Starting Chemo in July 2017
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Jen, DD, are you in the chair?
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Jen, dose dense. After much back and forth I decided to give it a go. I'm having a hard tome wrapping my head around 11 more doses. If I can't handle it we'll change to standard. Hoping to get at least 2 or 3 DD in though. Fingers crossed.
Are you in the chair?
Prayers said for uneventful infusion. At least with standard it's a quick day, unless they have to slow it down a bit.
Theresa
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Purple, yup a nice soak in the tub is one of the easier and nicer things we can do to ward off SE. Better than all the pills, ugh!
I also massage in a good heel cream onto my feet and hands 2-3 times a day to keep the circulation going. Not sure, think that's just me being hopeful.
Theresa
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Tess - how are you dealing with taxol so far? I'm so glad you gave us the report so I will watch what would be my SE. After 4 AC I can find myself very low energy. I can only do some houseworks and I'm tired already. I don't think we get back our energy until we finished all our treatments
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Paulette, I felt the same way, in fact I broke down right after my last treatment with my husband crying, how can I ever get through this and be strong again. My MO gave me the option of an extra week off before Taxol and at first I said no, but then there was a scheduling conflict and I had no choice. It was the best thing I've done. That extra week gave me so much energy, all GI issues resolved, both upper and lower. Gained energy. I felt nearly like the day I started AC. So I feel ready to finish this. I wish everyone took a three week break after AC before Taxol, I recommend it. Keep persevering, it's hard and we feel so crummy, but push when you can and go easy on yourself, forgiving when you can't.
Hugs and prayers said for an easier time with Taxol.
Theresa
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Teese - I wish they give me extra week off, I feel the same way we all pushed to our limits and our bodies kept fighting with all these drugs. Our emotions got so uptight and I got angry during my sleep. 12 weeks I cried this morning and asked myself how can I last 12 more weeks. I don't know I can make it. 😭😭 this is the toughest time in my life.
Ladies I'm sorry I am so low and down it has been hard emotionally.
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Paulette, no apologies needed... I think it's completely normal. I had a total meltdown right after my last A/C... total meltdown.
Teese: in the chair now, waiting to get started... its hot as heck in here too, which isn't helping the anxiety!!!
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Paulette- I know, it's seems so long, but almost all say it's easier and we have to just put our hopes on that. We see so many feel the same defeated attitude are able to continue and darn it, we will too. This is not going to finish till we do every last one to give ourselves the best chance. I will cheer you on every day and that then helps me too!
Jen - why would they have it so hot! Don't the understand our hot flashes! Oh this might be dangerous, they may not like an encounter with a hot sweaty bald head lady getting chemo! Haha! Good luck, and report in later if you haven't melted away.
Theresa
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almost forgot... Today, I spoke with a researcher at Georgia Tech who's part of a team working on improving post-mastectomy expander implants. They're looking to talk with as many women as they can; it was a quick (15 min?) phone call. He asked me to share his email if you're interested in discussing your experience: Chris Hardin at chardin6@gatech.edu
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Happy to say the first Taxol went off without a hitch. Hoping the weekly is a low enough dose.
Now struggling to stay awake (Benadryl pre-meds) through a mandatory parent meeting at school. *yawn*
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Jen - yay !!!! One less to go ... so happy to hear that mild taxol is doable.
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Jen, yes the benedryl is the real SE to the infusion. Good luck. I found it wore off enough after 5-6 hours for m
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jen, i have been on taxal as well, other thn tired and some nueropathy all is well, my onc adjusted my dose so nueropathy is sort of ok
This week is 4th round
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Sounds like first day of taxol is a sleeping day, hope the day 2 or 3 is getting better.
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day 1 of taxol is good for vegging in front of tv
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proudtospin- good luck on your PET scan today, what time is it scheduled. Prayers said
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Good morning ladies
Good luck pro
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Happy hump day! I haven't checked in lately since I haven't had anything new to report. Thanks, Theresa, for the nudge!
I think my last post was regarding an infection I had in my mastectomy breast. The culture my PS took several weeks ago was negative for any infection so she figured it was just a skin/surface irritation. So chemo was paused for a few weeks so this can clear up. It was just a wait and see situation since neither my PS or MO knew what this was. It was frustrating to say the least. I even suggested a referral to a dermatologist but my PS was against it because they won't know if it is related to the implant. The oral antibiotics helped a little for the first 10 days. I also was prescribed bactroban, a topical antibiotic, which has helped the most. I also stormed heaven with prayers since I was really worried when there was no immediate improvement from the oral antibiotics. The redness (or pinkness actually) had gone away after the first week and hasn't come back. The irritation has been slowly improving so I was given the OK for chemo this week. Yay! I just really want to get this over with.... So I start cycle 3 of TC tomorrow.
My PS is hoping the chemo doesn't reactivate this thing and make it worse. So am I!
Also, this week I started an exercise program called "Living strong, living well". It's a 12 week guided program for cancer patients and you go twice a week. We just had orientation yesterday and will do some fitness tests tomorrow to see where everyone's level is at. I was debating whether to go after treatment tomorrow (I have about 2 hours in between) but since I'll be on steroids it should be doable... 😉
Hope everyone's doing well. I took a break from the thread while dealing with my own issues but I'll catch up with you all soon!
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sunnyjay, glad things are moving forward. I too had some pinkness show up at the tail end of my surgical site right away. They watched it as it came and went. Finally, before chemo tried an antibiotic which made no difference. It still comes and goes. Don't know what it is but as long as it doesn't change and interfere with chemo I'm good.
Tomorrow is day three, how many will you get, and how often, I'm not familiar with all the regimens even though I know I've seen it posted. Just can't keep them all straight.
So happy to see you post
Theresa
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Today the steroid high is wearing off, had to take some nausea meds, good grief I have the stupidest GI system. Whatever, I still am eating well with no taste changes yet. No aches or pains or neuropathy symptoms. So Taxol still way better than AC
Have a good day with manageable SE.
Theresa
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Theresa, I had the same pinkness as well after my surgery healed & started the tissue expander fills. My PS wanted to just watch it as well. Then when this infection happened, she kept apologizing that she didn't do anything for the earlier pinkness. She was relieved when it turned out not to be an internal infection, but still perplexed at what may have caused it. So just keep watching the surgery areas and if anything looks amiss, ask about it. I had started with dryness in this area so I applied lotion. Then it started peeling like a sunburn so I thought it was getting better. But then it turned purple and that's when I said something. So maybe the lotion irritated it? Who knows...
My infusions are every 3 weeks for a total of 4 infusions. So I'll be 75% done after tomorrow. Then my last cycle will be 10/5 if there are no further setbacks.
Sounds like your SE with Taxol are more manageable. Are you also getting Neulasta? I think that's common for any of the taxane drugs (Taxotere & Taxol). The SE from Neulasta are what hit me the hardest (Taxotere is one of my chemo drugs).
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tesse, i am sort of thinking that my taxal is much easier that some stuff others have had
mano, but hope my taxal infusion is working
Home from my pet scan, treated myself to a jersey version of a Philly cheese steak, dang but it tasted good
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Proudtospin, yay, that is a wonderful treat, my treat of choice has been a chocolate cone at Freddie's, it's frozen custard and the chocolate is nice and dark, just the way I like it. However sweet isn't always appealing. I did treat myself to a meatball sub last week.
So glad the scan is done, I had to have a bone scan a month ago for an increasing alkaline phosphotase level. I silently weeped through the whole thing and felt like dope,I hate these scans, we all do.
Hugs
Theresa
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no way am i cooking dinner
Need to search out take out menus
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Welcome back Sunnyjay - so glad to know your infection went away. I remembered your last post you talked about the infection. Good luck to the next infusion.
Teese- that's good to know taxol isn't that bad for you and I hope it will be the same to me also.
I went to first PT meeting she taught me massage my scars so it will losing it up. Also she mentioned we should put lotion on our scars.
Proud - I take it you don't like cooking 😂😂.
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actually,until chemo, i loved to cook
Now my appetite and energy just are too crazy
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Same here Proud. It my hubby took over the kitchen most days and I only cook a few things on my good days.
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Tonight hubby is making one of my favorites, banana pancakes. It's a subtler flavor then banana bread, he uses whole wheat and oats, no oil because of the banana. So I feel so very healthy eating it.
Paulette, PT helps a lot. Once I started I regained full range of motion within a week. I was totally blown away, as before PT I had begun to develope the beginning of a frozen shoulder.
I started a yoga DVD for people undergoing chemo and then it has more active moves for recovery. I had planned to start it with AC, but I couldn't manage anything more than a 30 min walk each day. So now I'm pleased that I've added that in.
Keep up the exercises every day and you'll move right along.
Proudtospin, thank goodness for takeout else I'm not sure what I'd have done through AC. My appetite was all over the place
Theresa
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Teese - I had frozen shoulder couple years ago after the surgery I exercised my shoulder and arm and make sure I won't have frozen shoulder again. PT gave me some tips and few exercises that will be doing daily.
You gals are great I have been lazy not doing much of my walk instead I started doing more houseworks and feeling better. Friday will be my first taxol I'm getting a little scared. I hope it works out as good as Teese! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
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came home tonight to find my neck/chest/breast area is red... looking around, it seems like a not uncommon side effect from Taxol. I'll keep an eye on it and see what it looks like tomorrow ... and decide whether to call the nurses. *sigh*
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