I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
I had tumours in both of my ovaries and had twinges in both, also the odd twinge where the stitches are, it is always wise to check with your Doc if you are concerned. My tum also swells up all the time, but haven't notice bladder probs. It is nine months since I had my op, doesn't time fly lol.
I've had a pretty rough weekend, but I knew it was coming. Same side effects as the 1st cycle, aching joints, tiredness, numbness and constipation again. Oh and a horrible metallic taste in my mouth. Still I'm feeling a bit perkier now and looking forward to having a good couple of weeks ahead.
Sharon - I hope you are feeling better now? It's funny how we all get different side effects, I haven't had any of the sickness or loo probs - more the other way with being bunged up!
John - How is Mary getting on? Yes my hair fell out very fast in the end. The nurse did say it was normal for that to happen. I'm on the standard Carbo/Taxol every 3 weeks for six cycles. Then three monthly check ups after that. I had tumours on both ovaries and had hysterectomy last Nov. They say it's all been removed and this is a mop up, to make sure there's nothing hanging around.
Hope all you other ladies are doing ok, and have had a good weekend? We've had fabulous sunshine it makes such a difference.
I hadn't heard of Cediranib before, so this could be a promising development and I will watch with interest. I see from your post in that 25% of patients will receive a placebo as part of this clinical trial, so it's going to be difficult to know how successful it is until the results are published. But we may get some idea if there are a few patients contributing to that thread. I can understand why you have volunteered, this being your second time must of course be disappointing. It's too subjective to say why some stay "all clear" for longer than others, we all just try to do the right things (whatever they are) and hope it all works out ok. I hope that you keep posting here and keep us up to date with your experiences, and I wish you all the best with the treatment.
@Jackie - I was thinking the same as you while watching the awful news footage of the Japanese tsunami. Life can be so fragile and none of us know what is in store for us, so if you're feeling good, enjoy each day as much as you can.
@Sarah - I thought you were on the standard regimen of CarboTaxol but wasn't sure. There may be a reason that "dose-dense" is not suitable for you, but It may be worth enquiring about the "Japanese regimen" with your oncologist, it is basically the same as what you're doing, but the Taxol dose is spread over 3 weeks. Mary only has blood tests and clinic 3 weekly (at the start of each cycle).
Update on Mary - She survived my lamb curry and she felt fine by Saturday, so we still went to the party! Everyone was pleased to see her and said how good she looked. We had a few dances and stayed until the end. Got home about 12.45 and were having toast and hot chocolate in bed at 1am!! This afternoon we went out for a family meal, as our youngest son was home from Uni for the weekend. It's finally caught up with her now and she's feeling very tired, but then so am I!
This coming Thursday, Mary will be half way through her treatment. I'm hoping she will still be feeling as good by the end of it in May, as it's her 50th Birthday in July and I think she deserves a party!
Thanks Jackie, it does help to know that you're not alone in all this cos sometimes thats how it feels. I try to be upbeat and positive when I'm with other people and generally I do feel that way, but then people go home and the door shuts and you're climbing the walls. I'm trying to work thru the chemo (combination of annual leave and flxible working) so hoping that will at least keep my mind off it some of the time. Just collected my new wig today in readiness for my hair coming out at weekend - if it lasts that long, I'm thinking of shaving it all off before then anyway. I will keep popping on the forum, nice to hear how other people are going on with all this!
Daft as it sounds Once the hairs gone it won't seem so bad! My advise is shave it now, honestly its the thought of being bald that's the worst once its gone you sort of forget about it! The first time I lost my hair I always worn a bandana or hat and it made me very conscious of looking different every time I went out (wouldn't normally wear hats anytime) the second time I gave up and just went out bald, I very soon forgot I had no hair and it worked much better for me. With the hats/bandanas I kept getting sympathetic looks, however when bald plp were unsure if I'd chosen to have my head shaved or was ill so I got treated a lot more normally which I preferred! If either of you decide to go out hatless do carry something with you, air con in shops is to much for a baldy and be careful of the sun (if we ever get any!)
Sue you sound like you live alone, I'm single though I do have a best friend/flat mate, she works full time, on one hand when she's at work it gives me time to think but as she's gone for 14 hours a day it often leaves me too much time to think!!! She also copes by not verbalising her fears and does not cope at all well with conversations regarding my lack of a long term future, in consequence we go on essentially as normal. That is why so many of us find this site useful, here we can say what we want, express fears, discuss treatments and options etc.
I am full of admiration for you managing to work while having chemo! I couldn't due to immuno-deficiency and have since been retired on ill-health which is comical really as I feel better now than when I was working pre diagnosis! I was a hospital worker so each hospital appoinment takes up a full day as I have to catch up with endless plp! I still get discount in the canteen as I'm so well recognised . You will have bad days, we all do but then again I'm sure we had bad days pre cancer but in our minds everything pre cancer becomes rosy
Mary is now half way through her chemo after completing week 9 of 18 today! If anyone is interested in this new "dose-dense" regimen, I have updated my thread with a half-time summary: http://cancerchat.cancerresearchuk.org/message/31764#31764
Hair loss is still a big deal for Mary too, as is concealing the hickman line, but she is still feeling pretty good so can't complain too much.
No it don't sound stupid, I think the hair loss is such a physical reminder that you can't avoid seeing that it makes the whole thing seem far to real. Sounds like it time to get rid of whats left it really isn't so bad once its gone, honest. Bad days are normal, you just have to except it and get up the next day refusing to have two in a row . As time passes it does get easier to deal with. keep logging on, vent if you need or just tell us how your feeling, we all car and we're all here for you and each other.
I am sorry that you have been feeling down and as Jackie has said it's a normal thing to happen to you / us because at the end of the day we are all scared and lie awake at night sometimes thinking what will happen to us. We have all probably said why me ? but at the end of the day we have to cope with it and don't let it beat us. Your mind is a powerful thing and remember that if you can stay positive then things will be ok.
I have been having these twinges as I said last week and rang the hospital so my chemo nurse told me to get my bloods done for the CA125 which I did and got the results yesterday. My count has gone up since last month so I have to have a scan on the 29th but so what if it's back I will deal with it. And if it is then I have caught it quickly.
So please remember when you are down that we are all here for you....
