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July 2020 chemo club

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Comments

  • shar2020
    shar2020 Member Posts: 196
    edited October 2020

    Mtspacekace, that’s great you have finished infusion #6! 🔔🎉🎊🥳

  • iamloved
    iamloved Member Posts: 197
    edited October 2020

    mtspacekace…ding ding ding🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔 for you! Congratulations! Today is my BIG day! I couldn't sleep last night. I did have to have magnesium and potassium yesterday and will get more magnesium with my infusion today but I will be DONE! The excitement is like Christmas! If your inclined to pray please say an extra one today in thanksgiving for our Doctors nurses and all who have been part of our journey. And one for me😘

  • shar2020
    shar2020 Member Posts: 196
    edited October 2020
    Iamloved, I said a prayer for you this morning and I have started ringing the bell!🔔🔔🔔🔔 I feel excited for you!
  • melbo
    melbo Member Posts: 266
    edited October 2020

    good luck iamloved!

    I asked my new oncologist today what the statistics are for complete response to chemo - he said the literature says 50-60% of patients have a complete response. However, he also said that since they started using perjeta all but one of his patients have had a complete response, so he expects those statistics will start improving.

  • kmom57
    kmom57 Member Posts: 181
    edited October 2020

    Sorry I’ve been MIA too. Rough few weeks. Lots of trips back and forth out of town to get set for radiation.

    Congrats to all who are finishing chemo!!!!!!!

  • lilbeamer
    lilbeamer Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2020

    I'm a little late in joining this conversation... congratulations to all of you making it through your last round! Chemo is such a hurdle! I had to stop after Round 5 due to back-to-back GI infections. A little anticlimactic but I'm relieved to be done with the chemo part of treatment.

    Quick question... I'm 4 weeks out from my 5th last chemo and my ANC levels are still below 1500 (they've always bounced back to normal after a couple of weeks). And my leg and arm muscles are really sore. Has anyone experienced this? I thought it might be magnesium deficiency, but my electrolytes are all normal.

  • Evergreenman
    Evergreenman Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2020

    Melbo, that’s really good news. My last chemo is on the 3rd Dec and my SO is going to operate on the 15th or 22nd of December because she needs to take time off for X’mas. I am a bit scared having to have the surgery so soon but also looking forward to it. My oncologist said since they started using Kadcyla, the recurrence rate for HER2+ has dropped to the same level as other types so guess it might not be a bad thing?

    Has anyone heard of Proton Beam therapy? I seems to be more effective then traditional radiation therapy and has less side effects.

  • kmom57
    kmom57 Member Posts: 181
    edited October 2020
    Evergreenman, I’ve heard of proton rads and checked into it as traditional rads scares me, and I thought it would be safer with left sided BC. MDA told me, however, I wouldn’t be a candidate. I would have gone wherever I needed to go to do protons, though, if that had been an option for me.
  • Susiemommy
    Susiemommy Member Posts: 46
    edited October 2020

    Wow, everyone has been so busy! Evergreenman, I just met with the radiologist this week and completely forgot to ask about proton beam radiation! Did they tell you why you weren't a candidate? I'm still adjusting to the thought of even having radiation, as - for whatever reason - I didn't even think that was on the menu for me. But, it seems as if I get it all: chemo, surgery, rads, aromatase inhibitors...You ladies talking about the possibility of having a complete pathological response from chemo must be anxious for that! Do they do checks along the way? I'm guessing this is the Her2+ treatment? I'm a mixed bag over here of estrogen positive but Her2Neu negative, and the tumor response to chemo is not what my oncologist had hoped for, but we continue chugging along nonetheless.

    I've met with both the surgical oncologist and plastic surgeon over the past couple of days - since I'm kind of on the fence about lumpectomy vs mastectomy. It's maddening to weigh the two options. I feel like I can't really commit to the lumpectomy because I, too, and afraid of the surgical pathology.


  • melbo
    melbo Member Posts: 266
    edited October 2020

    Yeah, the pCR odds I'm talking about are for HER2+ cancers being treated with the TCHP chemo regime. They will know whether we have a pCR when they do surgery -- scans can help them see if tumors have shrunk, but only the surgery will show whether we're pCR or not. For most of us on TCHP if we're not pCR after this round of chemo they will switch us to a drug called Kadclya, which is a combination of herceptin and a targeted chemo. If we are lucky enough to be pCR we will just continue with infusions of herceptin and perjeta (if you were on perjeta to begin with) until we reach a year of that treatment.

    I go in for chemo #5 this morning and I'm not looking forward to it. The infusions will be fine I'm sure, but I'm definitely not looking forward to how I will feel next week. Hoping for that pCR is one of the things that helps me face the next several weeks with anything that resembles optimism.

  • kmom57
    kmom57 Member Posts: 181
    edited October 2020

    Susiemommy, If I remember correctly I was not a candidate for protons because my cancer on imaging was multifocal and spread over three quadrants. As I understood it, protons are very targeted, and in my case, there wasn’t a discrete target. It was basically everywhere.

    Melbo, thinking of you.

  • juju-mar
    juju-mar Member Posts: 200
    edited October 2020

    hi ladies, popping in to ask a question. I just had my first infusion AC on 10/27. I have had zero side effects so far, is this normal? Makes me wonder if the drugs are working...today was the last day of the steroid pills, so kind of thinking I may feel yucky soon. Thank for any help/suggestions. Juli

  • melbo
    melbo Member Posts: 266
    edited October 2020

    hopefully someone on AC will answer too, but for most of us on TCHP the side effects don’t really kick in until day 4 ish after the steroids wear off.

  • Evergreenman
    Evergreenman Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2020

    Jujumartin, I had minimal side effect from AC. But the steroid kept me awake for a couple of nights

  • brittonkb
    brittonkb Member Posts: 81
    edited October 2020

    Juju - I didn't have nearly the reaction to AC that I anticipated. I remember wondering at first if it was working too. I had some fogginess during the first few days and some indigestion later in the process (probably starting around the 3rd treatment). I had some fatigue as well. But really nothing bad.

    Congrats to those of you finishing up your chemo! I finished my 5th of 12 Taxol treatments this week. Continue to feel good without any significant side effects so can't complain.

  • shar2020
    shar2020 Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2020

    Brittonkb, great to read that you finished the 5th of 12 Taxol infusions and continue to feel good without significant side effects.

    Melbo, I hope all goes well for you as you recover from infusion #5.

    Evergreenman, the steroids keep me awake, too, for the first night or two.

    Jujumartin, I hope you are continuing to feel well since your first infusion.

    LilBeamer, yes, I had pain in my arms and legs. I hope you have relief from it soon.

    KMom, sorry to read you have had a rough few weeks.

    Susie, lumpectomy vs. mastectomy...yes, it is difficult to decide between the two!

    Iamloved, I hope all goes well for you as you recover from infusion #6.

    Wishing everyone the best possible outcome with infusions, hormone treatments, tests, surgery, etc., as you head into November and December.

  • iamloved
    iamloved Member Posts: 197
    edited November 2020

    Question...is anyone else doing a infusion of herceptin between their last tchp infusion and their surgery? My oncologist scheduled a herceptin infusion about 2 weeks before my surgery. I didnt get to meet with her at my last infusion. The PA scheduled it. I assumed I would restart the herceptin after I healed from surgery. Any advice or anyone with a similar situation?

  • mtspacekace
    mtspacekace Member Posts: 123
    edited November 2020

    iamloved: I meet with my surgeons and mo next week, starting Monday... I will let you know what they say. I figured I would be done with infusions until I was good and healed as well... I was looking forward to a few “normal” weeks...but maybe I won’t get that!

    It does feel good to be done with chemo, but I still feel like crap. I have to keep telling myself, every day that goes by is one day closer to not feeling sick. My taste buds held on this time until day 6...today everything I tried to eat instantly gave me the shivers. Nauseous, but not throwing up or anything! I also had fluids today. Ready to be feeling good again, that’s for sure.

  • melbo
    melbo Member Posts: 266
    edited November 2020

    It looks like my surgery will be December 21st. It kind of sucks that it will make Christmas difficult, but we never have big plans anyway and I will be glad to get the next steps done. Now I just have to make all of the appointments to make sure everything goes as planned. For now my plan is lumpectomy with a plastic surgeon doing a bilateral lift and reduction as soon as the SO is done with his part of the surgery. I meet with my SO on November 18th and hopefully that plan will stay in place.

    So far cycle 5 of chemo has been better than cycle 4. At this point I am convinced my poor hydration for cycle 4 made everything far worse than it could have been. My mantra for cycle 5 and 6 is definitely hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

  • trynryan
    trynryan Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2020

    I have surgery scheduled for Dec 3. I need to continue on both herceptin and Perjeta between ending #6 and my surgery date. I also thought I was going to have a November “vacation” to get stronger but no such luck! My MO has told me getting just these two is so much easier, but I will believe it when I see it! Nerdy Iam also scheduled with MO just one week out from surgery and depending on results will get just herceptin or combo.

  • lilbeamer
    lilbeamer Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2020

    iamloved I also had a Herceptin infusion last week between chemo and surgery (my surgery is Nov 17). I didn't have any reactions from the Herceptin alone. My doctors said it helps prevent any HER2 activity. My oncology surgeon also started me on an AI before surgery, which I wasn't expecting to start until after radiation. She said starting the estrogen blocker before radiation isn't common for most hospitals, but she has a study about to be published that shows better outcomes when started earlier.

  • iamloved
    iamloved Member Posts: 197
    edited November 2020

    Trynryan and LilBeamer...thx! Looks like I will just do as I am told by my oncologist 😁 I just hope the big D doesn't show up whenI have surgery. That would suck!!

    I forgot to post my hat pictures from my final chemo infusion. Sadly one friend ended up not being able to join me but one of the wonderful escorts filled in! Such a fun lady!! I got to be queen for the day with my royal jesters!!! Loved it!!!

    image

    image

  • annathebrave
    annathebrave Member Posts: 69
    edited November 2020

    I had my last chemo today!!!! Hurray!!!! I have an MRI on Monday, meet with my MO next Friday, also expect to hear from my surgeon sometime next week, and have an HP infusion scheduled before surgery. God damn, it feels so good to be done!!!

    Here I am, “pointing out” the cancer center! 😁

    image

  • iamloved
    iamloved Member Posts: 197
    edited November 2020

    AnnaTheBrave...Ding ding ding...🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔👏👏👏one more member completes this leg of the journey!! Nice pointer finger🤣 Hoping the next leg is a breeze! Good luck!

  • lilbeamer
    lilbeamer Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2020

    Congrats iamloved and AnnaTheBrave on completing your last round! Love the photos!

  • mtspacekace
    mtspacekace Member Posts: 123
    edited November 2020

    Congrats all of you finishing up chemo! I'm heading to meet with my surgeons on Monday...any questions I should be asking them?! I know we have a lot to discuss, with each of them...but is there anything you wish you would have asked? Or came to mind after your meetings with them?

  • brittonkb
    brittonkb Member Posts: 81
    edited November 2020

    A BIG Congrats to all of you finishing your chemo! Love the pics!

  • iamloved
    iamloved Member Posts: 197
    edited November 2020

    mtspacekace…that would be great to have a list of FAQ for the B.S. I know it will be overwhelming this time as my first surgery was a simple lumpectomy. I wonder if there is a list on the surgery form. I will search.

  • shar2020
    shar2020 Member Posts: 196
    edited November 2020

    Fantastic pictures, AnnaTheBrave And Iamloved! I am excited for you! 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔 Wishing you and everyone the best possible outcomes in the next steps of your treatment plans.

    And thank you to all of you. You are a kind, supportive group of women. 🤗

  • ampmusic14
    ampmusic14 Member Posts: 33
    edited November 2020

    Congrats to everyone else that has finished chemo. I'll be 6 weeks PFC this week and my energy is finally starting to come back! I also just started my tamoxifen a week ago and so far it's going ok.

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