had my first chemo!

Yes, I have been informing them and Yes I have been getting the neulasta. They weren't sure what was causing the fever or the black out. Oh well, hopefully by next year this will be a bad memory.

Pattikakes50:
I had a port put in before I started chemo and although I don't like having it (constant reminder of chemo) it is mainly painless and my veins look great. I have small veins that are usually difficult to access, so I had no choice.
I was dx w/ TN IDC in Jan.09. I had a lumpectomy to remove a 1.8cm tumor and my sentinal node biopsy was clear. I began chemo in March doing DD AC (which I finished) and now onto DD Taxotere. I am so looking forward to June 4th= last treatment. I will then start 6 weeks of radiation. I hope to have my energy back to be active w/ my 2 young boys this summer.
CANCER SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have moments when I am still in disbelief, but then I look at my bald head and get back to reality. I just wasn't expecting to be dealing w/all of this at 37.

Why is radiation hell? I thought after chemo, radiation would be easy.
Also, just to let you all know I am signed up for a program offered free of charge at the YMCA called LiveStrong (through Lance Armstrong's foundation) which offers 3 months of personal training 3x per week along w/ water aerobics, restorative yoga...all geared to help someone who survived cancer get their strength and energy levels back up. I believe this program is being offered at some YMCA's throughout the country.

I used to exercise every night after work but now since the chemo I am too tired to do anything. And when I do, I poop out. I used to ride my bike (which sits on a trainer in the basement) for 30 to 45 minutes. Now it takes all I have to do 15. Please tell me this will get better. I also used to walk to the mailbox which is 1 mile away and back giving me a total of 2 miles. The first time I walked it while taking chemo I felt lucky to make it back. I just hope that it doesn't last too long. I still have one more round of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. I want to be me again.
Reggie

Reggie you are almost done.  Your body is going thru turmoil and it isn't going to respond most likely the way you would prefer.  Your cells, the good and bad are being demolished and the good ones are trying to grow back.

Edited by trip2 - Apr 20 2009 at 4:51am

Reggie24,

Hi Kirby,
    I know this is all frustrating. I am looking forward to having this all behind me. I do hope that the radiation is easier than the chemo. My chemo treatments were supposed to be 4 treatments of taxotere and cytoxine, once every 3 weeks, but my oncologist/surgeon said that young healthy individuals could do it every 2 weeks. Not that I am really young (49) but I am good health considering, I talked my oncologist into every 2 weeks. It has taken its toll on my body but at least right now it is over. I feel better with each passing day but just waiting to quit getting out of breath at the least bit of effort. Thank you for your post.

Hugs, Reggie :)

Let me know what you find out about helping others. After this expeience I also want to gove back as so many have helped mein so many ways.
I just had my 5th of 8 chemo rounds and am dealing w/ annoying bone pain from the neulasta shot and effects from taxotere. I hope radiation is a walk in the park after all these side effects.I will be done w/chemo june 4th :-)
NEED A BREAK!!!!!!!!!

  i dont usually post but reading this reminds me of what my treatment days were like. i have stage 3a with 7 positive lymph nodes,1.2 tumor of course also triple negative. this june 26 i will have hit the 3 year mark.i had immediate reconstruction tissue expander  but a few weeks later had to have tissue expander removed because i got mrsa skin infection.it was like going through a mastectomy twice. i had to go home on iv vancomycin for 4 weeks before i could begin chemo.  my chemo was dose dense adriamycin,cytoxan, and then taxol. what a year it was , i started chemo 911 2006. i did a dose of chemo at 10 and took my daughter at 3 to take her road test. she passed.it was ajoy to see her happiness. that fall we toured many colleges, i worked ,i did all my normal activities.my chemo was not cumulative. my last dose was december17,my chritmas present. one week later we went to orlando and i walked 12 hours at magic kingdom. i guess my chemo expeience was agood one. the hardest thing was for me to loose my long blond curly hair.this was my pride and joy.irefused to cut it and yes it did fall out but each hair that fell out made me angrier and angrier and detemined to fight this disease and win .there are so many memories i have during this time. what i try to remember EVERY DAY is that most women survive this disease and i am surviving and will continue to do so. try not to give cancer power in your life. each and every one of us has the power to mentally conqeur this monster.live your lives knowing that you never gave cancer the power.each day we have now is a gift. we have been given a gift that only us exclusive cancer club members can truly understand.fight the bear every day by LIVING

Kat,

Edited by Reggie24k - Apr 26 2009 at 1:37am