Hi girls ;)

Fluff,

I'm very sorry to read that you've been so debilitated recently. I know how active you've been in the past and I'm sure this enforced period of inactivity is very troublesome for your mental as well as physical health. If your scan indicates that topotecan hasn't been effective for you, I hope that another chemo drug will produce better results.

And I've mentioned this in other posts, but my mother achieved remission for her advanced cervical cancer after several recurrences and years of different chemo drugs and surgeries when her new oncologist tried what was then a newly approved chemo drug (this was back in mid 1980s.) When she died some years later (of other causes) she was still in remission. So a different drug can work when others haven't.

I have lymphedema in my legs, with the left leg worse than the right. I haven't found it painful (so far) but I've stayed motivated to use the compression stockings every day because they make my legs feel better. I also use a leg wrap at night on the left leg.

Sometimes I supplement the night wrap with an additional bandage around my foot and ankle, which are common swelling points for me. And I'll often add a bandage on top of the left thigh stocking since the upper leg area seems to swell more than the lower leg.

I hope the compression stockings help relieve the pain and allow you to get back to some level of activity. I'm not up to doing the heavy-duty cardio exercise classes that I took in the past, but I do take yoga and stretching classes that aren't impeded by the stockings.

Come back and let us know how the scan went and how the lymphedema treatment is going. I'm hoping you have better days soon.

I'm sorry you're dealing with all those issues. Hope your drs find just the right drug cocktail to kick cancer out of the park. 

When I found out I was highly allergic to taxol and the drs were deciding on a different regime, I was scared and depressed. My wonderful infusion nurse assured me there were lots of drugs they could try. Hope they quickly find right one for you!

Fluff, it is good to see you back on here. Hoping a new chemo will help. As far as the lymphedema, I can relate. By the time I got an appointment with a physical therapist that was certified in lymphedema, my right leg and foot were so swollen and hard I was using a can or walker when I did need to get out. It has been a lengthy process, but I am able to walk a little outside with a cane. I do miss my walks as they were so helpful in keeping my spirit up.

First I had a knee high compression sock until my wrap around garments with Velcro came in. They really helped to get the leg to begin shrinking. Then I got the legs that I zipped on and a pump that mimics the muscle action that would naturally get the lymph fluid to flow upwards from foot to top of leg (they have one that fits like pants and goes to the waist.) I use the pump fr an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. I now have a thigh high compression stocking that gives me more freedom of movement. I also massage my lymph nodes and exercise my legs at least 2x a day. So, Fluff, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the lymphedema. 
Hugs & prayers! Let us know the scan results.

Donna D