Happy Holidays! I love and miss you all! --Lu
![Callaloo](https://us.v-cdn.net/6035652/uploads/pictures/npicture-133505.jpg)
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
-
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
Rita0 -
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.0 -
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!0 -
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,
Cindy0 -
Three Roundsunclaw2002 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
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. Sam0 -
Sam and Lu, good luck with the Taxoteresangora 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
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.
Donna700 -
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.
Whitney0 -
So good to hear from you, Lu!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
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 - Kim0 -
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
Barb0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 718 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards