Good Morning

Yep,Jacqui I got all the side effects and more.By day 10 after Taxetore I got a temp and a gum infection.My white cells were down to almost nothing and I had to stay in hosp. isolation for 4 days on iv antibiotics.After that my oncologist said it was"too strong" for me and wanted to swap me to another. I decided to stop it as I had no evidence of cancer elsewhere.My oncologist was ok with this so long as I took Tamoxifen for 5yrs.He even said that it would be more effective with my eostrogen+ve cancer than chemo anyway.Makes me wonder if I should have had chemo in the first place.Well I think I made a compromise and had abit of chemo.After chemo my head was bald for almost 3mths before I saw some growth.It was an awful time because I began to panic so I googled and stumbled across a group of ladies who never got their hair back after Taxetore.It was also a hot summer and the wig was too hot to wear what with the hot flushes.What you see in my picture is 8mths worth of growth(since last August). When I questioned my oncologist about my persistant baldness he said"o yes, that drug is particularly hard on your hair folicles,might take 4 months or so to start growing".Just wish he had told me that beforehand! Anyway,I'm fine now apart from some hot flushes.My hair is completely different and it has taken me awhile to get used to the new image.I go for my mammogram next month-can't believe it's a year on since my diagnosis.Will probably be an anxious mess. Glad you had a nice Easter with your family-so did I.

                                   luv Tonya xx

Hi thank you for the tips I have got myself into the habit of the horrible bi carb rinse at least 3 times a day.

I have had a great Easter with the family and am very thankfrul for that, had a egg hunt with the 2yr old granddaughter so it was special.

Yes I believe you are right about the Taxotere but I will just have to wait and see what happens after all I might just get a bit lucky!!!!! Did you get all the side effects? How are you now? and how long since you finished chemo? How is the hair going?

Hope you had a lovely Easter.

cheerio for now,

Jacqui

Hi Jacqui,

Glad to see that you've coped with round 1 of chemo.It's good that you are over the worst days and can enjoy Easter with your family.Hope your taste buds are back on chocolate.I found that chocolate,tea and coffee were the first foods to go(my favourites).After my mastectomy I had to keep returning twice aweek for 6wks to have fliud syringed off.I didn't have an infection so I guess that's why it's taking abit longer for you.Nothing has really gone smoothly for you has it. You probably expect the worse now but get a nice surprise if it's ok.Taxetore is probably the nastiest one.It's very hard on your white cells so watch out for gum infections be diligent with mouth care.It also gives you muscle/bone pain and headaches.But hey,we are all different and you might breeze through it. Fingers crossed for you.

                                        Tonya xx

Hi Jacqui, glad you are feeling a bit better. It I think it was around day 6 that I too started to feel human again. Today is start of week 3 and apart from being a bit tireed I feel great! Still have my hair but alot of strands are coming out!!

My tastebuds were awful in week 1, anything fruity tasted salty, my tongue was white, I didn't have much appetite...but trust me, I've made up for it this last week!!

I am an Insurance Claims Manager (very stressful) but I have gone back on reduced hours and not managing my team, just assisting with special projects, reviews etc so I can work in with my chemo, physio and other appts!

I have an 18 year old son who has just got a job in the mines up north and a 14 year old daughter. I share care of them with my ex husband so Lauren is only with us every second week. This works well as it gives her a break from me, especially when I am feeling bad from the chemo etc! But she is a great support and keeps me smiling! I also hav2 2 older step kids aged 20 and 25, the oldest of which has a 2 year old daughter making me  nana!!

We are heading off to Mandurah for the Easter break so I won't be online until Tuesday, but hope you have a great Easter.

Take care, Love Jenny xx

Hi Jenny, day 6 feeling more myself today but would you believe I must have put my back out and woke up with pain down the back of both leg muscles and calf muscles couldn't even sit down....panic! but apparently not chemo related but never had this kind of problem when I have had my back problems before!

Feeling more like eating but nothing tastes very good, had to resort to the maxalon the last 2 days but today ok, found some ginger and lemon tea which seems to help.

Definitely use the coloxyl and senna before chemo that is what they recommended to me but I stopped it when I finished the Zofron and should have continued for another day I think.

What type of work do you do? I am not thinking of going back until after the next chemo just to make sure as I don't want to muck them around.

How many children do you have and how old?

Did you  get fluid retention?Up until last night I had but boy during the night it was like niagra falls,that might be why I feel a bit better today, feet not swollen,  I was also getting the shakes of a morning, Helen thought it was either low blood pressure or low blood sugar it wasn't BP so made myself eat some sweet things as I had only been having savoury....loving chips...and found it was ok this morning. Appetite much improved today.

Hope you have a good Easter.

Jacqui

Glad to hear you didn't suffer too much...I think it is the taxotare which causes the aching joints so will ask about taking anti infammatories next time which may help. I have returned to work, just doing 9-3.30..can't say I am ecstatic to be back, but I am taking it day at a time and not stressing. I need to save some leave for when I have my mastectomy.

So pleased to hear about the scan, you needed some good news for once!

I think I will take the coloxyl and senna before my next bout of chemo...it may help.

I had a couple of glasses of wine last night...first in weeks and I felt guilty in case it interfered with my treatment even though the Dr said 2-3 a week is fine! But we have to continue to have a life!!

Have a good week and talk soon x

Well the actual chemo wasnt too bad, I was very tired after but hadn't slept much the night before, hated the drugs going into my system but that is one of the things we have to put up with. I got big bags under my eyes and my hands and feet swelled up a bit but went for a big walk afterwards and then had a nannie nap but didn't feel very refreshed afterwards but felt well, sat up and had pizza and a glass of wine with my son, met him for brekkie the next morning as he went to work early and we had stayed at his place and I ate the biggest breakfast ever but it all went down hill from there and apple for lunch and 1/2 toasted sandwich for tea, same today not feeling sick just no appetite.

I got my prosthesis yesterday which was a big confidence booster could walk around and not be lopsided, but sore today as I am still draining from the wound 6 1/2 weeks hope it heals soon sick of it being sore as I have had a sore boob since my first op 10/1/11 long time.

I was advised to take coloxyl with senna tabs before chemo which I did and again yesterday morning and last night but think I may have over done it as I was awake at 3.30 with tummy pains but 6.30 relief better that constipation I had that real bad after each op so will continue with my reigeme just incase.

I am not having Taxotere until the last 3 blocks I am on FEC for the first 3 blocks so may not get the same symptoms as you until then but I will take not of what your are doing to help with them, thank you.

Well keep in touch it is so good to have someone letting me know what is happening.

You will be there to see your children grow up the same as I will be around to teach my grandchildren how to knit and crochet and do all the things Nannie's teach, my second one is due Sept/Oct hopefully I will have just finished radiotherapy as we have to be away for that.

Cheerio for now, oh the scan was fine thank goodness with my track record it was a real bonus.

Hi Jacqui, sorry to hear about the bone scan, fingers crossed it will be nothing major, like you say arthritis or something, I will send positive vibes your way.  It's a bumpy road we travel, full of ups and downs, but just take it day at a time and cope with it that way.

It's 8 days since my 1st chemo and I can't say it has been a pleasure trip but I have somehow found the strength to cope...just! The first couple of days were fine, but I then became very constipated and nothing seemed to be working. In the end they told me to use colonlytey and that sure worked!! It was like draino!!

Days 4 and 5 were my worst with very bad aches and pains in my whole body (side effect of the taxotare) and I was so weak, nothing seemed to ease it, but it did go away by the end of Day 5. Next came a few mouth ulcers, despite following all the guidelines of mouthwashes, dry mouth spray, brushing my teeth etc, but they are not too bad...just a couple on the end of my tongue. I use kenalog but my Dr prescribed Sucralfate which is usually for stomach ulcers but you can dissolve the tablet and make a mouthwash..I used it last night wih fantastic results!

I still tire easily, my stomach often feels "off" and my appetite is suppressed, but I just try to deal with each thing as it comes and try not too look too far ahead.  I am going in to work tomorrow to discuss a return to work on reduced hours, may just do half days to start with and see how I go. I will still need a few days off around chemo time if the same symptoms appear on days 4 and 5.

I have good and bad days....after all, it is only 5 weeks since I was diagnosed and in that time I have had surgery, started chemo, visited the radiation oncologist, have regular physio for my arm, tols family and friends and then sometimes I sit back and think.."Is this really happening to me?" I try hard to stay positive, but I have times were I just have a little cry and become fearful of the future. I have lost that certainty of growing old, seeing my kids grow and marry...seeing their children...Oh. I hope to still do all that...but that "certainty" is lost forever..and I am still coming to terms with that!

So, we all have to stay strong, put on a brave face and say "WE CAN DO THIS"....our faith may be tested, our wills challenged...but by God, I will keep on fighting.

Good Luck tomorrow...you will be fine, and I am here if you ever need to talk

Jenny xx

Well chemo is getting closer (friday) got the results from the scans etc but concerned about the bone scan...not evident matastasis disease, hot spot on 8th rib suggest investigation???? don't really know what this means but with my track record thought it better to organise an xray asap to see what is going on, hopefully arthritis or something, so far everytime I think everything is settled bang! I am not usually a pessimist but this has been trying to my optomistic side, my glass at the moment isn't half full or half empty I think it is just in the middle.

Has anyone else had a report like this?

Jenny how are you coping with your chemo and what day are you up to? I am dreading it but just want to get started so I can see the end...if that makes any sense.

The support of everyone and the advice has been so terrific, it does make it so much easier to cope knowing that you are not on your own.

Cheerio for now,

jacqui