Happy Holidays! I love and miss you all! --Lu

Callaloo
Callaloo Member Posts: 135
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I have been avoiding visiting the board for a few months. I don’t have the stamina that the rest of you have for posting regularly, and also for confronting the heartbreak . But I think of you all the time.

I am enjoying my second Christmas since diagnosis (stage IV) surrounded by immediate and extended family, and I feel especially blessed and looking forward to the New Year.

I stopped chemo in September, I just didn’t like what the Xeloda was doing to me and I sensed that it wasn’t working that well anyway. I spent October and November traveling, visiting my son in Chicago and spent some time on the beach in Mexico. Tried to forget that I was sick, but the pain was always a reminder. I had a fun time nonetheless in the tropical sun.

I didn’t need to see the CT scan when I returned home to tell me that the cancer had spread. I had enjoyed a 2-month holiday from chemo, so I agreed to try Taxotere, thinking my body was fully recovered from the last rounds of chemo. But first round of Taxotere landed me in the hospital last week with neutropenia and a blood infection. I guess I’ve really abused my body with the chemo I’ve received over the past 18 months. Second round is scheduled for the end of December. I hope it goes better this time.

I don’t know why, whether it’s because I’m finally ridding myself of the effects of the Xeloda, or the Taxotere is actually doing some good, but my pain level has decreased and I’m sleeping well these days. Fatigue is not the problem it was when I was on the Xeloda. But I am disappointed that my hair is falling out by the handsful. I had dodged that bullet on the Cisplatin/5FU regimen. Oh well....

I just want to let all of you who have written and called know that I’m doing well. I am hopeful that this new chemo will help. I am heartened by the fact that Sangora, who seems to be on the same regimen as me, is doing well. I apologize for not being as responsive as I should be, because you all mean so much to me here.

Best wishes for a happy holiday and new year,
Lu (stage IV, going on 22 months)

Comments

  • ritawaite13
    ritawaite13 Member Posts: 236
    #2
    Hi Lu,
    Welcome back, you've been missed. How nice that you had some vacation time! Here's to you - hoping your path with the new treatment goes as well as Sam's did.
    Hugs
    Rita
  • birdiequeen
    birdiequeen Member Posts: 319
    #3
    What a gift
    To see a post from Lu on Christmas is a gift. So glad to hear you were able to travel for two months. Hope round two of Taxotere goes better! It is wonderful to hear you are experiancing less pain and less fatigue.

    Take care and check in when you can. I understand this site does have some heartbreak to it.
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #4
    How very nice to hear from
    How very nice to hear from you! Big big hugs to you on this Christmas day.
  • jss2011
    jss2011 Member Posts: 132
    #5
    Hi Lu
    Nice to see a post from you.
    Sorry you landed in the hospital but glad your pain level is better, hopefully the taxotere is working. Good luck with round two.

    Julie
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #6
    So nice to see your post
    Lu,

    It was great to see your post. I am sorry the initial round of chemo was less than kind. I hope the next cycle is less difficult. It is nice to hear from you again.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #7
    Happy Holidays to you also, Lu!
    I hope your Christmas miracle is a better tolerance for the next round of Chemo. I pray that it's very effective.

    Love & Hugs for a positive 2012!

    Terry
  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    #8
    Lu,
    It sounds like you have
    Lu,

    It sounds like you have been taking care of the important things --- like enjoying life. I am sorry to hear that you have been having issues with the chemo but happy to hear that you are doing well all things considered.

    Best wishes to you as well for a happy holiday and a very happy 2012.

    Hugs and love,
    Cindy
  • sangora
    sangora Member Posts: 213
    #9
    unclaw2002 said:

    Lu,
    It sounds like you have
    Lu,

    It sounds like you have been taking care of the important things --- like enjoying life. I am sorry to hear that you have been having issues with the chemo but happy to hear that you are doing well all things considered.

    Best wishes to you as well for a happy holiday and a very happy 2012.

    Hugs and love,
    Cindy

    Three Rounds
    It is so good to see your post. I have both missed and been concerned about you. My experience with the Taxotere is as follows. It took the first three rounds for us to get me straight on it. I ended up in the hospital after each of the first three rounds and now am fine with it. The Neulasta takes care of the low white counts and I get a full liter of fluids after treatment and again on the second day after treatment. This has taken care of the dehydration issue. I have had this problem with every chemo drug I have taken. It's funny you mention the hair thing. I too lost very little hair with the 5FU, Cistplatin and Epirubicin. It has all come out with this one. Caught me by surprise and for a couple of days I did not handle it well. Now I rarely notice my bald body running around the hous. I have had 5 rounds of Taxotere and have number 6 scheduled for January 10th. After that one, we are going to do another CT scan and see how its going. I feel ok and my tumor counts are normal so I can't imagine that there is any great surprises there. But we will see. Like you, I knew something was wrong before the CT showed esophageial thickening in June. I had an idea the Xeloda had run its course so when the news came I barely reacted. Take care and hang in there. We are both doing well and may become the poster kids for good Chemo drugs. Sam
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #10
    sangora said:

    Three Rounds
    It is so good to see your post. I have both missed and been concerned about you. My experience with the Taxotere is as follows. It took the first three rounds for us to get me straight on it. I ended up in the hospital after each of the first three rounds and now am fine with it. The Neulasta takes care of the low white counts and I get a full liter of fluids after treatment and again on the second day after treatment. This has taken care of the dehydration issue. I have had this problem with every chemo drug I have taken. It's funny you mention the hair thing. I too lost very little hair with the 5FU, Cistplatin and Epirubicin. It has all come out with this one. Caught me by surprise and for a couple of days I did not handle it well. Now I rarely notice my bald body running around the hous. I have had 5 rounds of Taxotere and have number 6 scheduled for January 10th. After that one, we are going to do another CT scan and see how its going. I feel ok and my tumor counts are normal so I can't imagine that there is any great surprises there. But we will see. Like you, I knew something was wrong before the CT showed esophageial thickening in June. I had an idea the Xeloda had run its course so when the news came I barely reacted. Take care and hang in there. We are both doing well and may become the poster kids for good Chemo drugs. Sam

    Sam and Lu, good luck with the Taxotere
    Hi,
    So good to hear from you Lu and sorry that the first treatment did not work but hoping for you that the Taxotere will do the trick. I had it for post op chemo and lost my hair and it was really rough on my body. When I asked my onc why my toenail was coming off months later, he said how strong Taxotere was and what did I expect. So it is strong. Hope both you and Sam get excellent results and do well. Lu it is good to hear that the pain is easing up and glad you got to travel. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. take care both of you, you give us all hope.
    Donna70
  • Wpturner05
    Wpturner05 Member Posts: 114
    #11
    Be well
    Lu,

    I came on this site the end of August and have not had the pleasure of sharing in your battle that has been so successful fo rthe past 22 months. That is wonderful that you have had so much good time since diagnosis. Yes, the taxotere is tough - my husband was on that for 3 rounds - that is a tough one. I am glad though that you are feeling less pain - I hope that is a good sign.

    We look forward to hearing where you path brings you and supporting you on the way.

    Whitney
  • MissusB
    MissusB Member Posts: 111
    #12
    Wpturner05 said:

    Be well
    Lu,

    I came on this site the end of August and have not had the pleasure of sharing in your battle that has been so successful fo rthe past 22 months. That is wonderful that you have had so much good time since diagnosis. Yes, the taxotere is tough - my husband was on that for 3 rounds - that is a tough one. I am glad though that you are feeling less pain - I hope that is a good sign.

    We look forward to hearing where you path brings you and supporting you on the way.

    Whitney

    So good to hear from you, Lu!
    I was happy to hear that you'd been able to do some traveling. That was something Bill and I never go to do during his illnesses and that we wished we could have done. I am praying for you, Lu, and sending lots of love - Kim
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #13
    Hello Lu
    Dear Lu

    I am so happy to see your post. I have been very worried. So glad you have vacationed and done ehat you wanted to do without the horrible chemo.
    I pray that this next round will be kinder to you.

    My mom had a stroke so I have not visited the posts much either. It's bee a tough few weeks here.


    Lots of love

    Barb

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