Starting chemo August 2014
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Both my mother and sister had gone thru Radiation treatment. Both went thru fine. A little rads burn and some fatigue here and there. My experience seems to be the same. I got alot done this morning and have been feeling fine last few days. Just sat myself down, fatigued a little now. Three more rads left.
Picking up my son at airport tonight just as new storm is suppose to start. Going to make some beef stew for him today. after I rest up lol
Have a good wknd everyone and know we are closing in on the end of this journey. Hang in there!
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DD made her decision and now, today's audition just doesn't seem as exciting. So we're skipping it. The next two she wants to do to see if she can get in for future reference, but she's decided she'll spend 5 weeks this summer in Washington DC.
I'm glad she finally has a decision made, and we can start planning for that. We vacationed there last year and loved it, and she's excited to be going back.So I'll walk around my neighborhood today and get some things done around the house. DH and I ave started working on taxes. We have a tax person, but we still have to get everything in order for him. It isn't too bad, but it isn't all that fun either.
Thanks for the reassurances on rads. I got through chemo and surgery, and I can do this too. We are a tough bunch, after all!
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ugh taxes. Don't remind me Cassie! I have to organize all of our receipts for our tax person too. An help my parents with some of their expense categorization. Catie...can't believe you've only three to go! How exciting! I'm still waiting to get my new surgery date so I can line up extra daytime help, as I have been doing most of the twin care except for chemo days and the second day after chemo, when I'm really tired/sick. I was up most of the night with the babies, as husband finally got the bad cold and was just in no shape to burp a baby right next to his dripping nose. Made him wear a surgical mask to try and contain it, but the babies have a touch of it, and I just had them in the steamy bathroom to try and help. So that's when it hit me...wham. Tears and that wave of terror that I won't beat this. That maybe I will for a while, but not long enough to see my kids get big. I don't know if people without cancer know what this feels like. I'm sure feeling tired had a lot to do with it, but I just feel like I have so much responsibility with all of these young kids and I want to be here for them. It takes a lot of strength, or denial?, to live with this disease and forceably push the fear down and keep it in its place. I could still get hit by a bus, we just don't know how long we have, but cancer sure brings the philosophical to the fore. Hugs to all those having a rough week too. I'm actually doing okay, really
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Gatomal=I hate that you are crying. I love you. Remember
F=False
E=Evidence
A= Appearing
R= Real
We do not know what the future holds for any of us. Be thankful you are living today and your BC was caught early with treatment options. I am super thankful for that. When I first became a nurse in 1980 everyone died from BC. Not so anymore!!!
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oh Eileen, I knew that's why I love you! You are a sassy RN! I worked in the OR for years...anesthesia first, then transplant. Yes. We don't know, and yes, treatment options. I think I'll just feel better when I have my surgery. It's been really hard to live with your tumor that you can feel for over six months. Drives you nuts. Thanks and hugs
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Tuesday is surgery day. I am so ready to have it over with! As long as I get a clear path report, I'm done after Tuesday night except TE stuff and the exchange. But the nasty cancer will be out! I'm feeling OK about surgery. If I can do chemo then I can surely do this! Love you all. Amy
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Good luck Amy!!!!!
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amy you can do it. I could not do recon immediately as I am doing rads. Glad you do not need them!
Enjoy your day today, feather your nest up,and let us know how you are.
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good luck Amy! Deep breaths. You got this. Hugs
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Good luck tomorrow, Amy! You can do it.
Gatomal, I think it takes strength and some willingness to have a little denial. We *know* now that we can get cancer. No more ifs about it. We've had it and we've beat it. So somehow we have to dig deep to find the strength to move forward and the ability to enjoy our lives despite the fear. Hug your babies tight, and your bigger babies too.
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Amy - You've got this! It's true, if you can get thru chemo, surgery is more then doable. Good luck tmrw!
My rads were delayed today because of another snow/sleet storm. So Thursday will now be my final treatment.
I did surgery first, chemo second and rads third. A number of you did in opposite sequence, of course because of each of your unique circumstances. We are almost finished after these final steps. We did it all together.
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Good luck tomorrow, Amy! You got this!
Gatomal, I am with you on your thoughts. I say hung those babies tight and know that cancer can be beat and you are doing it girl! I am with Cassie, dig deep and stand strong as you hug those babies, your little girls and hubby!
Quick question, how did most here fair with Rads. I perused the Rads thread and I have to say I am somewhat scared of RADs do to some of the issues that some are facing. I know that each of us is different but would like to hear how most of us faired well with Rads. Eileen thanks for posting your experience as it seems like you did pretty well through the treatment. I see a few of us over on the RADs boards which is a good thing.
Guess what, I am beginning to taste now -- taste buds are recovering. Not 100% but on the mend. So excited. Still very fatigued. I asked the MO and she said some take 6 months or more to fully recover from Chemo. I was like whaaaat. I can't keep saying enough how glad I am that the RO scheduled a 4 week break between final chemo and 1st RADs. I have increased my exercise in the past week so I think that is helping out quite a bit.
Yes Catie we did / are doing it together!
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Amy, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, sending prayers and hugs. You can do it!
Cassie & Angie, I had 31 rads and did very well. I started to have a little pinkness at about 3 weeks, a slight itchy rash, and an area under my arm that got a little "suntanned" and slightly sore, but that was it. I had a very sore seroma when I started rads and still did just fine. I did not need pain meds and just used an Aloe lotion the doc gave me to moisturize, and hydrocortisone for the itching. I ditched the bras and wore camisoles for a few weeks to avoid irritation. The skin started to heal within a week or so after rads ended and now, about three weeks later, is almost back to normal. I know several people on the rads board have posted about more serious reaction but many do NOT! (Remember that many of us who didn't have big issues don't post as often but we're still out here!) None of the women I met at my center developed those kinds of problems so don't assume that you will.
Catie, Woo Hoo, you're almost done! Yay!
Eileen, you're description of fear is right on. It sneaks up on me when I least expect it.
Bippy, regarding fatigue - I'm just tired of feeling tired! It gets dark so early here I could go to bed at 7:00 at night. And, today we got another foot of snow on top of the three feet we got last week. I could stay in bed for days with all of this.
Gotta make dinner, hugs to all! Sandy
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good luck Amy
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Re: fatigue - I am doing OK, but some nights I have to force myself to stay up past 7 or 8pm! I think I could easily be in bed by 8 every night if I let myself, but then I'd barely see my family. I do know that I fell asleep last night by 8:30 or so. I have a really hard time taking naps. I took a few during my first round of chemo, and that was about it. My body just doesn't seem to want to let go during the day. I wish I could get 20-30 minutes of napping in, as I think it might help me feel more awake in the early evenings.
I was back on campus today, though not teaching, and it was great to be there.
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Today was Doctor Day at Rads. My RO said I'm doing great. I have 11 more to go. One more both sides than 10 boost. I carried a tube of aloe and put that on after each treatment. At night I put on Neem body whip. Totally organic. Smells YUCKO. Main ingredient is olive,avacado,almond,grape etc. It is from naturesvilla.com. My sister in law gave it to me and I swear it works. I am a tiny bit pink.No big deal.
If I shower during the day I put on aquafor than place a tissue over me so my clothes don't get that gel all over them.
Cassiscat= Glad your back at work. I really felt going to work made me forget about my cancer. This has so consumed our worlds.Ladyb=My taste came back after 4 weeks, I am so happy to taste food again. That was the worse. Congratulations.
About fatique= I invited a friend from up north to visit me. I thought she would come in March. She emailed me back she wanted to come next week. I am still in Rads. I thought I cannot do this with the fatigue. She was super understanding. I told her I was not the girl I once was but,I know I will get back there.
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Amy good luck tomorrow. Like everyone has said you got this girl.
I'm still so tired too. I nap on days I don't work. I feel guilty doing it but I am just so tired. We've had so much snow this last week too, it's asking me slightly depressed. I just want to be able to take a walk outside and I can't.
Weds is my MO appointment to talk hormonal therapy. I've had a eight week break and it's been nice not to have appointments and stuff. My eyelashes are coming back, I can wear mascara now! Eyebrows (and hair) are slow going, and I swear they are grey but my DH says they aren't, my hair is for sure!
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I agree with everyone....I'm tired of being tired...and achy. To top it all off, I have 2 fingernails, thumb nails and both big toenails are now....after the 7th taxotere ..turning black. The toenails really hurt a lot, just the pressure of the blankets..
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Hi Beatmon - I'm sorry to hear about the nails. I know it sounds trivial compared to everything else we are going through but it is just one more thing that affects daily life. I had a similar thing happen to me with 6 taxoteres only. My two big toenails became black and were hurting from the comforter touching them, in fact that is how I noticed they had turned black. Similarly my nails hurt a lot for about 2 weeks during which even wiping my nose (which was constantly running) was a painful task. One day about 3-4 weeks after last taxotere the pain went away and some of them lifted. They did not fall, they are just lifted so I keep them short as they grow and painted as well cause they are all different colors.How many more Taxotere's will you be getting? This seems like one of the toughest drugs out there... Will you be taking Herceptin afterwards? I hope your side effects will go away very quickly as soon as you are off the Taxotere. It was very tough for a lot of us with just 6 infusions so I really admire your strength.
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Cassie, so glad you were back on campus and hopefully will settle in slowly and how you want too. I agree it is good to keep our minds busy.
Amy, just another you got this girl! Will be praying for you tomorrow and for a quick recovery. Remember to take it easy and nice and slow!
Beatmon, I had the black finger nails and toe nails but not much pain with them. I also used tea tree oil which helped with a few cuticle issues I had. Maybe check with MO if tea tree oil will help for you. How many more treatments do you have?
Kellogg, YaY! for the break. Looking for an update on your MO appt. So you are really at the final step!
Thanks All for responding to my fatigue question. I also am so tired of being tired and sleeping. I have to take over two new leaves, first one is learning to take naps and second going to bed early. I have Avitan and also purchased Mortin PM to help me sleep (don't taken them at the same time). I take the mortin instead of avitan if I have some pain.
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Windgirl= I found Taxotere very difficult. Bedsides feeling horrible from both drugs. Taxotere really messed up my vascular system. My nails hurt and turned a light brown. Did not fall off. However, I still cannot not eat anything with salt. It is now 9 weeks since my last chemo. If I do within a few hours my left foot,ankle,and leg swell up. I basically stop urinating. Then my right arm swells. So, everywhere I eat I ask about salt and it is easier just to eat at home. You can believe how hard it is to eat out. Everything has salt. So,I just get salads with grilled fish or chicken. I started this fun journey at 129 to 130 lbs. Got up to 144 all water weight. Lower half of body. Bought shoes at the dollar store. Now at 129.
Was constantly checked for congested heart failure. UGH Taxotere. I cannot imagine doing more than 6 rounds.
Beatmom=How many rounds are you doing?Good luck. Believe it is killing cancer. I know that because I swore it was killing me!!
Amy=Thinking of you today Good luck!!
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hi,all, sorry I was a pain about rads. It is not really bad, I am slightly pink and was very tired. Now am better. i air out my arm alot, and use cool cloths and gel ice packs. More an emotional meltdown. I am on tx 13 of 25 tomorrow! It really goes fast.
Amy, get better soon
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good evening to everybody! Hopefully in answer to everyone...the #7 taxotere was my last one. Supposed to start on herceptin and perjeta only this Thursday. I am so in hopes the H&P without the taxotere will be easier. This last taxotere was a killer, no joke...had nausea today..almost 3 weeks out and hip and bone pain that I finally broke down and took zofran and a Percocet. Felt better in a hour or 2. Can't help but think what happens when I need another chemo to go with the H&P...what will it be?
Love to all and thanks for all of the continued support.
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surgery went fine! They ended up taking 6 lymph nodes. If all's clear there was am done except recon. The one bad thing was that I am apparently allergic reaction to the anesthesia. I itch everywhere. I took some benedryl so hopefully it will go away... Im miserable!
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Amy, I am glad your surgery is over. Hope the benadryl kicks in soon. Are you home or still in the hospital? Wishing you a speedy recovery. Love, Jean
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Im still in the hospital right now. I should get to go home today.
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beatmon - I'm glad to hear that was your last taxotere, I hope the herceptin and perjeta will work great and you will not need taxotere again
Eileen - similar here, I only had 9 pounds of water weight but even that made me feel bad. I too still swell if I eat salty. I have been eating the yogurt parfait and a latte for lunch from Starbucks sometimes because really everything else is filled with salt. It's my busy season at work and we generally order in.
Amy - glad to hear surgery went well, wishing you a quick recovery.
My parents, who live abroad, have been with me since diagnosis, my mom has been cooking amazing and healthy things for 6 months now and taking care of the nutrition side of things. I even get a plate of peeled and sliced variety of fruits still every day. And the daily morning omelette. She also won't let me do dishes or clean or laundry so my nails don't get affected. They leave this coming Monday
((((, I will really miss them, and as you can see on top of that it is going to be an adjustment to cook and clean ( I am so happy to have spent all this time with them, I typically see them a couple weeks in a year when I go back home around Christmas holidays so this is one thing the cancer was good for I guess0 -
Eileen, glad to hear you're getting closer to the end of rads. I think I need to get some aloe to have on hand. Seems like a lot of ladies use it.
Kellogg, yay for eyelashes! My eyebrows are trying to come back (I didn't lose all of them) but still no sign of new eyelashes (didn't lose all of them either, though, so it's not a huge deal).
Beatmon, my nails aren't so great either. 7 weeks out from chemo I feel like I should be better off than I am. I'm OK, just not as great as I'd like to be. The skin on the pads of my fingers is sensitive and wrinkles up weirdly, and that is bothering me. Taxotere is hard on us.
Bippy, you have nothing to apologize for.
Amy, great to hear from you! Now recovery begins.
Windgirl, how nice to have so much support. A silver lining in all of this, indeed.
My parents were driving out every three weeks during chemo, and at surgery, and now I think they're missing seeing me so often. 0 -
my nails suck, very brittle. They are all trimmed back to the max, any growth snags and breaks. I file, sand, smooth endlessly and apply a hard clear top coat. Toenails slightly better. Keep them polished up too.
Now, months after chemo, my brows seem to be falling out. Huh!? Weird. Chemo, the gift that keeps on giving!
Oh, my joints ache on and off, but never stop entirely. Even the bottom of my foot.
Anyhoo, enough about me. My rad techs are awesome, and told me today about many patients that return to see them, many years after, bearing gifts. I,love happy endings
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Amy, glad you are well!
Another Taxotere story here. My taxo "tears" have continued. Saw my wonderful opthamologist again. He tried to flush my tear ducts, but could not. The saline actually spurted back at him! Both ducts are blocked with scar tissue most likely caused by taxotere. He referred me to a opthamologist/plastic surgeon with an excellent reputation. I will most likely need surgery with tube placement. Maybe she can figure out a less invasive solution, but I'm not holding my breath. Wish I could see the doc right away...have to wait until the 23rd. Taxotere did shrink my cancer, and I am grateful for that.
The rads thread is scary, but I think most make it with minimal side effects. I just began my treatment last night. Hope and pray that all goes well!
Best wishes to you all. I appreciate your comments, stories, suggestions.
Jeni
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