Who is starting chemo in September 2016?
Comments
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Wow, did round 4 kick my rear end! I am finally emerging from the chemo fog that I have been in since last Tuesday. I was super exhausted with this round. I fell asleep on the couch on Thanksgiving and basically slept for the next couple of days. The times I was up I tried to go out for a walk to get fresh air. I have been battling through wicked hot flashes and the big D. On a positive note....I have 2 more chemo's to go! I have been doing a lot of online shopping b/c I am trying to get gifts done before my next round on Dec. 12th. I feel like December is going to fly by.
Feel well everyone....
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Bagsharon - How did the insurance problem work out? I hope the insurance company was able to take care of it -
I have been thinking of you b/c we are switching insurance come Jan. 1st and I am trying to prevent any issues.
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Dennyj - I was more fatigued with round #4 and a bit more with round #5. I think it's just that you are so knocked down that it's hard to get back up to where you were. I am also having a really hard time with regulating my temperature I put on socks, take them off, cover up with a blanket, throw it off the next minute. It's very frustrating!
Ajbclan - you are always welcome! Sounds like we are going through some of the same things!
Bagsharon - I hope you get everything ironed out with your ins company! I keep getting random bills and having to follow up to make sure I'm not supposed to pay. Hopefully the transition to next year will be an easy one.
Finally got an appt with the surgeon (right before Christmas), so I guess I better nail down the whole lumpectomy/BMX decision sometime soon.
makeiki3 - I hope that you are feeling better! Make sure you get a Rx if the Big D is bad! It really helps! I'm not only counting the chemos left, but counting the days!!! Can't wait to get to single digits!
Smilethruthepain - have you been losing hair all along? My hair fell out 15 or so days after my first chemo and I haven't lost any eyebrows or eyelashes though? Are most of you browless and lashless? I'm still holding out hope that I make it through these last 2 rounds intact.
I have run into 2 ladies during hydration that are a month or so out and have thick, dark curly hair growing back... gives me hope!
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Hello All
Denny - I had by 4th TCHP on day before Thanksgiving. I'm still not right. So tired and just feeling out of sorts. This round was awful. I just keep trying to tell myself 2 more 2 go.
Beachbabyk - I too after this last treatment cant seem to regulate my temperature. Socks on socks off blanket on blanket off. I will be so happy when this is over.
Online shopping for me this year. Doesn't seem like I will have any energy to shop with the regular folks. I miss getting out with the crowds sometimes.
Next treatment is scheduled for Dec 14. Oh lastly my potassium is low doc said to eat potatoes tomotes orange juice and bananas. At this point I just think I need a pilll. Anyone else with potassium issues?
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Hahlyn- I have Potassium issues. When I got the 4th round, they gave me an infusion and a Rx. Took 1 pill a day for 3 weeks. Labs still too low and on Round 5 day the Dr said take the Rx twice a day. Labs from Monday looked good. They are keeping me on the Rx until further notice. Taking the Rx can't hurt... other than the fact that it's a horse pll!
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Hahlyn - Haven't technically had potassium problems...yet?, but with big D, I think it will be inevitable. What I drink I think helps so far such as gatorade, vitamin water. Plus I've taken to raiding my children's snack drawer for shotblocks. They are a runner's supplement full of potassium and have the consistency of square gummies.
Trying to gear up for the next round, 12/13 and just hoping the SE's don't get worse. Overall, I guess I consider myself lucky since the big D just hit with #4. Don't know why it chose now to appear, but it is what it is. Also trying to get shopping done on the internet, but did none last week as I was just so out of it. Trying to keep it simple this year, but with kids still at home makes it challenging as I don't want to slight them. Looking forward to next hear's holidays. That's for sure!!!
Take care everyone.
PEACE!
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After going through the threads....
Yes, I have potassium issues...I was told to eat sweet potatoes, bananas, drink oj....This has been an ongoing issue for me.
I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes...I don't know how but I don't want to question it. I am praying they remain with me...
Exhaustion, absolutely. I have only started to feel like I am rebounding from #4
Hot flashes...all the time.
I am on Lomotil for the big D...This has been a consistent issue for me since round #1. I drink gatorade (but I am getting sick of it)
Online shopping...absolute must!
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TCHP #5 was today and all went smoothly. We spoke to Emily's MO about the neuropathy about 10 days ago and he recommended stopping the B6 supplement. In some cases, extra B6 can actually make it worse. Emily stopped, and within just a couple of days, she saw significant improvement. Coincidence? Maybe, but we'll take it. Em has felt pretty good for that last week and Thanksgiving was great.
Stay strong ladies!
One more to go!
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I'm a week out from TCHP treatment #5. While round 4 was comparatively easy on side effects, this round has been tougher with nausea/vomiting, D every day since Sunday, and a generally weak feeling that's not going away. Went out across the street a while ago today to fetch the mail kicked my a-- lol. Had to sit down for 1/2 hour afterward. I took off yesterday and today for unscheduled sick days (Monday was scheduled as a sick day for clinic visit for IV fluids). The nausea has subsided some but it's difficult to envision being productive at work feeling this weak.
The blood transfusion Friday may be helping at least as far as the severe anemia issue; I haven't noticed the shortness of breath issue although my activity level isn't much to judge by. Still having the neuropathy symptoms on both fingers and feet, bad taste sensations, unusually runny nose, and heartburn. The latter is getting really annoying as despite taking an OTC for it, it's pretty much continual with the cramp-like pains waking me up almost hourly when I try to sleep. May be just aggravating normal seasonal concerrns but I've also had extremely bright red chapped hands this week.
I am very much looking forward to making it through round #6 in a couple of weeks, and then seeing these chemo SEs fade away. I'm shallow enough to want to keep the weight loss though
I still have my brows and eyelashes, and some fuzz on my head that's been hanging in there or even growing out a little since I had it all buzzed off in September. It's probably continued to thin out since then, but it's hard to say for sure.
Best wishes to all for your continued treatment and healing
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Until recently, I felt like I didn't need the support, but would really like to bond with you all at this point.
Round 5 of CMF was worse then the first 4. I also slept through Thanksgiving and a few days after.
My MO has given me Zarxio shots yesterday and today. My head is hurting, jaw, and back. I hate to call out of work tomorrow, but I feel crappy.
Sounds like for others as we get to the 2nd half of treatment, fatigue seems to hit. I also can't regulate the sweating with being cold.
Thanks for letting me complain. I know I'm in the home-Stretch.
Xoxoxo Heidi
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beachbaby, I lost most of my hair over a couple of days,15days post first chemo. Then it was rather slow - I would notice hair on my night chemo cap, but no active shedding during the day. But after TC #4, my head has bold spots, and so do my eyebrows. Lashes have thinned considerably. Without makeup I am unrecognizable
. I fill in my eyebrows with a fine felt brow fill I got on Amazon. I felt so bad about my looks that's got the energy to put on an eyeliner and mascara (plus I was a tuck in traffic on my way to work). It made enough me feel better. Sam, I'll try stopping B6 for a couple of days. I don't think I have too much - take 1 200mg tablet a day. But worth a try. Thanks for sharin
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Hahlyn--I too have had potassium problems. It dropped pretty low after I finished AC and I have had to be on a prescription potassium supplement. During my first Taxol infusion a month ago, I got a call from the oncology pharmacy and they told me that I would need to have potassium added to my infusion that day. What they didn't tell me was that it would take 4 extra hours and 4 bags of the stuff on a very slow drip. Potassium level was back to normal the next week, and last week it was back to being low, but not enough to require more IV potassium. I'm having labs again tomorrow so we'll see. My MO told me that low potassium levels are a side effect of chemo. I was told that in addition to your list of potassium rich foods, that sweet potatoes are also a good source. It's too bad that we have to deal with this too in addition to everything else, but I'm glad I'm not alone.
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Thanks all for your concern about my insurance issue. I haven't had a chance to look into it between work and radiation. Besides, I worked in health insurance many years ago and I have a good idea how this will work out. Neulasta is probably on the auto-reject list and some clerk didn't match it up with the pre-certification. I'll let the doctor's office battle it because they'll want their money and it's more likely to come from the insurance company than me.
I'm three weeks out from my last chemo treatment and my eyebrows are still thinning. If I may make a plug: IT Brow Power. I used it before chemo to cover the greys in my brows but I was really impressed when I attended the Look Good, Feel Better class and every kit had one in it. Nobody knows that I've lost about 70% of my brows because of this product and I want to support a company that quietly and without fanfare made such a big donation to help women with breast cancer. Plus, it is an awesome product.
Speaking of hair, when I run my hand over my scalp I can feel stubble but I can't see it. I think this weekend I'll shave my head because the few hairs left have grown and now stick out like some mad scientist and I'd like it to be the same length as the new hair coming in.
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I went for my 4th treatment yesterday it went well but I got genetic test results back. so I found out I am Chek2 positive. Supposedly there are 3 components to it. 2 of them are negative and 1 is positive. unfortunately the part that I am.positive is very rare and there haven't been much studies done. So I have a 10 to 40 % of getting additional breast cancer. but they can't tell me a number because they just don't have the information since it's rare. so my cancer is gone and I am scheduled for a lumpectomy the end of Jan. now the surgeon wants to discus other options I am assuming a double mastectomy which I don't want to do. just looking to see if anyone is in the same boat. I'm so frustrated everything was going so well.
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Had Abraxane treatment #2 today after having 4 dose dense AC treatments and 1 dose dense Taxol treatment. I had a severe reaction at the beginning of Taxol #2 so was switched to the much more expensive Abraxane version of paclitaxel.
Like it so far. 30 minute infusion instead of the three hour Taxol infusion I was getting. Started using gentle compression plus ice on hands and feet during infusion to keep neuropathy symptoms from getting worse. Fingers crossed that it helps. I could put up with the current level of numbness and tingling in my toes. Also taking l-glutamine, B complex, and B6.
Looks like I will be squeezing in my last chemo treatment just before Christmas on Dec 23. They offered to put it off until Dec 28 and I almost yelped. I want to be done! Will move on to rads in Jan. New year, new high deductible. Ugh. Can't be helped.
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I've seen some discussion on taking B6. Just wanted to share what my MO told me yesterday. Originally I was advised to take a B complex and an additional B6. I was never told the dosage though. I have been reading that 200 mg is way too much and it causes a lot of problems including a higher risk of neuropathy. I looked and my total dosage of B6 between the two was 150 mg. I asked my MO yesterday how much B6 was too much and told her how much I was taking. Her eyes got kind of big and she said to immediately stop taking that much and to take only 100 mg a day. That is a safe amount she said. I know all doctors have different standards of care, but wanted to let you know what I learned yesterday.
I had Taxol #5 today. No problems as of yet. I got the referral to the radiology oncologist yesterday and I meet for my consultation with him next week. I won't start radiation until mid February and I was surprised they wanted this consultation in early December. It's ok though. The more I can get on this year's insurance the better. I have a tentative start and end date of radiation so that puts an end in sight, yet the thought of adding 6 weeks of radiation on top of 7 more chemo treatments I still have makes the time seem so much longer. Like everyone, I just want to be done with this! Good news though, I asked about if there would be any travel restrictions after chemo and radiation are done and was told I can go wherever I want. No restrictions. We're in the process of planning our June vacation and I'm excited to know I will be able to get away. We will all need a vacation after this!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
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I should have mentioned earlier, we had Emily's initial consult with her radiologist on Tuesday. She'll be going in 5 days a week for 6 weeks starting on January 9th. Seems like a pretty straight-forward process with few side effects. The treatment sessions only take a few minutes too. It'll be nice to get past this last round of chemo on the 21st.
Lynn - sorry to hear about your test results. I haven't heard about that type of test. When we first started this journey, Emily's doctors advised against a mastectomy and said recent studies have shown lumpectomy's are the preferred procedure in many cases, including hers. Perhaps your MO has something else in mind. Please keep us posted on what you find out. Sending positive thoughts your way!
Have a great weekend and stay strong everybody!
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Hi Everyone- it's the August chemo stalker lol.....
Beachbab- we are on a similar path- I have #6 on Wed, fingers crossed it's the last. Had my appt with the surgeon this week, her office will coordinate with the plastic surgeons office and most likely having a BMX in January. Slight chance for chemo and/or radiation afterwards but hoping no!
Not looking forward to next weekend...#5 hit hard, but one of my other chemo buddies on the Aug thread didn't notice anything worse on 6....so we shall see.
No potassium issues, but I drink Vitamin Water daily for electrolytes (I'd get the eye twitching and the nurse said to make sure I included electrolytes daily....it has helped). My eyes water constantly, another chemo side effect. One hint a chemo friend suggested is partially freezing the vitamin water into a slushy- it helps when drinking it and may make the gatorade taste better? I'm using straws a lot too.
My eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned tremendously....I've read that after folks complete treatment THEN they fall out. So who knows on that!
Thanks for the additional support here! Keep plugging away everyone......
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Kelly, raising my hand here to join the January BMX club (sounds like i'm talking about a bicycle, doesn't it, lol). I just got word from my surgeon and plastic surgeon that they want to schedule my surgery on January 6, just 3 weeks after my last TCHP on December 16. I don't know why I'm having such a hard time with this but it just seems really rushed. #5 for some reason seemed a bit harder than the others with fatigue, awful diarrhea and runny/bloody nose. I hope and pray that the last chemo doesn't hit as hard so my body can prepare for the major onslaught of surgery and reconstruction.
Oh how life has changed, huh? But this is my new normal, going to work every day and trying to brush away the fog of chemo from my brain, double and triple checking my work to make sure I don't make any mistakes. I'm rambling now, so I'll stop.
On a a lighter note, my husband's Christmas gift arrived yesterday. He got me a big beautiful electric recliner complete with USB ports for charging my tablet and phone. This is to help with my post-mastectomy recovery.
My daughter is at FSU, son is at University of Alabama. Big game today, Alabama against University of Florida! Roll Tide and Go Noles!!
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Abjclan- 5 hit me hard for a couple of days,Big D in particular. It would be great if #6 was just a swan song and sailing off into the sunset! :-) I know,I know,but a girl can dream can't she? Where in CA are you? I am in the San Gabriel Valley. That eye twitching drives me a bit batty! I'll give some electrolytes a try.
Dennyj- Stay positive! There is a light at the end of the chemo tunnel...and it is a bright sunshine that I cannot wait to bask in (with my hat off to get some color on my pale white head).
Sam-thanks for the updates and info on the B6! I love that we have a husband here. All the best to Emily and to you!
Misslil- I found that I was noticeably weaker at times and have tried to stay ahead of the nausea. Found myself a bit dizzy a couple of days to if I moved too fast... stayed closed to home those 2 days and had my son drive me to my weekly blood test. And I DEFINITELY want to keep the weight loss! You gotta come out on the + side of this with something,right?
LynnC- Sorry about your results! I have BC in my family but BRCA came back negative. No other testing was done. I think as we learn more they will find more/different genes to test.
Docmama- The bloody noses - Arrrrggghhh! Hoping to join the January BMX club! I want a BMX and my BS wants a lumpectomy. I see him just before Christmas, so hopefully I'll get that process moving. I don't think a final decision can be made until I speak with the PS about what they see the reconstruction options are. Hoping to check the surgery off the list in January so that I can "push play" again on my life. I hate feeling like it's on hold. I'm a little surprised about the early date for your surgery... most doctors seem to want to give 4-6 weeks to recover after the last chemo, but by 3 weeks out I have been feeling pretty good, so who knows? And although I am not a Seminoles fan, I am a HUGE college sports (yes almost all of them) fan and love when people sport their colors! I'll be watching the game too!
Have a great weekend Sisters (& Sam)!
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beachbabyk- definitely staying positive...that last round was tough but I am ready to get through the next 2! My light at the end of this tunnel will be laying my body on a beach in Florida (we are trying to go before my surgery). My platelets need to stay up to make this happen!
Docmama - I am glad that you mentioned bloody nose issues. I have been having them and just assumed it was from burning wood (it makes the house dry). Also, your surgery is so soon! How are you doing? Beautiful chair!!
Does anyone else have a lot of eye twitching?
Well, be well and enjoy the weekend!
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I don't know what happened with this post. I must have pushed the wrong key.
For those of us who haven't been active, is there a Sept member list? As I face my last three treatments, I would really like to have the groups' support, as well as be there for the group members.
Thanks,
Heidi
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Had Taxol #5 on Friday...my MO lowered the dosage b/c it has been wreaking havoc on my hands:(
So far so good after this treatment...hand aren't hurting and nails not sore..thank God! Glad to see everyone moving through their treatment and almost done...3 months ago we were all just starting Chemo...glad time is moving fast...b/c I am ready to be done...I have 7 more Taxol to do...I think I will be done the end of January..then surgery which I haven't been thinking about...I don't know if I am getting a lumpectomy or mastectomy...In my mind I gotta get through Chemo first..lol....I don't think I have to do radiation..I need to ask my MO about that...I don't want to...I am very tired of this whole process...I don't think I can add radiation to the mix...I am so happy my urinary issues have cleared up after getting cystoscopy surgery...my urologist said my kidneys were inflamed and cauterized the areas that needed it...so the Cytoxan portion of the A/C was wreaking havoc on my kidneys..i need those! So glad I am done with A/C...I am just happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel:)
Happy Sunday everyone!
Hope everyone have minimal to no S/E's!!
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I haven't had issues with my nails but there is an obvious pattern of indentations growing out that seems to mirror the successive cycles of chemo.
Kind of like tree rings
Not sure why but I'm finding that oddly reassuring - maybe evidence of how far I've come into the process? And being able to see a physical sign of the individual rounds having come and gone.0 -
Docmamma- love the chair!! That's awesome. I actually messaged the surgeons office to see where we are with coordinating a date with the PS. Oncologist and surgeon both said about a good 4 weeks out at least for a date.
Missil- i have some white lines on my nail beds, noticed it recently. No darkness though.
I've had some bleeding in my nose after 5 as well, but not running thankfully.
Even though I'm 3 weeks out, if I get moving "too much" (running xmas errands yesterday), I get really fatigued. I have some aches/maybe neuropathy that showed up these past few days. I can feel everything it's just almost like body parts are falling asleep or tingly or achy. Funny how we can't describe what's happening!
Dennyj- my eye twitching has really gone away with the Vitamin Water (or try anything that has electrolytes). I'm so tired of water, I've actually drank two a day the last 2 days and I noticed my eyes aren't watering as bad either. I just read on the "hair" board, a couple of ladies commented the watery eyes can take a few weeks to go away after the last treatment.
Beachbaby- I'm in Orange County! Maybe one of us can remember to start a "who's having surgery in January" thread?! LOL
Nayda- Just an fyi- my Dr's meet together weekly to go over each patient. There's a Radiation Oncologist, and the oncologist and surgeon both wanted me to consult with her, which I did back in Sept/Oct. She told me that she reviews what the tumor (for me it's multiple) looks like at diagnosis to determine radiation. Right now I'm 95% no radiation. There's a chance once I'm opened up that I could do radiation (and God forbid more chemo). So I'm not doing any happy dance yet....surgery will tell. You may want to ask about seeing a RO and getting a referral.
I will try and keep you all updated on #6.....fingers crossed it doesn't get worse than 5. My best to you all, thanks for your support!
Kelly
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Heading to #3 of taxol (dd). Man, was it hard to get in the car! I've been feeling pretty good and just knowing what I'll be feeling in a couple of days makes it really hard to make this appointment. Just need to survive today and then one more and done. With this step at least. Radiation and hormone to come.
Insurance EOBs - are just plain funny to me. I've been blessed that the offices I go to do their job. Probably every other EOB I get says I will need to pay something, even though everything was approved before treatments started. I've never gotten an actual bill. I'm figuring the office fights it out without me and has it settled. I've reached $160k+ billed in 6 months. That's scary. And I'm not done.
Chek2+ - I am. I've come to find out there are different versions (so why can't they be named differently?!) I know mine is of "unknown significance" which means dunno. There's a mutation but science hasn't figured out what it means yet. As the geneticist said it could be cancer related or it could be the arch of the eyebrows, until science figures it out we really can't try to predict. I went with the lumpectomy rather than the BMX. Too much doubt for something so drastic.
Hooked up now and the benedryl is flowing. Sleep is coming soon. Happy humpday all.
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This past weekend (I'm 3.5 weeks post last chemo treatment), I noticed my big toenail on my left foot has turned black. My right toenail has finally grown back in after losing it earlier this year from marathon training and now I'm about to lose the other one. As Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, it's always something.
Also this weekend, I had my husband shave the 10 hairs left on my head so I could better monitor new hair growth. As I'm sitting on the toilet naked because I didn't want to get hair on my clothes, I thought to myself that this is not normal, none of this is normal. Radiation is easier than chemo but the effects of chemo still keep coming.
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Sharon, your words struck a cord .. this is not normal - none of this is normal. Almost every morning getting dressed a brief glance in the mirror - with one expanded breast, a floppy "native" one, scars from biopsies and MX, bold head, I shudder from my own reflection. I wonder how this can be my new normal ...
My nails are going black two - both thumbs are bruised, the others have black semi-circles at the root .... Emotionally and physically I am drained, and I haven't started the hormone therapy yet
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We all sound like a mess lol. So I was sent home today- no chemo #6, totally cried- I was mentally prepared for this last one, so bummed. Platelets were low (87- need to be at least 100), she said this is typical towards the end, and it's re-scheduled for next Wed. I was so prepped and organized for this one, but need to mentally shift now.
Wishing you all well this week....
Kelly
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ajbclan - I am so sorry that you were not able to start round 6. I am praying that my platelets are high enough for round #5 on Monday. Hang in there!!
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