Update on me

Hi all. I wanted to thank you all once again for the encouraging things you said in response to my first post "So angry..." from a few weeks ago. Much has happened since then!

 

I've now had 3 chemo treatments (weekly Taxol for 3 months). Before the first one I had a fairly severe breakdown (just to recap, I have social anxiety disorder, so new situations are very difficult for me to deal with) but I did end up going through with the chemo. I really didn't feel much in terms of side effects for the first two treatments, so that was encouraging. 

A few days before my third treatment, I developped a cold. Not fun! I went through with the chemo anyway on the third week, but told my ongologist and my nurse that my colds tend to turn into pneumonia, so could they please send me for a chest x-ray while I was at the hospital anyway to make sure everything was clear? They did send me for one, and perscribed me an antibiotic that I could take "just in case", but they didn't feel it was anything serious. 

Fast forward to two days later, and I end up being rushed to emergency with a blood oxygen down around 85%, being pumped full of inhalors and steroids until I became physically ill, and spending 3 days in hospital on oxygen before I was allowed to go home. And to top it all off, my hair started falling out while I was in hospital. NOT the place you want to be dealing with that!

I've been home since Sunday, and i'm finally starting to feel better from the pneumonia today. Saw ongologist again on Tuesday who agreed that chemo would not be a great idea this week while i'm still recovering, so we will re-evaluate next week to see if I can start up again, or take another week off. 

The good news in all of this, however, is that according to him I have one of the fastest shrinking tumors that he's ever seen! So, I guess if i can only get lucky with one thing on this whole journey, i'll take an awesome super shrinking tumor over hair or a few days in hospital on oxygen. 

 

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Comments

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    Talk about a rough go of it. 

    Talk about a rough go of it.  I am so sorry.  I am very glad to see the good news about your tumor shrinking fast!  I will keep praying for you and you keep us posted.

    Hugs, Diane

  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    Sooo glad to hear that your

    Sooo glad to hear that your tumor is shrinking so fast that is a very good sign. You should be dancing with Ned soon. ( Ned is No evidence of disease). I will keep you in my prayers and will be checking back on you often.

    Take care Kay,

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    sorry you were so ill but

    sorry you were so ill but happy you are home.

     

    good news about the tumor...

     

    Denise

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member

    Sooo glad to hear that your

    Sooo glad to hear that your tumor is shrinking so fast that is a very good sign. You should be dancing with Ned soon. ( Ned is No evidence of disease). I will keep you in my prayers and will be checking back on you often.

    Take care Kay,

    Good news about the tumor

    Good news about the tumor shrinking! 

    Praying,

    Debby

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    Shrinking Tumor

    A shrinking tumor is wonderful.  I'm on taxol too.  I had problems, anemia and need iron infusion, bleeding stomach ulcers but my last scan in May showed tumors in both lungs had shrunk and the ribs were stable.  

    The trade off is hard and it's scary but .........  I also like the results.

    Best wishes to you,

    Doris

  • Kobias
    Kobias Member Posts: 115
    SIROD said:

    Shrinking Tumor

    A shrinking tumor is wonderful.  I'm on taxol too.  I had problems, anemia and need iron infusion, bleeding stomach ulcers but my last scan in May showed tumors in both lungs had shrunk and the ribs were stable.  

    The trade off is hard and it's scary but .........  I also like the results.

    Best wishes to you,

    Doris

    This is such good news about

    This is such good news about your tumor.  Hoping it will shrink away totally!

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    Kobias said:

    This is such good news about

    This is such good news about your tumor.  Hoping it will shrink away totally!

    So sorry about the hospital

    So sorry about the hospital stay and your being so ill.  Hoping you're on the road to recovery now and that the tumor shrinks away forever.

    Hugs, Rose

  • Lynne P
    Lynne P Member Posts: 165
    Pink Rose said:

    So sorry about the hospital

    So sorry about the hospital stay and your being so ill.  Hoping you're on the road to recovery now and that the tumor shrinks away forever.

    Hugs, Rose

    Lots of hugs and positive

    Lots of hugs and positive thoughts!  Your good news was so welcomed!

     

  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    Lynne P said:

    Lots of hugs and positive

    Lots of hugs and positive thoughts!  Your good news was so welcomed!

     

    Thanks for the update!  Wish

    Thanks for the update!  Wish it were all good news, but the tumor shrinking is great!

  • ComfortablyNumb
    ComfortablyNumb Member Posts: 45
    Update to the update..

    Had the hubby shave my head tonight. I've been very day to day on this, because I had really thick hair and I could have gotten away with it a little while longer, but I couldn't stand sleeping with a towel on my pillow and clogging the drain every time I shower, so I just did it. Still on the fence about a wig, since I am a head sweater..

    i thought I would be more sad after I did it, but I honestly feel kinda liberated!

     

    does anyone have any tips on what a good moisturizer to use on my head? 

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    Update to the update..

    Had the hubby shave my head tonight. I've been very day to day on this, because I had really thick hair and I could have gotten away with it a little while longer, but I couldn't stand sleeping with a towel on my pillow and clogging the drain every time I shower, so I just did it. Still on the fence about a wig, since I am a head sweater..

    i thought I would be more sad after I did it, but I honestly feel kinda liberated!

     

    does anyone have any tips on what a good moisturizer to use on my head? 

    Just to say that I am so

    Just to say that I am so happy your tumor is shrinking!

    Sue :)

  • taylor manny
    taylor manny Member Posts: 113

    Update to the update..

    Had the hubby shave my head tonight. I've been very day to day on this, because I had really thick hair and I could have gotten away with it a little while longer, but I couldn't stand sleeping with a towel on my pillow and clogging the drain every time I shower, so I just did it. Still on the fence about a wig, since I am a head sweater..

    i thought I would be more sad after I did it, but I honestly feel kinda liberated!

     

    does anyone have any tips on what a good moisturizer to use on my head? 

    Would your oncologist or one

    Would your oncologist or one of his nurses be able to help you with a moisturizer?  I didn't take chemo, so, I don't know what would be good.

    Good luck!

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member

    Update to the update..

    Had the hubby shave my head tonight. I've been very day to day on this, because I had really thick hair and I could have gotten away with it a little while longer, but I couldn't stand sleeping with a towel on my pillow and clogging the drain every time I shower, so I just did it. Still on the fence about a wig, since I am a head sweater..

    i thought I would be more sad after I did it, but I honestly feel kinda liberated!

     

    does anyone have any tips on what a good moisturizer to use on my head? 

    It's good that you feel

    It's good that you feel liberated after having your head shaved.  Always thinking of you and sending prayers!

  • JJDS
    JJDS Member Posts: 258
    SIROD said:

    Shrinking Tumor

    A shrinking tumor is wonderful.  I'm on taxol too.  I had problems, anemia and need iron infusion, bleeding stomach ulcers but my last scan in May showed tumors in both lungs had shrunk and the ribs were stable.  

    The trade off is hard and it's scary but .........  I also like the results.

    Best wishes to you,

    Doris

    Praying it will continue to

    Praying it will continue to shrink for you.

     

  • ComfortablyNumb
    ComfortablyNumb Member Posts: 45
    Back this AM...

    Going in to see both on my oncologists (surgical and medical) this morning before hopefully resuming chemo later today. My tumor was 5mm when I was diagnosed and was close to surface, meaning I could feel it very easily, and now I'm not able to feel anything at all, even lying on my back...so we'll see what they have to say about that! Fingers crossed that they give my lungs the all clear so I can do chemo today...

  • coco2008
    coco2008 Member Posts: 418

    Back this AM...

    Going in to see both on my oncologists (surgical and medical) this morning before hopefully resuming chemo later today. My tumor was 5mm when I was diagnosed and was close to surface, meaning I could feel it very easily, and now I'm not able to feel anything at all, even lying on my back...so we'll see what they have to say about that! Fingers crossed that they give my lungs the all clear so I can do chemo today...

    Hope everything turns out

    Hope everything turns out well for you.

     

  • ComfortablyNumb
    ComfortablyNumb Member Posts: 45
    coco2008 said:

    Hope everything turns out

    Hope everything turns out well for you.

     

    No chemo until next week. But

    No chemo until next week. But my tumor has lost more than half it's size and volume an the month since I've started chemo, so YAY! 

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    No chemo until next week. But

    No chemo until next week. But my tumor has lost more than half it's size and volume an the month since I've started chemo, so YAY! 

    Yay for sure!  That is good

    Yay for sure!  That is good news about the tumor! 

    Sue :)

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    Ritzy said:

    Yay for sure!  That is good

    Yay for sure!  That is good news about the tumor! 

    Sue :)

    Good luck next week with

    Good luck next week with chemo!  I will be watching for an update.

    Hugs, Debby

  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    Ritzy said:

    Yay for sure!  That is good

    Yay for sure!  That is good news about the tumor! 

    Sue :)

    How are you doing? 

    How are you doing?