Starting chemo January 2018
Comments
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Thank you for the kind wishes, Deaelle! My first three infusions were scheduled for 10am, which meant that they started at 11am (average). I was done around 1:30pm, went for a nice lunch before the nausea kicked in, then home. We'll see what happens tomorrow. The problem is - the kids are home on March break and will have to stay home on their own in the afternoon. They are old enough but this stresses me nonetheless. We'll see.
Olesya - you look great! I like the blond bob - looks like mine! Glad you got out of the house. Hopefully it's going to get easier for those of us in Canada when winter is over, whenever that is. I checked the weather and it's not looking good.
In the meantime, we'll use our existing coping mechanisms:) I just bought myself a beautiful dress. And this:
XO
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Hi everyone-
So much support to you all. We are in it for the long haul, and for me, having patience in the process is the most challenging part. I am almost a week out from my final AC DD, and feeling good, going to the gym, but I do feel the accumulating fatigue. I am rewarding myself with a trip next week to Sedona with my best girlfriend. Red rock and green vegetation as it is grey and rainy and depressing here in the Tetons.
I've had a pretty reasonable time with AC side effects (1 bad day which is 2 days post- treatment), but for some reason I am (unreasonably) afraid of the side effects from my next round, TPH, taxol, perjeta, and herceptin. Three weeks apart. Anyone on the same progression and have any insight or advice?
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Homemadesalsa - I'm going on to do Taxol but not the others, and my dose will be weekly. From what I've read the Taxol side effects are, potentially, worse than AC! It is probably due to the possible neuropathy. I just read a study that suggests the use of fish oil (at least 2g per day) to keep it at bay. Icing hands and feet during the infusion is also a popular way to reduce neuropathy. As I already ice my head the thought of icing any other part of my body makes me nauseous only even thinking of it.
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Well I had my final treatment yesterday and he informed me this is going to be the worst one on SE's but at least it's the last one. I just kind of looked at him. On the 3rd one about 9 days out I broke out in hives and a rash which was horrible. I was told to take claritin, benadryl at night and coritzone cream. I asked him if these are going to come back and be worse, but he said they shouldn't come back. They did blood tests and x-ray when this happened and for the exception of high WBC and platelet numbers the rest were not that bad. Some counts will show low and some high due to the chemo drugs. My insurance has a oncology nurse that calls after every infusion to ask how things are going. I explained it to him and he said with the high counts it at least shows I am fighting whatever it was. I think they are convinced I used something different to cause this. Nothing was changed at home and believe me I kind of eat the same foods over and over.
On the ones that had their final chemo. He said I would come next week for blood work which is normal then I have a 6 week post chemo visit. Then every 3 months for a year, then every 6 months for a few years, then yearly forever. Is that standard?
Hang in there everyone this part is done or almost done. We are strong and have made it through a difficult time. I have 2 down (surgery, chemo) and on to radiation.
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@Amelia, I iced my fingers and toes through the Taxotere (which I understand is part of the same family as Taxol) and have no neuropathy. In fact, during my first infusion I kept taking my fingers out to check my phone and my nails got unbelievably soft after. Different side effect, of course, but I was much more disciplined after that. I didn’t find icing to be that bad.
@Char, I’m meeting my MO in 6 weeks, for post chemo check-up and to start the tamoxifen. I’m meeting BS in June, 6 months after my surgery, then every year. I’m also meeting my MO every year, but they schedule the appointments so I meet someone (BS or MO) every six months. I’m meeting my PS too, but I’m not sure how often. What I’m not clear on, and I don’t seem to get a good answer to, is what we are doing at the appointments. I got the impression that it’s meet and greet, they ask me how I’m feeling, they look at my incision site, and that’s about it. I’m not doing CT scans or MRIs. I asked my MO how do I know when (knock on wood) it recurs, and I’m not getting a good answer. I got the impression that if it recurs it will have symptoms, and I think that means it’s too late. I intend to probe into this at my next appointments. If anyone has any insight, or suggestions for poignant questions to ask, I would be, as always, very interested.
Hang in there ladies!
Lots of love to all
R
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Homemadesalsa and Amelia - I have just finished 3 treatments of docetaxal (taxaterel) and was wondering how it differed from the taxol you talked about.
I thought this other string was informative: about that:
community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/857297
I guess we all worry about a change as my next 3 treatments are EC (epirubicin & cyclophosphamide) which I hear comes with a lot of nausea, which I haven't had at all with docetaxal, so I am quite apprehensive about this change. Any advice for me on what to expect overall would sure be helpful.
Re my taxane drug - Overall, the worst SE for me has been fatigue and feeling extremely cold for several days starting about day 4. I still can't figure out though if this is from the Neulasta (which also brings a bunch of bone and muscle pain) or from the docetaxal. Someone suggested to me yesterday that with the red blood cell count low, there is less oxygen circulating and so this might be from that. I have tried all kinds of things to deal with it, but it just keeps happening and destroying my sleep. I couldn't sleep til 430am last night. Sigh! I also had intermittent diarrhea with the docetaxal but nothing unmanageable. And got oral thrush, which is annoying but easily treated with a mouth rinse.
As for neuropathy, I iced hands and feet every time, which I did find a real challenge, but please be careful not to give yourself frostbite! I did that this last time, which has been stupid and bothersome! Also, I take magnesium bisgluconate (250 mg AM + PM), B6 (100mg AM + PM) and calcium (350mg AM + PM) also to stave off neuropathy too. They are supposed to preserve nerve function. I believe it is working. I was told NOT to take any fish oils during chemo treatment as they are Antioxidants and therefore interfere with the effectiveness of the chemo drugs.
I highly recommend the frozen booties you can find on Amazon for the feet. And I used frozen gel packs for my hands too, which were easier than ice for me. Just remember to put 1 good layer between the frozen pack and your skin. We brought 3 sets and rotated about every 20 - 30 minutes, keeping the alternate sets in a freezer in the chemo room.
Olesya - love all your RED!
Roxy - what a fun looking book! I remember those days of worrying about unattended kids! If it helps any, they do actually survive to adulthood intact -even if every single moment may not be perfect when they are getting there. ( my kids are 21, 25, 28). So, cut yourself some slack!
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Hello, ladies!
I have a question: what thermometer and what method (in the mouth,auxiliary-in arm pit) do you use to monitor your temperature?
I just came to conclusion that on Monday and Tuesday i definitely had temperature over +38C!
Today i felt again somewhat malade, tired, sleepy, slightly dizzy. so I thought i'll check the temp. I use the electronic beeping kind that gives you the result in a second. so my forehead showed nothing out of ordinary +36.0. then out of curiosity, i checked the temp in my arm pit - +37.5! Ok don't panic. I used the regular thermometer in my arm pit again ; +37.4!
cleaned it, used it in my mouth: +37.3. ......
so all evidence points out that i have slightly elevated temperature, and I feel accordingly.
So if my temp on Mon and Tue was 37.8 on my forehead, most definitely it was over 38 and felt like it.....i spent those days in bed, didnt go to emerge.
Anyways will be calling to oncologist tomorrow for advice. The good thing the temp is down...
Hugs to all.
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Our chemo teach said to use an oral thermometer and any oral temperature of 38C or more needs immediate call to oncologist or going to ER.
We were told specifically that the ear ones & forehead ones are not accurate enough.0 -
@roxy13- let us know about what your dr says about detecting recurrence, I’m curious about that as well. It does seem that when symptoms happen, it’s too late.
Just finished my last chemo today! No bell to ring but I hit the gong
I felt a little weird, like I shouldn’t, because I still have herceptin until January, but I did it anyways and everyone cheered for me. It’s nice to be on to another stage in treatment.0 -
Thanks, Deaelle. The kids were fine, indeed. They went to see a movie and we got home around the same time they returned. I felt bad because we always go on a ski trip for March break, but couldn’t this year because of my chemo. Interestingly, they didn’t seem to care. Obviously, they would have preferred a warm destination this time of the year, so...
@Erob321, congrats!!! One of my co-workers had bc similar to yours (Her2+, but she couldn’t remember her ER and PR status - can you believe it? I loved that - puts things in perspective. Hers was 10 years ago, she was also in her 30s with a toddler and an infant. Hell at the time, her bc had spread beyond the breast, but she’s fine and cancer free now, plus she looks amazing). She told me that the Herceptin wasn’t bad at all, so I think the worst is over for you.
I will ask the doctors more about recurrence. We only talked about it in passing at my last pre-chemo appointment, I asked the broad question but I wasn’t ready for it. I will prepare more specific questions and be sure to share. I will also ask other survivors what they do.
I rang the bell today. They must have scheduled all the finalists in the afternoon, because the bell was ringing non-stop. It was emotional. I cried. My husband took pictures and I couldn’t recognize my face - I was so puffy from the steroids and whatever else they pumped in me. Funny I thought I looked ok before
Anyway, hopefully this ordeal wasn’t for nothing. Now back to my usual nausea and sleeplessness, then the Neulasta tomorrow, bone pains over the weekend and beyond, I’ll probably get the flu..... Oh joy.Take care, everyone!
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@Erob321 and Roxy13 - so happy for you ladies, that you have finished this leg of the journey.Made me smile:))
I am on Herceptin along with doxetacel and Cyclophasamide. what i read in another forum, the most annoying side effect from herceptin is a drippy nose, quote"like a faucet"///. Also brittle nails.
well,I do have a constantly runny nose, but i was signing is off to a lack of nose hairs. and yes nails do get brittle. i had 3 treatments. 15 more to go.
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Hello Everyone,
I finished my 3rd round Thursday. My Neulasta shot finished yesterday. This round seemed different. My SE weren't as bad as round 1, but my body feels off. Maybe the addition of this round is just a tolerance adjustment.
It was harder for me to focus to complete work. I started thinking about the surgery phase of treatment and have to prepare for another unknown.
I am happy we have those we started with complete this part of this journey.
I thank God for his grace, mercy, and wisdom granted to help my family, loved ones, everyone here, and myself.
Stay strong.
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Insideout2 congrats on completing another round:)
For my round 3 was the most miserable so far:( I totally agree: do not, I repeat, DO NOT, get sick while receiving chemo!!!
This cold has wore me down to no extend! i have no energy for anything. Yesterday my sister-in-law brought my daughter for a visit. Initially the plan was that my daughter would stay., but after one hour I had absolutely no oumph left in me, had to call to pick her up. and then I was bawling my eyes out, because of this stupid cancer I am robbed of the time spent with my daughter....
My mother-in-law said I should learn to be weak in front of my daughter. and it's ok to just lay on a couch while she is playing on her own. and it's ok to watch a grown up tv show and not a child's cartoons. and i don't have to entertain/stimulate my daughter every minute...
.perhaps she is right. it's another thing I need to learn, in addition to learn to accept/request help from other people.
My sister-in-law created a facebook page for friends who would like to help me. we decided once a week for a couple of hours would be a good start. i made a list of chores/errands friends can pick and choose from and not obligated to do, because even a visit is a blessing.
my husband is opposed to this idea though. he thinks it makes him look like a person who can't provide or care for his family( he is working a shift job and been looking after me and my daughter really good). Our house needs some major tiding, because I am unwell and he is busy. He isn't bothered by it, but I am, because i spend a lot of time looking at all this mess and not able to do anything about it....He is ashamed if other people come to do things for us. At this point - I am not!
Ok , will try to drag my fatigued butt outside for a short walk. its sunny and +5!
Happy Saint Patric's Day, everyone:)))
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Olesya, I'm so sorry to hear that you had a bad 3rd round and got sick on top of it! My 3rd AC was the worst for me - I felt terrible and ended up getting really depressed that week. It seemed like each infusion took longer to get over with the dose-dense AC. But, you just get through it - we have to!
Taxol Ladies! Can you please give me some pointers? I'm starting Taxol next Wednesday and I'm super nervous about it! Do you ice your hands and feet? What do you use - store bought ice packs? Homemade ones? Any recommendations on what to purchase? How are the SE compared to AC? Any advice?
Thanks for any input! Hang in there everyone! This is temporary!
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Hi Paisley - I didn’t ice my hands or feet - my cancer center kind of frowned on it and advised there’s no proof it does anything. Luckily, I had no neuropathy issues or nail issues. For me, the worst SE’s on taxol were muscle/joint pain and heartburn. It was actually at its worst after I was finished chemo - took me like 2 months to not feel achey, but I don’t believe this is common.
Overall, taxol was less fatigue, no nausea. I did gain 5 pounds on it. It’s just such a crap shoot.
I hope you sail through!!
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VL22 and Paisley- your questions and feedback are so helpful to me right now. I just finished 4 DD AC and start TPH on March 28, am scared about side effects. Sounds like everyone is SO different on that set. I'll just be so relieved not to be fighting nausea.
Off to Arizona to soak up some sun and reward myself for making it through all 4 AC.
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Paisley & Homemadesalsa - I actually do believe that icing has proven to be effective, much to the same effect as cold capping. I have also read to use OPI original nail strengthener nail conditioner. Whether or not that does anything is purely anecdotal. Can't look bad to have shiny nails, though
I am also encouraging both of you to read the article about fish oil EPA / DHA to prevent neuropathy. I know someone mentioned not taken antioxidants, and I have read up extensively also on that, but the belief is not to take them with 2-3 days of chemo, but beyond that it is fine. I'll reread the article to see the timing used in the study.
Olesya -Not getting sick during chemo - I'll second that! my cough has morphed into a weird post nasal drip that literally wakes me up in the middle of the night with me gasping for air (I was given a puffer of sambuterol). I know I can breathe if I relax but I start out with a horrid coughing spell that actually scares me.
I'm happy to read you are getting a ton of support! And yes, if you daughter sees you down and out, just smile and tell her mommy is resting to be strong.
Even though I took 3 shots of Filgrastim, my wbc are only 3,000. I earned shot 4 and am supposed to go for bloods tomorrow. I was told that no growth stimulations are used with the weekly Taxols. If thats the case, I'll bet I do 12 weeks in 36!
Erob and Roxy - congrats on ringing that bell!!!!! are you both slated for radiation?
Daelle - did you loose your hair with the docetaxel? I just finished 4 rounds of EC and only once did I have some really light (but nonetheless bothersome) nausea. Otherwise, I honestly can say that aside from fatigue and two times mouth sores (they crept up one week post infusion and lasted for a few days, I used a mouth spray to help with discomfort), I have had no side effects to speak of. I also was on 75% of recommended dose per body weight (the first round didn't sit well with me so MO freaked out and lowered the dose). Oh yes, heartburn was also a factor but then again I probably bring it upon myself with the foods I eat. I never had any food aversions, or weird tastes in my mouth. Not fun but certainly bearable. Interesting that you started wtih the T and then go on to EC, usually it is the other way around.
How are everyone's eyebrows and lashes doing? Mine are still holding up (albeit thinned and many half lashes), but I can still get away with a little brow pencil and some mascara without looking outwardly horrifying. I fear the taxol will make them all drop.
Ok, this is a strange body hair issue --- I must have shaved my legs a day or two before one of my chemos. So, my legs have about a day or two of growth of hair (read: sharp stubble) but that is that .... those hairs are still there, but not growing - kind of in a suspended animation. I have one baby smooth armpit and the other (on the operated side, which was neglected by me since the op) has hair (sorry, gross and tmi). My point being is why is some hair gone and some there and some just hanging on? Is the chemo hitting one side better than the other (meaning not the operated side?!). I figure no one knows, but since all indications are that I should be void of hair anywhere, it just hasn't happened.
Happy Sunday everyone! My husband has been a total ass to me since he got up this morning and I've told him he has ruined a precious day of my life .....
I love Mondays --- can't wait for tomorrow!
love to all -
Amelia
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I'm also looking forward to Mondays. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to deal with my family over the weekend after chemo. My MO scheduled the infusions on Thursdays, so I can be more or less recovered for Mondays, I guess, but this makes it so difficult for me, because weekends with kids are not really a time when I can properly rest. I like having the house to myself when the kids and husband are away during the week. I don't even feel guilty about not doing much around the house. As a full-time working mom of two kids (and a dog
), life was so hectic for me before I got diagnosed that I am taking the downtime as a treat. I miss work, but I know I'll miss having some time to myself.I won't be doing radiation therapy, because I had the mastectomy and nodes and margins were clear. The next steps is to start Tamoxifen, in six weeks or so. We'll see. I tried reading the tamoxifen thread, but geez these threads are scary, with everyone describing their worst side effects. I think I'll stay away....
I'm also puzzled with what's happening with my body hair. I still have hair on my arms, and the hair on my legs is in limbo - also have the stubble from before, and I have to confess, I just didn't have the heart to shave it. The hair is fine, and not noticeable, but I just couldn't bear to part with more of my own hair than I already had... I have about half the eyebrows and my eyelashes have thinned out, but not noticeable if I wear mascara. Which I try not to, because I'm worried that I'll lose more eyelashes when I remove the makeup. Interestingly, I still have hair on my head, although it's hard to tell if it would cover my entire head. It's buzzed short and it hasn't grown since I buzzed it. I'm also not sure why my nails grow when my hair doesn't. Maybe it is the icing? (see below
)And yes, I agree that icing helps. I know I said it before. My hospital provided the ice, and all it was was a ziploc bag with ice (closed) inside another ziploc bag where I put my fingers and toes. Very easy to make at home.
Take care, ladies!
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Thanks Amelia for the info. First round of research comes up with this article: http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.2014.32.15... and this one: https://oregon.providence.org/~/media/Files/Providence%20OR%20PDF/fish_oil_in_the_cancer_care_setting.pdf
but then of course there is the other side: http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/breast-can...
that says you shouldn't take it. My friend who is an ER doc agrees with you about pausing the supplements for the 3-4 days around treatment.
My cancer center ices hands and feet during taxol. One less thing for me to worry about bringing/ providing. They seem to be pretty up on their practices for being in rural Idaho. Remarkable.
And the hair effects are so varied, person to person. My head hair partially fell out dramatically 3 weeks after first AC, 1 week after second AC. But now it is all starting to grow back: head hair, funny little wispy facial hairs, leg hairs, itchy pubes (TMI again?). Eyebrows and lashes fully intact. Wait and see how the Taxol works, I suppose. I am not cold-capping- it only works 50% for the AC, and I don't have the $ or the patience for it. It's only hair and will grow back. We have winter for another 2 months- I'll just put on a hat. And I have a great excuse for buying another cute little cap: https://www.turtlefur.com/products/comfort-shell-ponytail-conquest-beanie
I also did a round of research on coffee/ caffeine, which gave similarly broad responses from quit it altogether to it might help (especially with triple negatives) to no effect. The overall effect of the research on my practice is nil, however, for there are certain benefits (overcoming terminal grumpiness is primary) that are achieved by morning coffee. I did start using a much smaller cup, and omitting those afternoon coffee pick-me-ups.
An older oncology nurse came over to bring me some soup the other day and she had the best and most practical medical food advice I'd heard yet. And I have gotten the full range, as I imagine have many of you. She said, "eat what your body craves. it will tell you what you should have."
Happy Sunday, all.
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packing up my cold caps today! Yay!!! They worked well, but I have a bald spot above my left ear, which is covered by my hair and my glasses. I still have to be gentle with my hair for 3 more months, no sweating or hair dryer, which I don’t know how I’m going to do since it’s heating up here in Texas.
I’m going to Sedona in about 2 weeks as well, Homemadesalsa! I’ve never been, but pics look amazing!
Hopefully I don’t come back to news I have to do radiation. I have a consult sometime soon, but I want to finish up this reconstruction surgery and get my tissue expander out!
Good luck to all you ladies!! We got this!!
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I'm a week out from my last round of TC and went for a short hike today, got winded quickly, had to stop a couple of times, and it was glorious. I was so scared at the start of this journey. I still am, and it's still hard, but I'm doing it, and it feels good to be alive today. It really feels like spring is around the corner, in more ways than one. Thanks for being there, ladies. We're doing it!
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Good Morning,
Well today is the first day since my 4th cycle last Wednesday that I feel somewhat normal. He said this was going to be the hardest and boy was he right. The bone and joint aches seem to be worse this time around. Hoping for a great number read on Wednesday. Seems like my normal WBC is always high.
Nails seem to be growing during all this. I keep having to clip them short. He checked them last week and said they look good and he doesn't see me losing any. That's a plus.
Hair is really short fuzzy white still. I think that is the most concerning thing to me. I did splurge and bought a real hair wig. They are expensive but they feel so much better to touch.
Eyebrows and lashes are hanging in there. I am hoping since I didn't wear any eye makeup since this started that helps. Time will tell I guess.
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Hi ladies,
I've completed ACx4 in Feb and am in the midst of doing the weekly taxol now. I'm going to get the 3rd tomorrow. Thank God so far it has been alright. I was able to eat, even during the treatment day (unlike AC days, totally awful, nauseous, vomiting, headache and sinusitis)
I have not iced my extremities, and only on off taking vitamins B. I've not experienced any numbness so far. I continue my routine (exercise, work and light chores) during taxol. Next week I will try to drive to the onc center myself.
My hair started to grow I was surprised. I thought taxol kills them too.
Having said that, I will still watch carefully for the accumulative effect.
All the best, you can make it!
Hariry
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Amelia— It was me that said I'd been told to stay away from fish oils because they are antioxidants, but your info about just avoiding for the days immediately post chemo are interesting. I am going to an info session on complementary therapies at my cancer centre on Wednesday so I will ask about this.
Thanks for the encouragement about EC as I am getting nervous even thinking about it. I have a friend who did some rounds of FEC and found the nausea really hard. I don't have the F, but everything else! I already take a daily Nexium for reflux so ideally that will manage that potential side effect. My MO said he won't be giving me the Neulasta on the first round to see if my blood counts can manage on their own, even though I had this with each Docetaxal. Has anyone heard of this? Don't they just drop like a stone with the EC too?
I asked my MO last time why I got the Docetaxal in the first half since most people I hear about have it in the second half of treatment, and he said there were a few studies that showed that having the EC first can sometimes cause resistance to the D – that it is less effective AFTER than before. I have ILC though, so maybe this is a thing with lobular that is different than the ductal cancers?
Re hair loss and docetaxal, it started coming out in handfuls 10 days after my first treatment. I remember being shocked at the speed with which this happened as I thought I'd have a few more weeks. However, the situation now is that I have light scattered stubble on my head: (which I shave as it is annoying under my wig); in other words, there was not TOTAL hair loss. I am expecting this will all disappear with the upcoming EC though (I understand the C is the real culprit). It induces a billiard ball effect someone said, haha.
As for eyelashes and eyebrows, I've attached a pic- I just have mascara on (else my lashes would be too light to really show up), but nothing at all on my eyebrows. I just expected everything to go, so am really happy that I kept them. I should add that I've been using the liposil products for the last month or more, which I read about on a UK cancer blog. It's hard to know if this is what made the difference but I thought it didn't hurt to try these – I got both the lash and the brow product. https://www.google.ca/search?q=liposils&rlz=1C1CHZL_enCA719CA719&oq=liposils&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1678j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I still have the peachfuzz hair on my arms, and some scattered coverage in the nether regions. My nails have been fine.
Paisley— I also iced and am glad I did, even though it was real pain at the time. But if I'd ended up with neuropathy (which I haven't) and didn't try this I know I would have really been kicking myself. I also took B6 and Magnesium which is supposed to support nerve function. I used iced gel packs with my hands and these iced booties on my feet: https://www.amazon.com/NatraCure-Cold-Therapy-Socks-treatment/dp/B003L4WOKG?th=1
Olesya— Hope you are doing better now!
Okkate— I second you on the outdoor activity. I have pushed myself to get out when the weather moderates, even if it is a challenge. Feels so good to be out in the sunshine and feel the possibility of spring!
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Hello everyone! Just finished number 2 of 4 Taxols. My usual side effects are muscle/joint pain, fatigue, and tingling in my fingers. I have my chemo on Wednesday and by Friday the side effects kick in and have their way with me until Monday. Today I can walk up the stairs without fear of my legs giving out on me. Friday - Sunday the stairs are dicey.
Still, all in all, Taxol had been a much smoother ride than AC. I'm pretty much over all of this but feel like I can now see the light at the tunnel. Two more infusions. I can do that.
Stay strong, ladies! One day this will all be a memory.
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Hello, everyone!
First day in a week I have normal temperature, not over 37.0C. Feel a lot better too. I think i finally starting to get over this stupid cold. A bit more energy in the morning.
However i made an appointment with my family doctor. She prescribed the basic antibiotic(amoxicillin i think), as i have developed the sinusitis. the terrible pressure in my sinus that radiates to my teeth, temple and behind the left eye. I also began to use the NetiPot to rinse and irrigate my sinuses.
Have one week to get better, before my last treatment.
The spring is round the corner!
Smile-life is beautiful!
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Hi! I've been lurking but not posting too much. I've just finished my fourth AC. I've come through it ok- more easily than my first time around with T&C, but I had a huge infection during that.
Thank you to those posting about Taxol- I'm starting that next Wednesday. I am so, so hoping for an easy time with it. My doctor is also looking into adding carboplatin, because I'm BRCA1 positive. Anyone have any experience with that?
Also- since this is my second time around, I just wanted to share for those finishing up that the protocol of once every three months is normal. I felt like it was super disorienting to just not be seen after going to the doctor so much, and I spent a bunch of time just following up on random health issues (there were a lot, because of surgeries, infections, etc.). I recommend a GREAT primary care doctor, perhaps one, like mine, who specializes in treating survivors. Also, my MO would just order scans when I asked her to do so, and actually, one of those scans is what caught this recurrence, which no one, not even the first radiologist, thought was cancer.
Hope that's helpful! Hang in there, ladies. Almost done.
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So I am in Sedona celebrating finishing up 4 AC. Just wanted to share a photo from today since I am feeling strong. Not thinking about starting TPH on March 28, just living in the moment, enjoying the sun, my friend, and the red rock.
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Homemadesalsa - You go, girl! Live in the moment and soak up all of that beauty around you. Thanks for sharing the photo.
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Homemadesalsa --- Great photo! And here I am thinking that getting dressed and out of the house is an accomplishment --- ssshesh. How is your arm? I had full axillary node dissection and have not gained full movement of my arm (I can move it, but still have much tightening, mostly on the pectoral muscles). I started up with PT only three weeks ago and notice a difference but I don't think I would trust my body to do anything strenuous. Please just tell me you are an overachiever!
Deaelle -- your eyes look great! I still have my eyebrows (for the most part) and about half my lashes from EC. I'm very interested to her what you are told about the fish oil. Keep me posted, please!
Congrats Erob!!!!! I hope you don't need radiation!
Eschindler - are you doing weeklies? I start mine on Monday.
We finally have sunshine here -- I'm headed out to sit at the park and soak up some rays
xx
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