Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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I told my teenage daughter yesterday how lucky I've been not to deal with chemo pause, hot flashes, etc. Guess what woke me up last night?
In other news, no amount of lotion keeps the skin on my hands and feet from flaking off, especially at the insides of the joints. My cuticles are horrific. Want to get reprimanded in your chemo chair? Pick at your cuticles! Only one fingernail is warping so far.
A lot of my remaining stubble is gray, and the new growth I think I feel with my numb fingertips is clear/gray. I still look just bald. I think I'm going to pick up a box of color just to see if there's progress!
ShopGal: congrats! I've also had 5 surgical procedures this year. Two regular biopsies, one MRI-guided biopsy (the horror!), mastectomy/ALND, and port insertion. With reconstruction looming, it will be interesting to see if I top that for 2016.
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Annie, I've wondered the same thing.
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Annie night sweats for me too. I sleep with a bedroom window open a bit and still have a light quilt on my bed. I read on one of the other boards taking magnesium helps with the flashes.
Scotland too funny about getting reprimanded. I have not had any issues with my hands/cuticles. I did get my nails done all thru chemo with a mani/pedi every 3-4 weeks. The weeks in between I just painted my own nails and they stayed ok. And wow you have had a lot of serious surgery this year gal, I declare a break for you after reconstruction next year.
Thanks Cajun. I have to admit I did sleep way better post port. I slept til 9 this morning and that is odd for me since I usually get up between 6:30-7:30 each day. Jut a bit of pain at the suture sight, but Tylenol helps. For your leg pain maybe it's related to nerve pain? Have you tried vitamin b6, b12? Or maybe try an anti-inflammatory med either over the counter or prescription. I did have bad leg pain the first 2 taxols & took Celebrex. After that dose was reduced so less leg pain & only took Advil. The pain was more of a feeling like I was walking against in water in a pool with the water pushing toward me. Is it anything like that.?
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I often wonder about male bc victims. It must be so hard, both the trx and the stigma.
I could spend days in bed. Even adderall and caffeine barely do it.
Has anyone with bone pain tried a muscle relaxer? The pain causes me to get so tense, I can't get relaxed at all. I've tried elevating my legs, exercise, no exercise, massage...nothing really helps.
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thanks for the tips, Shopgal. I'm so glad you got some sleep! I do take B12 and glut. I can try adding b6. It feels like I would imagine bad arthritis from the waist down feels with shooting, sharp pains as well at varying intervals plus a constant headache. The Percocet helps for about 2 hours, then no more.
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aww canjun hugs. I take 50mg of b6, and 250mg of b12. I would call your mo and tell him how you feel before the holiday. Maybe it's a matter of changing from Percoset to something else or give advice on vitamins/supplements or diff foods to eat. I tried Percoset and it gave me headaches. I read on the instructions that came with my prescription that it is a SE of the drug.
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cajunqueen: Thank you for this: "Cancer is stubborn. But I am more stubborn, so cancer has met its match." I'm going to tack that up on my bedroom wall, where it'll be the first thing I set eyes on in the morning and the last thing I see at night.
So many of you are already finished with your chemo --- yay!!! Celebrate!!! I hope to be joining you soon, my last dose is next Tues the 29th
Haven't had any more fever scares since Saturday, and so far my white cells have recovered in time for each dose. I'm not planning any holiday visiting, and my family is healthy, so hopefully I can stay "healthy enough for chemo" too and leave chemo in 2015. Facebook keeps prompting me to "see your year in review" but they can just shove it. I don't need reminders of this.0 -
cajun, I noticed you list hormonal therapy: aromasin. Could your awful pains be from that? I hope your MO can change your meds so you don't have to hurt so much ((((hugs)))
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Cajun and Annie - I went through menopause early (about 45 yo). Husband finally gave up and slept in a separate room. I opened my window one night in the middle of winter and felt like I was radiating enough heat to warm the room! I am very sympathetic and can say it eventually abated.
Today I am 50% through 12 weeks of Taxol! MO examined both breasts. She said they were "virtually indistinguishable" - great results considering the tumor started at 7 cm (2.75").
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Woohoo! Super news, Minnesota!!!
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tessu, glad to be of service.
lisa, excellent news. And there is light at the end of the tunnel!
I am trying a muscle relaxer with the percocet tonight. As far as the AIs- coming soon. I will start after my ooph. Everolimus also can cause bone pain, so hoping for the best there!
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So excited to start a new year and say goodbye to 2015. I still have treatement and will ring in the new year in the hospital on my birthday but Yahoo I am ready to see Chemo in the rear view mirror. Helllo crew cut. can't wait for my hair to grown in.
I was told that over 40 a woman with Chemo is more than likely to stay in menopause not sure if that includes long term night sweats but I layer the blankets and peel myself like an orange through the night with the window cracked.
This will be the only year that I am surprised at what EVERYONE is getting. Usually I am santa with DH but this year I was in such a fog I missed most of the planning. Yesterday I dragged myself around to stores getting something for DH. My RBC must still be low as I had to quite after a few stores and come home and rest in my recliner.
I hope everyone can taste Christmas goodies this year? One bright spot for me is I now hate pepsi and diet pepsi as it tastes just like carboplatin to me. That makes it easier to avoid.
I did sneak a few goodies and I am finally getting my swing and sense of humor back. My husband smiled today when I told him I couldn't wait to have some hair for the wind to run through. I too feel a bit like a chia pet but my scalp is looking like something is coming in.
I have my preop appts for the big surgery next Tuesday . I am scared but hopeful I am making good choices and I will be happy to be on the other side. I trust my surgeons but I keep dreaming weird dreams about having to do Chemo again or waking up with my breast gone. Quite disorienting. My mom is coming to help and flys in on Sunday. I am trying to get in the GOJO mode to get things ready for her and for everyone to have a nice Christmas.
How are rads going? Are they as tiring as Chemo?
Wishing everyone a sweet and peaceful Christmas week.
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Big congratulations to everyone finishing up!
Just had my first weekly taxol today, which means I am not scheduled to be done until mid-March. Sigh.
For those of you who have moved on from AC to taxol, have you had issues with C or D on taxol? I was (relatively) fortunate with digestion on the AC, but I want to make sure I stay out ahead of any issues for this round.
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hiya SF. I had no issues with C or D other than the one time I unnecessarily drank the brown cow, whilst on AC. I had C for the first time today (one weekly Taxol + 2 DD taxol). But I'm also taking Percocet, so it could be that.
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InSF - I just completed DD taxol and had slight C. I was waned by my MO so took colace everyday until I felt back to normal. I didn't need the miralax though.
Exercise--boo about your bday in the hospital. You have such a good and inspiring attitude and I'm hoping for complete success and healing for you. Bring on 2016!
Cajun--wishes for you to get that dang pain under control. I used a muscle relaxer during AC. Helped me to sleep. Was having bad achey, jumpy legs at the time. Worth a try, I'd say.
Annie, have you completed the ooph? Did you consider a full hysterectomy? Also, what blocker will you be taking! My doc says Femera for me-- her patients tolerate it best. I am 6 days pFC and taking time to recover before scans and then a hysterectomy. In February. Hoping to get my neuropathy to lessen via acupuncture. Third session tomorrow. You are a few weeks ahead so wonder what you have been experiencing. Hope you are doing well.
Peaceful holidays to all you brave and strong women.
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Exercise - Excellent planning and delegating for Christmas. I'm very happy you will have more in-house help arriving Sunday. Strength and peace for your surgery Tuesday and wishes for a MUCH better 2016!
inSF - Had 6th of 12 weekly Taxol treatments yesterday and have indeed had on-going constipation. High fiber foods and occasional Senokot have kept mine under control. There are several of us here in treatment through spring, so hang in there.
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I had dose #9 of 12 weekly Taxols on Monday. I haven't really noticed any issues with D or C although I tend to skip a day or two after the dose. I don't have any discomfort. I just don't have to go! I imagine things will kick back into gear sometime today. I really don't want to take any pills for it and haven't felt the need to do so since the A/C days.
Three more weeks to go. Whew. Eyes still runny and nails feeling delicate. I keep being afraid one of them is going to come off if it gets caught on something.
Meanwhile, this damn lymphedema bandage is annoying as hell. I see the PT again next Tuesday and really hope I can get a sleeve by then.
It's going to be 70 degrees here in central Virginia on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Crazy weather. I have bulbs coming up in my yard and there were trees blooming outside the hospital on Monday. Spring may be all screwed up from all this, which is a shame. Spring is usually so glorious here.
Best wishes to everyone for as happy a holiday as possible! I'm planning on something quiet and simple, which is about all I can handle right now.
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I'm still on the fence about the Ooph. I do not yet know which AI I'm getting. I don't need the full hysterectomy, just the ovaries. Keeping your uterus if you can helps stabilize the bladder so I'll keep it if I decide to do surgery. I'll find all that out after rads. My rads will end Feb 22 if I stay on schedule.
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I feel ok this far out from chemo. I finished Nov 16. I'm still a bit tired and the hot flashes and night sweats are insane, but I'm ok. Nowhere near normal but I think a lot of that is mental at this point.
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Annie how's your hair growth? I am 2 weeks today and found more brown hairs growing in my peach fuzz which is all over but sparse on the top. And eyebrows are thin but I saw new growth of tiny short hairs. Weird I thought they grew back last.
MLisa congrats on tumor shrinkage.
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Hey everyone. Just popping in to say congrats to all those finishing chemo. I just had my 5th infusion last week and feel like poo. I just keep telling myself only one more bad one to go. Jan 5th to be exact. I've been so tired this time and my stomach is killing me. I can't wait for this to be done.
I hope everyone here has a great holiday and I wish each and every one of you the best!
Has anyone heard from Southern or Grey? Flower how are you? I hope all is well.
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My hair is so pale you can only see it in the light, but I can feel it wiff in the breeze when I walk around. My eyebrows stopped falling out last week. I have half my lashes and about a quarter of my brows left.
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Good news on shrinking tumor MNLisa!
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Annie I am jealous that your hair moves.
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I am just dropping in to say congrats to all of you who have finished Chemo and send strength to those of you who are still in the midst of it. Tomorrow will be 9 weeks PFC for me. I am hoping to have enough hair in the next few weeks that I can rock the short hair. It is getting very close to being totally filled in. Just the back part on my crown is still a bit sparse.
Hot flashes-these have been the worst thing for me. I have now went for 4 sessions of Accupunture. It seems to be working as they have cut back substantially. I was getting about 50/24hours. I am probably down to about 10/24 hours. I am very happy with the results. My therapist said that is still too many and wants to try and reduce them even more. The night when I have my needling done is always rough, but then next day there is an improvement. I was willing to try anything as they were making me crazy.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2016 is the best year for all of us. Much health and happiness to all of you
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My hair is barely there. It's so fine like chick down. It has zero color. My mustache on the other hand is growing in nice and thick. Thank God I have fair hair anyway or I'd look like a cartoon villian.
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Yep ladies I too can't wait to feel the wind through my hair! Isn't it funny since we have all lost our hair and dealt with it, mostly, in a humorous and dignified way that the idea of even duck fuzz growth is soooo exciting?! With my infusion schedule I anticipate minor hair growth to start around Valentine's Day. Yay! Please post pics of hair growth for those of us not there yet.
So very happy for all of you that are finished with chemo! Great milestone to reach before the end of 2015.
Healing hugs and love to those of you facing new or additional surgery in 2016. I will have my 5th with recon and 6th next Nov with deportation (love that term).
someone asked about taking a muscle relaxer to calm the neck muscle and leg pains...I take a Valium with Aleeve or Motrin before I go to bed and it really helps.
I found some good news in being post-menopausal! After 6 taxol (2 Herceptin with Perjecta) I have NOT had any hot flashes!!!! Maybe I paid my dues with the 7-8 years of going through them already.
Wishing all of you a peaceful, minimal SE kind of holiday season. Cheers to all of us for getting this far and surviving!!! Love to all
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hi all. I just want to say that I am so tired of being so tired!!!!
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I've completed 15 out of 28 rads sessions. So far way easier than chemo in terms of SEs. The fatigue has caught up a bit but is still not like the chemo fatigue. Going five days a week is strange and, at times, depressing but it is so quick and the staff are so nice that it's manageable. At 7 weeks PFC, I've got some good hair growth going on. I would guess I will have enough by February to go without a head covering. Happy holidays to all
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cajunqueen1… Does the pain in your legs ever go away or is it close to your nuelasta shot? I wonder if you are experiencing some chemopause effects of leg pain in addition to the nuelasta. You are on the young side to being cast into menopause. I can't remember if you were taxotere or taxol but I had such a heavy leg feeling, fell easily and was just beyond tired for my last 8 weeks. The gals on the august Chemo reported a lot of Leg and lower body pain. Maybe you are unlucky and have that SE.
What did your MO say about this leg pain thing? Do you take the 24hour claritan twice a day every 12 hours? This reduced my leg pain by 50%. Does it go away a week after nuelasta?
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