Starting chemo July 2014
Comments
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Raindew: thanks for checking in, good to hear from you. What about my note made you panicky? I'm doing good!
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hi puffin!
Great you are doing good :-)
You mentioned that your clinic said weight loss and skin rashes were a reason to call in...and I thought 'oh man, that could be me'
I think this is also part of finding the new normal - learning how to adjust mentally when you don't trust your body any more..
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RainDew: I think with the skin rash she was referring more to rashes and color changes on breasts and chest. The weight loss was with no known cause. If you continue to lose weight and aren't trying to lose, it would certainly be something to mention at your next Dr appt.
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Puffin - loved your hair photo! That's about what mine looks like now and I'm deciding if I'm going to stop wearing the head scarf now - though my hair still needs colored. I've got to find a salon that uses the organic hair color. Too bad the grey came back!! Good information, too, about the Survivorship Clinic. Thanks for sharing!
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Just changed my photo since I took our summer vacation to AZ last week! Since the summer sucked, it was time for us to get away and vacation. Got to see Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Both were beautiful! So different than flat Florida... This is me and my mini-me!
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Puffin - loved your hair photo! That's about what mine looks like now and I'm deciding if I'm going to stop wearing the head scarf now - though my hair still needs colored. I've got to find a salon that uses the organic hair color. Too bad the grey came back!!
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WalleGator: I've been going without my scarf to a few select areas, like the gym, Haven't caught anyone staring at me.
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KNM -- Praying your surgery went well. How are you doing?? *Hugs*
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yes knmtwins I hope you are doing well -let us know.
I am getting some neuropathy. Damn I thought I would be one of the lucky one, but after this 8th taxol I have a little numbness in my fingers and toes. It's not much. Just a weird sensation and annoying. So much for l-glutamine which I have taken faithfully. I suppose if I wasn't taking it the neuropathy could be worse. Boo
Nancy
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Nancy -- my fingertips and toes are a little tingly, too. I've been having DH open jars and things for me. I know you have four more Taxols to go; I hope that you tolerate them better than I have these last two. I just feel really wiped out over here; I've been depending on DH to do more and more of the childcare and housework (neither of which are his strong suit). I can't complain, though; he hasn't said much about my lack of contributions.
What I really hate about Taxol is what it's done to my appetite. Today, I've been trying to eat my protein diet so I get a good PET scan tomorrow. So far, I've had scrambled eggs, a salmon filet, and some bacon. I can barely eat anything at this point, so I guess that's better than nothing.
KMNtwins -- hope you're surgery went well and that you're recovering comfortably somewhere.
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Oh Elaine so glad you posted. I was wondering if you had gotten any neuropathy. I am sorry you have some too. I am concerned about the next 4 treatments. Hubby thinks it's going to be hard for me. I am also sorry to hear your last two were so hard and you have no appetite (appetite is never an issue for me and sometimes I wish it were lol). I hope as each day passes you feel a little more like yourself. By the way what you have eaten today sounds yummy lol. Taxol is sneaky. It lets you think you're doing pretty good and then boom not so much.
Good luck with the pet scan tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you
Nancy
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If it offers any hope, Nancy, my fingertips/toetips have been slightly numb for awhile here, but never really got any worse. I'm glad I don't have many button-up shirts, though -- might take me too long to get dressed in the morning. I should note that I never thought it was bad enough to mention to MO. As long as I could type on the computer, I guess I felt I had the functionality that I needed.
Yes, I hope that all of our SEs fade soon, whatever they are. Four more to go, Nancy!
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Nancy - I only had 4 rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin mixed in with Herceptin which I will have to continue with. The tips of my thumbs and forefinger are still numb 9-1/2 weeks after my last infusion of TCH. I guess they will stay that way.
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Blownaway - it can take a really long time for the neuropathy to get better from what I have read. Don't give up hope. I ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Elaine yes that does make me feel better. I have taxol #9 tomorrow (well if blood work holds up sheesh) so we shall see what the neuropathy does. Hoping your PET goes well today
Nancy
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I'm not certain if numb is exactly the word for it, but the sensitivity in my fingers is different than it was. I haven't worked in my studio yet, so I don't know what impact this will have on my work.I stop by here frequently, but. usually on my phone and that's tough for me. I'm thinking of you all.
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Blownaway - I was complaining about my neuropathy to my MO, and he said it could take 1-2 YEARS to clear up. So don't give up hope yet. It sounds like a long haul.
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just finished taxol #9 - only 3 left. Whoopee YaHoo Yippee. Blood work is still holding up for me YAY.
Nancy
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Yay, Nancy! Good news about your blood work. It's nice to know that our bodies can suck in that many toxins and still function....
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thanks Elaine sometimes I wonder ho are bodies put up with this stuff lol. Did you have your pet? When will you know results? Hope it comes back perfect
Nancy
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Yes, I had my PET scan -- all that protein eating (blech) paid off because my sugar levels were good. Hopefully, MO will have the results from my MUGA, MRI, and PET scans tomorrow morning. It's time to talk surgery. Then radiation and more herceptin. And -- yes -- 5-10 years of hormone therapy! Nancy, we could be Tamoxifen buddies, too. Sigh.
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so tired of everything today....is everybody getting an MRI or pet scan on this thread? I'm not. Anyways, not a good day. I'm not seeing the light. Sorry for being a downer
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Elaine, u had an MRI AND a pet scan? What's going on? I feel u r being taken care of though. Wish I could say the same
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dancingdiva -- MO is just checking on the size of the tumor as well as any lymph node involvement before she passes me back to the surgeon. If it's small enough and they think I can get clear margins, they will offer me the option of a lumpectomy. If it hasn't shrunk enough or is in a weird place, I might only be given the option of a mastectomy.
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dancingdiva-I am sorry you are having a down day. I think we all have them at times. I have days where I burst into tears and then the next day I am fine. I think it's just part of what's happening to us. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. By the way I had a pet/ct before chemo all because of one lymph node involved. I also had LVI so that probably factored into it too. No mri though.
Elaine let us know what you find out tomorrow. Hoping for the best possible outcome. Yes we can be tamoxifen buddies and cheer each other on lol.
Nancy
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yeah Nancy, the end of taxol is in sight.
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Nancy - I can't risk shedding tears. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stop. Everyone thinks I've been so strong but they couldn't be more wrong. I'm just too afraid to start crying.
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Blownaway - I understand. I am an emotional person anyway and I cry at the drop of a hat lol. Big baby that's me. I hope you have some sort of outlet for it though.
Thanks Puffin - it's hard to believe this will be over with soon.
Nancy
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Update on chemo results: The 5 cm. lump is gone, and I'm left with...I'm not sure what. The MRI report says, "Where the previous mass was located in the right breast there is no abnormal postcontrast enhancement. There are some scattered areas of low-grade enhancement but no rapid enhancement and washout. Previous right axillary lymph node now appears normal caliber with no abnormal postcontrast enhancement." The PET scan report says, "No suspicious activity seen in the breast or FDG-avid node seen in the axilla."
So, I seem to have had a complete pathologic response to chemo. But, it makes no difference for my future treatment. I will still have surgery, rads, and then hormonal treatment (and MO is talking 10 LONG years). It is NICE to know that chemo worked and my cancer was so responsive to it. Thank you, ladies, for all your help during these past five months. The road ahead still seems SO long, though....
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that's great news Elaine. So very happy for you. When do you find out what kind of surgery you will have? That has to be a huge relief that you didn't go through all of this for nothing. Even though you have more treatment at least the chemo part is over. So excited for you.
Nancy
Oh and my MO mentioned 10 years on Hormone treatment too - lucky us, but I am ok with it as long as it keeps the nasty cancer away
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Thanks, Nancy! I think I'm going to have a lumpectomy. When I asked MO what the surgeon would take out, given there's not really a lump anymore, she said he'd take out the surgical clip and some surrounding tissue. She also thinks he'll take out the previously suspicious lymph node and its neighbors. She actually thinks that taking more lymph nodes is better than just going with the one. We'll see what the surgeon actually thinks, if I ever get to meet with him again. Of course, I still don't have a surgery date; I called in today, but I won't be able to talk dates until tomorrow. I know, I know; I'm so impatient! It's just that I'm trying to figure out the holidays and work, which begins on January 12 for the spring semester.
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