Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
Comments
-
Your wife is beautiful! Love that smile!
0 -
octogirl thanks for the head up. I had checked with my mo before I went to the nail salon before my 2 nd infusion. He said no problem. I have been going to my salon for a while and they are very clean and sterilize everything. I also purchased my own kit from the salon that I bring with. I only do a regular manicure every 3 weeks. I would stop if I found any issues or infection notice do advise anyone reading this to check with your mo first.
0 -
Radiotherapy for me is six weeks every day not weekends though. The sessions are short but its the hassle of everyday. Cant wait to get there though it means chemo will be over. Hope everyone has a good day and your SE dont suck too much.
0 -
I just read an article that fat people don't get the proper dose of chemo because the docs don't go by weight past a certain fatness. How many syringes of Adriamycin does everyone here get? I know it's hardly scientific because I have no way of comparing MG but assuming it's all measured in the same type of syringe how many is everyone getting?
0 -
Crap, Annie, that's scary! I get 2....
0 -
I get 2 fat ones but if I weigh 50 or 100 pounds more than you then what? The recommendation is to go by weight but this article says that freaks docs out cuz it's a lot of meds so they cap the amount.
0 -
-
I get 3 fat syringes of Adriamycin. I still haven't lost all the baby weight and then they pump me full of steroids. BLEH.
0 -
I suppose they also factor in level/type of cancer too. I wonder what the formula is?
0 -
Annie I got 2 syringes 32-33 in each. Everybody is different because it is weight based. I was dose dense so that may make a difference. I was told by my mo there is a limit to the amount they can give for total chemo
0 -
Well, CT scan shows a spot on the lung and a spot on the pelvic bone- 2 of the 4 areas bc loves. Too small to tell for sure. Bone scan tomorrow with highly likelihood of bone biopsy next week along with bone u/s. Echo is Tues. If they can't tell for sure after bone biopsy if the spot is cancer, they will proceed with the AC/Taxotere as planned starting 10/26. If it is then no chemo for me like that but chemo pills and something else through the port I forget what followed by hormone suppresent pills rest of my life. Anyone here in the same boat? Sounds like I'm stage IV! wow
0 -
It's wild how we're told different things by our different MOs and practitioners. I was told NO manicures/pedicures due to infection risk, whereas they're relaxed about other 'infection' risks. Some of you are on narcotic pain relievers; mine told me to take up to 400mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours for pain.
I was told that the weekly Taxol is better tolerated due to the lower dose with each infusion. I believe the efficacy is the same, but many centers do it this way just because it's easier on the patient.
I feel like I've missed SO much this week since the beginning of my medical nonsense. So much of this past week has been spent in extraordinary pain as well as sleep deprivation (back-to-back overnights in emergency departments and no rest in between) that I haven't been thinking straight. It's been one prolonged, blurry haze of misery. But at least my pain has been controlled the last 24 hours (after 'firing' my hospitalist), so it's finally giving my body a chance to rest. Now if only the fevers would stop so I can really get rested and give my body a true chance to fight whatever is going on! Otherwise, I just want to see progress regarding this DVT so I don't feel like I have a time bomb in my neck.
Oh, and because of the major blood thinners I have to be on now, I have to be extremely careful not to get hurt. Extreme caution against getting cut (major care in the kitchen), avoiding falls, and being extremely careful with anything that could possibly hurt my head. So, basically... the wonderful ski vacation I had researched, planned, and booked reservations for last week is going to look nothing like I'd hoped. If we go, I'll be sitting in the room instead of really enjoying myself (which was a big part of this trip--to give me something to look forward to) or not going at all. I realize it's quite a first-world problem, but it just feels like cancer took one more thing from me at the moment.
0 -
Artista, please hang in there until you know...but once you know, if it is stage IV, there is support on this site, both here and elsewhere on the threads. Sending ((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))) in the meantime!
Octogirl0 -
Artista - I had my Pet Scan and a bunch of things popped up. I have to have more scans in 3 months. I had nodules on my thyroid, spot on the sacrum, spots on my lungs but they were all explained by the radiologist so don't get too worked up. They find more and more things but they may have a reason that is innocuous. Wait to see what the other scans tell you.
0 -
CarolineAmy - I've been on blood thinners for 17 years. At first all those warnings freaked me out.
Now? Not so much.
Don't stress. You're going to be fine. They sensitize you to the risks but, honestly, I've lead an active life and have never had a bleeding / bruising issue.
hang in there. We're gonna make it.
0 -
I am just so fatigued. I went back to work after my neulasta shot. Just exhausted.
0 -
artists, thinking of you and said a prayer for you. Cancer is awful.
0 -
Arista my scan showed spot my liver and spot in my lungs. My doctor explained that spots are not always cancer and most people that have scans will show up spots that are not cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with you because its shit...hopeful for the best outcome xxx
0 -
Arista, I was in your exact same boat. My CT came back with two spots on my spine and a spot on my lung. The bone scan came back clear. Because I have a history of bronchitis and pneumonia, a tiny nodule on my lung is probably scar tissue. They'll monitor it, but don't think it's cancer. Apparently, lots of CTs show bone spots, mostly from wear and tear. It is entirely possible that you will end up with peace of mind instead of stage IV. The waiting is awful.
Grey, I think that fatigue is the one SE that every one of us has complained about. It eases up in a few days.
CarolinaAmy, if there's decent powder when you go skiing, strap on a helmet and stick to the easy stuff. Cancer doesn't have to take everything. I'm glad you're doing better.
First annoying public cancer moment yesterday! I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work yesterday. I was wearing professional clothes, work name tag and a silk scarf on my head. The woman in line ahead of me was giving the cashier an earful about how the whole family was going on her husband's work trip, and how wonderful she was for buying snacks for the kids before they left. When asked if she wanted help getting her groceries to her car (as is standard at this Publix), the woman made a pointed nod at me and said, "No, she needs it more." Egads. Even the cashier looked annoyed. I'll bet that woman is still telling her her friends what a wonderful person she is
0 -
Luzeelu: Thanks! She does look good bald. I think she pulls it off better than I would.
My wife has had a different amount of syringes of adriamycin in our first two trips. The first time she had 4, the second 3. We asked about the different numbers and they explained it just depends on how much they fill them. The amount of medicine is the same. They are fat syringes. We hadn't considered the size difference of patients. My wife is above average height at a little over 5'9" and is 145lbs. (And yes, I OK'd it with her that I share that.)
0 -
Thanks ladies for your support. Truly appreciate it. It's just such a coincidence for 2 spots out of 4 where bc goes to. MO didn't look positive though she's telling me to hold tight. This thing was big, grade 3, chemo delayed with 5 wks drains and infection of 3 wks. So it's had time to go further than it did at sx 8/6 when 1 sentinel node was found to have some mets cells in it.
Decided not to update bro on this. He knows stage III and chemo coming up. He's in LA and would do no good for him, or me really, to freak him out into a major depression and anxiety. He's extremely sensitive as it is. Mom Dad are in the dark as I think I mentioned, for the good of me and them.
I guess if time starts ticking on my life then I'll tell mom and dad but not now. I can't think of 1 reason to tell them. It'd crush them, make me more depressed, and they'd drive me bat shit crazy with questions and overbearing 1000 x day.
I just have a bad feeling. All the #s make sense for it to be a IV. But I'll try and hang in there. Just feel like I got a kick in my gut a bit today and still processing all this. Thanks for the support! I'm not ready to leave this thread. xo
0 -
It seems like there's a lifetime maximum amount of adriamycin you can have, which generally means that you won't get it again if you have a recurrence. That could also impact the amount you get at each treatment. I think. Don't remember the source. I get two fat syringes, but don't know the dosage
0 -
Artista: I am sorry to hear about those scans results. I know we are going to be on edge every time my wife has a scan. We were told in July that they found spots on her liver and they appeared to be cancer. Our surgeon was even in tears when she told us. We waited 2 weeks for the biopsy and result. I had many people tell me on here not to jump to conclusions until we knew for sure. I know the spots from cancer don't always come back as cancer, because my wife's biopsy came back clean. I was laughing and crying at the same time when we got that call. We hope for the same result for you.
0 -
^^ ^^ Thank you for sharing your wife's story. Happy for you guys it turned out to be nothing. It's maddening that's for sure! By the end of next week I should know, the way it sounds, but it seems like a year away! xo
0 -
Artista, no matter what happens, please don't leave this thread! We love having you here...Hang in there, I know the waiting sucks, but we are here and in your pocket!
HUGS!
Octogirl
0 -
Octo, thanks so much. xo
0 -
Arista, so very sorry you are having to deal with such uncertainty. My surgery was delayed two weeks because a technically inadequate abdominal MRI showed a suspicious almost 2cm lesion in my liver, and the thinking was Stage 4. Then the hospital lost the request to repeat the scan for two weeks --- but the lesion turned out to be a benign hemangioma (blood vessel abnormality). I sincerely hope your spots are also just scares, but you've got support here no matter what! Don't leave
0 -
@soscaredhubby, sorry about the Dodgers. Last I saw it was the 9th with one out to go.0
-
arista hang in there & don't leave. We are here for you.
CAmy so happy you are home. Hope the blood thinners work & your pain gets better soon.
0 -
hugs Artista!
0
