Dis Breast Cancer Survivors Part II -GAGWTA!

[conniehar90]

Hi everyone - thanks for the warm welcome!!

I was in a clinical trial for my chemo and I ended up with 15 weekly treatments of A/C (that sucked!) and 6 bi-weekly treatments of Taxol. So I was in treatment for about 28 weeks - over 6 months.

On the Taxol, they give you Benadryl for the possible allergic reaction. It always put me right to sleep which was nice as that infusion was always a long one. I had horrible bone pain with the Taxol. I felt some achiness on my whole body from the Neulasta, but that only lasted a day or 2 - kind of like the flu. The Taxol caused bone pain in my legs that would last about 4 days. It was pretty bad and even with Vicodin I had trouble sleeping. But, after 4 days I felt pretty much back to normal so I preferred Taxol to the A/C. With the A/C I had horrible throat sores and just felt yucky for 15 weeks.

Your mom will be very happy to have the port. Mine was inserted in the hospital under a "twilight" anesthetic. The only real pain I had was the very first chemo which was 4 days after I got the port in. It was still sore and it really hurt when they inserted that needle. But, after that it was no big deal. As said previously, you can get some numbing cream for it. The port really makes the infusions much easier than having an IV in the arm for all those hours.


Good luck to your mom - she will be in my thoughts. I didn't have any positive nodes, but my ILC tumor was 10 cm (!!!) and that is why I hit Stage 3. My onc tells me he thinks I have a good prognosis.

Iluvthemouse - I had an MRI guided biopsy with the clip. I don't recall much pain. I hope all went well for you. You are also in my thoughts.

I hope everyone has a great day! Thanks again for the warm welcome!

Connie

 

[snappy]

Thanks for telling your story, Connie, and welcome!!!

Iluvthemouse, good luck today.

judithen, glad your trip was so special. Good choice of resorts to switch out. . . Poly and BW seem so different to me.

I like the studios too for the little kitchen. We are doing studio during October.

Laura, yes the RFTC is on Sunday, the 5th.

I hope you do stay over a few days. We are arriving on the 30th. I had booked a few extra days prior to that but it all became too much so I stuck to my original game plan.

Where are you staying?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I had a port for chemo. Mine was placed below my collar bone, opposite side of my cancer. It is placed under the skin, you could see a bump where it was. Only the nurses are allowed to access it. The needle they use is L shaped. I know some people have topical numbing creams applied prior to the stick, but I never did. It's one quick stick, nothing at all like digging around hunting for a vein! Once the port is accessed, they use it for blood draws and giving chemo. It is flushed afterwards to keep it from clotting. I was awake for the procedure. They gave me some pretty cool meds, so I didn't care so much what they were doing! The surgeon who did it was cool. He asked me if it was ok if he sang along with the radio, it helped him concentrate...Sing away I said!!! After he placed it, they needed to do an xray to make sure it was ok. I never had any trouble with the port. I miss it when I have blood draws!

Mom said she is supposed to have someone drive her home after they insert the port, so it sounds like she will be kind of loopy afterwards. It will definitely be useful since she has to have so many infusions!

That's right... was it Benedryl or Claritin? Hopefully someone else remembers. I never had Neulasta, but Taxol gave me flu-like symptoms, bone pain in my legs.

I may have to go back through the posts and see if I can find it if none of us can remember.

Hi everyone - thanks for the warm welcome!!

I was in a clinical trial for my chemo and I ended up with 15 weekly treatments of A/C (that sucked!) and 6 bi-weekly treatments of Taxol. So I was in treatment for about 28 weeks - over 6 months.

On the Taxol, they give you Benadryl for the possible allergic reaction. It always put me right to sleep which was nice as that infusion was always a long one. I had horrible bone pain with the Taxol. I felt some achiness on my whole body from the Neulasta, but that only lasted a day or 2 - kind of like the flu. The Taxol caused bone pain in my legs that would last about 4 days. It was pretty bad and even with Vicodin I had trouble sleeping. But, after 4 days I felt pretty much back to normal so I preferred Taxol to the A/C. With the A/C I had horrible throat sores and just felt yucky for 15 weeks.

Your mom will be very happy to have the port. Mine was inserted in the hospital under a "twilight" anesthetic. The only real pain I had was the very first chemo which was 4 days after I got the port in. It was still sore and it really hurt when they inserted that needle. But, after that it was no big deal. As said previously, you can get some numbing cream for it. The port really makes the infusions much easier than having an IV in the arm for all those hours.


Good luck to your mom - she will be in my thoughts. I didn't have any positive nodes, but my ILC tumor was 10 cm (!!!) and that is why I hit Stage 3. My onc tells me he thinks I have a good prognosis.

Iluvthemouse - I had an MRI guided biopsy with the clip. I don't recall much pain. I hope all went well for you. You are also in my thoughts.

I hope everyone has a great day! Thanks again for the warm welcome!

Connie

I am so glad you are doing better! Wow - 10 cm is pretty significant! Mom's was 3 cm at diagnosis, and 2 cm when they did her surgery after almost 3 months of Arimidex.

Mom will have the A/C for 8 weeks (treatments every 2 weeks), and she is scheduled to go back to work smack in the middle of that. If she has severe bone pain from the Taxol she could be in for a rough ride. Since the infusions are weekly she won't have many "good" days before it is time for the next infusion. I guess we'll just see how she responds to each thing.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

GAGWTA Sistas! My best to all of you and welcome to new posters!

First, let me tell you that CLARITIN works well for bone pain. I take it on the day of my Neulasta shot and for 3 days after (along with Aleve or you can use Tylenol). Knock on wood, no pain so far, and I've had two shots.

Sorry I have been MIA lately, had a bad week with the Adriamycin infusion. Horrible nausea for 3 days, even with Emend, Decadron, and Zofran (later took Ativan at night which helped). Then HORRENDOUS constipation that lasted FIVE days. I am partially to blame for this as I had a side-effect free day on the 4th and ate WAY too much protein and not enough fiber. Boy, did I pay for it later. Had to see my onco yesterday as it was so bad I was dry-heaving. All I can say is thank goodness for prunes, LOL.

I am praying that my next infusion goes better (this coming Tuesday). The idea of having to go through these s/e for the rest of the month makes me want to throw myself off a roof, LOL!

I hope that iluvthemouse's biopsy went well and was pain-free. I had a stereotactic with clip placement and felt no pain, just a little bit after the anesthesia wore off, but Tylenol did the trick.

Be well!

Dawn

 

[MerryPoppins]

Just stopping by to check on all my friends. Hang in there, to those of you in treatment and having biopsies. And welcome Connie.

I enjoyed reading about trips and checking out photos. Sounds like everyone is staying busy. Me too.

DD is in San Antonio at a church youth convention. She's having lots of fun. We're back to painting and ripping carpet up. I can't wait until we're done.

GAGWTA!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Dawn - Thanks for the info on Claritin! I will tell Mom.
I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. But you are definitely giving me lots of insight on what to watch for. I know everyone reacts differently, but your treatment is so similar to what hers will be I am following your posts closely. Hang in there!
Part of the reason Mom ended up back in the hospital after her lumpectomy was that she had been constipated for TWELVE days. They did the abdominal CT to rule out an obstruction and they wanted her to go home. That was when I threw the fit and the surgeon admitted her. I didn't really intend for them to admit her, I just intended for them to TREAT the constipation instead of just telling her to go home and take Milk of Magnesia. I will suggest that she stock up on prunes.

 

[conniehar90]

Wow - I forgot about the constipation. Yea - it was bad. I used Metamucil and Senecot and it was still bad.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Wow - I forgot about the constipation. Yea - it was bad. I used Metamucil and Senecot and it was still bad.

Yikes! I am trying to figure out how to approach this problem before my next treatment. I was told to take Senekot, and did for 2 days, but it did very little for me. I also took a stool softener every night and it did nothing once I had treatment. Maybe I'll need to eat prunes and drink prune juice the night before. BTW, jackskellingtongirl, they said to mix the prune juoce with a little apple juice to make it more tolerable. I will call the nurses again and see what they recommend, specifically regarding what to take the night before.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

Hi Ladies


I am lying here in bed trying to watch tv but there is nothing on daytime tv.

I am thrilled to say no pain with the biopsy. I took 5mg valium and 2 ES Tylenols when I got to the office and I really dont think I needed the valium because it never seemed to kick in. I was a ball of nerves but the doc said I was a perfect patient since I didnt move a muscle. LOL I felt very very minor sting with the numbing but nothing after. The actually ultrasound before was the most uncomfortable because I started getting sore. They "drained the lump" almost completely but I didnt understand since it was solid. She got 5 samples. She used a sort of like vaccuum machine the never made a gunshot noise. It was fine. 20 minutes later it was done. then 20 minutes later for a mammogram. She said use ice and ES tylenol. I have the appt for the results on Monday. She never mentioned the samples and I didnt ask.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and good thoughts .

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Hi Ladies


I am lying here in bed trying to watch tv but there is nothing on daytime tv.

I am thrilled to say no pain with the biopsy. I took 5mg valium and 2 ES Tylenols when I got to the office and I really dont think I needed the valium because it never seemed to kick in. I was a ball of nerves but the doc said I was a perfect patient since I didnt move a muscle. LOL I felt very very minor sting with the numbing but nothing after. The actually ultrasound before was the most uncomfortable because I started getting sore. They "drained the lump" almost completely but I didnt understand since it was solid. She got 5 samples. She used a sort of like vaccuum machine the never made a gunshot noise. It was fine. 20 minutes later it was done. then 20 minutes later for a mammogram. She said use ice and ES tylenol. I have the appt for the results on Monday. She never mentioned the samples and I didnt ask.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and good thoughts .

Glad it went well. I am also glad that you have an appt. to go in for the results. Believe it or not, I was called with mine, on a Friday of a holiday weekend, no less. Hoping that the news is good, but again, if for some reason it isn't, you will get through it and we are here for you.

Dawn

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Yikes! I am trying to figure out how to approach this problem before my next treatment. I was told to take Senekot, and did for 2 days, but it did very little for me. I also took a stool softener every night and it did nothing once I had treatment. Maybe I'll need to eat prunes and drink prune juice the night before. BTW, jackskellingtongirl, they said to mix the prune juoce with a little apple juice to make it more tolerable. I will call the nurses again and see what they recommend, specifically regarding what to take the night before.

My grandma used to drink prune juice every day. Can't say I've ever tried it. I don't like prunes.
Mom was taking Miralax but it wasn't helping. Of course by the time she started I think the problem was so advanced it didn't matter. Definitely something to try to stay ahead of - easier if it doesn't start in the first place. I am trying to think of what to put in a package for her. Claritin and prunes, so far!

Hi Ladies


I am lying here in bed trying to watch tv but there is nothing on daytime tv.

I am thrilled to say no pain with the biopsy. I took 5mg valium and 2 ES Tylenols when I got to the office and I really dont think I needed the valium because it never seemed to kick in. I was a ball of nerves but the doc said I was a perfect patient since I didnt move a muscle. LOL I felt very very minor sting with the numbing but nothing after. The actually ultrasound before was the most uncomfortable because I started getting sore. They "drained the lump" almost completely but I didnt understand since it was solid. She got 5 samples. She used a sort of like vaccuum machine the never made a gunshot noise. It was fine. 20 minutes later it was done. then 20 minutes later for a mammogram. She said use ice and ES tylenol. I have the appt for the results on Monday. She never mentioned the samples and I didnt ask.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and good thoughts .

Well, one more hurdle you have cleared! I am sure it will feel like FOREVER for Monday to get here, but you will make it. And whatever the results are, we'll be here!

 

[lookingforward]

Hi Ladies


I am lying here in bed trying to watch tv but there is nothing on daytime tv.

I am thrilled to say no pain with the biopsy. I took 5mg valium and 2 ES Tylenols when I got to the office and I really dont think I needed the valium because it never seemed to kick in. I was a ball of nerves but the doc said I was a perfect patient since I didnt move a muscle. LOL I felt very very minor sting with the numbing but nothing after. The actually ultrasound before was the most uncomfortable because I started getting sore. They "drained the lump" almost completely but I didnt understand since it was solid. She got 5 samples. She used a sort of like vaccuum machine the never made a gunshot noise. It was fine. 20 minutes later it was done. then 20 minutes later for a mammogram. She said use ice and ES tylenol. I have the appt for the results on Monday. She never mentioned the samples and I didnt ask.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and good thoughts .

Glad the biopsy is done! I am sending you all good thoughts! I had two biopsies the same day with the same flippin machine. And no valium...the pain was not so bad, just some bruising.

Take it easy today!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Hello All. Have been busy but would like to spread some all around.

A word on the constipation (from the hospital nurse ):

Senakot is excellent (and natural) - you can take two sennas twice a day, and even throw in some colace twice a day as well, and that should keep you regular. For bouts of constipation, nothing beats Magnesium Citrate, you can buy it OTC. Have never seen it not work. (Start with half a bottle, not the whole thing.) For those who use Milk of Magnesia, you must drink lots of water with the dose or it won't work well (same can be said for Mag Citrate as both work via osmosis, pulling water into the bowel until pressure forces out contents). Mag Citrate is more palatable than MOM. Meanwhile, eating lots of "P" fruits (not only prunes but pears, peaches, plums, etc) and drinking plenty of fluids also helps. HTH.

I think it's wonderful how treatment regimens have evolved in the last few years. It goes to show how much is being put into the effort of learning about and eventually eradicating this beast!

I'm I've been car shopping, which generally I enjoy. But this time around it's been kind of a nightmare. I was all set to close today when last night I realized the dealership was dishonest with me and tried to pull a fast one on the terms we'd agreed to. What snakes! Very discouraging since I've been at this non-stop for weeks and finally found the exact car I wanted. I'm p'd at their dishonesty and I'm p'd at myself for allowing it to happen. (Sorry for the vent, I know for some of you this probably seems trivial right now.)

 

[Iluvthemouse]

Pea---so sorry about the car thing. We have been thinking of car shopping and just cant stand the thought of dealing with those people. The salesmen are a special species, that for sure.



Quick update on me. Last night I was achy bad. My **** looks like it was beat up with a baseball bat. I took 3 ES Tylenol at about 9pm and 1 melatonin to get to sleep. I slept until 5am and took 2 more Tylenol. So far so good. I bruise so easily but I didnt expect the whole **** to be purple. At least purple is my favorite color. LOL

Have a good day everyone.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Hello All. Have been busy but would like to spread some all around.

A word on the constipation (from the hospital nurse ):

Senakot is excellent (and natural) - you can take two sennas twice a day, and even throw in some colace twice a day as well, and that should keep you regular. For bouts of constipation, nothing beats Magnesium Citrate, you can buy it OTC. Have never seen it not work. (Start with half a bottle, not the whole thing.) For those who use Milk of Magnesia, you must drink lots of water with the dose or it won't work well (same can be said for Mag Citrate as both work via osmosis, pulling water into the bowel until pressure forces out contents). Mag Citrate is more palatable than MOM. Meanwhile, eating lots of "P" fruits (not only prunes but pears, peaches, plums, etc) and drinking plenty of fluids also helps. HTH.

I think it's wonderful how treatment regimens have evolved in the last few years. It goes to show how much is being put into the effort of learning about and eventually eradicating this beast!

I'm I've been car shopping, which generally I enjoy. But this time around it's been kind of a nightmare. I was all set to close today when last night I realized the dealership was dishonest with me and tried to pull a fast one on the terms we'd agreed to. What snakes! Very discouraging since I've been at this non-stop for weeks and finally found the exact car I wanted. I'm p'd at their dishonesty and I'm p'd at myself for allowing it to happen. (Sorry for the vent, I know for some of you this probably seems trivial right now.)

Thank you for this info.!!! I am still struggling a bit. Things are moving along, but slowly. I am not looking forward to the next treatment as I worry that this situation will be worse, however it has to be done. I will go out and look for magnesium citrate. I was told to take something the night before, so perhaps I should take the Senekot then (or should I take Senekot-S?) and the magnesium the day of chemo? Or do I wait until I have symptoms to take that?

Car salesmen are the worst. My BIL just backed out of a shady deal as well. Buying/Leasing a car is a very stressful experience, I think it's up there with buying a home. I DREAD it every time our lease is up (my husband likes having a new car every 3 years).

iluvthemouse--sorry to hear about the bruising!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Linda - Sorry about the car! Hopefully you can find another dealership. We had a really great experience when we bought DH's car (a Honda). I am a Nissan girl myself, and I HATE the dealership. Talk about throw-backs to stereotypical car salesmen. I don't think we got a bad deal, but I don't think it was great, either.
Thanks for the advice on dealing with constipation! I'll tell Mom!

Dawn - Good luck with your next treatment!

Iluvthemouse - I hope the bruising goes away soon!

 

[snappy]

The direction of this thread is right up my alley. No chemo here but the opiates they gave me after my reconstruction in 2006 caused me such constipation, I could not believe it. Much worse than after childbirth times 3.
I remember commenting on it here, Linda mentioned the Magnesium Citrate, so I have a bottle of that in my cabinet for future use. What worked for me in my darkest hour was suppositories. They were harsh but effective. I took myself off everything but tylenol after 3-4 days of the pain drugs. It was not worth it. It was difficult to get out of bed for about 4 more days but I managed.

I still have issues due to a prolapsed uterus pushing down on all my other organs. I drink oodles of herb tea and mucho fruit, pears, raisins, grapes. I did not know about the "p" thing, it makes sense.

Right now I am on a watermellon binge and all is well.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was told to take something the night before, so perhaps I should take the Senekot then (or should I take Senekot-S?) and the magnesium the day of chemo? Or do I wait until I have symptoms to take that?

I'd probably time the laxative (not to be confused with stool softeners - senna and colace, which work best when taken regularly) so that it didn't effect me on the day of chemo. Nothing worse than not being in your home bathroom when you need *time and space*.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for the empathy on the car situation. I've bought cars before, but this is the first time it wasn't a fairly pleasant experience. And I'm downright they snaked me. It's cut-throat out there right now. What makes it worse is that I've wanted this car since 2004 when I ended treatment, but I put off the purchase because I was worried, after cancer, about spending money. The 5 of us, plus German Shepherd, have been squeezed into a compact SUV ever since, and it's just now that I've felt comfortable enough to go ahead. So that fries me even more. One thing I can't stand is people without scruples. But my error was bargaining in good faith and trusting others to do the same. Guess it doesn't always work that way. Last night and this morning I was and it shouldn't be that way.

 

[Sha]

Does the Claritin help with ANY of the Chemo agents regarding bone pain or just certain ones?