QuoteReplyTopic: Starting to hurt Posted: Aug 24 2017 at 9:34pm
I was diagnosed in January with Stage 2 TNBC, 11 days before my 43rd birthday. I started 4 rounds of AC on January 20th and then 12 rounds of Taxol on March 17th. Other than fatigue, I never had any illness, vomiting, or nausea! I feel very lucky to had went through chemo with no problems!! I finished chemo June 9th. Had a lumpectomy July 17th with 2 nodes removed. Was told by breast surgeon that I was cancer free. It felt wonderful but short lived. My oncologist isn't so sure. Although the nodes showed no cancer, the ACT didn't destroy all the cancer and there was a 1.5 cm mass left. So now after my 30 rounds of radiation I will have to take 6 months of Xeloda. I am extremely upset about it. And now, I am getting extreme soreness and stiffness in my fingers, toes, legs, feet, elbows and neck.It hurts to walk, roll over in bed, sit in a chair or walk down stairs. Has anyone else had this problem after chemo?
You said: " Although the nodes showed no cancer, the ACT didn't destroy all the cancer and there was a 1.5 cm mass left."
The fact that you have no cancer in the lymph nodes is a huge positive.
I've said this before, but a Pathological Complete Response to chemo before any surgery is only about 25% of the time, some here feel free to correct me...
My wife had her tumor killed 75%, it was near 4.5cm, then after chemo before surgery there was 1.25cm tumor that was, it seems chemo-resistant, they think it was the "metaplastic" component, but that's another long subject....so we take that as a victory, the tumor was removed, so we try and move on, that's why she had Taxol chemo after surgery and then radiation.
Please don't be upset that you didn't have a complete response before lumpectomy. It happens.
There are members her who have taken Xeloda and these side affects should be addressed within days to your oncologist, I think.
I faired through chemo extremely well also with little to no sickness, tiredness, etc. I worked full time during it all. I did however get the terrible bone pain that you are describing. Only difference is that mine started right around the same time I started the Taxol. It was not a delayed reaction as yours sounds since you are done with it now. I have a pretty high threshold for pain and I still had to get pain meds. It hurt so bad and there was no relief - sitting hurt, walking hurt, laying down hurt.
Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor and get pain meds if you need them. It will help you through.
I don't have a lot of information on the extra chemo that they are recommending. I would have thought with your clear nodes and now the tumor being removed, that those are good signs. However, I also know that I personally wanted to take/do anything and everything I could to kill the cancer and prevent it from every coming back. I didn't (and still don't) ever want to go through that again so I would have taken it if they told me I need it. Again, just my personal way of thinking.
I truly wish you the best. Hang in there!
Carrie
Age 40, DX: 12/10/15 Stage 1 TNBC, BRCA-, 7mm tumor in left breast, no nodes, ACT Chemo 1/4/16 - 4/15/16, Lumpectomy 5/16/16, PCR (Praise God!), radiation 6/22/16 -8/3/2016
I also had problems with the stiffness/soreness after chemo, especially getting up first thing in the morning. It's probably from the Taxol and neuropathy side effects. It does get better over time.
It's good they are recommending Xeloda for you. Please read about the study results in the link below:
Xeloda improves survival for some breast cancer patients who do not achieve a pathological complete response to chemotherapy
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