Starting chemo August 2014
Comments
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Hope50, Congratulations!!! One huge part of treatment behind you! Wishing you a day free of SEs and full of happiness. You did it!
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Good morning everyone, I really feel as though eating the ice during the taxotere is worth a million dollars. No sores and I have been able to taste food. Wish I had known about it for my first treatment. It reminds me of the commercial....what else don't I know? My appetite is not great, but at least I can taste what I eat!
My third treatment has given me more fatigue....almost want to stay in bed all the time. Hope next week is full of energy.....I know we all count on that 3 rd week for activity and normalcy. I took the flu injection on same day as chemo...wonder if that was part of it. I understand it is a dead virus, etc.. But.
I am taking neupogen this series instead of Neulasta. No bone pain last night or fever. Guess we will see if my WBC stats up.
Kudos to all of you sweet ladies going through this and working and taking care of children. I do not know how you are making it. Such bravery and strength.
Weirdly enough, my brother and are both having cat scans on the same day in a week to look at my lung / breast cancer and his possible lung cancer!
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Wow, Kellya, every week for 16 weeks. Good for you - doesn't sound easy at all.
Cathie, I think any walking we can do is good for us. It tells our body to get into healing mode. I've had four surgeries (all abdominal, hurts like crazy after) and each time they wanted me up and walking ASAP to get my bowels engaged again and get me on the road to healing. It really does help. That said, I know it's hard! I'm glad your DH is there to support you in all ways.
CJT, woo hoo for being done with the AC, and good luck with the weekly Taxol! Like I wrote to Cathie, I do think exercise can help us get out of our lethargy and funk. Easy to say, hard to do. But I'd give it a try, if I was you. Don't overdo it, of course - listen to your body.
Gatomal, do you know how they can tell if you're in chemopause? I need to ask about that, I think.
Kellogg, vent away. We get it, and I think talking here helps us process the things we're feeling so that we can better cope. I, too, have had some amazing people step up that I never would have expected it from.
Bippy, way to go on no SEs! Boy does that give me hope for round 4!!!
Go Hope, Go Hope, Go Hope!!! Last infusion!! No one has talked to me about ice at my onc's office, and I haven't really had any mouth sores to speak of. Just a tongue that's a little tingly/odd feeling, and my tastes are a bit off (coffee is bitter for a good week, for example). Maybe I'll try the ice/popsicles next time.
Eileen, yes you can do this!
Beatmon, how often will you get the Neupogen shots? I really hate how I feel after the Neulasta, but I see that my body really needs it. My WBC were 4.4 yesterday, 6 days after chemo, with Neulasta. So it's good that I'm getting it. But I hate it. Good luck with your scans next week to you and your brother.
I am starting to feel better as each day passes. Still a raw/burning feel down my throat and stomach, but I can eat, so it's not that much of a problem. Got a walk in yesterday and a yoga class today, and I'll try to go walk later today too. (My orange and white cat just stepped on my keyboard and managed to change the font! So weird.)
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Hope - last one, alright! One by one we are getting closer to the end of this journey. Wishing you minimal SEs thru this last one. Take care of yourself. Let me know if the ice made a difference this time for you.
Kellogg - so true about discovering who our real friends are and discovering your own strengths and weaknesses thru this battle. I am so grateful for the friends, family and support that has been given to me. I am glad you have a good support team also. Hope you are doing well today.
We are kicking cancers butt!
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cassiecat, no, my taxol is every week but just 12 weeks.
Hoping everyone's SEs are becoming more manageable.
Beatmon, hope the scan goes well for both you and your brother!
Cathe, are you hydrating just with water? I find G2 is better for me, maybe it is the electrolytes in it. When I'm feeling a little slow it does pick me up a bit. There were three of us drinking it Tuesday at my look good feel better class so I think others find this too. Are you eating enough protein! That is another key for me. I eat Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir drinks, and then have meat on a salad, lean meats at dinner with brown rice and a veggie. Those foods are pretty common in my diet. Good luck.
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Hope50--CONGRATS to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me know details about radiation.
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So tonight is the big night of taking steroids for the first time before my tx of Taxol tomorrow. Not looking forward to steroids or Taxol with new side effects. Been feeling more down than usual...just impatient I think for this to be over. Hope all goes well during tomorrow's infusion as that's supposed to be the hardest part of Taxol. Good news is only 3 more treatments after tomorrow!
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justamy - good luck tmrw starting Taxol. Never took Taxol, so no advice. Hoping all goes well.
Kellya - thanks for the shout out on staying hydrated. Making an extra conscious effort now that u brought to my attention. Had the big D and probably should be hydrating even more now. GasX tonight also. Ha! TMI
6 days past 4th treatment and starting to feel better every day. Sorry for the low posts, needed to vent. On the mend physically and mentally now.
Hoping for more good days then bad for everyone....
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justamy, thinking about you for your treatment. My Mo also indicated infusion part is harder with Taxol and I would be there a lot longer than the 3.5 hours than the AC took.
8 days post 4th treatment and hopefully on the up in terms of fatigue.
With that said can't sleep up since 3:00am and now 4:15. We'll maybe if I put the tablet down I could get some shut eye :-).
Hugs to All,
Angie
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hi all, been offline and just catchin up.
cassiecat, lovely pic of you and your girl!
Well done beatmom, I think neupogen is daily x 5. vs. one shot of neulasta?
Best wishes justamy and everyone doing taxol....sounds rough but i know you all can do it!!!
I started a little biz on Ebay and Etsy selling raw products for artisans! Wish me luck. Kinda fun and creative, gathering inventory and will do some minimal prep work today. I love mosaics and some of what I sell is related to that.
TGIF!
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Bippy what are the names of your stores. My daughter is an artist...she would be interested in looking at your stuff...
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Chemo day to in my new hat.
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Justamy: you look great! Good treatment today...and mark another off if your list!
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justamy, good luck today. We're all rooting for you with those steroids and the taxol. And I love your hat! That's the style I've basically been wearing too. Where did you find it?
Cathie, no need to ever apologize here. We're all on the same roller coasters of emotional highs and lows.
Angie, hope you got some sleep!
Bippy, thank you for the compliment. I love my girl SO much. Your raw materials business sounds neat.
It's Friday, which means my husband gets home tonight from his business trip. Yay!
I may do some crafting tomorrow with another ballet mom. We have some ideas of things to sell in the lobby during the Nutcracker, to raise a little extra money. Tomorrow we're trying out some colored and themed sugar scrub recipes, with cute packaging in Mason jars and such. She's very good at making things look cute, so I'm along for the ride on this one. 0 -
cassiecat =You and your daughter are so cute.
Is anyone experencing swelling in feet,ankles and calves? I eat nothing or very little. No junk food at all. I'm gaining weight. I can tell my legs are filled with fluid. I see my MO on Monday. I know this is a side effect of Taxotere. Oh great, Now I'm bald,tired,bowel issues, bloated ,and everything taste bad. What a vision to my boyfriend. He tells me all the time how beautiful I am. So Sweet!!!!
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I missed two whole pages and some great pictures and milestones.
Think pink, look radiant and absolutely beautiful.
Cassie, your daughter looks just like you and so cute. Love the pic and your smile is contagious. Beautiful!
Strong enough, woot woot! Congrats. Does your center ring a bell it do anything to celebrate last tx!
Justamy, love the hat and that smile! Rock it, you wear that style well.
Up with not much sleep :-). Glad it is Friday!
-angie
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Hope, how are you today? I'd be on cloud 9!!
Beatmon, glad the ice allows you to not have mouthsores! So happy that works for the taxatore too.
Cassiecat, have you tried Pepcid for the burning feeling?
Justamy, thinking of you today! Hope it goes smoothly. Cute picture in your new hat!
Bippy, hope your new business goes great!
Eileen, now swelling yet for me. I'd maybe call and tell them today and tell them what you are noticing. They may want you doing something over the weekend before your appointment. Hope it's nothing!
Ladyb, I think they told me my taxol would be about 30 minutes longer than the AC.
I drove my hubby to work and then took a drive along the river, the leaves are really starting to change here, I love this time of the year for that reason. Hope you are all staying on top of the SEs and have a good day!
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Thanks for all the well wishes! The steroids were not too bad...just no sleep but didn't get anxious or anything...Hooked up getting premeds now...so tired but wired at the same time. Glad w I can go home!
Cassie: I actually got the hat at Walmart for $7. I was surprised that it gave such good coverage!
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Hope50, welcome to the chemo finish line!
I met with my RO yesterday, and she said I looked good to start rads early, on 10/27. I'm having a scan check on Monday to make sure everything still lines up right, since my sim & set-up was so long ago (3 months, I'm thinking), and if so, away I go! If not, she said a few days or a week to get it adjusted, which puts me back to where I thought I would start, 1st week of November. Either way, we are good to go for both the Thanksgiving trip, and the post-Christmas trip! I'm so excited, I feel like I've been in prison, missed so many trips this year! We might even get in a day of skiing at Thanksgiving! Woo hoo!
Day 3 PFC, still feeling pretty good, Neulasta aches have not set in yet, just a little extra tired so far, and taste is starting to go. I hope, I hope, I hope this last round is easier, especially since I'm going to be driving to the clinic for rads every day starting day 13... Really need to try & keep my energy up this time. Need to walk more, didn't walk at all last round. Also probably didn't stay hydrated enough, got kinda bummed out & just laid around. Will try to do better this time.
I had an encounter at Schlotsky's yesterday... We went for early dinner after my RO appt, and a nicely dressed older lady came over and asked if she could say "God bless you" and give me a hug. I said of course, and she she did, saying a little prayer over my shoulder as she hugged me. She told us that her daughter had gone to heaven from cancer and was with Jesus now, and she hoped I would be well. She also said God bless you to my hubby for staying with me, as her daughter's husband went on a 10-day hunting trip and never came back. This is the 1st time a stranger has ever openly acknowledged my condition in public, rather than just staring or looking away. It was very touching.
Thinking of you all & sending warm fuzzies!
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strong enough, I just can't imagine someone leaving as their spouse is doing Cancer treatment, pretty lame! So you deal with your Cancer and the fact that he leaves you. That's is such a neat story of the woman praying for you though.
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Yeah it takes a real jerk to leave you w you need them most..people forget marriage is for better or worse...when I told my dad I have cancer he said " I don't think I can handle this." I told him that he had to because I have to...people are just really selfish sometimes. My hubby is great though... He doesn't care about the hair or the breast getting cut off. He just wants me to be healthy...love that man!
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Justamy, my theory is that if it's more than someone can handle, that means you're going to be ok when this is over. I've seen it happen at least twice, my friend's brother accidentally overdosed on acetomenofen (Tylenol PM) and his liver shut down & he almost died. But I knew the rest of the family would not survive his death, and my friend was the strongest and closest to him, so I just felt that meant he would pull through. He did, and now has sole custody of his son and a great relationship with his family and God. Another incident, I was dating a man with a daughter who developed cervical cancer when she was 20 & in college. She had been living with us for a couple years and we were close. I knew her dad would not be able to handle it if she died, so I knew she would be fine, and she is. I think if you have to get cancer, cervical is the easiest one to cure, but her childbearing prospects may be limited. She is married now and they are trying.
So try not to be too hard on your dad, and I know you are thankful for your husband and the rest of your supportive family! You are gonna be fine when this is over!
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I tried out my fake hair today - one of those halos you wear with a hat. I walked over to the cancer center (it's about 5 blocks from my house - lucky!) and met one of the nurses that I hadn't met before. He didn't even realize I was a patient! So I guess the hair looks good enough. It was nice to feel normal (itchy and hot, but normal).
Then I checked out their resource center, finally, and borrowed three books. If any of them seem any good I'll let you all know. They also have free wigs, so maybe I'll go try some on when my friend's up here in two weeks.
Has anyone done any Reiki before? I'm skeptical, but I can get it for free, and one friend wholeheartedly suggested it. It probably can't hurt, and it might get me to unwind and relax at least while I'm lying there...
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getting final dose AC as we speak! Induction scheduled for November 10th can't wait !! Scheduled to start taxol on December 5th every 2weeks x4 doses as long as delivery goes well and don't need c section!
Hope everyone is feeling okay!!
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woo hoo on final AC! Getting close nurse shark! Nov 10 is almost here. Hang in there and good delivery.
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Nurseshark- final dose, CONGRATS! Things are moving along which sounds great.
Justamy - wishing you minimal SEs with Taxol.
Cassiecat - I actually took advantage of the M- technique today that our cancer ctr offers here. It's a light massage with aromatherapy oils and relaxing music. I have been achy since last treatment so got reflexology which was awesome. They also offer Reiki but haven't done it myself.
Had a little scare last night, so went to see Internist to make sure heart and lungs are ok. She said to me, you know ur putting poison in ur body right now. Ha! I said yes that's why I waited until after 4th treatment to come see you. Just want to know everything looked ok. Anyway, all good here. I ate some broth w rice and it got stuck in my chest. Very painful! Finally went down w sips of water and walking around. Dr. thinks my esophagus got swollen and recommended Pepcid from now on to avoid. Got out this a.m. and walked, beautiful day and just took it slow.
Dam SEs! We are kicking cancers butt!!!!!
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I have been MIA for a week or so, and have yet to catch up with everyone. So many of us seem to have eye problems and problems with excessive tearing -- turns out I had a blocked tear duct (in my nose), so Tuesday I had an operation to bypass the duct so that the eye would not get a repeat infection on the next round of chemo. I had general anaesthesia, but it was an outpatient procedure, and recovery has not been terribly uncomfortable. Chemo #4 was rescheduled for Tuesday, so I still have some time to heal and maybe enjoy a bit of "normal," though I am still weak, sort of dizzy, and unable to do much for more than an hour or so.
I confess, I am really dreading the next round of chemo. I think my oncologist is thinking of letting me off with 4 treatments instead of the prescribed 6. This time I will get neupogen shots to keep my WBC from plummeting -- my HMO is on the minimalist side of treatments, so I didn't get any additional medication until I was hospitalized two weeks ago. Perhaps this round will be more tolerable. I don't know how much more I can take.
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Eileenpg, I have the swelling in my feet, ankles and calves. My PT about freaked out this morning when I showed her my swollen ankles. I now have compression stockings on my legs and will wear them until this is over and beyond. I keep telling my DH that I don't think much else can happen to me. I have no hair, no boobs, gaining weight and if they tie string to my arms and legs I could be in the Macy's Day Parade.
JustAmy - You look absolutely fantastic in your hat. GO ROYALS!!!!!
StrongEnough - Love that story. I had a lady nod and wink at me in the grocery store the other day. It is the little things in life that give you the most encouragement.
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Nomatterwhat= This swelling showed up about a week ago. A skirt that fit yesterday is too tight tonight. I eat practically nothing. Steamed vegetables and grilled fish. I goggled side effects of taxotere and this is normal. I go to my MO on Monday. Unfortunately, I am a LUNATIC about my weight and this is really upsetting me. Losing my hair is not as bad as this weight gain. I am still working out for 1 hour 4 to 5 days a week. Even if I feel bad I walk 4 miles. Your reply made me feel better. I know this will go away. Yes, I am bald,tired,bloated,no taste buds,bowel problems, and minimal eye lashes, Glad I have a boyfriend. It would be tough to date now. Blind dates would RUN if I showed up.
Nurseshark+ May you have a wonderful happy healthy baby and this will be a distant memory in years to come.
Round 4 (chamber of horrors) for me Monday. Or musical chairs as I like to say. Each time I go someone has to leave due to blood work being off. So, They lose their chair. I hope to stay in my chair.
Good luck to everyone wherever they are in their treatment.
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Taxol was a disaster! I got all my premeds in and then the Taxol started. After about 30 minutes they had to stop because I couldn't breathe and was having chest pains. My blood pressure was way high and my pulse was 50 when it was 77 when I started. They gave me more steroids and benadryl and started a second try after half an hour. 20 minutes later they had to stop for the same reason. My pulse was down to 44. They quit after that and gave me more steroids and benedtyl and tried to get my pulse up for 2 hours....my blood pressure went down but my pulse wouldn't go up so they sent me to er and I'm just Noe leaving there at 7! Monday I go back for another try with taxatore instead. Sure hope it goes better!!
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