Starting Chemo June 2014
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Call the Cancer Care line at Susan Komen they may be able to help. 1-877-465-6636.
Also I called the company who makes the Neulasta shots and got a card to help pay for that.
Good luck!!!
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Hi ladies - Round #3 was in the books yesterday. Nausea started while I was getting my infusion. Ugh. Yesterday was by far the worst nausea I've experienced to date. I came home took a nap, and somehow managed to drag my sorry ass off the couch long enough to go to my monthly Bunco group last night. I think it helped keep my mind off things for a while to be surrounded by an awesome group of ladies. Came home and the nausea hit hard again as I was trying to sleep. Feeling okay this morning, so far. Knock on wood.
I've been having a horrible time with night sweats, so I warned the bf that I was going to turn the A/C to frigid and he might want to bundle up! 67 is what I put my AC on last night and I still woke up several times in a puddle of sweat. And that's with the bald head getting chilled by the ceiling fan AND the chilly air. Sigh. Has anyone tried a Chillow - or cool pillow insert, or something? This is just getting ridiculous.
Leaving here in a bit for Neulasta. Then it's pretty much the couch for me the rest of the weekend, as things go as they have the first two rounds.
On the plus side, my BFF will be here in 4 days! Her trip was scheduled before all this came about, and I'm so happy that she's still coming and it's in between infusions, so hopefully I'll feel pretty darn good most of the time she's here.
Hope everyone feels better today!
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With my first AC I drank a lot of water the day before, day of, and day after. By day 5 I felt pretty good except for my taste buds. With the second AC I don't think I drank as much water. I was really tired for about a week. I also felt light headed and unsteady on my feet for a couple days. I'm definitely going to drink more water this time.
I've had a lot of family from out of state tell me to call if I need anything at all. I feel the same way as Mompv. Do they really expect me to call them?
Ice cream better be a liquid! Last week I drank a lot of chocolate milk, ate sherbet and Popsicles. Having everything taste like crap has been the worst.
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Mompv, I know what you mean with all the "how are you?" questions, I feel like saying do you really want to know? I have started telling everyone I feel like total shit. plain and simple, no sugar coating it. It's amazing how people are taken back by that response they always expect me to say I am fine and everything is going to be ok. They honestly don't know what to say after I respond, it's kind of nice. and then I know who really cares and who is just being polite. the ones that care ask why and if there is anything they could do to make it easier for me, the ones just being polite kind of have that deer in the headlight look about them and they try to walk away quickly.
Hiking, I was on TCH the first time around and I have to say it is night and day compared to AC. On TCH I was able to do everything with my little ones (they were 3 and a handful at the time), they never missed out on anything and I kept up with the other moms. Now on AC, I can barely drive them to camp some mornings. I can't wait for it to be over! Also, TCH was every 3 weeks, AC is every other week, TCH allows for an additional week off and recovery so when you get hit again it isn't as bad, your body has had some recovery.
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Anyone on AC experiencing bone pain? I've been getting random pains in my Femur all day yesterday and today. Also, headache, I've had a headache on and off for a couple days now.
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I am going to try that response !!! I have had a bit of bone pain but I take claritan after my neulasta shot and it seems to keep it to a min.
So now I have thrush in my mouth and throat. My throat feels like I am swallowing a large marble. I called in and they are giving me a script for it. Now I will really have a full on pharmacy in my kitchen!
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Hiking, you hit the nail on the head! It's totally a " one step removed from life" feeling!
I have been lucky that I have had a LOT of friends dropping off food, taking my kids for the afternoon, etcetera. My BFF was here for a few days cooking and cleaning after my last infusion. My mother in law and my parents have tag-teamed my chemo weeks and are here for support when I need it. No matter what, I still have 3 small kids who want their mom so it's been difficult because of my low energy. I have had a lot of "if there is anything you need, call me". The true friends are the ones who just see a need and do it! I feel lucky that I have a lot of support and am sorry for the single moms etc. out there who could use the help. I hope one day I can give back to others who need help, having been there myself.
Basia - I've also had a lot of headaches with the AC and aching in joints.
I've been getting pains in my right breast (left one had the lumpectomy)...this has been freaking me out a little too...hopefully it's nothing.
I'm heading to a Journey concert in Aubern, Washington with my hubby this weekend...hope I have the energy to enjoy it. Have a great weekend girls!
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CanuckMom, thanks, made me feel better that I don't have something going on in my brain! I was seriously going to call my MO's office today if the headaches didn't subside a bit. It's strange, I have one, goes away on its own for a couple hours and then comes back in another location. It really has me concerned. I will mention it to them on Monday when I go in for infusion. Have fun at Journey!
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Bizarre.....?.......I have found something strange. when I feel the outside edge of my breast under my arm..the same breast as my lumpectomy I feel something like a cord or string could it be a nerve or a vein? It's really weird. It runs up and down, vertical. Has anyone else noticed anything like that?
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hi all, Im okay thanks.Kimmy the sweats drive me crazy, day and night you are not alone. I'm hot, I'm cold, my head gets hot it gets cold...lol
Basia I have bone pain all the time, even my toes hurt, I think it's Nulasta and the A/C.
I start taxol in about 4 weeks one more A/C on the 1st. The nurse told me today that I will get plump????? Are you kidding me. I have lost about 12lbs since I started so another new se yippy. I guess when you get taxol you take oral steriods the day before and the day after, she said you don't sleep for 2 days and then you crash and burn and they can make you gain weight. Wow. One more A/C and I m 1/2 way thru time wise not cheo wise. So I guess that is good way to look at things. Well ladies try and have a great weekend. hugzzzz ladies
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dr google calls it ..a mondors cord...it's an inflamed vein...harmless!
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Dr. Google! Agent99....you crack me up!
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ARRGGGHH!!! I am so sick of this!!!!
That is all.
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Mompy, I second your emotion. I want it all to be over...Just keep pushing forward! ...even though it's terrible!
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Good morning all,
Mompv Wish we could all be together in a big house so we could all pull through this together. I know how you feeltrust me I really do.
Radical Sometimes its hard to push thru. I know what you are saying though.
Ladies in the grand scheam of things is it worth it? Think about it, many here are back, is that going to be us?
Someone here said that part of her wants to say I'm done, no more. but if she quits and it comes back she will always wonder.
But if it does come back even after all this....then what? So the point is, it's our choice, it's our bodies, go thru this hell and just hope for the best.
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Laura, I don't want to say it, but yes, it could come back for any of us. There is a small chance, but nothing in life is guaranteed. I went thru this 4 years ago, and I am here again. Would I have done anything differently? no I wouldn't. I have to believe that going thru chemo again is necessary to kill the microscopic cells that remained after my initial surgery. I don't understand how cells survive after chemo, but somehow they do. I need to be here for a long long time so I will do everything within my power to be here to watch my children grow into adults and have children of their own. If it doesn't happen, at least I know I did everything I could. I don't want to look back and have regrets. It is always our own choice on how to approach this disease or any other disease. We are in control of how to handle our bodies. Do whatever you think is best for you. What works for one doesn't always work for all.
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I agree with Basia. There are no guarantees but I'm going to do everything I can to try and be here to watch my kids grow up!
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Laurais50..,,, I have had three treatments of Taxotere/carboplatin along with Herceptin and Perjeta and have done the steroids the day before treatment , in the IV on treatment day and then the day after. It has gotten a little easier to handle the sleep thing each time. There has been a crash of sorts each time; today is Day 3 and I just have no energy and a bit headachy. Not terrible and you know three days is it. Then you will sleep well again! On the side effects list, I would rate this one acceptable !
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I'm so sick of being sick. Can you OD on anti nausea drugs? I have a 7 day patch that is on its last day and I guess it is running out of meds. I'm also taking Zofran and Phenergan as needed. I thought I was gonna have a pretty good day until the nausea hit. I've been pretty sick thru all of this and really need a good day. I hope everyone else is having a better day.
. I feel like all I do is complain. 0 -
Hey All,
Back from my concert - Journey was awesome! I was a little worried I would catch a bug, but it was outdoors so I think the risk was a little lower, although about 30,000 ppl there probably!
11 days out and feeling pretty good. Just sore ankles again, headaches and fatigued, off all anti nausea prescriptions but do take an occasional gravol & Immodium.
I agree, it would be nice to be together in one big house to go through this with others ... having cancer is a lonely place. I'm really glad to have this forum. Hugs to all!
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I was hit hard for round 2 of AC, I was extremley tired to the point I could hardley get out of bed for 8 days. I finally am feeling good. Went shopping today for bathing suits for kids and also grocery shopping as well. I can not believe how much I took my health for granted before getting CA. Now I appreciate each day I feel good enough to get out of the bed and spend time with my family. I hope that I do not feel the same for round 3. The doctor mentioned that he is going to cut back strength of chemo to 80% versus the 100%. I am hoping this makes a big difference, I hope everyone enjoys the day and that there side effects are managed hugs to all!!
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Hi everyone! Had AC#4 this morning! so happy to be done with phase 1 of treatment! So far I am feeling better than I did on #3 day of infusion so I hope its a sign that this one won't be as bad. #3 really knocked me on my ass. I was telling my husband last night that when I was on TCH, I remember #4 completely killing me and worried that the next 2 would be much worse when in fact the last 2 were easy in comparison, so I think its the same here. I think part of if is mental at least for me. It's the whole this sucks and I hate it attitude that contributed to me feeling so yucky on day 1 and then the yucky feeling just stayed with me for 7 days.
CammyChris, I know what you mean about taking your health for granted, since my first dx, I completely changed how I ate. Made sure to buy organic as much as possible and really think about what I am putting in and on my body. This time around I am watching what I eat even more. Definetly upped the veggies and fruits for all the micro nutrients. My MO doesn't want me taking any supplements, so I figure if I eat better, I will get all the nutrients I am missing out on. On the off week, I am feeling so good, that I know my eating habits are changed for the better. It is even effecting the kids, they have been eating more veggies and salads because they see me doing it.
Canuck….sounds like it was a great concert! glad you were able to enjoy it.
Dixie, sorry you are feeling so sick. how many more do you have to go?
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Yay Basia!!! Being done with AC is a big milestone!!
I know what you all mean about taking my health for granted. In fact, when I met my anesthesiologist before my mastectomy, he said "wow, you are so healthy" (except for that cancer thing haha) - ugh, that makes this harder sometimes, I felt great before chemo.
Post first Taxol weekend pretty much sucked because I couldn't flipping move from the Nuelasta pain. No queasy or nauseous feelings just intense bone pain holy, holy. Taxol SE is muscle pain so maybe it was a twofer. I've read that some get it worse than others, I guess I am one of those somes (tried Claritin & Zyrtec, if it is helping yikes, I was about 30 seconds from demanding morphine on Friday night) Worse than breaking my back and giving birth combined. 3 more times.
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Neulasta with Taxol? Hmmmm I've got one more AC to go and get the Neulasta the next day. I was told there would be no Neulasta after the taxol infusions. What am I missing here?
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Radical, I am on dose dense Taxol, so four treatments every two weeks, some have weekly maybe that's the difference? I don't know, being on here and seeing so many different combos I can't make sense of most of the treatment plans for what I perceive as a similar diagnosis. I'm assuming my onc knows what's best for me, it's definitely above my pay grade!
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I thought that with weekly taxol there would not be any neulasta shots. I don't have them on my schedule, maybe because you are getting the stronger doses every other week thats why they are giving it to you. I will ask my dr when I see him next week about that, I really can't imagine going in every week for a shot the next day.
Before BC I thought I was healthy, people even doctors would comment on it. At the gym my coach at the time thought I was in better shape than most of the people there and they were all 10-15 years younger than me. I felt like the old lady there, the only one with 2 kids and rods in my legs, yet I managed to keep up with all the youngsters and even kick their buts when it came to weight training. I miss those days so much. This damn port is placed better than the first one, but it still gets in the way of weightlifting, which is very upsetting for me…oh well. pity party over.
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Basia,
It is a little depressing about the health part. What gets me down right now is I still look incredibly healthy. I managed to get a lot of my muscle tone back using just 6 lb weights while watching tv and some squats and lunges...meanwhile, I can't even do a push-up!
It was actually embarrassing last week when I was at the shop and couldn't lift the stupid tire off the car during a tire rotation. Though hairless, I pretty much look the same. The guys actually thought I was kidding when I asked them to help me with the stupid tires. They recovered pretty quickly and ran to my rescue, but it didn't change that out-of-shape worthless feeling... I may look pretty good, but I miss BEING good.
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Radical, that must have been so mentally exhausting and upsetting. I know the feeling. Here you are doing things trying to keep some sort of normalcy in your life while going thru this and then something happens unexpected and you feel horrible. I normally have no problem lifting heavy objects, my father in law asked me to carry over a 50 pound bad of soil, normally this would be tossed over my shoulder like nothing and carried over the 25 feet. I had to keep it in my arms and it was slipping, I felt so out of shape at that moment. With the kids home from school I can't make it to the gym for my normal 9am class, which is depressing too. I like working out there at that time. Maybe tomorrow if I am feeling up to it, I can ask my mother in law to come upstairs and get the girls ready for camp and drive them there. they start at 10, no way I can make it back in time for that.
I'm glad you still look healthy. I look fat and bald. Whatever shape I had in my upper body is now gone and my mid section is so bloated. My legs still look good though. I need to start working out at home when I have time and energy.
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I'm in for my third AC treatment today. I just asked my MO if I would need Neulasta with the weekly Taxol and he said no. The dose is much lower so they aren't concerned about that.
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I almost feel back from the pits! Just in time for round #4 and last round of AC on Thursday. Then it's onto Taxol for 4 treatments.
Congrats to Basia on your last AC!!
Canuck..glad you had a great time at the concert! I am not sure I would feel up to it.
I was wondering about the SE of Taxol, you can read all you want on the internet but, I think it might be a bit different for everyone. I plan on taking Claritan for that as well. My MO has not said if the Neulasta would continue, I will ask on Thursday. My numbers have been really good so far. Anyone else get the watery eye thing? It's not that they run down my cheeks or anything but just enough to make it hard to focus properly like I need new glasses.
Well, my lunch break is over...back to work! I hope you all have a good day!
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