Crawling back up towards the living after chemo 2

I'm always amazed when people going through chemo are ok.  It kicked my butt!  But, I've seen women with Stage IV NED for many years so yes, I think women with Stage III and IV do make it.  I'm sorry you have to go through this chemo hell.  It's been almost four weeks since my last chemo and my hips and legs still hurt at night along with other side effects.

Love,

Eldri

I think we are on a rollercoaster!  Sometimes it takes longer need to make that turn and head uphill.  I am stage IV with 2 recurrences and even though cancer treatment is a major part of my life, it hasn't gotten me yet and it has been almost 3 1/2 years.  I have many more good days than bad.  I usually have a day or two of feeling "down in the dumps" after each treatment and then I get a better attitude back again.  This time has been one of my harder times. Heartburn has been bad and the pain in my back and legs is still around particularly at night.  I don't like taking Hydrocodone are even Tylonal, but I might give in tonight.

Hang in there it will get better.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

For me chemo was terrible! BUT, it's almost 2 years since I finished chemo and I am still NED. I recovered my strength and my health and I am enjoying life and hope to continue a cancer free life for many years. I was diagnosed stage 2 grade 3 in October 2013. I had a radical hysterectomy in Dec 2012 and chemo from Jan thru Apr. I had a really hard time with chemo- a lot of aches and pain, especially in my joints, neuropathy in my hands, legs and feet. I always felt like I had the flu! I know that I needed to take hydrocodone to sleep more nights than not. Definitely not an experience I hope to repeat, but it did work. Please keep your eyes on the goal and know you can do it! This is not a death sentence!

ncg007 said:

Will I ever gain my strength back?

I'm a 8 days out from chemo #4 which was my second round of carbo/taxol, first 2 were Cisplatin; this round has kicked my butt!  I've gotten past the nausea and tiredness, but I have absolutely no strength to even walk a short distance in the house or stand in kitchen.  Last round I experienced this same weakness but recovered by now.  Will recovery time lengthen with each round, any tips to boost my strength?

NCG007, have you looked into getting a Neulasta shot? I get one after each chemo treatment and it helps me bounce back quickly.

ncg007 said:

Neulasta

Ive considered it, but the list of serious effects scare me!  Has everyone experienced positive results?

I only took Neulasta one time. While I did have less fatigue, the bone and muscle pain was horrible. So, I refused to let them give it to me after that.

There are other ladies that have had positive results with it.

joannewtta said:

neulasta

I had six shots, took Claritan and had no problems.

only had discomfort the first time

ncg007 said:

Neulasta

Ive considered it, but the list of serious effects scare me!  Has everyone experienced positive results?

I will be getting my 19th Nuelasta shot tomorrow with the new on body delivery system and I have never had any problems or side effects from it.  I do have bone pain but I m sure it comes from the Taxol.  It does keep my white blood cells up at a decent level.  Lou Ann

ncg007 said:

Neulasta

Ive considered it, but the list of serious effects scare me!  Has everyone experienced positive results?

thank you all for the feedback.  I'll review options with dr.

Lou Ann M said:

I use Gabapentin and it does

I use Gabapentin and it does work for me.  I also use Lorazapam and that makes it work better.  it is not usually subscribed for Nuerapathy, but my dr is letting me try it.  he originally gave it to me for my stomach and my feet stopped burning. LOL.  I hope the Gabapentin works for you.

I so hope that your wound starts to heal correctly now.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

Any side effects from it, Lou Ann?

Love,

Eldri

giggs100 said:

I only had Neulasta once time

I had a Neulasta shot one time after my first application of chemo.   I had some bone pain for two days and that was it.   They changed to Neupogen because the Neulasta shot spiked my white blood cell count up to 51.8 (five times what it should of been).   It came back down to 13.9 before my second application of chemo otherwise if it had stayed too high it would of stopped my second application of chemo.    I just had a blood test yesterday and will have another this coming Friday to see what the Neupogen will be doing to my white cell count.  I did notice a bit more tiredness this time after the application of chemo but still energy level picked up 4 days after chemo.   So was able to start doing normal things again.   With the Neulasta shot energy picked up 3 days after shot.    So not much difference in energy factor with either one.   What I did notice was hardly no pain at all after shots.  But there is a draw back with the Neupogen I have to have this shot for 5 days in a row starting on the second day after chemo.  Now I am anxiously waiting to see what the wbc (white blood cell) count is.

Jerri

FYI, I never had a neulasta shot,  yet during chemo for three or four days each round of three weeks, I had terrible bone and joint pain in my hips, thighs and knees, which I attribute to the taxol. I also had neuropathy in my fingers and toes, but that has completely resolved. However, a little more than eight months post surgery I did get significant lymphedema in my left leg which has improved greatly with eight rounds of physical therapy and compression. (I had 13 lymph nodes removed during surgery for UPSC.)

Martha