Treatment Journal
I’ve been asked a lot about my experience going through my initial treatment for stage 3c. I thought I would try to keep a log of what it is like to help others who may be facing this and looking for info. I went through 8 rounds of dose dense chemotherapy, 4 of AC and then 4 of Taxol. One chemo treatment every 2 weeks for 4 months, followed by 5 weeks (25 rounds) of daily radiation, then an Aromatase Inhibitor. As of September, 2017 my cancer metastasized and mutated so it is now stage 4 Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer. There is no cure for this but I am in a clinical trial that is working and I will be in treatment for the rest of my life. My treatment is at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).
I feel remiss not commenting here that those living with metastatic breast cancer (stage 4) are on endless treatment cycles. This treatment journal represents a more “typical” treatment regimen for patients with Stage 2 or 3. There are many different treatment regimens though, and every single person has a different experience so, here's mine:
Round 1 of Chemo (Nov. 2-15): With breast cancer, if it is advanced, the lymph nodes are typically removed from under one armpit and you can no longer use that arm to put in an infusion line. I had so many veins used, bruised and blown from previous issues, that this was one of the most difficult parts of the actual infusion process for me. I did not get a port placed because my doctor did not want another foreign object in my body that could hold bacteria.
I used the penguin cold caps to prevent hair loss through chemo. This made the days much more difficult to tolerate but I figured I could do it for 8 times and then not have the loss and regrowth that would take years considering the length of my hair. My sister and husband changed the caps every 23 minutes to maintain the needed freezing temp of around below 40 degrees. Each time a new cap was placed I went through the brain freeze again and it was tough, but worth it for me in the long run because it worked.
The day after chemo, I took steroids to mitigate side effects and got a shot (Neulasta) to boost white blood cell count. I felt pretty wired from the steroids, but gained mental clarity which was nice for a change. “Chemo brain” definitely makes me feel a little foggy and forgetful, and sometimes all I can do is binge watch TV (a nice perk actually – I recommend the Showtime series “The Affair,” ABC’s “Scandal,” and of course PBS’s “Downton Abbey” – also, they’ve all been shown to reduce cancer by 90% – :)ha just kidding, I wish! – But they helped me rest and stay in one place when I needed to). The shot made me feel lousy and flu-like overnight and a bit the next day. A friend advised me to take it in the evening and sleep through it which worked well. The next 3 days I felt kind of sick and very tired, but definitely tolerable. I walked at least 2 miles everyday and got out to appointments and events for the kids’ school. The following week was better and I was able to do a bit more. One problem was that I wasn’t sleeping though, almost at all. That makes the symptoms a lot worse and I always felt tired.
Round 2 of Chemo (Nov. 16-29): This time I actually tolerated the day after chemo shot (Neulasta) a little better but felt the same kind of sickish/tired the first week and then the second week felt much better. Insomnia has continued to be a problem, even with sleep aides. However, 2 days after the 2nd treatment, 16 days in, I was supposed to lose my hair…and so far I haven’t. I am cautiously optimistic that the cold caps are working and am truly grateful that this is an option. Whether you choose to go through the hassle or not is of course a personal choice but I really want others to know about it. For me, this was important. It was just one more thing I felt angry that cancer was going to take from me, and then leave me to deal with for so long after. I will cope with the hair loss if it comes, but right now I am feeling very grateful to have my hair. For me, the hassle and discomfort is worth it, and I am happy to talk to others about it as it is still so relatively unknown in this country. A side effect I have started to experience during the second week after round two is some bone pain. Specifically, my hips and back hurt. I get a sharp pain in my hips sometimes when I transition from one position to another (e.g., getting up out of a seat or car and walking after I’ve been seated for awhile). My doctor (the lovely Dr. Andrew Seidman) told me this is probably from the Neulasta shots.
Round 3 of Chemo (Nov 30 – Dec 14): So far, so great – days 1-3. I really am doing well. Walking, living, parenting, all good stuff. My hair is still attached, and I swear it seems as though I’m collecting it from others. I’m sporting something of a “cancer-fro” these days but I’ll take it. Ok, day 4 was rough. I hate complaining. I really do. But in case it is helpful for someone else going through this, for me, days 4-5 tend to be the worst. I think it is not having the steroids on day 4 but not sure. I just feel really tired, kind of sick-like, where I really can’t do much. My GI issues seem to be impacted the first week of chemo too so that wrecks some havoc for me with the ostomy management My colon perforated right after my mastectomy – due to diverticulitis – so that is an added complication throughout this. This is very frustrating for me, but I know it will pass. I’m not a great “lay-about” I’m realizing. In the second week I started to develop headaches. They aren’t debilitating, but this is new.
Round 4 of Chemo 4/4 AC (Dec. 14-Dec. 28): This marks the halfway point in my chemo treatment and my last round of the “Red Devil” AC. Chemo day was a rough day (the cold cap process is very tiring), and I was pretty beat by the end of it, but I bounced back the next day with the steroids. For me, days 4 and 5 after AC are the worst. I am off steroids by then and just so tired and a little nauseous. I had to miss two holiday parties on day 5 that I was really looking forward to, but I just couldn’t move – I did almost nothing. By day 6 I start to feel better and am able to walk 2 miles again.
Round 5 of Chemo 1/4 Taxol (Dec. 28-Jan. 11): This chemo day was rough. I had a reaction to the pre-meds and my muscles were involuntary convulsing for about an hour or so. It looked like I was getting the electric chair for some unspeakable crime, which I was wracking my brain to think what that might be:). But the nurses reassured me that this happens sometimes. Cool. Juts convulse away and relax. While your head is being frozen. The whole -40 degree head freezing thing is getting tougher to tolerate but…it is working, and I only have 3 days left so again, for me, worth it in the long run.
Experiencing bone pain and fatigue, especially muscle fatigue, after this treatment. It seems as though there is a cumulative impact. Going up the stairs pretty much wipes me out – but I can still walk miles on flat land. So other than feeling like I’m 120 years old, I’m doing ok. My couch and I are getting very well acquainted, and I’m binge watching Homeland now – love it. Although I am realizing I may need to step up my “daytime loungewear” look as I get all showered and “dressed” for the day and people that stop by keep saying “Oh, you’re still in your PJ’s!”
Round 6 of Chemo 2/4 Taxol (Jan 11-Jan 25): This chemo day was so much better than the last. My lovely oncologist, Dr. Seidman, returned from his vacation – so thats always a treat to see him. He gave me a different medication pre-chemo so I did not have the involuntary muscle spasms (electric chair) thing going on. I slept a lot so it went fast. I had the world’s best chemo team of both my sisters (Paula and Viv), Tom, and Brooklyn Michelle. And I even felt well enough to have dinner out of my hotel room that night – amazing. I’m usually zonked out in bed after 8 hours of the cold caps and chemo.2 more!
I am definitely getting some energy back now that I’m on Taxol and done with AC. I don’t think I realized quite how tired I was before, but I am slowly resuming some of my normal activities -it just sort of happened.
Round 7 of chemo 3/4 Taxol (Jan 25 – Feb 8): Chemo went fine. Cold caps, as always are tough to tolerate for 8 hours – but I sleep through most of it now on Taxol. Still have all my hair but eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned a lot in past few weeks. The day after the Neulasta shot is tough. One of my toughest days yet. Feel like I’ve been hit by a truck but I know it will pass. And…that was my last shot. I don’t need to do one after final chemo. One more!
Round 8 of chemo 4/4 Taxol (Feb 8 – DONE!): Chemo went fine. I am so excited to have reached this milestone in my cancer journey. However, while I am thrilled to have this part behind me, to have saved my hair, and not required a port, I am also terrified. Being in active treatment, albeit difficult, is a safety blanket. Once removed, you can feel vulnerable and much more frightened of the cancer coming back or spreading. Hence, I am putting my efforts into the foundation focused on metastatic breast cancer that I’m starting (much more on that later). I also want to get the word out asap that there is a way to save your hair through chemo if you choose. So many women have told me they wished they had known about this. Others have tried but have gotten freezer burns because they were unclear on proper use and there is so little info out there. My sister and husband seemed to truly master the proper technique through unbelievable diligence, focus, hard word, and sheer brawn. My sis is also a nurse practitioner so that helps having some real medical knowledge. But again, this is just our experience, based on some trial and error, and it worked for me. Today we took pics, and soon to be posted videos, of the cold cap process to help others who choose to pursue this. I can say, now that my chemo is complete, that this really worked for me, 100%. I did not lose a single patch of hair, get a freezer burn, or even experience thinning.
Arimidex
This is my AI of choice, Anastrozole – which is the chemical name for Arimidex. I’m kidding, it’s not my drug of choice – nothing about this is my choice, it’s my lovely doctor’s call. To describe what it’s like, I just keep thinking of Alice in Wonderland and how she eats something to become instantly small or large. This drug makes me feel instantly ancient:). My hips and other joints hurt. When I get out of the car – I notice it the most. Hot flashes are worse than before. Awesome. Sleep has been worse. Double awesome – however will I maintain my pleasant, ladylike demeanor with all this unpleasantness:)?!
Radiation
(March 3-April 6):
Side Effects:
I feel remiss not commenting here that those living with metastatic breast cancer (stage 4) are on endless treatment cycles. This treatment journal represents a more “typical” treatment regimen for patients with Stage 2 or 3. There are many different treatment regimens though, and every single person has a different experience so, here's mine:
Round 1 of Chemo (Nov. 2-15): With breast cancer, if it is advanced, the lymph nodes are typically removed from under one armpit and you can no longer use that arm to put in an infusion line. I had so many veins used, bruised and blown from previous issues, that this was one of the most difficult parts of the actual infusion process for me. I did not get a port placed because my doctor did not want another foreign object in my body that could hold bacteria.
I used the penguin cold caps to prevent hair loss through chemo. This made the days much more difficult to tolerate but I figured I could do it for 8 times and then not have the loss and regrowth that would take years considering the length of my hair. My sister and husband changed the caps every 23 minutes to maintain the needed freezing temp of around below 40 degrees. Each time a new cap was placed I went through the brain freeze again and it was tough, but worth it for me in the long run because it worked.
The day after chemo, I took steroids to mitigate side effects and got a shot (Neulasta) to boost white blood cell count. I felt pretty wired from the steroids, but gained mental clarity which was nice for a change. “Chemo brain” definitely makes me feel a little foggy and forgetful, and sometimes all I can do is binge watch TV (a nice perk actually – I recommend the Showtime series “The Affair,” ABC’s “Scandal,” and of course PBS’s “Downton Abbey” – also, they’ve all been shown to reduce cancer by 90% – :)ha just kidding, I wish! – But they helped me rest and stay in one place when I needed to). The shot made me feel lousy and flu-like overnight and a bit the next day. A friend advised me to take it in the evening and sleep through it which worked well. The next 3 days I felt kind of sick and very tired, but definitely tolerable. I walked at least 2 miles everyday and got out to appointments and events for the kids’ school. The following week was better and I was able to do a bit more. One problem was that I wasn’t sleeping though, almost at all. That makes the symptoms a lot worse and I always felt tired.
Round 2 of Chemo (Nov. 16-29): This time I actually tolerated the day after chemo shot (Neulasta) a little better but felt the same kind of sickish/tired the first week and then the second week felt much better. Insomnia has continued to be a problem, even with sleep aides. However, 2 days after the 2nd treatment, 16 days in, I was supposed to lose my hair…and so far I haven’t. I am cautiously optimistic that the cold caps are working and am truly grateful that this is an option. Whether you choose to go through the hassle or not is of course a personal choice but I really want others to know about it. For me, this was important. It was just one more thing I felt angry that cancer was going to take from me, and then leave me to deal with for so long after. I will cope with the hair loss if it comes, but right now I am feeling very grateful to have my hair. For me, the hassle and discomfort is worth it, and I am happy to talk to others about it as it is still so relatively unknown in this country. A side effect I have started to experience during the second week after round two is some bone pain. Specifically, my hips and back hurt. I get a sharp pain in my hips sometimes when I transition from one position to another (e.g., getting up out of a seat or car and walking after I’ve been seated for awhile). My doctor (the lovely Dr. Andrew Seidman) told me this is probably from the Neulasta shots.
Round 3 of Chemo (Nov 30 – Dec 14): So far, so great – days 1-3. I really am doing well. Walking, living, parenting, all good stuff. My hair is still attached, and I swear it seems as though I’m collecting it from others. I’m sporting something of a “cancer-fro” these days but I’ll take it. Ok, day 4 was rough. I hate complaining. I really do. But in case it is helpful for someone else going through this, for me, days 4-5 tend to be the worst. I think it is not having the steroids on day 4 but not sure. I just feel really tired, kind of sick-like, where I really can’t do much. My GI issues seem to be impacted the first week of chemo too so that wrecks some havoc for me with the ostomy management My colon perforated right after my mastectomy – due to diverticulitis – so that is an added complication throughout this. This is very frustrating for me, but I know it will pass. I’m not a great “lay-about” I’m realizing. In the second week I started to develop headaches. They aren’t debilitating, but this is new.
Round 4 of Chemo 4/4 AC (Dec. 14-Dec. 28): This marks the halfway point in my chemo treatment and my last round of the “Red Devil” AC. Chemo day was a rough day (the cold cap process is very tiring), and I was pretty beat by the end of it, but I bounced back the next day with the steroids. For me, days 4 and 5 after AC are the worst. I am off steroids by then and just so tired and a little nauseous. I had to miss two holiday parties on day 5 that I was really looking forward to, but I just couldn’t move – I did almost nothing. By day 6 I start to feel better and am able to walk 2 miles again.
Round 5 of Chemo 1/4 Taxol (Dec. 28-Jan. 11): This chemo day was rough. I had a reaction to the pre-meds and my muscles were involuntary convulsing for about an hour or so. It looked like I was getting the electric chair for some unspeakable crime, which I was wracking my brain to think what that might be:). But the nurses reassured me that this happens sometimes. Cool. Juts convulse away and relax. While your head is being frozen. The whole -40 degree head freezing thing is getting tougher to tolerate but…it is working, and I only have 3 days left so again, for me, worth it in the long run.
Experiencing bone pain and fatigue, especially muscle fatigue, after this treatment. It seems as though there is a cumulative impact. Going up the stairs pretty much wipes me out – but I can still walk miles on flat land. So other than feeling like I’m 120 years old, I’m doing ok. My couch and I are getting very well acquainted, and I’m binge watching Homeland now – love it. Although I am realizing I may need to step up my “daytime loungewear” look as I get all showered and “dressed” for the day and people that stop by keep saying “Oh, you’re still in your PJ’s!”
Round 6 of Chemo 2/4 Taxol (Jan 11-Jan 25): This chemo day was so much better than the last. My lovely oncologist, Dr. Seidman, returned from his vacation – so thats always a treat to see him. He gave me a different medication pre-chemo so I did not have the involuntary muscle spasms (electric chair) thing going on. I slept a lot so it went fast. I had the world’s best chemo team of both my sisters (Paula and Viv), Tom, and Brooklyn Michelle. And I even felt well enough to have dinner out of my hotel room that night – amazing. I’m usually zonked out in bed after 8 hours of the cold caps and chemo.2 more!
I am definitely getting some energy back now that I’m on Taxol and done with AC. I don’t think I realized quite how tired I was before, but I am slowly resuming some of my normal activities -it just sort of happened.
Round 7 of chemo 3/4 Taxol (Jan 25 – Feb 8): Chemo went fine. Cold caps, as always are tough to tolerate for 8 hours – but I sleep through most of it now on Taxol. Still have all my hair but eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned a lot in past few weeks. The day after the Neulasta shot is tough. One of my toughest days yet. Feel like I’ve been hit by a truck but I know it will pass. And…that was my last shot. I don’t need to do one after final chemo. One more!
Round 8 of chemo 4/4 Taxol (Feb 8 – DONE!): Chemo went fine. I am so excited to have reached this milestone in my cancer journey. However, while I am thrilled to have this part behind me, to have saved my hair, and not required a port, I am also terrified. Being in active treatment, albeit difficult, is a safety blanket. Once removed, you can feel vulnerable and much more frightened of the cancer coming back or spreading. Hence, I am putting my efforts into the foundation focused on metastatic breast cancer that I’m starting (much more on that later). I also want to get the word out asap that there is a way to save your hair through chemo if you choose. So many women have told me they wished they had known about this. Others have tried but have gotten freezer burns because they were unclear on proper use and there is so little info out there. My sister and husband seemed to truly master the proper technique through unbelievable diligence, focus, hard word, and sheer brawn. My sis is also a nurse practitioner so that helps having some real medical knowledge. But again, this is just our experience, based on some trial and error, and it worked for me. Today we took pics, and soon to be posted videos, of the cold cap process to help others who choose to pursue this. I can say, now that my chemo is complete, that this really worked for me, 100%. I did not lose a single patch of hair, get a freezer burn, or even experience thinning.
Arimidex
This is my AI of choice, Anastrozole – which is the chemical name for Arimidex. I’m kidding, it’s not my drug of choice – nothing about this is my choice, it’s my lovely doctor’s call. To describe what it’s like, I just keep thinking of Alice in Wonderland and how she eats something to become instantly small or large. This drug makes me feel instantly ancient:). My hips and other joints hurt. When I get out of the car – I notice it the most. Hot flashes are worse than before. Awesome. Sleep has been worse. Double awesome – however will I maintain my pleasant, ladylike demeanor with all this unpleasantness:)?!
Radiation
(March 3-April 6):
Side Effects:
- fatigue – really tired and this is cumulative so by the end – I’m exhausted
- lymphadema – have to wear compression gear for 6 months and off and on forever
- pretty bad radiation burns/dermatitis on my collar bone, chest and back – this is a mild one:
- I would also say that humorlessness may be a side effect as I feel I am getting to the end of my ability to find any of this funny. Bleh.
My chemo tips: A researcher by nature and profession, I chose to read and learn as much as possible about breast cancer and treatment in the hope of optimizing my success rate and minimizing side effects. I embrace an integrative healing paradigm combining both conventional and alternative approaches. These are the top ten things I chose to do, and was lucky enough to have access to, as an adjunct to conventional treatment, that I feel helped me through this process. This is just my (non-medical!) opinion, and based on reading I’ve done, but I think each of these things helped me stay strong, healthy and positive through treatment:- I started drinking lots of filtered water (at least 3-4 liters a day) when I was going through chemo.
- I generally eat healthy with lots of green, crustaceous food, and protein.
- Even when I was really tired, throughout treatment I walked at least 2 miles everyday at a pretty brisk pace. I’ve read that people with breast cancer who walk regularly have an 8x reduced risk of recurrence – I’ll play those odds.
- I do Yoga which feels great on my joints and muscles and is a great stress reliever.
- I meditate. Meditation is known to improve both physical and emotional responses to stress and thus studies have shown people who meditate regularly have less activation of their immune system. I download meditation specifically geared toward chemo and cancer and try to listen at night before bed and before and during chemo.
- I pray, not just for myself but, for everyone who is suffering emotionally or physically – this experience has made me even more connected to other people’s suffering.
- I try to laugh and feel gracious. I try to see the humor as well as the gratitude in this ridiculous situation. Humor feels like a ladder in a well that I’m trapped in. It allows me to climb out of the misery and into the light. Honing in on the things I’m grateful for and what I have, not what I’ve lost, helps me look ahead. (That is when I’m not having a complete Fing pity party about having Fing cancer.)
- I spend as much time as possible truly “enjoying the moment” with my kids, family, friends, dog, and alone. It is completely cliche, but true. When you’re forced to face your mortality, you start living in the moment and being fully present. It’s all you can count on. (That is when I’m not having a complete Fing pity party about having Fing cancer.)
- I went to Acupuncture, and continue to receive Energy Work and Massage (from the incredible Sheila at Stillpoint Massage) weekly throughout chemo and beyond.
- I use essential oils, both through an infuser and topical (Frankincense, Serenity & Lavender for relaxation and help with sleep, Lemon in water every morning for detox).
- I started drinking lots of filtered water (at least 3-4 liters a day) when I was going through chemo.