Starting chemo August 2014
Comments
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Happy Halloween!
I haven't been on the boards in a couple of weeks and I have tons of catching up to do. I tend to stay away whenever I have an emotional crash. I spend a good week after every infusion so down. I can't wait for this SE to end. I had fifth infusion yesterday and for the first time I was drained afterwards. I always feel good the day after but today I'm sluggish and shaky (probably the steroids). I've noticed that I've been having more shortness of breath and leg aches since fourth infusion. I have one more TCH infusion on November 20th and then I'll continue on with Herceptin only until August 2015. I've been told that will be a piece of cake.
Hoping everyone has a fun-filled weekend with minimal SE. Hugs to all
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Thanks for all the good wishes! I am getting the last of the last right now!
Angie, I have had 12 weekly infusions of Taxol and Herceptin, and will now switch to Herceptin only, every three weeks. I had very minimal side effects, but maybe that was partly due to this being my first experience with chemo. I came into it feeling very good and strong. I don't know if that matters. I was religious about taking L-glutamine and vitamins B6 and B12. Also drank lots of water. I haven't had any real neuropathy and I think that is why.
My main issue was the cumulative fatigue, which really started getting to me about week 8. But it wasn't terrible. Today my adrenaline is making up for it
I didn't feel sick, and I had no issues with taste buds, etc. For me, Taxol was really not bad. I wish you the same!!
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Cassiecat= Just remember after this you NEVER have to see your MO again except for check up. That is because you can scratch cancer off your bucket list. Yep. Done that.
Justamy= Glad you are home. Happy cleaning. Come to my house next.
Best of luck to all getting last chemo. YEAH YOU!!!
Still can't taste food. Yet I found a protein bar med rx. I can stomach it. It fills me up. Not starving anymore. Scrambled eggs for dinner. I should start clucking soon.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite holiday. I house is all gouled out.
Off to paint my head!!!
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Wizard50, it's good to hear from you.
Your last treatment is the day I'm hoping to do my 5th of 6th. You're getting so close!Shirley, glad you're finding foods to enjoy. That helps so much!
Eileen, I like your attitude!
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- 5th of 6th done! My liver enzyme levels were elevated, but not enough to stop or adjust chemo meds.
Wizard - I had the same SEs after 4th treatment w shortness of breathe and legs achy. Asked MO today and typical answer. It's the chemo and will get better when finished. Hang in there, we are close to the end.
Tabbygirl - I am happy to know you had minimal SEs throughout this experience. That is all we can all hope for going forward. I met a woman today who is just coming in for herceptin every 3 weeks. Her hair is growing back in and seems to be doing well.
Pangtidor - so glad you are enjoying food again. My eyebrows have thinned out a lot. I was shown how to draw eyebrows w a pencil at the class, so I do that every morning. Can't tell after that. I also never noticed before, but a lot of woman don't have eyebrows. I have friends that draw in their eyebrows all the time , and not from chemo. Crazy!
Ellen - enjoy your Halloween, one of my favorite holidays. All the nurses were dressed up today. My daughter and I wore witch hats.
I asked about last chemo, if they ring a bell or anything there. Nothing! Will have to celebrate on my own.
Wishing everyone minimal and manageable SEs.
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Happy Halloween! I went in for taxol #2 and after blood, I went to the doctor and then to infusion and the nurse came in to tell me my White blood cells were too low. So off home I went. Must go back next Friday. I'm annoyed. Have to stay home and not get sick.
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Kellogg, so sorry that you had that delay. Take good care of yourself!
Amy, I'm so happy that you're better and heading home!
Wizard, glad you're back. We will both be doing our every three week Herceptin until next summer.
Tabbygirl, happy dancing for you! I had the same experience with the fatigue being more pronounced toward the end of the 12 weeks. But overall Taxol was very manageable.
Shirley, glad those taste buds are back. I look forward to the day when my morning coffee tastes good again! I never got the metallic taste with Taxol but tastes are definitely a bit off.
To each and every one of you, I hope you have an easy weekend. Happy Halloween!
Hugs, Sandy
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good morning all, tx 5 went well, we actually had fun, inconcievable but true, thanks to the best nurses on the planet! They all wore some kind of head costume and we laughed the whole time. Even the head honcho nurse came in and took a photo of my witch drawing! They all know me now and lots made special trips onto our room to visit. It really touched me.
Coffee tastes a bit off today and already the taste buds are blown, but....could be worse. It is finally getting cooler here, thank gawd. Cool weather in Florida is such a treat, rare and precious! Funny how alot of things strike me that way now. Guess I just am more aware.....
Kellogg, sorry for the delay, that sucks.
Hi Wizard!
Amy, woohooo!
Hoping all still here are SE free. For alot of us, ONE MORE LEFT!!!!!
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Bippy, your witch drawing is fantastic! The nurses must all love your wonderful sense of humor! So glad you could have some fun on chemo day. And the best part is that one more treatment is done, done, done! One more left - you got this girl!
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Hi all...
halloween day was too cold and windy at SE Missouri. I got off from work early but couldnt go out for trick or treating, don't want to catch cold.
Catie57... I had to draw outer half of my eyebrow this morning. Oh man, by next week I will have to be expert on using stencil. Lol. Couldn't attend the LGFB class but They sent me the video, will go to Walgreen to get the eyebrow kits.
Kellogg sorry for your delay. Hope WBC will be up soon.
I am not looking forward for the cold weather. I always have winter blues. Chemo blues and winter blues won't mix well. Lol.
Hope the coffee will taste great for you all today ....:-)
Stay strong. Hugs to you all...
Shirley
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Good morning, everyone!
Other than not sleeping very well, I'm feeling pretty good this morning. I had my Neulasta shot yesterday afternoon, and that pain usually kicks in later today. We'll see! With approval, I cut my oral steroid dosage in half, and I think that is helping me feel more like myself. I am also wondering if having only the TC on Thursday is a little easier on my body. Hopefully I'll have the HP on Monday. I got the ekg and echo done yesterday afternoon, and I am supposed to hear first thing Monday morning whether or not things are still a go. I imagine that they will be.
So my goals for today and tomorrow are to HYDRATE, stay on top of any SEs and not be afraid to take the meds whenI need them.
Hope we all have good days - it's November already! Hard to believe.
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Cassie, my fingers are crossed that you will continue to feel well today, that the adjustments they are making work out well. Hope you can take a cat nap or two. Good luck with your test results. I'll have my echo and bone density tests in a couple of weeks. I hope Herceptin will be kind on your heart and mine. Every time I am a little short of breath I get nervous
It's raw and rainy in MA today. I'm hoping to hunker down and get some housework done. I'm coming out of the day 3 and 4 fatigue fog and have more energy. It was fun to have some trick-or-treaters (about 17) here last night. I'm going to return the unopened candy and try not to consume what's left of the opened bags.
Have a good day everybody!
Hugs, Sandy
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Kellogg, so sorry that you had that delay this week.
Shirley, glad your taste bids are back. I can't wait until food taste normal and I can have my morning coffee.
Bippy and Cathie, glad your treatments went well.
Wizard, so glad to hear from you! I will be praying that the emotional SE that hits you will soon go away as I know that is difficult since I faced it today. How is the shortness of breath today? Take good care of yourself!
Tabby, thanks for the advice on taking taking L-glutamine and vitamins B6 and B12. I got the OK from the Onc and also clearance that they are fine to take with Warfarin. I will now have these in my regular daily routine. I am happy that you had minimal SEs throughout your Taxol treatments. Hoping the same for me :-).
Sandy, it is raw and rainy in the Bay Area of CA today also. We went from 80 degrees on Tuesday to a cold and rainy 65 degrees. But it is a beautiful and relaxing Saturday.
Cassie, glad you are feeling better and praying that the adjustments are working well for you. Let us know the results of your test.
My update -- now day 3 after 1st Taxol and slept most of the day. I have a lot of aches and pains in the muscles and "bones", which is a first for me since I didn't get that SE on AC. I had to resort to taking tylenol and even a Norco later in the day. Feel much better after a full day's rest in bed. I have to say that the SEs are not as bad on Taxol just different, feels like the flu is coming on with the aches and pains. Heartburn and no taste is still there. The good thing the "brain fogginess" is not there with this round Taxol. I feel like I can think now.
Have a great rest of the weekend and enjoy the extra hour tonight.
-Angie
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Hi LadyB, sorry to hear of the bone pain. I am gearin up for it too, today is Neuplasta day. Ick, HATE it but must be done.
Sandy, I hope all our little hearts are ok too! It scares me, I guess I will get another MUGA after chemo, as I am like alot of us, on the Herceptin train for a year after.
New odd SE yesterday with food-----total aversion, but not due to nausea---just....could not care less. Ate zero all day and had no hunger pangs. Had to force myself to eat dinner, and a small salad. Things do lack taste. I will take it over the sick feeling, smell issues and the big D! Also, I slept for 14 hours so I guess this round knocked me out too. We are shopping after Neuplasta shot, then no plans except house stuff as SE allow. Hope to cook alot today, love to bake and it is chilly out, perfect! Yes, there will be cake involved.
Hope the time change is kind to everyone this morning and no SE!
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ladyB - hope u r feeling less achy today. I know u have been thru a lot but I am wishing u minimal SEs thru taxol.
Bipsy - we are similar schedules. I got my neulasta shot yesterday and by evening, just had to go lay down. Only able to eat some soup, but it tastes good. The ice during chemo treatment definitely makes a difference.
5 down, 1 more to go!
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I was told to use ice for mouth sores only. I have not had any sores. Yeah me!!!Does it help with the taste bud problem. I am now 2 weeks from chemo and only eat STILL scambled eggs and a protein bar for lunch. I did eat cottage cheese for breakfast. it ws manageable. Everything else taste Horrible. Does ice help with this.?
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Angie sorry to hear about your bone pain. I guess the taste buds problem is common among us. Sigghh. the 'tasteless' days hit me up to 10 days now and the metallic taste is the worst (day2-6), I could only swallow the sweet taste.
Eileen I drank 2-3 quartz of water&2 cups of ice during my 4.5 hrs infusion (the first 3 rounds), it helped but it didn't help on the 3rd&4th round. I read the chemocare website for the metallic taste management and it said not to eat 2 hours before and during chemo. Oh man, I have to skip lunch for that advice.
I have new morning rituals now looking at my nails and my eyebrow.lol. Ohh Lordy, 2 more to go for this chit....:-)
Stay strong ladies. Hugs to you all
Shirley
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Pangtidor= Forget about not eating. I never eat before and many hours after. That does not work. As for ice. I have never tried that. My MO was against cold caps so I have stayed away from anything that involves ice. He told me there is a theory out there that if you ice something the chemo does not get to that area. For cold caps you may retain your hair however, you cancer may return as skin cancer to your head as you have prevented chemo on that part of the body.
I have given up eating at Thanksgiving. Hopefully in late Jan my taste buds will return. Just when I can start to taste now I have to go to another round. Each round is getting worse with the metal taste. UGH and the fatigue. I am now tired,swollen feet (cankles),big C,and cannot taste anything. Did I mention bald with half my eye lashes.
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Ellen - I didn't do cold caps for hair. But after going thru 3 treatments with sores in my mouth, I decided to try sucking on ice during treatment. It definitely helped and I'm not so concerned about it coming back as mouth cancer. Maybe you can discuss with MO again on it. I've made up my mind to manage my SEs and just finish this up. I have one more chemo infusion ahead and then moving on.
Good luck and minimal SEs to you all. We are kicking cancers butt!
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Well I haven't yet got mouth sores (knock on wood) so I have nothing to add to the conversation. I went to church today and I felt so weak and tired. I feel fine at home but there's just a difference w I am out. Otherwise I feel OK. No D which is a major deal after having it 13 days. I can eat but I have to totally change the way I eat. I can't eat white flour BC of a weight loss surgery I had...usually its no big deal but with the taxatore it makes the D worse...so protein is about all I can eat. Unfortunately right after chemo meat makes me throw up....so I gotta figure that all out....Have a relaxing Sunday with no SE's.
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I was having a decent day yesterday and even went to dinner with DH and DD after ballet. Bone pain started in so I took a Norco and headed to bed around 7:40pm. Woke up with a raging migraine and nausea around 4:45 a.m. I'm starting to feel a little better now but am also watching my temp (99.8 last I checked). I didn't get my heart function results Friday so will get them first thing tomorrow. I'm just trying to hydrate enough today to get another IV started tomorrow. I feel miserable.
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meh, i got nothin either except to complain about nausea, yes, it is baaaack. And etc. oh well, medicating and doin all things possible to stop it. It really is so true, health is wealth! Hope it returns to us all soon. Anyone with terrible foot cramps?
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Happy Sunday everyone!
Infusion # 5 has knocked me on my butt. I'm having the usual nausea, aches and pains along with a new side effect...neck, jaw and facial pain. I keep feeling like my jaw is going to lock. it's the weirdest thing yet. The fatigue is doing me in this cycle too. Shortness of breath is still an issue but hard to avoid since I have to deal with stairs in my home. I just keep reminding myself that I only have one more TCH cycle left.
I'm sending all my positive thoughts, vibes and prayers to everyone. Hoping we all have a wonderful week
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For me on #4 it is all about fatigue. Also feeling down because I am wondering what comes next. Tamoxifen and waiting and watching. Not fun.
Hope you all have a better Sunday.
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wizard, yes, this one is rough for me too and i keep thinkin ahead and it is only ONE more! But this just sucks. I feel like a train hit me. Again with the Nausea, Big D, and worst fatigue ever. Last round was so good to me! Why? I am very very down. I barely moved yesterday and slept for crap, for 12 hours tossing and turning.
Suebee. Oh my god, me too with scarey thoughts about the surgery, etc. i keep dreaming of my onco performing major surgery while I am awake, and she just looks very bored. No distress for me during is the weird part! I am bored too! Also, she resembles Tina Fey. An even brainier version.
Gonna ask my PS if I can keep my nips and skin. Special K says it may be possible, but still means TE. Well.. I find out soon enough so we will discuss it here. I may decide to do a flap. I have no idea of what i want or am a candidate for. Too much to think about, overwhelming. So....i give up for now.
Hope all are SE free today! This chit is kickin my ass.
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We're quite the bunch, eh? I'm a tiny bit better but am still feeling bad. Can't believe I have to go back in for another IV stick so I can get the HP. Assuming all is good - haven't gotten that call yet. I think I've had cheerios and a bagel in the past 24 hours and am trying to stay hydrated. Ugh, these migraines. It seems so unfair. Is anyone else getting bad headaches or migraines from chemo?
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Hi All - I am joining the club on kick ass chemo days. I tried to sleep the day away yesterday. Feeling a little better today, but frustrated because I can think of 100 things I'd like to accomplish, but no energy for any of it. DH leaving on a business trip this afternoon for the week. A friends is coming by tonight to hang with me. Hoping we all start feeling better soon.
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So sorry Catie, Cassie and Bippy you're feeling bad! I hope it passes soon!
I'm waiting until Friday for taxol #2 since it was cancelled last Friday. Can't really go anywhere or do anything because of the low WBC. I was told to stay away from people and rest so my counts go up. Also have high liver functions again so will be referred to liver specialist to be monitored and make sure I don't end up with some other issue. He mentioned a biopsy too, fun times. Also mentioned making appointment with the RO even though I was under the impression I wouldn't need radiation. He said that's true but ultimately that was her call. Ugh!
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hi all, have been reading, just not posting much. Went for taxol #3 this morning and can not have it. Guess your WBC needs to be at least 1000 and mine was .92. So I am getting neupogen shots today, tuesday and Wednesday and will have my blood checked again on Thursday. If needed I will get another shot then. I'm hoping that will be the end of it because we planned to drive to Minneapolis to see my daughter, hubbie and twin 10 month olds. I will be so disappointed if it doesn't happen. Anyway, just thought I'd touch base.
I feel kind of out of the conversation since I won't need more surgery, mastectomy etc. but know I'm there with you all!!!
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Today is a bit better and feeling like my old self. DH took me to Monterey,CA to see the ocean there. Road trips are good b/c there isn't much walking involved. My SE's especially the really bad acid stomach after day one is not gone. Just dealing with bone pains. Don't want to think the bone pain is anything but the medication. Slippery slope it is down to the fears of other things going on.
Anyway, go to take one day at a time and not worry until I have to.
Hope you all a good restful, peaceful and uplifting Sunday, God Bless.
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