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Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013

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Comments

  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 856
    edited December 2013

    Virginia, glad you are feeling good today! Hoping your Tx goes well tomorrow and you have few SE's as well!

    SC, good luck on getting to treatment and PS tomorrow. Be safe~

    Hats off to you ladies going thru reconstruction. My heart goes out to you.

    ((HUGS))

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    keep - thank you so much for your kind words!!! :)


    Good luck tomorrow SC - I am hoping the weather cooperates.........haven't looked at a forecast myself...


    I am done with my fills - finished the week of my first chemo. My PS filled me as much as he was willing... Having had rads previously, I am a bit more limited in how far my skin will stretch. Oh Well, it is what it is....trust my PS implicitly. Will be much less chesty so I have been coming to terms with that. I guess that's the advantage of having to wait 8 weeks post chemo to have my implant exchange surgery!!! :)

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 393
    edited December 2013


    Virginia and SchoolCounselor, good luck tomorrow. One less to go, yay!

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 393
    edited December 2013


    Virginia, expanders hurt! Never hurt until this time. Not too much that i can't move, but they are uncomfortable. Two more expansions I think, before I get my exchange.

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    TY Headeast :). YES! The expanders are CRAZY - idk what I expected - but how i feel def is not :( it has been a huge huge adjustment for me. I was extremely uncomfortable when I woke up from surgery - my fills weren't terribly painful - I only got 60cc each time. My PS only placed a 500cc expander- he put 240cc in at surgery then 60 with each fill and stopped me at 480cc. I was a DD before and figure I will now be a full B (if that...). I am tall (nearly 5' 11") so I worry a little about being disproportionate.


    Anyhow - I digress lol. I am only FINALLY starting to feel like I can sleep on my side (I'm a side sleeper). Was so so uncomfortable in the beginning. And I swear the fluid would flatten out when I slept on my back (or tried to) and would be so uncomfy. They also feel like they are a bit under my armpits LOL - and so water balloonish feeling - coupled with the numbness and just feeling like Frankstein- tho EVERYONE tells me how gorgeous my incisions are....


    Guess being boobless and hairless makes me feel anything but gorgeous....


    BUT, as you say, 50% done tomorrow (chemo)!!!!! Whoooooo hooooooo! (And sorry for the rant lol)

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 393
    edited December 2013


    Virginia, I feel that half of my boob is under my armpit, I am not exagerating. My PS told me not to worry, that they need to be filled more. They are now at 325cc and although they ate not big, they look out of place!

  • schoolcounselor
    schoolcounselor Member Posts: 229
    edited December 2013


    I had DD and had a skin sparing mastectomy. I have flaps and skin under my arm pits. After the second fill, one TE sprung a leak, but as I am going through chemo it could not be replaced. So my PS keeps filling both sides every three weeks to coincide with my chemo week and the right side slowly leaks out..nit fully, but the huge divot in the left is gone but not the right. I've been smiling with him the whole time, but I will not settle for the largest breast I can get leak or not. Since I am halfway through chemo we will see how large I can get by beginning of February. I just want to not have any regrets with the reconstruction. He told me I would be a large C, small D. Pray tell how do porno stars get those breasts...sorry...but true....HappyI cant help think the message is just be glad you have breasts.....

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    SC - yes I totally agree - most important is to be healthy. I don't ask many (any) questions of my PS LOL (head in the sand much???). As I said I trust him implicitly and his reputation precedes him, so I am completely confident he will make me look as good as possible... It's just sooooo hard to imagine when I look at myself now. But, one step at a time, right?


    Sooooo sorry you are having issues with a TE leaking, but it sounds like you have a great attitude about it :)


    Do you guys know what kind of implants you will be going for??? I think I am going to do those cohesive silicone gel (gummy bear) implants...

  • schoolcounselor
    schoolcounselor Member Posts: 229
    edited December 2013


    I am going with the silicone, gel. I mentioned gummies to my PS and he was hesitant. My dad was a surgeon, so our deal from the beginning was for him to treat me like family...so based on a few things we talked about I decided on the gel.

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 393
    edited December 2013


    yes! No idea how porn girls do it! I think because it is not under the muscle it is easier for them. I was an A, so any change will be better. Not good with surgeries, scared of them, and now I had a major one and other minor ones more to come!


    I am going with the silicone gel as well. My PS is known in the area I am in and his work is very good. He told me he thinks the anatomic ones are for smaller frames, that i would need much more volume (in cc) on those to get the same result visually on the gel ones. I know they will come out beautiful!

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    Headeast - I too was completely and totally terrified of the surgery... My lumpectomy was so easy for me compared to this - was a same day surgery and I was back at work the next day. But this one, whoa, I felt like I was hit by a Mack truck lollllll. But you are totally right - the very worst part of it all us behind us as far as the surgeries go!!! Whooooo hoooo!


    Seems like gummies are most popular.........pple seem very pleased with them from what I have read.....

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    oh and lol RE the porn girls. Ended up on some crazy web sites when I was researching the implants and what some women do to themselves for purely cosmetic reasons made me cry for them....... It's such a crazy different context for sure.....

  • Headeast
    Headeast Member Posts: 393
    edited December 2013


    yes, crazy! I want them to match my body.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 695
    edited December 2013


    Wishing everyone headed to the chair this week minimal side effects. I am feeling apprehensive since i was supposed to get 6, and it was backed to 4 based on oncotype, no lymph nodes, etc. I am confident that is the right decision, but I feel like I should be headed there this week, and feel, in a way, like I am cheating or something. I can finally taste today, though, so I am glad about that.


    My final fill was last week. I am at 420 cc. On Dec 23, I go for my final consult with the PS where we will finalize type of implant, size, etc. My surgery will be at the end of January sometime. He wants the chemo to be completely out of my system to minimize infection risk. i was an A...barely B before, and I should be a B/C after surgery. If i had to go throuh this, i am very, very glad that it is during sweatshirt season here, not swimsuit season...the TEs look fine under a shirt, but they would look odd on me in a swimsuit. I will have about 3 weeks where i can return to full duy at work before the final surgery, and the TEs are not comfortable under an airpack (I am a firefighter/paramedic). PS says final implants will be better!


    thinking of everyone headed to BGC this week...hoping you are completely side effect free for the holidays.

  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 73
    edited December 2013


    Thanks, KBee for the good wishes. It's been mostly below zero here in Colorado for about a week now -- I figure the additional energy it takes me to keep warm makes up for the shorter walks I can tolerate!


    SC, you and I are on the same schedule -- I have chemo3 tomorrow, too. I'm more apprehensive about this treatment. My SEs from chemo1&2 -- upper body muscle and surgical site aches; hair loss, itchy scalp -- have not been too bad, especially compared to what you and others have endured! But I'm aware that my overall achy-ness and muscle fatigue from chemo2 have not subsided nearly as much as they did after chemo1. I don't like the trend line!


    Oh well, I know worrying about it won't help at all, so I think I'll just go read a trashy novel and pull a Scarlett O'Hara -- forget about it until tomorrow!


    VirginiaNJ, audra67, Joan, FDM, Setzand, and all who are (or might be having) chemo of any kind this week -- good luck, minimal SEs, and keep us updated on your progress!

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    LOL bluegrass - love the Scarlett Ohara reference :) yay for the kind thoughts - ready to get tomorrow in the books so I can say 50% done. Hugs to you as well on #3!!!! And as always wishing you minimal SEs as well!! xx


    SC, here's hoping we have just rain tomorrow!!! Good luck to you - and the others later this week.......


    :)

  • joanmj58
    joanmj58 Member Posts: 16
    edited December 2013


    Thanks Bluegrass! What a great memory you have. OK. Today is my first TC infusion. Am anxious. Will ask for Ativan or something similar. What should I bring??? Also, the only anti-nausea they gave me is Compazine! The reviews on this are not to my liking. They are trying to get me the S patch though--IF insurance will cover it. What do they give you in the IV for nausea? What works?


    Joan

  • schoolcounselor
    schoolcounselor Member Posts: 229
    edited December 2013


    Thanks ladies. We are in the middle of an ice storm and no salt truck has gone by yet. If there is no change by 8 am I will have to cancel the PS. Sets me back a month. But I will definitely be in the chemo chair at 10:15. Good luck Joanne, I found the anticipation is worse than the chemo. I do take a Xanax before I go, and the premeds make you drowsy. I'm in la la land for the whole infusion.

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    best wishes Joan! I believe I get Zofran in the drip (day of chemo). I had oral Zofran as well but did have a terrible headache and gas pains post treatment. My onc gave me compazine for this go round. I think it's just about finding what works for the individual....


    I usually bring my breakfast with me - my infusion center provides light (lame) snacks.


    Sc is right - the Benadryl makes u sleepy so I had no desire to read or anything. My sister takes me so we just visit and watch tv :)


    Best of luck and let us know how u make out.


    I go for infusion #2 @ 8:00 am.

  • schoolcounselor
    schoolcounselor Member Posts: 229
    edited December 2013


    Good luck Virginia!!

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    TY SC (hugs) just went outside to put the garbage out and pick up my newspaper and my driveway is a sheet of ice :( brain wedgie - my infusion is 8:30 lol. Drinking my water now!


    Be safe- crazy accident on the Bronx River Pway last night :O

  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 95
    edited December 2013


    Headeast-For me, caffeine brought on the flashes every time. Whether in hot tea or coffee...I still drank one cup of coffee in the morning and cup of hot tea at night..but if I kept to one..wasn't too bad. Now with the Remif..I have to drink a lot to feel.


    Joan-My oncologist prescribed me compazine and something else before hand...the reason I don't know the other name..is I never took it. I was not nauseous until my 3 rd one...I would take compazine in about 20 minutes..it was completely gone! For me, was wonder drug. The 4th treatment..I took compazine one every morning for 4 days..never did get nauseous. I was told if they didn't work that there were other ones and that in this day and age there were drugs to combat almost all the symptoms. Basically, the whole thing for me was feeling like I had the flu..I mainly took ativans and slept through worst of it. Joan, you will do fine. This is completely doable. You will learn from each treatment..By the time, I got to my 3rd one..the week before was like going on a trip...getting house cleaned, trip to grocery for all the things that I had been craving previously plus sweets..only thing that I could taste good..last thing, washing sheets and covers..so I could dive into clean good smelling bed...............Advice---do not eat anything that you might want to keep on eating..my Mom made me a homemade chicken pot pie and I ate on it for 2 days through worst of chemo..was very good..but now the thought of it literally turns my stomach, even though my mind tells me it was good...huge aversion to it. Also, my taste changed sausage..couldn't eat that..even when I was over symptoms nor steak..was horrible. I can report I can have those again.


    Virginia=As I was reading your post, I'm watching the Today show about the killer storm. You be careful!!! And good luck with your treatment.


    Kbee-Totally understand how you feel kinda like you cheated. When I got my 2nd opinion about radiation, I had been raising hell about how I was in grey area and the horrible side effects outweighing my chance of recurrence ..and on and on..the minute they said they agreed with me, I felt myself open my mouth to argue that!! ..(Luckily, they went into more detail and some concrete things that made me know they were right)...its weird isnt it.


    Well, yeaaaaaaa for no more!!!!!!!! I missed that post!....or memory is still not back quite as good.

  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 607
    edited December 2013

    Safe travels today for those who are venturing out and about and especially for those having chemo today.  Hoping for easy times in the BGC and minimal side effects. 

    Joan- I received Zofran, Benedryl and Ativan in my pre-chemo IV cocktail.  The Ativan was optional and I readily said yes to its addition to help keep me calm.  I know some have  pill Ativan prescriptions but I didn't.  The only time I had Ativan was with my pre-chemo IV cocktail.  Make sure you eat something before you go to the infusion center.  Those drugs in the pre-chemo IV cocktail can cause nausea on their own and the infusion nurses prefer that one does not have an empty tummy before administering it.  You can drink fluids during your chemo infusion.  If you need to get up to use the restroom, just buzz the infusion nurse and ask her to unplug your IV pole from the electrical outlet.  It is definitely okay to get up.   If it turns out that the Zofran doesn't work for you, you can ask the next time for some Emend in your pre-chemo IV drip.  Sometimes, the oncos will give that instead once it is determined that the patient is not handling the Zofran very well ( the insurance coverage and drug cost may be the reasons for not using Emend for the first infusion).   

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited December 2013


    thanks all!!


    phew - made it - actually the roads were fine - just a lot of mom-school traffic.


    Got a great nurse!!! She stuck me with one try.......ahhhhhhhhhhhhh the little things :)

  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 95
    edited December 2013


    Joan-Excellent advice from Melrose. I wish I had the ativan in my pre chemo cocktail. My first, I was so wired but exhausted in my brain..was awful feeling. One of the infusion nurses told me to ask Dr for the prescrip..but he just gave me the pills. They worked ok. I would take them after. It seemed after each chemo, it took a little longer for me to feel the effects of pre chemo meds (little longer meaning hours). To me, they were the worst, I hate that jittery feeling. You will do fine..and the first one is not that bad..just kinda getting use to it all. My 3rd one was by far, the worst. 4th was kinda like the 2nd. Weird. Good luck and sending prayers for easy SE your way

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 695
    edited December 2013


    Joan, I had Aloxi and dexamethasone in my premeds cocktail. Bring drink...hydrate, hydrate. Bring a blanket. our chemo room was cold, and the only blankets they had were thin ones...and no blanket warmer...probably the only place in the hospital without one. Also bring ice to chew on, and if you plan to ice your nails, bring some bags of frozen peas. And bring lots to drink...hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I liked having my iPhone and headphones, and my iPad, so I had something to do. most people say their infusion rooms were pretty packed. I must have gone at an off time. There were very few people at mine, and I was by the window, so no one was really around. I listened to my music, and played mindless games on my iPad. Mostly, the infusion is just very boring. Did I mention you should be sure to stay well hydrated ?!?! Good luck today. You will do great.


    Everyone be safe on the awful roads.

  • audra67
    audra67 Member Posts: 127
    edited December 2013

    Good luck JOan, Virginia, Bluegrass!  I do agree the drinking is key, seems this TC sucks the water right out of me, I drank a ton this time and wake up in the am dehydrated feeling!  It is ODD...

    I am hoping to get my neulasta shot today as roads seem to be melting and apt at 3...

    Have been taking Claritin since Thursday (overkill)...Had lots of body aches yesterday and tired, just feels like a flu...can't imagine the nuelasta being worse and hoping it's not!!

    Have a HUGE rash around my port incision as I used a bandage waterproof to cover it when I shower...allergic to the tape part and it is causing me the most discomfort today...tickly and itchy. But at least my arm isn't infected this time, right?  Trying to be happy for little things.

    Interesting how white my scalp is, having never seen the sun...I try not to look at it too much, sortof creepy...I still have hairs here and there and then white white scalp...

    I hated the expanders too and they were in my armpits, switching to implants definitely better.  I got the gummies and the only drawback is they are freezing cold...they actually feel cold to touch when cold out, haven't had them in sunshine yet so maybe they warm up in warm weather too...they feel way comfier and not in armpits at all....so I definitely am happy with them.  I was a 32dd before and those bras are too big so I think I must be a cc or a d now...still big enough and my husband is amazed and thrilled with how good they look..(of course)..

    Happy day to all and hoping all have minimal side effects!

  • joanmj58
    joanmj58 Member Posts: 16
    edited December 2013


    Thanks for all the pointers everyone! I am in the chair now--received some Ativan and premeds stuff like steroids and Aloxi. The port has been great--healed nicely. Now the taxotere drip is going, then the Cytoxan. Should be here. Two more hours. Nurse is really good and informative! Calculated that my hair should fall by December 24th. No problems with that. 2nd TC treatment will be December 30th. More soon.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,400
    edited December 2013


    Audra - cover or wrap with Glad Press 'n Seal wrap when you shower. No problems w/tape on your skin. I showered 24 hours after every surgery by covering this way.


    Headed in for blood work & to see the MO this afternoon. Hemoglobin was so low last Monday they wanted to do a transfusion, but I asked them to wait until today's tests. So... it's either 3rd chemo Wednesday or off the hospital for 2 units of blood. Sure hope it's chemo. And isn't that funny - hoping for chemo.

  • Bluegrassharp
    Bluegrassharp Member Posts: 73
    edited December 2013


    I'm in the chair now, too. The visit with my MO and the research coordinator was positive -- they seem really happy with my progress and of course that makes me feel optimistic.


    One weird thing is that my WBC before chemo2 and today as well is actually higher than my baseline count before chemo1. Has this happened to anyone else on this thread? My MO says my WBC is actually going down during nadir, but bone marrow is working overtime afterwards to rebound. One bad thing (among many) about BC is that it has made me kind of paranoid even about "good" news. I'm of course happy not to need neulasta, but I have this secret worry that something isn't right with the treatment if my WBC isn't low -- how irrational is that???


    Anyhow, I'm feeling fine and hope everyone else in the chair today is doing well, too. SC, I hope the weather did not give you any (more) trouble this morning!

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