August 2015 Chemo Group
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Hi ho everyone! I know this is a pretty quiet forum on weekends but wanted to check in and say hi anyhow. Hoping all have had a good few days and will get some good ones in this week. I am 6 days post big chemo, then had more Thursday, then had neulasta Friday so I think I am heading into recovery (fingers crossed), looking forward to some good days this week! Well, my "I haven't thrown up yet" streak has been broken, it happened
I did actually feel better after that happened so it wasn't so bad (not that throwing up is ever good really). Bone pain seems to be over? I read that it would peak at 3 days but I am not feeling it at all anymore (yesterday I kept getting this awful ache in my scapula and left knee almost simultaneously). Are we all (Americans anyway) getting ready for thanksgiving? We are ordering some stuff from whole foods market (just a couple of sides) and cooking a turkey on the big green egg. I am so excited that I will probably be able to eat some of it! Last chemo cycle there would have been no way.
Cheers all, hoping we all have a great week.
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I'm just checking in, too!
I overdid it on Friday and Saturday, because I was feeling so good (!). Friday I took the dogs on a long walk after being in work meetings all day long, and yesterday we did our shopping for Thanksgiving. Went to two different stores, and it laid me the hell out; we got home, and I spent the rest of the day on the heating pad in a supine position. I've been having muscle pain/tightness in my neck and back, which I can only attribute to the combination of not exercising enough and blasting myself with chemo every three weeks. . . . I'll mention it to my MO on Wednesday, but I'm pretty sure nothing can be done about it. I'm trying not to take anything, not even Tylenol or Advil, but I might just have to.
Carboplatin, you are the devil. After the Taxotere twitches end, the Carbo pain begins. . . . UGH.
My big project right now, in terms of this whole cancer treatment thing, is putting together a nutrition/supplements plan for myself and then convincing my MO to let me take everything I want to take alongside Herceptin and Tamoxifen. Wish me luck. She's wonderful, but also skeptical about anything that isn't allopathic.
notdoneyet, you have a big green egg?! We've been talking about getting one for YEARS. Is it worth the cost? To answer your question: we're doing a quiet Thanksgiving here with two friends who also don't have family in the area. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be on 'roids, so I might have some energy!
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Kate, we have a "medium" green egg which is surprisingly small (I think they go to xxl?) we sort of inherited it when we brought dear father in law to live near us, in an apartment with no real grilling area. We only use it a few times a year because it is quite a project to get going. Now, once you've got it going you can cook for days and it does an amazing job. Not for a quick meal though! Last thanksgiving it was really cold so that was a big challenge, this year it is supposed to be like 50 degrees so should be much easier. We got 16" of snow yesterday so perhaps a bit of flooding in between but looking forward to Thursday. I recommend having someone who likes fiddling with grills if you get a big green egg. My husband is an an engineer type thinker and seems to love playing around with it. I don't know that I would have the patience.
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I finally woke up without a fever! 4 days into my anti-biotic. But I think the med is causing muscle ache, and there is lingering chest congestion. We are going to my FIL's tonight and I hope to find enough energy to enjoy the visit.
Thanksgiving is at my mom's this year. She hasn't asked me to bring anything but I don't want her doing it all. My sister is great at helping her, but it's nice to not rely on a single oven for everything.
We have a strong Black Friday tradition that may or may not happen this year. We have agreed to play it by ear and see how I feel. We have also agreed to check online sales first before adventuring out.
DH picked up Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book at the library for me yesterday so my reading time is covered from here to surgery...or longer.0 -
Musosgirl I am glad to hear your fever has lifted. That is a huge relief!
Notdoneyet-My husband is outside scraping the ice and snow from our driveway right now. It is melting today so it is easier to tackle. Oh how I hate winter.
Kate-don't try to be a hero. If you are in pain take something. No point in suffering. I have taken lots of ibuprofen over the course of the last few months. It was the only thing that helped the pain/achiness.
I think I have turned a corner. Not feeling quite so tired anymore. I think it helps that I have been more active. It too is an antidepressant for me to exercise. I just feel so much better when I can sweat it out.
I was at a volleyball tournament this weekend. A couple of my friends daughters were playing. I saw lots of people that I haven't seen in a long time. I wore my wig the first day and then just my hat the exit day. Everyone was so nice and caring. One thing I will never say to someone who is sick or going thru treatments is.....Your color is so good. Yeah well if you saw me without foundation, bronzer, blush, painted on eyebrows, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick you wouldn't be saying that. I look sick, like I am a cancer patient. They aren't seeing the Dee who looks like she was poisoned for the last few months. I don't want to be that sick girl anymore. The poster girl for breast cancer.
Also sitting at the tournament and listening to women bitch about their hair.....I listened quietly for a bit. I finally said, "I'll trade you". That shut them up pretty quick. I so want my hair back. I think this has been one of the hardest things about chemo for me. It was easier for me to lose my breasts. At least I didn't look sick,but when you have lost your hair you look sick. This too shall pass, and a year from now this will all be a distant memory.
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Hi folks, glad some of you have had a good weekend. Musogirl, so glad your fever has settled!
I have been in bed all weekend after a bad reaction to Herceptin injection (my 6th of 18). No idea why it happened this time (the other 5 were fine) but now I know what the "flu like illness" on the warning sheet means.
Fortunately I'm already coming out of it but what a BUMMER one month post chemo to be back in bed! Rollercoaster or what?
Wishing everyone a good week. And much hair regrowth, especially where most missed.
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Dee, I hear you. On all of it.
MsBrompton, someone in the triple-positive group gave me a great tip: to reduce possible Herceptin SEs, ask them to run the infusion over 60-90 minutes, instead of 30. I plan to go for 60 when I start mine in three weeks!
Musosgirl, so glad you're feeling better! That book is incredible, too!
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Hi ladies. I haven't been here in a long time, but I wanted to tell you NOT to get discouraged about your hair growing back!! I'm 8 weeks out since my last chemo, and my hair is growing back. At first, it was so sparse, and I was really worried. Now, it's coming in like crazy (well, a crazy 1/8th inch). My neuropathy finally resolved itself, and my arm swelling is under control. I have 5 more radiation treatments, and I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel and finally believe that it's not an on-coming train. I think I told some of you that my friend who had 77 chemos was in remission, and she just had a PET scan and is still in remission now for 1 1/2 years. So, NEVER give up!!
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meanwhile in southern Cal, heat wave. mid 80s coastal san diego.... not fun while having chemo-flash/ tamox-flash...
my hair's coming back as well.. will see how much I'm getting compare to the fine, thin hair I had.
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Sloan, thanks for the update. I am trying to believe this neuropathy will go away, but man my feet HURT some days. My hands are a bit better--the burning is less but my fingertips are still very tender.
Everyone, thank you for the well-wishes. Take of yourselves as best you can while these pesky illnesses get going. This virus knocked my family out.0 -
Kate, thanks for the Herceptin tip. I'm having the injections subcutaneously but I may ask to go onto infusions as last weekend was horrible. But today it's Monday morning and I'm enjoying being able to taste my breakfast and then heading to work. The crap does end (eventually).
Sloan15, lovely to hear about the hair returning. I've felt so guilty sometimes that my cold-cap worked, but hopefully we'll all have our locks back before long.
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So my last (nasty) treatment is Dec. 7. I have quite a bit of soft fuzzy duckling hair... I thought I would shave it off no problem when it started falling out but I didn't. I actually quite enjoyed the pick test or yanking a patch and it coming right out. It was also a cool trick to show the kids and husband... I also find it comforting to rub or feel my baby soft hair, no idea why but it is what it is lol but anyways I never shaved it...
Do you supposed I need to shave it all off so that when it starts growing back so it will come in even? I don't want too, but I will if I have to I suppose. What are all my duckling peeps going to do or already done? Cannot even believe this is almost over and I can start thinking about hair coming in... Round 4 and round 5 have kicked my butt... 1-3 were cake but these last one... ugh I don't think I would have another round after 6 left in me... Wearing me down, but I will get there. So gimme some hair tips!
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That is great to hear @Sloan - I am about 6 weeks out from my last chemo and I have hair (thanks to polar caps) but it is wispy thin. My ponytail is seriously like a feather. But hair is growing back on other body parts so the head should follow.
Hang in there ladies! You are all brave heroes in my eyes. Chemo is the toughest part IMO. Radiation is a breeze compared to it for those who are following up with that.
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I'm so happy to hear from you, Sloan and Suzanne! You give me hope. My duckling hairs are starting to look more like my original hairs, but they're still very short . . . and I have what looks like male pattern baldness at the temples. . . But this is temporary. Thank goodness.
Gooseberry, round 4 is the one that kicked my butt into next week. Like, whoa and oh my God. Round 5 was a bit better, I think because I stayed more hydrated. . . . Only one to go. . . . YOU CAN DO IT. Seriously. We can both do it. Then we're done, and we celebrate.
I think I'm going to feel weird after this next one. I'm supposed to have another echo before Herceptin-only, and I'm meeting with my BS about the second surgery, etc., but I don't know how often I'll see my MO, get labs, that kind of thing. This has all been such an adjustment, and now that I've adjusted, it's over! (Not complaining. Not at all. Quite the opposite.)
Any advice for me about questions to ask on Wednesday before my final infusion? How about questions to ask the surgeon? I already had one UMX, and this one should be easy, but for some reason I'm worried about recovery, given what we've been doing to my body for the past four months. Any words of wisdom?
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@KateB79 - I just met with my BS today. We discussed the other breast and I have decided not to have another mastectomy at this time. He told me he would do it whenever I wanted but honestly, I am just not up for it now. I feel like I have been through the enough. I need time just to feel well.
My guess is it's at least a 3-4 week out of work recovery. My surgeon said I have a .05% chance of getting cancer in the other breast a year which adds up to 20% over 40 years. But we all no statistics means nothing when you get cancer.
I think you are so brave to move forward with another surgery! Pretty soon this will all be behind you. It couldn't be soon enough for me!
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Suzanne, I might end up waiting until spring semester is over in May. I teach online in the summer, and that might be better for recovery, not to mention the fact that I'd be able to go back to the gym in the intervening months. We'll see what the BS says when I meet with him on the 17th. My MO's office called today, too, to give me word that "we'll discuss this on Wednesday" when I see her. I don't really like that rhetoric--it makes me feel like I'm in trouble--but whatever. We'll discuss it Wednesday.
I was pretty dead set on my decision to have the second MX in December, but I'm starting to think May might be a better option. I don't know. The whole HER2+ thing freaks me out, as does the fact that my remaining, "healthy" breast no longer has any lumps or bumps in it (which it used to have). They didn't find anything on the mammogram I had before we lopped off the other one, but I have a dense breast. . .
Anyone have exciting (American) Thanksgiving plans? I'm feeling more grateful this year than I have in the past. . . . Leave it to stupid cancer to shift the perspective, am I right?
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@katieB79- I have dense breast too. They only found my mass with a song. Mammo didn't pick it up as it was high up. I am getting a MRI in 6 months so I will be monitored every 6 months alternating with mammo/sono and MRI. My MO is the one who thinks I should have another MX. All the other doctors I have seen (2nd and 3rd opinions) say it isn't necessary but if I want "peace of mind". I wish I had a crystal ball. I am not familiar with HER2 BC. Can you fill me in? or I can google. Otherwise we have a very similar diagnosis.
Thanksgiving plans at my house include my MIL who lives with us and is making the stuffing, gravy and mashed potatoes (all the hard stuff IMO), my parents who are bring cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie and my family - I am making the turkey and a few sides. So low-key but just my speed! I am going to stay in my slippers all day and just enjoy the smells of a turkey cooking in my oven.
And yes....so much to be grateful for!
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Musogirl - Glad to hear you're feeling better.
Kate - I would love to hear your list of supplements after you've compiled it. I've been taking: Vitamin D, Calcium + Magnesium, fish oil, coQ10, B complex, a daily supplement with biotin and also tumeric on and off. I also try to drink daily fiber with blueberry juice.
Sloan15 - I'm glad to hear your neuropathy has resolved itself and that you have HAIR! I finished about 3 weeks ago and keep checking the mirror for new growth but don't see any yet.
superius - I didn't realize there was another Southern Cali person here.
I agree, this weather is weird! It definitely doesn't help the hot flashes at all, especially when I have my wig on.gooseberry - I was quite surprised that I didn't lose all my hair during chemo. I have soft duckling hair in patches all over and for now I'm hanging onto them.
I've started my hormonal therapy (Lupron + Femara) and check back here often to see how you ladies are doing. I had a small scare this past week. I noticed a small hard bump near my mastectomy scar. I still have tissue expanders in, and I hadn't noticed this bump before so I started panicking. My MO quickly made me get an ultrasound and thankfully the radiologist saw "nothing of concern" but right when I was feeling back to slightly normal, this was a quick reminder that the fear is still very much there and probably always will be.
Anyway sorry to ramble about that. I know a lot of you are still going through so much. On a happier note for those who have had the weird twitching going on from chemo like I did, I'm happy to report that it's slowly going away. I still have eye twitches, but they are getting less frequent and less intense. I still have heavy legs but they're slowly getting better too.
I'm hosting Thanksgiving this week and I hope I have the energy to deal with some of my extended family members. They can be pretty dramatic, but this year I'm just sitting back and feeling grateful.
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Have a great Thanksgiving, American friends. You cannot imagine how dull November is here in UK.
Kate, HER+ with herceptin is no worse prognosis than HER-
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Hiya ladies! I'm looking forward to my last chemo treatment on December 3rd. Since I won't be starting radiation for six weeks or so afterward, my DH and I are thinking of taking an anniversary trip somewhere wonderful (we'll be celebrating 23 years on January 2nd). I've heard it takes 4-6 weeks for the immune system to rebound, so if I time it just right, I can feel good (and eat sushi and brie!!) and also not have started radiation yet. Now if I can just figure out how to be sure to get my Herceptin infusions in there, I'm golden.
I'm glad we're hanging in there and getting through this together. Time has lost its meaning; sometimes I feel I've always had cancer, and it's unbelievable that six months ago I was still oblivious to what was ahead for me. Though it's dropped to the forties during the day, I'm still walking 30 minutes every afternoon. My diet still sucks, but I plan on eating healthier after chemo is over...really...
3 of my 4 kids will be at Thanksgiving with me & my husband and the rest of my family. We'll be celebrating at my sister's house (about 45 minutes away). I'm grateful for healthy, smart, kind, accomplished children; a loving and devoted husband; a close-knit family, including amazing parents; and the best doggy in the world. The rest of it is gravy. Mmmmmmmmmm...gravy.
Happy Turkey Day to those of you in the U.S. & happiness to the rest of you as well!
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So . . . I scheduled my surgery (a prophylactic MX and revision to the original MX site) for 12/30, but I think it'd be best to wait until May, when the spring semester comes to an end. That'll give me time to get strong again after four months of hard chemo, get back to the gym, get started on Tamoxifen, and resume my life. It would also give me a lot more recovery time than I'd have if I had the surgery this year. This is logic speaking.
I'm still doing some pretty deep soul-searching about this: on one hand, I want the "healthy" breast GONE, especially because my breasts have always been dense and lumpy, and chemo has knocked the lumps out of the one that remains, which freaks me out. I also want to be realistic about recovery time. If I have the surgery on 12/30, I might have a hard time getting back into the classroom for the start of the semester on 1/10, and that's not something I want to mess with. Oh, and the whole health thing. That's important, too. Again: logic.
But here's the rub: I'm terrified that if I wait until May, the pathology will come back bad and I'll have to hear "we found a little bit of cancer" again, do hard chemo again, etc. I'm strong, yes, but I'm just not sure I could handle it if that were to happen.
Anyone have any (more, since I've already posed this question, albeit with a slightly different rhetorical tone) wise words for me? I know I'm beating this to death, here and elsewhere (not to mention in my head), but I'm having a hard time making this decision and could use an objective perspective or six. Does five extra months have the potential to mean more cancer, or is that just my abject fear talking?
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JenPam-a trip for your Anniversary sounds nice. Something to look forward too. I understand what you mean about time. This last 6 months feel like forever but on the other hand has flown by. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Sloan-still waiting for my hair to kick in to high gear. Glad you are doing well.
Gooseberry- I buzzed all my fluff off. I wanted it all to grow in evenly. I still have lots of white hairs coming in but the dark ones which aren't so fine are coming in as well.
Kate-I think postponing your surgery is probably best. I think your recovery will be quicker in May. My PS said that they won't do any surgery until a month after chemo is done. They worry about healing. I understand your fears about waiting and them finding something then. Just think, if they do find something it will be so small and the surgery will have removed it at that time. I am glad I had both done right away. I know it is not the choice for everyone, but it was the best choice for me. I feel like I can put this all behind me. I am not done with this cancer stuff, but I have to believe I am cancer free and live every day without fear. Resuming my gym workouts has been awesome. It feels so good to feel my sore muscles again. It is good pain and a reminder when I go to put garbage in my mouth that it is so not worth it. Pretty much my whole body hurts, but in a good way. My mind feels better and I am feeling like I have more energy again. Almost 5 weeks PFC.
I meet tomorrow with my MO, my first appointment since I have finished. I'm sure I will be starting on Tamoxifen shortly. That will be a whole new adventure, but I can do it!0 -
Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am taking a 48 hour internet break (my birthday present to myself). See you in a couple of days!
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Kate, I do not think 5 months will make that much difference and I do think recovering from chemo and giving yourself the summer to recover from surgery is very wise. Having said that, there is a psychological component here that says you will not have peace of mind until it is done. And I do not recommend waiting 5 months for peace of mind. Give yourself permission to rely on a colleague for the first week or two in January, or do those two weeks online, and "get 'er done."
Hair seems to be growing back everywhere, except for my traitorous eyebrows. They are still going, going, ... So this white fluff up top is normal? We all seem to have it. One side of my head is starting to look darker so that is a relief. I am thinking about buzzing my head once the dark stuff gets a little longer as well. Have it grow in evenly.
I can't go a day without checking in here--needing comraderie--but for those of you signing off for the holiday, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! May all our tastebuds have a chemotaste reprieve!0 -
Musosgirl- I read the reason your hair comes back colorless is that our hair pigment is stunted from chemo. It takes a bit for the hair follicles to recover. I hate that fluff. I feel like a baby duck.
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Kate - I hear ya on the difficult decision! Have you had a mammo/sono on healthy breast since your diagnosis? I just had mine and was clear. It made me feel a lot better. You have a .05% of getting cancer in your healthy breast. The odds are in your favor that you will not get cancer between now and May. So take this time to be well and regain your strength. I think you are making the right decision. As my BS said, "It is not necessary to rush into another mastectomy". Get screened every 6 months. Tamoxifen is definitely a huge cancer preventer. You are doing everything you should be doing.
I am actually not worried about the next 6 months. I am more worried about a few years down the line having to go through this all again BUT (not to be repetitive) it is only .05%/year chance.
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Her2 gals, When you get to the herceptin only phase do they take all those blood tests before hand? I know they still have to flush and access the port but is it the same process? I did not think to ask at round 5 and am just curious. Echo is the only thing I know for sure that will be continuous! Thanks for any info
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gooseberry, I just asked those very questions not one hour ago!
My MO will do labs in six weeks, before my second Herceptin-only infusion. Because everything has bounced back in a good way, they're not worried. They did tell me to wait a month before doing anything crazy like eating sushi.
I should be good to go for surgery in five weeks, especially because my liver enzymes have miraculously returned to normal. Yay, liver!
I'm in the chair for my last TCP, and feeling good. How quickly time flies, even when you're not having fun.
I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and a great weekend!
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so today is my birthday, here's my pic (with accessories provided by brilliant gift wrapping done by teen daughter):
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Today is my birthday (11/26) and I get a 99.4 fever... Hope it holds off that last degree... My temp is usually 97.6... I don't feel anything but being hot. No pain or anything out of the ordinary. Hope its just a hotflash or something... I get flushed all the time it seems.
Everyone have a great holiday!
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