Starting chemo August 2014
Comments
-
Well I must say...3rd infusion of A/C SUCKED!!!!! I'm chalking it up to the "cumulative" effect. I was infused last Tuesday, went for Neulasta on Wednesday. I was warned that the fatigue would be more profound this time!!! Didn't make it off the couch on Thursday and just slept the day away. The appetite is minimal but I'm still eating some. I was so disappointed that I missed choir rehearsal on Thursday night (my salvation). Didn't make it to church yesterday because I felt so weak and couldn't sing. I'm hoping that being this is the "off" week that I can rebuild some strength. Can I just say I'm not looking forward to TX #4!!!! But then I get a 2 week rest and begin 12 weekly Taxol TX.
Thanks for letting me vent.
0 -
Cjt, that's my thought too! I was really tired a few days and wonder if the fourth will be any differnt. I think third was to be the worst and the taxol is suppose to be easier for us.
0 -
I sure hope that Taxol is not as "taxing"!!! Yeah, I know...don't quit my day job!
I am not looking forward to TX #4 is the cumulative effect may be worse. This is the worst I have felt from the beginning!!! I have 12 weeks of Taxol so hopefully I can function on that. My hats off to the people who are able to work through this!!! You amaze me!!!0 -
I had a pretty good weekend and am feeling almost normal! A few SEs of course, but nothing that can't be managed and sort of pushed into the background. Prilosec is really helping with the heartburn feeling that bothered me last cycle. I feel like I'm eating well but my weight is still down, so I need to get more calories. It's an odd feeling to try and gain weight. In other news, I signed up as a participant on the www.beboldbebald.org site and have raised $500 towards UCLA's cancer center so far!
Cathie - glad your energy perked up and you were able to go for that walk with your daughter.
StrongEnough - thinking about you and hoping indeed that you guys have things figured out a bit and that you won't get sick! Good job on your t-shirt campaign!
Kellya, I definitely fight tears now and then. Or, I should say, I give in to tears now and then.
I think we are under a tremendous amount of physical and emotional stress, and it's like a pressure cooker letting off some steam. {{hugs}}CJT, you're so close to the end of this first round of treatment!!! Hang in there!
0 -
I felt pretty crappy this morning and didn't sleep well last night. I took Tylenol for pain and started the antibiotic before bed, and woke up to 100.1 temp. Took some more Tylenol and feeling much better now. Like the fog has lifted! Going to stay on top of the Tylenol today, try to take it easy at work (we call it in-office vacation, LOL), go get blood drawn this afternoon, and hope for the best! In other news, the booster campaign has now surpassed its goal (now at 51) with one more day to go
I'm hoping the shirts will be here in time for me to wear it to my last treatment, Oct 14. Let the countdown begin...0 -
Just retuned from my 22wk scan. Both babies looking good and over a pound each. AC#3 this Wed. Just feeling tired and nauseous all day still.
Ladyb how goes it?
Mullerin...feeling better?
0 -
Strongenough - so envious that you have one treatment left, but also very happy for you. I know these treatments were tough for you, but sounds like you got it figured out.
I set up a meeting w MO on Wednesday to discuss SEs and just make sure I am on right track here. I still have trouble w blisters in mouth and slight sore throat. Nurse told me to increase usage of magic mouthwash. I think I over did it on sat, so Sunday I was kind of worn out. It was our 29th wedding anniversary and didn't know if I was up for dinner out to celebrate. My sister and daughter told me to rest and try to go. When we got to restaurant my sister and BIL were there (surprise). We had a very nice time.
Wishing everyone manageable SEs.
0 -
Cassiecat - hi you and I have the same type of tumor, I wonder if your doctors have told you what the extent of tissue removal would be if you chose the lumpectomy route. I started a thread about this in the surgery section but figured I would ask here as well. I think expectation is that the her 2+ tumor is supposed to shrink a lot with chemo so I am curious what they will want to remove.
I guess being at the midpoint of chemo makes me wonder more and more about the next big step
0 -
Hi windgirl,
I meet again with my surgeon in about 3 weeks to check in. When we first met, he was talking mastectomy because he wasn't 100% confident of getting clear margins with the bigger of the two tumors in the breast. That was actually one of several reasons why we're doing chemo first. I'll be curious to see what he has to say after he has a chance to see me again. The larger tumor that I could feel has definitely shrunk quite noticeably.
0 -
Cassie and Windgirl:I don't get a choice...my surgeon said a lumpectomy was out of the question because I have a 3 cm and a 1cm. He said it would be over 5 cm all together and wthe way they are positioned. So either a single or double mastectomy is the plan. I can feel my larger tumor but its so hard to tell anything because I have lumpy breasts anyway. I sure hope it's shrinking!
0 -
My doctor definitely was leaning toward mastectomy, based on size and whatnot, so I figure that's what will likely happen. I'm having genetic testing done too, which will help further inform my decisions.
This is a weird denial thing on my part, but I cannot tell you stage or grade of my tumors. Isn't that weird? The tumor I could feel was pretty good sized, though, and I have one lymph node involved, so I'm guessing stage 3'ish.
0 -
Mine was going to do a double if I had the gene and take my ovaries. I did not have it. Now I'm not sure if he will give me a choice or just do the single. I'm still not sure what I want. I'm glad I had Chemo first so I have time to think about it.
0 -
hi justamy and cassiecat,
I was also told bmx plus ovaries if the gene test came back positive, to my surprise it came back negative (I have three aunts on my moms side with BC and my mom had preventative bmx). Now I am told by my Onc that I may (no guarantees) have a choice of lumpectomy plus radiation instead. It will all depend I think on what the tumor looks like at the end of chemo, and unfortunately it was right behind nipple.
Justamy I see that you also have her2+, assuming you are getting herceptin too? I've heard really large 5cm or so rumors disappearing in certain instances. Mines almost 4 and I can barely feel it anymore after 3 infusions.
In any case if they do end up removing a bunch of tissue mastectomy may be the way to go from an appearance standpoint as well as the benefit of not getting radiation. If they could end up removing small tissue it would be lovely to just get a lumpectomy and not deal with reconstruction.
0 -
i am not getting hercepin. Maybe I misunderstood and am not HER+?. I will ask because I was sure I was but I am only doing AC and Taxol. Curious....
0 -
hi girls, tomorrow i go for genetic testing, but the results do not matter in my decision process.
i am getting a bmx, as I have multifocality (more than one) tumors in the right breast, all over. Lumpectomy may be technically possible after chemo since the tumors i could feel have already melted away, but the breast will be like swiss cheese once they are done. Perjeta and herceptin are kicking ass for me, i could not feel either previously palpable tumor after first chemo.
I want it gone as my tissue is very dense-no mammo can see any of my tumors. I am getting a prophylactic on the left for the same reason. I think they will find undiagnosed stuff there in pathology, despite no tumors on scans. I have to get radiation too as it is in at least one node. I feel in my gut this is the right choice for me.
Looking at implant options vs. recon with a flap. They all have drawbacks and potential complications, but I do want some small breasts. I will see you on the surgery board!
0 -
bippy, I have a feeling I'll be doing what you're doing when all is said and done. The lymph node involvement is likely going to require radiation, and my breasts are so dense that it's hard to get good imaging. I'll know more when the genetic testing comes back. If it's positive, then that will influence my decision even more. Of the two tumors I have, one is way tot he left, near my arm pit, and the other one is more in front of that one, more toward the the middle of my breast. Who knows how big they'll be by surgery time, how much tissue will need to be removed, etc.
One step at at time. I'm going to enjoy 9 more hopefully good days before infusion #3 of 6 next week!
0 -
bippy, great to hear you feel it melt away! I'm on my 6th day post infusion and still feel pretty yucky, the picture of the tumor reducing is what keeps me going these days. Can't wait for the good days.
0 -
Made it through #3. I caught my 5 year old son's sinus infection and had to be put on antibiotics, so I was dealing with chemo and a sinus infection. I find every cycle I say I am going to quit and then through time I eventually concede to doing one more round. I definitely feel ore tired and usually I am through by Monday, but this time it's Tuesday and I am barely feeling ok. Hope everyone is having minimal SE's. Oh, and I had BMX with delayed reconstruction. I had 2 tumors and many nodes. Before we knew about the the second tumor I was given the choice and I have to say I always thought I would be 100% BMX, but when faced with the real decision it was harder than I thought. I did opt for the BMX and I have not regretted my decision. No matter what you ultimately decide, there is no better feeling than waking up knowing you are alive and that the bastard tumor(s) is sitting in a lab somewhere being dissected. I will get breasts next year 6 months after radiation. Until then I am having fun with different breast prosthesis sizes and when I get home from work, there is nothing more liberating than taking my hair and boobs off, plus my scars are like badges of things I have overcome. I am proud of them. I am only 33, and I just keep telling myself this is such a short time to deal witht his compared to the rest of my life. I want to see my 2 sons grow up, and I want to go on vacations with my husband (who still looks at me like I am the most beautiful woman ever). I guess just a quick rant.
0 -
Purrrana, not a rant at all, I think you have a beautiful attitude about your scars and tumors, and you are very lucky to have such a wonderful and loving husband (I do, too, so I know!) I only had a lumpectomy for 1 tumor, and am still struggling with the decision to get reconstruciton for my smaller breast with no nipple. If I decide to do it, I will also have to wait until 6 months after radiation, and maybe by then I will be used to that 4 inch scar across my breast and not care. (My tumor was right next to my nipple, close to the surface, so there was no saving it, although my surgeon made a valiant attempt.) I've been looking at tattoos on pinterest, and ran across a couple that have reconstructed nipples and tattoos, both. I have never had a tattoo, but now find myself thinking about getting 2, a pink ribbon design of some kind on my foot, and a nipple tattoo over my scar. Go figure. This journey is bound to change us.
0 -
Ok, new SE for me... A lot of you, and other's I've talked to, have mentioned the metallic taste. Up to now, I have only had the cardboard taste. Just this morning I realized that I now have the metallic taste, mainly at the back & sides of my tongue. It made my dinner last night of PB&J with milk taste a little off, and is now ruining my breakfast of Captain Crunch. (I know, I'm eating horribly.) Wonder why this is just now showing up after round 3? YUCK! This is worse than the cardboard taste.
I felt pretty bad most of yesterday evening, and had another bad night's sleep, but did have a really nice phone call with my mom, who has early Alzheimer's, before bed. I had woken up in the middle of the night, night before last, feeling like I hadn't talked to her in a long time (even though it had been less than a week), so made it a point to call her. We talked for over an hour. I can't beleive how much I am looking forward to Christmas with my family this year!
I wish I didn't have to work today... tired and kinda weepy. In-office vacation again, I guess. Sorry, I need to vent a little. I really love living here in southeast AZ, everything is so beautiful and wide-open and wild, and the people I've gotten to know here have been so unbelievably supportive... but last night I started feeleing like once this is over, I want to get away from here. This has not been a fun time and I want to leave it behind. I think we can find somewhere else just as wild and beautiful and start fresh, or even go back to Missouri and live on my folk's wild 80 acres and just be simple. Is this just the chemo talking?
0 -
Definitely not just you, StrongEnough. I had the idea to sell everything and raise our kids on a small goat farm. I still only get cardboard, but had the metal taste during the first round. I have been crying over the smallest things, like commercials and I balled during the Joan Lunden interview on the Today Show. It's funny how this changes us.
0 -
cassiecat, okay, we are tumor twins. I could only ever feel two..also armpit and top middle of breast! Cannot wait to evict all of them.
Purranna, i LOVE your attitude. I am told I am doing surgery first, then radiation...I see some do rads first though. is it okay to do surgery and recon before rads? Maybe they mean I am doing removal first, then rads, then PS/recon. I see onco on Friday and am gonna nail that down. So much to ask!
Strongenough, welcome to the metallics! Ahhh, the joys of chemo. Plastic utensil helps with the metalmouth. I have never been so hungry and simultaneously nauseated. Captain Crunch is on my shopping list now, that sounds good! Eat whatever you can tolerate during chemo is what I am hearing and practicing, so go for it.
I relate to wanting a huge change when this is over. Maybe I will get my way next year!
0 -
Strongenough - I was incredibly down after my first 2 infusions and a couple of times I was ready to leave my boyfriend and move closer to my daughters. My 3rd infusion has been emotionally better. I knew the chemo would mess with me physically but I never imagined dealing with the emotional SE. Also, when my appetite returns (somewhere around day 11-12) I eat whatever sounds good and many times it's something bad lol between the horrid taste in my mouth and the nausea I'm barely eating for 11-12 days so I figure bad food is better than no food.
0 -
windgirl, I too can barely find the tumor that I originally felt, and it was quite easy to find before chemo. For me, that is reassuring because it means the chemo protocol is working on at least that tumor, and hopefully on the other two and any other errant cells that may have tried to escape!
Purr, I'm glad to hear about you having no regrets! Not a rant at all - I was happy to read what you wrote.
StrongEnough, I think what we're all going through is MAJOR and is going to do all kinds of things to our emotional state!!! I waffle between missing my job so much and thinking, maybe I'll never go back! I'm glad you had a good talk with your mom.
bippy, it will be interesting for us to keep up with each other's progress over the next several months.
Wizard50, yes, any food is better than no food, given the choice! Eat, eat, eat.
I bought my first Americano from Starbucks today since this whole thing started. Coffee tasted bitter for much of the first cycle and part of the second cycle, but today it tasted good enough to pay $2.25 for a cup.
Small pleasures...0 -
hey ladies,
#3 has totally kicked my arse too. Was okay the first couple days afterwards...when the big meds were still in effect. But the past 2 days have been touch. Just exhausted, no appetite, slightly nauseous and unmotivated to move. Been taking lorezapam to help but it knocks me out. Had to cancel my teaching today. Hopefully tomorrow will turn around.
Sending lots of love to all of you . Inspired by each of you. Jess
0 -
hello friends,
This 3rd round is getting me also. Sitting in chair now getting fluids. First few days not bad, but now it's awful. I slept very good last night, but can't do anything today. Very weak, can't hardly eat or drink. I feel more nauseous this go around.
My cereal was Lucky Charm but all food is horrible right now. Chocolate pudding and strawberry jello and lemonade are about it at the moment. Mashed potatoes are now not good. Ugh. If we could eat, it would help!! That hit a lot faster this time. When ice cream doesn't even taste good...
I hope these fluids help give me a kick start. Running low fever as well. Tomorrow will be a better day!! Grateful to of had a good nights sleep last night.
Hang in there fellow troopers!!! We can do this!!
0 -
((Hope)). I hope you feel better soon!
0 -
#3 kicked my butt too. I'm on day 12 now and started feeling better after about a week but still way mor tired then normal. I'm getting ready for #4 and final AC Friday. I had a BMX and immediate reconstruction. It was a really hard decision an down days I still struggle with what I did. But really I am young and the thought of multiple mammograms and MRI's and possibly going through this again was more overwhelming. I actually chose this surgeon an hospital because everything going according to plan they could do the surgery and immediate implants versus the first Dr that would only do tissue expanders. I am glad that I don't have to go back for another procedure.
Strongenough- I've been looking at tatoos too. I don't have any and never wanted one butnineant to get some kind of ribbon on my foot too. I had nipple sparing surgery but I have looked at the tatoos to cover scars to and some of them are really pretty.
Purr-- I also love your attitude. I am 36 and have a 2 yr old. I feel like I have to go on for my husband, who has been wonderful and my son!
0 -
I have been able to avoid the metallic taste and any mouth sores. My sister suffered tremendously during her battle and I was determined that was not going to happen to me. I found a recipe online to make my own toothpaste and I really think that's what has worked for me. It's 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 3 tablespoons of coconut oil (melted or softened), drops of liquid stevia (to taste) for sweetness and drops of peppermint oil (to taste). Mix together and keep in a small mason jar. Brush teeth, insides of mouth and tongue minimum of 2 times per day with soft bristled brush.
Hope that'll help!!!
0 -
Hi All, I wanted to check in. I have read most of the post but still have quite a few to catch-up on.
First off Mullerin, how are you doing. How scary and hope that you have recovered. Were they able to determine what was wrong. It maybe in a later post that I have yet to read. I hope you are doing better.
Jess, I love the wig. I have a lace front, but love the full lace wig. I would pay 200/300 for a wig. You have to let me know where you picked up yours if I missed it.
Gatomel, so excited about the babies growth!
My journey over the last week has been tiring and trying both emotionally and physically to say the least. I was in the hospital for 4 days (glad it was such a short stay) with an infection from my port as each of you know. While doing due diligence in attempting to determine the extent of the infection they found a blood clot in the jugular vein that the catheter was running through (which was caused by the catheter). I had the port and some tissue removed. To combat the blood clot I will be on cumidin (sp?) for 3 months and lovinox (sp?) for two weeks to hopefully prevent further clotting. I am on antibiotics for 2 weeks to take care of the infection, which I ask for your prayers and thoughts. I am on so much medication now I had to keep myself from thinking what next. Before this journey I rarely took an aspirin. Hopefully I will have a few good days before my next round of chemo that is scheduled for next Wednesday or pray nothing delays the next treatment. I need to keep my spirits up since along with all the chemo appoints, I now have to keep up with weekly appoints with the anticoagulant clinic and still juggle work schedule. Thankfully my job if flexible and I can work from home. With this said I am really thinking about reducing my work schedule. But I guess this is yet a small thing in the light of fighting and kicking cancer's behind. We are strong and hear us ROAR! CANCER IS MY ENEMY, CHEMO IS CANCER'S ENEMY. CHEMO IS MY FRIEND AND WE ARE KICKING CANCER'S BEHIND...ROOOOAAAARR!! :-).
Hugs All
-Angie
0
