Starting chemo August 2014
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Bippy, that is a huge decision to come to grips with, and all the emotions you describe make total sense. It is an enormous, life-changing event and it may take some time to get to peace with it. But I am glad you are already doing your best to focus on the fact that your situation IS treatable. That doesn't mean that the reality won't hurt sometimes, of course. At one point after my mx, I said grudgingly to my husband about its appearance, "well, I can live with it," and he said, "that's the point; you'll LIVE." In a nutshell. (But the emotions still hurt at times, though it is getting easier. ) Anyway, just trying to say that I think I understand some of how you are feeling, and I will be thinking of you.
I am about to head out the door for Taxol #11 of 12. I can see the light at the endof that tunnel! Then this afternoon is my heart ultrasound to see if Herceptin is causing issues. My onc wanted to do this in mid- or late November, but my insurance company would only preauthorize for the month of October. I get so angry at them. They require pre-auth for certain covered services that won't even be in dispute, otherwise they won't pay at the full rate. Just a useless hoop to jump through. And this scheduling issue just pisses me off. They aren't my doctor.
Sorry about the venting, but do we really need more hassles???
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Hi everyone,
Lots of good info coming across August chat. This is the only or at least main group I log into. Congrats to the ladies finishing up Chemo and to the ladies changing over to Taxol or Taxotere. The end is in sight for many.
I have 2 more treatments then go for Radiation. I have to look and see if there is a group for that next step on the boards. I got my flu shot today. Never, ever had one before, but MO suggested I get it with flu season coming and all. I am having a decent second week after treatment. I am even hosting a garage sale with my friends here on Sunday. My eyes and nose constantly running still. Walked up the driveway this a.m to put garbage there and was huffing and puffing. So decided to grab my husband a take a walk. I can't let myself get that out of shape. Been sitting in an office and my desk for 3 days straight and need to move. Actually going back to work this afternoon to cover coworker on vacation. Halloween is next infusion, then will be useless for the following week. Bringing my ice cubes to suck on again. Really made a difference for me last time. Hoping everyone is managing SEs and getting stronger each day. Encouraging to hear that tumors are shrinking and surgeries are being scheduled. We are getting closer to the finish line. Hang in there cancer warriors, we can do this. Still really sucks!!!!
Cathie
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Today is my worst day with fatigue. Still basically in bed at 12 noon. No energy.!!!! I have 2 more chemos to go and hope I make it. I'm exhausted and everything taste like cardboard. I am forcing myself to eat. I can not tell if I am hungry or not because of the horrible taste in my mouth.
Made my appt for radiation to start in Dec. Will meet MR in November. On the subject of insurance. I could go on and on with all the bills I have and what they pay and what they don't pay for. I have to change to another plan in Jan. My premiums will be ridiculous, but no deductible
Hope everyone is doing well.and having a better day then me..
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Here's a brief article I read this morning about exercising and breast cancer survivors. 150 min. of moderate or 75 min. of vigorous exercise, plus some strength training, are recommended. Even a good walk will help! I need to get myself out there a little more often.
I still have three more infusions to go (#4 of 6 is next Thursday), and then surgery (likely mid-January) and then radiation. Such a long road this is! I hope we can still post our progress and successes even as our paths start to diverge. Our chemo schedules brought this group together, but I'd like to still hear from you all as you heal from surgery, make it through radiation, etc.
Eileen, I hope you can find something to eat that is satisfying. Definitely important to eat during all of this!
Cathie, I had my flu shot Wednesday (whole family did) and my daughter and I both had some mild to moderate side effects yesterday. But we're both feeling better today, thankfully.
Tabby, you're so close! Good luck with the heart check-up today. I'll have to do that again at some point, too, but I'm not sure when.
Bippy, I feel the same way about surgery. I want to go in and get it done all at once and just be OK with it. When I met with my surgeon Wednesday I wanted to hear that a lumpectomy was now a good option, but he didn't say that at all. Still definitely recommending the full mastectomy, but just the one side. But with reconstruction, he said the radiologists usually want to wait until after radiation. So I have that in mind now, another long haul. I've had four abdominal surgeries, and he said these are "easier" in the sense that they're not cutting through all of that muscle wall. We'll see. It won't be easy, but maybe it won't be terrible, either. Cancer just sucks, doesn't it!
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About radiation and reconstruction... I was told that radiation can change the breast tissue (in the case of lumpectomy) by making it firmer and possibly higher, which makes sense, since radiation basically kills the breast tissue and new grows in its place. So it will be kinda like having a whole new boob on that side when it's done. Except for the missing nipple thing, of course. As the rad tech explained it to me, every day the radiation dose kills 66% of the cells in the breast. Over the next 24 hrs, phagocyte cells clean up the dead cells and new cells grow. Next day, another 66% destroyed & so on. So every day, 66% of the new and the old cells get blasted, until after however many treatments, you have an infinitesimally small number of the original (potentially bad) cells left. So they wait until 4-6 months after radiation is done to do any reconstruction so they don't have to go in & fix it later if it moves & gets lopsided. I am also still struggling with the decision to get a reconstructed nipple. I'm skeptical that they can actually make it match the other side. So why bother? As I see it, there are 4 options: Reconstructed nipple & areola tattoo in an attempt to match, reconstructed nipple w/ a pretty tattoo to cover the scar, no nipple w/a pretty tattoo to cover the scars, or leave it and learn to live with it. I guess I will wait & see what it looks like after radiation. If it's drastically different, I may need a small implant as well. Right now I look pretty normal as long as I'm wearing a bra. And since I never had babies, they have stayed pretty firm and dense anyway, so maybe radiation won't change it that much. I'm not sure if that matters, just have to wait & see.
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Congrats Tp4ever! Love the sign and doing the Happy Dance and ringing the bells of joy virtually for you! I get so excited, happy and tearful when I hear that one of us is finished with one stage and going to the next or finished all together.
Hugs Always,
Angie
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My last visit to my chemo palace!!!! Love those ladies!!!!!! Not a bad look for an old fat broad after a BMX. Still waiting on the hair to come back, but as my husband says "who cares, you are alive". WOO HOO I AM A SURVIVOR!!!!!!!!
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so great to see so many finisiing up. Congrats nomatterwhat!
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This taxatore is making me feel terrible. This is day 5 and I am in pain all over my body..its what I would think of as bone pain but I didn't take a Nulesta shot this time and never got bone pain during it...by this point during AC I was getting better. I may end up going to the er tonight. I took my temp 45 minutes after taking ibuprofen and it was 100.1. If it gets to 100.5 I am supposed to go. My hubby is always very supportive except w it comes to going to the er...he doesn't see the point I guess with a low grade fever...I hope I don't have to go. I guess I'll quit whining...talk to you all soon.
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strongenough - if I understood correctly did you have a lumpectomy with nipple removal at the same time? I didn't know that was an option, if so, good to know,
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Nomatterwhat, CONGRATS!! Looking good.
Justamy, keep a close eye on that temp and go in if you need to. We're not supposed to mess around with fevers. They can be the only sign of infection that we show when our WBC are low. I'm sorry to hear about the bone pain. I get taxotere and Neulasta, and that might explain whey I feel so bad afterward! I hope your fever goes down and you feel better very soon.
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justamy.... Watch that fever and go to the ER if you need to. Hugs!
Congrats Nomatterwhat! Way to go!
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Nomatterwhat, huge congrats from a fat old broad with no hair and one boob! You look great, and you look happy! And I love your husband
JustAmy, so sorry you are having such a rough time. I sure hope your MO can help you alleviate some of that. Thinking of you and sending hugs!
I know I am missing answering so many, (sadly there are so many of us who need to be here). I have you all in my heart. Love and prayers to those who are atruggling.
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justamy: agreeing with the others watch the temp and go to the ER if you need to. The ER can give what is needed and assess you.
Nomatterwhat! Woot! Woot! So happy for you crossing the finish line. Love the pic and your husband statement. Congrats again !
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Well I didn't go to the ER last night. My fever got up to 100.5 but then started to go down. Today its been hovering around 100. I hope I can wait till Mon to call my MO. I am very conjested and have really sharp pain in my ears as well as the D...which I've had since Monday with no relief. Thank you all for your well wishes and concern.
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Justamy=== DRINK DRINK DRINK. I drink g2 from Gatorade. You need to replenish thoses fluids. I take an aleve in the am for overall pain for the the first 5 days starting on chemo day.
Feel better
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Justamy - what Ellenpg said, ditto. We both are on Taxotere and Aleve does help. Claritin for bone ache and sinuses. Hang in there and feel better soon.
Nomatterwhat - so very happy for you. You are a cancer Kickin warrior!
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Quick question for those on Taxol. Any advice on what to start taking to prepare for Taxol or it's side effects. I here L-L-Glutamine (sp?). Anything else that I should go out to add or what from AC should I keep in my arsonal?
-Angie
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Cassiecat,
I just finished my AC#3. it is very hard this time. Next Tuesday will be my last AC. My MO want me to do 4x taxeltere, projeta an heceptin Every 3 weeks. Can you share your experience o n this treatment? Thanks
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Hi buckeyenut,
I've done 3 of Carboplatin, Taxotere, Herceptin and Perjeta so far, with three more to go. I also get a Neulasta shot the day after each treatment. Every person reacts differently, so I don't know how helpful my perspective will be. For me, the worst days are two-four days following chemo. I get bone pain from the Neulasta shot (despite taking Claritin and Tylenol, so last round I got an Rx for Norco) and mild nausea (but nothing a Zofran doesn't take care of). My biggest complaints are actually migraines (which I get anyway, but happen every 3-week cycle now) and the emotional crash from the steroids. I get Aloxi in my IV on infusion days, and it has headache as a side effect. Zofran does too. So for round 4, they may tweak things a bit on the anti-emetics and steroid dosage.
As for other side effects, I feel like I've been pretty lucky. I don't have too many. I sometimes wonder if the AC combo is harder on your body. I don't want to jinx anything, but I haven't had any real mouth sores to speak of, and I haven't had any signs of neuropathy. I've had one cuticle get sensitive, which makes me paranoid about my fingernails, and my taste buds get wacky. I usually have a good week and a half to two weeks, after the first week that kind of knocks me down for one reason or another. I can get out and walk, run errands and feel like I'm basically living my life again.
Good luck with it all. I had an ultrasound last week and the two tumors in my left breast were undetectable. It was remarkable. The chemo is definitely doing its job for me, and I feel fortunate that Herceptin and Perjeta exist for HER2+ cancer patients like us!
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Justamy, I'm keeping you in my thoughts. Stay hydrated and keep an eye on that temperature. It sounds like you are. Let yourself rest and mend. {{hugs}}
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ladyb, the only thing I started was vitamin B6, 100mg. I buy the 50 and take 2. I think this was to help with neuropathy. I haven't needed anything else but occasional tylenol. Am going to ask if I'm suppose to switch to ?Motrin. Originally that is what I was told. I felt great day 1 and 2. Mid day 3 tiredness hit and on day 4. Since then I've felt good. Good luck with it!
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Justamy, you are in my thoughts. Hope the temp continues to go down. Sounds like you are staying on top of everything but I'm sorry it is so difficult for you. You are one strong woman!
Ladyb, I am taking B6 - 100 mg, and L-Glutamine 10 g / 3 x day for the day of and day after chemo (some take it daily by I'm taking as my doc suggested.) I got through 10 weekly Taxol before I started having some tingling and numbness in my feet and toes. It is not bad and the nurse thinks that since it started in the later weeks that it won't get much worse and should go away fairly quickly. I continued to take the low dose aspirin I was taking before diagnosis but cut back on that when I started getting frequent bloody noses. I hope that Taxol is gentle with you!
Nomatterwhat and Thinkpink4ever, Congratulations! It all sounds like forever at the beginning of chemo but you got through it as we all will.
The fatigue has been pretty intense for the last couple of weeks now, seems to build as the weeks go on. I also feel sick right now with a cold, worse sore throat, drippy nose and headaches than usual. I haven't had a fever though so haven't called the doc yet.I will be so disappointed if I'm not better in a few days and my last chemo has to be delayed. I'm heading to #12 of 12 TH on Tuesday. There is no bell to ring where I go, but I told my nurse that I expect her and the other nurses to sing or do a line dance for me!
Hope everyone is feeling well enough to do something enjoyable this weekend. I am so grateful for all of you!
Sandy
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Strongenough, I could have sworn I saw you at the supermarket the other day! I feel so close to everyone here that I guess my mind is starting to manifest you in the places I travel!
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Anyone have tingling in feet with AC. I am 2.5 weeks post treatment but feel some tingling and it is a first. Not sure what to do. I will reach out to my MO on Monday, but surprised the tingling has started so late. I also noticed that my nails are turning dark around the cuticles on all fingers. Any suggestions? I do ice my fingers during treatment. Concerned as I start Taxol next week for 12 weeks.
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Angie, I agree with the recommendations to take L-glutamine and B6. I take the same dosage as Sandy of L-glut, but take it every day. I just had tx #11 yesterday and have only had very mild, very occasional tingling in my fingertips. It is so brief I barely notice it.
I also suggest having Ayr saline gel on hand. Apply it inside your nostrils with a Qtip 3 x a day to keep your nasal membranes moist. This will help you prevent bloody noses.
Good luck!! I wish you the most minimal of side effects!
Angela
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Well I had the worse night so far during this journey...I didn't sleep at all...the big D is still holding on 7 days post tx and I also started throwing up so bad last night that I can't even drink water...that means no pain pills for the horrendous bone pain nor any of my anxiety meds cause I threw them up. Still have a borderline fever. I called the MO on call and it's off to the hospital I go to get nausea meds, steroids, electrolytes and something else. And he's calling me in some better anti D medicine. Hoping to feel much better by the end of the day.
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Thanks for the Ayr saline gel tip. I need something like that!
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Justamy, praying for you to get some relief. Love, Jean
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Justamy, I'm praying for you.
I also use the Ayr saline gel recommended by Angela. It has worked the best on the dry, bloody nose.
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