Starting Chemo May 2019
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I really don't need advice from anyone else on my medical care. Thanks for your concern.
Edited to add: I'm glad you haven't had problems, santabarbarian. I think cause and effect are pretty hard to claim, though. I haven't had trouble with my nails or nausea or any significant side effects, either, and I didn't do fasting. That doesn't seem to be the determinant, does it? And if you want to do all the things you're doing and you feel better because of it, that's great. Go for it. I hope it makes your life better, and maybe it will even keep you from getting a recurrence.
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hello everyone, Thoughts and prayers to all. Happy 4th of July. I appreciate all of the great posts.
Sjwhitten- sorry you ended up in the hospital after T/C 4. I face my 4th T/C next week. Hope you are feeling better. Prayers for your friend as well.
Mountainmia- warm ((hugs)) I saw a you tube video of a MO speaking about breast cancer and the first thing she said was that the greatest risk factor was being female and getting older. Two things we can never change.
Santabarbarian- always a wealth of information, really appreciate it.
Aliceneed-hope you are feeling better and have an enjoyable gateway with your hubby and son.
Lacombattant- You are one brave lady with a great attitude. You will get through this.
Jrom-hope Nat is feeling better this week.
Happyanyway-(((hugs)))
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MM, it's impossible to know what helps if doing 10 things at once. It could have been a good chemo response alone. I did not intend to sound bossy. I am not claiming anything 1:1 -- but just sharing some studied and validated anti cancer things that CAN be done. if someone wants to take that approach. I misread your post as seeking a 'plan' to reduce risk.
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Happy Independence Day!
Wishing everyone wonderful time with family and friends!
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My 8 yo and 15 yo were at the neighbors last night to watch them light fireworks. They both ran into our house crying. My husband was at the grocery store. Little bit wasn't really hurt. I believe she was only hit by a couple of sparks. My 15 yo was hit three times on the shin. I thought it was bad. Her shin was covered with soot and her wounds were raw and bloody. In the meantime, our neighbors are coming in and out of our house to check on her. She had just been burned and was frantic! Through tears, she asked everyone to leave her alone. I don't blame anyone for the accident or their reactions, but it was a messy situation to say the least. My husband finally got home and drove her to Children's Hospital. They were there from approximately 10:30 to 12:30. The good news is that they are surface burns. I don't want her to be in pain and want her to to heal without complications.
Oh, I forgot to mention that today is her sixteenth birthday. Her friends will be here at 5 this afternoon. This will be one birthday that she never forgets!
Our 18 yo is taking me to chemo. That is scheduled at 10. My husband and our two other daughters are supposed to get his and 15 yo dd passports this morning. They are going to France on a school trip in October and have procrastinated long enough. He has today off from work. They have had this planned for quite some time.
We still have a decent amount of house work to do, too. So, I need pre bc me to miraculously take over today. I know we'll pull it all together one way or another.
*The good news is that I hear her singing in the shower. She would be appalled if she knew I said that. She's one resilient young lady!
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Happyanyway--Thank God your daughter's injuries were not too serious. Could have been a lot worse. Hope her birthday is happy anyway (no pun intended😳). Prayers that your chemo goes well and very minimal se's. Get help with that housework. I am sure your hubby will help seeing as he is off today. Take care.
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Happyanyway so happy to hear your daughter is ok!! It will be a fabulous day for you and your family!! Praying for an easy chemo day with super easy SE. We’ll be heading down to PX on Monday for Nat’s final AC!! Praying for minimal SE. Better WBC counts and hopefully no more antibiotics. This last course of antibiotics were harder than the chemo. We will be Excited to have AC behind us. Keep us posted on the leg!!
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Good morning warriors! I've been lurking on this thread for a few weeks- tried to post a couple of times, but it didn't take- and am simply in awe of your beauty, strength, resilience, and sense of community. I also started treatment in May (the 16th) of my 4 AC/ 12 Taxol regimen. I completed AC last week and can say I am very glad to be done! I experienced some major acid reflux and a couple days of extreme fatigue, but nothing at all compared to what I psyched myself up for. For that, I am grateful. Now I move on to Taxol a week from today. I think I am even more nervous for that than I was the AC! At any rate, I just wanted to introduce myself and say thank you for all of the information sharing. You inspire and encourage me on this journey!
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Welcome Palmetto. Congrats on getting AC done. We are right behind you!! Almost everyone says that the weekly Taxols are easier!! We’ll all get through this and move on to much better and brighter days!!!!
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welcome Palmetto, Glad you've joined us. Congrats on getting through your A/C. You will get through Taxol just fine. There is a lot of good support on this forum, we have your back.
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HappyAnyway, I am so glad that your daughter's injury is not serious, hope she will heal fast. And of course she is a resilient young lady - your daughter!
Wishing you no SEs from today's taxol.
Welcome Palmetto! I am starting weekly Taxol next week, my MO assured me that usually taxol is easier to tolerate than AC, time will tell, I guess
Jrominger, I will be thinking of Nat and sending good vibes on Monday.
UpStateNYer, how are you doing?
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Hi Lacombattant- I am doing very well. Just spent an hour cleaning the inside of my refrigerator- have to clean my bathrooms next-not sure where I am getting the energy, but am feeling like my pre-chemo self right now😊. Looking forward to my last C/T next Wed. How are you doing? Hope everyone is having a good day.
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UpStateNYer, you are so close to the finish line, yay!
I am enjoying my extra week off chemo, my MO was onto something when she decided to delay start of Taxol - what a difference a week makes
. Like you, I feel and act like my pre-chemo self ...
1.5 hour walk this morning, working for a couple of hours... then shopping, cleaning, cooking...Hope taxol will not hit me too hard, I kind of like being 'me' even me sans hair
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Sending warm hugs to all.
I am done with cycle 2, 4 more to go. SE from 2nd infusion was little different from the first one. I thought it will all be same. Second cycle was more doable than first the one expect for the extreme fatigue. I can still feel the tumor, wondering when would it shrink.
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Lacombattant. You and my bride will knock em dead on taxol!! Nat agreed that her 11 day delay made her feel normal again. We will finish AC on Monday She feels great today. We did 2.6 mi hike at 7500 ft in elevation. Her blood count must be up as she was an animal 👍
UpstateNYer you are ALWAYS so wonderfully positive and we love looking at your posts!! So happy you are close!
Happyanyway how did the sweet 16 go? Her leg? Your infusion?
Neeli Nat’s tumor started shrinking after AC#2. The mo PA said it should shrink like butter after #3 so we’ll see how it looks on Monday
By God’s Grace everyone here will have their tumors nonexistent when this is done. Have a fantastic se free weekend!!
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UpstateNYer, jrominger and LaCombattante, thanks for your concern for my daughter! I thankfully didn't need a nap. The house turned out great with all five of us working together. My daughter had a great time, despite being in pain on occasion. Having her friends over was a fun distraction. She made out like a bandit and wants to go shopping now.
Welcome, palmetto! Congrats on completing AC! That is a huge milestone. The Taxol thread is very informative, too.
Neeli, I began to see and feel a difference in my lump after my second treatment. My ultrasound after AC showed that it's still there, but indeed is smaller.
Taxol number three was a breeze. I don't experience nausea at all with it. The natracure cold socks are effective for the entire infusion. I actually took them off for a few minutes because my feet were so cold. The small cryomax packs are not nearly as good, in my opinion. My hands are shaky and weak, but not numb or tingling. I may look for an alternative way to ice my hands.
It sounds like everything is going fairly well for most of us right now. That's amazing!
For those of you that are struggling, hang in there! It will get better.
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My periods started today and it looks like regular bleeding i used to have before chemo. Any of you have had periods while taking chemotherapy?
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Happyanyway. So happy to hear about the party and easy taxol #3. We r anxious to get AC #4 over on Monday and hoping for minimal SE and no intestinal issues. So you think the natracure socks are worth the purchase? We are starting to gear up for Taxol in 2 weeks.
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Neeli, I was immediately thrown into menopause and haven't had a period since. The associated hot flashes are a challenge for me.
Yes, jrominger, I highly recommend the natracure socks. I'm a thrifty person, too. I wish that I had saved the packaging to return the cryomax, though. Thank goodness Nat has her last AC on Monday!
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Happyanyway Ok based on your recommendation I think we’ll order those socks. We’ll be SO happy to get AC over with!! A bit nerve racking with the intestinal issues. Hopefully those are behind us. I’m trying to focus on today and not worrying about tomorrow or next month!! Straight out of Mathew. We r going to have a bbq and camp fire up on the mountain with our daughter’s family this afternoon. Got to enjoy the higher wbc days!! Her husband is a fireman and has coworker who’s wife was dx withTNBC a month after their baby was born!! The good news that was 9 yrs ago and they are fabulous as will be all of us!!! Happy Saturday!
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Hi Everyone: I have posted before but actually I am more of a lurker. I finished AC 2 weeks ago Thursday and will start Taxol next Thursday. I got an extra week off because of the holiday and it has been so nice to have the extra time and feel better. One problem, I have developed an itchy rash on my arms and legs. I have taken over the counter Benadryl to try to control the itching until I can reach the doctor on Monday. Has anyone else had any problems with rashes due to chemo.?? I had heard it is not unusual to develop a rash on Taxol. I am so uncomfortable. Any advise, please and thank you in advance.
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Jrom- Prayers and warm hugs to Nat for tomorrow's treatment. Last A/C - YES!! Hopefully, minimal se's. Hope you had fun at the bbq. Got to enjoy those good days.
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Jrominger, I think Nat will like the socks. I hope you all had a great time!
Mpv459, congrats on finishing AC! I'm sorry about your rash. You may want to try an oatmeal bath. Aveeno has a nice soothing oatmeal bath treatment. It may provide a little relief until you are able to talk to your doctor.
Hi UpstateNYer! How are you feeling today?
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UpstateNYer and Happyanyway. Thank you for the kind words and prayers. They mean a ton to us. You are in our prayers daily.Nat feels so good it’s hard to go back tomorrow!! But it is #4 AC Woot woot!! The time with our daughter’s family is so precious. We miss having our son here. They live in Albuquerque. We do a lot of FaceTime together. I have some cute pics of us hiking and at the campfire. How are you two feeling?? I hope you are doing well and Happyanyway I hope the new driver in your house is healing nicely!!! Again thank you for your prayers. Lot’s of WBC’s and no hospital visits 🙏
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Hey jrominger!
I'm feeling really well. Little miss sweet sixteen drove us to Target. We spent an hour shopping. She spent some of her birthday money. She's taking ibuprofen around the clock. Her wounds are healing nicely. Thanks so much for your prayers.
Continued prayers for Nat and her last AC!
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hi Happyanyway- I am feeling well today, thanks. Glad your daughter is feeling better too. Hope you are feeling well too. You have a week off from Taxol next week. Any plans for a trip with your family?
Jrom-Nat should do fine tomorrow. Prayers for good wbc count and minimal se's. Glad you had fun with your daughter and her family.
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Hi my dear friends!
I am cleared to receive my first taxol, blood counts are quite good, the week off after the final AC certainly helped.
Am getting premeds right now, Taxol will start right after; I pray that I tolerate it well - it is a good treatment.
Jrominger- best wishes to Nat on her final AC, no SEs and fast recovery! Please keep us posted how it goes.
Mpv, welcome and congrats on finishing AC.
Time to start icing:) I will share an update this afternoon
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Thank you all for the welcome. Jrominger- my thoughts are with y'all on the final AC!! Prayers for a smooth infusion and no SE! LaCombattante- congrats on starting round 2 with good counts! I hope everything goes smoothly and that you tolerate it well. I look forward to your update. HappyAnyway- thank you for the recommendation for the Taxol thread. I've been reading over the weekend and it really has put my mind at ease. I saw your posts there about the natracure socks ( I plan to get 2 pr for hands and feet) and the brow gel. Are you happy with that? I've kept MOST of my brows and eyelashes to this point, but would love to stave off any additional loss. My bald head is quite enough! :P
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The first taxol is in the bag. 11 more to go.
The infusion itself was uneventful, hydration, steroid and antihistamine as premeds, followed by 1 hour taxol and more hydration. They kept me for an extra hour in the hospital for observation and all was good.
I iced my hands and feet, the hospital does provide gloves and socks, but I noticed that gloves didn’t last the full hour. Or, maybe my hands got used to the cold
. Next time I will ask to change mid infusion. The nurse said to watch for nausea today / tomorrow. She assured me that, usually, it is not too bad on Taxol, but after my last experience with EC, I am cautious. The time will tell.
Interestingly, they said no WBC booster, even though my WBC was on a low side. Hope it holds steady and I can get my bag of position next week
Best wishes to all!
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Alright LaCombattante! First Taxol done! I think you will be pleasantly surprised compared to EC.
Hi palmetto. I think the eyebrow and lash gel is helping. My brows and lashes have thinned a little, but still look pretty good.
Jrominger, please let Nat know that I'm thinking of her today.
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