you look like my mum !! So i am keeping a close eye on you !!
Sue, welcome from another Sue. No none of us wanted to be here. Hope the remaining TC goes smoothly for you - that trial will be so interesting to see the results of in 5-6 years time
To anyone interested i am now about 10weeks post TC and went to work for the first time without my wig!!!!!! hair is at least very thick and evenly spread. salt and pepper and not wavey at all !! Maybe 10-20mm not quite an inch yet - keep being told i should keep ot short !!
KBee get those last couple of days under your belt and dial in Christmas - i have lost about 8pounds on T. But chemo i ised to loose 3-4 pounds in week 1 and put it back on in week 3. I pretty much finished chemo exactly as i started. But Tamoxifen it is dropping off !!! Got to be at least onebenefit i guess
Stay strong everyone. Your finish lines are just around the corner
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I can't believe they would put an IV anywhere close to a skin infection; that is crazy and scary. It is frustrating when the different medical professionals do their own thing and do not always communicate or think beyond whatnis most convenient at the time.
NC, it is great to hear that you are doing so well. Thanks for the update. I am sure your hair is gorgeous.
BGH, It seems the Taxotere causes pain in any "weak" spot. i think I can feel every single prior injury i have had on those first few days after the infusions. I hope you get some pain relief.
Wrenn, I am glad it went well. I hope you keep feeling good. You are well on your way to healing!
My temp kept climbing last might, so they of course had me come in to the ER for a blood draw. temp was 101.5 when there. Of course that entails an IV, chest x-ray, urinalysis, and labs when you go to the ER. It would have been easier to draw them yesterday...or have me come in today. Nevertheless, 800 mg of Ibuprofen and a liter of IV fluid later, and I am feeling much better. The neulasta did its job, so betweeen that and the extra steroids I was on for nausea, my counts were elevated this time...better than last time when I had "less than 1 neutrophil.".
Hope everyone has a good day.0 -
kbee glad you did not end up staying in the hospital this time! Did they find what was causing the fever?
NC glad to hear that hear does come back. Although I buzzed my hair and most has fallen out. I has more fall out this morning. I guess I will be bald by the time the TC is done.
I had a good night sleep yesterday. I have a CPAP machine which I have not used since surgery and I slept with it yesterday. Viola woke up rested but of course still fatigued.
Going to go out today just to walk. Tired but ancy as well.
Hope all are doing okay.0 -
Wrenn, i am glad you are feeling good today. If you are up 8 pounds, you may want to call your MO, because you may be swelling, which can be a side effect from taxotere. it is temporary and goes away after treatment, but some people need a diuretic.
SC, They found no cause for the fever, which was frustrating, but I guess it is good that I do not have an infection. The xray tech was really puzzled by the tissue expanders! Apparently she had never seen them before. It actually was pretty entertaining to see her face. I had to explain to her that they in fact were NOT removable except by surgery.0 -
kbeee, you are extremely patient? It still surprises me the ignorance of so e people at their jobs.
If they don't teach that for their jobs maybe just curiosity and google information that they might be faced with at work. I a, 45 and always look for the older and more experienced nurses and techs.
On another note, I finally started walking yesterday, with my dogs, around two miles until it started pouring! I needed to start one day. I will do it again tonight!0 -
Hi ladies, following your posts. Getting kind of anxious to get started on the 3rd. I ordered my wig, wig cap and a couple of sleeping caps yesterday. Got my hair cut in to a bob Friday. Going to the dentist today. This still seems surreal to me sometimes; I guess that can be good or bad! I hope you all are having an easy time with your treatments. I know all of us have differents SE's. Can't they do a test to tell you which ones YOU will have before you start ??:) I mean, after all, they test us for everything else and what is one more test, wait, results...
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! I know I am thankful for having you here!
((HUGS))
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Keepthefaith, something my MO suggested is to get a flu shot before the chemo. Never had a flu shot before but got it and I guess it helps in not getting a flu during the treatments.0 -
Thanks Headeast: I did get that done last month, by her recommendation:)
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Hey Ladies!
So two things:
One: I have been sucking down Halls Sugar Free Cough Drops like crazy and they are really helping to keep my mouth feeling normal. Just a FYI if you want to try it! Something about the menthol I guess. I didn't start doing it until like day 4 after my first chemo and my whole throat was swollen but this time I got out ahead of it and I haven't had nearly as bad swelling or that weird icky taste in my mouth.
Two: do any of you have long wigs? I got a wig that looks just like my hair, and that's all great, but man it tangles like CRAZY!!!! And it's not easy to brush out either, I keep worrying about ripping the hair out. It's driving me nuts. Any one with tips? I keep meaning to call the wig shop but I too tired to talk to people today!
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sparkle is it human or synthetic. Synthetic wigs do tangle, what you could do is rinse with some downy fabric softener and it takes off some of the static. Also the heat of your neck will melt the wig a little and that does not help with the tangling.
I used to wear wigs for fashion purposes all the time, funnily enough, although I have a human hair wig, I have opted for scarves.0 -
Its synthetic. I'll look into that! Thank you!0 -
Sparklekat, I have used wig conditioner spray that you leave in. It helps a little; it does shed hairs here and there, but not too bad. My wig does tangle, but my hair used to tangle terribly, so I am kind of enjoying combing out the tangles without the pain! i might have to try the cough drops. The taste in my mouth is so disgusting, and I am sure i have the breathe to match...no matter how often I brush my teeth.
Headeast, Good for you for walking. it has been my sanity saver. It works for taking pain away better than any meds too...probably because it just distracts me for a bit, but nevertheless, I am thankful for them.
I followed up with mo's office today, as instructed and they said,"in hindsight, we probably should have seen you while you were there.". I am glad they at least acknowledged that.0 -
Thanks, Bluegrassharp. I saw my oncologist today and she recommended Ambien for my insomnia, so I got a prescription. I scheduled my port removal for two weeks after my last chemo (Dec. 6), and also scheduled my bone density test. Apparently which hormone I take after radiation (tamoxifen or arimidex) depends on the results of the bone density test. It was a productive day and feels like things are moving right along. Radiation will start on Jan. 6, the day I go back to my job as a kindergarten teacher. That should be fun.0 -
Okay I have to vent tonight. I just saw my MO today 6 days post 1st TC treatment. I told my MO that my boobs have been aching since day 1, my teeth, throat, mouth, and headache. I got the suggestion of talking to an otolaryngology and a dentist from my MO. My teeth are killing me, so the logical thing is I have nerve issues with my teeth and should see dentist, because the chemo won’t have caused that issue. My throat, tongue, and lymph nodes, have been swollen and raw since the first chemotherapy, of course chemo won’t cause that either I must have tonsil issues before chemo. I wanted to scream “I DIDN”T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE I GOT TOXINS.” Really?0 -
Oh FDM, I am so sorry -- I get the opposite reaction from my MO: complete compassion and dedication to eliminating the SEs anyway he can. You deserve better treatment.
Is there a nurse navigator or someone else you could talk to? Many of us on these boards get the sore throat and mouth sores -- that is a common SE, and if he is unwilling to admit it, I think I would give a piece of my mind to the guy! Maybe there is another MO in the group that you can see going forward? I urge you not to take this lying down, because the SEs can get more serious as you go along, and you will need the help of your medical team to work your way through this.0 -
Headeast -- I'm sure your dogs (schnauzers, I'm thinking!) were thrilled to have you back on the walking job. My sweet lab and mini-dachshund are my biggest exercise cheerleaders -- all I have to do is go near the boot bin and they are jumping up and down ready to go. Sometimes I go even when I'm aching, just not to disappoint them.
Keepthefaith -- your comment that "this still seems surreal" certainly resonates with me. I got my diagnosis almost 3 months ago, and I still wake up surprised some mornings. I wonder how long it will take until managing cancer as a chronic condition becomes the new normal, an integral part of who I am? It seems to require a different set of coping mechanisms than those my husband summoned in the face of his own serious acute health challenges (lung lobe removal, hip replacement, heart valve repair).
KBee -- glad you got that backhanded "apology" from your MO's office, although I'm certain it doesn't make up for those unnecessary hours in the ER. With that behind you, I'm thinking that you are -- hopefully, probably, almost surely??!! -- on the sweet uphill climb out of chemoland.
I'm really looking forward to having daughter and son here for Thanksgiving. Daughter is all excited about roasting a turkey for the first time, and so am I . . . excited about having her do the honors for the first time!
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fairydog, so whom did your MO recommend for your boobs aching? Ugh! My incision reopened after chemo, I guess your MO would have had me go back to the BS? (It reclosed btw). Fire him! Easy for me to say. It's not as though we women with BC are sick, stressed, vulnerable, physically weakened...0 -
Bondsy, it is wonderful to read about someone preparing for life after chemo! I was a middle school science teacher for a few years, and I'd expect that returning to the classroom will be a big positive for you. And it probably will make you tired enough -- in a good way! -- so that your insomnia might fade away naturally.0 -
My MO said she never heard of the issue with the boobs. They felt like the nipple and areola were on fire for 4-days. She was going to talk to my oncology surgeon. My one boob that didn’t have the cancer the nipple was erected. I’m really upset with the mouth issues, because the MO put me on antibiotics and steroids so I could breathe. I had a fever too almost had to call the ER. My next TC is December 11th, so we will see what happens to my throat afterwards. I guess tomorrow I will call my dentist about my nerves in my teeth. The MO could believe that I would have such sensitive nerves to the chemotherapy.0 -
FairyDogMother, if you look out your northwest window, you will see a little sparkling plume of smoke on the horizon, all that is left of the explosion of indignation over my house in Colorado when I read your post about your MO's response to your SE concerns! It's hard to believe any oncologist would pass the buck like that. I do hope there is some alternative MO you could transfer to. You deserve knowledgeable, compassionate and timely medical support on your chemo journey, not an MIA MO!0 -
Bluegrassharp- I needed that laugh tonight. I don’t know can I fire an MO while I’m doing treatments? Maybe I should wait this one out until the next round and see how my throat does then0 -
FDM, just read your most recent post. Your MO needs to spend some time monitoring the conversations on breastcancer.org to find out what a wide range of SEs we experience . . . and how to respond to new ideas with belief, genuine concern and some problem-solving creativity. Just MHO!0 -
Bluegrassharp, yes, my dogs loved the walk! They didn't care too much it started raining.
I think I am less scared about the chemo and its SEs now. Yesterday I walked for the first time, I had salmon for the first time and today I had a fresh salad for the first time.
I was so scared about the whole thing, the possibility of infections, SEs and the chemo itself I stopped doing so many things.
Next week is my last chemo and in my head it means I am finishing this and returning to my normal life. Or at least to my new normal.0 -
Headeast, I'm so happy that this will be your last chemo! Of course, we know from KBee's recent experience that the "last" chemo isn't over until the fat SEs sing their last %^*+! song!0 -
Some last thoughts, FDM, on the issue of sore boobs. While my lumpectomy site healed, it felt like I had a 3" piece of chalk in my breast, which hurt like h*** especially in the car bumping up our mountain road. Before chemo1, it had healed enough so it felt more like a 3" hunk of clay, an improvement for sure. But after chemo1 and again after chemo2, ALL my surgical sites -- including old dental work -- started to ache again. Even though I'm pretty sure the lumpectomy surgery was nowhere near the nipple, the discomfort extends that far and beyond.
When I described this in a post, several others reported similar SEs. KBee, bless her heart, replied, "It seems that taxotere causes pain in any weak site. I think I can feel every prior injury I have had on those first few days after the infusions." Since chemo is designed to attack rapidly dividing cells, it seems possible that cells in healing tissues would be affected, too. We have all undergone assaults to our "girls," so perhaps that is the basis for your boob issues. Just a thought.
In the meantime, my aching boob feels best when I sit in my comfy chair with a heating pad over a pillow pressed under my arm and over my lumpectomy site. Maybe this would make you feel better, too.0 -
FairyDogMother--- You betcha..... you can definitely get a new MO anytime.... even if you have already started chemo. I know someone that did just that because the onco was not very responsive to her phone calls for help when dealing with her side effects from this chemo regimen. Yes.... she was scared to do it at first but it was the best decision she could have made. The new onco addressed her concerns and side effects immediately and compassionately. She found a new onco before she changed doctors and then asked her old onco for copies of her medical records in person and waited there to receive them. Apparently, from what the staff at her new onco told her, she was not the first to leave that old onco. This road you are on is tough enough as it is and those on your medical team need to be a positive part of the team and not a hindrance. Wishing you the best....
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Regarding boob issues, my chemo was pushed back again but just two doses of steroids caused boob issues for me. I had an oncoplastic breast reduction and the skin around the aureolas became hot and pink. That tissue healed back in September so I was really confused. I'm scared of what the full course of steroids and chemo is going to do to my skin AND the recently closed wound from infection. My MO is watching that area like a hawk and keeps pushing chemo back because of it. She insists the skin needs to be stronger before we start. It may not hold up for all four TC cycles.0
