Numbness in hands and arms.....

THAT STINKS!
When did the numbness start? I just completed #7 and have a little numbness in my feet. Does it continue to worsen with each Taxol? I know everyone is different, but it makes me think maybe you could just take a few extra days between treatments to allow the numbness to go away.

As for your friends and relatives, remove the "good" part of that sentence. How sad... I wonder if they make a shirt that says " NOT CONTAGIOUS! JUST CANCER!"
I would love to wear that one. I've been working at a school for 4 years now and many of the teachers avoid me like the plague. I just figure they're either not very nice, don't know how to handle it, never really liked me in the first place, think I'm contagious.
Luckily I have 5 really nice, caring teacher friends who are awesome to me! Even just a smile and "how are you doing?" can make my whole day so much better.... I've learned a lot through this and wonder if I was that "walk right by and hope she didn't notice" person in the past when someone needed a hug or a smile....

Kari I just had my first
Kari I just had my first round of taxol this past Monday, and at moments I can barely walk from the pain. I have 3 more to go. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

You are not ugly, you are a very pretty lady. Cancer is ugly but we are not. I think people avoid us because they dont know what to say and they Do Not Understand cancer treatement. This is not a one shot deal like surgery. You have surgery, you are under the weather and then you get better. This is ongoing and people dont get it. They expect us to be feeling better and we dont feel better for any length of time because after every round of chemo we get sick again.

I'm with you, I cant wait till this is over and we can get back to some normalcy without pain and nausea. Keep your chin up. Wishing you a healthy 2010. You are not alone, believe that. I'm sending a New year prayer your way. May God bless you.

pinkkari09 said:

peripheral neuropathy, that's what it's called....
....this is a condition that can or cannot be reversed. You can find the information at
http://www.chemocare.com/MANAGING/numbness__tingling.asp
My doctor told me from the start to let her know of the symptoms, I was not totally honest with her on the severity of them because I didn't want her to stop my treatments because my cancer is so far advanced....big mistake!! If you experience any numbness let your doc know. Mine started in my fingertips, now it's up my arms, in my face, in my feet and at times I have to look to see where my arm is before I move it, scary!
THANK YOU so much everyone for your encouraging words on friends and family, although it stinks that it has to happen I'm grateful we have each other and that I'm not the only one with this issue.
Love to all,
Kari

Kari-I'm so sorry to hear about your neuropathy
I had chermo four years ago, come this next Feb, with a/c and taxol. Though I did not have the duration that you are have, I did (and still do) experience neuropathy. After the chemo, the neuropathy was exceptionally bad and, I too, could not hold onto things very well. In time, the neuropathy in my hands and arms improved. I still have some neuropathy in my feet, but it has become more of an annoyance than a problem. I just need to careful as to what kinds of shoes I wear, that I hold onto a stair railing when when I walk up or down steps on my really bad days in particular, and that I consciously aware of where my feet are (that may sound funny, but after awhile it becomes second nature). I was told, too, that the neuropathy may, or may not, go away with the passing of time. At first, I was so frustrated (and even cried) when I dropped things. The worse thing was when I was not thinking and tried to carry of jar of applesauce with one hand while holding the phone under my chin (like "normal" folks do) and the jar dropped. As luck would have it, it broke all over my hallway carpet and there is NOTHING that cleans-up apple sauce (not even Oxi Clean)! I suppose it's a good thing that I am not materialistic, because my once light green carpet is stained a very nasty-looking brown (it's worse than the puppy "spills" that never came completely clean).

As for the friends, well, all I can say is that when one really needs a friend is when you learn who your strong and faithful friends are, because these are the ones who stand-by you no regardless of the pain they feel because of the pain you are enduring.

I had a friend for over 30 years that never wrote to me again after I told her I had cancer. We were inseparable during high school and beyond, and we continued contact with one another even after I moved several states away from her. At first, I was hurt, but now I have accepted it and I am no longer angry with her. In fact, just recently, I tried to call her to tell her that I am well now. Cancer is a frightening thing and, to those who know and love us, it frigthens them as well. People run from fear, our friends are no different. Wouldn't we have run from it, too, if we had been given a choice?
dmc

Cher2063 said:

I see your photo
Kari,
I see your photo. Two beautiful women. No ugliness there. I will keep you in my prayers.

hopefully numbness is reversible
Kari,
you look great on your picture and will looks even better after you complete your treatment.
Just wait and be gentle with yourself, We all have been there and feel your pain.
Hopefully numbness will go away after Chemo stops, Physical therapy and time will help.
Have a very healthy New Year,

I had 12 treatments of Taxol
I had 12 treatments of Taxol and i did have a little numbness, but it did go away after treatment. I just have a problem with the cold weather, it actually hurts to walk outside. I was also scared at everything that was going on, but you will find that you are stronger than you think. And as for your family and friends avoiding you, that happened to me also! I think it was because they thought they might have to do something for me, and they have such a busy life. I needed so much at the time, it was so overwhelming and they were not there for me. Still gets me upset, but this is 2010 and i can not hold a grudge.
Remember that this is just temporary. You will feel beautiful again, and you will be healthy. Take care

newbiefromcananda said:

wow.. I feel for you, I have
wow.. I feel for you, I have not had the numbness ... but I just must say you are absolutely stunning..... I am sorry I cannot answer your question but just know that we all feel this way at times... I feel fat, bald ,,lonely and I guess this is normal..sad but normal... (((((BIG HUGS))))) Lisa xoxoxoxo

I have learned to not focus
I have learned to not focus on the people who could not be here. I focus on the ones who are. I think it is where they are in theor life and maturity. In the beginning it made me angry. If it was that they xcouldnt cope I forgave it. if it was meaness or selfishnes I learned their true colors and they were off the list. no loss.

Numbness
What a brave and amazing woman you are, Kari. If you can, forgive those who aren't there for you. I'm so glad you wrote to us all and I hope you have a local support group that you can go to for help. It's my understanding that the neuropathy CAN lessen over time. I'm pulling for you, girl! I start my TC chemo on Thursday.
Holding you in my heart!
Sally

sallyf said:

Another chemo question
This Thursday, I will start on a combo of taxotere/cytoxin every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. I guess it's normal to be scared. The surgery didn't scare me anywhere near as much. Plus, my oncologist told me I MIGHT have a reaction within the first 15-30 minutes of the infusion - like DIFFICULTY BREATHING!! Anyone else have that? I know I'll be OK, just wanted to get rid of some of the fear with your help : )
Thanks, Sally

I am on taxol but was told
I am on taxol but was told the same thing. I got premeds decadron. pepcid and benadryl. I (knock on wood) have not had any issues. but I was VERY anxious as I have read that it can happen. So best wishes and hope its fine.

sallyf said:

Another chemo question
This Thursday, I will start on a combo of taxotere/cytoxin every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. I guess it's normal to be scared. The surgery didn't scare me anywhere near as much. Plus, my oncologist told me I MIGHT have a reaction within the first 15-30 minutes of the infusion - like DIFFICULTY BREATHING!! Anyone else have that? I know I'll be OK, just wanted to get rid of some of the fear with your help : )
Thanks, Sally

adverse reactions
I had Taxol and not Taxotere, but they both can have bad reactions but they are manageable. I had no reaction to Taxol on my first treatment - only dexadron and benedryl as premeds. On the second treatment, about 30 seconds after it started I had a terrible reaction. My nose stuffed up completely and my head and face got really hot and my face turned red. They stopped they flow of the Taxol and loaded me up with more steroids and then started it again and everything went fine. The same thing happened with the third treatment including a drop in my blood pressure. They did the same thing (stopped the flow of the Taxol - loaded me up with more steroids and benedryl) and everything was fine. For the last treatment they gave me so much benedryl before the treatment I practically slept through the whole thing but I had no reaction. After the first treatment they also slowed the flow down considerable which I think helped alot too. It took forever (7 hours all together for the whole treatment.) It is scary but the chemo nurses knew what to do to handle it. Good luck with the treatment!