Starting Chemo in July 2017
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Hi Theresa! Your vacation sounds like just what you needed! So happy you were able to get away and see a glimpse of life after active treatment. I live in an area hit by Harvey, we had close to 50 inches of rain, but didn't get any water inside our house, which is such a huge blessing. The cancer center had some flooding and was closed for over a week. My 3rd infusion went off as scheduled on the 7th, somehow. I'm happy you don't have the bone pain with the Neulasta shot, I was very uncomfortable with it the first time, but started taking Aleve every 12 hours before the pain started with the second and now third round, and that has worked very well (as well as taking the Claritin every 24 hours). I still soak in Epson salts most nights (once I can take the Onpro thing off). At this point, the only side effects I've had from my TC chemo is hair loss and fatigue. I know the effects are cumulative, so who knows...
Thanks to all who post regularly, I read every word.
Debby
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Hi everyone...checking in. Sounds like things have been going well for most of you. I am still chugging along...completed AC #4 this past week and will move on to DD Taxol next. Half way down and it feels so good to say that. I am still running on my good days...slower than normal but feels normal to get out there. Celebrated AC #4 by buying a new pair of running shoes!! They were much needed. Went back to work part-time 2 weeks ago. Most days feel normal and that's a good thing. A little bone pain from Neulasta...doing claritin, Epsom salt baths and Tylenol occasionally. Also doing a lot of yoga with my running. Fatigue on days 3 & 4 post chemo are my biggest side effects. I think I am too stubborn to do anything but kick this cancer in the ass! Think of all of you often...sending hugs and positive thoughts your way.
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Debby - I'm so glad your house didn't flood and you had your infusion on time, what a blessing. How is it going? Did your power stay on and water too? With Irma now in the news I haven't really heard much out of Texas for a week. Has the water receded very much? How are you managing? It just seemed so awful, if we had gotten 50 inches we would have been ok as we live on the highest hill around, the top of our watershed, but our neighbors and town would have been devastated, it sends chills down my spine!
So glad your SE are manageable and the neulasta to, how many infusions do you have left?
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Theresa
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just checking in, i go for pet scan this coming week, it has been 3 months on taxol so figure this will give info if taxol is doing what it should, i think my legs are weaker, last weekend i did lunch with a pal, i fell while we were walking out. Scary for sure
Wish me luck and good test results
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Debby - so glad you made it through of Harvey. My friend at Houston stayed behind she was fine but flooding everywhere.
Runner - congrats finished the AC 4, taxol is on our bag now.
Teese - so glad you have a vacation so you can get away from the chemo train. When I have my normal days it makes me happy.
My GI problem from AC I finally got that figured out imy gums is a big surprise for me. The last few days some of my gums became so sensitive I can't even use water pik and I can only use my soft toothbrush.
Everyone have a great weekend and beautiful Sunday.
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proudtospin - prayers said for good results, these scans take years off our lives with all the anxiety. Ugh! What day is the scan so I can storm heaven?
Paulette - I'm so sorry for your mouth sores. I'm sure you've done all you can to deal with it. Hopefully Taxol will not affect your mouth and you'll heal. Strange how it affects us all just a little bit differently. I've dealt with my tongue always on the verge of developing a sore, had a bad one the first infusion that healed. Prayers said for relief for you.
We're all moving onto second half and some to the end. Yay! Hugs and prayers for good days.
Theresa
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Teese - So glad you had a nice break. When I had my one week delay, I also felt like it showed me that there is the other side of this and feeling good. So glad you also had this experience. I will be thinking good thoughts as you start Taxol that it is easier than the AC.
I had my last big infusion (Carboplatin and Abraxane) on Thursday, and then had a very big event for work on Friday night that I was not willing to miss. It went very well, but it took a lot of energy and I was pretty much on the couch all day yesterday (with one half mile walk in the morning). But, it was totally worth it.
I also have learned that I can give myself a shot! I've done it twice now for the Neupogen, and have two more to do this round. If you had asked me if I'd be able to do this a year ago, I would not have been very sure. Now, it's like, bring it on! Need to give myself a shot so I can get to the end of chemo... sure!
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. I'm coming out of the fog, took a walk and even cooked a little. Just two more small rounds of Abraxane left!
Good thoughts to you all!
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tesse, my scan is set for wed and then i see the onc on friday and i expect to get results
Prayers and positive thoughts would be great
Just hoping the taxol did a better job at killing the bugger than affinitor did last fall
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Proudtospin - I've read that Taxol is an excellent drug for stage IV, I was looking up info on neuropathy and I came across it today. So expect good results. I will have you at the top of my list this week. I know it's hard, try to stay busy.
LoJo- yay, the worst is behind you, I know it must feel wonderful, can't wait to get there too. I've not given myself a shot, but I agree with you, if I had to do it to finish I'd do it in a red hot minute. You go girl! Glad the crummy infusion days are behind and tomorrow hopefully will be a good turn around day.
Hugs and prayers
Theresa
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I'm just checking in and give all of you a hugs. Today I feel like myself so I will do some cooking ! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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proudtospin...saying many prayer this week for you.
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proudtospin, I wish you well this week as you have your scan and receive the results.
PauletteK, so glad you are feeling well enough to cook. I had done a lot of cooking while waiting (endlessly) for my surgical wounds to heal and had the freezer stuffed, but noticed that we've gone through nearly all of it and I'm going to need to get cooking if I'm going to have things available for easy reheating during the rest of my treatment.
Theresa, I have only one more round of TC chemo to go! I'll have that infusion at the end of September, then will move on to rads. Thanks for asking. The Neulasta bone pain started up last night, on day 4. That's a day later than the other 2 rounds, was hoping I would be able to skip the pain this time, darn. The pain was much milder than the other times though, a nice long bath (plus the Aleve I was already taking) made it manageable. Not that I slept much, but I can nap later.
Debby
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Good morning,
We're on our way to Taxol #1, however we're stopped dead in the road because of 9/11 ceremonies. Didn't anticipate this and should have. Oh well, it is what it is.
Debby - I'll start rads sometime around Thanksgiving. Let's meet up in the rads thread. So sorry about the bone pain, I'm glad you've found it more manageable this time. One more round and goodbye to bone pain. It's great to see the end in sight, I'm sure. Can't wait to be that close. Sigh, just another month to the run up of my last one. Woot!
Paulette- filling the freezer is the best. I did that just before I started chemo, but we've eaten very little of it because of GI issues. Expecting Taxol to be easier and we'll go right through it all. I hope you enjoyed your day!
Have a good day all, hugs and prayers.
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Good morning ladies,
Debby - so excited that you are almost done with your treatment, my bone pains has been doable, I guess when the weather turn cold with taxol I might need my bath.
Tesse - problems with cooking was out taste buds changed due to chemo, some of the things I like, I don't like to have anymore. TBH we have picked up orders from restaurants several times, to satisfy my taste buds. My husband and I aren't good cook, we have been preparing simple meals all our life. Good luck with the first taxol I'm waiting for your report. Also I want you to know I have been taking vitamins B6 and 12 per my OC suggested.
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My oncologist suggested B6 and I've been taking it. Will talk to her today before the infusion about l-glutamine. Then I see some take Cymbalta if neuropathy starts. I would't want to take that as it's an antidepressant. We shall see.
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Hi Teese,
Glad you got away - it's so helpful to get out of cancer-world as much as possible. I'm always so grateful for my weeks off of chemo to just feel some normalcy.
Taxol went just fine for me. The infusion was a little rough but only because of the Benedryl. They gave me a huge dose to prevent an allergic reaction and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I don't like the feeling of being drugged. I got a little nauseous so they gave me a zofran. After that I was just fine.
The Taxol has been nothing like AC. I was up and about the day after and could have gone to work had I not already scheduled time off. They also said I don't need a steroid or Neulasta so I avoided the crash plus the annoyance of the pod.
My finger tips feel a touch funny but nothing dramatic. I probably wouldn't even notice if I wasn't on neuropathy-watch. I'm taking Vitamin B complex plus L-Glutamine to try to stave it off. I also brought cold gloves and booties but couldn't stand the site of them when it was time to put them on. They reminded me too much of cold capping and I couldn't do it.
Wishing you a similarly easy first infusion!
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I decided against icing as the infusion will be long because dose dense and I know I couldn't do it that long. Glad it went well for you, I'm very hopeful. They're giving me the same nausea meds because I had so much trouble with AC, but I can taper off if I want. Fingers crossed.
I know you feel relieved that it went so well, it gives me great hope, thanks for posting.
Theresa
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Teese,
I should mention I didn't need my nausea meds and my tastebuds were reasonably normal on Taxol as well. I really feel human. I hope that eases your fears a bit.
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I'm meeting the nurse for taxol side effects today I will ask her L-glutamine also. Since we are getting the mild does maybe we don't need the cold capping for our foot and hands. I have ordered my icing socks just in case if I don't need it I guess I can give them away just as the husband in Concrod. His wife didn't use it and he is giving them away
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hi ladies!
I can't believe I Finished my 4TC! Of course now I caught a horrible cold, but no more chemo! I can handle anything else. Though this cough sounds awful!!
I learned so much in this group! Thank you all!
Anyone doing TC can Message me! I would be happy to share any opinions!! Smiles
Mari
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Mari 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 yay!!
Purple- so happy to hear during taxol taste buds isn't that bad. I really like to enjoy some food during AC 8 days out of 14 are no appetite days it got depressing. I haven't have a burger for soooo long 😕 Some of the Chinese food I would like to have also.
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Mari - Congrats on completing your TC!! Are you following it with rads? I'm done with my chemo on Sep 21st and will begin rads on October 2nd, so may see you over in the rads forum at some point!
Enjoy your day, as I'm sure you will!
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Hi All,
I had a weird thing happen to me this morning-I'm on day five from my last TCH infusion. I wasn't expecting it to be a great day, but I was actually okay. I had one brief meeting scheduled with a parent at work, and got up and dressed.
I made oatmeal for myself, as it is one of the few things I can eat, and about halfway through, I felt like I was going to fall out of my chair, had ringing in my ears, severe chills, and basically just thought I was going to pass out. I had to sit at the table with my head resting on my arms for about 15 minutes before I felt safe to get up. Then I went to the bathroom, and what came out of me (not urine) was bright yellow (bile?).
After resting a little, I was able to get up and do my meeting, and all was well.
Have you all had something like this happen to you?
Thanks, L.
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Hi Leatherette,
That must have been terrifying. I HAVE had this happen to me but not in relation to chemo. It sounds like a panic attack (although I can't account for the bile issue). The last time it happened to me was before chemo - the night my port was placed. My naturopath suggested it had something to do with my body being very stressed in trying to adjust to the trauma of the procedure. This would likely hold true for the body being stressed in response to chemo.
I'd let your oncologist know, just in case, but panic attacks can present like this and it feels awful while it's happening.
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Maybe it was, but when I've had panic attacks in the past, they were related to something I was panicking about, not a bowl of oatmeal. But nothing makes sense right now, does it? Thanks, Purple!
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Leatherette- never heard of before. That's scary.
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LoJo- I just joined rads stating in September! There are a few of us there!! Hope to see you there soon!
Leatherette- hopefully this was just a fluke. Feel better
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Yesterday was first Taxol, very nervous, mostly about what reaction I may have. 10 min in I became short of breath and rapid heartbeat. So I pushed the nurse call button. Within 10 seconds my nurse and 5 others are in the room doing their thing. One dose of steroid and everything calmed down and we started everything back after about 20 min. No more problems and uneventful from there. Benedryl knocked me out and I slept about an hour, which was nice because Taxol was a three hour infusion.
So now I wait to see what kind of muscle and joint pain I may have. Does anyone know when this usually starts?
Leatherette- did you contact your doctor? I have read of someone who experienced all you mentioned except for the bile colored urine. She did what you did, rested for a bit then went off to work without any other symptoms. Hope your feeling well today.
Purple - thanks for the info your Taxol infusion particularly on nausea meds. My MO continued the Zophran IV premed but not the Emend. I took a Zophran at bedtime but didn't set my alarm, just took another when I woke up this morning. She feels I may need a little help the first few days because of my reaction to AC. Plus the steroid helps. So far I feel a 100 percent better than day 2 on AC. Yay!
Mari - I'm sorry about the cold. Hopefully you'll shake it soon since no longer dealing with chemo. I wonder how long after we finish before our immune systems are back to normal?
Paulette - I know what you mean, we spent a lot of meals eating what appealed to me at the time. My husband would run any errand at dinner time so he could bring whatever appealed to me that evening. Now I'm so looking forward to eating meals prepared at home, especially all the things I put in the freezer. Plus it worried me a tad to eat food prepared by people with the sniffles or worse.
Proudtospin-storming heaven.
Dmjmom - I've decided to start soaking in an epsom bath each day on the off chance it may help neuropathy and my nails from lifting. We'll see, can't hurt and I've read lots of ladies swear by it. Happy to hear the pains are less and only one more to go! Woot, can't believe the end is in sight, seems like yesterday we were stressing over how the first one would go!
Runnermum- you're sounding great and are coming out of this strong, you continue to inspire me,thanks. Please keep posting to motivate me. I bought a yoga for cancer book and DVD and plan to start today. Felt so bad on AC I felt it was an accomplishment to walk each day. But feel I can handle adding this to Taxol. Plus there is a yoga group for cancer patients on Fridays I'll start this week.
Jen - Good luck today, woot, Taxol # 1. I was so worried about the reaction too, just have faith in your team, the nurses know what their doing. I told them how worried I was and they said that it happens enough that they are very at ease in dealing with it, they've always had it react to their measures. After that I did relax. In fact I was playing word with friends and had decided I was going to be one of the lucky ones that don't react and then a couple minutes later it hit. They rushed in gave me the steroid and because it's IV it was instantly working and resolved. Now that I see how it works,future infusions won't worry me. Although I've read that this is usually limited to the first two infusions. Post back and give us an update.
Theantz- how are you, has the infection in your port cleared and are your infusions continuing?m
Sunnyjay - did the redness clear and were you able to continue your infusions?
She1212. -I think you may have moved on to Taxol. How are you doing with it?
Hav a great day all, now that we're near the end or halfway point it's so much easier. Hooray for us! Hugs and prayers for you all!
Theresa.
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Teese - thanks for the tip re: Epsom salt bath. I'm going to do that! My nails look okay after infusion 1.
I haven't had any bone pain, either. I took claritin for the first three days and then stopped.
Hopefully you don't get bone pain either. We're almost there!
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Teese, thanks for the reassuring words ... I'm definitely freaked out. Are you doing DD or weekly Taxol?
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