Starting chemo August 2014
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justamy- I have my last AC today too! Yay! Hopefully 4 taxol but possibly 12 depending on my liver tests. Good luck today!!!!
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Mullerin, hope they get you out of the hospital soon! Hope you feel better this morning!
Bippy, did you read to use maderma cream as a lotion prior to radiation? Is that the scar fading cream? I think I read to use coconut oil too??? Not sure I read that, lol, but I bought some.
Justamy, I have my 4th AC Monday! Can't wait to be done. The thought of sucking ice again, brrrr. I will have 12 taxols after that. Did you also hear we should tolerate that better than the AC? I did, so am looking forward to that!
Fighting off a cold I think, a little sniffly. My left eye kind of hurts, like there isn't enough tears at times, and then it tears up, kind of weird. Hope it goes away with the sniffles!
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JustAmy and Kellogg - good luck today with AC #4! What a milestone!!!!!
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Mullerin: Get out of the hospital and feel better soon.!!!!
My third round was by far the easiest. (Monday) Don't know why it just was. Only side effect besides some fatigue was that horrible taste in mouth. At work today and doing well. My BRAC came back negative last night. What a relief!!!!! There is now another genetic test they are getting approval for. She told me I may have that done in 2 months. It is for a link between breast cancer and pancreatic. My dad died of that.
Good luck to all. Half way done then I am off to radiation. That should be a breeze compared to this. (I hope)
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For those who have had their #4 dose of A/C...how long did it take after that before you felt human again? It took until yesterday (Thursday) for me to get over the fatigue after #3 and it was the first day of feeling totally human. I get my last A/C dose on Tuesday and I'm expecting not to see daylight until Columbus Day!!! The fatigue was quite profound after #3.
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Sorry I've been MIA for the past few weeks - not because I don't care...just hard to get on my computer sometimes. And of yeah, chemo fatigue...
Mullerin - so sorry to hear of this latest setback. We're all with you...hang in there!!
My chemo #3 was 9 days ago and I'm finally ready to resume some normal activity. This one was better for me as my last time I had developed a sore throat/ sinus problem and I think it just compounded everything. Still developed thrush but at least I have meds for it. Prepared for food better this time. Still had fever but just on the cusp.
Some new quirks this time - I get chemo by IV in my left hand. New vein this time and its getting really irritated. In fact it started itching the other day and looks like an insect bite just over the site where it was inserted. Been using topical Benedryl the last 2 nights. Hope it doesn't get worse...I haven't resumed pottery yet and afraid to put my hand in a wet clay bucket. Maybe will have to try a glove...
My new best friends are a bag of sugarless Trident peppermint gum. By accident my sister gave them to me when she heard I was now chewing lots of sugarless gum to deal with the awful metal taste and watery mouth. These are small, powerful tasting and believe it or not I can keep one in my mouth all night long! I do get tired of having one in my mouth, but so far they are worth their weight in gold! I carry the bag with me wherever I go now...
My last chemo is on the 15th and I'm starting to count the days until I will begin to feel a bit normal again. Strength and power to those of you going through #3 and #4 right now. I'm thinking of you....!
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Justamy - thinking of you as you go into treatment tmrw. I am hoping SEs are manageable for you. Last AC must be an awesome feeling to finally finish a step. You can do this!
Still nursing a nasty cold. Trying to take care this wknd. Don't want to be sick going into next treatment in a week. Made myself some butternut squash soup right from our garden.
Hoping everyone is on the mend and managing any SEs.
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eileenpg, YAY for your negative test results! I hope to get that good news too.
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Angie abd Mullerin sorry to hear about your problems. I hope you are doing better now. Hang in there and be strong!!!!!
Three days post round #3 of TCH. So far, it's the best round. MO gave me great news before round 3, one tumor isn't palpable anymore and the other one shrunk. Like that Wiz of OZ crack Bippy...:-) Besides that, white blood count stayed up. The good news probably boost my energy up for the round 3. I finally get my diet right to deal with the big D. LGFB class will be on Oct 13th, can't wait.
Welcome nurseshark.
Stay strong ladies. Hugs to you all...
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Pangtidor - great news about tumors. Glad #3 is manageable.
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Done with the last AC. It went OK but I feel like I have been run over by a truck...which is normal for me on Chemo day. I wish I were more tired so I could just sleep it away. I think I'll just lay on the couch.
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congrats Justamy! No more AC! Woo hoo! I have my last one in almost three weeks. Just finished #3 and doing okay, but we have a heat wave in San Francisco, and there is no air con in these old bldgs, so with the heat and the steroid flushing I'm dying.
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Mullerin,I hope you are doing better and get out soon! I found that when I was in the hosiptal my fatigue was not as bad, not sure if my focus was else were or the fluids and electrolytes they kept giving me helped with the SEs?
GoodLuck, Amy and Kellogg with your infusions today and Congrats on the last AC tx. Do you each have further Chemo? I have my last AC on Wednesday (10/8) of next week then a 3 week break and I start 12 weekly Taxols.
Yay! toall that are going into their last treatment or are rounding the corner. Would like to know who else is getting ready to ring the bell either by finishing first chemo cocktail, finishing chemo soon and going on to Rads,etc.? I am having the whole kitchen sink thrown at me due to positive lymph nodes and won't finish all treatments (AC, Taxol, Rads) until late February.Hope we can stay together as a group as we walk through this!
Pantidor,great news about the tumors which means chemo is kicking cancer's butt!!!! Yay! And glad SEs with #3 are being managed. #3 was easiest for me also in terms of SEs now the other complications were a bear!!
Cassiecat and everyone I am with you on the first time I said it out loud I was in the house with my husband and I had a meltdown, by the time I stopped crying I couldn't even recognize my own face it was so puffy. At times it is still unreal and we have to process so much other stuff in terms of our treatments, side effects, families, etc. This is when I have to adjust my sails and as you each of you always say we can do this!
Catie57,Kellya I hope you feel better soon. I love butternut squash and fresh umm,umm.
eileenpg, awesome news on the negative test results.
Jess good to hear from you.Now that my portis out I have to have my treatments via vein.
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BTW, I am going to enjoy this weekend. It is my up week right before my next chemo. Hopefully it is not too hot here and I can do some fun things outside without it being too bothersome. We are having a heat wave in Cali, it in the 90's here and forecasted that way until I believe early next week. Enjoy.
Hugs to All
-Angie
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Hi everyone,
I had my second infusion last Thursday. Over the weekend, I started noticing bumps on my head (my hair is gone). By Monday, my head was covered with red, swollen, painful and itchy pumps. I saw the APN at my oncologist's office, and she said it's folliculitis. Has anyone else had a problem with this? She prescribed an antibiotic creme, but so far, no relief.
I can barely stand to have it covered because it hurts/itches, but it's so awful, that I can't go in public without a covering. Luckily I work from home, and my family doesn't even it notice by now. If anyone has any experience with this or advice, I'd love to hear it.
Wishing you all a restorative and happy weekend!
--Ellen
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Angie, I will be here with you! I finish AC Monday, then 12 weeks of taxol, bringing me into january, then after a month, 6 weeks of daily radiation. Hang in there! We can all do this!
Ellen, ouch on the head sores. I get them and always thought it was due to stress.
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I'll be around for a while too. If I stay on schedule, last chemo is middle of December. Then it's surgery, and then likely rads. I hope our group will stick together! I'm so excited for those of you hitting milestones already. YAY!!!
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I'll be around long haul too...I may not finish taxol until mid Feb, since I don't know how long of an interruption I'll have for c-section pre and post. I assume they will want to stop two or three weeks before delivery and three weeks after at least to heal up? Then after taxol, how much time do they give your immune system to bounce back before lumpectomy? Then rads...I tried to map it out, and it looked like treatment through May! That's a long time. I wish they could all do it in one intense month in the hospital, ya know?
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I've been reading a lot of the weekly taxol group in preparation to get ready for the next phase. Ordered black nail polish, and got the super expensive Chanel black polish. I've never paid for Chanel Polish before, but I'm treating myself! Also looking into the Elastogel gloves and mittens for treatment to ice fingers and toes.
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Had my bloodwork done today and white count really low. Had to get another shot and was put on antibiotics. Feeling kinda fluish today. Hope it passes soon. I'm ready for a good weekend.
I have one more round to go and then off to 7 weeks of rads.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. Pamper yourself. You are worth it!!
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@Gatomal I am getting Induced 3weeks after last dose AC. Then starting dose dense taxol 2-3weeks after delivery as long as it's vaginal BIRTH. NOT looking forward to chemo with newborn at home but hopefully I will be less exhausted with taxol then I have been with AC.
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Hope - take care of yourself. If you run a temp please call MO. We don't want you ending up in hospital.
I will be around until mid February. I have 2 more TC chemo treatments ending just before Thanksgiving. A break followed by rads. Haven't spoken to RO yet to know exactly how long I have to go for. I'm assuming anywhere between 5-7 weeks.
LadyB - glad the port is out. I don't have a port and had 3 infusions by vein so far without a problem.
Mullerin - hope you are doing better.
Gatamol - I grew up in an upstairs apt with one fan. I use to take naps in the car for relief because it was so hot. Take care of yourself.
My eyes are now swollen from tearing so much. Not from crying either, just a darn cold.
We are kicking cancers butt. Counting down these treatments and looking forward to a better future.
Nurse shark - welcome to the group.
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good luck nurse shark! Is this your first? I have toddler twins at home already and we are hoping to have two healthy newborns come late dec/jan
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Lnmay,, I only had some ingrown hairs that were red and swollen-i wash my head every day, with dandruff shampoo or cheap vo5 clarifying shampoo. The vo5 works best. Also, i massage the follicles with my fingertips. Dont know if it will help but there is a suggestion that worked for my issues.
I will be here till early December at least, 3 more to go for me. I am really worried it will be super rough for the remaining chemo, but not much I can do about it. Except come here and vent.....
Congrats to those moving on! Hope to see you on other boards.
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LNMAY - yes dandruff shampoo and aloe helped me with my scalp irritation.
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bippy, I'm worried about it getting rougher too. And you're right - I guess there's nothing we can do it except ride it out.
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LNMay=I had the same problem with my head. Showed my MO said it was inflammed hair follicles. I wash my head every night with a soap for swimming. Even a shampoo for the pool. It gets the chlorine out. Then shampoo with regular shampoo. My head has completely cleared up. It was really itchy and I had red spots everywhere. Super annoying. Had to take scarf off of head one day at work. HATED THAT!!! No more problems since then. Hope this works for you.
Always wish everyone good luck.!!!! Enjoy the time you feel good. I keep thinking I will feel normal again. I can do this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As my boyfriend told me from the beginning "Honey, chemo- this is another opportunity for you to excell."
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I, too, will be here for the long haul. I get my last dose of A/C on Tuesday (10/7) and then onto 12 weekly doses of Taxol. I'm hoping that Taxol doesn't produce the same fatigue that A/C did. And then 36 doses of rads. Yup...we have no choice so we just make lemonade out of lemons!!!
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anyone having issues with your eyes? Sometimes my left eye tears a lot. At night I wake up and it hurts. Feels like it is really dry, and not enough tears. I looked it up online and seems like dry eye. Wondering if it's because of the chemo.
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thank you cathie57 and ladyb!!!! Angie, it will be a rough long journey for me. 6 rounds of chemo, surgery, another year of Herceptin 2 years if taxol pills, not to mention the higher reoccurrence with the HER 2+. Hang in there and be strong !!!
Kellya, I had watery eyes last week, only for few days. I told MO, he didn't prescribe me anything. I feel that I'm going to have cold, I've been checking my temperature many times. Lol. Many nappy times during the days help a lot .
Hope you feel better Amy.
Bippy, Cassie and eileen hang in there. Come and vent whenever you want to. We can do this.
I probably missed some posts. Hang in there and be strong ....:-)
Hugs to you all
Shirley
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