Chemo starting November 2018
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Nanette - I have had itching with the Taxotere. It is something along the lines of Hand and Foot syndrome. During round #1 I had a million little blister like bumps on my right hand with some on my feet too. They were not large and not like regular blisters. Once they started going away, the skin in that area started to peel and then I was fine. I took Benadryl and used Benadryl gel on the skin until I was able to talk with my MO's office and they gave me a topical cream and told me to keep using the Benadryl.
Getting my bag ready to go for round #5 tomorrow. I am having a bit more anxiety tonight than my usual nightly anxiety. It will be good to get on the other side so I can tell myself just one more to get through.
Lisa - good luck on Wednesday! I will be thinking of you!
Here's to a happy tomorrow for all, as we will be ....... "One step closer"
F
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thanks HLB and Frmthahart I feel better knowing I'm not alone with the itchy thing. I have some benadryl lotion I'll give it a whirl in the morning.
It's really weird the closer I get to the end of the taxol cycle with the weird SE.
Frmthahart good luck and soon you'll be on the down side too. I only have 4 more TX to go.... 4 weeks and I'm done.
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Frmthahart - thinking of you today. You are one step closer, my friend, and you got this!!! Superwoman!!
Nanette - I don't know about the itching, but I am a TCHP chemo, we do have Taxotere compared to your Taxol. Maddie calls it Taco. Where are you Maddie? I get raw spots in my fat rolls after the last 2 infusions, can't wait to see where the raw spots show up this time. I have a lotion for raw skin. Running Cats, I haven't seen you lately - how is everyone doing? Thinking of everyone today, we are making progress and you can do this! I hope nobody stares at my peas tomorrow, I'm going to get them when I get off work. Hope everyone stays warm in this frigid cold, going to be about 6 degrees in Missouri tonight. Lisa
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All good here. Sitting in the chair for TCHP #4 as I type. Haven't had any terrible side effects, but usually will bedown from Thursday - Monday.
Extended my work leave until May.
All of you in the cold part of the county, stay warm and safe. I'm originally from Ohio so I understand you're misery. Expecting rain here in SoCal for the next few days. Going to shut myself away until next week
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Nice to hear from you RunningCats, yay for you #4 and only 2 more left (like me!) Superwoman! I gave my boss a little notice I may not come in Thursday or Friday, and she gave me Monday as my flex day (sometimes, we work four 10-hour days and have a day off during the week). Give those kitties lots of lovies and let them snuggle up and comfort you while it is raining. I have stuff recorded on the TV, so when I wake up early from the steroids, I can watch some Forensic Files. Best wishes to you and everyone as we get "one step closer" (that should be our new motto Frmthahart. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Hi all, had to take a bit of a break from the BCO boards for a bit. I was feeling a bit nutty and am seriously reconsidering the rads part of my treatment. I've had 2 rounds of antibiotics to take care of a sinus infection that had the most awful post nasal drip that made me want to vomit every time I laid on my back. Taco tx last week wasn't anything unusual. I iron bagged, I pre-medicated, I fell asleep, I taco'd, I snored and I wobbled to the potty after treatment. NatraCure Cold Therapy socks is what I purchased on Amazon. It has definitely helped during taco tx and afterwards. I use the 4" rounds for my hands and really only placed them on my palms and curled my fingers around the edges. I've started to have more neuropathy in my L hand pinky and ring finger. I may start icing hands/fingers outside of just tx day. My skin has also been going a little crazy - dry dry dry. I can sleep in socks and have been aquafor'ing like it's going out of style. I've been having some anxiety - big work changes coming up, my best friend is coming across country for a visit, my oldest sister is coming for a visit, my dad's having some health issues, my ... my my my.... Having some professional organizers come into my house next week and just help before all the visitors come. I feel ridiculous doing it, but no energy, no entropy, no oomph. I've been doing a yoga class weekly (except last 2 weeks) and I think in absence of my PT session it has helped for sure. I told my husband this weekend I'm totally over the bald thing. Give me some freaking hair to wash. Heck, I will even be glad to shave my legs again. I'm basically just tired of everything and want to get back to some semblance of normal.... MB1
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One more then I'm done - I am so tired of dishes I am tempted to just take everything that is dirty on the counter tight now, get a big old garbage sac and just dump it all. I want to go back to when we had one fork, one knife, one spoon, one cup, one bowl and one plate for the two of us. I think as this entire process has been going on longer I have been getting grumpier and grumpier and my amount of "suck it up buttercup" overflows nightly. Bless him for putting up with me ... MB1
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I think we’re all read for it to be over with and things back to normal.
Kitties are my lifeline, although Bubba/Tristan feels that I should be woken daily at 5:00 a.m. for gushy food. I rue the day I stopped free feeding them. Bun Bun/Sabrina needed a diet.
For moisture, I’ve been using Nivea leave on for lazy days, or Nivea Body Butter or Cereve when I take the time when I get out of the show. It seems to help.
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Maddie, good to hear from you. I hope you are feeling better and things are better. I can totally relate to everything, the dryness, the dishes, the no hair, all of it. We will overcome this! Hopefully, having some visitors will brighten your day and not cause too much stress. Do not worry about your house - we are all tired, I just know that. Those are good things to use, RunningCats. I try and remember to use Vaseline in my nose because it dries out so bad too. I bought a humidifier or dehumidifier, one of those things to use at night, just a small one, and it helps a little.
My infusion was delayed this morning because my platelets are at 51,000 and would likely drop to around 40,000, they seem to drop at least 10,000 every time. I am so disappointed, but have no desire to spend any time in the hospital. This messes up my schedule, but there is no choice but to deal with it. My thoughts are with everyone today - remember our motto! RunningCats, I am thankful for my kitties today. And the doctor's student gave me a look when I talked to him about cryotherapy and my frozen peas (thanks for that name for Amazn, Maddie). I'm going to try it anyway, next time. Stay warm! Hugs, Lisa
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Taxol #3 was yesterday. Met with the onc yesterday as well so we could discuss progress. I have had some intense upper abdomen pain for about 3 weeks and she's worried that the elephant sized doses of steroids they've been giving me have caused an ulcer so I'm off to see a gastroenterologist tomorrow afternoon. I think the plan may be to try and stop the steroids entirely either next week or the week after. I'd really rather stop the benadryl ... I got them to cut the benadryl in half but she said she probably won't feel comfortable taking it away entirely with my history of allergic reactions.
Good news- during my exam yesterday she couldn't feel the tumor at all!
It is so freaking cold here I don't want to go anywhere or do anything. I really need to go to Target but it's too cold to be walking across parking lots. The oncologist recommended trying magnesium supplements to possibly help with the constipation. The constipation battle is ongoing and relentless. Maybe I'll ask the GI doctor tomorrow if he has the inside scoop on something better.
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I'm glad you got your treatment, Hazel-Nut, but am sorry to hear they think you may have an ulcer, oh dear. I'm glad you are seeing the doctor right away. You probably do need that Benadryl. The best part though, ta-da - YAY they couldn't feel the tumor!!!! Yay yay yay!!! You should celebrate! That is awesome!
I take magnesium for my feet, cramping sensations type of feelings. We are on different drugs, and Perjeta gives me the opposite of constipation, I bet your GI doctor could also tell you the benefits of the magnesium. I hope you don't have an ulcer. I am just so happy no tumor, woot! (P.S., could you please share a photo of your kitty sometime?) - Hugs and try to stay warm, hope this doesn't last long, Lisa
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This was a few weeks ago right after Christmas. She loved curling up on the tree skirt.
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awwwww, she is just so sweet, and always makes me smile, thank you!! such a beautiful kitty!
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I saw the GI doctor today who has scheduled an abdominal CT and an upper endoscopy to investigate the abdominal pain further. He also wants me to do a cleanse the same way you would prior to doing a colonoscopy to hopefully get ahead of the constipation instead of constantly playing catch up the way I have been. I just talked to the pharmacist because she was questioning the order that was sent in for the go-litely and it seems instead of one of those massive jugs of poo juice, the doctor ordered me two. It's gonna be a miserable weekend
Does anyone else keep getting clogged tear ducts? I'm in a never ending cycle of clogged ducts these days, I've got my third one this week.
Have a good weekend everyone! Stay warm and hydrated.
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I'm DONE! Last TC was this past Tuesday. Side effects on this one have been better than last cycle. I feel pretty good this morning. A little bit of "no energy", and my taste buds are shot. But other than that, I'm good! Now I wait for exchange surgery in four weeks. YAY!
Hope all of you ladies are having a good day!
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Jennie - Congrats to you!!! Superwoman - so happy for you. My 5th was delayed - I so want to be done too. Cheers to you! Your hair will be coming back!
Hazel-Nut - Sorry you have to do the cleanse, but hoping it helps you. I hope they can find a way to help that abdominal pain and it is not an ulcer. Tear ducts - I have tears running almost all day, I guess that is the opposite of blocked tear ducts. I read on here to try natural tears and I plan on buying some today. Perhaps that might help you too?
Hugs to everyone this weekend, I hope you have warmer and sunny weather. A little cloudy and rainy here today, but I'll take that over the cold we had. You are always in my thoughts - be brave! Lisa
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Jennie...Congrats!!! Keep up updated on any "hair activity". I'm a week behind you!!
There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!
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Happy World Cancer Day to our group of super women who will kick a little cancer's behind this week. Be strong! You are in my thoughts today and always. Lisa
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Jennie - Congrats!!!
Just finished my fourth taxol this morning and am finishing off my day at work. Today marks the official chemo halfway point for me. I'm through 8 of my scheduled 16 chemo doses. I've been doing this for what feels like forever and still have so much further to go it's hard not to get discouraged. Chemo is a grind for sure. I think my hair is trying to regrow. I have about 1/8" of patchy stubble up top, it isn't much but it isn't falling out. Yay! lol
I picked up crocheting again to keep my hands busy while my chemo brain spaces out and I'm making what will turn out to be the worlds ugliest afghan. Once it's finished it'll be pretty obvious that my attention span didn't stick around long enough to keep accurate stitch count but it'll keep your knees warm.
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Hi Ladies!!
It's so good to read that you guys are doing so well. My port was broken, so I had to have it removed and another put in the other shoulder. I went 27 days without chemo which is scary. The great news is when I finally had my 4th and last A/C, it went in with absolutely no pain or complications!! I didn't realize how bad the other port was giving me fits!So Monday I'll have chemo #4/8 and the first Taxol. I need to read up on how this experience is going to be.
I read that you guys were sick of having no hair. I AGREE!!! I'm tired of making people uncomfortable with a little hat on my bald head. I get sympathetic looks, or weird looks or whatever. I finally spent time at Merle Norman. It was a wonderful experience. The girl spent 2 hours with me and I bought 2 wigs.My high school friends held the sweetest brunch for me last Saturday. It was so great seeing them all and amazingly uplifting. I'm still on cloud 9!
We also decided to go on a cruise March 3. It's last minute, but we need to get away badly. I hope Taxol doesn't cause huge SE. I have done well with A/C, the only SE is exhaustion.
I hope I can bath in sunscreen and sit in the sun some. With the rain and cold and cancer...it's just daggum depressing! I miss my peeps at work so much.
Anyway, I feel worlds behind y'all as lots of you are finishing Chemo and I'm only 1/2 way!
Cheers!! Holding my iced water high to you gals!!
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Hazel-Nut - Congrats on being halfway! Glad you can see a little hair! I so wish I could sew, anything! I'm glad you are crocheting, and I bet your afghan will be just the prettiest thing. I wish I could make something like that.Emily, so nice to hear from you! I can't imagine what it was like to wait 27 days for chemo, so glad you are back on track, without any complications or pain. I thought waiting a week for my platelets to come up was bad. I was talking to a colon cancer patient (male) yesterday while having my infusion, who said he would rather deal with what he has, than be a woman with breast cancer. I told him the hardest thing we face is losing our hair. I've talked to some ladies in a local support group, and they can all relate to that. I'm glad you have a good support group and are going on a cruise, congratulations to you! I hope you get your sunshine. Congrats to you ladies that are halfway!
This man I met with colon cancer has to wear one of his drugs home for 46 hours. Can you imagine doing that? Things can always be worse.
I hope you all have a great day and are not in the cold weather or ice. We had lightening and an ice storm last night continuing into today, and not far away was a tornado warning. This weather together is a strange thing in February. Be safe and warm, I'm raising my iced water to you all today too, one step closer we go! Come spring, we will all have beautiful hair again! Hugs, Lisa
P.S. The colon cancer patient's mom was embroidering this pillow case.
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Good morning all!! It’s been a while since I’ve visited and I sure have missed reading how everyone was coping. I finished round 5 on Friday. It had kicked my butt a little more than the rest. Achy, tired, itchy. I keep thinking 1 more round. 1 more round. I have to get an iron infusion tomorrow. What fun side effects do I have to look forward to?
My next step is surgery. My lumpectomy turned into a bilateral mastectomy thanks to genetic testing. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. I need to stop reading about different procedures until I meet the plastic surgeon next week. The bright spot is that I might not need radiation - that made me more nervous than chemo.
I hope everyone’s day is better than yesterday!
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Iron hasn't given me any trouble - it just seems like it's just another hour added to my chemo regimen and another hour I sleep through.
Turns out they didn't decrease my benadryl for the last 3 infusions after all. I hope they actually wrote it into my record this time so that tomorrow I can walk instead of stumble back out to the car. My husband has been going with me lately so I am hoping he will remember to say it tomorrow morning.....
I want hair to wash. I will even take hair on my legs to shave. 20 weeks seems so freaking long.....
Hope all you ladies are doing well! MB1
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Nice to hear from you MB1. I only received benadryl round one. Not sure who decides if this is included or not. I did take benadryl Wednesday night before bed, the day I had my infusion, and I did wake up about 1 am, but was able to go back to sleep, and then go to work on Thursday. I guess there are good times to take it too. We are getting there, keep that chin up, our hair is coming back by spring!! I've heard it may come back straight or curly - will be interesting to see. If mine comes back gray, I will still be happy!
MDoc - I'm sorry to hear about the decision you are making. Did you have the BRCA testing? I asked my doctor about that and I don't have enough relatives with cancer to qualify. My mother had colon cancer and that is not on the list of cancers they are concerned with. One more round left for you, yay! Isn't that a relief!! I hope you are feeling better after #5.
Hugs to everyone!! One step closer... Lisa
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My hair is definitely trying to grow in. My patchy stubble has started to fill in with fine fluff and all of it in varying shades of white and grey. You would laugh if you knew how much I'm babying this hair. I've never in my life cared for my hair as well as I'm caring for this stubble!
TMI alert - The constipation is getting worse, not better! What deity do I have to pray to or offer up a sacrifice to in order to be able to go to the bathroom? Chemo has been cruel to my GI system.
MDoc - sorry your genetic testing changed your surgery plans.
MB1 - too right. 20 weeks is a hellish stretch. I hope they do decrease your benadryl. My husband has gotten kind of militant about asking what they're giving me and in what dose during my pre meds . He's more on top of it than I am. This week they stopped doing the steroids and we moved to a half dose of the benadryl a couple weeks ago. I still sleep through the infusion but by the time I get home its worn off enough I can go to work for the rest of the day.
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MissouriCatLady - thinking of you! How are you doing? Is #5 on the schedule again? I am hopeful that it is all good news!
emilyisme - glad the port troubles are over! I hope the SE's have been easy for you and that you are able to go on that cruise - fun in the sun sounds grand!
MB1 - I am with you on the hair! As much fun (insert sarcasm) as it has been to just rub my head dry and go, I would love to put my hairbrush back to use and brush hair that is on my head.
I am at the point in this cycle where I am feeling better - that is a BIG thing as I actually found myself throwing up this time. The brutal reality of feeling better means that the next round is on the horizon. UGHHH!
Hope you all are doing well! You are in my thoughts and prayers!
F
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Frmthahart - so nice to hear from you! I'm sorry you had to throw up this time, that is the worst! I hate throwing up! Glad you are feeling better now, and you're right, it means next treatment is coming up. I am a week out from #5 and food still tastes bad, thank you. My co-workers are celebrating Valentine's Day by wearing Team Lisa shirts today, and they've all brought food. I am so fortunate. We have cat-shaped balloons! My appetite will return, and I am grateful to have some weight to lose, you thin ladies have my prayers.
Hazel-Nut - keep us posted on your hair. We get excited just hearing that someone has hair! Yay!
Please keep in touch everyone, it is so helpful to see how everyone is doing. I have my last treatment Feb 27th, if I can keep my platelets up, and meet with the surgeon that afternoon to set a plan. One step at a time! Things can change. Hugs to you, Lisa (we are our own team and I think of you all every day.)
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Lisa - I spend an insane amount of time staring at my head in the mirror keeping track of those little hairs! My hair has always grown so fast it could be my superpower and it seems like chemo hasn't stopped that. My husband says it looks like it's at least 1/4 inch long and the patchy bits are filling in nicely. I might have a decent head of hair come summer!
Taxol #5 is in the books. The neuropathy is a strange feeling. It's weird to have numb fingers and toes. Yesterday I had my first "real" neuropathy pain when the sole of my foot got the most intense pins and needles pain that lasted about 10 minutes. My liver values are up quite a bit the last few weeks. The doctor wants to just keep an eye on it for now which I'm good with. I'd hate to push chemo back.
Happy Valentine's everyone!
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Hazel-Nut - I am so happy someone has hair growing, yippee!! This spring will be a benefit to us all, I hope. Glad Taxol #5 is in the books. I have neuropathy too, I wish I had tried the cryotherapy sooner. Our hospital doesn't acknowledge cryotherapy for neuropathy, but they'll let you try it. I hope your liver values stay stable. I had to put one of my treatments off a week because of platelets and it threw me behind (at least that is what my mind thinks). Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day. We have cold and sleet today and I hope it doesn't last long. Have a good weekend, everyone!
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Good morning all,
MDoc - how did your appt go w/ surgeon?
Neuropathy. Possibly TMI for feet coming up if you're squeamish or don't like foot talk - be aware. Last week it was a bit of a struggle to walk. My smart phone no longer recognized my finger to unlock it - my hands feel like they are covered in 10,000 little paper cuts. I get zing's, zap's and some painful tingling in the tips of my fingers when they are squeezed. They feel weirdly sensitive when typing and feel awful stiff. I have been experimenting w my various non-reactive, non-excema causing lotions and creams to see if I can't get something that will make them feel better. It's ongoing. [Confession - I cleaned 2 wired racks w baking soda paste w a rinse and vinegar wash after the soda paste was cleaned off, without my usual cleaning gloves. This was a mistake. A very big skin drying out mistake. But no excema flares. I get it, it was dumb.]. My feet however were more of a problem. The struggling to walk thing - not cool. Not cool at all man. I get my feet are dry and cracked and I've never been religious about applying lotion/cream - they have always flaked and peeled on occasion. I have never had a pedicure or foot work done at a salon (I am VERY ticklish and sometimes kick - not good for the salon techs, clearly). I have abused my feet via ballet for 12 yrs much earlier in my life. I know my feet pretty well. This level of skin sloughing off my feet is ridiculous. I feel like a cheese grater had been applied to my heels, outside of my big toe and outside of my arches. It looks like dime and nickle sized blisters but no fluid... like the years of layers of the dry skin has come off and now there is patchy pinky pinky fresh new skin exposed for the first time in decades. My first thought, honestly, was hand foot and mouth disease (can happen on chemo) without the mouth part. Walking on the balls of my feet and tip toes seems to provide some relief from the pain. I'm not sure why I didn't connect this to neuropathy before. I am already on gabapentin for neuropathy due to the axillary lymph node dissection for my left arm. I've been moving around a lot more the last week and a half (work, walking, yoga, mad cleaning anticipating some house guests next weekend, many more trips up and down stairs since chemo began), been wearing supportive sneakers pretty solid. My hips, knees and ankles are still crazy stiff and while painful, feel a little better than they did 2 weeks ago. The weather's been crazy - 30's one day as the high, then 50-60's the next, rain for days, then dry as a bone and sunny. Various compounding and contributing things and I just didn't connect the foot pain to neuropathy.
End result - reduction in taco by 25% for this round and we'll see how it goes. Onco nurse suggested icing at home more frequently (I haven't done that since after the 2nd tx). They don't want me to increase the gabapentin since that just treats the neuropathy symptoms, they want to reduce the symptoms that need to be treated. They said they could also reduce taco again by another 25% next week if I am continuing to have some issues.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend. I'm having some family over to exchange Christmas gifts (I know, it's Feb - I just wasn't in the mood earlier) on Sunday. And one of my sisters is off work for 2 whole days and is coming for pj party and some serious Netflix therapy on Tuesday. I'm having her help me get all 4 boxes of donation stuff from the mad cleaning to Goodwill or Salvation army. I decided to finally part with my very first set of dishes I bought for myself in my very first grown up apartment back in 1999. It was a bit of a nostalgic, emotional decision. But practical - we don't use them, the larger plates and bowls don't fit in the dishwasher, and they are taking up some valuable real estate in the kitchen cabinets. It's nearly a complete set (minus one soup bowl). Someone else can get some use out of them.... They are pretty and I may miss them but I'll get over it.
Over hearing some of the other patients at the chemo center is both hopeful and heart breaking at the same time. It's been a little emotional going to get treatment due to this the last 3 weeks. I am equally looking forward to over hearing their progress and dreading to over hear their struggles.
Hazelnut - the dried apricots, dried prunes and miralax has everything working out for me. I do 3-4 apricots and 3 dried prunes in the morning as part of my breakfast. Prune juice I don't like but is best ice cold, 6-8oz and chugged like you were at a frat party in the 90s. The juice is my last resort (actually, not true - McD's breakfast sandwiches, either the sausage McMuffin w egg and cheese or the bacon egg and cheese bagel, are really my LAST resort - within an hour of eating produces results no fail). Daily Miralax (but half dose) in hot tea in the morning followed by a bottle of water (12-16 oz). I have a least one daily meal of only veggies and have really cut back on my meat consumption. I have a business card on the fridge that is my meat portion measuring tool. Sad but true. I miss meat but it has proven to just be really hard for me to digest with this chemo.
MB1
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