Cytoxan Taxotere Chemo Ladies- February/March 2013
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FairyDog - good heavens, how can you remember all those individual things? I'm hopeless at going back & then loosing posts. Met RO today as a matter of fact. Mapping & simulation tomorrow. Will have External Beam to chest wall & 3 levels of lymphatics starting next week.
Congrats on your good news. No seven weeks - woo hoo. It will be interesting to hear about 'inter-breast' radiation.
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Thank you all. It's called intraoperative-radiation-therapy I couldn't remember the name of it. I found this on it. My age was a big factor for doctors not wanting to do it.
I go back and read the old post when I haven't been able to post a while. Last chemo kicked my butt took my 9 days post chemo to feel 50% normal.
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Fairy. I am do happy for you.
Momat. Sorry about the weather.
Susan a bug bite wow!!
Warrior, head and Audra. How are you ladies.
I have been hospitalized since yesterday with an infection in my left TE. I am on IV antibiotics every 8 hours. They are also culturing my blood.
My sense is I will be here at least 4 days...sigh.
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SC, I am so sorry to hear that you ar ein the hospital with an infection in the TE. I hope that those antibiotics kick the infections butt and that the TE can stay in place. You are in my prayers.
Wishing minimal side effects to all of you on this chemo journey. Each day that passes is one day closer to the finish line.
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SC - I am hanging in there but I am so sorry to hear of your uphill battle. When will this end? You've been through enough already.
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so sorry to hear that SC! I hope it clears up fast and you're home zippity quick!
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SC- I hope your body will heal soon. I hope your mind gets some rest. Big hug.
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Hi ladies,
Back fromTuscon. Had a great time with family.
SC, hoping you get out of the hospital soon! So sorry you are going through such a hard time.
I am not going back to the rest of the posts, but I hope everyone is doing well!
I have my last TC next Tuesday. Trying to get my mind set and it's been harder to do this time, even though I know it's my last one. SE's are minimal right now; I sure do get tired easily with the smallest exertion and I think chemo brain is kicking in; becoming forgetful. I'm sure these will pass.
Have a great week-end and keep the SE's at bay~
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Keepthefaith, you are almost DONE!
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Hi all,
I was on vancomycin and zosyn. They just changed it to dapromycin. Looks like I will be here until at least Monday. I had a meltdown today and needed an anti anxiety. I am so done.
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Fairydog= That's FABULOUS news!!! happy for you!!!! My first BS I saw here in Plano used the inter radiation and wanted to do lumpectomy...I instead chose mastectomy in Colorado with our friend PS...but the inter radiation seems the new and great thing...yay for you!
SC- I am so sorry you are in the hospital, good grief you have been through a lot! I am praying for your quick and safe recovery...
I am doing OK, 3 weeks post and still exhausted with doing things. Went to P.T./lymphedema specialist again this am...I had congestion in back behind arm pit area and arm pit...after 1 session of drainage it was gone and T am going 3x/week all month, so hoping for good things...she thought it was not healed after surgery kind of congestion and not lymphedema, hard to say until next week for sure....she also gave me exercises to do on a roll thing...excited about moving forward and having something concrete to do...I need to get a pedometer to record miles and get better...
The tiredness is annoying...went home and showered then went shopping with my daughter and her friend and lasted 3 hours and absolutely exhausted..just from walking around...AMAZING!!
My fingertips just heeled over from peeling and my sore feet are a little better- not so painful , still red...My hair is growing a little all over...
Still having heartburn/stomach pain occasionally, tonight after eating taco with hot sauce...and I quit Prilosec last week...
Just wishing I could get better quicker...I feel like this has been such a LONG haul..
To those of you getting radiation: This P.T./lymphedema person said that EVERYONE that gets radiation needs to see a lymphedema specialist as that adds risk to getting it...plus lymph node removal of course...but she said a lot of BS or PS or MO's do not ever recommend it and the ladies show up too late as if it's caught early is more treatable..?? Just her opinion and I thought you all should know...PLUS it feels like 'light massage' and is nice..:) AND our insurance covers it (Aetna)
GET WELL SC!!!
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SC, how about a scream "this sucks!"
FairyDog, I had an iort dose during surgery, but still have to do rads. Iort is great: you feel nothing, not even anxiety! I highly recommend anything done when you're under anesthesia...
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Oh SC, so sorry! You are such a warrior -- I am in awe of all that you have battled and conquered in this journey. (((Hugs)))
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I have now been in the hospital since Wednesday with no end in sight. You know that strength that they say of we dip down and find it? It's there.... I'm still looking for it. I have unraveled in a wAys I did not think possible. Cancer and all that is part of it SUCKS!!!!!!!!!
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SC I'm so sorry! What has to happen in order for you to get out?
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My left TE is infected. I have been on antibiotics since Monday. They are doing a blood culture on my draws daily so far nothing. All my docs want to preserve the TE.y exchange fate is the 21st. I think they want me on IV antibiotics until at least 5 days prior to the surgery. So here I am.
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Oh SC - I'll keep you in my prayers for a positive response to the antibiotics and smooth transition to surgery.
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SchoolCounselor, I am praying for you. Find strength, breath, fight it mentally. Our minds are stronger than our bodies.
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Hello Everyone! It is 3:45 AM and today will be my last TC chemo. I am awake because nauseous but that can be from stress of no power and floods. Power came on Friday afternoon here on my side of the street in Blue Bell. I walked into my home and fell asleep on a chair for hours. Then I spent these days before chemo cleaning out fridge, food shopping & chloroxing floors. But I am home!!! Winter is tough time to have chemo!!!! Winter chemo should have its own name.
Forgive me if I miss responding to individual posts or am a bit confused. SC, are you still in the hospital ? FairyDog, grand news! I think I missed some news from audra and Warrior. I will try to reread and wait to hear too ! And I look forward to news from everyone, even if to hold you up. I am sorry for inconsistency.
The hardest thing for me this week was the unfathomable fatigue through this storm disaster. I broke down in the hotel because no matter how strong I would normally be, there was not one iota of strength left. Not one tiny strength cell.
I usually feel robust with steroids but this time, just exhausted.
But, tomorrow is the end of chemo. For that i am grateful
Hugs, momat
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great news momat. I will be thinking of you in the chair. Thanks head and minus. I think what overwhelmed me the most was the loss of control and all the unknown around me.
Thanks for sending me your strength, it helped me get through the day. I think I hit my rock bottom yesterday and the only option is up!
Hopefully, I'll have more news later. Did I mention the antibiotics have given me a yeast infection?
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SC, I hope you are improving as each day passes....yeast infection, go away!
momat, congrats on your last TX! Will be thinking of you today. Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time and had to leave your home in the midst of all of that you are going through. The weather has been grueling this year.
I go for my last TX tomorrow. I am seriously considering not taking the Taxotere. Will talk to my MO tomorrow. I think she will be okay with it, since she wasn't sure I needed chemo anyway. Plus, I do not want to take any more steroids. I think the fatigue and lack of energy is getting the best of me. My legs ache with the slightest movement. Sorry for whining...poke me with a fork... I think I am done!
I hope we can all make the best of this week and keep the SE's minimal. This too, shall pass.
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SchoolCounselor- Hope you get this infection knocked out soon. The infection has got to go!!!!
Keepthefaith-- I know you are tired and fatigued and feel like you have had enough. Just have to keep pushing forward. What you are physically feeling.... the tiredness, the fatigue, the achiness..... yes it's the chemo. I know it's hard but please keep muscling through this hard time. Have to remember you will not stay in chemoland forever, you are almost done!!!! So tomorrow after that last chemo, ring that bell really loudly so everyone can hear that you have finished chemo.!!!!
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momat927 and those finishing chemo--- Happy Dance and Congrats!!! Time to recover from the adventure in chemoland and on to what is next.
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The verdict is in. Surgery tomorrow to remove the affected TE. Then do nothing for two months, until I am fully healed. I am going to be lopsided!
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SchoolCounselor- Good luck with the surgery!!!! Thinking of you. As for being lopsided, it's okay. I had a UMX without recon in March 2012 and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. Please try not to fret about that. Just have to get well!!!!
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Oh SC - I know that's a hard thing to hear but you really need to get rid of the infections. Hope the surgery isn't too hard. Be sure to tell them to give you a scopolamine patch if you tend be nauseous in recovery & afterwards. I know there are other ladies who have been through what you're facing and hope they'll chime in soon. I'll keep you in my thoughts & prayers again tomorrow.
KeepTheFaith - I had a friend who recommended coming off the steroids more slowly. Two the day before. Two the day of chemo. One the next day. One the day after that. I found I didn't have such a large crash.
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I haven't had the energy to post recently, but I read every day and think/pray for each of you daily. You all keep me grounded -- it's a blessing to know we can all express our deepest individual fears and always get back responses from the group that help us face them with courage, hope and (often) humor!
The good news from me is that I had my sixth and last TC infusion today! The last 3 weeks have been a little rough -- constant muscle aches head to toe, ankles swelling, breathlessness -- my 94-yr old mother calls it "...that do-less condition." But because I do read everyone's posts, I know how lucky I really am -- no nausea or infection or family upset. I figure the next 2-3 weeks will be unpleasant and even more "do-less," but I'm trying to stay focused on leaving the chemo waste land next month, and on to challenge of rads.
((Hugs)) and minimal side effects this week to all of you!
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A Funny Bald Story: So I'm driving home from my last chemo today, exhausted and a bit fearful over the immediate future; and then I get stopped by a hidden cop car for doing 15 over the 30 mpg speed limit! My first thought -- well, really my second thought -- was that I was well and truly screwed because a lab tech had told me 2 weeks ago that my driver's license had expired on my birthday in January! I confessed this immediately to the cop as I handed him all my paperwork; whipped off my hat to reveal my shiny bald head; and explained that I just hadn't felt good enough to renew it due to last chemo for BC today. In the end he just gave me a warning and a lovely story about his mother's successful fight against BC -- so there can be good even in baby-butt baldness, ladies!
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SC - thinking of you. Lopsided (temporarily) but out of the hospital
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Hi,all! Had 4th treatment of TC chemo yesterday out of 6 treatments--so I am halfway there! Good news is that I have had very minimal side effects and no neuropathy, bone pain etc. Get the neulasta shot today. Take Claritan--that REALLY helps! After session 6 is finished I start on Tamoxifen. Then a PET scan. That makes me nervous! Hoping everyone is on the upswing!
Joan
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