Struggling through Chemo

GorgyS

I will have radiation on my left side as well. My oncologist has explained the process, but she hasn't scared me too much about the part where I need to hold my breath to protect my heart from damage. I have gone through a lot with the tests and treatments, and I am determined to beat this.  

Katie46

@Coastiejas have fun ringing the bell 🔔 🔔 tomorrow 🥳 it's a great feeling to get it finished.

@Rona, they told me no raw food and no soft cheese, no runny eggs while my immune system was down. So, of course, that's all I could think about for 5 months 🙄

Coastiejas

Hi Ladies 
I rang the bell today!!!!!!!! 🥳🥳🥳
I'm tired but relieved that's behind me.... bring on the next lot of treatment!

Rona

Congratulations Coastiejas! Hope you get a little break before Radiation. Let us know how you go. Here we all go….. off on another journey 😊

CeeCee

I just had my first AC today, feeling a bit light headed, I guess this is normal.
I know everyone is different, they have told me that from day 5-7 post will probably be the worst. Have others found that? I’m glad the first one is over, a bit of unknown does not help. I’m on the way, 15 to go but only 3 Red Devils to go, yay.

Rona

Hello and welcome CeeCee. A bit lightheaded is definitely normal, a bit of brain fog is too. That feeling lasted with me for about 5 days then fatigue and nausea reared its ugly head. 

Congratulations on your first Red Devil, great way to look at it…… only 3 to go. 

Ask us anything and talk about anything too, it’s a rough road and it’s not fun but you can do it. The ladies on here have been a great support, just sharing and knowing what you’re going through is normal. 

Katie46

Congratulations @Coastiejas 🔔🔔🥳🥳 it's a great feeling! We're all heading for beanbags, snorkels, tattoos, and slathering ourselves with lotion, it sounds like a holiday 😆

Hello @CeeCee, I felt not too bad up to day 4, probably the dexamethasone doing its job, and then pretty bad fatigue for the next 4 days, I just had to take it easy and rest. I didnt get any nausea and had a pretty good appetite throughout. From about day 8 I felt ok. Don't be surprised if you get dexamethasone induced insomnia as well. But everyone is different and side effects vary from person to person. I did the countdown as well, and set myself little milestone goals. Best wishes on your journey, you've taken the first step towards the finish line! 

Rona

Oh Katie……. that’s too funny 😂. It does sound like a holiday! Not everyone gets to go snorkeling though…..feeling a bit special 😳. 

I’m actually practicing holding my breath 😂

Coastiejas

Thanks @Katie46 and @Rona!
It does make radiation sound like a holiday.....I had a good chuckle at that!, 
Welcome @CeeCee I found day 4-5 the worst on the red devil. It was basically 48 hrs of hell where I didn't sleep or eat but then it passed and I felt better. You will get through it though and everyone is different so you might have different side effects. Mine were mostly from the steroids rather than the chemo and I didn't get much nausea mainly acid reflux which was controlled with pantaprazole /somac. I had my chemo schedule on the fridge and ticked off each treatment as I had it....it started out being 4 pages and I was excited when it was down to 1 page!! Best wishes for a smooth run through your chemo!,

CeeCee

Thank you girls for the laughs, it’s so nice to know that we can still do that, I’m picturing you in the beenbags holding your breaths. The wave will be gone soon and you’ll be up with blue skies and warm sunshine.

Thanks for the insights into what might be coming up for me. Just had a bad night with nausea and fevers but ok now. When you think of how potent that stuff is you can’t expect it to be all smooth sailing. No point wishing it wasn’t happening because it is. Looking forward to the finish line but knowing it will be a long six months.
Keep up the sense of humour, love it.

Katie46

Hi all, I had an appointment with my oncologist today and we discussed the type of hormone therapy I would most likely have, although I won't be starting it until after my radiation therapy, my next appointment is in 8 weeks. They want me to have time to recover from chemo and radiation before they start. As I am not menopausal and my cancer was grade 3 (stage 2) and 'strongly' hormonal, I will be on some kind of medication for the next 7-10 years. They will make a final decision at my next appointment, but most likely I will be given Goserelin injections once a month for around 2 years to push me into menopause so that they can then give Letrozole tablet once a day. As my cancer had spread to 1 lymph node they will also give me Abemaciclib which had recently been approved by PBS and zoledronic acid infusion every 2-3 months to help avoid bone density issues, and has also been shown to help stop cancer spreading to your bones. It sounds worse than it is, 3 tablets a day and the odd trip in for an injection. Of course these come with a list of side effects, but again, most people don't get many, if any, and the most common seem to be similar to menopause, which I'm due to dive into soon anyway. I'll just have to see how I go. There is also medication available if the hot flushes are really bad. My cancer hadn't spread any further than 1 lymph node, so this is all preventative treatment.

Glad to hear you are doing ok today Ceecee.

Also I'm pretty sure my hair is starting to grow back, hooray! White or blond, I'm not sure which yet. 

Coastiejas

Hi Ladies
@Katie46 I have the same thing coming up almost exactly.  I had grade 3 stage 2A strongly ER and PR positive spread to1 lymph node only. I see the oncologist again in mid July to discuss all of the next steps but it sounds pretty much the same as I was also premenopausal before chemo, so injections every month and I'll be on ribociclib down the track...so we can compare notes after our Bali holidays (AKA radiotherapy)...Wooooo hoooo your hair is growing back, so good....it took mine a while to see what the colour was!
@CeeCee it's a long haul but you sound like you have accepted it for what it is and that will help you through.  You'll get to know the patterns of each cycle of chemo and recognise your good and bad days and be able to work with that. I found qigong and meditation have helped me through (I'm not really all new age either!) look good feel better have some online sessions for free.(lgfb.org.au)
Have a good weekend ladies!

Katie46

Hi Ladies, with the loss of your eyelashes do your eyelids stick together at night? It was alarming at first to wake up in the middle of the night with one eye stuck closed 😜, I've been using Systane Ultra, but just bought Systane Hydration to see if that's any better. Seems to happen to my right eye more than my left, and I have aircon on at night which probably doesn't help. Just wondering if anyone else has this problem and if they've found something that helps. They are ok during the day, just get a bit sticky sometimes.

Rona

Hi Katie, yes, I too had eyes stuck together. Sometimes one will stick at work and I have to unstick it…….feels like I’m winking at someone 😂.
I was reading your medication treatment and you certainly have a bit going on there. 

I’m 58 but haven’t had any menopausal symptoms so I’m starting on a medication for 2 months to see how I respond then onto another medication.
I also have stage 2, grade 3 cancer. I had a lymph node clearance as cancer was detected in 8 lymph nodes.
My first radiation appointment is Thursday afternoon and I am afraid about the breath holding.
 I’m still suffering with tingling feet and a bit of strange taste and of course sticky eyes.
Hope you’re going ok Cee Cee. 

GorgyS

My eyes also stick together at night, and my oncologist said it is normal. I do not use anything, just wash my face and gently wipe with a tissue when I am in bed. I also have tingling in my feet.  I have had 7 taxols so far, one delayed last week because of low WBC counts. Such a long journey.