Roll call for all currently in chemo, how are you managing?

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pinkpalette
pinkpalette Member Posts: 112
in Breast Cancer #1
When I found this board 2 months ago, I just began my journey with chemo. I know a lot of us are currently doing chemo/still in treatment. I was wondering how each of you are doing? Managing the side effects? Coping with the issues? Are you whipping cancers butt!

hugs to all,
Debbie

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  • pinkpalette
    pinkpalette Member Posts: 112
    #2
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    For me...
    For me, I just completed 4 of 6 TCH treatments. I feel like I should be in the stretch, with the end in my sights - but I feel it's just whipping my butt! The mouth issues are a common bug, I just can't beat. Everything tastes awful except for chocolate! Yeah, LOL! Weight gain is an issue.

    I started having eye issues too. My one eye got crusty, weepy, sore. The onc. rx'ed some prednisone drops and - Ugh....they burn like acid, and after I apply them, I can taste them in my mouth. Pretty much after that it's gag or barf. The eye is blurry, still red and sore. I feel like there are stys. He says its normal and it is because of the taxotere. I feel like I am going blind.

    Otherwise, counting the days till completion. Rads next. But I still have to go for Herceptin treatments every 3 weeks for a year. I hope my side effects subside somewhat then, but right now - 2 months in, I am having a rough time of it.

    hugs,
    Debbie
  • debi.18
    debi.18 Member Posts: 850 Member
    #3
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    pinkpalette said:

    For me...
    For me, I just completed 4 of 6 TCH treatments. I feel like I should be in the stretch, with the end in my sights - but I feel it's just whipping my butt! The mouth issues are a common bug, I just can't beat. Everything tastes awful except for chocolate! Yeah, LOL! Weight gain is an issue.

    I started having eye issues too. My one eye got crusty, weepy, sore. The onc. rx'ed some prednisone drops and - Ugh....they burn like acid, and after I apply them, I can taste them in my mouth. Pretty much after that it's gag or barf. The eye is blurry, still red and sore. I feel like there are stys. He says its normal and it is because of the taxotere. I feel like I am going blind.

    Otherwise, counting the days till completion. Rads next. But I still have to go for Herceptin treatments every 3 weeks for a year. I hope my side effects subside somewhat then, but right now - 2 months in, I am having a rough time of it.

    hugs,
    Debbie

    half way through with Taxol
    I just completed my 6th round of taxol/herceptin - 6 more to go!

    I feel like I'm doing really well. Side effects are very doable so far. Food has no taste, except sugar. Since I'm a sweet-a-holic, guess that's a good thing. The steroids make my face breakout, feel like I'm 13 again. Pretty much have a constant bloody nose, a lot more tired than usual and get wierd leg pains. Thought I was going to be lucky and keep my hair, but a little over a week ago it started getting really thin - this weekend most of the rest fell out. Shaved it and didn't even cry - was soooo proud of myself!!

    I'm managing to still work 40 hours a week - going in early and working through lunch to make up for the day I miss for treatment.

    Just like you Debbie, rads next and the herceptin for a year.

    Overall, I'm very thankful, I know many of the ladies are having a much tougher time than I am.

    Hugs,
    Debi
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #4
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    debi.18 said:

    half way through with Taxol
    I just completed my 6th round of taxol/herceptin - 6 more to go!

    I feel like I'm doing really well. Side effects are very doable so far. Food has no taste, except sugar. Since I'm a sweet-a-holic, guess that's a good thing. The steroids make my face breakout, feel like I'm 13 again. Pretty much have a constant bloody nose, a lot more tired than usual and get wierd leg pains. Thought I was going to be lucky and keep my hair, but a little over a week ago it started getting really thin - this weekend most of the rest fell out. Shaved it and didn't even cry - was soooo proud of myself!!

    I'm managing to still work 40 hours a week - going in early and working through lunch to make up for the day I miss for treatment.

    Just like you Debbie, rads next and the herceptin for a year.

    Overall, I'm very thankful, I know many of the ladies are having a much tougher time than I am.

    Hugs,
    Debi

    You 'Chemo Gals' ROCK ...
    M E M O R I E S ....

    Please never give in, or never give up!

    Remember you did not ask for breast cancer or the horrific side efforts from chemo -- " You are WARRIORS ", fighting a battle -- so few will ever know.

    Allow yourself time to heal between chemo treatments, if that means no cleaning of your homes .. then so be -- take out food vs home cooking -- its all good -- as long as you rest, hydrate -- flavor your water with lemonade, cranberry juice or lipton / crystal light flavored packets.

    There were weeks when all I ate was watermelon, or potatoes slathered with butter and nothing else. I recall having cup of soups, chicken flavored for breakfast, lunch and dinner for days on end.

    I think of you Chemo Gals daily -- praying that all goes well, and inner peace and strength prevail over your life.

    Strength, Courage and Hope.

    Vicki Sam
  • ldpettit
    ldpettit Member Posts: 128
    #5
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    pinkpalette said:

    For me...
    For me, I just completed 4 of 6 TCH treatments. I feel like I should be in the stretch, with the end in my sights - but I feel it's just whipping my butt! The mouth issues are a common bug, I just can't beat. Everything tastes awful except for chocolate! Yeah, LOL! Weight gain is an issue.

    I started having eye issues too. My one eye got crusty, weepy, sore. The onc. rx'ed some prednisone drops and - Ugh....they burn like acid, and after I apply them, I can taste them in my mouth. Pretty much after that it's gag or barf. The eye is blurry, still red and sore. I feel like there are stys. He says its normal and it is because of the taxotere. I feel like I am going blind.

    Otherwise, counting the days till completion. Rads next. But I still have to go for Herceptin treatments every 3 weeks for a year. I hope my side effects subside somewhat then, but right now - 2 months in, I am having a rough time of it.

    hugs,
    Debbie

    Chemo
    I went through A/C from March to June. That was ROUGH!!

    I just finished Taxol after 12 treatments of that. That was WAY easier than the A/C combo. Doing Taxol I also had Herceptin at the same time. Doing pretty good. Have had weight gain, swelling - LOTS of swelling, pain in my jaw or in some of my teeth, mile neuropathy in the hands and feet. Have had low white counts on the T/H combo so have had to do several rounds of blood boost shots. Thank God for those!

    I will still be on Herceptin until June 2012. I found out today I will then have Tamoxifen pills for 5 years. That wasn't part of the discussion in the initial treatment plan, so still letting that new set in today.

    All in all - nice to see a light at the very end of the tunnel. :) Sure didn't think when diagnosed in January I would get here and say "I'm doing good today!"
  • epark
    epark Member Posts: 339
    #6
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    ldpettit said:

    Chemo
    I went through A/C from March to June. That was ROUGH!!

    I just finished Taxol after 12 treatments of that. That was WAY easier than the A/C combo. Doing Taxol I also had Herceptin at the same time. Doing pretty good. Have had weight gain, swelling - LOTS of swelling, pain in my jaw or in some of my teeth, mile neuropathy in the hands and feet. Have had low white counts on the T/H combo so have had to do several rounds of blood boost shots. Thank God for those!

    I will still be on Herceptin until June 2012. I found out today I will then have Tamoxifen pills for 5 years. That wasn't part of the discussion in the initial treatment plan, so still letting that new set in today.

    All in all - nice to see a light at the very end of the tunnel. :) Sure didn't think when diagnosed in January I would get here and say "I'm doing good today!"

    i've only had 2 chemo
    i've only had 2 chemo treatment so far ( 4 more to go i go every 3 weeks) and it totally sucks...i get mouth sores, body aches, joint pain, bloody nose, no taste buds, consipation..what can i say chemo is not my friend...lol...the side effects last about a week.

    Counting the the weeks until this is over with....

    Eva
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #7
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    epark said:

    i've only had 2 chemo
    i've only had 2 chemo treatment so far ( 4 more to go i go every 3 weeks) and it totally sucks...i get mouth sores, body aches, joint pain, bloody nose, no taste buds, consipation..what can i say chemo is not my friend...lol...the side effects last about a week.

    Counting the the weeks until this is over with....

    Eva

    Thank you for posting this
    I have been wondering how you chemo girls are doing. I changed my photo a few weeks back to honor you girls currently in the battle, I think it's staying for a while. Keep us updated on your progress. Maybe you girls should start a "Chemo room" thread where you can post back and forth. I did this when I went through radiation, it made it so easy to find amongst all the other threads. This way you girls can chat back and forth and ask questions and not have to look all over this board to find those posts.

    You girls ROCK... and I'm here cheering you on *\0/*

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #8
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    butterflylvr said:

    Thank you for posting this
    I have been wondering how you chemo girls are doing. I changed my photo a few weeks back to honor you girls currently in the battle, I think it's staying for a while. Keep us updated on your progress. Maybe you girls should start a "Chemo room" thread where you can post back and forth. I did this when I went through radiation, it made it so easy to find amongst all the other threads. This way you girls can chat back and forth and ask questions and not have to look all over this board to find those posts.

    You girls ROCK... and I'm here cheering you on *\0/*

    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    Praying for all
    Praying for all of you. Your courage and fighting spirit are admirable. I finished A/C and taxol and rads 1/15/10 and while it doesn't seem like it, the end will come and you'll begin to feel better and discover the "new person that you are".

    Angels are surrounding you all, so you are at peace knowing you're doing all that you can.

    marge
  • Marsha Mulvey
    Marsha Mulvey Member Posts: 597 Member
    #9
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    mwallace1325 said:

    Praying for all
    Praying for all of you. Your courage and fighting spirit are admirable. I finished A/C and taxol and rads 1/15/10 and while it doesn't seem like it, the end will come and you'll begin to feel better and discover the "new person that you are".

    Angels are surrounding you all, so you are at peace knowing you're doing all that you can.

    marge

    Perspective
    IS EVERYTHING! Chemo is all I have to continue the fight. Seventy-five weeks of it behind me and very much looking forward to #76 this Friday.

    For those of you with an end in sight, focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. You can make it! Think about the reason for doing it!

    Best wishes, Marsha
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    #10
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    Marsha Mulvey said:

    Perspective
    IS EVERYTHING! Chemo is all I have to continue the fight. Seventy-five weeks of it behind me and very much looking forward to #76 this Friday.

    For those of you with an end in sight, focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. You can make it! Think about the reason for doing it!

    Best wishes, Marsha

    I appreciate what chemo is
    I appreciate what chemo is doing for me, and I tell myself that all the time, but it still SUCKS!!!
    Like most of you, I have constant bloody nose, watery eyes, sore muscles, ZERO taste buds, fatigue, nausea..hmmm....what am I leaving out? OH sore teeth, weird feeling skin!!!

    I just finished my 4th of 6 taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin. To say I'm counting down the days is putting it lightly. I'm actually counting down the minutes til I have surgery, and can put this chemo behind me!!!

    HUGS to all of us!!!!

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