Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
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Wishing a happier and healthier New Year to everyone
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Tessu - I had a complete meltdown on my husband two weeks ago and cried in the doc's office a few days later. The doctor told me all their treatment spaces were a safe place. She said this was normal and that I didn't need to be "strong" there. I hope this forum is a safe place for you - we all need to vent at some point! We support you and are pulling for you. <<<hugs>>>
inSF - I had 7th of 12 weekly Taxol treatments two days ago. Ten grams of L-Glutamine three times per day plus a daily B6 supplement seem to have minimized neuropathy for me (something I was very worried about).
Grey - I think about you so often and am hoping for good news and progress for you.
Congrats to everyone sharing "final chemo" celebrations - you inspire me to make it through to February!!
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Second to last chemo has commenced! From the Florida Cancer Center, I am wishing all you ladies a New Year filled with the abundant blessing of God's unfailing love.
I take this time to remind myself that, "(F)orgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14Hugs, Tessu!!! You don't have to be upbeat here. Come as you are. I wish I could do something to help.
I'm so thankful for the support here. You ladies make each day easier.
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tessu, I am so sorry you're having to go through this. I know exactly how you feel. That's the great thing about these boards, we're never alone, ever. I for one think you are so brave to inject yourself. I would fall apart doing that, support or no support. And believe me, I get the husband thing. Mine told me last night he is spending New Year's Eve and the weekend at his parent's place about 3 hours away to be with the "fun" people. I guess my mind works differently. What if this was my last New Year's Eve? Morbid I know. On my way to the surgeon's office yesterday, a hearse and funeral procession passed in front of me and I lost it right there in the car at the intersection. Cried my eyes out.
Please hang in there. We can get through this. <<<BIG HUG>>>
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Two days PFC and waiting for the crash! No clue if I'll be awake to welcome 2016. I hope it treats all of us better than 2015 did.
Tessu, sorry your husband is being an unevolved jerk.
I started melting as I left my final chemo, and cried most of the way home. I think I was just sorelieved to be done.
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Tessu
What can I say. Your husband is just being an A1 jerk. Has he always treated you like this? As the other ladies said Rant all you want on here. And Fidget your husband also seems to fit the A1 jerk category. He wants to be with the fun people? I wonder what his parents think of him coming to spend New Years Eve with them and not you.
Wish I could say more but keep in mind just how brave we all are to have to go thru this.
May God bless all of us. Here is to a good 2016, free of this malignant devil.
Rosieo
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Minnesota Lisa - how much B6 do you take?
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Minnesota, I'm curious to. All I see in the store was 100mg and some take 50mg.
Not a bad set up. I was placed in the chair next to this one, I got a lil selfish and asked to bump over to this gem.
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El Tigre - I love the pink wig!
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The recommended B-6 is 100 mg 2 x a day (pyroxidal 5 phosphate type).
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I had a second allergic reaction to the Taxol and was sent home.
throat swelling, back pain, cough and I almost threw up in my chair. They had to give me something to reverse the drug. Back Monday at 8 am to try again on a 6 hour drip with even more steroids, pepcid, and benadryl. If that doesn't work, they are switching drugs. I cried and cried and cried. All the MOs were out of the office and nobody even looked over while I bawled my eyes out. There no one to answer questions. I begged them to try again, but the nurse said it was not happening in no uncertain terms. Apparently it's extremely rare to develop an increasing rx after 3 successful trxs. Of course it is. I'm always the .1%. I'm going to have to research abraxane now. Feel so sad. I can't seem to get to the finish line. I'm angry at the nurses now for failing to help. I wanted them to ask the Dr again and they refused. It's my body, if I want to take the chance of ending up in the ER, I will. Give me the Epi pen, I will stick myself.
I wish I had time to find a new place, but I've already done 7 out of 9 trx's and everyone has a wait list. This is crap!!!!
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Holy crap cajun. That is bad. I hope you're feeling better. I had that anaphylaxis thing with the taxotere and it's scary as hell. (((Hugs))) for you chemo sister. I hope you get it sorted out and get this nasty chemo finished.
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Here's to a fabulouslybetter 2016 for all of us! So sorry for all of our trials but so thankful for all of you. What a godsend to have this safe place to rant and share. Had my deportation this morning one day after last chemo. I guess I wanted that reminder out ASAP! Now am starting to crash after my steroid high today.
Hugs to all!
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Cajun, I'm so sorry. Those nurses sound lazy. Were you taking steriods the night before? Chemo is hard enough without having to deal with incompetence, ugh.
My second oncologist wanted to put me on abraxane but we had switched to ohsu and they preferred taxol. If I had a reaction they said I would be moved abraxane too. Ask about the neuropathy on it, we asked but different doctors had different answers.
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Thanks ladies and happy new year! I'm a little more mellow. I picked a fight with my husband and finally realized I was suffering from roid rage. I never get steroids before infusions. I get the in my IV premeds... Does everyone else have them beforehand? I haven't had any neuropathy yet... Thanks for the advice, I certainly don't need that on top of everything else!
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congrats on deportation, sailor! How do you feel?
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I'm going to switch to Abraxane. Two Taxol reactions should be enough to make insurance cover it (had no clue this was a cost based issue, grrrrrrr). Does anyone know what happens when you switch? Do I get 2 DD Abraxane or start over with 4 cycles?
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My deepest heartfelt thanks to all you brave kind wonderful women who've helped me make it through to 2016. Advice for the New Year (that I have to work on myself)
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Happy new year gals!
Canjun wow. That's scary. Maybe the dose was too high or run too quick? Maybe your body just tolerates a lower weekly dose or not DD at all, or maybe you have had enough taxol and chemo all together? Your mo def needs to pamper you. I thought I read of someone on the July or August boards who switched to abraxane. Maybe you could post a question there or just in the chemo forum. I do know abraxane is a newer drug and is expensive. I think it doesn't have the solvent in it like the Taxanes do so it is less likely to cause a reaction. feel better.
Sailor enjoy being portless. It's really nice. I just took off my steri strips yesterday after 10 days post op. Scar looks good. And a speedy recovery from last chemo. Nice New Years gift.
Edited to add: you may want to ask on the weekly taxol board. I think I read about abraxane there.0 -
tessu I can smack sense into that hubby long distance if you like.
And ElTigre nice view.
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inSF - Artista beat me to the B6 reco: 100 mg 2x daily.
El Tigre - The recommended L-Glutamine to prevent or reduce neuropathy is 15 grams, 2x daily. This high dosage confused me at first! The most cost-effective way I've found is dissolving L-Glutamine powder into water or juice. If you have a GNC nearby, look for the powder. There are also 1,000 mg capsules.
Here are the recommendations for B6 and L-G from Dana Farber: http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Alleviat...
Cajun - I am so sorry you developed a reaction to Taxol over time. I am holding a good thought for your Monday attempt. It is horrid enough going through this without being interrupted. Hang in there and rest up over the weekend for the re-try. Whether it's Taxol or Abraxane, you will make it to the finish line.
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Caution: my MO told me 50 g of B6 once per day. Said it used to be 100 grams but now changed to 50. Might be worth a check with your MO.
Tessu - i agree with the others. Feel free to rant here. You deserve TLC, nothing less.
Cajun- dang! Sorry to hear of your reaction. You WILL cross that finish line. And it's coming soon.
MNLisa - so glad the glutamine is working for you! Steady progress. You're almost there!
I am 2 weeks pfc- no hair and still battling neuropathy. Feels like my taste is coming back already ng with a better appetite. Fatigue still hanging around but slightly better. A few brave lashes and brows struggling for survival. I wonder what next week will bring?
Happy New Year warriorettes!
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The top of my head this New Year's Day. (Wanted to post somethng silly instead of sad). After being quiet for so long, my scalp is itchy again, with little bits of hair dropping since Tues chemo. Maybe I'll end up bald after all? Eyebrows very sparse, eyebrows toast. Gorgeous, right?
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thank you Shopgal, Minnesota, and Shelly.
I'm glad I'm done with taxol. Now to get rid of my neuropathic itch, so annoying.
Cajun, my doc had me on 20mg of steriods the night before and the morning of. The treatment center was surprised by the dose my doc recommend but other than the itch it worked. Sorry you had that reaction. I forgot my night dose one time so I took only my morning dose, I think I got lucky I had no reaction that time.
We took this photo last night after the last dose. This was my cape I walked out of the treatment center in. Our friends south of us made it for me.
Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year everyone!
Just checking in. Big congrats El Tigre!
I had my last chemo (TCHP) yesterday too. I'm really happy to put that behind me, but I'm bracing for the bad part to start. I go on Sunday for my Neulasta shot. I asked if I had to have one since it's my last chemo and they said yes, that my counts were too low to not have it. Bummer...I'd love to skip the bone pain.
I pretty much missed NYE. I came home and was dead asleep by 9 pm. lol
Today I have low grade nausea. Like the feeling you get when you've eaten way too much and your stomach is over full - except that I haven't over eaten anything.
They set a surgery date for me for January 28th. I still need to talk to the BS and PS about what they are recommending. Here's what they are telling me they want to do. I am electing to do bilateral mastectomies, I need an axillary dissection and at the end of it all I want to be a C cup (I'm currently a DDD).
They are recommending that I need 3 surgeries to start:
Jan 28 - axillary dissection and a reduction surgery. Then 12 weeks later (April) they will do the bilateral mastectomies with TE. Then 12 weeks later (July) they will put in the implants. Then I will have radiation in October - which seems like a LONG time away. The PA in my oncologist's office didn't think it was such a good idea to wait that long to do radiation. This whole process doesn't count putting new nipples on or that final stuff.
What do you guys think?
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Edwsmom, sounds long but I can see why they want to do a disection first although if i could i would try and keep some nodes. So I could avoid lymphedema. Did you check on why you couldn't do the reduction, mastecomy and disection at the same time? Will it be to hard of a toll on the body or the surgery time would be to long?
I had masectomy and disection done at the same time and bounced back fairly well. To have surgery in January you need nuelasta for your counts going in. I was normal before my surgery but never fully recovered my counts before chemo 5 weeks later.
I'm sorry i don't have much knowledge only what I hear from other survivors.
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Cingrats El Tigre (love the cape!) and edwsmon and everyone else who ended 2015 and ended chemo! I am wiped out and cannot taste anything but am looking forward to being in better shape soon! I was thinking about Taxol vs AC this morning and all I can say is that the SE's were very different but there was nothing about Taxol that was "easier" than AC. For some reason going into this that was the message that seemed to surface.
Cajun - I was not on any other steroids with Taxol - just what was in infusion bags. I definitely felt good from the steroids the day after DD Taxol but then crashed for a day or two.
Hang in there ladies! We've got this! I hope to get out sailing tomorrow. It's going to be 70 and sunny! I hope I have the energy - haven't been out in awhile.
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Shelly hair is coming your way. Do you have any peach fuzz? I had been taking b vits since the end of October & had peach fuzz during taxol because of the vits. I added biotin the day after I finished chemo. Then 2 weeks pfc I sprouted like crazy.
ElTigre love the photo. It's avatar worthy.
Edwsmom I'm sorry I don't know about mx so sorry if my asking sounds like a stupid question but why do they do a reduction surgery before your mx surgery?
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