Starting Chemo June 2014
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Hey all, 6 days out from #3 AC. Was a little depressed the last few days...reading too much negative info on what AC long term side effects are, etc. scaring myself about that and recurrance. Gonna try to get myself from going there...this round of AC definitely took a little more out of me. I'll be glad to be done with it, although the allergic reaction to taxol worries me too.
My seven year old son asked me last night what will happen if my cancer comes back again. I'm worried about how this affects him since he is the oldest and very attached to me. I just told him the doctors don't think it will come back but if it does I will have to take more medicine.
Hope everyone is doing well today..glad to hear most ppl are tolerating the taxol better than the AC.
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I'm headed in tomorrow for my 4th round of Taxotere, Carboplatin/ Herceptin and Perjeta. I had a reaction to Perjeta the first treatment ( between blood work and beginning bolus doses of Herceptin and Perjeta I was in the chemo chair for 9 hours! The nurses and onc stayed an hour past their usual closing to get me through! I had chills, fever and intense aching with Perjeta that first time. It was stopped and I was given IV Benedryl and Tylenol in pill form. They ran Saline for about 30 min un til I felt better and when it started again I was fine. Since then I get Tylenol and Benedryl before anything is started and all has gone smoothly. Treatments are now about 5 1/2 hours.
I am a smitten grandmother for sure and I'm so thankful for Face Time! I hate that I am not feeling up to road trips to see Fiona frequently. I just haven't felt brave enough to make a 10-11 hr drive. I will see her the first part of October and when chemo is over I will be a doting Scottie ( that is my Grandmother name, from my middle name, unless Fi calls me something else and that will be absolutely fine! )
Fasting is a very interesting concept, CanuckMom. I, too, had a friend comment about all the weight I could look forward to losing on chemo . I battle weight issues, so I think she meant well, but weight was at the bottom of my list.....I just hope and pray for a good chemo response and the return of good health. A comment the PA for my oncologist made early on was interesting : 'you are young and in good health...you will do fine! ' I did remind her that I was 63 and had cancer! She brushed it off and said it was all a matter of perspective. I now have mostly grey/white fuzz which is interesting because I have had my hair colored and highlighted since I was around 43 and had grey all around my face. I plan to let it stay my natural color now ...... It will be quite a change!
Hope everyone is having a good week. Crossing my fingers for tolerable side effects this next week because we have rented a beach house and I am determined to go!
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Thank you Bow!
Awesome description! So glad to hear I might get my flu-like weekend back! I'm getting quite fed-up with that! I notice my feet are really dry even now after just the AC. I should probably start lotioning them....
I won't be having the Neulasta with the Taxol, so I'm hoping to get away with no pain. On AC, Feeling my own shirt against me was painful by Friday night and Saturday am!
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thank you so much Bow for sharing! I feel encouraged that it will be a bit easier! Soon it will be time for the 5 steroid pills! I will take an ativan as well to hopefully get some sleep. Then 5 more tomorrow am. I still will be getting the neulasta shot after each treatment. So I will start Claritan on Friday morning. It has worked for me with the pain. I get a bit if leg and hip by day 5 or 6 but that's it!
I highly recommend the Claritan!
Good night everyone!!!!
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I hear you on the depression Canuck, I was very teary after my 4th A/C. We aren't doing ourselves any favors worrying about what is next and I am guilty too - some of the boards here are really encouraging with members 10-20 years out posting. I am most afraid of not being tested regularly with scans and whatnot, my onc told me they mostly wait for symptoms. Well, WTF, it might be Stage IV mets by the time they find it! Let's just get through this step by step and know we are doing everything we can at this point. I am encouraged that breast cancer treatment has come a long way in the last 10 years, who knows what science has in store in the next 10! Hang in there.
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Canuck, I know how you feel. My 7 year olds do not know this is a 2nd time for me and they keep asking the same thing, will this ever come back again. I keep telling them that right now I do not have cancer and that all this is to make sure that it doesn't come back and I will try my best to be as healthy as possible for them. I don't make promises that I will never get it again, but I try to reassure them that as far as we know, it shouldn't come back (again).
Bow, its sad but true, they wait for symptoms to appear before any type of scans are done. Thank the wonderful insurance companies for that. Insurance usually won't cover the scans unless there is a valid reason for them…as if going thru this once isn't a valid reason. You have to be your own advocate for everything. If something in the future doesn't feel right, keep pursuing it until you have an answer for it. I went to my PS, MO and finally my BS because the scar tissue just didn't feel right. Thankfully my BS understood and biopsied it. If I had let it go with my PS and MO, I wouldn't have known that it was growing inside of me all this time. Again, if something is bothering you, keep at it until someone can tell you exactly what it is.
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Basia, I am so glad you pushed for that biopsy! Shame on your other dr's for not taking it seriously! It's funny, last October when I was in for a physical I asked my GP for a mammogram. He asked me why I wanted one and I just said I was 40 now and just felt I should get one. He said he would set it up but he never did and I never followed up. I do wish I could go back and push for it to be done! I could have caught this so much earlier. There is something with women's intuition, sometimes we just know something isn't right. Sorry you are going thru it again, but so glad you caught it quickly.
I'm feeling better today..I seem to go through depression with each AC...guess cause I feel like crap and then don't leave the house for 4-5 days, which always makes me down too. Went for a walk to the beach today..definitely cheered me up.
Love to all June chemo sisters!
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Canuck, I don't blame the other drs. My BS did an ultrasound in the office and agreed it looked like I tore the scar tissue. The only reason she biopsied it was because I told her something just didn't feel right and she did it just so I can sleep at night. Her report to the other drs stated I should come back in 6 months for routine checkup. She honestly believed it was nothing as well. It wasn't till the results came back and all 3 of them were in shock about the results. My PS felt so bad about it. My MO actually shed a tear when he spoke with me about it. Even the radiologist that did a scan said it looked good. We have to follow our gut instinct on all of this. No one knows our bodies as well as we do.
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So I'm a week and 2 days out from my 4th AC and it's happening... My pinky toes are killing me and the spot behind my nails is turning blue. I have polish on my toes and I'm afraid to see what's underneath. My finger nail beds hurt a little but I've polished and republished them and they look fine. My little tomatoes hurt though...especially in the mornings.
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Had first Taxol today! Takes 3 hours!!! First they pushed in the benedryl, I highly recommend drinking something throughout for the yucky taste. Then I had a 15 min drip of Pepcid. Then onto Taxol. I got sleepy for awhile on the benedryl and took a nap. But then I got totally restless legs. The nurse said I could take an ativan for it but I didn't want to be more sleepy. It did let up about 2 hours in. Tonight I will take an ativan to sleep . I don't have any nausea right now and ate a regular dinner. One caution my glucose levels jumped to 352 because of the steroids. My mo said not to worry and they will regulate by tomorrow. Next time I will cut way back on any starch and sugar I eat to help with that. he did say I would get muscle pain like I did a serious work out after not working out for awhile. I will keep you all posted the next few days on what I am feeling to hopefully be an encouragement.
Have a good night ladies!
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Thanks Mompv, I start taxol next Friday...0 -
New to the group! You guys are all fabulous. Halfway done with chemo!
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Its interesting to see the different chemo drugs people are when some if the tumors/prognostic factors are the same.
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Mompv, thanks! I start taxol, perjeta and herceptin on Monday. Not looking forward to it. They said my first one should take about 5 hours.
Runnergirl, welcome!
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Thanks for the Taxol update, Bow! I have my first one next Thursday, and honestly, it scares the bejesus out of me. I know A/C is supposed to be the tough cocktail, and I'm definitely ready for the nausea and fatigue to ease up, but the thought of neuropathy in my hands and feet scares me. Has anyone going thru Taxol tried icing their hands and feet, yet? I asked the nurses about it, and they said they had only ever seen one person do it, but I was welcome to try.
So far my nails have been good, they actually are the longest and strongest they've ever been, shockingly. I've been painting them like a mad woman with Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails, so maybe that has helped? I have one teeny tiny purple spot at the base of my right thumb. Other than that, they are awesome. I'm going to be super sad if Taxol damages them.
I had blood drawn today, and as expected, counts were low. RBCs are taking a beating - the shortness of breath this cycle is killing me and I feel like nothing more than a lump on a log. I agree with everyone else about getting into this funk about how crappy I feel all the time. I actually got teary eyed (okay, I cried) when I saw the nurses today after they drew my blood. I can deal with the nausea and fatigue, but these hot flashes are killing me. I had one so bad this morning before my appointment that I thought I was going to pass out. They gave me an rx for a drug to help with it, but Iw was too tired to get it filled today, so I'll be picking it up in the morning. I hope it works.
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Thanks for the Taxol info! I start on Monday. Haven't posted much, but it really helps reading all your posts. I am so happy to be done with AC! However, I am nervous about the Taxol because I reacted to the Taxotere my first time and they are the same type of drug. Just want it to go in easily - fingers crossed! No Neulasta for me with the Taxol. Onco says I don't need it unless after the two weeks my numbers aren't back up enough. If that happens I have to wait another week for round 2, then do the Beulasta the 2nd round. Not sure how I feel about that - would really like to stay on schedule! Hoping to be done with everything by Thanksgiving if I can???
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Welcome Runner!
Thanks Mompv and all for posting the start of Taxol. I go in Tuesday for my first. I was told to expect it to take about 5 hours the first time including pre-meds because they run it so slow the first two times in case of a reaction.
Everyone I know said Taxol was a piece of cake compared to AC, but I'm reading about a lot of people who had bone and muscle pain...to think I was all excited to not need Neulasta so I could avoid bone and muscle pain. On Ac with Neulasta I felt like I had done the workout of my life or had the flue...I was hoping to just be a little tired on Taxol. It's looking like I had my hopes set a little high!
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Thanks everyone for the taxol updates. Yesterday I went for my procrit injection and my counts have tanked. I'm getting a blood transfusion right now. Oh well one more thing to add to this crazy ride I'm on. Hoping my count are good enough to continue my chemo next week
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Welcome Runnergirl - 1/2 way done feels good doesn't it? It is strange that we all have such different treatments - I've been trying to guesstimate what my radiation schedule is going to look like but people on the rads boards with my same (or close) diagnosis vary so much I can't even.
kwhitmo, if I could avoid the Neulasta I think Taxol would be a breeze - my side effects are all bone pain related. Neulasta pain has been brutal for me - I read a review of the drug on line when trying to find some alternative to the already tried (Claritin, Zyrtec) that said: if it came down to me getting that shot again or coming down with
cholora, berry-berry some deadly infection or whatever I would probably
take my chances. A body can take just so much. Haha. This last time I took steroids and I only had firework bursts of pain instead of constant waves
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I picked up my meds for the hot flashes this morning. They prescribed Effexor, which is an anti-depressant. Quick google search shows it helps reduce hot flashes in cancer patients. Two-in-one drug. Get rid of my mood swings and hopefully get me out of my funk. Win!
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Since I am at the halfway point in chemo, I saw my BS this morning so she could get some idea of whether there had been a response from the chemo.....I have not had breast surgery yet, the protocol for my diagnosis is chemo first, surgery second, followed by radiation unless I opt for a mastectomy. I'm 64 years old now and I don't feel driven to have any reconstruction. When chemo ends imaging will follow to see if my tumor ( small to begin with) has shown a response.
Icing of nails: I planned to do this and took 4 bags of frozen peas to my infusion appointment for my first and second appointments, but both times by the time I got to Taxotere, I was unmotivated and pretty tired. The first time I had experienced a reaction to Perjeta and Taxotere is my third infusion, followed only by carboplatin . By that time my nails were the last thing on my mind! But, so far all I have is a white line slowly making its way up my nail, week by week. I have weak nails anyway, so this mild reaction has been a nice surprise! I haven't seen anyone else icing their nails, but the nurses said I could certainly try when I asked the first time.
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Radical, oh no! I didn't think we could lose our jails on AC, but mine have been tingling like crazy (mostly big toe).
I think I will try to ice on Taxol. I heard it works.
Has anyone tried Latisse for the eyebrows and eyelashes? I think I will get some but it costs $200 and u don't know if I should use it when done with chemo or also during....
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I haven't written much, but I've been feeling so isolated that I thought I would try a place where people understand. I just had my 1st Taxol on Wed (after 4 AC). I'm feeling okay physically (aches), but I am having a tough time emotionally. I feel that my brain isn't working properly. For example, I went to CVS and had no wallet when I went to pay. haha. That is not like me. Granted, I have been feeling this strange since AC.
I also feel the pain of those who have gained weight. Yikes! I'm up almost 10lbs since starting AC in June....not helping with emotional thing. Has anyone received any advice from a Nutritionist? I'm too tired to really cook anything, so I think the weight is coming from take out and lack of exercise. I guess it's not really a mystery. Anyway, I hope to be more involved on here because my support system is, let's just say, not quite as involved as they were in the beginning. I think I need to find a therapy forum. lol (off to find therapy forum) Anyway, 3 more Taxol to go. We can do this!
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cannuck, I used a cheaper version of latisse the last time and I have to say it did bring my eyelashes in much quicker than I expected. I waited till after chemo because I didn't want to go thru the grow in and lose it stages. I also used nioxin shampoo to make my hair grow in quicker,but I stopped using that along with biotin because I started growing hair in places I didn't want it, lol. So I guess all this stuff does help, but you can't control what hair will grow and where.
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Pnak,
I understand what you are feeling. I had my bmx in April so my support system is getting a little tired of me! People who checked in once a week have disappeared. It doesn't help that chemo just wears us down so much! I'm getting out less and less plus less people think to come say hello. It does feel like it's one thing after another.
I do see a therapist one a week, but she just keeps reminding me to do things that make me happy...it's really hard for even her to understand. Vent here...these ladies pick me up everyday!
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ok, so I have been baby-sitting my 1 1/2 year old grand baby this weekend. So far she has dismantled my house, will only eat potato chips and at dinner tonight she bit the tea glass and broke it in her mouth!!!! I had a room full of people gathering all the pieces and reconstructing the glass to make sure she didn't swallow any pieces! Geeze Louise I don't remember it being this crazy when her mom was a baby!
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I am on day 4 after Taxol. Friday was a good day. Must have been high on steroids because Saturday morning was a different story! Started feeling tired and some aches. I did take claritan Friday morning in prep for neulasta shot on Saturday. By Saturday afternoon I was experiencing pain in my legs and back and hips. My fingers are a bit numb also the bottoms of my feet. By Saturday night I was in a lot of pain. My husband had to call my dr on sunday to get pain pills. I would rate it for me a pain wimp a 7 on a 1-10 scale. Felt like an old old lady walking around . The dr on call gave me hydro/Tylenol . I also took Motrin 2 hours later. It did make me more comfortable. I took my ativan last night to to help relax as well. All I can say is take the meds round the clock! I woke up and took the hydro again at 2am. So right now at 6 am I am not too bad. I did take Motrin and will take hydro at 8am. So hopefully I can get into work for a couple hours this morning.
Keep hydrated is what I have been told to do after taxol. I find it hard to do ad it makes me feel bloated. So I nibble on things and keep a glass of something nearby.
I hope this info helps. I know everyone is different. I just want to share my experience and give a heads up so we can prepare !
Take care everyone! I hope that those starting taxol have a better experience!
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Mompv,
Thank you for sharing! I don't remember where I read it, but I did see the amount of water you should drink with Taxol is more than I'm used to drinking in a week!
Since diarrhea is common with Taxol, I thought that might be the reason, but maybe it dehydrated you so much your whole body cramps up?
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Radical2Squared, thank you for the share. I'm trying to stay positive, but I feel so alone. Trying to plan how I'm going to get to next three treatments is driving me nuts. How do people that have a small support group get by? My husband passed away 5 years ago, and my Mom just had surgery. Has anyone been in this situation (not exact, but trouble finding support)?
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mompv
I was sort of "looking forward" to Taxol! Not now!! LOL
I'm doing weekly Taxol so may be it will be a bit easier?
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