Starting chemo August 2014
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CAS4, i wil never forget Wild...as I was 3/4 done with it at dx date. The parallels are unreal--loss, fear, rage, feeling unconnected and lost, dropped in an alien world devoid of safety...all the while searching for peace. .Ha! That is my book review, loved it and the audiobook is even better!
Feeling good this morning, hope I have some zip today.
Jean, i had the port left with access for chemo too, as I had it next day. It just means they left a needle access in there so they will not stick ya this time, just plug the line right into it. It will be pretty tender for about 2 weeks. It is not so much painful as uncomfortable, so take the pain meds, it helps with that. First time they use it, the iv liquids will feel cold, which is unpleasant but only for a few seconds and it goes away. Also, you can "taste" the saline at times, so suck a hard candy during the flush procedure. You should be home by noonish if they do it in the am.......i assume you are gettin chemo tomorrow? Check in and let us know how you are!
i am so anxious about PS visit todaybut finally some answers. I predict she recommends flap and/or TE & implants....i would like to have a few options to consider.....will report back here tonight with what she says.
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Coloradocancermom, welcome. I will be on Herceptin for a year so my port stays in until next summer at least. I don't have little kids but my cat likes to jump on me and land right on the port! I had a few weeks when I was exhausted and irritable. It took all my energy to stay up and keep a smile on my face with customers. When I got home it wasn't pretty! I'm almost two weeks since last chemo and am just starting to feel more like myself with a little more energy.
Jean, good luck with the port. I went to chemo immediately after my placement also and had no problems.
I'm working a little bit more now and can't always keep up here but am thinking of all of you every day. Hope you all have an easy day today.
Hugs, Sandy
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Bippy, I had to jump back in and wish you good luck today. I hope your medical team will be caring and supportive as you make decisions. (And thanks for the book review of Wild - it's next on my TBR list!)
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Isn't today the day NurseShark is being induced? Good luck to her!
Bippy, I'll be curious to hear about your appointment.
Jean, good luck with the port insertion. Hope it goes easily and smoothly.
Kellya, fingers crossed for good blood work!
Eileen, good luck with round 5 today!
Gatomal, what a touching story. That is awesome.
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Bippy= Good luck today. Hpope you can many choices. All easy.
Nurseshark+today is your day
Pantidor= I'm in chair with you
My MO is sending me for a pet scan. I have had no scans up to now.He wants to make sure my cancer has not spread. He doubts it and so do I. One of the main side effects 48% of people of taxtotere is fluid retention. I have gained 6 lbs on his scale. He is putting me on lasix. He is certain I will make it to round 6. As for my difficulty breathing that is from my low lab values. He is totally not worried about that. I am going to try and not get anxious about the scan. Has everyone else got one but,me. I did not get one because they did my surgery so fast they told me I would get false positives and it would hold up my surgery.
Cassiecat=Thanks for nice thoughts.
Anyway,waiting for blood results to see if I get thumbs up for chemo. Musical chairs. Could lose my chair
wishing everyone a good minimal SE day and to end this journey and to put it behind us.
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I AM here at hospital now started induction at 730 this am. Uneventful so far hopefully active labor by tomorrow night??? We will see just nice to be in hospital for something other than chemo:) Stay tuned for pics
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Eileen, I'm glad they're looking at all of your SEs and that your doctor has confidence you'll get through round 6 too. Since I didn't have surgery first, I had a whirlwind of scans done, including a PET scan with CT, before I started chemo. I had a head through torso CT scan and a breast MRI, too, along with the mamm and ultrasound. I imagine they will do more scans before surgery. I was fine with all of them except the breast MRI, which for me was very uncomfortable. I was seconds away from hitting the panic button when the tech said they were done. Hope all goes well with your blood counts and you get in that chair today and one step closer to DONE.
NurseShark, good luck!!!!! Yes, it's nice to have something other than cancer bringing you to the hospital!
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Good Luck NurseShark! So excited for you and your family
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Cassie cat=Finishing up round #5 now. No problems. My MO says I look great except for edema. Nervous about Pet scan. Don't want anything else to pop up. I knew scans were in my future. It is just any makes now me freak. I am positive there is nothing else to be found. I have googled taxotere all am while in chemo. What I have is SO COMMON. So,I can breath a little easier now. Thanks for caring
Go Nurseshark=BLOW BLOW or maybe that is push push. It has been a long time since I had a baby.
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nurse shark! Congrats. You are there😄 it's so exciting. Breathe through the pain, or get an epidural, or whatever your birth plan is. You are blessed to be bringing new life into the world. I'm all teary for you and will be thinking of you all day. Everything is going to go just fine.
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Yay Nurseshark! Good luck and can't wait to see photos! So exciting.
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Nurseshark good luck!
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Sending love to you, Nurseshark!
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Nurseshark, how exiting. Praying all goes smoothly.
Got my port and taxol today. Went well. No pain at all. Love, Jean
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nurse shark, I'm so excited for you, pray it goes easy for you. And, I am looking forward to some photos!!
Eileen, I ask ed once about shortness of breath and they said blood counts are off. Hemoglobin was one but I'm sure others can be the culprit. Hope the lasiks gives you quick relief!
Good news...my counts were way up, they overshot them. So I had chemo today which was round 3 of 12. Woo hoo, moving forward! This my friend Jodi and I just before the premeds got started. I brought us a cinnamon scone and a gondola since it was going to be after 2:00 when we finished. Yum
!
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Yay Nurseshark...hope things move quickly and smoothly for you!
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go Nurseshark! And baby shark!
Back from PS. She says best to not do anything till after rads. She says less chance of issues if TEs are put in place after rads have healed, and after fat graftings, so its BMX, rads, heal, fat grafts, and TEs, then finally implants. No skin and nip sparing, because my cancer spread to at least one node. Works well for smaller sizes and I can stay a B cup size. Will take a year total. She wants nice healthy skin to work with.
I was disappointed but after hearing her explain that TEs should wait, I get it. So.....I will be flat for about 5 months or so till TE placement.
I am numb right now but feeling much as well! Have to get it together and post that later. Weird but in shock...
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Kellya -So glad you got the okay for #3.
Ellenpg - Answers!!! So happy your MO gave you something for fluid retention and breathing isn't an issue. Hope # 5 went well today.
Pangtidor - Are you finished yet? Hope you kept yourself occupied and all went well for you today.
Nurseshark - Sending you peaceful vibes during this time and wishing you a quick and healthy delivery.
Bipsy - Glad you were able to get some answers at ur PS visit. I was told by several people that waiting until you heal for implants is a good thing. I did not go thru myself, so just hear say.
Gatamol - Really loved your story. Couldn't ask for a better good luck piece.
LadyB - Wishing you relief from nausea and a gain of appetite. If you were able to acquire your alternative medicine, I'm sure it will be helpful.
To all the ladies I did not mention, I am thinking of you all and wishing you minimal SEs.
Made my appt early Dec to meet with RO. My last chemo will be Nov 21, so figured I better get to it. I am feeling good and hope it continues. I have energy during the day but tend to crash early. I plan on staying here with August ladies after chemo also.
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Hi Bibby,
I was really sad too, when I was told delayed reconstruction. But, there are a lot of choices for us temporarily flat girls. I had my BMX 6/26 and with prosthetics I have been able to decide betweeen boob and no boob days. Plus, people can't tell. I have only used the soft prosthetics and they are very comfortable, but they have silicon as well. I will not have reconstruction until August or September 2015.
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Bippy and purrrana, that was the impression I was under too regarding surgery and reconstruction, since I have to have radiation. It's a long road, and not a fast one.
But we'll get through it.0 -
Kellya=If your friend had shorter hair I would have sworn that was me next to you. She is my twin. My BF could not believe how much we looked aliked. I mean identical. Crazy!!! She is beautiful. So are you!!!
Good luck to every one. Number #5 done .Yaeh. No just waiting for the SE to settle in. Yee Haw!!!
Nurse shark: send baby pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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NurseShark, we are thinking about you today! Waiting to b honorary aunties. So excited for you and can't wait for the pics.
Gatomal, Love your story. Yes pass it on and such and honor to receive.
Bippy, I know the fried rice was good! One of my favorite dishes and I am just dreaming on when I can taste again. LoL. How did things go today?
Eileen and Pangtidor, thinking of you and good luck!
Eileen, I had my scans before I started Chemo from head to Torso to ensure no mets. I also had a bone scan and several MRI's since they couldn't find a lump.
Colorado, welcome!
Jean, how did it go today with port and infusion. You are in my thoughts.
Sandyloveslucy, glad to hear from you. Are you finished with your Taxol?
Kellya, awesome picture and so glad your counts were up.
Catie, Woot, Woot on almost being at the end of chemo!
Thinking of all that I did not mention above and wishing you minimal SEs.
Hugs,
-Angie
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Eileen, too funny, and you must be a beautiful woman then 😄 I believe everyone has a doppelgänger (a double
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Ladyb, tomorrow will be two weeks since my last Taxol. I was extremely fatigued the last three weeks of chemo but I'm starting to get a little energy back as of the last several days. I have some neuropathy in my feet, a couple of numb toes, but am hoping that will resolve before too long. I believe the B6 and L-Glutamine I continue to take at least helped to minimize the neuropathy. I've had vision changes and new floaters have developed and I'll see an opthamologist about that soon. Still have the "heavy legs" / muscle aches others here have reported but that is improving, too. .The digestive issues - D mostly - are starting to settle down. My finger nails did fine just using the nail strengthener but nails on both big toes darkened a bit. I started the Herceptin only infusions and so far that is a piece of cake! This Thursday I go for a bone density test and echocardiogram. Praying that my heart holds up and I'll be able to continue the year of Herceptin. I was amazingly lucky that I did not lose all of my hair but it continues to shed at a rapid pace. I've been wearing my wig for work for the last week but I still have a tiny bit of fringe to stick out under hats. That will be gone soon though. I never could bring myself to shave my head so now I look like my beloved, old thin-haired grandmother used to look.
All in all, I got through Taxol really well. I hope you and everyone else here on Taxol will do great, too.I was able to work two full days at a trade show close to home yesterday and today. I was really tired at the end of both days but it felt good to be doing the job I love. I'm working a little bit more than I did during chemo and hope I'll be able to continue during rads. But as we all know, each new phase of treatment brings its own surprises! Just so glad we are all moving through the weeks - some have longer, bumpier roads than others - but we're are doing it together!
Hugs, Sandy
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I can't wait to br snow honorary aunt! Thinking about you Nurseshark and little busby shark!
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Thank you so very much ladies for the best wishes. Just got home at 0700pm, what a long day. Yuck, the metallic taste has already started and I've been a grumpy bald chick since I got into the car. Lol.I was chewing ice during the infusion !!!! The cancer center served tomato bisque for soup choice and it's the best soup I have ever had in my life.....:-)Nursesharq and baby Levi hope you are doing well!!! I can not imagine going through the induced labor with this chemo chit!! Thoughts and prayers for you...l
Jean, I do love my port!!!! I got my first chemo the following day os port incision. The surgeon have me ultracef (tramadol with hydrocodone) for pain and it helped. I asked my MO for EMLA cream to ease the needle stick pain. I still had to pay almost $40 with the insurance.
Kellya loved the picture. I'm happy your counts were good and you got your chemo...:-)
Eileen thinking of you while I was on the chair. I will be back on Tuesday dec 2nd for my 6th round. My hands were swollen up for 2-3 days after my first round but back to normal and haven't got any edema since then. I had really bad legs edema when I was pregnant. I wore two thick socks and wide crocks with open ankles during those days. Elevating my feet while sleeping and sitting up helped a little bit. Eileen I do really hope you will be well enough to get the 6th round later. The SEs are about the same but they last longer treatment after treatment. I was back to normal on day 5 after round 1 and it's extended up to day 10-11 after round 4.
Bippy, my surgery will be most probably in December too. No date yet , I have to call the surgeon 2 weeks after my last chemo (dec2). I hope the surgery will be done in December because I have met my deductibles ...:-)
Colorado, welcome to our lovely forum....:-)
I don't want to deal with reconstruction surgery for now, I may change my mind later. Chemo just wore me out, want to rest for awhile after bmx. I may have to remove my ovaries and it will be done after my one year Herceptin.
Amy, it looks like you are on your great days now....:-)
I could see my lazy zombie days for the next 2-7 days. What the heck, one more to go for TCHP. Woot woot....
Many posts after my last post, I probably missed some. Wishing all of you with the minimal SEs...
Stay strong ladies. Hugs to you all...:-)
Shirley
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I am on the up days now and I feel much better. I am still tired a lot though and never want to leave the house. I just feel really down...not sure why...I hope I feel better in my head soon. Friday I'm in the chair for #6 of 8 (#2 of taxotere). It should be much better than last time as they are giving me nuelasta the day after. Have a good night all with few to no SE's.
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Angie, I had my last Taxol infusion three days after Sandy did, and I am having basically the same TEs on the same schedule. She has had a bit better luck with hair, and I have had a bit better luck with neuropathy, but overall very similar.
I am so pleased to finally be getting my energy back. Last Tuesday was my lowest day; I was wiped out! Was getting pretty disheartened. Better now
I find I am surprised on some level that my hair hasn't INSTANTLY started growing back, LOL. However, one of my random old-lady facial hairs came back last week and had to be yanked. It made me oddly happy. I hope to start posting more again; I just really was too tired for weeks, though I did keep reading, and I hold you all in my thoughts. The courage we can read of here is stunning.
Has anyone heard from NurseShark tonight? As if she isn't busy, LOL.
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Been thinking of you nurseshark. Hope all is going smoothly!
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nurseshark thinkin of you!
Pangitor, be well friend and zombie out all you need to. I too will be resting before reconstruction, turns out! PS said that BMX is pain free compared to recon.......
Justamy, glad you are better. Good luck with next infusion, and Neulasta.
Tabbygirl, my hair is growin back, it looks so odd! And really gray. Well, I will be a silver fox!
Angie, eileen, catie, cassie, everyone, take care of yourselves today!
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