Redbird's Journey with Invasive (Infiltrating) Ductal Carcin...

Will have 4 rounds In progress with cytoxan, texotere and neulasta, then hormone therapy

The chemotherapy infusions were easy due to the port implant. Drawing blood for labs was much easier. My veins are hard to find and roll so the port saved time and frustration. Sometimes the port can be painful or achy when physical activity or pressure on it, but mostly I forget it's there. I do recommend numbing cream prescription for first infusion as for me, the first needle insertion was kind of like a bee sting, but not unbearable. For me, the first chemo round recovery was fastest, with days after neulasta shot being most painful. My oncologist recommended a week off work the first week after infusion. By round three and 4, the fatigue caused me to take 9 or 10 days off from work. My chemo was every 21 days for 4 rounds. My type 2 diabetes became really unstable from steroid and my heart would pound for the first week after chemo infusion. I was hospitalized the day I was supposed to have my final round due to start of sepsis and high bloodshed, then got bronchitis. Final round was a month late in mid January, 2017. Was able to work throughout except for week or more after each infusion, but I do have a physically active job. I just started estrogen suppressant therapy last week. Not tomoxifin, but other one that starts with an A, sorry, senior moment. Not bad so far, but I already have daily hot flashes from menopause. Had bone density scan this week for baseline image in case I have bone loss. Have to take calcium citrate with vitamin D. Doing this for next 5 years?!. Not sure right now. Now, 6 weeks after last chemo, blood counts are fine and I am working every day. Have periods of overwhelming sleepiness by end of work day and got to bed or nap. But mostly okay except for continuing diabetes glucose level struggles. Have changed diet to less carbs, more vegetables. That feels better.

Sharing an update to warn of side effects. I opted for hormone therapy with Anastrozole to bring down odds of cancer recurring. Had bone scans which showed loss of bone density and Osteopenia. I was having episodes of back pain which I thought was because of getting older. Oncologist prescribed Prolia injection which lasts for 6 months. Started having more pain, worse than neulasta shots and chemo. I realize we all react differently, but if your odds of recurrance are low, might be good to avoid possible crippling pain and suffering. I had to resign from work.