Starting Chemo June 2014
Comments
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Hi ladies, I just did A/C #4 and it is awesome. Saw my Dr and finally got a last day Nov 7th will be my last chemo yippie. He told me I am already healed?? But that we are doing Taxol all the way Just to be on the safe side....hmmmm okay. He also told me no more periods Another yippy....Go on Monday for Nulasta shot. Not looking forward to the steriod up all night SE, but hey I kinda got that with the A/C. Ladies there is hope. I feel really hopeful tonight. First time I started this journey. A big thanks to all of you. Anyway, you all have a great weekend. Hugzzzz to all0 -
No more periods? I wish! Got mine today on chemo day...I get horrible cramps that require tylenol3...so very drugged out today. Can't type...back to sleep...
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Looking good Canuck! If it's possible, you even look comfy in your chair!
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I think I may be the grandmother of this group
...I was diagnosed at 63. I AM a grandmother for the first time to a 5 month old little one named Fiona, the inspiration for my user name. The hardest part of chemo has been not being able to see her! She lives about 10 hours away. I did stay with her and her parents several weeks when she was a newborn, doing the shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. AND snuggling, rocking, too! I am in awe of you younger women who are tending to little ones or working through your chemo. I also admire your spirits! I was surprised when I found my cancer ( I saw something in the way my left breast looked in the mirror and I knew) as I never miss a mammogram, a check up, and breast cancer doesn't run in my family. I was surprised, but not shocked, given my age and the fact that two friends I grew up with (out a close knit group of 5) had already battled BC in their 50s. But when I hear of so many young women being diagnosed my heart goes out to them.....to you who are dealing with this while raising your families, while involved with your careers.
I hope everyone has a good weekend. Keep positive thoughts!
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Laurais, congrats on finishing AC! Woohoo! I hope Taxol is easier for you...I has been for me, no quesy/hangover.
Fionascottie, I am 49...mom to a 16 year old, work full time, married. It's certainly been a challenge to be in treatment, feeling like I'm doing everything only part way, nothing particularly well. These last few weeks I've been able to recognize that the most important is taking care of me and not to sweat the small stuff. Work will survive, so will the house, the yard, the child...so will I! Lucky you having a brand new baby in the family, what a joy.
Muggy in the mountains today, if 27% is humid:) I am heading out hiking/walking. My onc put me on steroids Thursday and Friday for the Nuelasta pain and it worked! I am not crying in a chair paralyzed in pain, shocker. My hips are sore but controllable with Advil.
CanuckMom, I am curious about the B vitamins and fasting. I am skipping my last Neulasta but want my counts back up to prevent infection, might try this approach. Spinach smoothies too, I don't know if I can fast!
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Awe thanks Radical, I sure don't feel like I'm looking good right now so that's nice to hear!
My 2.5 year old climbed into bed with me last night. Is that safe when I am leaching all these chemicals? I kept her on my hubby's empty side (he is with the boys at the lake), but I still worry about that.
Fiona, breast cancer is no fair no matter when we get it. My 3 kids keep me going. When I want to quit I know I can't because my babies need their mommy. You will feel the same way with your kids/granddaughter...congrats on the baby! She will give you so much joy!
Bow, when I saw my white counts were low I looked up how to boost my white counts. There are a lot of foods that will help too but since I'm fasting, I did the vitamin b12,b6 and green tea. My dr that is recommending fasting also recommended shark liver oil but I couldnt get that on such short notice. Plenty of rest also helps and I had a nap before going to bed. Of course the nurses at the cancer centre said when the counts come up they do so quickly...will never know what my counts would have been if I'd done nothing. Islandmama had a big jump too. There is some info about fasting on the net boosting the immune system as well as helping the aging process. My type of cancer is quite chemo-resistant so id like to think that starving the cells for 2 days and them hitting them with chemo hits them harder because they are weakened and have no other source of fuel...and that's all they get for another 24 hrs after chemo. It's really hard but it gets easier each time and my SE's seem to be ok. I've never thrown up, never been constipated, food still tastes the same except when I'm freshly chemo'd, I excercise ever day, (do get a bit of diahrrea), have sore ankles which is a weird one. I have read a lot of research on it and it seems that people who fast 48hrs before and 24 after have fewer SE's. Of course my oncologist and my cancer centre nurses mostly think I'm nuts...but they don't do anything off the cancer 'conveyor belt'. One nurse in the chemo room yesterday was very intrigued bye it but none of them have even heard of it before! I'm afraid to try it the other way now so will fast for round 4 too.
Have a great day all!!!
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Canuck
I wish we were at the same cancer agency! It's lonely and I'm the youngest one there. You look amazing!
My sister is coming from Edmonton this week. Took an extra Zofran this morning just in case with my Emend.
As for snuggling with your daughter, go for it. Just do t get any body fluids like vomit on her! Ew gross. Flush the toilet every time and wash your hands. Chemo is cleared within 48 hours.
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Islandmama, looking good yourself, we can do this!
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So I'm chalking this one up to chemo brain... it seems there is definitely a difference between putting the car in 1st gear, and putting it in reverse.
Since my spacey brain couldn't tell the difference, I now need a new bumper (or a vehicle with more ground clearance.)
It's bad to drink and drive, but I guess chemo and drinking is legal...though I feel like I do better after a cocktail!
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Awe Radical, like you don't have enough to deal with right now....hugs!
Forgot to mention, I have been getting heart palpitations (which I have had even before diagnosis), but I guess they have been getting worse. So, now I will get to wear a monitor for over 24 hrs. Anyone else had this?
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Canuck,
I have not had the heart palpitations with chemo (though over the years, stress has given them to me.) Call your onc! As you know, AC is tough on the heart. Better safe than sorry!
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Aw Radical, that really sucks!
Canuck
I've had heart palpitations before and I find that I get a few with chemo but it settles in 2 days. For me it's anxiety about the upcoming SE, plus the bolus of saline they give me!
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Radiical and Islandmama - yes I don't think it's anything too serious but they are going to do a 24 hr monitoring before next tx to be safe. Before tx began they did an ultrasound and ECG as well.
Thanks for the info Islandmama about the port. My kids like to go swimming with me and I want to be able to continue doing that with them if I get a port...still holding out as long as I can though!!!
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oh Canuck
I find too I get heart palps from the dex as well
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You guys have to checkout the thread: "let's conduct our own study on how we all got breast cancer". It's not a serious thread but has given me lots of laughs!!!
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Canuck, which forum is that thread in? I'm terrible at finding these things!
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Radical - I just found it under the list of active threads...it's hilarious!
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Thanks for the laugh on the how I got breast cancer...hahaha. I've heard some strange shit/advice/comments about where it comes from since I was diagnosed and the person wasn't being snarky! Along with that I have heard some pretty odd comments about my situation - the best was "I don't know how you did what you did (mastectomy) - I couldn't do it, I like my boobs too much." I told her my left one wasn't that great so it was no big deal. Told my oncologist that one...he's still laughing I think.
Beautiful pictures you are all sharing -
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Lol Bow too funny. Canuck I'm going to check it out.A/C # 4 is sucking for me. Today I go and get nulasta uggg. Start on taxol on the 22. The 30th I have a chance to go to Tahoe and see the Eagles in concert. I really hope I feel up to it. Anyway, Have great day.
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Ok...you d the thread and laughed my fussy off! I am confused though because I never owned a Barbie and I still got breast cancer... I think the study needs to be re-conducted...
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bow, the best one I heard (about my recurrence) was my aunt, who said I work out too much and that's why it came back! And then she proceeded to tell me how chemo is useless and she doesn't understand why I would put myself and my family they this.
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I love my sister and I know she meant well but when she found out I got breast cancer she said "At least when you have chemo it will make you lose weight." WhatThe?????
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It's amazing what comes out of peoples' mouths! One moment they are supportive and telling us how it's all about us, it's unfair, not our fault and the next moment, the same people tell us we wouldn't have cancer if we'd avoided eating fried foods or some other stupid thing!
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Canuck mom I thought I would lose weight I wish...And I love the one about how I'm going to get young perky boobs...Really? Free boob job. Sure I will make sure and tell ladies to get get cancer if they want a free boob job...lol0 -
Great pic CanuckMom! Congrats on the counts! Mine are now really low. We're "watching" them. A friend of mine gave me a long Lady Godiva wig. I'm going to brush it out and wear it to my next treatment. Got to have fun with this somehow! Wish you the best - I had my 3rd TCH yesterday!
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Canuck - I thought I'd drop weight, too. I'm quite disappointed it's the opposite. Now I'm bald and fat(ter).
Looking more and more like my father, every day. LOL.Laura - I saw the Eagles in concert in Feb. Even at their age, they still put on one helluva a show. It was awesome! But be warned, they are super strict about no photography/video recording. Security guards watch you like a hawk. The band even called one person in the front row out on it.I was stoked, as they had been on my concert bucket list for years!
Not sure who asked, but I'm going to be doing dose dense Taxol, just like I did dose dense AC. Every two weeks vs 12 weekly treatments. I have my first Taxol next Thursday. Was hoping someone else had done it, but I guess I'll be the group guinea pig.
In other news, I have a cavity that is bothering the crap out of me. Apparently this is an issue, as just even going to my dentist requires clearance from my onc's office. I knew this, but I didn't know just how much of a PITA it would be. I have an appt scheduled for next Tuesday at the dentist, but my onc is making me go in for blood work that morning (I have my mid round check this Thursday) to clear me. My dentist is requiring a release from my onc for xrays, the potential work, and nitrous. Who knew that one little hole in a tooth would cause this much drama?
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sorry been MIA! Just been feeling depressed and crappy! I go for dose dense taxol tomorrow. I admit I am nervous. I have to take dexamethasone tonight 5 pills and 5 tomorrow morning. I will post on how it all goes with me. You hear all kinds of reactions but we shall see. I was on AC. I am bald and still a bit spacey and tired. Taste buds are really depressed and just fought thrush, are we having fun yet?
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Everyone that is doing dense dose taxol please post updates. I start next Wed and I'm also very nervous about it. The chemo nurses keep saying that is easier on most people. I sure hope they are right. I don't know how some of you ladies do the things you are doing. There is no way I could have worked thru this. I've pretty much been stuck to the couch or my bed for the last 8 weeks. I've either been sick to my stomach or very low red blood counts and no energy and shortness of breath. I just want to feel better and start living life again. Oh well enough complaining. Hope everyone has a no SE day.
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Mompv,
I had a conversation with my onc any the Taxol reactions on my last visit. I was told an allergy to it is very common but the chemo nurses are aware of it and I would be given meds to try to prevent it. I was told if it happens, it always happens on round 1 or 2. In the event of a reaction (flushing, shortness of breath, etc) the transfusion would stop. I would be given benedryl or something similar, then the transfusion would start again. I was told it was common and nothing worry about, but that is why the first transfusion is expected to take much longer than the others...They give the first one very slowly to watch for a reaction.
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Dose Dense Taxol update.
I've had 2/4 so far, last one on Tuesday July 29. Given Benadryl (pill form) and steroids through an IV beforehand, I don't have my book with me at work but I don't think I had any anti-nausea meds. My nurse watched for an allergic reaction on my first (hives, clearing throat, shortness of breath) but I was fine & they didn't watch closely on my second infusion. They will stop and start it again after 20 minutes if there is an allergic reaction, it was explained that the body would most likely recognize the Taxol as an okay poison (haha) would not reject after restarting. .
The infusion took about 3 - 3 1/2 hours so with the blood work, onc visit it's an all day affair.
Side effects so far...no nausea, my appetite is normal, slight neuropathy in the very tips of my fingers, my legs/hips are slightly uncomfortable 1 week out but not debilitating, sometimes numbness/tingling of my lips and very tip of my tongue, VERY dehydrated the first week for sure no matter how much I drank, used Biotin mouthwash and Burt's Bees for my lips & lots of lotion. I have horrible Neulasta pain (through all of A/C and my first Taxol) and tried oral steroids on Day 2&3 this last time which reduced that pain to about a 5/10, but I cannot differentiate between Neulasta pain and any muscle aches from Taxol so that side effect is a question mark. No fatigue or overall crummy feeling I got from A/C (usually showed up on Sat & Sunday after my Tuesday infusion, just flu-like with no appetite & overall discomfort - none of that with Taxol)
Things I am doing - really taking care of my feet and hands, they are very sensitive to drying and cracking. I bought a new heel scraper emery board thingy for my heels and I am keeping bag balm and coconut oil on them. Also wearing open sandals as much as possible. And not using really hot water at all on my hands, my thumbs are pretty sensitive. Cut my nails way back and using Opi nail strengthener & taking Biotine when I remember. The base of my nails turned purple-ish with A/C, but that has not changed with Taxol & they are still dark. Drinking Ensure like an old person and eating bananas because I keep getting foot cramps at night (probably unrelated) and walking every single day, taking the stairs at work & overall trying to keep fit; able to work full time plus.
Hair about an 1/8 inch of dark stubble on my head, woo-hoo!
Oh, and hot flashes, thanks for that chemopause.
Hope this is helpful!
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