When I found out the exact amount of weight that I gained, 14 lbs, I decided that I could no longer lounge around and wait for this to be over to start losing it. I knew I gained weight, but I never really thought about how much. Nowadays majority of people on chemotherapy will gain weight instead of lose weight, depending on the cancer and the treatment. Steroids are given to some patients to increase appetite and to alleviate nausea, especially when given in combination with other antinausea drugs . For my entire 8 cycles, I have been prescribed the steroid Decadron.
Post-Taxol week 1
Overall, I would have to say that Taxol has been fairly descent on my body. There was some slight nausea during the first few days after my first cycle with Taxol, however not as bad as the first half. What has affected me the most is the bone pain and bone aches that I felt for the first 7-8 days.
During the first 3-4 days, bone pain was severe. I was able to walk but I felt as though my big bones would break if I took the wrong step or my hip joint would pop out of place. This was especially evident when I decided to wear my platform wedge heels to a doctors appointment. When I was coming out into the waiting room, I must have taken a bad step and my ankle rolled and I almost fell. My leg bones felt very weak and boy I would have been embarrassed if something bad had happened.
I am hopeful that my hip joints will get stronger now that I have taken up Pilates. As for my bones, I will wait for the treatment to finish and eat/ drink as much diary products in the mean time. Chemotherapy negatively affects bone health along with the other mediations prescribed during treatment, especially steroids.
Cycle #5
Cycle #5: the start of Taxol the notorious drug that brings on nueropathy. My oncologist instructed that I take 5 pills of Decadron, a steroid, the night before and take 5 more pills the morning of each and every cycle from now on. The reason I have to take so many, as my doctor explained, is to prevent a severe allergic reaction from Taxol. My new drug is not supposed to cause nausea so there will not be many, if at all any, antiemetic meds.
Latest News on Breast Cancer: New US Supreme Court Ruling and New Cancer Fighting Drug
Last week, the US Supreme Court made a very important decision based on patents on genes. The Supreme Court ruled that laborites cannot put patents on human genes. For example, Myriad Labs located in Colorado was the first laboratory to discover the BRCA mutations that are believed to be responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Continue reading
Chemo and My body
Since starting my 4th of 8 cycles of chemotherapy, my life has changed by several side effects. During my first for cycles, I have been infused with Cytoxan and Adriamycin.
My halfway point in chemo
On June 18, was my 4th cycle of chemotherapy marking my halfway point in my battle to prevent any recurrences both local and distant. The last two days was also the first time I broke down since beginning treatment.
Week after cycle #3
Today has been 9 days since my third cycle of chemotherapy, and I feel back to normal. Sort of.
The first few days were of course filled with nausea, but this time it seems as though I was more tired than usual. The fatigue is starting to build up every time now.
Race for the Cure: The Susan G. Komen Walk
Today is a very special day. This morning, my amazing friend and her wonderful sister ran the Susan G Komen Walk, The Race for the cure. The Susan G Komen walk is an annual race done here in Buffalo every June to increase awareness for breast cancer and to finding a cure.
New boobies ( . ) ( . )
After my genetic test came back positive for the BRCA1 mutation I have had a lot to think about. First thing to think about is my second breast (yay, I still have one of those). Reconstruction of the right side had always been in my plans, but now I’m thinking of a possible mastectomy on my left side. This means that there will have to be two reconstruction surgeries right after the mastectomy.
The week after cycle #2
It feels like just yesterday I had my last cycle and now in a few days I will have my third chemotherapy cycle. Thankfully this last chemo cycle did not go too bad. I had my nausea under control because I took my anti-nausea medication religiously by the hour. Every six hours I would take Compazine, twice a day I would take Dexamethasone, and at night time I would take one Lorazepam. These three drugs are different classes of drugs, they work differently to prevent the nausea and hence are more effective. I continued this routine until Saturday.