Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Southern - Thanks for the cheer! You are the best.
Forgot to mention in previous post:
- After only one Lovenox shot last night, the swelling in my hand is down considerably. I have about 80% functionality and hope for continued improvement today.
- File under "Stuff my PA Says": I took off my cap and showed her my remaining stubble at one point. She predicted I'd keep existing hair and that regrowth would start about nine weeks from now. I have no idea what that estimate's based on, but she's so experienced and positive, I'll choose to believe it. It would certainly be delightful to begin re-growth in late January!
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A day after the first Taxol treatment, and also pretty much SE free. My face is flushed from the steroids, and I was awake before dawn again. Before treatment, the poop fairy started ignoring me. Back to Miralax and Colace. A few days ago, a couple of toenails started hurting. The PA told me to put tea tree oil on them. She also said that not everyone loses their eyebrows/eyelashes on Taxol. I've lost some of mine already. It would be nice to keep some. Remaining head hair may also stay put. Also, she said to start using really good lotion on my hands and feet because Taxol can make the skin get really dry and cracked.
In other good news, it seems that Neulasta is working too well for me (WBC 26+), so they're lowering my dose from 6mg to 4mg. This feels like a weird Taxol honeymoon.
Lisa, great news about your hand and unhappy tumor!
Skittle, sorry you landed in the hospital, but glad you're on the way to recovery. I had uncontrolled vomiting after my MX (anesthesia reaction), and they gave me a cruise ship patch behind my ear. That finally did the trick and got me home. Don't know if that's an option for you, or if they've tried it.
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Cajun - I'm signed up for Neulasta (body injector "beetle") after each DD taxol. I'm on the same day as you. sorry I can't provide details into what the roller coaster will be like. I hope it's more like the "it's a small world" than the matterhorn.
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Thank you for the hug and prayer, Southern. It is rather nerve wracking when you don't know and won't know for months---or if ever-- you are stage IV or not.
AC #2 chemo night last night was surprisingly uneventful. Very mild headache. No nausea! Let alone vomitting! Shocked I tell ya. I had that issue day 1-2 last time easy. I think canning the Ativan in premeds helped. That's the only thing I could can as I wanted benedryl out too but they said it actually helps with nausea too so they won't do that. Ate what I wanted last night and the only thing I changed up was drinking more ginger tea than water. Ginger tea is known for it's anti nausea effects and it's a nice warm alternative perhaps a better one than ginger ale.
This morning, feeling good. Hope it keeps! Neulasta shot today so last night I took Claritin and Tylenol combo and will do so for the next 4 days to combat any bone that's thinking of becoming a pain.
Happy hump day everyone. Hope it's as SE free as possible.
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i got those sea bond wrist bands and it knocked out the nausea I had yesterday. Right now I'm just laying here. My wing parts hurt on my back and up my shoulders and neck but it's not as bad as last time. Norco barely gets to it but it's now hovering around a 6 rather than a 9 atm.
My mom's bringing me a strawberry milkshake because I can't swallow food today. At least I got a couple hours yesterday to hold that baby. He is adorable times 10!
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I stealing your meme southern and that cake looks yummy!
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jclc83- The MO who told me taxotere and taxol is basically the same wasn't my MO. It was the fill in on Mon who saw me while she was out of town. I've read the info here on a bc.org info page though I didn't bookmark it that it's basically the same. It makes sense that it should be more potent because this one is synthetic made in the labs while Taxol is from that tree.
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Cajun, I don't know my counts from this past Monday (Taxol #4) but on Nov 2 they were WBC 3.6, RBC 2.76, HGB 8.7. On Nov 9, WBC 3.1, RBC, 2.87, HGB, 9.1.
Unfortunately, my chemo brain can't recall exactly what all this means at the moment. There are several additional sets of initials on the list in case you were wondering about something else.
The MO did tell me on Monday that my counts were up a little this week. I'm not seeing her each time now but just every 3 weeks.
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Dang Southern! Do you sell and ship?? I want a piece!!
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Yay Lisa! Glad the med is working!
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Skittle. Not sure why they bother with the oral abx? My plastics tried me on one course of 10 days of the highest potency at home and when he saw nada. I was admitted to the hospital on IV for 5 days. I hope yours resolves quickly.
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Jabe congrats on the get outta chemo free pass direct to rads. Woo hoo!
Skittlegirl sucks about the ER but feel better
MinnesotaLisa so far hair is hanging in for 2 taxols. It is actually sprouting new tiny colorless hairs. Some with color near my hairline. Mo said they will come in colorless at first then get darker. But alas the existing hairs are still stubble. Wishing for the hair genie to keep visiting and grant hair wishes.
Southern cakes looks yummy! Food porn!
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Octogirl, YEAH congrats on your last chemo!!!! So happy for you!!
I had my third one yesterday one more to go!! They finally got it right to. No reaction this time!! Dr. listened to what I said and gave the orders to nurse and everything went smoothly! I was so happy!
Good luck to all! Hang in there ladies, hugs keep on going!
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Annie too funny
Well ladies I went to my initial visit with rad oncologist yesterday and found out I am doing rads first and will wait to see if reduction is really needed later. RO said my reexcised boobie looks actually great and there isn't a diff in size. She said boob may or may not shrink right away! but months even up to 2 years after. So I am gonna wait for reduction until the tissue settles after treatment. She said I may want to reduce non cancer boob after rads. She did feel it was important to go after the triple neg cells right after chemo since my Ki67 score was high and I am tumor cells were grade 3.
So I go for sim Jan 4th, have a 2nd appt a week later, then officially start 6 weeks of rads, 30 sessions Jan 18t. I wish I could start sooner but the docs all take off from xmas to New Years.
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southern I always think of yoga pants/ leggings as my house pants. Same thing could apply to pjs. It'sall good comfy stuff.
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In warm weather when I'm home, it's my comfy sport bras and undie. I live alone and am surrounded by trees so I won't be scaring any potential peeping tom! Now that it's cooler, very comfy zip down robe and comfy ankle socks. I don't care for pants. To constricting! And when I go out, dresses or now that it's cool, I can tolerate stretchy crop pants.
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That's what I was told about rads too. PS is going to fill my TEs 100 cc more than what I want in anticipation that skin will tighten and shrink some so I should come out with what I like at the exchange. Best to go that route to see what you have at the end before doing sx.
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Artista - My AC rounds were highly variable. Congrats on winning the AC lottery this time around!!
Cajun and Luzeelu - PA yesterday (before my low-dose Taxol infusion #1) said my RBC would go into the cellar over the 12-week course of treatment. She said they expect this and will not do anything about it (which is to say no intervention like a blood transfusion). I recall her saying it would go as low as 3 (ish).
Southern - Feeling energetic and making my (low-carb fanatic) husband a nice crustless quiche tonight. Wish I could bake him (and me) a delish pudding cake instead!
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Got my milkshake. Sugar rush commence!
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thanks southern!
Arista RO said boob could swell during rads then continue to shrink up to 2 years after. I was concerned that they couldn't do a reduction on the cancer boob after rads but she said they could do a lift based on where my cancer was located. It's a tougher to do that on rad skin but it can be done. I think I was spending a lot of time thinking there was a cup difference between them and she assured me they were actually ok and the same size. Plus a reduction pre rads could actually compromise the tumor marker clips they left in from the reexcision to use to pinpoint radiation In addition I had previous biopsies 11 years ago and have marker clips in those sites on the same boob. Jeez poor battered boob.
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Interesting Shop. Best wishes. Sounds like they know what they are talking about.
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thanks arista. I could choose to have reduction now but that would be a month to heal from chemo before I would be able to do surgery then an additional 4 weeks to heal from surgery before rads could start. There are no guarantees that the reduced cancer boob swelling in rads won't be permanent resulting in unevenness. After talking to RO I really want to attack any stray cells now rather than wait 2 months to allow them to grow again. It's tough knowing chemo is the only thing available to triple neg patients. No hormone treatments for us. It's wait to see if it comes back. And it can come back as mets. Sad that triple neg reoccurrence rates are the highest in years 1-5. Enough pity party for me. Sorry to vent ladies.
Annie I now want a milkshake. Looks delish
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Does anyone else get super fat face a couple days after chemo? I'm assuming it's steroids.
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My rad doc says you should have a couple weeks at least between chemo and rads to build back up since rads takes it out of you though not as bad from what I hear chemo does. I'm supposed to call to make my rad appt a month before chemo is done to ensure I get in when I need to. Seems like a busy place unfortunately.
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yup Annie I do. I feel like a chubby cheeked baby face after. Everyone tells me I look cute but duh that's not how I feel. Cool snugly hat. I have a cuties one I sleep/nap with that looks similar. You look like a happy woman now. Musta been the milkshake right
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Milkshake and drugs.
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I went for my yearly mammogram in August 2015 ,( never missed one) started at 40. I am 48 now. Found out I had Breast Cancer August 8th. Went to doctor BS same day. Had first surgery on August 18th, removed 2cm lump and 9 nodes, 4 nodes tested positive for cancer. Second surgery on Sept 3rd and removed 15 more nodes. Thank God No cancer in those 15. Started Chemo on Sept 25th A/C. I have worked through these treatments. l will start taxol on Nov. 25th, will have 12 weeks of taxol. I am also scheduled to have 6 weeks of radiation after chemo.
This has been very scary and life changing to say the least. I have been through so many stages since August, depression, anxiety, crying, grieving. Everyone keeps telling me to be positive and I am giving it my best. Reading the bible helps me a lot.
I am a mother of twins girls who are 28 and a son who is 22. I have 4 grandchildren who light up my world. I also have been married to my soul mate and best friend for 30 + years. All I can think about is, I want to be around to grow old with my husband and see my grandchildren grow up. And with gods help, that's my plan!!!
Loosing my hair has been hard! I have always had long hair and I was determined it wasn't gonna happen to me. But its happening.
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Fun in the sun!
El tigre, yay, I have a chemo buddy! Nothing starts the weekend off right like a hefty dose of poison!
As the blood counts go, my MO looks at the WBC (white blood count), ANC (absolute neutrophil count), RBC (checking anemia) and platelets.
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Welcome tkemp67! This is an awesome and supportive group. We're glad you're here. Several of us just started Taxol yesterday, so you have sympathetic company.
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