Chemo starting October 2017
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I have Amlactin! I forgot about that. I was using it because I have (or had prior to chemo) goosebump like bumps on my upper arms. (It's called Keratosis pilaris.) It was supposed to help, but didn't seem to work much for me, so I stuck it away in my cupboard.
I also broke into some Moroccan Oil that my friend brought it. It actually has been awesome on my face and head and it smells good too.
I have hurt quite a bit last night and today. Achey feeling. I don't know if I just over did it yesterday, if it's a side effect, or if it's because of this random weird period I have going on. My oncologist thought my achey feelings and arthritis feelings last week were from hormones, so maybe that's it.
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The most bizarre thing. Last night my right breast, which is gone, was itchy. I could itch my skin, but it didn't help. Phantom itch.
MrsWinnie did you experience random pains related to digestion on Doxetaxel? Also. One day big D one day big C. I can't seem to regulate. I don't do well when my plumbing isn't reliable 🤪
32 Days left of chemo
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Petey/Sara- I had a scalp psoriasis patch I have fought with flare ups/clearing up for 10 years or so. Chemo took care of that. Since its caused by overgrowth of skin cells. I wonder if it will come back when I am done with chemo? My 5 year old has keratosis pilaris on her upper arms and cheeks since she was a baby. We use the cetaphil eczema and aveeno eczema products on her. As long as we stay on top of it, it clears up for the most part.
Yesterday threw on the wig and went out spending some gift cards from Christmas with my husband & daughter. It was nice not thinking about cancer and actually feeling normal for a few hours.
Luckily with taxol my Big C and hemorrhoids have gone away. Yeah! More gassy through, which I have read about being a SE of taxol.
Have an appt this week with the cancer society. Going to talk about mastectomy supplies and just other services they offer. One of my husband's co-workers has a wedge pillow and some other type of pillow to give to me from when she had a double mastectomy. When I think about the surgery, part of me is anxious to get this cancer taken out and the other part is nervous about such a major surgery.
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Jennifer - I can't understand the mix of emotions that you have. I hope you have lots of good supplies and support. I read lots of posts before when I thought I might need a mastectomy, so there's lots of "helpful" advice out there for what's it worth.
Anyone else have achey pain on Taxol? Is it just my hormones? My lack of activity? Is it a side effect??
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Oh look what I found. And taxol is listed as an example. Ok. I'm not totally crazy. http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/muscle-pain-myalgias.aspx
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Hello ladies and I'm late with it but: Happy New Year! Glad we're all getting through winter, my least favorite season by far now but from what some of you easterners are experiencing I'm not feeling so bad about our cold weather! It's cold when you're bald! I'm still just thinking about bald in public and have held with the hats or toques
however it's warmed up and I'm still tempted by the idea. I do think I see some hair growth with #4 Taxol done, but it may just be wishful thinking.
I also feel very dry, not just hands but nose and mouth and eyes and also for those asking, very achey and without energy, though it does seem to come and go. I definitely have the peach fuzz hair growth on my face, it's very white hair! Eyebrows and eyelashes have continued to thin and I'm so hopeful they return, I had just found regular eyebrow waxing after tweezing for most of my life. Chemo took care of that and then some!
My recommended surgery was BMX and I have gone back and forth on reconstruction too. I was a 32A so it doesn't take much to fake what I had, but I was thinking reconstruction would kind of bring me full circle. Currently though I am loving the idea of a mastectomy tattoo. No one in the family has tattoos, so that would be something different for sure!
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Happy Sunday ladies!
Sara-- I'm headed into TC #5 on Tuesday, and Tax def messes up the gut! I usually have a crazy gurgling tummy for about 4 days. I follow a fast mimicking diet for several days around my treatment which has helped me avoid D & C.... and LOTS of fluids before during and after Tax treatment. Are you icing fingers and toes (& chewing ice) to prevent neuropathy? I have been with each treatment knowing I had 6 to face just to play it safe. I am cold capping too, so I am freezing during Tax! Brrrr! I get cold just thinking about what's ahead on Tuesday!
Jennifer-- Wedge pillow was a great help along with sleeping with pillows under each of my arms to keep them elevated after BMX. It is amazing how the body recovers from the surgery....drains were the biggest pain. Are you reconstructing? I was not able to, so living flat and fabulous! Please let me know if you have any questions. And Sara, I get those phantom itches too! They have subsided along with phantom pain after taking 6 weeks of gabapentin. Are you still debating prophylactic surgery on your other breast? We have so many difficult decisions to make...nice that with that one you have time to make that decision.
Keeping my Christmas tree up through my treatment on Tuesday! Looking forward to seeing you all on the other side of #5! Then 1 more to go! Wahooo! 23 days to go! 😃🦋
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lots and lots of issues Joy... Heartburn indigestion acid reflux. Constant feeling od someone squeezing my esophagus. Tried acid reflux meds squeezing got worse. Gingerale to help get me burping helped. No professional has told me the issue but almost a month out of chemo and still getting it. Anxiety makes it worse i had alot od muscle pain n burning arms and legs i ponder if my esophagus having same issue. Praying it stops asap. As for my bowels i am lucky i would feel constipation starting and eat some fruit my body has always been sensitive to fiber. Talk to you pharmacist about your bowels to get them regular.
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With Taxol, I'm taking Pepcid Complete every day to stave off the indigestion. A humidifier and nasal spray are musts for the nasal dryness. And I've changed my diet to try to boost my RBC, which has taken a hit with Taxol. I'm eating Raisin Bran cereal every day and added in an Ensure High Protein drink each day, each of which gives me 40% of my RDA of Iron. I've also added more red meat and beans into my diet, so lots of chili! The lack of iron was giving me anemia, which was causing endless fatigue.
Strangely I don't have issues with constipation/diarrhea, though I am extremely flatulent!
36 more days of chemo!
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Both the mammogram and ultrasound I got today confirm that they could find no evidence of my tumor! The US tech said that she couldn't even see residual signs of a tumor. So best possible outcome.
I'm very happy to report that the A/C + T regimen does actually work. It's not easy or fun, and being bald and fatigued really stinks, but please keep fighting! It can and does work!
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Wonderful news, Lisa!
My RBC was low 2 wks ago so I started cooking everything I can in my cast iron pan. I also found a flapjack mix (Kodiak Cakes) that provides high protein & fiber as compared to regular pancakes (because I'm starting to get sick of eggs for breakfast). Depending how you choose to prepare it, three flapjacks can provide 14g, 18g or 21g of protein. My pre-chemo blood results from Friday aren't appearing yet on my online patient portal, but I'm looking forward to seeing what effect these small changes may have had. Since starting chemo I've also been drinking the Boost or Ensure High-Protein shakes, especially on the days when I have little or no appetite.
Friday was my final AC before starting 12 weekly Taxol on the 26th. So far, this has been the easiest one yet... still good appetite & good energy (where previously I completely lost both on days 3-5), and no nausea. The only side effects thus far have been dry nasal passages & a bit of the usual constipation relieved with Senakot & prunes. My biggest issue though is that my water pipes froze Saturday night and are still frozen, so I know yesterday I probably didn't drinking quite as much water as I should because of limited toilet flushing. We've been below zero or single digits for about 2 weeks. A warm-up has started today (currently 34°F with a predicted high in the mid/upper 40s by Thursday - WOOHOO!) so I hope to have running water again. In the meantime, I've got gallon jugs of water for flushing once or twice a day.
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Whoo Hoo Lisa,
I am so thrilled to read your news. I know you've been fighting the hard battle, but being one of the front runners in our group, you've given us all hope.
Thanks for all your great shares and congratulations
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Fantastic news Lisa! After everything you have been through with the sub NP and Taxol side effects, you deserve some good news.
I had to laugh at myself today. I realized I still shampoo in the shower, more out of habit. I am shiny bald right now with a little stubble mainly on the back of my head. No sign of hair growing back....
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Lisa - That's such great news! I'm so happy to hear the imaging you fought so hard for showed no evidence of a tumor. Congratulations on the tumor being gone and the peace of mind that brings!
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Congrats Lisa! All the chemo hardship you endured is fruitful.
I breezed thru 12 weekly taxol but 4DD AC with 2wk interval is tough. Had my 1 dose 2Jan. Constant fatigue, metallic taste and diarrhea.
34 more chemo days!
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grats lisa!!!
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Hi, Peoy - Good luck powering through the A/C treatments. It's interesting you did Taxol first. A lot of here in the US do it the other way around. Let's hope we all have the good results Lisa has had!
I got good news today. My hospital has approved my changing breast surgeons and I finally have an appointment with the BS I wanted. It's going to be 6 weeks until I see her - she wants to wait until after I'm done with chemo. It feels a little bit like starting from scratch but I'm okay with the delay. I'm really hoping she will want to do a lumpectomy. It's the damn muscle involvement that is making everything so unsure.
Anyway, celebrating victories one at a time. Yay for the new surgeon!
Hope everyone's having a good Monday.
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Super awesome news Lisa!!!!
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Wonderful news Lisa!!
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I’m loving this good news day 💜.
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Wow Lisa-- news of a complete response to chemo is what we all hope for! Congrats on your wonderful news!
Having removed all my cancerous tumor and nodes, one of the things I hate most is having no way to determine if the chemo is working on any possible rogue cells that are out there.... your news gives us all much needed hope! Cheers to you!
TC #5 today! Nervous about the compounding effects, but looking forward to saying I only have 1 left!!
Temps warming up here in NC today from highs of 30 to highs in upper 50s! Thinking of all you Northern and Canadian gals & hoping temps climbing for you all too!
We are all awesome!! 😊🦋
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Agatha - yippee for small victory! Hope you have good rapport with your new BS.
My MO was anxious to start Herceptin (I'm HER2+ Grade 3) so I started chemo with Taxol + Herceptin + Perjeta (AC cannot combined with Herceptin).
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Thank you so much for the good wishes, ladies. I have to admit that I cried like a baby in the car after receiving the news. First, because I was so relieved and happy for me. But secondly because I know that all cancer survivors have to wait and worry for test resutls, and I desperately want each and every one of them to experience the joy of hearing similar news. The kinship I feel with you all is real, and I am pulling for all of you. Good news is just around the corner, so keep fighting!
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Love the good news today, congratulations ladies!
Not one of us lacks perseverance!
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Any advice for the chemopause induced night sweats? They are starting to impact my rest. Which I had just fixed with a new sleep routine. Ugh. Also. Anyone who had Doxetaxel when did your lips/skin stopped being chapped? I feel like I’ve been chemical burned from the inside. Anywhere I had a bandaid like my blood draw and port are also burned and chapped. Weird.
On the positive, I see the end. Feb. 8th is clearly in my sights. 30 days left on chemo. Ride the bike this morning, restorative yoga tonight.
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Lisa so happy that you received good news about your tumor. You have been through so much with SE and then this to worry about. Thank God you have accurate information and you can relax and coast through your last few Taxol treatments. You have been in my prayers. Thank you for the suggestions on increasing iron & protein in the diet. I have been struggling with fatigue as well and I have noticed my WBC has increased slightly last week when I ate healthier.
No one else in my family will touch liver and onions, but I have tried to eat it once a week. Another post suggested chicken liver ( I haven't tried it ). Eggs, greens, red meat. . are excellent too. I will get the iron fortified cereal & Boost too.
I want to continue eating healthy. I got stuck on comfort foods when I had nausea (starches, carbs for me
) but now I need healthy. I think it has also helped my bowel with construction and I saw the pounds coming on FAST. With the starches. Hoping for a few warmer, sunny days this week to get outside a bit. I really have to push myself to get motivated but once I do I feel so much better
I do work 2 1/2 days and visit my mom in the nursing home 3-4 evenings but that is the extent of my exercise. I read of people walking or running miles and wonder where they get the energy !!! I am on Weekly T #7 7/12 and I noticed my hair is growing and did not fall out this week!,,,,
I do have the white fuzz on my head, but the real hair is sticking around!! So excited
Eyebrows & lashes are growing back very fast too!!
Well girls we are starting a great week. Hope everyone goes through their treatments like a breeze and keep fighting the fight!
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Joy, about dryskin:. I applied chapstick at least 10 times a day... The dry nose the dry lips the dry vagina. All happened the 5th -15th day. Would start to get better few days before next treatment. There's product to moisturize each one. No fun but keep moisture to all of them each treatment got better for me
Forgot to mention sleep. I took ativan till i ran out... Doc wouldnt give me more and he suggested sleeping pills. I found day 3 -5 were worse nights for sweating
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After Taxol #3, I thought that my hair was growing, but no go. Maybe it's the strength. Even after being reduced 25%, I think it's 126 now, maybe it's too high to allow my hair to grow? It's based on your weight and height so I can thank my fatness on that. (And that's after I've lost 21 pounds since the beginning of this journey.)
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I went to my first restorative yoga class last night. I highly recommend it. Gentle stretching and breathing that focuses on opening up pathways in the body. It was wonderful.
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Yay Lisa! Such amazing news!
And Agatha - so glad you are getting what you wanted.
Mama - "Having removed all my cancerous tumor and nodes, one of the things I hate most is having no way to determine if the chemo is working on any possible rogue cells that are out there.... your news gives us all much needed hope!" I'm feeling the same way here. I told my husband the other day that I wish there was some way they could make sure they've gotten every little cell!!!
Lisa - I did restorative yoga a month ago and wish I had the energy to go back! Now that I've started Taxol, I'm hoping to feel good enough to head back.
Heading for (hopefully) Taxol #2 in just a bit. I still have an "ulcer" (what I lovingly refer to as a puss pocket) on my tonsil. That's after an almost complete round of Levaquin and a round of Amoxicillin. I have no other symptoms, but the darn thing won't go away. I really don't want them to cancel Taxol again. I want to get this over with before Easter for goodness sake. I'm hoping I get the Nurse Practioner and not the oncologist. My oncologist is so smart and really knows what she is doing, but she isn't really a warm, friendly doctor. I like the NP better.
Hoping you all have a good couple of days! Hang in there!
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