Starting Chemo May 2019
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Mtnmia, Happyanyway. Nat’s hair is also coming back. Sparsely like duck down. Go gettem tomorrow Happyanyway!! Keep chipping away.
April0315. Natalie did the same with her wig!! Our insurance covered $350 so we got one. She may wear it more this fall when it gets cold. She has some very cool scarves. The cancer center ordered it and trimmed it They actually buzzed Nat’s hair at the beginning and trimmed the wig for free!
Mightlybird01. Thank you for your recommendations. We do drink keifer kombucha and have yogurt every day. Praise God her burning pain went away last night after a short 1.8 mile stroll and some prayers. We r just about to set out on a more vigorous hike this am Hallelujah! We sure appreciate all the advice
Praying for this entire group!!! One day at a time!!
J
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Hi everyone!
Finally checking in. I feel much more tired than usual after this week chemo. Weekend cannot be here soon enough:)
HappyAnyway: I had to renew my passport in May and had my photo taken in a wig. At least some use
Best wishes for tomorrow, I will be praying for a non- eventful treatment and no SEs.Jrominger: Glad to hear that Nat is feeling better. GI issues are so annoying! I find that taking Pantoprazole on day 2 and 3 after Taxol helps in my case. I also take probiotic supplement in addition to daily kefir and yogurt.
Mightlybird: welcome!
MountainMia, April 0315, good to hear from you again! MountainMia, good luck with radiation- soon the whole ordeal will be in the rearview mirror.
Palmetto, you will have your 7th Taxol tomorrow, right? Wishing you best of luck!
Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers, please be well!
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Hi Jrominger! Good to hear that Nat is feeling better.
LaCombattante, I got a wig. It's made of real hair so I may have it cut to my liking. Seems strange to me, but I will have some fun with it. I haven't told my husband yet. I'm going to surprise him after it's been cut. 😉
UpstateNYer (and others that have mentioned it) thank you for bringing the American Cancer Society to my attention. I took two of my girls with me. We all laughed while I was trying on wigs. They provide free boarding for out of town stays, too. I believe the lady that helped me said it's called Hope Lodge. I asked if it's like a hotel. She said yes, but better. The rooms are private with a bathroom. There are communal areas such as the kitchen.
To anyone out there looking for help, in addition to the American Cancer Society, I highly recommend the Cancer Support Community. Don't forget to check out the PAN Foundation, too.
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Hi Happyanyway- I am thinking of you today. Hope all goes well with your infusion today. You are approaching the finish line. We also have a Hope Lodge in my city. That is where I got my wig as well. Glad you were able to find a wig. They are so nice there. I would love to volunteer for a cancer charity once I am post treatments.
I will get my simulation and marking for rads next Tuesday. I will probably start rads on Sept. 9th. I will go every day for 16 days. I will have weekends off. Hope to be finished with rads by end of Sept. Also will meet with MO on Sept. 4th to discuss hormone blocking meds.
Jrom, Lacombattant, April, Palmetto, G1973, brittandherboobs, Mightlybird01, Mountainmia. Thinking of all of you too on this beautiful day. Hope you are having a stress free, se free day.
Pat😊
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Great day off here. My housekeeper came, I did my laps, took a nap and just had a big delicious salad for a late lunch. I was never a napper before chemo. Now they feel like heaven.
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UpstateNYer. Sounds like a good rad plan! We have been told it takes longer to get undressed than it does to do the radiation. Nat’s friend did 6 weeks of radiation and felt great the whole time!! She walked every day. She said she has 2 minor burn marks from the radiation but they were and are no big deal!! Moving forward!!
Happyanyway thinking and praying for you today!!
Lacombattante sorry about being tired!! It does seem like as you move through this it builds up. We hiked 3.6 miles today but the hills were tougher for Natalie. She also took 2 naps this week. Way not like her but I’m sure good for her. She also has had more upper stomach burning and bone, muscle and side aches. But she says it’s not bad enough to take anything. Again probably just the accumulation. # 6 on Monday!!
I am praying multiple times per day for everyone here!! Hang tough.
J
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UpstateNYer, if you haven't already looked into the rads comment threads, you might get a lot out of it. I'm mostly in the August group, but the July one is active and helpful, too. Today I did #4 of 20 and it is going well. From the time I went into the building to the time I left was about 20 minutes. The techs are fantastic, kind and efficient.
Let me know if you have questions I can help with.
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A friend sent me the link for this song. Loved it! and thought you might get a kick out of it, too.
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Thank you, UpstateNYer. Only 4 left. Yay! You will be finished with rads around the same time I finish chemo. Let's have a virtual party!
April0315, it's nice to see you around here again. Sounds like you had a wonderful day!
Hey Jrominger! I got my rx for Zantac filled today. My stomach is a bit off and I'm tired. Otherwise, I feel good. It's great that Nat is able to push through and continue to hike.
MountainMia, that video is the best! 😂 Thanks for sharing.
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same here, Taxol #5 definitely the hardest one so far, everything is just much more exhausting than usual. Maybe it is just the lack of sleep for the last 2 nights.
I don't know if it has been discussed, but are you ladies taking anything to help with sleep during the steroid phase, or even in general during chemo? I find the night sweats wake me up quite frequently each night.
Hope everyone is hanging in there and seeing that bright light at the end of the tunnel!
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Mountainmia-Loved the song. Really very uplifting to me and made me smile. How true were the words. Thanks for sharing it. 😍May I ask what you do in preparing for rads? Do you moisturize beforehand? I will definitely check out the other rads threads too. I started one for those beginning Sept. 2019.
I had a couple of nice long walks today. I walked over 5 miles total. Boy, do I feel great. Wish I could walk as far as Nat and Lacombattant. 😜
Happyanyway- how did your infusion go today?You were in my thoughts.
April- sounds like you had a very nice day off today. Glad you had some private time for yourself.
Lacombattant- hope your tiredness subsides soon, and you are back to hiking soon.
Jrom- hello to you and Nat..sorry to hear about those nasty aches and pains. Like I said before, I had many of those during chemo. It was very scary and all kinds of negative thoughts entered my mind. They have totally subsided. Hoping that they will subside for Nat as well. My shoulder pain is also much, much better too.
Positive vibes and prayers for all always, love you guys💞
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Mightlybird01, I consider the steroids a necessary evil. Are you taking them? They cause me to lose sleep, gain weight, have a red face for a couple of days and my hands to shake on occasion.
I take 10 mg of melatonin every night. Thanks to Ingerp on the Taxol thread, I take Zofran at bedtime, even though I don't get nauseated from TC. It seems to help.
Hi UpstateNYer. The infusion went off without any problems. I just get so sleepy from the benedryl. I feel like the steroids and benedryl fight each other. I don't get a steroid high. Wish I did.
Thank God that you are feeling better!
Mightlybird01, I re-read your post. Looks like it's the lovely steroids causing your symptoms, too.
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UpstateNYer over 5 miles, you’re an animal!! That’s fabulous. I love to hear that you are feeling so well. Can’t wait to get these last 7 done!! One day at a time!! Glad the shoulder is much improved!!
Happyanyway I’m happy to hear all went well. I’ve been praying for you today.Keep checking them off!! Lot’s of uplifting survivor stories on that TNBC thread!!! That’s us!!
Mightlybird. #5 for Natalie seemed to be harder for her. Hoping it doesn’t get worse. It will be interesting to see her blood work on Monday. Praying that it will just stay up there to get em all done!! She is sure hanging tough and has a great attitude. I did whip her in cribbage again today😳
Prayers for all on this thread!!!
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mightybird, I asked my MO if we could reduce the amount of steroid. For the first infusions I had 3 decadrons, I think 12 mg (? -- I don't remember what units they came in) total. For later ones I only took 1 decadron and that worked fine for me, and also helped with the steroid SE.
UpstateNYer, I'm not completely sure what your question is. Maybe this will answer. For prepping for each treatment, I shower in the morning and then put a thin layer of fragrance-free Lubriderm on my chest, from collar bone to a couple of inches below my breast, and from sternum to the mid-line of my rib under my arm. Then after getting home I put a layer of Aquaphor on, and also before going to bed. I have a soft cotton bra, one of the ones with 7 hooks and eyes up the front, that I got at Walmart. Once I put the Aquaphor on I switch to it, and have been wearing one of Jim's old, thin, white V-neck undershirts around the house, and to sleep overnight. That way I'm not getting the Aquaphor on my nicer clothes or on the sheets. Let me know if I didn't answer what you were asking.
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Hi everyone and Happy Saturday!
HappyAnyway, congratulations on having the No 8 behind your belt! Only four to go, yay! And I totally relate to steroids and Benadryl fighting each other
Mightlybird, for me it was the 6th Taxol when the fatigue became more pronounced and my chemo brain started to be a real bother. Didn't improve much with the 7th Taxol, unfortunately. For sleep I, too, take Melatonin.
UpStateNYer, Happy to hear that your shoulder is getting better. Yay on five miles! And thank you for good wishes - I am proud to report that we did four hours hike today, in the mountains. I was dead tired on our way back, but very happy that we did it.
Jrominger, I toohope that Nat's blood counts stay strong and next chemos will not be too hard on her.
I keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers, please be well!
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Hi everyone! I almost can't believe we're all moving through this... it's sometimes hard to believe this will all be in the past one day. I have my first Taxol infusion on Monday. I'm nervous, I've tried reading the weekly Taxol thread but it seems like S are so different for everybody. One thing I find confusing is the hair situation... I keep hearing that my hair may start growing during my 12 Taxols?!?! I have had a layer of white fuzz on my head for about a month.... keep expecting it to fall out but it has persevered. Physically I feel great. I recently took up stand-up paddle boarding and love it. I've been staying active with HIIT workouts in the sunshine. Mentally I've never felt worse, I can hardly get through a day without crying. Anyways I just wanted to say hello and that I appreciate you all. ♥️
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Brittandherboobs. So Taxol has definitely been easier for Natalie than the AC!! We just finished a 4 mile hike. We did 22 miles this past week. We do Taxol #6 tomorrow. We are starting to see an accumulation effect as she was slightly more tired and even napped this week!! The side effects are just weird stomach, intestinal and ovary pains. Nothing that has required any meds. Walking helps. She occasionally gets a sharp pain in her joints. A lot of you wonderful women have described similar SEs so that relieves us. Sadly misery loves company 🤪. Nat’s hair is definitely growing back!! All over her head but most notably on the back and nape of her neck. No neuropathy. She ices. No nail issues as of yet. Bloody noses. She has a great attitude and takes it one day at a time. She doesn’t really want to think about being done as we still have a ways to go!! I think about it a lot!!! I just want this all to go away for her. One day!! God bless to everyone. We’ll be half done with Taxol tomorrow!!!
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Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I'm heading in for my last work shift till next Saturday.
HappyAnyway, my experiences with the pre-meds are identical to yours. I never get the steroid energy, the benadryl wipes me out for the day. I asked to reduce that dose, but MO said I might get some SE from the taxol, so I opted to keep the dose the same. It pretty much kills the whole day for me, spend a few hours getting Taxol, eat lunch then sleep for a few more hours.
Tomorrow will be Taxol 8 and our 22nd Anniversary. I could certainly think of better ways to spend the day, we'll just make the most of it. Maybe do something Wednesday instead.
I have the peach fuzz on my head too, but it's not really growing or doing anything that would make me feel like my hair is growing back. I really miss my eyebrows.
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Britt: I hope that all goes well today! One never knows, but in my humble opinion, the fact that you are in such a great physical shape and are so active, will help you.
Taxol has been easier on me than EC. I am back to work (half time), hubby and I hike as often as we can (we did two four hours hikes in the mountains on the weekend)... I do get some odd muscle / nerve pains now and then, and have to take Pantoprazole few days a week but it is manageable. Even chemo brain is manageable, that is, as long as I don't forget to write a to-do list first thing in the morning (LoL). Fatigue does increase with time, but it is not debilitating and as long as I know and respect my 'down days', I can manage. I ice my hands and feet during infusion and so far I have no nail / neuropathy issues. Couple of times I got very light tingling in my toes / fingertips, but it disappeared after half a day or so.
Jrominger- best wishes to Nat, praying for an uneventful treatment todand no SEs.
April - congratulations on the 22 nd Anniversary! It's too bad it falls on infusion day, but I am sure you two will make the best out of it - where is a will, there is a way:))). Good luck with No 8 tomorrow, we seem to be on the same schedule.
Sending positive vibes from across the pond
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Hello gang, hope all is well. Brittandherboobs, you got this! There is overwhelming anecdotal evidence that Taxol is much easier than other chemo drugs. I know when I first started, there were things I had read that kinda freaked me out. After the first infusion, I realized I needed to relax a bit. I hope it is equally not a big deal for you. The fact that you're taking such good care of yourself physically will serve you well. I definitely hear you on the weepy part. My MO keeps reminding me that she can prescribe something for my blues (which will also help my hot flashes, ironically). I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I feel it's important to remember that tool is available in my toolkit, just in case.
LaCombattante and April0315, good luck with #8 tomorrow! I'll be right behind you with #8 on Friday. And congrats on the anniversary, April. 22 years is a big big thing to celebrate, no matter how/where!
Jrom- thinking of you and Nat today for the next infusion. HappyAnyway, just wanted to say hello. You're in my thoughts.
I'm keeping myself occupied with my chemo and cruise countdowns! Doing well... last week, my Hgb spiked a full point! I've been swimming when I have strength; resting when I need it. I feel this time around fatigue definitely got me. I took long naps both Saturday and Sunday. But I'm hanging in there. Just wanted to check in and let you all know how much I appreciate the friendship and support on this board.
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Jrominger, thinking of Nat today.
Brittandherboobs, I hope you will be pleasantly surprised.
UpstateNYer, MountainMia, LaCombattante and palmetto, hi. 😁
April0315, happy anniversary!
No news here. I'm very sleepy. Not quite exhausted like I was deep into AC. Just straight up tired. No other SE.
Anyone follow college football?
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Happy, I'm a huge college football fan! University of Texas Longhorns at my house. DH played back in the day with Coach Royal. Was a different life back then, but we're still fans with season tickets. Wonder what they think about me going to the game Saturday night after Friday chemo? Perhaps I should ask permission. Found out my surgery is scheduled for Oct. 10, so I'll have a month of freedom to go to all the football I want. Love this time of year. (except for the Austin heat!)
I seem to be having more gastric/heartburn problems after Taxol #10. Taking Pepcid on a regular basis now. Most all foods are tasting bad to me. I was really tired the whole week after #9, but feeling better about that this week. No nap yesterday or today and I think I napped every day last week.
Good luck to all this week. We get to mark one more off the list!
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jrominger: Thank you for talking about the SE you guys have been noticing, that’s definitely helpful to me and well appreciated. Congrats to you and to Nat on being half way done! I just love the great attitude you guys have.
LaCombattante: Thanks to you too for the reply. You’re a tough cookie heading back to work. Your hikes sound wonderful, I’d like to get into hiking myself, just not sure where to start. Today I got up a little bit earlier than usual to do my workout and I did feel like it helped at least improve my mood and get my blood pumping. Wishing you well heading into this next week.
palmetto: Thanks so much for the lovely encouragement. I’ve been considering asking my MO about an antidepressant. I suppose it’s likely impossible to make it out of this without a couple tears shed.
HappyAnyway: I think so far I am pleasantly surprised:) Thank you.
Taxol #1 was started and finished without a hitch. Afterwards I came home and had a 2 hour Benadryl induced nap and now I’m feeling pretty much myself. I still have a prescription for Pantoprozole in case I need it and also a script for some Tylenol 3s? In case I have any trouble with pain... planning to avoid those at all cost.
Wishing everyone well this evening. ♥️.
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Football!!!! I’m a huge Clemson Tiger fan. In fact, I’ve bought a special shirt for my final chemo— Dabo has a Women’s Clinic every year to raise money for breast cancer screening for low-income women and breast cancer research. They have pink ribbon and tiger paw artwork on shirts with #FightLikeATiger as a slogan. I’ve purchased one and am looking forward to wearing it
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Hi all!
Taxol No 8 in the bag! Blood counts are OK, Hgb and RBC slightly down but not alarming and WBC are slightly up. I see no rhyme or reason why, but as long as I keep on progressing towards the finish line, I don't really care
))) Ihad a check with MO too - she is still waiting for insurance approval of zometa, apparently they have two to three weeks to make up their mind. What a bunch of .... She also advised me to start taking Pantoprazole daily, rather than on-need, to prevent GI issues for worsening. BAMR: sorry to hear that you have more gastric and taste issues. My MO said that stomach irritation/ heartburn complaints are quite common during the last leg of Taxol and go away some two weeks after the last chemo. You are at the final stretch, hopefully Pepsid will do it's job until then.
Britt: congrats on completing the 1st Taxol! Wishing you smooth sailing, with no SEs. And Yes to workouts as a mood management tool:)!
Jrominger: how is Nat doing? I keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers.
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BAMR and palmetto, I'm ready for some football! Go VOLS!
Brittandherboobs and Nat, I hope you feel well today.
Awesome LaCombattante! Do you see the light at the end of the chemo tunnel?
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Hi HappyAnyway! Yes, I can totally see it! For some reason I feel the No 8 to be a real milestone, perhaps because 4 to 1 chemo count down is familiar, thanks to EC:)?I did it back then, I can do it now, and now it's even faster. Talk about speed walking down the chemo road (LoL)
How are you doing?
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I'm having a really good day! Thanks for asking, LaCombattante. My focus is shifting to surgery now.
What's next for you?
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Hello all. Lacombattante Happyanyway. Thank you for your prayers #6 Taxol was uneventful. MO reduced the steroids from 12 mg to 10 mg and yesterday to 8mg. MO says the steroids are hard on the intestines and gut but necessary for allergic reactions so they can’t be completely reduced. We walked 1.2 miles after we drove home and then 4.4 this am. Nat slept better maybe because of the steroid reduction. The MO said she is “extremely “ pleased that she cannot feel Natalie’s tumor and hasn’t since AC#3. Blessed by that!! Bloody noses but at 7000 ft and dry AZ air you get those a lot anyway. Nat’s RBC’s Hmg were up!! But her WBC’s and ANC were down😩. Hopefully better next week. No rhyme or reason for all of your blood cell counts! Nat hates taking anything extra but will try the Pepcid every 12 hrs for the week just to see if it reduces the GI/stomach issues. If all goes well Nat’s last chemo will be 42 days from today!! Who’s counting 😳
I love college football and my son’s family makes me do fantasy football for the nfl so I have some interest in that as well.
MtnMia BAMR Britt UpstateNYer Palmetto April0315 we sure pray for all of you and feel blessed by this thread and your encouragement. Started this mess in April and can’t believe it’s almost September. One day at a time!!
Jay.
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Surgery: you may want to look into the certain drugs for surgery that can reduce accidental metastasis due to surgery/inflammation, so ask your anesthesiologist what they plan to use and make sure it is some of the good stuff. There is an NSAID I believe keto something ketorolac?
ALSO look into Modified Citrus Pectin (PectaSol) pre-surgery. Derived from citrus peel.
So many here are nearing the end of chemo soon! There is LIGHT at the end of the tunnel!! Almost there!!!!!
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