Starting Chemo May 2008

MsKarin

Rock,

What makes you think your upper back is going to get radiated?

 Radiation oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering have been studying the effects of radiation therapy on the breast in hopes of improving cosmetic outcome. For example, they have developed a special platform for overweight women with large breasts. The platform allows women to receive radiation therapy while lying on their stomachs. (Conventional radiation therapy to the breast is given to a patient lying on her back.) The treated breast suspends through an opening in the table below the patient, allowing radiation oncologists to target treatment better and to avoid radiating the tissue surrounding the breast.

http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/2381.cfm

Not that you are fat or large breasted but do you think this is what they will do to you?

Enjoy the day, Karin

MsKarin

Rock,

Concerning the party pole dancing on a subway train car, I can't take credit for it. I found the idea here http://www.zimbio.com/Pole+Dancing/videos/4/Video+Playlist

Scroll to 2nd one, Sexy Pole Dance Girls on NYC Subway

Enjoy the day, Karin

ellenoire

Kaaariiiiin! That's awesome and I totally love the old skool tunes on the vid. Rock, I come to NYC in Feb, I will practice my splits starting now! I espcially love the titles at the end... Proceeds from this video will go to blah blah blah.... after we feed our kids! 

Rock, the photoshoot was for a local magazine. The 30th anniversary issue of this mag is shooting a bunch of local people they consider interesting and influential and 30 shots will make the cut. I may not get into the magazine, but we had to take the shot at it. The BF wanted me to bail on it because my week is so nuts. 2 trips to the Hospital for bloodwork and then Herceptin, and a looong 7 day work week with this summer fest we are doing this weekend he was worried I was overstretched. Well call me Stretch Armstrong 'cause I am in day 4 of work( today was a 12 hour day) the medical crap is done and we are almost ready for the next three nutty days.  

I'll post some of the after shots on my blog and my facebook account.

 As for the skin advice, my questions to all my customers about their skin care (Face and Body) issues start with  " How often are you exfoliating?"  Answer me that, and I will take you through the steps to get you the best skin you have ever had.

Chemoooo and happy days everyone! I will be scarce this weekend, but carrying you all with me.

  N

ewesterman

All right....there is a lot going on the hood. I don't even know where to begin. There are so many comments to make and so many individuals with whom I want to share comments but I am overwhelmed. WARNING!!! This may be one of those ridiculous Eddie ramblings. First off, I am very excited to see more people cursing (cussing). We were all socialized NOT to do that, of course, but my feeling is that it allows us to vent some of our anger, rage, sadness, etc. It's kind of like kick boxing. We are not supposed to fight, but so many women I know LOVE kickboxing. Why? Ventilation dudettes, ventilation.

On to pole dancing. My husband, in particular, loved the New York subway pole dancers. I can't imagine why but he was right here over my shoulder. Karin, thanks for sending that along. Adrienne, I knew you would "chicken out" on pole dancing but it really isn't chickening out as you warned us in advance AND, may I say, I will NEVER forget the Pacific Yew photos so we will consider that your pole dance. Congrats on being finished. Roc, my husband liked your pole dance shots nearly as much as the subway ones. What can I say? You are one hot chickie and I congratulate you as well. I wear my Joan Armatrading t-shirt in your honor tonight and I hope to God you NEVER have to have a mastectomy or any other treatment relating to breast cancer other than what you have to finish up now. Still, I know where you are coming from. Sadly, I find myself worrying about recurrence too much of the time. Noelle, you are going to help me with skin stuff too but right now I am trying to keep my last two lower lashes in. Ontario is too dang far for now, but someday....btw, I love, love, love Vermont as well. Jean, hope your mom is better all the time. I know I am going to miss people but two and a half days of catch up is way too much. As I was thinking about all of you today, I decided that we need to post photos as our hair starts to grow back in. Herceptin also made me fluish for a while. I think it is just the first time. I am interested in the herceptin for three weeks straight then once every three weeks concept...I wonder if I'll have the same routine. I am jealous and excited as each of you complete treatment and make it to the top of the mountain and into Camp Recovery. I want to be there with you and it seems so far away, but I know we are all going to get there.....right Sable/Jenn? We, too, will jump into the New River Gorge hand in hand (it's in West Virginia...check it out...I once bungee jumped off it and swore to never to that again....but still, a free fall jump into cool water together might be nice). What else? Who else? Roxi, Gracie, Angels, Sue, KristyAnn, Cris, I am sending my good thoughts your way. Hot flashes? me too...taxol...sweaty head ... at night and some, now in the day time...what a concept....I am tired....but managed my second taxol so much better than number one. Third one is next Thursday....can't wait....really...just want to move it on. I am going to knock your socks off on my pole dance (if I can get my nerve up). Maybe I'll knock my socks down. I am sometimes wearing those old lady edema support socks...I am trying to figure out a way to work them into my act. Hmmmm. Okay. Love you. Thanks for letting me ramble.

drcrisc

Kristy - Yay you!!!!  Yay for being done-done!!  And I cracked up with the little "song" about you being "wireless"!

Rock - Made you laugh!  Did you spit something at your computer?!  Huh, huh, didya?!  (More about my lip later) - how's the se's going this final time?  And I do mean FINAL time.  And I'm glad you laughed; laughter is good for us, as we have seen on your thread!

Noelle and Angels - love the new AV's!  Okay, Noelle, I exfolliate about every 2 weeks.  How's that?

Jean - Glad to hear mom is hanging in. 

Karin - That's a funnnny video.

drcrisc

Back to the lip...

I have been sucked in by the Olympic fever.  Which fits right in because I think I have one of my own.  I think battling the se's/problems related to chemo ought to be an Olympic sport. 

So, I began having one of those paranoid nights last night.  I began to think that either my entire lip was going to fall off (more like I was hoping) or that the infection that I could clearly feel building, tingling, etc. in my lip was going to break away and travel straight to my brain sometime during the night.  I began planning my strategy on how I would get the ER, since I had taken every drug possible (except the one Darvocet I have left) and my eyesight is not too great driving in the dark.  Not to mention it was about 1 AM.  Finally, the buttload of meds kicked in and I fell asleep, but only to wake up with a lip to rival Muhammed Ali after a boxing match.  It was scary, it was painful and it was BIG, with the left side about 3 times bigger than the right.  I was afraid to go to work lest I scare the inmates.  It got slightly better after I was up for awhile, but has plateaued at about only twice the size of the other side.  (Side note: While I have not yet had "the look" due to hair loss, I certainly got it today!  Suprised no one said "Hey, Qausimodo, how's it going?")  Went in for the 20 second shot and the PA comes over to see me and says "Wow that'a really swollen.  That's interesting."  Like as in, medically/scientific interesting.  Like "EGADS, woman, I've never seen anything like THAT before!"  Oh, I forgot to mention I called them first thing this morning to say "Yup, it is defintely infected" and got some more Keflex.  So she asked if I got the meds, yadda, yadda, yadda.  And, no, I did not say "Told you so!" even though I wanted to (I actually really like the PA - she's great). 

So that's my story - please pray for the Keflex to start working so my facial muscles can relax.

ranD

Okay, 3 am and still the steroid flush/sweats and I am freaking wide awake!!!!

Rock on to all you ladies that have finsihed...I love the pics and videos! 

Good news: saw the chemo onc today, says it feels as if the tumor is all gone and all that is left is scar tissue CHEMOOOOOO. Also, since no reaction to Taxol, she is stopping the steroids except for the pre=treatment bag, she even cancelled the pre treatment dose today, so I actauuly could nap on the bendryl for a change,  I was so freaking talkative that the nurse told me to shut up! Bad ish /good ish news is that she is worried about the tingling in my 2 fingers and if it gets worse during this tx, she will move me to a 3 week schedule....nooooooooooooo.

Bad news: because I  have no family indictors for cancer, she won't recoomend BRCA testing, she thinks it will be futile, even tho I have 2 girls..arghhhhh...you know I will fight that one as I suddenly rememeber several close relative who died of bc....;p.  Also, she wants rads, but I have in my notes that my surgeon only wanted them if I had a lumpectomy. She said no way, you need 6 weeks of tx done 5 days/week. Again, I think I wil wait until 9/18 when I see my groovvy surgeon..  She also said that just removing my ovaries will lower my risk to almost nothing for uterine and cervical cancer.  Then she wanted to know where I found all this info and when I said internet research, she completely poo-pooed it the shithead....hahahahahahaha.  I really don;t like her even if she does head up the dept. On the way out, I talked to her nurse who basically told me that since she is a chemo onc, don;t listen to her and made an appt to see my surgeon and then wrote him a note in the file to reccomend me to the gyn onc.  WHOO HOOO girl power.I also asked her about the wide awake effects of vicodin with me, she thinks that sice I am such a drug virgin, my system can't handle it and told me to start taking 1/2 tablet every 2 hours, instead of a whole every 4-6, she thinks that I will have less SEs and less pain.  wil let you all know.

Sorry in advance for chemo steroid brain talking.

i am really starting to hate infusion day, once again 11 am appt, 2 nurses clled in sick and I didn't get started until 1"15, hello people I have a life!  To top it off, I got the 1st tx male nurse who only like ports, yup, 1st stick in my hand (before whicj I told him that in my elbow seems to work the best), and it hurt like a m-fer.  I yelped and he tells me oops, and to yoga breathe to relax.  Oops?????? He then tells me that I have really thick skin???WTF? I pride myself on my baby soft chemo skin. He just plain missed and wouldn;t admit it.  The 2nd stick in the hand goe better but he is so worried that he os bruisingmy baby soft skin that he wraps the needle in so tightly, it starts pulsing to my heart rate.  He then loosens it and tells me not to bend my hand and to go easy...there goes my card game! Yup, he will NEVER touch me again.

So, pretty uneventful after that.  Chatty Cathy was no problem since they put me on the oppsite side of the infusion center from her. Why?  Because I literally told the nurses at the station and the receptionist that if she was put wiht me, I woudl either shoot her or myself.  My friend Sandy told me that their jaws dropped, I guess I looked serious.  Do you think they wrote down on my file, threatening personality, don;t piss her off?? Will I be banned at future infusions centers world-wide? 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it, randie

rock

Karin -- OHHHHHHH....  This is really helpful, Karin!!!  That IS what I think they're talking about doing. (I haven't had the Big Consultation yet.  The docs have been conferring, though.) I was just told that I will lie (lay? loo? lee?) on my stomach for radiation so I assumed they would radiate me from the back if that makes sense.  I will check out this link!  THANK YOU!  Mwah! (that is a big kiss)

Whoops! Didn't realize all the new posts on a second page. I will catch up later today.  But rather exciting to see all the news. (I hope it's good!) 

ellenoire

RanD? No 'roids? You lucky duck!

 Cris?--- you made my laugh outloud with the quasimoto image!!!  Can you tilt your shoulders just so and drag your leg a little? We should all fly to Paris so you can check out how authentic your act is- who's comin' ?  

 Ok- as for the exfoliation... I will wait for everyone else to tell me how often they do it. My first reaction I hate to tell you was- "OH DEAR!" Come one ladies, free advice to make your skin totally awesome, who is in?

 I am off to a hell day of last minute prep for the 3 day street festival. 

 Later.. chemoooo!

 N 

familyroks

Exfoliating...can you do it too much?  I use one of those Dove vibrating thingies that you put the little exfoliating pad on.  I use it daily.  I still end up with dry skin but I've only been using this system since I started chemo, so hard to say if the dry skin would still be present without the influence of the chemo tx.  Guess I'll find out in the next few weeks! 

ellenoire

yes, you can exfoliate too much. The reaction to too much is usually redness and sometime flaking.   Do you use the Dove tool on just your face? Or your body too?

 Do you use Dove products with the tool?

You guys will either love me or hate me once I teach you more about products and skin care, but you will know more.

  

ellenoire

On another note. How about we start the day with a suppressed cancer treatment idea. 

 http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/science_news/4273366.html 

 Cool huh?

 Below is what my BFsaid in his email about it this morning.

 "This is what happens when you let engineers get to work. They ignore status quo and solve problems. Then people like Doctors or drug developers and government with very different incentives get in the way. This is really simple- it's the way dozens of vaccines were found and the way we figured out insulin, but somehow the "cancer industry" can't allow it.

There's a loaded term for you- "the cancer industry" ..."

rock

Noelle -- How often do I exfoliate?  Ummmm. I'm not 100% sure what it involves, to be honest, so I think you should put me down for, er.... never. (Sorry!)  I do use a body scrub on my feet. Does that count?

Cris -- Ow, ow, and OW.  Did I mention: Ow? Ow-ow-ow-ow.  (And why you? WHY?) Ow.

Kristy -- Done? HURRAY! Woo-hoo! Woo-yew! You -- whew! WOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!

Eddie -- Joan Armatrading? In my honor? I am touched to my very core. I love "Drop the Pilot" and "Free."  Love 'em.  Another great song? Duffy's "Misery."  It's pretty upbeat. Good groovin' through chemo song.

Randie -- Congrats on good news from onco! And glad you were spared Chatty Cathy if not Nurse Prick. 

Gotta go. (Cris -- OW. Kristy -- Hurray!) 

familyroks

Noelle - I just use the Dove tool on my face and only with the Dove products.  I've always had "flaky" skin, so its why I never wore makeup as it showed up more.  When I went to LGFB one of the ladies talked about exfoliating.  Since I knew I was going to want to be wearing makeup, especially during tx, I thought I'd give this exfoliating thing a try.  Its better than it used to be, but many days still have some dry skin present.

I've also been usng the mineral makeup since they seem so much lighter on the skin.

rock

P.S. Noelle -- you look Gorgeous! Radiant! Healthy!  Love it.

familyroks

To clarify - I only use the Dove pads on the tool but I use an Aveeno moisturizer. 

I agree Rock...Noelle looks FABULOUS!!

ellenoire

Thanks you guys!

Ok, Here is step one of the secret.

 You MUST exfoliate head to toe at least 3 times a week.You are wasting your money on lotion etc if you are not exfoliating. The lotion will happily moisturize the dead skin cells on the surface and not sink into the new skin that needs the moisture.

I will go into more detail later.

 Here is your job for the weekend, look at the labels on your products for two ingredients that are evil.  Any ingredient ending in Sulphate, and any ingredient ending in paraben.  You will be shocked by how many things you own have these things in them. Don't throw them away yet, I will teach you more about them later too. 

Chemooo!  

KristyAnn

Noelle,

 I am in for learning about the skin care - Ive been checking out the fluffy robes on your website hoping to order when I get finished paying off doctors and oncology centers and now my daughters surgery.

 Also, Noelle, I have the FRS sampler pack- Im waiting until a week post LAST chemo to start- which products do you like, and flavors and how many servings a day are you doing. I want desperately to get my immune system started back up and get my metabolism healing after all the poison.

I go for a rads consultation sometime in the next 3 weeks- I am considered controversial because I had a negative sentinel node but had a positive intramammary node. Oncologist wanted a full axillary dissection, surgeon and third opinion from a breast cancer risk assessment researcher and breast surgeon both sad dont do it- that roaming cells were my biggest risk factor and that I should proceed to chemo ASAP without taking another 4+ week delay for the axillary dissection. Anyway, all that puts me in a gray area on the rads so I am being sent to the rad doctor soon- I might call the risk assessment doc in Dallas to discuss again also.

I managed to walk 30 minutes today at 2.5 mph - I was walking two 45 minute sessions a day at 3.1 mph before the septic thrombophlebitis session and the hospital stay - today is just the day after chemo so hopefully I am on track to rebuild to the previous workout schedule. I am adding in water aerobics 2 days a week since the PICC line and IV are out. They have a pilates class 2 days a week at the Cancer Foundation for Life program- I think I may try that out on a lunch hour and see if I like it- need some variety to just the dang treadmill.

Off to check out my skin care products for the bad words!

Kristy

rock

Kristy -- YOU ARE MY HERO.  Gong for a walk?  Septic thrombelina and a hospital stay and all cannot keep Kristy down.  I am throwing my ass out on the NYC pavement (for a walk) right now.  Go, you!

rock

Noelle,  Thanks for jumping in with the offer of expert skin advice during a time when a lot of us are involuntarily sashaying into menopause. I tried to read what was in my Aveda cleanser and moisturizer but the print was too small.  So I'm gonna try again tonight, when my arms are longer.

****

Boy, I do like us.  There are so many cool women with breast cancer but I think we are pretty much the coolest.  We are a wonderfully motley, creative, warm and supportive crue. 

rock

Last post and then I am hitting the pavement, but I wanted you guys to be the very first to know:

Today I told the Fulbright folks that I have been treated for breast cancer.  The woman, D,  was very helpful and supportive.  (I had told them back in May when I got a Fulbright faculty research award that I was undergoing treatment for a serious medical condition but this was the first time I told them what the condition was.) I will probably bore you with the details of what I need to do to get medical clearance but right now, I am just happy to have had the conversation that I needed to have. 

Am determined to go through with my plans to be in South Africa in January (I was originally supposed to be there in August before bc intervened) even though the idea of subletting my apartment, finding a place in Cape Town, etc. is a little unnerving, not to mention actually starting the research I'd proposed.

Really -- I am going for a walk RIGHT NOW.   But thanks, women, for being there for me in ways you didn't even know these past months. Not just with regard to Fulbright, but stuff that I haven't put into words for public consumption.  Thank you.

sueper13

Morning all,

I slept in this morning and feel really good except have mouth symptoms with a vengeance.  Being an eternal optimist, I made coffee anyway and am hoping it tastes good.  (see what I mean? eternal optimist). If i go missing today or tomorrow, it's because we had/are having thunderstorms and the internet is iffy--there's a whole reset procedure that I have been too lazy to learn because there is nearly always someone else here to do it.  See, I already started missing them, being here alone is not all fun and games. Besides, I decided to clean out my closet today as I woke with scan anxiety (scanxiety?  I'm sorry but if you say it phonetically it sounds like I am worried my husband is being seduced by passengers of loose morals wearing tight, scanty clothing..and while we're here in these parentheses, isn't that a great word, scanty?)

Rock--Did I mention you are heartily wonderfully HOT in the pole dance photos?  Who said you were a bit prudish?  And the part of what Karin posted about better cosmetic outcome and avoiding radiating the tissue around the breast sounds like a good thing, even though the overweight part doesn't apply......I"M SO GLAD YOU"RE FINISHED!!! How are you feeling?? (BTW I think your upper back is safe.  They would target the beam to only affect the part of the breast where your lump was.)

Sable, celebrate all week, heck celebrate all month!! But I, for one am done with birthday cake for a while.  I am thinking of going to see a naturopath after radiation is done.  I need to lose some weight, and my hubby and I need to change our lifestyle--more to concentrate on healthy eating and exercise, but also getting good, authoritative advice on which supplements/herbal things we should be taking.  I have now decided to live at least well into my nineties and would like to be physically active for the rest of my life. It's not a use it or lose it thing yet, but it will be eventually.

Oh, yeah, about the being home alone thing--it didn't occur to me until this morning that I would probably be alone today when I get the scan results--at least I am hoping it is today.  Is there any way you guys could stick a little close today, just in case? Please? Can I say how it fills me with gratitude to know I can ask that?

Coffee tastes brackish, like one of those tannic rivers in Florida.  Oh, well.

Came back to edit after I noticed a whole 'nother page of your wonderful posts....I love you guys.  We are a group of wonderfully talented, eclectic women...Rock, glad you had the convo that was looming, I know how good that feels to have one of those behind you. Tell me about SA--I missed thaT!  What kind of research?  You are so multi-faceted!

Noelle, I exfoliate, full body, twice a week.  My products don't have an ingredients list that I can see, perhaps they were on the cardboard package which  I have discarded, I will look. I use mostly stuff from Origins of the unscented variety as I can be quite sensitive. (my skin, I mean)  (although I can).

Hope everyone has a good day!! BBL!!

Sue 

rock

YES.  I'm going for my walk (REALLY) but I'll check in when I get back.   xoxoxo jeanne

ps i just chipped a tooth! 

ellenoire

Chipped tooth? WTF?

 Sue and Rock, Origins and Aveda are usually about 95% perfect with ingredients, don't worry.

Kristy! you rock with keeping up the exercise. I can race in a triathlon, but I could not keep up a workout regime during chemo( partially because my good days were spent working, but mostly 'cause I felt like death warmed over) Why are you saving your FRS? It is totally safe to consume now. It was created for chemo patients. I drink 1 or 2 a day based on how I feel. The first few times it gave me wacky energy, now it seems more balanced. As for Robes, I can likely get you one cheaper than my site says. I bring them in from the states, so I have to include border charges in my prices. I can get you one direct from the US and save you a little. Let me know when you want to know the lower price. 

Sue...Tannic Rivers? What a description! and what the hell does BBL mean?

 Ok, my stinky store is giving me a headache( when we make new product, it kicks up all kinds of fragrances into the air, and gives me a sinus headache, fun huh?) I am off to Advil, Coffee and more work. 

N 

 

MsKarin

BBL?

Karin raises hand, Uooo, Uooo, Uooo, pick me, please pick me.(So excited almost pees pants)  I know, I know the answer to this one, please pick me. BBL is Be back later.

Now can someone tell me what are CMF shoes and or boots?

Enjoy the day, Karin

Hood1980

How about FRS?

hunkydory

I know CMF shoes are "come F%ck me shoes" or boots

My guess on FRS would be "F%cking Running Shoes"? Or maybe the energy drink

Roxi65229

RanD, I never did well with vicodine either. I take the minimum and work up depending on my level of pain. Everyones different though. My husband calls them pyscho bitch pills. Imagine that? 

Ellenoire, Love the avatar, and shame on me, like Rock just never seem to remember to exfoliate. I use Bath and Body Works stuff for my skin. Do they have that store in Canada?

Karin, that pole dance video was quite entertaining. Reminded me of last nights quest for gymnastics Gold! Yeah USA. I stayed up way past my bed time.

Were all here Sue. Thinking about you honey.

Christine, did your antiobiotics start working yet? Here's to a speedy recover.

Picked up my wig from the salon today. Dang it looked so good, I wanted to pole dance. It'll have to wait 5 more days....and counting. 

Chipped tooth, that sucks! I've had really sensitive teeth since taxol or herceptin, who knows. Bleeding gums, great just what I need, peridontal disease. I read something about the correlation between gum disease and cancer, lovely.

Roxi65229

Hood 1980, great to see a new face, but so sorry your going through this. Not sure about FRS. I'm so bad with texting. My kids have been bugging me to sign us up and I just refuse. Pick up the phone damn it, life's too short.

Mary (Roxi) 

MsKarin

FRS is some kind of protein drink.