Chemo starting December 2018
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OMG the rollercoaster ride! Yesterday I felt so great then last night after dinner I got hit with pain and soreness from head to toe! I felt like I got run over... today finds me feeling blah. Very little energy and foggy. The aches and pains are a lot better but for some reason my legs are sore and stiff. I took a 2 hour ano which isn't like me but I feel a little better. Here's to hoping it's just my body trying to get rid of the taxol. I go Friday for my 1st Herceptin only treatment and I know I'll l get Benadryl as a pre-med but don't know about this my first triple dose of Herceptin.
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Hi everyone,
Chemo sucks. Nanette, It really is a roller coaster of highs and lows. Although, trying to recall what are the highlights.
2nd treatment started with much drama finding a vein for infusion. After much poking, pain, and a blood bubble, everything finally worked out. But left with a huge seroma. With still 10 more rounds and bloodwork to be done, have requested a PICC line to be placed. Should have been adamant about it earlier. No need to continue with this kind of suffering.
On a happier note, side effects have lessened this 2nd time around. Hoping to continue this trend for as long as possible. But I know better, chemo toxins will eventually catch up and I’ll wish I were at the finish line.
Spring is nearly here. Though, not soon enough! Hope everyone’s well.
xx
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Round 11 began yesterday. Today is steroid day. Yippee!!
Angie, you need to demand a port. That stuff needs to go into the biggest vein accessible, otherwise you will end up with damaged or even ruined veins. I was not given a choice.
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Thanks Mary.
Will ask for a port. Would also allow more freedom for sports abdactivities. Hopefully they will agree on a port instead of PICC line.
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Angie, a port sounds like a great idea for you. On my last round, they spend almost an hour looking for a vein that would work. Chemo is hard on veins.
MCBaker, sounds like you are almost done! Support to you!
Anxiouslady, hang in there. I know you can do it, and when you've done the six rounds, you can feel like you did everything you could to kick butt.
I had my first radiation mapping meeting. It was pretty easy, even the tattoos. But at the end, the RO came out and told me she sees a fluid sac underneath my arm and we should ultrasound it. And maybe biopsy it because it feels like a swollen lymph node.
First I was going to have to wait a couple weeks to have the ultrasound, but luckily RO was able to get me in yesterday. Turned out to be a seroma pushing up on a very clear and just fine lymph node making it seem swollen, but wasn't. Not going to lie, these past couple of days were scary. Worried the cancer had come back only four months after surgery and in my lymph nodes. Whew! I hope this terror gets easier to handle as time progresses.
Thinking of everyone in their treatments ~ peace to you.
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Lillian so sorry about what you're going through! Hoping all will be fine.
Picc lines work just like ports and do tap into the aorta just like our ports.
Angie the picc line goes in your arm above the elbow and can stay in for quite a while but you have to watch for infection. You'll also have a small piece of the catheter hanging out of you arm.
My neighbor has rectal cancer and her surgeon put in a Picc line on the inside of her bicep. She said they didn't want to give her a port, that for her Dr a Picc line was best for chemo.
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Lillian, sorry to hear all the added stress in preparation for radiotherapy. It’s crazy how every little detail can just soundoff alarm bells. Had nearly the same thing last week when mamma (breast) care nurse had a follow-up due to continued pain where reconstruction site along scar line sits. There is a little lumpy tissue that has never gone away since surgery in September and it’s increasingly become painful. She recommended me to see radiologist to do an ultra sound, just in case we missed something.
Automatically, I imagined the worst, but radiologist didn’t see anything unusual, so we assume it is nerve related. Happy that there isn’t anything suspect, but not happy that the pain has not gone away since surgery. May have to see a pain management specialist if this does not improve after chemotherapy.
Talked with onco nurse this afternoon and she confirms that they will go with PICC line instead of port-cath. It’s what they prefer in my case. Either way, am relieved to not get poked about for future bloodwork and infusions.
Nanette, not sure I’m looking forward to having some sort of catheter line dangling around. Will be a lovely accessory to go with bald head for spring time. Wish I were auditioning for new sci-fi movie 😁. That’ll really leave an impression!
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Can you see my white fuzz lol
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Nanette, Baby hair 👶. Whoohoo! It’s beginning! Are you already done with Taxol? Is that when new growth starts to come in
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Hi Angie my hair started growing back in about 1 month ago...so it was week 8 that my husband said "hey you have hair!" It used to grow,so fast but not now after Taxol....it's coming in sooo slowly but!! It's coming back!
I finished Taxol 2 weeks ago and I had my 1st Herceptin only this past Friday. I had a reaction.... severe nausea BOOM! it came out of nowhere...we had to stop. They gave me some Ketryl?? for the nausea and ir went away. I was 15 min done of the 30 min. The dosage went from the 2 mg/kg to 6 mg/kg so the nurse decided that the rest of my treatments will be 1 hour instead of 30 min.
Anyhow glad to be done with Taxol!! Seems to be working it's way out of my body. I have weird bumps showing up like acne on my face ...arms ..neck....trunk and my right hip. Not a rash just lone red bumps that like mad for 24-36 hours and then they go away. I'm telling you it's weird!
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Someone IRL suggested a dry sauna to purge the chemicals. I asked my onco, and he was supportive, said to time it a week after my last Taxol.
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a sauna sounds like a great idea... how relaxing
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Sauna really is great! I had been going on my good weeks while on AC treatments. I would sweat out all the remaining toxins and afterwards would feel completely renewed! I did asked onco nurse to be sure sauna was ok while on chemo. Would only sit in sauna for about 5-6 mins and then cold shower rinse to cool down. Repeat twice. Depending on how my body was feeling.
But now that I will have PICC line placement, have been told by onco nurse that I can not sauna or golf until the PICC line is removed. Next 2.5 months will be even more depressing. Going for sauna after a few holes of golf or gym was my saving grace. Maybe it’s time to get into yoga.
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Lillian, so sorry to hear about the stress! I hope all is better now.
Nanette - love the hair - you're the envy of just about everyone on here I imagine.
Angie - that sucks. No sauna and no golf. People will say "It's only 2.5 months you can do that easy." And they're right, but screw them. It's not easy, it sucks. Let's take away their favorite things, add in "fun" SEs and see how easy it is. Simply, sucks. But . . . you can do it, it is only 2.5 months, you will get better, be stronger and have a resilience others will envy. I am just so sorry you have to endure this new indignity. Oh how I hate cancer!!!!!!!
I'm also looking into yoga. Went snorkeling while on vacation this weekend and loved it, but it WORE. ME. OUT. And I'm 3 weeks post last chemo. I need to start to regain my strength and flexibility - so, yoga! I think I'm going to make DH do it with me. The Florida sunshine did do wonders for my mood - right up until I came back home to snow and 9* temps this morning, lol.
I have this week off, then start radiation on Monday. 20 sessions, four weeks then I'm done with it all but the estrogen blocker drug.
Stay strong sisters, we're all a lot further along and nearer the end of treatments than when we first started posting in December.
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Hi Becky,
Yes, I can imagine how wonderful going somewhere warm and sunny would do some good for the mind, body, and soul ! And snorkeling! How much fun was that? Albeit, exhausting on you. I’m also finding it getting difficult to keep the same work out level at the gym. As much as I had wanted to try and stay strong through treatments, it’s definitely become an added challenge.
I’ve heard yoga does wonders for the mind and body. Going to give it a go. Hope you’ll do so too! Good luck with radiotherapy next week. Keep us posted.
Hope everyone is doing well and side effects are milder and manageable.
xx
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ahhhhhh Becky it was you that brought this COLD weather down here to Florida!!! Just kidding. But seriously this week the weather has changed so much. It was in the upper 70s-80s and this morning it was 49F!! And its going to stay a few days too....sigh
Seriously Becky glad you got to get away and enjoy some sunshine. Amazing isn't it?? Just recharges the batteries and gives hope that all will be well soon enough. Good luck with the Rads..will be keeping you in prayer.
Angie your energy will come back. Its amazing how much better it is each day I get further and further from that last chemo... but the Herceptin has it's own few days of challenges but nothing as bad as Taxol!!
Note to all those who are going on with Herceptin treatments...My MO forgot to tell me that Herceptin starts 1 week after chemo. The office had to call me and let me know about it and set u p my appt. The normal time for that dose (because its larger) is 30-90 minutes. I had severe nausea that occurred instantly about 15 min through the 30 min and we had to stop to treat me with ketril(sp?) for the nausea... and then restart at a slower dosage rate. Don't be afraid to speak up if something isn't going right. My time will be 1 hr for the next year.
I saw my breast surgeon yesterday and I'm to see the plastic surgeon this Thursday about the bilateral mastectomy. Even though it is my left breast that is trying to kill me I've decided that I won't put rightie through all the suffering leftie has been through so hence the bilateral. She had agreed that I'm a good candidate for skin sparing surgery 8) so that was very good news. She's going to help get rid of 2 of the bad scars from the tape allergy and incorporate those into the new scars. I will have a T on leftie and a - on rightie. If PS agrees I'll get expanders at same surgery.
So here's to a new chapter in my walk AGAINST breast cancer!!
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Hello Everyone,
I am pretty new to this forum and have joined it today. My mother(age 68) has been diagnosed with breast cancer in both her breast. My doctors term it as synchronous breast cancer.
In the right breast:
Tumor size: 3.2cm
Lymph nodes involved 2/11
ER/PR +
HER2 -
Ki67 = 22%
Mamaprint score +0.044
In the left breast:
Tumor size: 1.8cm
Lymph node involved 1/3
Ki67 = 8%
Given that she had cancer in both her breast she had to undergo bilateral mastectomy. I am looking for survivors who can share their story of bilateral breast cancer. Is the survival rate for bilateral breast cancer lesser?
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Hope, my diagnosis is different from your mother's, but I didn't want to leave your post unanswered. (even though I have no answers for you.) I have found that many of my questions can be answered on several different cancer websites. The Mayo clinic has a lot of good info too. I would encourage your mom to get on here too. I can't speak for everyone, but simply having a place to vent and discuss with others going through a similar journey has been very helpful to my attitude and mindset. Here's hoping to no bad SEs for you mom!
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my blood counts took another nose dive this week. Was able to go forward with the treatment today, but will take next week off to rest and hopefully recover.
I am curious to see what happens, honestly. I wonder how much I’ll rebound after a week off, and what the SEs will be when I resume.
The main thing is that if I only miss one session, I think I’ll still be good to go to my son’s graduation in May. I’ll have three weeks from the last chemo to recover.
I’m halfway through twelve Taxol s / carbos, so if I have to teak a break, it seems like a good time.
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kber,
I hear you on taking a break after blood count numbers. It’s so exhausting to get poisoned on a weekly base. Keep us posted on how you’re feeling with a week off from chemo.
Currently fighting a terrible cough. Did bloodwork and chest X-ray today to check everything. Nothing unusual. Blood count seems normal. Though, slight fever. 100.1 degrees. Not enough to raise concerns. Onco nurse will check back on Monday to see how I’m doing and MO will decide whether round 4 goes on for Tuesday.
Here’s to a restful weekend.
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Kber sorry about your counts hoping the break might help your body heal some before having your cocktail again.
Angie the cough could be the taxol...it is a SE...and praying it's nothing more
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Thanks Nanette.
I’m finding Taxol has all sorts of SE’s. Kinda like having cold/flu symptoms all the time. Have been feeling like this since the beginning of Taxol. It’s draining to feel sick all the time. Not sure I can handle it for 12 weeks straight.
Though, I’m sure it’s all the chemo (since Dec 24th) accumulating that’s got me feeling beyond fatigued. There’s hardly any time to recuperate. Can only think of sleeping and eating in countering these side effects.
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I began treatment 12/21 TH weekly and completed treatment number 12 yesterday. I, too, had flu-like symptoms. I have had a rash that has gotten progressively worse. I am hoping that it is from the Taxol and not the Herceptin, since now I will go on the three week schedule of Herceptin for the remainder of the year.
The twelve weeks seemed like forever. I am so thankful to be done with the Taxol and am looking forward to my hair growing.
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Bren, though I'm on a different drug regimen, I too am looking daily to see if I can see any hair growth! I finished chemo four weeks ago and start radiation Monday, so I keep thinking the hair should be growing!!!! I can't see it though DH says he thinks it is. It was so traumatic losing it, I feel like seeing it start growing will be a visual marker that I made it. I got through and am on the other side. And I so desperately want to be done with this journey!
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Becky, I was really hoping for hair growth by four weeks. Losing hair has been most devastating! I haven’t been anywhere except for doctor and chemo since I started chemo. I want to get out when my counts go up, but feel like the hair loss just reminds me and everyone of my cancer. I don’t like the feel of my wig and have just been wearing scarves and beanies around the house.
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I have almost twenty headcoverings to choose from, and I enjoy it. I made twelve of them. People don't even look twice. I don't go out in public carrying a mirror with me. I should be oblivious, too. Being hairless is uncomfortable, but wearing something on my head is comfortable, and I can easily forget about it.
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I finished chemo four weeks ago and I am starting to feel little prickly hairs trying to come through. My head has been so itchy that my dr suggested I use Sarna cream to relieve the itching. All winter I have been wearing my beanie hats (only wore wig a couple of times), but I am now thinking about my spring head wardrobe. I was thinking of trying the baseball hats that cover the head more than a regular baseball hat. https://www.headcovers.com/softie-baseball-cap/ What do you think? Monday starts radiation....what an emotional 6 months this has been!
Be well everyone!
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Mary I'm going to work on making myself some scarves and a couple of light weight hats this week. I enjoy fixing up my "hair" before I go out. At home I tend to go au natural as my peach fuzzies seem to keep my scalp warm enough indoors.
Flowers I like those hats!! My favorite for outside in the yard is a baseball cap I recieved from BreastFriends. It has a nice wide brim to shade my face and with my sunglasses on my eyes are totally protected. I too don't like the feel of some wigs as the are itchy!
Hope everyone gets to experience some of this beautiful spring weather!
As for me I've either got a bad cold...bad case of allergies or this is a SE of Herceptin but all I want to do is sleep because I feel so awful with cold-like symptoms. I was hoping this was over with the taxol done 😥
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Bren, I feel you! Losing the hair was hard, but after the 4th and last chemo, I lost almost all my eyelashes and my eyebrows are still thinning. I can handle going out with my hats (I never tried the wig, wasn't interested). But I wear my cheater reading glasses (big round ones) to camouflage my lack of eyelashes and eyebrows. I won't say it was harder than losing the hair, but it definitely bothers me more now.
Flower, I picked up a couple of baseball style hats for my weekend in Florida - https://www.headcovers.com/tenley-baseball-cap/
But I have to share the worst thing that has happened to me in all of this, and it has weighed upon me even though I swore not to let it get to me. So here's the rather long story.
Went to dinner in Ft. Lauderdale with DH, son and his girlfriend to a nice restaurant with a good bar. We didn't get there until 8:30 which is late for dinner for me, and the drinking crowd was having some fun. No worries. We were in the outdoor seating area and it was getting cool so I put on my nice zip up North face light gray sweatshirt. I was wearing the hat in the above link and some long jean capris and tennis shoes. Like I've told you all before, right before the chemo I was dieting and I've lost around 100lbs. I was feeling pretty good about myself and thought I looked rather cute. Washing my hands, son's girlfriend also in the restroom with me, a drunk young woman says loudly "I didn't know these were co-ed bathrooms. I froze momentarily as I realized she was referring to me. Then I turned around and said "Not co-ed, chemo." and took my hat off looking her in the eye. She went white. Then started apologizing, then started crying and telling me how awful she felt, her family was going through some things,blah, blah, blah." I helped her fix her dress (so short she kept flashing us from the front, lol). and sent her on her way.
I know she was drunk. But it hurt. I thought I looked cute and she mistook me for A MAN. And there I was, hairless, eyelashless, and almost eyebrow less, consoling a bitchy 20 something that used her inebriation as a weapon and her tears as a defense. I'm kind of mad that I didn't say I was transgendered and what was her problem just to make a point about bigotry, but I was too stunned to think that quickly. And now, I think about this incident every morning as I put on my makeup. Not sure how to put it behind me and usually I'm pretty pragmatic, logical and not that sensitive.
There, venting complete, thanks for "listening."
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Becky....I have tears in my eyes as I am reading your post. You should be SO PROUD of yourself and how you handle "stupid girl"! I applaud you!!! I think I probably would not have said anything, and then regret not reacting to her remark. Some people, drunk or not, just do not have filters on what comes out of their mouths!!! You did GOOD!!!!!!!!
Losing eyebrows and eyelashes have been harder than the hair for me. I look like I have beady little eyes. I wont leave the house without makeup now. I cant wait until the sun finally shines in NJ, as I am ready to wear my sunglasses and baseball caps! I actually wore my wig today to a shower, and I do like the look of it, but it is so uncomfortable. And if someone hugged me, I felt like I had to adjust my head!!!
Be well everyone!!!!!!!!!!!1
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