Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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We were going to ask about trials in the end or near it but this one my doc brought up, and of course the dreaded sentence that included my name and "high risk". I still hate that
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Thanks cajunqueen! Why were you denied neulasta? Is there a chance your WBC will be too low to treat again after 1 week?
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Southern, I'm in tears, she was so sweet to come over and share some of her daughters things with you. I'm sure you helped her as much as she helped you. You definitely have angels looking out for you! I hope the charity can help, this cancer beast not only gobbles up our energy, time, emotions but our money as well!
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Grey - I have to read on to see what your results were. I am so sorry you are getting crap from your treatment team.
Question: the job thing - 2 hours each way? Does it pay to do that? That has to take a serious toll.
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I have not checked to see if Juven would be covered by insurance. Since it is OTC I am thinking it's a huge battle. I can also use L-glutamine in a protein shake. Interesting about the cottage cheese, i have been craving it, eating it often and was just finishing a bowl while I read your post.
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Southern, what a sweet neighbor you have!
Quiet day, best part was laughing on the phone with my lung-cancer-fighting sister-in-law, one of my favorite people on this earth.
I plan to head over to see her as soon as this chemo is over and my immune system recovers enough to travel; she understands. Woke up to snow on the ground, first time this year (= very late for Finland). Temps are still above freezing, so it's not slippery outside --- yet. Took advantage of that to walk my dear dog Misty again this evening; lately my husband has been kind enough to do the evening walk. A friend's toller-dog just had puppies a couple days ago, and she posts new videos and photos almost every day. Although I haven't seen her in years (since my dog and I quit dog activities for both our health reasons), I got brave and asked her can I visit and actually see the puppies when they're a bit older --- and she said YES! Also, got word today that our older son will make a quick visit home next week! So I have a lot to look forward to.
Yesterday I bought two pretty chemo turbans from a local woman who finished chemo last June. Ao much prettier than the ones I sewed. Silly me, I feel so happy to have something actually stylish to wear
I have to keep reminding myself to focus on these positive things. I hate that my mind keeps trying to play nasty and slip over to the dark side too often for comfort. Please somebody say that this is a "normal" chemo SE and not me going crazy.
Wishing everybody an easy weekend ((((hugs all around))))
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Wish life could be this simple again.....
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thinking positive - I got opinions from all over the country just on my path report & history (I didn't f;y all over) and yes, TC is used more on the west coast.
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Tessu - Great job focusing on the positive! It's not silly to want to look as good as you can. Heck, I'm grateful just to have half a dozen eyebrow hairs over each eye remaining at this point. And, yes - puppies just plain make everything better. I'm thinking of you as I look outside: we had our first snow of the year yesterday here in central Minnesota.
Cajun - I was told my RBCs would crater during the next 11 weeks of Taxol, but wasn't told to limit travel as a precaution.(Maybe they'll tell me that as they decline!) I, too, will be on AIs for-evah after I'm finished with radiation (probably June-ish). *sighs*
Southern - I loved your story - what an awesome, lovely woman to reach out to you. "Priceless" indeed.
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southern, what a bittersweet story and a touching gesture.
Puppies!!!!! Love, love, love.
Kim, you have to have a 2 week gap in trx for neutrogen. If levels are too low for trx next week, Will be given neupogen shots then trx. Otherwise, you have to ride it out. ANC has to be 1 for chemo.
No travel because my SIL has 2 young kids she refuses to vaccinate.
Holy appetite! Starving.
Lisa, I'm curious.... Why AI with triple neg?
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Hey everyone. I thought I should get on here and make my apologies. It seems I have been monopolizing the poop fairy. She has been by my side since Sept. 24th, two days after my first TCHP. I have tried to convince her that most of you needed her way more than me, but alas, she just loves it here. She actually left me for about 4 days last week, but she's back. I finally had to get a prescription for Imodium since it's been costing me an arm and a leg. So Lomotil and Imodium are still my friends. I am so sick of the poops. I've lost 22 pounds which I guess is a good thing. So sorry so many are having such bad SE's.
On another note, I am so happy that so many are ending their run with chemo. This may sound strange, but I almost feel like I'm having separation anxiety. I haven't posted much, but try and keep up with everyone. Now it seems we will be going in so many different directions. Some have had surgery and will now to on to rads, some on to surgery, and others are hopefully done with this crap. You have all helped me more than you will ever know, and I thank each and every one of you for that. As for myself, I will finish chemo Jan. 5th with Herceptin lasting until Sept. Surgery and rads in there somewhere. I hate cancer.
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While we all joined in here due to starting chemo in September I hope everyone continues to check in regularly and share experiences thru surgeries, rads, etc. You all have been my lifeline.
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Cajun - I have no idea. It's conceivable I've garbled the "triple negative" diagnosis. Both docs who mentioned HER2 hurried through that part of the conversation. I've was told AI, not Herceptin, is useful for my profile.
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hi cajunqueen
I know about the 2 weeks to get WBC back up in timefor another treatment, i self inject neupogen days 3-10 at home so i am able to dose dense my treatments. Just curious why you were denied, maybe i am not understanding the american protocol?
Kim
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fidget, sounds like your chemo will be over a little before mine, but I've got Herceptin until September, too. Docs said the first dose after CEF chemo is over will be I.v., but subsequent doses might be 5ml injections subcutaneously into my thighs --- ouch! Sorry to hear the Poop Fairy has been bothering you so much
Was wondering where she had disappeared tothe beginning of the week, but she or her sister finally showed up a couple days ago and cleared out the plumbing quite nicely...0 -
twiggyOR I also hope everybody continues to check in here at least once in awhile, even after chemo is over. Lifeline. Yes. I definitely wouldn't have made it this far without the wonderful support and humor of this group.
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Minnesota Lisa I thought AI was for hormone positive cancer? Aromatase inhibitors stop estrogen. There are so many combos of meds it's hard to keep up.
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I'm curious too. Tamoxifen and AI is for ER + folks only I thought.,
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So many posts...
I'm on lupron too. Definitely not just for men.
My MO wants to do a blood transfusion to get my numbers up. She didn't mention I 'd be perpetually low the next 10-11 weeks. There's hope that I might qualify for a filgrastim shot... Short term version of neulasta.
I just turned down my mom's offer to help pay for a nanny in order to get my son out of the germ factory. She's pissed. Meanwhile, i get the sense that I'm not the only one in this group who has gone to the ER. Anybody have to go that did not catch something from a toddler?
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Artista + Cajun - I'm not going to get Tamoxifen. That's about the only data I can add.
To be honest, I've been only vaguely aware of others' Dx's and treatments. Since I'm at a nationally accredited BC center and seeing a top-rated MO, I trust I'm getting the appropriate treatments. That's said plainly and somewhat passively (not the least bit defensively). I'm older and know my prognosis isn't awesome due to recurrence likelihood.
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I am triple neg. Triple neg cancers are estrogen, progesterone, & her2 negative. TN can't be treated with hormone therapy; the ways to treat are surgery, chemo, & rads. The only way I read of hormone therapy being used is if there are different multi focal tumors that are not triple neg, or if they are treating with hormones are part of a clinical trial which have seen some success.
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Fidget - Have they checked for a C diff infection? I have had a ton of D too since starting chemo and come to find out I have infection. It's what landed me in the hospital with such an imbalance with fluids.
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Shopgal - Thanks for that information. If I understood properly (and I may not have), perhaps chemo-surgery-radiation (my order) is being supplemented with AI for some specific reason. I feel lame being less informed than most of you.
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tessu--wow, I had no idea Herceptin could be given through injection. Sometimes I wish I could go that way to get rid of this port. The port has been great on infusion day, but I still can't stand the darn thing.
Skittlegirl--nope, no infection. My MO feels it's the Perjeta. My surgeon said the same. They both assured me when I get to Herceptin only I shouldn't have the problem anymore. Hopefully they're right.
You know, my MO told be a story about his another MO. He said one patient was so sick throughout chemo that when the MO ran into her months later at the mall, the poor lady threw up right there. I said great, doc. So I guess when I run into you I'll poop my pants!
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Lisa - I wound up in the ER one day after my second AC infusion and I didn't catch anything. My heart rate and blood pressure were so low I was losing consciousness repeatedly. Two cardiologists and a few consulting MOs later... they still have no idea what happened or why. They made a few tweaks to the process for infusion #3 and one way or another I avoided the medical emergency. It's like Lindy said - medical mystery. I think these drugs are just so strong they can't quite predict what will happen with each patient.
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Hi Kim -I learned today that neupogen and neutrogen are not same. Neutrogen requires a 2 week break between chemo, neupogen does not. If my counts are to low for treatment next week, they will give me a few daily shots of neupogen and then treat. But if my ANC is 1 or higher my WBC is 1.5 or higher, they are going to go forward. Its going to be long 3 months.
Yes, tamoxifen and AI are for ER+. Since triple negative is not fueled by estrogen, there is No need to block it..unless there is some other reason?
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Hi all:
Just checking in, almost two weeks PFC. Last weekend I did nothing but sleep, but this weekend I feel almost normal, though my taste buds aren't totally back. Sigh. I am obsessing about my hair. Sure would like to see some fuzz on top!
Rads is next but I have a break till after Thanksgiving for that
Thinking of all of you. it does get better. You can do this!
HUGS!!!
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please keep coming back, ladies! I love you all dearly. Is anyone else having an ooph or hysterectomy after rads?
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still have to decide about the ooph. I hate it when they leave it up to me
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Cajun - I'm BRCA2+, so I will be having either ooph or hysterectomy (haven't decided which) after rads. And rads is after 4 more months of chemo. I'm probably looking at next fall before everything is done. Sigh.
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