Chemo Starting September 2018
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Good afternoon all....had third of four TC yesterday. It was the most efficient of the three so far, picked up some interesting tid bits I thought I'd pass along and curious on your thoughts. I feel crappier today, day 1 after chemo than the other two rounds. It doesn't help that the hurricane has made its way to Massachusetts and it is gray and raining. And looking at the devastation in Florida is awful.
Wanderweg and KK, I too am having a little more pain, sensitivity, "heaviness" at my incision site. I asked if related to the chemo and they said no, just still healing even though I have some weeks with no pain, etc. I thought that was a little too convenient it would hurt post chemo. My range of motion though is very good, so they said just normal healing.
Happy belated Wanderweg and Sue, that is utterly ridiculous about work. Sorry about that and I hope it is going ok.
For the non-port people, they said it was normal to now have bruising/sensitivity in the nearby vein where I had the IV/infusion. Recommended icing, which I'm doing to the old and new spots and it is helping tremendously. I am going each course in a different place to minimize it. I have some bruising on my legs too but I bruise easily so who knows.
Each successive round I have a greater reaction to the steroids earlier. My face became puffy and red on Tuesday when started taking them (I take 2 2x a day the day before chemo, a total of another 4 on the day of, and then I took 2 this am, will take 1 now...oops, need to go do that...and 1 tomorrow am. Those and the Zofran are the worst for me. I have mentioned before but only am doing the Zofran during the infusion and Compazine after, but don't really need it.
M-and-M37, I'm told the steroids help with nausea, prevent allergic reaction to taxotere, and help with inflammation. I hate them, though they were helpful to stay up to watch the Red Sox the other night.
As for the fun stuff....my husband and I had to postpone our trip to Costa Rica. We were supposed to leave 2 days after my final chemo and my MO said not a good idea immune wise to go to a 2nd world country. And it was to be an active trip, so why blow it. We postponed it to next Nov. I have to go to Hawaii again for work so my husband will go with me and we'll spend a long weekend there as well. That'll be end of January, early February. Enjoying the planning. I am seriously thinking about a small tattoo or double piercing my ears with small diamond studs. I am NOT a tattoo person so we'll see. It'd be tiny but a wave or dahlia. Will see. If anyone needs New England travel advise I'm your girl.
On a great note, all my genetics came back good with no mutations. Glad I did it.
On a sad note, my first cousin was diagnosed with DCIS on Monday. She is in shock. Convinced it is genetics but she has done 23 and me and I'm clean so I don't think so. She has appointments at Mass General with my same doctors on Monday and visited me at chemo yesterday which was nice. The thing about the DCIS is she'll need surgery, likely radiation, and perhaps hormone therapy, that part of the pathology is not back yet. She's pretty much where I was before I got my oncotype back. So while I'm glad it is DCIS for her, I don't want to say "only" DCIS as she's on this journey now too. She's 44, 11 months younger than me. I guess we have some breast cancer road races and events in our future.
Fairchild, hope you're feeling better! I have not had those issues though when I get my blood pressure checked it is a little high for me - damned steroids again. Yesterday was 130/80 which is decent. My heart rate has been around 110 or so, but yesterday was 90. But still didn't have pain. And, I like all the advice about the wedding. I would say if it is going to cause you stress, send a really nice gift and don't go. Do something fun for yourself. They will understand. Sorry about the timing, that just sucks.
Piksie, I pray and have faith that you and everyone else in this group will beat it and live a long life. I love your attitude and philosophy on travel and doing things and hope that is a silver lining. Life is short regardless, especially if you don't life it to its fullest.
Hang in there all. I will say that my oncology NP was extremely enthusiastic about my occasional glass or two of wine. She said if I am feeling good enough for it, hooray!
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@Tigerlily318 Sorry to hear about your trip postponement! But it'll be such a nice treat when you do go!
We originally had a quick trip to Hong Kong planned for December (bought the tickets on a whim because there was a crazy good deal), but I doubt my MO will think it's a good idea to fly to the other side of the ocean mid-treatment. Plus the trip lands squarely on my Days 4-9 when I feel the crummiest, so I guess I should try to postpone as well... I want to be able to actually enjoy my trip and have the appetite to stuff my face!
Re: wine and such, my BC friend had a great piece of advice, which was to think of fluid intake like a point system. So for everything dehydrating you drink (coffee, wine, etc.), you dock yourself a point, and for every amount of water, soup, etc you drink, you give yourself a point. So as long as you cancel out the dehydrating stuff with an equivalent amount of +liquid, on the way towards your target water goal, it's all good.
11 days after #2, I'm feeling back to normal again (whew!). I had headaches this round, which I didn't the first round, but my MO said it was probably a side effect of the Herceptin or anti-nausea meds. I had a respite the past couple days, but now it's back again. Hopefully it'll go away soon. It's not crippling, but mostly just annoying! And it makes my mind go to dark places, even though I tell it not to!
A little bit of positivity for the group-- there's a cafe near the hospital we love going to when we're done with appointments. Near by, there's a giant mural that says: "We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails."
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Tigerlily318 - Sorry to hear about your cousin. It is nice to be able to connect with each other but it is never a happy thing when new people join.
MtKushmore - I grew up in Hong Kong so when you do reschedule your trip and need any advice or tips do let me know!
I had planned a trip to DC but had to cancel since it was literally the week after diagnosis and I needed time to process everything. Even though the plane tickets and hotel were non-refundable, when we told them why everything was refunded. I was thankful for that.
Piksie and others - I heard about this PALLAS trial for HR+/HER- which may be helpful to prevent recurrence. Just wanted to bring it up. Praying for all of us...!
The numbness in my hands and feet feels better this round! I can't explain how icing only my hands could help my feet though... maybe it was the acupuncture. Or placebo effect.
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Tigerlily318: I'm on day 11 after my first infusion of TC. I've felt pretty normal so far, though I agree the steroids and Zofran can be tough. I didn't notice anything going on them but coming off I felt my body had a lot of adjustments to do. I didn't have any nausea and am wondering if I may be able to cut back on the Zofran, or just take it a day or two after instead of three. My biggest issue so far has been a stye on my right eye that developed on day 6. First one I have ever had! I've been doing warm compresses for a week and may have to see another eye doctor today to figure out next steps. DCIS is tricky for sure. I'm 39 and my journey started with widespread DCIS. After surgery, they found a 4mm tumor which is how I ended up on four rounds of TC. That tiny tumor happened to have a very high Oncotype. At what point did your hair fall out with TC? Any eye issues?
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Brink - since hormone therapy suppresses hormone production, might it actually reduce ovarian cancer risk?would be worth asking the MO about.
Tigerlily - I'm not given steroids except for some dexamethason in the infusion. Wonder how they decide that?
MtKushmore - I like your friend's fluid advice. I struggle to drink enough water but. I'll happily force myself to if it means I can have a glass of wine!
BT - I'm on TC and didn't start losing my hair until day 17. I've heard as early as day 12, though. I'm now on day 2 of round 3, and still have some fuzzy hair on my head. My oncotype was quite high, too -38
Had my 3rd TC round yesterday. My husband said I was so zonked out he almost called a nurse over. But it was a faster round this time, and I didn't mind sleeping through most of it. This round was only about 21/2 hours. I'm feeling okay, although I know now from experience that I'll start to slide after my neulasta onpro goes off tonight. Unfortunately tomorrow night is our neighborhood block party, which I'll be skipping for the first time.
My sister-in-law, who has been a rock through my cancer, just had a routine colonoscopy and was diagnosed with colon cancer, with possible liver and spine involvement. She's a lovely person and I hate this for her. Cancer just sucks, doesn't it?There is a big sign up at the infusion center where I go that says “Once you choose hope, anything is possible." New mantra.
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Wanderweg - Ovarian suppression does reduce the risk for ovarian cancer, but drugs like tamoxifen actually induces ovulation and increases the chance for ovarian cysts. It also increases the risks of uterine cancer. Regular oral contraceptive pills can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer already, and they're much safer. If my ER were more positive I would go for endocrine therapy, but it's too low for me to take the risks.
Interestingly a single mole on my thigh has gotten lighter in color since I started chemo. Not sure why this one is so special since I have other bigger ones. I think Tigerlily318 mentioned something about lighter sunspots. Has anyone else experienced this?
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Hello my dear fighter family! Finally shaved my head yday. I cried a lot when lumps started falling on day 15 and by yday was so ready to just shave it off. Hairfall and scalp soreness was bothering me a lot. I thought im mentally prepared for this, but when the moment came tears started automatically. The hairdresser was v nice and kind. She faced me away from mirror and helped with wig. I didnt see myself until we came back home. When i took the wig off, my 7 year old (we had told him already abt it) was standing besides me. I was looking for his reaction and surprizingly he kept v calm as if it was all normal. I started laughing and he asked why am i laughing. I told him i am looking so crazy without hair that it made me laugh. His reaponse was - “ i dont wnt you to laugh at urself. This is just for few months. I love you the way you are!” I was amazed and felt proud of him. After some time came a real 7 year old ques- will you please wear wig when you pick me from bus stop? Ha ha! Then i was relieved that this process has not taken away his year appropriate childishness 😊
Tigerlily and wanderweg, sorry to hear that ladies from your close relation have to go through this tough journey. But im sure you will be their rock solid support and will be able to share your experience and positivity with them.
MtKushmore and wanderweg, thanks for sharing those sayings. Both of those are so apt for our process. I like such inspirational quotes that help us moving forward.
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Brink - You're right - I read through an NIH article and tamoxifen does raise ovarian cancer risk for premenopausal women. I'd only looked at risks for postmenopausal women. I also forfeited my uterus to cervical cancer already, so I don't have the uterine cancer risk either.
BeingPositive - Your son's loving response brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet mix of appropriately young and wise beyond his years.
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Hi ladies, I have been MIA but have been keeping up with reading all of your thoughts. After the second round of TC, by day 3 I started feeling really "sick". That night when I put my 8 year old son to bed, he looked at me all worrisome. The next two days he started to act up in school. I contacted his teacher, she asked if something is bothering him at home, and that's when I put two and two together. Long story short, after the talk, I realized that he is afraid that I am going to die. His fear got me thinking - am I going to die (even though I ensure him that I will be fine)? Before finding out that I need chemo, I was so confident with my prognosis; but now doing chemo, I feel less confident. I don't know what to think anymore. I honestly feel that cancer is not going to kill me but chemo will! It took me a few days to climb out of that hole I buried myself in. I feel okay about it now, but I am back today for my third infusion. I honestly not ready for it - mentally, physically, and emotionally. Then again who would be ready for crap like this?
Last infusion I was constantly hungry. I have to keep eating every 1-2 hours. If I waited too long, I feel like I need to throw up. I hated that feeling. I wonder if it's the steroid they gave me during the infusion. Like Wanderweg, my doctor never prescribed steroid for me to take at home. I also stopped taking Zofran after the first night of infusion. I didn't get nauseated, but now I wonder if it's because of the steroid they gave me. I am debating whether I want to be constipated or being hungry constantly as I am about to ask my doctor to taper down on the steroid.
Beingpostive - Your son is so sweet. My 8year old cried when he saw me with my hair all shaved down to nothing. I didn't cry when I did it, but I cried when he cried.
And yes, the pigment on my face is significantly lighter too. I guess this is one a few nice surprises that came with chemo.
The incisions on my breast is also tender after my first infusion. I talked to the nurse as well as my doctor about it, they think it's from radiation since the breast is still changing.
I am dreading this round of chemo... Sitting here thinking about all the side effects...
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JNKK - Good to hear from you again. I'm sitting here waiting for my Taxol #7 too. Honestly I feel I've been having an easier time than most of you because I'm doing only T first, not AC or TC. I think later when I'm on AC all of you will be the ones doing the encouraging. Your post did make me think about how much we impact our children. So far my 3-year-old prays for her mommy to get better and for mommy's hair to come back. Thankfully she doesn't understand enough to think about death yet. I like how many have commented that we're not brave. We just don't want to die. So here we are, waiting, not screaming and running out the door.
BeingPositive - Your son is so sweet. My DD kept asking me why I didn't get my hair back yet few days in a row. But when her friend came over she proudly told her I have no hair. Go figure.
Wanderweg - Sorry you have to deal with cancer again. I suppose if there’re no risks then endocrine therapy would make sense for you.
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Hi all, just checking in on day 8 of AC #2. Oof, this one was much rougher. I'm hoping it was just because I convinced my MO to let me skip the steroids except on infusion. The replacement anti-nausea med did nothing and I felt much more unwell, too, fluish and achey. The timeline was much the same -- days 3 and 4 are the worst -- and I quite enjoyed feeling like my brain had not been hijacked by the steroids, but I was much more nauseous, found it much harder to make myself stay hydrated and eat anything. So I'm not sure what I'll do next time, but I do now understand people who get halfway through and want to quit.
It was also much harder on me emotionally for some reason. I cried a few times on Sunday, at least in part because I was pretty convinced I have developed lymphedema (which was confirmed yesterday). It just feels so unfair on top of everything else. Isn't cancer enough? Isn't the treatment we go through enough? Apparently not.
Thanks everyone for your support about my job interview. I was glad I had it to think back on while I was so sick this round. If I get the job after interviewing with one boob and no hair on the same day as chemo, I think it will have to go up on my lifetime accomplishment list!
BeingPositive - I'm sorry you have to look for a new job not by choice! I hope you get good news and are not let go, but glad your husband's insurance will cover you just in case.
Brink - glad to hear you had some success with acupuncture for nausea. Thinking I might try that next time. I'm also wondering if any of your siblings ever confessed to being responsible for your head!
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@BrinkofEternity I will definitely take you up on that offer! The last time I went to HK, it was back in 1994 and I was still a kid, and it was only for a few days... so needless to say, I'm very excited to explore it more fully!
I was diagnosed a week before our honeymoon. We still decided to go anyway, and I'm so glad we did, as it was a blast. The klonopin helped keep the demons at bay.
Towards the end I was getting kind of tired, so my mind started racing at all the possibilities, but luckily, my MO had scheduled a PET scan for right when I returned/prior to starting treatment (neoadjuvant) and it came back clear, so I was able to get some peace of mind and realize it was just from traveling around so much. @Wanderweg I use an app called Plant Nanny, which makes tracking water a little more fun than a regular ol' fitness app or notebook. It does have some ads, which are kind of annoying, but you track your water by feeding cute little plants. It helps keep me on track, because I want to keep my imaginary plants happy!
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beeline - Unexpectedly one sister said she always had a dent there and another sister just realized she also has one in the same spot. So... nobody confessed. I guess it must be genetic. Unless we all got dropped the same way! Funny how even a dent can be genetic.
MtKushmore - Can’t believe you got diagnosed right before your honeymoon, but glad to hear you had a blast!
Last week when I had a short acupuncture session I was snacking that night (never happened since chemo). Today I went for a longer session and I was snacking as soon as I got home. It was nice to get my appetite back, even if just temporarily. And the needles didn't hurt since they were so thin. I didn't ice my fingers during infusion today so I'll see whether my neuropathy improves with just acupuncture.
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Hi everyone. Hope you all are doing ok. Ive not had the mental wherewithal to post
Been a fun two weeks (not).
10/2 infusion - severe allergic reaction then spend entire week coughing
10/9 infusion come down with bronchitis and go on antibiotics. Spend entire week coughing
10/16 infusion. done with antibiotics. spent entire treatment coughing. like a full hour of hard core bronchitis choking asthma cough. Every muscle in my body hurts. I feel like I ran a marathon. I don't look like I ran a marathon however since I gained 10 pounds since chemo started on 9/4.
And I seem to have a cervical bulging disc that my doc said is probably "benefitting" from the additional systemic inflammation and is pinching a nerve . leading to numbness up and down my left arm.
Three cheers for Taxol .. the :::cough::: "easy" chemo-- my behind.
On the bright side I my super sexy crew cut (i seriouesly love it)still covers my head, thinly but completely. My doc was shocked that i still have this much hair. so there is that. And by some stroke of weird lucky my eyebrows are thinning in the pattern in which i naturally shape them so they actually look good. I take wins where i can get them
Much love to you all, gonna go through and catch up and try to check in more. You guys help sosososos much
Hope everyone is having a tolerable or better week
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Hello All - Day 8 Post AC#3. Still struggling to bounce back - normally by Sunday I feel human again, but yesterday I had diarrhea all day and it has continued today. Probably going to call the MO tomorrow because I'm afraid I'm not keeping up with the fluid loss. I'm wondering if this is something one of my kids brought home or if this is a SE (my daughter had a stomach bug 2 weeks ago that I thought the rest of us had avoided). Friday night into Saturday I really crashed (assuming from the steroids). I napped on and off and pretty much didn't leave my bedroom on Saturday. It is really hard to feel positive on those days and I find myself reading boards here that I don't belong on - or rather, that I shouldn't let myself get sucked into. I used to love living inside my own head - I was great at escaping and managing my emotions and generally being able to cope with whatever was going on in the outside world. On these hard days I feel like I lost my safe space - it is Cancerville all the time in my brain.
As I am preparing to get past this Final AC next week and move on to Taxol I am starting to get nervous - as much as I am glad to be almost done with AC I do enjoy having a week off. 12 weeks seems like such a long slog. I'm also reading about this Pallas trial and think I should enroll but then can't imagine 2 more years of side effects on top of whatever the hormonal therapy throws my way. And also considering ovarian suppression so I can go on an AI instead of Tamoxifen since they have better recurrence prevention rates. I think I'm just not in the right phase of treatment to be considering the next phase - the whole one day at a time thing I guess - because it all seems awful and like it will be unending. I remember in the last days before my surgery I cried to my husband that what if this was the last time I felt healthy and whole again for the rest of my life. And after surgery I thought, well, I still feel like me and look like me. Right now I don't feel like me. I don't look like me. I am laid bare.
Sending positive thoughts to you all - I will try to readjust my sails....
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@KK2018 I totally hear ya. I find myself wandering into boards I shouldn’t be looking at, or going down Google rabbit holes, and it’s never good for me... The silver lining is that most stats posted online are horribly outdated and don’t account for the leaps and bounds that science has made in the past decade. Also, coming from a bio research background, I can tell you that even with peer-reviewed papers, they’ll play up the negatives when they can because it makes funding easier to secure..
I’m lucky in that I’m on a 3-week schedule so I have a week to recover, but with 4 treatments left, it feels like I’ll never be done.
Glasses raised and fingers crossed that this is the only time we’ll ever have to go through this!
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any advice for my bald head! It has bumps and itches. I don’t know what to do with it.
Thanks
Ginge
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oh no, cough, pcranky! I’ve been coughing for the last three weeks on AC. I’ve coughed to exhaustion and dry reaching (better than wet reaching I guess). Can’t breath, can’t sleep, can’t speak and do not make me laugh!
The AC has adversely affected my heart function, so the 4/4 has been cancelled. Which brings forward 1/12 Taxol to 30 October. If it makes me cough more, I’m off to whittle on the veranda of the cabin in the woods. Any cabin. Any woods.
After a remarkably easy second AC round, the third was much harder, with fatigue, more nausea and the charming cough.
And I now own my first wig:-) I normally wear my naturally grey hair in a trendy short cut, and chose a wig like that, as it suits me and will be cool in our subtropical summer.
Love to you al
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KK - I am one round behind you but exactly where you are emotionally, almost to the letter! I just today wrote to the trial coordinator for the monarchE trial here (which you may also want to look at. It is with a newer cdk4/6 inhibitor that has fewer serious side effects than the one in Pallas https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03155997) to see if I might be eligible and ask about the process. And this after a conversation with my husband over the weekend saying I didn't know if I wanted to be a patient forever -- will I ever be able to move on from having bc if I am being treated/followed regularly for another 10 years, not to mention the side effects? I also had the very same thoughts about being my whole, healthy self before surgery. And then again before chemo. After surgery I felt I was still myself. I'm not sure I will after chemo. And then radiation. And then. And then.
Sue and pcranky - sorry you are having a rough go with side effects! I hope the next steps are easier for all of us.
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just checking in from the October group to see what lies ahead for me. Pcranky - that sounds terrible on the coughing! I hope things get better. Beeline - that’s amazing that they caught the affect on the heart. How did they catch it? Did you have a symptom? I’m so concerned about it as well.
Did you guys find that symptoms got worse each time? I have my second AC Wednesday and hoping it will be like my first (some nausea and that’s it). But I also don’t want to be overly optimistic. I’ve heard it builds up on your system. Has anyone heard stories of people being ok throughout it? Just trying to hold on to something possibly positive. This is such a long, dark and windy road we are on . . .0 -
Hi Sadlynew, what is it they say, "forewarned is forearmed"? The experience shared here is an amazing resource. I know I've learned so much. Quite a lot of which I wish I never learned, but it's provided background and reasons to ask questions that I would not have had otherwise.
I think you might mean me with the heart question, and the way it was identified was that my MO ordered a number of baseline tests including an echo cardiogram before I started chemo. My heart function was measured as "low normal", so I have had fortnightly repeat ECGs, either by the cardiologist or at the cardiac unit of our local teaching hospital, which has the latest software. My heart function has reduced several points, and that decided the MO to discontinue AC after 3/4 rounds. It was a bit of a blow to the ego to be told I'm not as fit as I thought! Very grateful for the info, though, as I really value my active lifestyle. My cardiologist told me today that the heart will recover, and I should do as much as I can now to start rebuilding fitness. I'm 62, by the way, and looking forward to hiking many more of the beautiful places in God's world.
I also had a bone scan (which was for both density and possible mets).
You'll see how different and unpredictable SEs are for each person and from session to session. I did so well after my 2nd AC that I wondered if they'd given me the drugs. Then the third was blech, and as you know I've sidestepped the 4th.
I think the main thing is to keep looking after ourselves both physically and mentally. It's a real workload, but definitely needed for us and for those we care about. Even if we're actually not OK, and it often feels like pushing sh1t uphill.
Love and small mercies
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I'm with you sadlynew...hoping it's the same 2nd round. Or at least not worse? As you know, I go Friday. Ugh. I get so jealous of peeps that only have 4 rounds and are done. But, I'm sure it's not fun for them either! I'm constantly told by my docs that I'm young and should handle treatment just fine. Ha! Says you doc...ur not the one doing it! I started with a swollen lymph node in my armpit, and I still feel it and it still gets a little painful. Just wish I saw some kind of results. 1/4 mm smaller in tumor and I'd be stoked! Lol Still havent cur my hair but had a dream I was choking on a strand of my hair. WHAT IS THAT! haha
All in all, I could be doing so much worse and I definitely hang onto that. After Friday, I'm 1/4 of the way done! Woo hoo!!!
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Coming up out of the hole from round three. I was more tired this time, but no nausea this round. Yet, anyway. I'm hoping to have enough energy tomorrow evening to go to the breast cancer support group here. I only went once before I found out I needed chemo and that threw me for such a loop I just didn't go back.
Ginger - I still have light stubble but from a distance I look completely bald. My head feels gritty. I keep oil on it, which seems to help - either coconut or argan. Feels soothing.
ccaxt - My original MO (the one I call Dr. Dick) insisted that chemo is not a big deal. I don't care how old you are, what kind you are in, or how well you tolerate it, it's a freaking big deal. But I understand why you might be envious of those of us with just four rounds - because I'm super envious of people who don't have to do it at all!
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Quick note: I had chemo #3 today, which means I'm halfway through. I'm exhausted right now, though, and can't feel very exuberant. Saw Onc. He was delighted that the patch for nausea worked so well. White cells are good but anemia is worse and he's working it up. I told him about the fatigue and he said that is quite normal on this combo of drugs. It will get worse each time I have chemo, he warned. Not a very good thought! I asked why he didn't run an oncotype, and he said as soon as they found the 3rd tumor, HER2+, he knew the risk was very high for reoccurence, so he didn't need the oncotype. Yowzers. I told him about the pressure to tell them at work that I will be able to come back in January, and he said that's impossible to predict....that it just depends on my level of side effects. I asked about chemo-brain as well, since I'm forgetting whole conversations these days, and he said that was totally an effect of the chemo. That memory loss doesn't bode well for my work life! Oh, and he clarified that I will get both Perjeta and Herceptin for a year. So we'll be friends for a very long time.
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Fairchild - It IS scary to find out you have a high chance of recurrence (mine is high through a high oncotype score). It's something I think about every day. But the chemo brain: I'm a psychologist and now when someone asks what we were talking about last time we met I sometimes say, "You tell me - I've been poisoned since then."
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Hi Fairchild
I had almost the same response from my oncologists, when I asked both oncologists what was my oncotype number. They said it was no need to run the test because I was triple positive 95%. I think it’s one of the reasons I consented to Chemotherapy. I was so overwhelmed. I read everything I could get my hands on. This site has been so helpful and informative. I can’t thank everyone who post how appreciative I am for the information they share
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It’s funny. I met 2 BC survivors who were expecting to get chemo but after their oncotype results, were told they didn’t need to after all. They thought they would be celebrating but they also felt this uneasiness about not “doing more” to make sure this doesn’t come back. I told them if it wouldn’t help your chances chemo is not something I would wish on anybody. For me the decision is a given, since I’m practically TNBC, so I guess it’s “easier” in that sense... I try not to dwell on my chances since for all I know, I could get hit by a bus anytime, then all this would be moot.
Ccaxt - I bursted out laughing at your dream about choking on your hair! I haven’t dreamed about my hair yet but will be sure to share when I do.
SuefromSydney - Sorry your heart function was impacted. My heart rate has been elevated for the past 2 weeks and even regular normal daily activity raises my heart rate to above 110 now. Hope this doesn’t get too serious...
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@Fairchild - looks like you and I are almost treatment twins! My #3 is this upcoming Monday. The Her2+ is no fun, but I recently read that the Herceptin chops the recurrence rate by 40%, which is wild. Science!
After only one week of treatment (after Round 1), my tumor had shrunk by 1/2, and after three weeks, my MO couldn't feel anything left to measure! So I'm trying to be very optimistic that after 6 rounds, every cancer cell will have been blasted into oblivion. The area where my tumor used to be still feels a little thick, but my MO said that was normal. He said it was either local inflammation from the cell death response, or small amounts of cancer left. I still get a little worried when I poke around, but then I remember there's a good reason they suggest 6 treatments, and not just one or two. After treatment is over, I'll be on Herceptin alone until the year is up, as well as tamoxifen for a year.
I mentioned before that my BC friend and I both come from biochemistry PhD backgrounds. She's forwarded me a lot of peer-reviewed papers that have studied the effects of CBD on preventing metastases and priming cancer cells for chemo-induced apoptosis. Of course, the studies were on mice and used an absurdly high dosage, and there is NO MAGIC ALTERNATIVE to good ol' fashioned chemo, but there have been some small human studies in Europe that have looked into safety and efficacy at a more normal dose (20 mg/day). YMMV, and I'm not promoting it one way or another depending on how people feel about CBD, but on her recommendation, (she now advises cancer patients for a living) I've been taking 20 mg CBD orally throughout treatment. (She recommended just 20 mg/day starting 3 days before treatment, until 3 days after treatment to prime the cells for apoptosis, but I've just stayed on it for anxiety reasons.) I almost didn't want to mention it in the boards since I know people sometimes have strong opinions about this kind of thing (despite my username, I don't actually indulge in weed-- I just couldn't think of a username lol), but since it's part of my daily supplement process, I thought I'd bring it up.
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Hi ladies! I have my third AC on Thursday. Anyone have skin pigmentation changes? I oddly have after pubic hair fell out..(Sorry TMI
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MTK - that’s really interesting about the CBD oil and cell apoptosis. I tried CBD oil for neuropathy in my foot (post-surgery but pre-chemo) and it didn’t help at all, or help me sleep, or help with anxiety. I stopped after a couple weeks and still have some. I’ve already finished my first three rounds but I’ll try it on the next one. Can’t hurt, could help
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