For those starting chemo in June

NancyLee13

Hi Janie--Went for Herceptin #31 yesterday. Had a friend drive me up for the first time in forever. I felt a bit off still from the cold thingy. It turns out that I have strep throat!! SO on the first really nice day we've had in a long time--I'm stuck in the house. I have mostly just laid around and watched TV and read books all day. Thanks for the post with the jokes. I especially enjoyed #20. I always wondered why pilgrims had that buckle on their hats. Achoooo--Herceptin sneeze attack. Mary--I tried to do my own plumbing last month. I replaced that pole thing that holds the float in your toilet--I'm sure it has a name, but it escapes me at the moment. Anyway, I got a new one at the hardware store and got all wet draining the water out of the tank and put in the new one and Lo and Behold it works just fine. ONLY in the last week or so the water comes in at a trickle unless I turn on the cold water in the bathroom sink for just a second and turn it off fast. Then the toilet tank fills up like normal. WHAT?? I don't know what's going on, but it makes me laugh and as long as it all keeps working--I'm not touching a pipe wrench again!! On the puking after Her. front, I've had it happen a few times. I think it was cuz of what I ate the night before. I haven't had a problem since I started being careful about not eating a big meal on Sunday night and not having much if anything for breakfast on Monday morning. I leave for the hospital at 6:30 and have my infusion at 8 or 8:30 A.M. so I can eat afterwards before I drive home if I feel like it. Right now I don't feel like eating much of anything with the sore throat and all--whine, moan, sigh, repeat.......Hope you worked out your queazy feelings. Life is good--Smiles--NancyLee

PJB

Gosh, I feel bad for all you Herceptin girls. But I'm glad you're getting it.



So the woman at work who was diagnosed with a new BC after 5 years found out she'll have 6 rounds of FEC/Taxotere. She's a stage 3, ER-. I don't guess she knows her HER2 status. Anyway, they had her on an every three week plan, and I urged her to push for dose dense if they'll do it. (She had a heart attack about a year after chemo, so I don't know) Pretty scary stuff. Now I've got to go see if I still have those sleeping caps she gave me for when MY hair fell out (never used them, just froze. They made me feel very old).



I've got about 10 tomatoes about to ripen tomorrow. Wish I could share the bounty with you guys. I like tomatoes, but...



You guys take care. Try to feel better. Perhaps a little wine would help? Renee, congrats on the clean mammo.

mary1220

Hi Girls, Good for you Renee getting all buffed up and all. I will someday. I just have a painful time with my neck and shoulders. Great to hear your mammo is good. On the bright side of the sick thing I lost 4 lbs. I had my #2treatment on Fri. and was sick on Mon. night. Maybe it was a bug. I have had some queeziness off and on but that was the first time I got sick. I get queezy just going up to clinic because of the old stuff, funny what your mind does...Mine don't do much and I can't remember who I am half the time but it remembers the sickness of the A/C. I see my onky on Thurs. in my town and I get my treatment here too so thats a 10 block drive. I can't drive it causes I can't stay awake but its nice not to have that 45 min. drive one way. Better go call my kid in Az. see what shes up to. She left me a message to call her. Hugs, Mary

crayola

Janie,

Thanks for the response. Time will tell about the taxol. I am doing much better a week after the initial treatment and so not looking forward to the next treatment on the 28th. Oh well.

I hope to go camping and hiking the weekend before the next treatment. I think being as active as possible might help, at least mentally.

janie44

What's the name of the thread? Was it the HER2support.org board? I hope you are feeling better. I sometimes get sick on Herceptin and sometimes not. I think it depends on when and how mcuh and what I eat on infusion day....which by the way was today. IF I lay down, I will be out for hours so I am trying to stay awake because I have miles to go before I sleep.

janie44

Hi Renee,

How many miles are you going to run? I am so out of shape and it is so hot here, I don't know if I could crawl.

janie44

Rafter,
A lot of people say they do better on Taxol when they stay active. Maybe each treatment will get better. Everyone is different.

janie44

Nancy,

I just got back from # 30. Strep throat! I do hope it goes away soon. Take care of yourself.

janie44

PJ. I like the wine idea and the sharing of the bounty. Do you ever fry them green?

janie44

Mary, I hear ya talking about the shorter drive. It is much easier getting my treatment locally and just checking in every 3 months at the clinic. I go back July 13.

Everyone have a good day.

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie

PJB

Never have tried that fried green tomato thing. I saw someone do it once on food tv. looked like a lot more work than i'm willing to go to....

mary1220

Hi Girls, P.J. its so easy to bread green tomatoes, just like fish or mushrooms. Eggwash and seasoned flour and fry, dip in a little catsup and you are eating good....You can add a little corn meal too to the flour. Janie #3 tomorrow and 49 to go, this is flying by...not. I will be a day early this wk. but guess it wont kill me. Well my husband has to do his homework on the computer so I better go. He has class tomorrow night. He is a worrier, he might get detention if he doesn't have his homework done. He is the only guy in the class, he is in hog heaven. Later Girls. Hugs, Mary

janie44

I received the following email from the HER2 support group today. Of course, there are many repeat viewers but I had no idea that there were so many of us (this is only those who have found that board) I think we are about a 1/4 of the cancer population. Cancer cases appear to be increasing dramatically locally. I think I told you 3 of us were diagnosed in a small school system at just about the same time. I was the only HER2 case and I guess that supports stats.



"Shortly before 12:00 PDST today, the HER2 Support Group's website recorded it's

one millionth pageview. This represents the total number of web pages that were

viewed by our members in over 75 different countries.



We also recorded another milestone on April 27th 2005 when we hosted over 1,000

visitors in one day. Daily traffic to our internet website now averages almost

600 visitors a day.



At this time our Board of Directors wish to thank all of you not only for your

past support but also for your contribution in making the HER2 Support Group

the premiere website for women who overexpress the HER2/neu gene.



Hugs and warm wishes,

Christine"



I posted a question to one of the moderaters and was answered almost immediately.

NancyLee13

Hi Janie--I got the same E-mail from the group. I found that soon after (actually the night) I found out my Her2/neu status from my oncologist. I'm the curious sort who has to look everything up and find every little detail of my condition. Sometimes I think that's not such a good quality cuz I've scared myself needlessly at times. I'm stuck at home today with this virus so I guess I'll clean and do laundry--fun-not!! Hope all the Herceptin crowd has a great day. Life is good-Smiles--NancyLee

janie44

Hi Nancy,

I was the same way, researching and finding out everything I could. It all happened so fast and was so surreal I never did get as upset as I probably should have. I think I was numb or something. Even reading the stats and the words "unfavorable" and "poor" prognosis, I was unbelievably calm. My co-workers asked if I were on drugs or something. I guess I was more afraid of the lst chemo than anything else because of my tendency to have allergic reactions. I did fine. Well, as it turns out my prognosis was poor one day and good the next with the new trial findings. I guess we never know what's going to happen when fighting the beast.

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie

mary1220

Hi Girls, Just checking in. I tried real hard to stay awake yesterday but no luck. I came outta coma about 8p.m. I asked about cutting down my benadryl and my onky said yea eventually. He seemes a little distant and didn't pay attention to me. He asked about my week and I told him I got sick Mon. night and have a queezy stomach off and on and he thinks its from my brain and the A/C. What ever. Well gotta go. It seems the wk. ends just go too fast. I wish I could only work part time.(and eat) Gotta go, I think we are going on a late evening Harley ride. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Mary,

A late evening Harley ride! What fun! I get sick sometimes on the Herceptin too, so if it is in your head, it is in mine too. My onc was surprised that I got sick. Guess what, I just got up and checked the side effects posted on the refrigerator where I have not looked at them for a while. It says to call doc if you have nausea or vomiting. Whoops! Anyway, it obviously does happen.

If I lay down when I get home from the infusion, I will be out for hours. If I need to stay awake, I stop at the drive-in coffee place and get a large expresso coffee. That seems to do the trick. This week I forced myself to stay awake w/o the coffee and it wore off. However, I may as well have slept it off because I couldn't really do much.

Later Gators,

p.s. That reminds me. I was told this is gator country. I have been here 4 years and never saw one....until a couple of days ago. A baby alligator (about a foot and a half long) was holding up traffic crossing the road.

janie44

Did anyone see this on the news? I intended to but had to work late that night. http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Health/story?id=845919

mary1220

Hey Janie, I missed that on the news. Thats great! I have to clean my house today and have grandkids tonight. We will be in the pool all the time so I need to get things done brfore they come. Wow!!! a gator. We lived in Jacksonville for a year actually in Sanderson, Ricks mom"s family is still in Fla. and they all live in the country but we never saw any gators. Well beter go get crap done. Hugs, Mary

PJB

Janie, I saw that about the little device last week. My thought was I'd be using the thing every five minutes and I wouldn't get anything done! Really, tho, it sounds promising.

Mary, sorry you're getting the urps from the Herceptin. I guess it must be doing something then, right?

Made my appointment for Aug. 30 to get my ovaries out. I really dread it (I always hate the thought of general anesthetic) but I suppose it's the right thing to do. Still waiting on those genetic test results...

Take care

janie44

Mary,

I know you and the grandkids enjoyed each other and the Dads had a good day. I haven't been in the pool since this lymphedema thingee, what with not supposed to get sunburned, insect bitten, scatched, hot, etc., it is just too much trouble. It kind of gets in the way of playing the piano too. The town where I work is pretty much in a swamp, yet this is the first gator I've seen. The locals catch them and eat them.....I haven't asked which parts. The little gator I saw was headed towards the ball field. I guess he was searching for water or knew the kids would be playing a game shortly. A couple of years ago, they accidently drained the river....don't ask, I don't have any idea....but anyway, the poor gators were reportedly in search of water. One came to the elementary school one day, but it left right before I got there.

PJ, I had no idea it took so long to get those results back. I know you must be tired of waiting. How long will your recup time be after surgery?

Have a good day ya'll.

mary1220

Hi Girls, Hey P.J. I had all but 1/4 of one ovary out when I was in my late 20's due to very large cyst and endometriosis. Its not bad but I had abdominal incession from side to side. I told the dr. to put in a zipper cause I had the partial hyster at 23 and they were going to use the scar for the incession for the oophonectomy. Keep a pillow on you abdomen and hold it when you laugh or move and it helps. Getting up and walking a lot makes the soreness go away faster. It hurts at first but like chemo bones once your up its much better. I was driving in 2 days, I of course took Tylenol 3's but I got around. They do it with scopes now and it's a lot easier but don't know if thats how your getting it done. That would be a piece of cake. I had 3 kids in school and all their sports so I couldn't be laid up, high as a kite and barely functional but I got around. I couldn't do it all now although I do a lot with the grandkids but not on a daily basis. I take a little more time to heal now but I forget I am 51. This Hercept. is doing a number on my sinus. I feel like I have allergies or sinus infection all the time. I have lost 5 pounds now but I think its the queezy stomach off and on. Thats all in my head so guess that can't be it huh??? My Onky is usually so nice and he was this time just different. I don't know maybe he had a bad day or people say theres no side affects with this so maybe he don't know what it's like because it's so new. Oh last time I saw him I complained about my muscles being so tight they feel like they tear and he said it all gets better and I said "yea, well put yourself in my skin for a day". Sh*& that might of pissed him off. I say what I feel and I am too honest sometimes. Oh well he will get over it. I am back to eating like a bird so that helps to. I don't want to lose all the weight cause I have spent toooo much money on new clothes, bras, undies. Gee; I was scared I might have to actually exercise this off, what a streak of luck. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing okay.

PJ, I still have my ovaries, but I had a long up-down incision when I had an exploratory and ended up losing a fallopian tube at age 27. They used the same incision or pretty close to it for my tubal ligation at age 34. Both times I was sore but I just got up and walked anyway and it healed faster that way. I had gallbladder surgery the new way about 11 years ago. That was a breeze. It sounds like you dread the anesthesia more than anything else.

Mary, I lost some pounds in the beginning, but as usual, I found them again.

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie

rlswkndr

Hi Paula
I had my ovaries out. They did it laproscopic so only have 4 little incisions and had no problems with pain, walking, anything. Hope they can do your's that way too.
I don't read the boards everyday anymore, but I do have to keep up on what's happening with our group and make sure you ladies don't get into too much trouble!
Renee

mary1220

Hi Girls, Glad you are still haning out with us Renee. Gosh Darn Janie, I was so proud of myself for thinking so hard about actually exercising the weight off. I mean I really thought about it at least once or twice. Thats a pretty stable idea to follow up on eventually. I was patting myself on the back for all the hard thinking. Now I may gain it back, Hells bells, I will have to resort to doing more than thinking about exercising now... I might have to go buy work out clothes and sports drinks. Some day I may go as far as doing a jumping jack or something. Now thats scary!!!! Hugs, Mary

janie44

Mary,

I hear what your saying. I have some exercise equipment and tapes and the whole bit, but from what I hear, you actually have to use these things in order for them to work. Bummer.

Fuzzies,
Janie

NancyLee13

Hi Ladies--So I went for Herceptin #32 this morning--I didn't get there til 11:00 instead of 8:00 cuz one of my daycare workers is on vacation and I had to open at 6:30 this morning and work till 9:45. Anyhow, there was a gentleman in the "1st Big Green Chair" and nobody in the middle and my "Green Throne" was all set up and ready for me when I got there. I got to chatting with Connie Chemo Angel and she got me all hooked up. Then I started reading the book I'd brought and alternately eavesdropped on the treatment being given to my neighbor...his sounded ghastly so glad I wasn't in his shoes....and when I looked up at my bag of Herceptin--it still looked full. So I moved the sodium chloride bag over to the side so I could see the other mixture and the Herceptin WASN'T even turned on. I had been sitting there for half an hour getting the flush and no treatment!! So I said, "Connie" kinda lightly and she came in and said --Well, you can't be done yet-your machine isn't beeping. I said "No, it's kinda hard to get done when you haven't even started!!!" She was embarassed, but I told her it was because we got into that long chat. She forgot to roll that one little clamp right at the bottom of the bag open. OOOPS!!! It's a good thing I wasn't in too much of a hurry. I didn't get out of the infusion room til about 12:30. Oh, well, at least today I took all the stuff out of both the bags that hang on that pole. Usually the flush one is left with lots in it. After the treatment, I went to the grocery store and got a bunch of stuff for the daycare and then stopped at McDonald's to pick up some burgers and fries to take back to people at home. We don't have a MickeyD's in our little town so I sometimes am sent with instructions for food orders when I go on Chemo Mondays. Then I trekked back to the daycare and worked another 3 hours. Then went to ranch and baked banana bread for tomorrow's snack with 3 yucky bananas we had at daycare and 2 really yuckier ones that my mom had hanging on this banana rack in her kitchen. She wanted me to throw them away, but I've always found that the yuckier the banana--the better the bread. It came out really good too cuz I accidently cut a couple of pieces off for my mom and me before I wrapped it up. I dropped it off at the daycare on my way back into town tonite so I wouldn't be tempted to accidently cut off a little more for breakfast tomorrow. I have to open again in the morning so I better knock this off and go to bed. I took an Ambien an hour and a half ago so it should start to work soon if it's going to work at all. We shall see--Hope you all had eventful and fun Mondays too--Life is good--Smiles--NancyLee

janie44

Hi Renee,

We will try to behave, but I cannot make any promises. Get Mary on her Harley and who knows what might happen.

Nancy,

Wednesdays (tomorrow) are my Herceptin days. I am sometimes there about an hour and longer at other times depending on the crowd. I get the sodium drip while waiting for the Herceptin to come from the pharmacy. I have a 3:00 appointmentand leave between 4:00 and 5:00.

Hope all is well with everybody.

mary1220

Janie, Do not open the tapes or equipement, get rid of the exercise stuff because from what I hear once you start, your in it for life! It will wear you out and make you sore and if you try to quit??? you will get sore and have to keep going. Its not a pretty picture and from what I have experienced, its not enough, its never enough. You will start eating fruits and vegies and next thing you know....you aren't eating sweets and you become one of them...the fit and healthy. Spandex is not my friend and I just can't wear a thong. I can see me runnung in spandex with my thong up my ass and ear phones on and a water bottle filled with sports drink and my fanny pack filled with vitamins. I will need big sunglasses to hide my face so no one will know who I am. I wish I could run but I can't and my husband's Dr. said its not good for the joints honestly. I made an apt. with my Family Dr. for Mon. to get an MRI on my back and hip and neck to see what is goiong on. My hip pain is really bad. It will take a wk. or 2 to get an MRI but I will at least know what it is and get a cure. Well better go. I am cleaning out corners sorta speak. Going through things I stick here and there to deal with later. Some things are 2 or 3 years into later so I better get busy. Latre little gators. Hugs, Mary

PJB

Mary, very sound advice on that fitness stuff. I hear you get high off of it. And we know getting high is a bad thing, right? Not to mention you have to go buy all those fancy workout clothes or you just won't look right! (Kidding of course. More power to Janie and Renee, getting out and getting fit)

Nancy, I can't believe you were writing coherently an hour and a half after taking an Ambien. Those things knock me on my butt in about 5 minutes.

Got my genetic results back: no mutation that they found. So that means they won't try to whack off any more parts immediately, I guess. The ovaries will still go, tho. I have to say I'm relieved. Still doesn't explain how 2 sisters, 41 and 45, get cancer at the same time, but hey, life's a mystery.

My recurring friend (that is, a friend with a recurrence) starts chemo (FEC) this Friday. I'm getting her a basket of stuff to take.