For those starting chemo in June

janie44

Paula, I hope everything that goes down. stays down. What anti-nausea meds do they give you with Xeloda? I remember getting a haircut that lasted about a week. The 5 buck deal is a good idea. It is colder than kraut here!

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie

mary1220

Hi Girls, P.J. glad your doing o.k. The gal thats on Xloda(however) and three other meds that does treatment with me said her hair grew back a lot quicker this time around so hope yours does too. It seemed to me she wasn't long without it. Well in the jungle of what could be causing my pain etc. we have added another predator. The neuro. did a bunch of blood test and said it looks like something is causing bone irritation and inflammation so he did a double strand D.N.A. test today to see if it is Lupus. Now which is better cancer to the bone or Lupus? It could not be too, maybe rheumatoid arthritis. Crap, It could be chemo Bones as I call it. This guy is concerned and wants to make sure and I am glad he is and not blameing treatment and it be something else. How do we eleminate stress when it just sits outside the back door? You girls hang in there. Hugs, Mary

rlswkndr

Janie did your charm come in yet? Mary the bracelet is a great idea. Keep up posted on your test results. Paula, glad that food isn't coming back up! I had the flu last week and it brought back memories of those chemo days on the couch... I really hate throwing up! I felt like taking one of those extra Anzemets! but I didn't. #1 son is home for 1 week in between his jobs. He leaves for farther north- Eagle River- on Sunday. It is fun to have him around, even if it's just a week. It is darn cold here.. and damp. those are the worst days.. no sunshine. At least we don't have hurricanes here- although the thought of warm and sun daily does have its advantages. Mary- Phoenix sounds pretty good to me.
Renee

PJB

Ah, Mary, you just have to be different, don't you? I'm glad they're being diligent with the testing and hope they find some benign cause (well, as benign as possible) for the pain.

Went and got fitted for my fake today. Which I'd love to get but my darn prescrip has yet to get here in the mail. Urgh. I'm tired of my little fake one I have now riding up. I have to yank on my bra about 100 times a day. That's a good look in the office....

How are the Hercept. girls doing? Janie, what, 2 more?

Everyone keeps asking me know if I can take Herceptin after they read the news stories last week. I have to tell them, no. My onc now wishes I was HER+ so i could....

Anyway, yours in hoping the drugs work wonders,

Paula

janie44

Hi Gang!

Mary, hang in there. I will keep my fingers, legs, and eyes crossed that it is something that can be dealt with easily.

Renee, the bracelet came a few days ago. I ordered some charms that should arrive momentarily and I will get it off to Paula. My Pennys did not carry that bracelet or charms. Mary said some places in Mall might, but they were supposed to ship those I ordered right away. I ordered several so as to be ready next time around. I love the bracelet. Mary did a great job. I discovered it is called an Italian charm bracelet.

Paula, Let's not add the vicious HER2 gene to your list. You have enough problems. I had treatment today without getting banged in the head. I sat down very carefully this time. I have 3 more. I have my six-month mammogram next week. It doesn't seem like six months have passed since the last one. They are still looking at the areas they think are probably scar tissue.

My official confirmation came in the mail. After 1 and 1/2 years, the insurance finally paid for my PET scan. My insurance manager changes in January from BC/BS to United, an HMO. I am now thinking that maybe I should get my "shaping" surgery done in December during the holidays before it changes over. I had originally thought next summer.

Have a good one and overlook any typos etc. I have not been up long after sleeping off the meds.

Hugs

Janie

mary1220

Good evening girls, Well they are making jeans "low cut". We called them hip huggers in my day. I have some as its hard to get anything else but my fat hangs over so I wear long shirts. I got a high sucker inner pantie but it don't suck enough. I can't find any high jeans that are what I like. Janie I am going to a Plastics guy the 1st. of Nov. in hopes of getting my surg. done by the end of the year cause my ins. is paying 100% now. I know it will be kinda painful for a few days but gotta get it done. My mom-in-law talked to a gal at Hallmark today and the gal said her onk. said with the hercept. her chances of the cancer never coming back were 98%. I want her onk!!!!Someone got something mixed up and the chances it was my mom-in-law is pretty high. Senility has gotten the best of her, poor thing. P.J. you just keep chugging along. As long as calamity Janie stays in her own neck of the chemo woods we are safe. I bet the others in her chemo group run for cover when she walks in. Just kidding....You be careful Janie and glad they finally paid for your Pet,you should give them a bill for your time with intrest. P.J.hang in there and hi to Renee. Hope your staying warm. Hugs little gummie bears, Mary

janie44

The charms arrived today. I put one on (actually my son did) and it will be on its way to TX tomorrow.

I am glad tomorrow is Friday, although it is the lst of the month and paying bills is like work -- what I will do this weekend.

Mary, does the Herceptin ever make you sick?

Later Gals, I am ready to hit the sack.

Janie

mary1220

Hi Girls, Janie I have been paying bills too and now my finances have changed I will pay more in a wk. I can't pay them all at once now.Yea, I get sick sometimes. I get diarrhea and itching on Sun. I have treatment on Thurs. so it's delayed reactions I guess. (I do every other Thurs.) That last about 5 days and its not as bad as it use to be so I guess I am getting use to it. Sometimes I just throw up for no reason and I get what feels like too much fluid in my stomach and it feels like it wants to come up. Thats usually a few days before treatment. It is kinda like acid tummy. I also get a headach about 2 days after. I don't have a lot of energy but I go anyway most the time. I notice my smells are inhanced a few days after but it doesn't make me sick like with the a/c. It just lasts a couple days. Yea, I guess it does make me a little sick. This cold weather is making my bones and muscles hurt pretty good. Well theres the phone, Later have a good wk. end girls, Mary

janie44

I also get sick, around Friday -- treatment is on Wednesday. I sometimes throw up too. I can't eat anything like fish for a few days after treatment -- have to have comfort food. I think I will try to get a back X-ray. I never have found out why it bothers me so much. Arthur was in other spots. Most oncs say you don't have side effects, but when I take polls of those of us who do it (and it is still new), I find that most of us do -- nothing like chemo though. I am going to turn in early and sleep peacefully tonight without worrying about getting up early. Night all.

mary1220

Hi Girls, hope everyone is having a great wk. end. Renee and I are a bit chilly at night but the days are in the 50 and 60's. It always seems cold in fall after the warm weather. Some people like the cold....not me. I can cool off easier than warm up cause once my bones are cold they stay that way. I had to buy some new shoes yesterday because all my shoes seem tight, real tight, so I am now known as big foot!!!!I have to buy a 91/2 or 10....Whats up there? I was an 81/2 or 9 pre chemo. Maybe its the extra 11 lbs. I give up on the weight. I am just not into exercise. I can't even get up off the floor anymore or squat so to heck with exercise. I would hate to have to call 911 to come get me off the floor. I will do my mental exercise and be done with it. If my brain can heal me then it can exercise me at the same time. I love the people that say the "new" cancer drug will "cure you" aren't you glad? Oh boy; If I never die from a cancer related illiness then I will say yes. (I just say Yes.) Well better get busy today. Hubby is getting depressed and it is getting kinda bad I think. He hasn't tore up anything for a while and thats not him. I guess I need to talk to him but he sorta stays to himself. He is such a penny pincher and now he is outta work and can't work because of his back so him running low on cash is the end of the world. He has always been a worker and proud of it. Poop happens. I don't care if I am dead broke as long as I live to see my kids and grandkids smile one more day. Oh well. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Mare, believe it or not, I have had to turn my heat on in the early morning and late at night -- been in the 40's. I even wore a sweater today. It is very comfortable right now however -- probably in the 60's outside.

Mary, I have had the big foot problem ever since Taxol. It swells with each Herceptin infusion and then slowly goes down just in time for the next one -- but never all the way down. The foot doctor told me that some women's feet never return to normal -- something I didn't particularly want to hear.

This big boot does not help. I don't know if I told about falling at school a week or so ago. I said, "How am I going to get up?" I didn't think they could pull me up (boot and all) but they did.

I love daylight's saving's time! I am an insomniac so every little bit of extra time in the sack helps.

Paula, I hope you are not too awfully sick. I know you were having major problems.

Renee, don't freeze.

Hugs to all,

Janie

mary1220

Crap Girls, I must be bored to death. I made a cake and oatmeal cookies today, and I wonder why I can't lose the 11 lbs. or 14 by now. Hubby is getting on my nerves with his silent crap. I think I may hurt him if he don't snap out of it. He use to be nice and even fun sometimes when he wasn't worring about his money. He is just a nut case now. I think I will ask him to see his Dr. They have to find something to help him sleep, the man seldom sleeps ever....Now add depressed and holy crap....and hes all mine, darn. I see why older people divorce....Well I have gone through a little more than half my Trick-or-treat candy. I had about 5 gallons (I have a cauldron for my candy). I think they bus them in on our street. The grandkids came and helped give the candy out since it was kinda warm and they dressed and scared the kids when they came up to the stoop. The grandkids are going tomorrow Trick-or-treating. P.J. did you and Nathan get to go? Sure hope you are doing o.k. Better go make some bracelets. Good night girls, Mary

NancyLee13

Hi everyone--I have spent the last hour reading back thru all the stuff I've missed since I was last here in September. Janie, Mary, Paula, Renee--I'm so glad that you're all still here and chatting away. Sometime I'll tell you what has happened to me in the past month that kept me away from here. Herceptin--the "No-Side-Effect"--drug has been really having fun with me!! I go up tomorrow for #50 and then I will only have 2 more to go. Thank God!! But it's so GOOD to be back. I feel that it's a bit like going home to find all of you again. Thanks for wondering how I was doing. I'm fine--Really!! Gotta go to bed--I'll talk to you again tomorrow--Happy Halloween!! Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

mary1220

Great to see your back, we have missed you. I will be back later, just had to say Hi. Hugs, Mary

PJB

Hi girls. Nancy Lee, glad to see you back and congrats on almost being done with the Herceptin.

Well, my friend who breaks my computer every time he visits was in town this weekend. So, well, the computer's broken.

My oldest sister arrives tomorrow just in time (i hope) to see me with my real hair before it gets chopped off. Coming out in multiple strands now. I figure the clumps can't be far behind. But I'm keeping it this time til i HAVE to get rid of it.

Supposed to trick or treat tonight, but as of 2 in the afternoon, it's cool and stormy. I hope this moves off. Nathan will be awfully hard to live with if he doesn't get to run around dressed as a phantom and eat enough candy to get him sick tonight....

Mary, hope the hubby gets some help. Maybe some Ambien to help him sleep? Janie and Renee, stay warm!

Paula

rlswkndr

Mary, my hubby is always pretty quiet- drives me crazy when he won't talk.
Janie- does it always get that cool? At least here, we know it is always cold.
Paula- why is it when someone else touches our computers they never work the same again. The only thing I dread about the guys being home, is they touch my computer! Doesn't that sound selfish- but they change things, close windows I usually keep open and then I get frustrated. They reply- just do this or that to fix it... I say- don't mess with me.
I'm heading your way at the end of November to visit son in Galveston... Hope it is HOT there!
Renee

janie44

Wow! The whole gang is on tonight! Hey Nancy! How's life in Montana? I do #50 this week too. Mary and I know about those "no side effects." Although, if I remember correctly, you were REALLLLLLY getting trounced by them. What all happened? Since we are the ones being studied and we ARE the statistics, we have to get our info through word of mouth.

I had a total of four Trick or Treaters! Patrick came over to help hand out treats to the "multitude." He even put up a big Happy Halloween sign and everything.

Renee, we have had another warming trend. It was in the forties last night and feels like it is again tonight; however, it got up into the 70's this afternoon. Around January and February and most of March, it will stay cold day and night. I am 240 miles north of where I've been for the past 4 years. I wore a coat maybe two days when I was in South GA. I will have to get used to it being somewhat colder here. It will probably even snow a little here --- never did there.

Night all.
Janie

mary1220

Hi girls, hope all is well. Janie and Nancy, you gals should be real close to done. Hi P.J. hope your doing fine. Hi Renee the weathers great isn't it? I will be back later. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Hi All,

Well, #50 is under my belt. I just woke up after sleeping off the treatment -- in time to go to bed. I was supposed to have a follow-up mammo today, but it was postponed. I was in the room with the gown on and everything -- found out the film from the one I had in April has not arrived from the other place yet. They wanted it to make a comparison. Hope everyone is doing ok. Janie

mary1220

Good evening girls, I slept for 4 hours after treatment so I am not tired now. Hope everyone is fine. Gosh most of the people doing chemo with me are really bad. Theres only 2 of us with b.c. It is really sad cause we all talk and theres like 6 of us all together and we have become friends. Everyones cance is getting worse. My onk said today "well you are doing fine and I know you have aches and pains but your fine". Honestly I think he takes men more serious. To heck with him. Well I missed my plastic apt. This memory is terrible, I didn't even look at the calendar and I knew the day before I had to go but over night it got lost in the cob webs of my senile mind. I have another apt. I just hope it can be O.K.ed and done by Dec. 31. Well, am feeling a little tired now so I will check in tomorrow. Hugs, Mary

PJB

Got the bracelet. It's beautiful. Wore it to my infusion yesterday.

Everything went fine. My new port is apparently quite the pain to access (as opposed to the last one, which was a breeze) It took them a couple of sticks, two nurses and lots of finagling to get the thing in. Blech.

Oddly, my tastebuds are hinky again. This happened last time. I guess it's a Taxotere thing. But it only lasted a few days.

So great to have my sister here. She's a really fun person. The bad news: an aunt (long time smoker) is on a ventilator, which they were gonna take off today I think. She's known she's had something for over a year, but never went in to get the testing done. So it was really far gone before they diagnosed her with lung cancer. She was supposed to start chemo next week. I guess I don't understand why she put off treatment. Personal choice, I guess. She's around 70. I guess I"m just hoping I get that old myself.

Anyway, congrats on 50, Janie. You and Mary take it easy now. Renee, I hear your weather is wonderful up there. Mom's going out golfing today. Must be pretty warm.

Talk to you guys later (home comptuer is still on the fritz)...

janie44

Mary, Time to rise and shine! I came home Wednesday and slept about 4 hours and then went back to bed 1 1/2 hours later and slept another 6 (of course, my sleep is sporadic -- I take a bunch of cat naps). I was not ready to get up when it was time. A lot of the people where I go are either really old or really sick. Some are characters. There are a few very young patients. Some look like they may still be in their twenties. Many of them wear a fanny pack with a battery in it. I have been trying to figure out why.

PJ - Glad the bracelet arrived and your sister is there with you. I hope you are feeling ok and you are kicking butt.

Fuzzies,

Janie

mary1220

Good evening girls,well glad everyone is doing fine (as we know it). Let me know what the battery is all about too. Hey, I went to bed not long after I got off the puter and I was asleep in no time. I hate so much sleep. I usually get 6 or 7 hours and anymore than that and I am sleepy all day.Glad you got the bracelet P.J. and you just think of it as all us being right there with you. I can't wait till Tue. and I will be on my way to Phx. I love to fly even with my fear of heights. Glad to hear you are haveing a good time with your sis P.J. Is there an e in haveing? Oh this chemo brain!!!! I have lost more than I ever knew and its every day easy stuff. I could see if it were rocket science but I forget easy spelling words then it comes to me a hour later. Well hubby is still depressed and he is in a real funk and I told him that. He better get a cure before I knock him cured. Phone call, Everyone have a great wk. end. Hugs, Mary

janie44

Hi All,



Mary, I am so nauseous today -- guess I am going to have to take my last Kytril. On second thought, I think I may have a couple of phenagrin left. I get on the big bird in a couple of weeks. My lymphedema is acting up again so I may wrap my arm while in flight rather than depending on the sleeve which is getting too stretchy -- need a new one. I need to go back to a specialist, but I don't want to take daily time off from work and it probably would require that. I am going to order a new sleeve online and keep it wrapped as much as possible and see if that works. I need one of those home compressors.



Tell me about chemo brain. I do a lot of meetings with staff and parents -- forever worried I will lose words. I have to type about 10 pages on each child I evaluate -- I proof them very carefully. Referrals are really coming in fast now and I am under a state timeline for turn-around.



I once told my ex that I had things to do, so he could sit around and be depressed all he wanted, and then I went about my business. He snapped right out of it -- and I was not even a psychologist then! I hope your hubby is not in a real state of depression. He may need some help. Does he see a doctor regularly?



Warm Fuzzies,



Janie

mary1220

Hi girls, Janie hope you can get some help with that arm. My swelling isn't real bad but there are times I can't get my rings on and times they are real tight. My foot however is going numb on me off and on. My onk was an axe and doesn't want to hear me complain I guess. My hubby is in a real depression. He is in a lot of pain and the strong pain meds. he is on really doesn't help. He has tried Ambien, Lunesta and trazadone for sleep and none have helped. He can't work and he can't do things he use to, even fishing is painful so yea he is in bad shape and feels guilty with my treatments and not being able to work. His unemployment ran out and I have mine yet so we are paying cobra but thats rough. They are going to do surgery on his upper arm in a few wks. I think. He has a knot that is growing. They tried a steroid shot and if that didn't get rid of it then he has to have surgery and it is bigger. I told him to tell his Dr. about being depressed and he did but the Dr. was more worried about his lack of sleeping. I wonder if the Dr. knows depression can cause sleeplessness? I don't know what to do with him. He doesn't see a problem because anyone would feel bad in his shoes. Well I said Yea, but when it consumes you it's more than feeling bad. We are going to sell the house and get something smaller but I have been dragging my feet. It has to be done and we will be off to Phoenix next fall and maybe before so we really don't need this much house here. We have been using our savings but that is getting low. I really don't care how much we have or don't as long as I can see my kids and grandkids smile one more day I am happy. Making cookies and the kids are coming over to eat tonight. We really need these trips Janie. Ahhhh to just be with no worries. Ya know Penny didn't even say thanks for the year I stayed at night for no pay? B*$#h. She bought herself another new car though. She now has more cars than days in a wk. They are all very expensive ones too. Oh well, I have to let it go......Hugs, Mary

janie44

Mary, I am so sorry that you have to worry about so many things in addition to health issues. "When it rains, it pours" is certainly true.

Penny's too caught up in "me me me" to be thankful to anyone else. I'm sure she thinks she was entitled to your help and thinks you should be honored to give it. Karma will catch up with her some day.

Paula, hope you are not sick. Are you doing any better with the Xeloda?

Hugs to everybody,

Janie

mary1220

Hi Girls, Well tomorrow I am outta here. The weather is really pretty nice here now. It gets cold at night like 40's but it has been 70's in the day time. Hubby is in sad shape. I think he is kinda nervous about me leaving too. Seperation anxity or something.He will get over it, I have to see my kid once in a while especially during the Holliday season. I think I will go out the end of Dec. too for New years. Hope Paula is doing good and having a good time with sis. Janie you are so close to done I bet it will be hard not to drive to treatment every wk., your car will just go. You won't know what to do with the extra time. I have a tooth ache of all things, I have a filling that fell out right in front. Drinking even hurts. I don't know if I can get in today or not so I packed plenty of pain pills. For some reason all my bottom teeth ache????? maybe its the treatment? Well, hope Renee is o.k. She is having a time with this med. I notice the sides seem to get a little worse as time goes on. My tongue felt swollen and I had little sores in my mouth after this treatment.The sides are sometimes different or come and go on different days each time. I will feel so much better when I get out west. My daughter offered to get hubby a ticket but he wants to be alone to waller in uncertainy. So be it. I am a surviver in every sense of the word. Well Janie it wont be long girlfriend and you will be on your way. I hope you have a GREAT time.Gotta get stuff ready for the craft show tomorrow I am doing a few hours before I leave for St. Louie to the airport. Hubby backed out, he don't feel like doing it now so I am doing it alone. Later little gators, Mary

PJB

Mary, hope you have a wonderful time! You deserve a break today... Hope the hubby can pull himself out of the funk or find a doctor to help him do it. What a tough time for you guys.

Janie, hope that arm gets fixed up, too. One more? 2?

I was pretty much out of it Sat and Sun. ZERO energy. And I have a lovely yeast infection in my mouth. Getting some drugs for that today. The good news is, outside of the drugs for THAT, I don't have to take chemo in any form for 7 days. I'm hanging on to my scraggly hair. It's really starting to look awful, but I can't make myself get it cut off. Might have to bite the bullet tomorrow tho.

My brother came up yesterday from Austin for a few hours, and I had a great time with my sister, too. So nice to have them around. (Even if I waas just short of drooling...) Sister left today.

You all take care. BIG hugs going out. We need it. But, we'll soldier on through and come out great on the other side.

Paula

janie44

Mary, what a bummer -- toothache right before your trip. I do hope it gets taken care of beforehand. When I had my toothache a couple of months ago, it was on the weekend, of course. No dentist available anywhere. That extraction and bridge cost me a bundle. Dental insruance isn't worth crap. Now, they tell me I have a lot of work to do in my mouth -- it will be so expensive, I am going to have to do it a little at a time. I'm tempted just to yank them all out and get dentures.

Yeah, the side effects do seem to accumulate over time. I am sick every Saturday like clockwork.

Paula, I have two more - this week and next. Good that your family is dropping in often. How many siblings do you have?

Renee, Nancy? Are you guys ok?

Hugs to all,

Janie

mary1220

Hi girls, I will deal with the tooth ache, Couldn't get in. It isn't bad if I use a straw so nothing hits the front of my tooth. I have a top denture but the bottom are mine and I really need to get them yanked. My gums have receeded from chemo so they are all achy by the gum line and I have been coping and spent a lot of money to get bonding put on them and it didn't work. I will get them out eventually because thats the best thing I ever did on top. They say the bottom are hard to get use to though. Glad you have had family come and go P.J. I hope you don't get too sick with this but it sounds like a bit of a rough time for you. Thats just not fair after all you have been through. I hope it doesn't last long and your hair will come back quick this time. Gosh, you poor little thing. Janie wow, you have come a long way baby!!!!!!Later, Mary