Starting chemo August 2014
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good for you CJT! I am jealous, but happy for ya!
cassiecat, good luck tomorrow, will be sending you good vibes. no.3 actually the best one I had, with least SEs, so maybe for you too! No 4 comes on Friday for me and I am really going to try to eat well and minimize gastric SEs. Here's to hope for limited SE's, for all of us!
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have you all had PET scans done or will be getting one? Just wondering what others have done and when.
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No PET scan done or planned in the near future. Only mammograms and MRI's so far for me.
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I had a PET scan done. It was very relaxing, of all the imaging I had to have. Funny, eh?
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No PET scans but I did have baseline CT scans (abdomen/pelvis/chest) before starting chemo.
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I had a PET scan with dye. I am claustrophobic, but really wasn't bad. I was beside myself with MRI and again with MRI biopsy. I actually asked for a sleep mask so I wouldn't see where I was and then I was fine. I took a Xanax for MRI, but not for PET scan.
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Alright Cassie, half way! Woot, Woot! I would say #3 was probably the best for me in terms of side effects that round of recovere was more complicated due to the port infection and blood clot discovery.
Bippy, thinking of you on Friday.
Hope50, I had CT/BoneScan/MRI completed to baseline but no PET scan. I had two CT scans since initial a abnormality showed up on my liver but ended up being a non-issue after another CT scan completed and read. My baseline CT was of chest/abdomain/elvis areas. MRI of the chest area.
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All I am done, done, done with AC. Treatment went well came home and slept for a long time and this is a first on chemo day. Usually I am up or just take a quick nap! I am drinking, taking Pepcid AC for heartburn and drining apple cider vinger for GI tract issues. I can't take prilosec or other meds in that family due to the Warafin so hoping to stay ahead of the GI track issues. Will take drink my smooth move tea for the Big "C". Hoping for minimal side effects especially fatigue. Any other suggestions on GI track issues let me know. My goal is minimal weight lose too.
Good luck all that are gearing up for another treatment. Praying for minimal side effects. For those that are in your down days stay ahead of the SEs and praying for minimal side effects. Those that are on your up days -- have fun and keep going!
Gatomel and NurseShark-- thinking of each of you and the babies.
Hugs to All,
-Angie
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I just got home from a Breast Cancer Awareness Month dinner and I have to tell you it was so much fun!!!! There was a comedian there, gifts, prizes, great food and just the fact of knowing that all of us in that room have been down that same road. Even my surgeon was there and we had the best time hanging out together as friends and not doctor/patient. At the end, they acknowledged the person who had the most recent diagnosis (me) with a nice bracelet and hugs and well wishes and then they acknowledged the person with the longest diagnosis who was a 35 year survivor. For the first time ever, I actually said "I am a breast cancer survivor, since August" and it made so proud to say that!!!!! There are very few people outside my family that know I have had any type of cancer and tonight that changed!!!!
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What A Powerful Video! I Loved What She Did At 4:04!
Read more at http://blog.thebreastcancersite.com/angelacordesr...This is one I had to share, inspiring!
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I had a PET scan after my surgery and before starting chemo.
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hi everyone, no pet scan for me either, just MRIs of thorax and abdomen, and bone scan, and the MRI where they inject you beforehand and your boobs are hangin out.
Ladyb, happy you are done with AC! I just began a probiotic for GI issues, it has really helped me. I have only had Big D issues, no C. Reduces bloating and pain, keeps things together.
Nomatter, sounds very inspirational and supportive. I was wondering when I can say I am a survivor...I think we all are, right now. That word is very powerful and I want to use it.
I have to take a xanax before chemo, it helps. My friend stopped by last night and gifted me with lovely things, including a leopard print baseball cap!! It is quite bodacious and I am wearing it to tomorrow's tx.
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No pet scan or MRI in my future. Just follow up mammograms with ultrasound afterwards. Set up every 6 months. This is what I was told so far. They are requesting I travel back to my original place that I had my mammogram to keep in same system. I moved from Baltimore to Florida. So.twice a year I will go to Baltimore for follow ups.
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no pet scan, only mri and mammo and Ulta sounds so far, that I've heard. Said just mammograms and ultra sounds later for now.
Ladyb, congrats on last tx! All others with decreasing SEs this time, way to go!!
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I'm going to have a chest ct prior to 4 chemo in 3 weeks. I asked my onco do you think any of those 50 nodules could just be plain old pulmonary nodules? Well, no I think they are probably all cancer, but you have done so well, I expect many to be gone. If not, we will change from taxotere, but you will be on herceptin and perjeta the rest of your life. I already knew that. But I really want to see what us going on in my lungs...
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I would feel the same way, beatmon! I pray your lungs are well!!
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Angie, huge congrats and hugs! You did it! You are kicking cancer's butt!
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I had mammogram, ultrasound, PET, CT and MRI. I'm scheduled for another ultrasound in about two weeks. Ultrasound gave a much better image compared to the MRI, which I'm glad about because I almost had to hit the panic button during the MRI. It was the worst test, for me.
I'm sitting in the recliner as I type. One more prep med to go and then we start in on the TCHP! Three down, three to go.
I hope we all have minimal SEs and treat ourselves kindly. I think of you all often.
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ladyB - congrats on getting thru AC. Hoping for minimal SEs this round for you. Probiotics definitely helped me, I take them daily. My MO also turned me onto GasX for any discomfort. Works pretty quickly.
CassieCat - half way there. You are kicking butt! Wishing you minimal SEs also.
Beatmon - I have my fingers crossed that chemo has shrunk all the nodules for you. Please let us know how ct goes.
I have #4 of 6 tmrw, Friday. I am actually looking forward to getting this one over with, so I can be that much closer to finished. Started my steroid pills this a.m. In prep for treatment. Luckily only worked a half day today and just got home. I have a list in my head of things to get done before, but first rest. I needed to stop everything yesterday too, around 3:00 and just rest. Otherwise feeling good.
Wishing everyone going thru treatment this week minimal And manageable SEs.
Cathie
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anyone there have elevated liver enzymes? Mine are up from 40 to 100, PA says not super bad and chemo will go forward tomorrow. Asked if I was drinkin alcohol, but I aint, gave it up July 29. Voicemail, have not talked to her yet.... So, is it from taxotere? Damnit!! As long as they are watching I suppose it will be okay. Been lucky so far without major issues. This may affect my ability to take tylenol after neulasta though, frig! I will ask her tomorrow.
Hope everyone else is doing well tonight. I am eating mexican food as my last meal, hahahah before #4 tomorrow! Back to BRAT diet after, sighs.
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bippy, I referred to dinner last night as the last supper. Black humor - my family was mildly amused.
I haven't had my liver function tested since just before the first treatment. They did check my kidney function, though, since the carboplatin dose is based on that. I'm getting a full panel of blood work done in about 1-2 weeks, I think.Cathie and bippy, good luck tomorrow!!!
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I was told to use tylenol with AC, since it worked on kidneys. With taxol, guess it would be in that taxi tire family I will be using ibuprofin since that works on the liver. Ask about that. Good luck
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My liver enzymes have been elevated since Taxol tx #2, and are monitored weekly. I don't know what the threshold is for tx to be suspended but I haven't hit it, and my onc is not concerned. If you are regularly monitored, I doubt you need worry. (Easy for me to say, right?
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They never have told me about my liver or kidneys...they check the levels weekly but never have told me anything good or bad....???
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yeah, the PA called back and says not to worry, they keep an eye on it, it is elevated but not in a danger zone. No tylenol now, says I can try alleve for the neulasta pain party. Good thing I already gave up drankin! Must be the chemo.....another delightful scary SE.
Speaking of scary, my next chemo after todays is on Halloween! How very fitting.
Cassiecat, how you feelin today?
Off soon for a fun filled day on the juice. TGIF everyone!
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My last Taxol is on Halloween! I will be thinking of you. I have a skull-patterned scarf all ready to wear. Also thought about painting my entire head like a Jack O' lantern but perhaps that would be a bit much
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Today I'm feeling good so far! Neulasta at 2pm today, so the pain party starts tomorrow after that. I didn't have any steroid-induced insomnia last night and slept all the way until 5am. That was great! I'll take whatever good I can get.
I'm halfway done with chemo - yahoo!!!!Good luck today for everyone getting infusions, and I hope SEs are minimal for all of us.
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I had my 4th infusion yesterday and so far so good but I usually always feel great the day after. The icky feelings hit me on Saturday night and Sunday and last for 7-10 days. Knowing what to expect and how to manage the SE helps a great deal. We added Benadryl and Pepcid to my steroid cocktail to avoid getting hives again and to help with the Taxotere reaction. During infusion taxotere gives me back and hip spasms so we infuse that drug super slow. Usually it takes 3 hours to infuse taxotere alone but we managed to get it down to 2 hours yesterday with only mild spasms. I was in the chair for 4 1/2 hours vs my normal 5 1/2.
Earlier this week there were several posts about rude comments people make. Yesterday was the first rude comment made to me and it was from another cancer patient at the infusion center. She was a bit a chatterbox and then asked me what kind if cancer I had. I responded by saying breast cancer and she said "oh, mine is worse". I let it go but my friend who was with me heard and later when we talked about it she felt it was rude too. I feel blessed mine was caught early but cancer is cancer and we are all there for the same reason - to get treatment and to kick cancers butt!
Sending positive thoughts, vibes and prayers to everyone and hoping everyone who had chemo this week has minimal SE.
Hugs to all.
Cathy
Here's a pic of me and my dear friend who kept me company yesterday.
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Im in the chair in n Halloween too. I'll be getting my first DD taxol infusion so I'll be there for at least 6-7 hours they tell me. Kinda bummed as they are having a Halloween carnival at my church and I wanted to help, but kicking cancers butt is more important...and that will have only leave 3 infusions!
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Tabbygirl + Bippy - here now getting 4th of 6 infusion. DH here with me. Luckily at another facility today, so he can get on Internet to work. Gave me Benadryl right off, which always makes me foggy. Halloween will be my 5th infusion also. We never get trick or treaters, bummer! My driveway is too long so no one comes even though I leave light on a candy ready just in case. Hasn't happened yet in 14 yrs living there. Oh well!
Wishing us all minimal SEs.
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