Anyone starting chemo in June 08

ChocolateLover

hi y'all, its been a while & i missed ya!

hi Kelly,

I just saw your post from July 15 coz i havent been online for a while.  I am also stage IV with node activity in my neck and chest. 

How are you doing? Are you stage IV too? I think the TAC will do a good job.  The Paclitaxel i'm taking alone has already reduced tumours that I could see in my chest skin.  That's a good thing! I've had 7 tx over 12 weeks, and the treatment is basically ongoing until I have side effects that are untolerable. (numbness/tingling in fingers/toes etc.) 

Being "end stage" (that's the optimistic outlook of my Dr.!) is a different treatment than the first diagnosis.  The longer the cancer stays away after your first round of treatments the better the prognosis. Mine came back 1 year later.  ThatBeingSaid, I am still here 9 years later!!!!The dr's dont know everything!

Just a note to Jax, hunkyD, Nancy - you all are full of spirit and i love it! thanks for sharing! i'm going to figure out this pics posting thing now - even if it takes all day with dialup connections. ugh! lol.

ttyl, CL

SuePeet

Thanks HunkyD - you are right my eyes and ears still works really well!  Found a women doctor in a walk in clinic and was able to get in to see her - I apologised to her that the first time we get to meet that she wasn't seeing my best side!  Well she took a look and all she said was ouch!  Is that a medical term!?  Well she gave me two prescriptions - so hopefully things will start to turn around!

My treament is FEC - its canadian - I know there is comparable ones in the US  but not sure of terminology. We get our treatments every 3 weeks as it (well for some of us!)  takes that long for our blood counts to get back enough up for the next round.  Last one on the 15th - can't wait!  Have my energy back so that is great and the sun is shining although it is flipping cold out!  Off to Calgary for radiation orientation!

Wyoming - I had to do that MRI thing too - it was funny - in retrospect! - I went to the hospital for the test and the nurse wanted to give me tylenol - I said I couldnt - allergic.  I asked what the T3's were for - nurse said it was to make test more bearable!  As I had really no idea what the test involved  - I asked if they could give me advil so it would still be bearable.  Nurse said she wasn't given any alternate orders so apparently I had to go to the test and suck it up! 

But your are right about diginity - after 4 kids and now this sojourn - soemtimes I just feel like flashing total stranger in the street because they may have missed out!  Its OK haven't quite done that yet!

Have a good weekend!

hunkydory

Welcome back Chocolate Lover. you are doing great wtih treatments.  Gives those of us with stage IV and those with alot of postivie lymphs some hope for sure. My surgeon took out a whole mess of positve nodes. I try not to think about it.   

SuePeet:  Glad you got some scripts for the "down under"!  I hope they work for you.  There are a few of us on here getting TAC X 6 every 3 weeks and I think that might be comparable to FEC.  It's all a bunch of poison shit in any event.  You only have one left....yea. 

Wyoming: You are a brave/good teacher to bare your bald in front of the students.  They will love it of course. 

Hope everyone else is doing well.  Now how about EYEBROWS?  Is everyone's holding up OK?

HunkyD

KKing

Sounds like everyone is doing pretty good right now.

Jax, it looks like you were having some fun with the kids.  Is the lake close to your your new place because that would be awesome.

Sue Peet you and I are on our last ones, mine is the 16th.... we will have to have a party.   I hope we all have a party when we finish.   It is so good to see the Junies are getting through this so well.  I remember us all hooking up back then and now we have come this far...  We're good.

Weekend is coming...have a good one. 

KKing

hunkydory.... nice.... whose eyebrow????

hunkydory

KKing,  it's not mine for sure.  Mine are thinning out.  Everyone says they are the last to go.  I have no experience with brow pens..I think I remember Jax saying something about having hers tatooed.  Mine are blonde so I don't know how its going to work.  I'll have to practice.  HunkyD

Wyoming

I've noticed my eyebrows and eyelashes are thinning. I'm pretty light so I have used a light brow pencil but I'm not very good. I may try false lasher this weekend. I'm not very coordinated and may end up looking like HunkyDory's picture. Good thing I can laugh at myself! 

SuePeet hope you get relief soon.

YEAH! Tomorrow is Friday.

Have a good night.

IrishTwin

My sister is having a rough go of the Taxotere.  She has bad cramps (even after water), diarrhea several times a day, her scalp is crazy itchy, food feels like cotton in her mouth, she can't read anything and she hurts.  The bone pain is less today than yesterday but the stomach cramps are worse. I wonder how long this can last.  Or if there is anything that works to make it better. Can anyone help/advise?

hunkydory

IrishTwin:  I am no expert but for bone pain I use vicodin for bone pain which probably helps out stopping the diarrhea in its own way also.  If not I guess Imodium AD or something like that.  Bad taste in mouth is just one of the S/E's I don't know what helps.  If nothing else, call the doc...that's what they are there for.  I hope she can get this resolved.  Maybe someone else here has some suggestions.  HunkyD

StaceyR

IrishTwin, how long has it been since her treatment?  With the taxotere I find it takes a solid week before any hint of feeling better starts, and then the relief goes slowly.  My stomach was positively in knots even a week after my first taxotere; with my reduced dosage this time the effects have been tolerable, but the anti-diarrhea stuff is still essential.  I have that fuzzy mouth problem too but it's not as bad as last cycle for me.  You just get resigned to not being able to taste much for a while... Just keep hydrating, even though nothing tastes right.

KKing

Hunky D... I didn't think it was yours... myself... they are almost gone.   At the feel Good Look Better clinic I went to, they taught us how to colour in our eyebrows... did u get a chance to go to one??  

IrishTwin.  yes the taxotere is bad on the stomach, mine is still not right and it has been 8 days since,  the mouth thing for me was helped with biotene mouthwash... it seems to settle down your mouth.   They prescribed me tylenol3 for bone pain and that did work.   I would agree with HunkyD and call the doctor and see if they can give her something to settle her stomach.  

Hope things get better for her.

Rovergirl

My chemo siesta is over and tomorrow I start my 15 weekly infusions of AC and 90 neupogen injections!

hunkydory

Rovergirl, good luck with the Red Devil.  My thoughts will be with ya!  HunkyD

GramE

HI all:

# 4 of weekly taxol and herceptin yesterday.   And this does zap me a lot more than the dose dense A/C.  Came home and crashed in the recliner and now WIDE awake since 6 am and wired..    Only 8 more to go.  

Each tx I find that my stomach is more sensitive - not nausea but sort of feel like if I eat I am gonna be sorry and if I dont I will also be sorry.  And not diarrhea, but loose bowels within half an hour of eating anything - like when drinking lots of water - in and out.  I get Pepcid via IV and onco says I can take 2 a day for stomach.  Hope it calms down that fluttery feeling.  

For thinning eyebrows, the Look Good Feel Better program can help a lot even go online to the website and there are lots of make up hints.  I do not like eyebrow pencils, which look way too fake - so I use a powder type with a flat brush, not a round one.   If you put a little bit of powder first, it looks fluffier and more like real hair.   Smudge a bit with your fingers also.  

Sorry about the lack of taste - most is either cardboard or sawdust and rough or crispy foods make my mouth sore.  Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste help as does rinsing with plain water after eating or drinking anything other than water.   My onco says I can look forward to everything tasting like metal as tx gets further along..  HA - "look forward to..."    Couple of  things that still have a bit of taste - hard candy lemon drops, root beet barrels, orange gummy type jelly candy -  notice a trend ??? !!!!!    Since I am allergic to chocolate and strawberries - I just gotta suck it up, I guess.    

Keep drinking water - helps flush all those poisons thru the system.  Onco asked if I exercise - I asked if back and forth to the toilet counts !!!  

Hey, another source of support is SOS, Survivors offering Support.  Lady met me at chemo yesterday and gave me beautiful tote bag with teensy pillow for seat belt padding for the port - I was using a beach towel.  Also a leather bound journal, some pamphlets and books, a pedometer/clock, lotion, tshirt, and I forget what else.  

Speaking of the port - I hardly notice it except when wearing the seat belt.   One little ouchie and I am hooked up for blood work and IV tx.  And once I sit down, the nurse is there almost immediately to hook me up with no waiting for a "needle person" to find veins in the arm.  

In case no one told you, after the Red Devil, you will pee red.  If i had not been told I would have totally freaked.   Drink, drink, drink (water ) to flush it thru you.  Suck on ice chips during treatment also.  

The eyebrow pix looks like my (late) husband - he was mostly bald, so I once suggested combing them up... Yes, I do have a weird sense of humor and i apologize if I upset anyone.  

Keep plugging away and I say the heck with being strong --  time for being as gentle TO and FOR yourself as possible.   Treat yourself once a day - at least - bubble bath with the door locked, candles are nice - hot fudge sundae with lots of whipped cream - whatever is just for YOU.

I found a couple of emoticons to share, but I can't do attach pictures, so here goes:

~~:-) (one hair smiley)

@:-)  ( turban smiley)

:-*  (kiss smiley)

}:-)  (wig smiley)

Have as good a weekend as possible, HUGS and BLESSINGS,   Nancy 

Kellke

  Nancy,  I love your sense of humor.  I am not as creative as you but am learning to love wearing my scarf.  I can use it to be a little bit more crazy than I usually am. Maybe I will become less conservative after wearing all these crazy colors on my head... 

  Plus I can get ready in two minutes flat now that I have no hair to dry and style, my allergies and chemo have kept my eyes and nose running like a faucet so I finally quit bothering with makeup too.  And other than the fact that I don't look like "me" when I pass a mirror I am not to sorry to see the end of hair and makeup for a while.  Kelly

Vinogal

Hey Junies..........I have very few eyebrows left..........lashes are still around 50% hanging in.......so with mascara and eyeliner.....doable........now the trick that I find works for me with the brows........use 2 different colours of brow pencil.........one lighter and one darker than your natural colour........use the lighter shade first and "feather" on your shape......follow up with the darker shade.....going lightly at first and adding more of the darker once past your arch........seems to look the most natural to me.......

Anybody growing hair?........I definately have been sporting stubble on my head for the past 2 weeksI was afraid to jinx it by posting earlier.......but it definately seems to be firmly attached and getting longer.........anybody?

Good luck to all with you SEs........and have a good weekend!

Cheers

Jax

ChocolateLover

Rovergirl, I am sending you love and strength for that regime. Good luck and keep your thoughts focused on healing. And, yes, I too peed red! Nancy is right on that one. drink lots of water!

HunkyD, I love those einstein eyebrows!  I still have thin ones, and about 10% of my hair. i haven't updated my photo yet. maybe soon? you wont recognize me for sure!  Do you have a photo of yourself?

Kellke, is this your daughter in your photo? She is beautiful! I'd love hair like that! I agree, the low maintenance thing is one of the benefits I could use forever. 

RE: ports ~ I have a port too, and it's great! I was having veins "blown" every week which wasnt exactly the highlight of my treatment day. Funny, because I've never been queesy, but when that happened I almost passed out each time! I know the AC left me with lower blood pressure (105/65 on a good day) so I see stars often.  But now I have no more worries and my hand is not sore and bruised. I love it! Anyone wondering whether they should or shouldn't.....I say go for it! It's totally under the skin so no maintenance. I got mine 2 weeks ago today and I used it this Wed. for the first time. WOW.  Sorry - there really aren't that many things one can rave about during this whole cancer process, but this is one of them.  (ps: i'm a stomach sleeper and i'm already sleeping soundly on it without discomfort)

ok - i think that's enough rambling for me for now.

LLL (love, light & laughter) everyone,

Rovergirl

LeftyAKANancy -

The steroids from the taxol infusion are what is keeping you up at time at night.  Ask your doc. for a sleep aid like Ambien or something.  On infusion nights I take Ambien  without it I would be up watching the sunrise because I just can't sleep.  My doc. tried adjusting the steroids but it didn't help with the sleeplessness so prescribed Ambien.  It works for me.

Before I get my port accessed I ask the lab tech. for lidocaine so I don't feel a thing when the big needle is inserted or removed.  I'm a sissy, I'll admit it and because I will have a total of 27 friggin weeks of chemo - I'm all about comfort.

Still playing bridge?

Rover

IrishTwin

Thanks a lot for the responses to my post (KKIng and StaceyR), and also for the general tips that followed re: surviving (Nancy, ChocolateLover, Rovergirl).  I read the posts to my sister (who's afraid to read without someone screening out the scary stuff).  It really meant a lot to her to have people suggesting things and to hear it from people who know.  Her housemate went straight out to get the imodium. Today things are a bit better because of the imodium and also maybe because of the extra time since chemo (day 9 post taxotere today) since the bone pain seems to be gone today. We loved the chemoticons! She's going to use them. 

Rover, 27 weeks is really long! :-(  My sister thought hers was long at 18.  She has 5 weeks of radiation to "look forward to" afterward but the fact that the chemo end is in sight (two to go) is keeping her (pretty) sane. 

Rovergirl

Irish twin -  I am involved in a clinical trial so my treatment plan in a little different and LONG!!  In a nutshell, I'll have 27 weeks of chemo, followed by surgery and 6 wks. of radiation.  I have a long row to hoe.

Rover

IrishTwin

HunkyDory - Thank you too for the imodium tip and also the Vicodin suggestion! I was trying to find Vicodin (hydrocodone and paracetamol) but it seems like you can't get it in Canada. Or at least it's not on the Ontario Health Insurance List. :-(

Rovergirl, that's a gruelling schedule.  Adding the Neupogen to the chemo schedule is brutal.  Maybe you're not doing Neulasta, which involves fewer shots, because the chemo is so frequent? If not, with 90 shots in store, I'd be asking the researchers for Neulasta...

GramE

I am feeling more tired after this tx - # 4 of 12 weekly tax/her.   The A/C every 2 weeks did not zap my energy nearly as much.   My finger nails are stronger than iron, but starting to flatten out.  onco says they can change color also.  And i can "look forward" to a metallic taste, instead of sawdust or cardboard.   Just how many body parts are going to be affected?  maybe I don't want to know...!!!

The rains have let up here - some areas got as much as 10 inches in 5 hours.  Only 5 where I am, but I am safe and dry.   Hope all of you are doing ok - ish.   HUGS,  Nancy

Westie

IrishTwin:  Ask for Percocet--it's the same as Vicodon.  I have it for Taxol bone pain, which has been brutal for me.  I'm in Ontario.

Jax--I'm getting my last Taxol on Wed. Sept 17.  Will you be there that day?

Cheers to all!

hunkydory

Already Sunday night.  Rover, my thoughts are with you.  I have a ways to go myself.  Good luck to you.  This certainly isn't a warm Sunday afternoon ride for any of us. 

IrishTwin, hope you get your side effects in a better control scenario.  Talk to your onc.with any problems. I am in the same boat as you are with a sh#t load of postitive nodes, so you are probably on an aggresive chemo I'm sure.  Just try to make sure you can be as comfortable as you can and don't be shy about asking for any pain meds, etc.

Nancy, hope everything is going ok for you....you have a good sense of humor.  That probably is a big plus for this journey that we all share.     

ChocolateL.......Gawd, your avitar looks like you should be on top model or something.  Seriously, hope you are doing well. 

Westie....good luck on your last Taxol Wednesday.....that day will also be my #5 treatment of TAC out of 6 and then I will probably be off to rads and herceptin. 

Jax, will you come and do my eyebrows.....I am slowly working on them....followed your advice but I have a brush and powder kit....light then dark like you said.  I think I am either getting a litttle better at it or just not giving a shit.  I still have a few eyelashes though thank god.  I can do eyeliner, which to me is much easier.

Wyoming....hope you had or have a good response to your benifit drive at school.  Maybe you could write something on your head when you bare it at the assembly?   Thanks, etc..or maybe just a big smiley face. 

To all the rest I have missed...my thoughts are with you and a pain and tear free week.  I am so glad to belong to a group where I feel people really have my back!   Love ya all....HunkyD

Vinogal

Hey Ladies......hope y'all had a good weekend.........I had some pretty bad pains on Friday and Saturday........but we were so busy with hockey tryouts for my son........didn't have too much time to feel sorry for myself.........probably a good thing.........had some friends over for dinner tonight......did appies.....but ordered dinner in......not my normal style.......but all I could muster.......felt good to take it easy........I'm off to Minneapolis on Tuesday morning......so have to pack the kids up for my mom's.......and then pack myself up.......looking forward to the trip........get some back to school shopping done.......wasn't sure if I would feel up to it this year.......but happy that I do.

HunkyD......good luck with the brows........I'd love to come and give them a go........I still say we should have a big party when we're all done....

Westie.......I will be there that day for my second to last treatment........you'll have to let me know what you are going to be wearing that day.......it will great to meet one of the Junies........yay for us for being so close!

Cheers

Jax

KKing

Hi all June ladies,

It sounds like everyone is doing allright...nice to read that.

I have a question for you,  since the last taxotere,  my skin is sore.  On my face, around my eyes is very sore, the fact my eyes are running prob does'nt help.   My arms have red marks coming up which are getting darker.  ON my legs that are marked, the skin came off these marks like I am shedding.   Is this happening to anyone else??? 

Enjoy the day

Karen

hunkydory

KKing, Both my entire legs shed like snakes after my first trt.  I showed onc and he had no comment.  My arns did not however.  After that I just kept using lotion and it never happened again.  I know chemo makes you more sensitive to the sun so I don't know if that could be a factor or not.  Good Luck.  HunkyD

SuePeet

Hey Everybody!  Irish Twin - Im from Red Deer Ab - you?

OK for the tin taste - I found that Crystal lite - the lemon lime works - it doesn't tast as bad when your mouth is all tinny tasting - I also have to drink out of a plastic cup - no water bottle or cans - not sure why the water bottle but it didn't taste right.

Eyebrows - mine finally went this week well I pulled the remaining 4 hairs because I was starting to look wierd - but am already starting to grow some back and my head has peach fuzz.

Oh back to eyebrows - I went to a look good-feel ggod session and they said if you have to draw on eyebrows use 2 different colors because you never have a single color eyebrow.  I used one color but just rubed it in abit so I didn't look like a clown!  My 10 year son wants to draw them on for me but since they are already growing back I may be saved there!

Irish Twin- if your sisters head is itchy it may be because she has clogged pores - get her to use a gently exfoliating sponge and Johnsons baby shampoo that will make it instantly better!

Good news - my behind - after 10 weeks of itching - is finally getting better!!!!!

I was told originally that I needed 5 weeks f radiation but met with rafdiation oncologist - he said I only need 3 weeks - yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The end is near! 

One week before my last treatment - just trying to deal with tose darn  canker sores which have a habit of creeping up!  I will prevail!

I also have been busy with hockey tryouts - I forget who knows about my BC and who doesn't so when I was sitting at a table with a bunch of hockey moms and made the comment that I wore my hair because it was warmer and stopped drafts - I had a couple wierd looks!  One finally said - so whats up?  I don't understand these guys who voluntarily shave their heads - it is so darn drafty out there!  My DH is a ceiling fan fanatic - I had to get stren as sitting and eating supper with a ceiling fan over your head is not fun!  All well my Dh is continually in training!  Take care all!

Kellke

   Well Taxol/herceptin #4 today. That means I am 1/3 done with it.  Hurrah   I have had some strange dermatologic reactions to benedryl of all things, so now I am just using my generic zyrtec the night before.  I tried to get my oncologist to switch me to all oral premeds so I wouldn't have to spend so much time hooked up to my port.  But he said no and quoted so many studies etc my eyes began to glaze over...  oh well It never hurts to ask. 

    Years ago,back in the healthy years, I mentioned needing sleeping pills to help me sleep because I am such a worrier but now that I have cancer I mention it and suddenly I have a huge stash of different sleeping pills.  Crazy. oh well made it to work ontime after treatment and remembered to take a sleeping pill just now so I wouldn't be up all night.    Good luck to everyone else this week,   Kelly 

Bonnie02

Hi Everyone

I have not been on here for awhile, just finished my chemo on Aug. 21, I should be on Herceptin but the heart scan said no I can not have that. After my chemo I have spent the last 10 days with a fever they could not seem to get rid of, spent time in hospital seemed like it was going good went home and guess what right back. I am on a different antibiotic now and seems to be working. Will be going for radiation pretty soon I think.  One question I wanted to know from anyone is did anyone have trouble with their eyes, like running constantly, always look like I am crying - one benefit is you can cry without anyone knowing lol.

SuePeet - as far as your fingers go I think it is quite common to have them numb or even very sore to the touch, I know mine still are and have been since my first chemo treatment my nails are also a mess even lost one nail the others seem to be recovering.

Good Luck to Everyone

Bonnie