Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
Comments
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aga, it depends on the clinical trial. At some point, I will fast. But probably not until a year after chemo.
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Aga I started juicing today. Monday will be 3 weeks post chemo. I waited until I was past the low wbc counts. I'm trying for 30 days of juice, but realistically I'll make it a week. Lol
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I think it's a crap shoot too on who gets cancer. I have a couple friends who smoke 2.5 packs a day and drink like mad. They are almost 50. No cancer, yet. But you'd think with them being like this all their adult lives they would have something really showing up health wise.
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Well, too late to reflect on A part of the CT. Only 1 left. I wasn't given a choice, maybe cuz I don't have anyone with heart issues near me in the fam. My echo must have been ok and bp is reading low every time they take it at infusion center.
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you can ask what your echo score was. Mine was 60. I was told 50 or higher get A. Anything in the 70s and 80s is questionably high per my tech.
Annie, I'm juicing again. Last night radish stems, cucumber, pear and a carrot. Today, radish, 2 carrots, apple and banana!
Meat and dairy free today! Now, if I could just stop eating these tortilla chips. They are non gmo corn and organic, but still...not healthy. It's my last food pleasure, so delicious!!!! Cancer, please don't take my chips!!!!!!0 -
I posted yesterday about a rash. I want to give everyone an update. CALL YOUR DOCTOR if you develop any skin irritation!!! It was determined that I am allergic to Taxatere. I have had three treatments and will not have the fourth.
I did not think this rash was any big deal... I was WRONG!
Call with any questions or concerns...
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I looked at my online chart. Left Ventricle output 55%-60% so I guess that's good.
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You should be fine. As far as long term effects go, I think it's really hard to measure because so many women are 55+, so you would expect the heart of a 65 year old to change over those 10 years. If you have a heart attack at 70, how do you know if it was age or A? Not so much, if you are in your 20s-40s. And sometimes it's hard to predict. Why do some women end up with leukemia after bc treatment? I guess if it's your time, you're drawing the short straw one way or another. But the majority do just fine.
I'll report back with my echo on 12/8.
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Juicing some heart healthy pomegranate this morning with apple, grapes, celery, cucumber and kale. Cheers warriors!
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I'm one of the few here with a reeeeally long treatment calendar. Don't know why I thought to do this, but I calculated the days between today and my last chemo (assuming I stay on schedule).
It's now down to just 60 days, which makes me so happy! As my late mother* would have said, "That's all you got? Heck, I can hold my breath for 60 days."
So, odd as it will sound to those of you with shorter chemo schedules, I'm pumped and feel like I can "see the end" of chemo from here.
*She was famously stoic. When we were poor, she had cavities drilled without novocaine because they charged extra for it in the bad old days. o.O
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Lisa, me too. On weekly Taxol, my end date was 2/5, but delayed to 2/12, and is now 1/29 on DD I'm riding that train to the end with you! I'm feeling good today and only 3 more to go!
You go on, Annie!. I chugged a cup of beet juice last night, lol.
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what's everyone up to this weekend? While my counts are high and before my long awaited and prayed for nasty neulasta injection at 6, I took the kids to the park, to the bounce house, and on a mini train ride. Tomorrow will be the, I got hit by a truck feeling, so I'm going to enjoy the day. We got our first elf on the shelf, the kids are so excited!!!!
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Lisa, Cajun, my schedule is (sadly) even longer. I just had my last AC infusion Tuesday, and my final (of 12) weekly Taxol is scheduled for March 8. I have pre-existing neuropathy (of the totally mysterious, non-diabetic variety), so my MO is hoping the lower weekly dose will be more tolerable. Based on how I feel right now, it is really tough to imagine getting through another three months.
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Hi SF. I'm sorry you are feeling discouraged. When my treatment was delayed last week, I cried and cried. It seemed never ending. I just bought l-glutamine and b 12 to try to ward off neuropathy since it's so common on DD Taxol. The nurse ok'd them during my infusion. Have you asked your doc about giving them a try?
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Just want to touch base with all you great ladies on this thread. I haven't been able to real all the posts since Nov 19th because my husband landed in the hospital with a heart atttack.
This surely puts us both in great shape. :-) He is home and resting but it has been a wacky 2 weeks.
I just think this is the best thread with all you great ladies.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving. I spent mine in the cafeteria. Didn't have to cook. :-)
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Rosieo: wow. You've had your share of hard these last couple of weeks. So glad your husband is home recovering. Hope you both are able to rest and enjoy each other.
Grammy: I too got a rash from taxotere after my 3rd treatment and did not have the 4th. Have some hives left over a month after. Grr
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inSF and CajunLiz - It doesn't work for everyone, but L-Glutamine has been very good at warding off neuropathy for me. I tinkered with it at first, so I didn't necessarily take it until the neuropathy started. Ten grams knocked mine back within an hour.
I'm now taking 10 grams every eight hours to get the recommended 30 grams per day. I also take B6 once per day.
Cheapest L-Glutamine I've found is powdered. You can dissolve it in juice or water. Good luck and let me know how it works for you, fellow Taxol Warriors!
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I have the longest I think. I have 1 more AC on 12/15 then 4 Taxotere every 3 weeks = March 1 end for me. I'm going to put an extra week between AC and Taxotere. Then rads end of March/beg of April for 5-6 weeks. Beg of May thereabouts that's over then in June or July, TE exchange. Seems so long away. sigh
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Artista - You and I are sisters for the long-run.
I haven't had surgery yet, so I have an eight-week window for surgery Feb-Mar and then rads for six weeks, same late March / April timeframe. Eyes on our finish lines!
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HI,
I just had my #2 DD taxol. and awaiting to see if nuelasta brings me shin splints again. i'm hitting the claritan and L-Glut steady in this go around. Hopefully it helps with the bone pain this time (it lasted 3-4 days). Just sported a cute pink wig to my work brunch. It was free from: WIG. It's silky and like a costume wig but it looks cute and free. Other than that feel completely normal at the moment other than a slight sugar high, thank you Wassial .
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Rosieo: So sorry about your husband but glad he is home recuperating! Take care of yourself! Hugs!!!
Octogirl
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Wish we lived close Lisa. Sisters!! X
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Rosieo sorry to hear about your husband. I am very glad you checked in. I worry about those of us who havent posted here in awhile.
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Today was the first day I felt like I wasn't sucked into fatigue-land and went to run errands. I had my usual hot flash and had taken off my hat in a store. I was in line to checkout near the entrance and saw a woman enter the store that was bald. She smiled at me, said hello and I did the same. Then my sis who was in line after me told me the man waiting behind her said about us said "aren't they are beautiful?" He told my sis that his wife had lost her hair again after a reoccurrence. It made me feel good and sad at the same time.
Then later I was in target and I felt someone touch my shoulder. I turned around and a woman I didn't know said "I hope you get thru treatment ok. I was lucky I didn't have to go thru chemo". I was like what? She made me feel like I was the unluckiest person to have chemo. And she didn't know me or even know if I was getting chemo. I could have been just someone wearing a hat. Or just been a bald chick in a hat. Why would another person say that about being lucky. I know she wanted to share but I was so mad. I didn't even know what to say to her.
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for those of you with longer calendars I am cheering for you. My chemo was delayed so.much I should have been done ages ago. Hang in there.
So Sorry I stirred up a fuss a few days ago with the TE deal. I went back and edited my post as a to not drag the thread on and on. I know we are each struggling to make treatment decisions no need add drama with all we are facing. Hugs
ROSIE so sorry you and your dh are both dealing with health issues I know that can be challenging
I actually have a mini greenhouse ans juicer I was setting up a lot of greens and juicing stuff when I got diagnosed. Need to get back to it now.
I had actually set it up to help my husband he was diagnosed with a chronic debilitating disease last year at age 40. We are both dealing with health stuff and trying to stay around long enough to get the kids in college and live our retirement dreams. My youngest is 8 so hopefully we can go the distance .
I finished chemo but was in bed all week. Hoping this week will be better with my herceptin only infusion
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I'm running the marathon too. After 6-8 weeks of rads, 2 week break, then my ooph. Hopefully end in May then start the clinical trial. Reconstruction Spring of 2017. And that's if there are no more delays.
Roseio - I am just heartbroken that you are going through so much. Big hugs, sweetie!!!
Exercise, bless you. I'm just amazed at the strength that you display.
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For those moving on to herceptin only, the nurse at my last infusion said to be sure to ask them to slow herceptin down to 45 minutes. She said a lot of women do that. I have read that in other forums also. The slower rate is supposed to reduce side effects.
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Definitely made the right decision Friday to skip the long-acting Aloxi in favor of the twice a day Zofran ant-nausea pills. The Poop Fairy has been visiting every day (helped by Pegorion/macrogol and high-fiber breakfast porridge with lingonberries); my stomach doesn't hurt; and the horrible insomnia from the last cycle -- with Aloxi --- is gone. That cycle I could only sleep 2 1/2 - 3 hrs per 24 hrs despite melatonin and sleeping pills, and was a depressed strung-out zombie. So far this cycle Ihaven't needed any sleep help and have slept up to 5 hrs straight! Yes, I've felt nausea, but have not vomited yet. Grabbing on to all the "positives" I can find.
Rosieo: I hope your husband recovers quickly --- and you, too!
My chemo gets stretched out because of the Christmas holidays, so next dose (if white cells cooperate and I avoid sepsis) will be Dec. 29th, not Christmas Eve. So maybe I'll feel up to celebrating after all
I'm stretching out my breakfast because I have to stick myself with Neulasta right after. I'm scared because I got a weird rash and have had breathing problems last cycle, and read on the net that those are contraindications to taking any more of that drug. But my MO said allergic reactions to Neulasta are very rare, "take the drug but come to the ER to show the rash if it happens again". The options she gave me were full dose chemo plus Neulasta, or no Neulasta but chemo doses decreased significantly. With all the HER2+ ladies posting here and on the Finnish forums about recurrancs even during chemo, of course I chose the high dose chemo again. And bought an EpiPen, and packed my go-to-hospital bag, and demanded my husband stay in the house with me for at least an hour after I inject (no auto-injectors yet in Finland
) Wish me luckWishing everybody an easy Sunday. It's Finland's birthday today, so we'll be lighting candles, listening to music, and watching the gala at the Presidential Palace on tv this evening
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twiggy: I've also read that slower Herceptin infusions (90 min vs 30 min) decrease the risk of cardiac damage. For the Herceptin infusions after the regular chemo is over, Finland givs the first Herceptin-only dose as an infusion (to monior whether you've developed an allergy from the three doses you got during the first three Taxotere/Herceptin infusions before the Herceptin break during the three FEC chemos),but then the rest of them come as an injection into the thigh every three weeks (research study going on here, too soon to tell the effects on side effects or prognosis).
(Lots of edits because I obviously can't type until morning coffee has reached my brain
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Rosio - So sorry to hear about your husband. I hope you both are recovering well.
Southern Charm- Hope all is well with you.
Minnesota- I have to admit with all my health issues (kidney function dropping, blood clot in my leg, no work) I am feeling very depressed. I just want to complete the last of my ACs and move on to DD Taxol but I may be headed to dialysis ( at least temporarily). I told myself I'd rather die than be on dialysis- I may have to make that choice soon if things don't improve. Everybody has something to say about my treatment- don't take the medication, do take it. It just frightens me. How did I get down this hole? How do I get out? Can you walk normally now with your blood clot? I just don't know know what next to expect.
For all you sisters who have completed chemo, congrats to you all! But don't forget about us who are just trying to get through. We all have to win!
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