Starting chemo January 2009?

tyra

hi everyone

i started chemo jan 15 so far i had 2 treatment (feb 6 ) my third one is feb 26 i am doing taxol and carbo i am stage 3 with 9 nodes infective i had a mast and i will be doing rads when finish with chemo

so far this cheno has been hard on me even though it last about 48-72 hours of pain dizziness just plain on tired. i would say that i do have a good week of being almost next to myself during my second treatment i had a uti i was prescribe meds but was down a few more days longer

mimi07

kt57, AZStacey, eadsla - Finished my 3rd TC today.  It went smoothly.  How are you doing?  So far feeling ok.  I would start feeling a bit queazy after day3 until day8.  I've been trying not to take the anti-nausea med but this time I may try.

I've been reading all of your posts and realize how much more on top of bc a lot of us are going through.  My heart really goes out to those who need to take care of others.  I think it was Misty that's taking care of her son with a liver problem.  I hope you can find a support group that can take care of your son at least during your bad days.  Have you contacted the American Cancer Society, local breast cancer group, or maybe support group for people with liver problems?  Or I heard you can get a nurse to come to your house and insurance will cover it.

Life doesn't stop for bc.  We just have to be strong and help each other through it.  I'm so glad we have this forum.

As for decadron, I took the pill, the day before, day of and day after, and I had it in my pre-med, too the first time.  I couldn't sleep!  But for #2 and #3, I didn't take the pills at all and just had it in my pre-med.  I did just fine without it.  Some oncologists prescribe the pill routinely as it is in the guideline.  My oncologist said that he prescribed it routinely when the pill first came out, but he doesn't anymore.

And the Neulasta shot, I don't get any bone pain from the shot.  So for those of you that are terrified about the shot, just wanted to let you know the some people don't get the se.

Ovaries... Do I need to take them out?  I don't need them anymore, but.  I thought the chemo would get us into early menopuse (I am 46) Wouldn't that dramatically reduce our ER and PR?  I was going to ask the onc why I need to do the hormone treatment if I go into menopause.

Anonymous

BerkeleyKim, i hope your insurance woes right themselves. you so don't need that crap right now!

ddlatt, that is all just so wrong! kudos to you for speaking up - i hope they figure out a better way.

diane, i'm with you on the sore hysteria. i have what feels like two tiny sores (i think) on my tongue, and my throat feels icky. luckily i can tolerate the biotene now and i'm drinking lemon throat coat. i'm trying not to panic.

kathy, many thanks for the constipation tips. i again had another trying bout with my natural senna (altho a good cleaning out is, um, all good - sorry TMI!) ... i can't seem to find the right rhythm and i want to be better prepared for this week's tx. does the Miralax powder taste icky? my onc recommended it also, but i can't abide the taste of chalky stuff, not even tums or pepto or mylanta, even on a good day, much directly after treatment.

soothing hugs for (((everyone))).

and a special sending-you-all-good-thoughts hug for (((07Rescue))).

holtbolt

Well, as luck would have it... I had my second TX on 2/10 and had a bad reaction to Taxtotere... (strange as TX 1 went off without a hitch but they said sometimes that happens).  Anyway, it was scary and I'm not going to describe it because I think it would wig people out... but it was not good.... eventually they tried again and pushed it through slowly and I was able to get it done but ... ugh... bad day indeed.  they gave me the option of coming back in a week... for the Taxotere but I could not stand the thought of delaying this whole thing even if only by a week.... I'm sure you all know what I mean. 

Jilly - definitely going to consider ovary removal here when all this chemo is behind me.... if anybody can describe how painless and easy that surgery is... please post! lol. 

Kt57 - After this last tx day I think I'm leaning towards 4 treatments, not 6..

So, now I have to catch up and read this thread.. I'm way behind ... hope everyone has a nice Valentine's Day... I know we're not the prettiest of Valentines right now but it's what's inside that counts! LOL

REKoz

Hello Jewels

I'm back after round one of three, cycle 2 (of 4.) I am on a different protocol then just about anyone else I have seen here. I'm on Abraxane which is the same as taxotere but does not require steroids because it has a "natural absorption quality" unlike taxotere. From all that I've read, that's a good thing because the steroids seem to cause more problems then the chemo. Abraxane is only approved for mets but due to the fact that I have pre existing nerve issues in my hands and I have to work, the dear Oncologist was able to persuade the insurance co. I am also on Carboplatin and Herceptin. The first cycle had me feeling the worst on Mon. and Tues so we shall see what happens this time. Surely I have learned that you can't predict anything as far as treatment goes. I have a Caringbridge website and on Tues. I had written that my hair was intact. That drastically changed on Thurs. and by yesterday I decided that I did not want to be dealing with the emotional and physical mess that was rapidly developing from my head. So, I bit the bullet and went for the shave after chemo. The hairdresser used the longest setting so it is not truly bald per se. About an inch of spikey and OH MY, wayyyy too much gray was hiding under all that thickness! I have 4 brothers (and a sister) and I mentioned that I now look just like my bro's, in all aspects except for from the waist down!  I see the PS on Monday and am anxious to see if he will reconsider his declaration of no fills of the expanders until after chemo. That was his thinking last month after that nasty infection and scar revision. Though now the scars look nice and healed. I would not risk it all just for a few fills but sure would be nice if he was comfortable doing so!

Have a wonderful long weekend ladies. I am looking forward to my daughter coming during the week. Lucky her, as a School Social Worker, she gets all the vacations, including the entire summer! We are going to pick out wedding invites and start planning the shower. It surely is a great thing to have in my life now. I just wish I could give it the focus and prominence it would ordinarily get from me.

Later Raiders..or more appropriately, fellow warriors!

Ellen

Renrel

I am doing OK day 4 of TX 2 with T/C.  Mostly I am very very very tired.  I am addicted to the internet boards and I barely had the energy to post.  But I also was not free to rest the past few days.  DS still needed to go back and forth to school in the city each day (and with Valentines day there were extra things that needed doing for him), I had to go get my Nuelasta shot, I had acupuncture and I wanted to get my wig styled.  The accupunctured seemed to help alot with energy and mood though.  I find the chemo makes me sad.  I think it is the chemo itself because I don't feel like the sadness is connected to any of the side effects or anything. I am OK with my hair.  I don't feel great but I know I would feel alot worse.  These things are not making me sad when I think about them.  But there is a sadness inside of me and I think it is just something the chemo is doing to me. So I note the saddness.  Check in on it now and then, but don't let it directed my life, if that makes any sense.

DH has a cold. So he is sleeping in a different room.  Fun valentines day huh?  

DS is spending the week with my parents in NY.  His cousins will be coming out on various days to visit as well. My parents will have their hands full.  DH just left about an hour ago with DS.  My father will meet him part way, but it will still be all day on the road for DH.  I have a few friends who are on call if I need help.  I will miss DS but I am looking forward to being able to just rest a bit.  Not having to drive into the city everyday will make everything much easier.

So far my tummy is doing pretty good this time around.  I am just taking miralax (if you let it sit a bit it disolves completely and you don't know its there at all.  DS was taking it pretty regularly for awhile with no complaints) and gasX.  I also think my morning cereal helps - instant oatmeal to which I add about a tablespoon of ground flax, some apples sauce, a serving of dried cut up apricots and a bit of wheat germ and alittle sweetener.  No mouth sores so far.  My thoat is a a little sore but I am hoping it is just dry.  I have a weird pain in the center of my right foot on and off.  It feels muscular.  I am hoping it is not neurapathy.  It is an ache not tingly.  Thats all I can think of right now and I am too tired to type anymore, which is really weird for me.  I seem to waste half my lift typing on internet boards. I am going to take a shower and climb back into bed. 

Happy V-Day Jewels.  This may not be the most romantic day of our lives but we are loved, loveable and loving, and that is what makes life worth living and this fight so important.  

ktym

Renral, dont want to scare you, but watch for thrush with that sore throat.  I've gotten it with both cycles, and the sore throat was my first warning.  If you notice it call your onc because early treatment gets rid of it easier.   Hopefully nothing, these changes in weather play havoc.

jillyG

Happy Valentines Day Jewels!  I am having an emotional and physical breakdown, well, I'm sure I'm exaggerating a little, but it's pretty bad.  I am scheduled for AC #3 on Tuesday and I came down with pneumonia and had to go to the ER.  They gave me 1 week of antibiotics.  My son was diagnosed with pneumonia a week previously so I figured I was next, pretty hard to stay away from a very sick 6 year old.  I apparently have a urinary tract infection as well.  I have asthma so I just can't breathe at all, every breath is a struggle.  My counts are very low and the cancer centre called and said they are delaying me one week,   I am so upset, if I go off schedule by a week, will that affect my outcome?  I am really sad and teary.  I am so sick of being sick....I just want my old life back, when I was healthy and happy, I just really don't want to do this anymore.  Last chemo I came down with a killer cold and had to be on antibiotics as well.  Anyway, done venting, I hope everyone is having a better day than me. 

Renrel

JillyG - Hugs to you!!!!  You really are getting a raw deal. I don't blame you for feeling down.  I don't think the one week delay will affect  your outcome.  Use the time to regain your strenth.  It is so hard doing this with a little one in the house. 

I am not being very good myself.  I said I was going to shower and nap.  Get the rest my body needs.  So instead I threw in a load of laundry and cleaned up the breakfast mess.  I went up and down stairs several times and was pretty wiped.  Then I finally layed down but could not sleep.  Then I realized I was hungry.  Just making myself lunch some how made me feel better.  I went for high protein. I made a smoothy out of Activa, NF milk, dryed egg white, cashew butter, peanut butter, flax seed, wheat germ and frozen fruit.  With that I had left over pasta with sauce and cheese and a piece of left over frozen fish.  Now I am gathering my strenth for a walk while the weather is warm and the sun is out. Then I will try to nap again.  DH just called and he completed the drop off of DS without issue and is on his way home.

babyc

I've got a new "one for the books" to report.  On about day 14 after my first chemo, my hair was coming out in clumps so went and had it buzzed.  More and more continued to fall out but now I still have some extremely thinned wisps of hair adhering to my head.  Last night, I shampooed with Johnson and Johnson No Tears shampoo, rubbed fairly vigorously, and began rinsing with hot water.  I swear I scalded my tender head.  This morning it doesn't seem any worse for wear, but scalp is truly tender stuff!!!!   From now on, gentle rubbing and lukewarm water to rinse!!!!  I'm not sure what to think about the head hair that is still holding on and the fact that no other body hair has left.   My third TC treatment coming up in another week..... My best to all of you.

ktym

Jilly G, my heart goes out to you

Babyc, my skin hurts for you

All January Jewels, seems like some of us are having a bad week.  Here's hoping next week is much better.  

Ninja

Jillyg, you are NOT exaggerating, pneumonia is major suckage!! Sick and tired of being sick and tired, I agree, and you got an extra blast of it.  Babyc, isn't it undignified as well as uncomfortable about the hair? I have eyebrows but no eyelashes, occasionally have to shave my legs, and now 5:00 shadow on my scalp. So weird. I have had thrush each round, which REALLY makes food taste bad, so yes, check your mouth for the white patches when you have a sore throat Renral. 

Happy valentine's day to all of us, remember our beauty is inner beauty and we will get our "missing parts" back. My valentine tells me he loves me even as a bald uniboob, and I'm under construction. And all the kids in my life want to pet my bald head.  Though I did dream I had hair, long, beautiful hair, the other night....

YearoftheHat

gillyG, I am thinking of you.  You are having an awful ordeal.  No wonder you are sick of being sick.  Your normal life is on its way.  I hope you are confident in your health care providers.  You need their expert care right now.  

re: sore throat  I should have not done my homework to make sure this is OK....I have not seen it recommended anywhere......but I have started to get a sore troat on many occassions during the a/c and I have gargled with hydrogen peroxide mixed with water.  I am very careful not to swallow it and to spit it all out as it is foaming.  I rinse well after about a minute of letting it do its thing.  It wipes out the sore throat every time.  Please nobody do this as I have, without making sure it's OK.  It is an old habit of mine when I start to get sick. 

re: stomach upset I got the l-Glutamine today in tablet form and I plan to get some ginger tea.  I know this last a/c will be a %itch but I just want to power through. 

I felt quite sorry for myself this past week but today I was reading some survival rate stats online....that made me feel much better about seeing this through.  All my habits are so much better than they were a year ago and my stress is far lower, so I am feeling like it will all be OK.  I also feel like having a dietary and supplement strategy for the final a/c might really help me get through it.  On the day of treatment, I almost have to gorge myself on bland foods to keep the yuvky feeling away.  Anybody else who's had to keep her system loaded like that the first couple of days?  ug  Just one more of those nasty treatments.....one more.

re: 12 weekly taxol: For anyone interested, I found an old thread on this site about the 12 weekly taxol regimen.  If you search "12 week taxol" you should see it.  It was a very helpful thread about the weekly taxol experience.  Apparently leg heaviness and twitching is common.  I bought a supplement to treat that today in anticipation.  An annoying neuropathy seems to be quite common too.  Other than that, there were many reports of fatigue.  Over all, most everyone, including the nurses at my clinic, seems to say it is easier than the a/c.  Hallelujah.     

re: hair:  at first I made myself believe I was attractive bald.  I am not feeling that way anymore.  I have quite prominent bones in my face and I feel like my head is just a bald bone sticking out of my neck.  I guess 'uncomfortably naked' describes the feeling.  I am lucky that I like the wig especially because I bought it online and it was a cheap.  I've taken to wearing it to bed.  I had major scalp sensitivity when my hair was falling out but that is gone, for now at least.  I seem to have some peach fuzz up there.  Haven't lost any facial hair yet.  

Happy Valentines Day everyone.  Hope that has brought some light to us all and that everyone is OK today.  

 

Lisa1964

Hi Ladies.  Sorry to bust in on your thread (I had my last chemo Feb 9th).  But as I was scrolling down to my thread I saw the screen name Yearofthehat and I just had to comment.  What a great name!!!! That sums it all up!.  I realize you ladies have just started, but it will be over before you know it - trust me.  Less than a year really, without hair, and it will be all behind you!

Love that name!

ddlatt

hi everybody - well, the third AC and neulasta kicked my ass. felt like total crap the day of treatment and for the next three days. i don't know how in the world those of you who work and/or take care of children do it!  i live alone, work at home, my kids are grown (my youngest, who is 28, lives down the street and is my guardian angel), and i basically did absolutely nothing for four days - can't imagine having to deal with anyone or anything while feeling that lousy. today, day 4 after treatment, i feel pretty good. i have one mouth sore - yuck. and i can't stand being bald. when i look in the mirror it really hits me what we all are going through. i have to remember it's the chemo doing this, not cancer. these side effects will go away! i have one more AC, then four taxols. will be finished at the end of april. 66 more days. 1584 more hours.  i never want to go through this again. just thinking about the chemo room, the fluorescent lights, the weird energy in that place, the nurses who are scurrying all over the place, the horrid smell of the microwave crap that they serve to people for lunch, that damn huge red AC syringe, the long ten minutes it takes for the push, scared to death of infiltration, watching the clock every second i'm there - i've always been such a positive person, but this has gotten to me. bad dreams about chemo almost every night since my diagnosis. i really admire all of you who have had worse symptoms than i've experienced - we'll be through with this eventually!

ladyjane54

We will be thru this eventually.  Famous last words.  Does seem as if we are all getting sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I have had a fairly good week so I am feeling really sorry for those who have been dealing with extra crap this week.  I have number 4 ac this thurs. and then I am half way through.  I keep focusing on that.  half way half way half way.....

Be kind to yourselves this week.  We deserve it.

Patti

sweeeeetpam

Hi Everyone,

                     As you all know I had a very bad down weekend last weekend, even if you are tired if you keep your mind busy and your body busy I think it will help, I am off to a interview, even thou I already know I prperly am not going to take it............but it gets me out of the house, and then off to a nial appt. even thou the nurses said my nails will turn BROWN and fall off well,,,,,,,,,,,them because my will at least be pretty as they turn brown and fall off!!!

                 Ist taxol was thursday could not sleep, I don't do good on sleeping pills only 4 more to go ddlatt you and I seem pretty close on treatment, except I have no side effects except hair.

       Someone mentioned eating all of the time, I have never stopped, one minuete after I am done with a meal, I am already thinking about my next meal!!!! Insane.

           Well I have to run will properly check in tomorrow, love to all of you and hope your s/e go away!!!  Pamela 

Renrel

I am doing well this round.  I am day 5 and feel my energy coming back a bit.  I finally feel like posting on line again.  DS and DH have both been sick so I am trying to be extra careful about had washing and stuff and about letting myself rest so my body can deal with fighting the germs as well as the chemo and the neulasta. 

I am making it a point to put on my make up everyday day even if all I plan to do is go back to sleep.  It really helps to look in the mirror and see a pretty face under a hat or scarf.  Bald and bare faced is still hard to take.  I also find that I like my more outragous hats and scarfs.  They make me feel stronger I guess.  

The winter is starting to thaw out here in Boston.  I noticed the days getting a bit longer even before the snow started to melt.  The Charles is flowing instead of a being frozen solid.  The sun is out.  This give me hope.  I am 1/6 though, which sounds like nothing, but in 2 weeks when I do TX #3, I will 1/3 through, and that sounds like something. (I don't feel I am through a treatment till the start of the next one, infusion is not the hard part in my mind it is the after effect I need to get through).  

I have been reading a wonderful book called Kitchen Table Wisdom Stories that Heal, by Naomi Remen, MD. I think I mentioned it before but I am really enjoying it so I wanted to plug it again.  

DH got an e-mail today that his company is going to a 4 day work week.  So finances are going to get tougher.  I am still getting full pay, but I have exhausted my sick time and an now using up my vacation time.  I should be going back to work part time in the next week or so but I want to save some of my vacation time for after this is all done.  I was hoping that I could work maybe 15 hours a week and use vacation time to make it to half time (18.75 hr a week) so that I would continue to get benefits but not a full pay check and hold onto some of my leave time.  Not sure how that will work now.  I should call my Long Term Disablity company and see how my claim is coming. I took way to long in getting the paper work in.  I still need to forward some papers from my HR department that I got in the mail late last week. 

BerkeleyKim

Hi all:

Well--3rd day after last AC and today is better than yesterday. Day after tx was fine, then  yesterday just rested with sister in town and body hurt like after the 1st tx when I had the neulasta shot, which I haven't had since then. More nauseated than before, and taking prescription antacids. I'm eating but just feel numb all over. I've had ringing in my ears for months (even pre-diagnosis) which they don't seem to worry about, but right after tx it gets bad.

why hasn't my leg hair fallen off???

Ddlatt--hope you feel better soon. It took me a bit longer to feel good after #3, but I did after I few days. I had to take Ativan to make it through #4 due to my reaction to the chemo room. I need to do 12 more txs of Taxol, and I hope I can get my mind in a better place. Last tx I hid the AC syringe behind the blankets--maybe that would help.

JillyG--That's horrible--pneumonia on top of everything else and a young child to care for. Hope you get well soon.

SweetPam--a friend of mine just had 12 rounds of Taxol and DIDN'T lose her nails. I've heard tea tree oil is good, and to keep them polished with a nail hardener. But maybe others out there can share their secrets....

Anyhow, sorry not to mention everyone--gotta go lie down. It's storming pretty good out here, and a good day to find a new book to read.

My dd made choc. fudge for valentines day and that was a good treat, although my taste for sweets has pretty much vanished.

lisalisa

Hi all,

I'm starting my "good" week.....the week before my next treatment.  My kids are off school all week for "ski week".  We can't really go anywhere, but I've planned lots of day trips:  to the snow, to the new Imax 3D movie, to the observatory, etc.  

A big rain storm is supposed to hit here tonight so we'll see if that affects our plans.  Off to my son's all star soccer game.  They are in 2nd place in their pool and have to win 2 more games to with the whole thing....we'll see.  He loves it and I love watching him.

Hope everyone has a great week and that SE's are minimal!

stitches

Hello chemo sisters )  I've learned a lot from your posts and so appreciate the input.  Have had second round of six treatments and am also heading into the 'good' time between IVs.  It is SO appreciated!  Am disappointed in all the SEs (32 years ago when having BC chemo, didn't experience so many...but I was much younger).  Don't mind the hair loss - it doesn't make me physically ill.  Grandkids have helped choose some hats, so that has helped with the 'scariness' of having a bald gramma!  My prayers to all of you!  Love from Stitches  (bi-lat mast in Dec)

Renrel

I have been thinking about the semantics of breast canser.  I am trying to remember not to capitalize the words to give them more power.   I read a tip to miss spell canser to take away more of its power, which I am also trying.  I am trying to decide if I want to say "my canser" or "the canser" or some other way of saying it.  "My canser personalizes it, and for me that may be better because I am trying to take something from this experience and thus I do not view the canser as something totally evil.  It is something very very hard to experience.  If I call it "the canser" it has less power over me.  It is something very outside of myself.  They have different effects on how I feel about the illness.  I also refuse to refer to Chemo as poison.  To me it is powerful medicine.  While it may be hard on my body I let it into my life to help me not to hurt me.  If I truely believe it is a poison than I should not  take it into my body.  Even if I just call it a poison because I am angry the name itself I feel will effect how I experience the chemo.   Thinking about this also makes me aware that I have had very little problem taking plenty of other poisons into my body - lots of candy and cookies made with transfats and artificial crap.  Non-organic foods.  Things like that.  While I try to add good health foods to my diet I have never tried very hard to eliminate the bad ones.  I enjoy too many of the too much and even those I don't enjoy that much I find convenient or just emotionally soothing.  Why do I continue to feel the need to eat candies that no longer even taste good too me?  

I have been reading another book called "Waking the Warrior Goddess" which has alot of interesting information about how the way we live our lives effects our risks of bc and other illness.  The author, a doctor, explains an health practice that is something like 5000 yrs old.  She talks about how not only the foods we eat but the way and when and where we eat them effect us.  How in other cultures food is medicine and can put us into or out of balance.  She backs up the pratice with lots of modern day studies.  I am not any kind of scientifc or new age expert but the book is interesting.  She makes a very strong argument for going as organic as possible. 

REKoz

Renrel- Something very strange has happened to this former non believer in everything "organic." I thought I had been eating whatever for so many years and was just fine (ha!) and almost thought of organic as just another way to mislead people and get them to spend more $. Not anymore! I haven't read anything specific, just many different articles, opinions etc. So now that I see where my former thinking has gotten me, I can't help but zero in on the hormones and antibiotics given to the animals. Actually, I had wondered about that due to the increasing amount of young girls developing earlier and earlier. Now, with my bc being 90% ER and PR pos, it's as if a switch has gone off in my brain. I'm not one to easily change eating habits (or any for that matter) but I will no longer buy any diary or meat that is not organic. Veggies not sprayed with pesticides will be next but I can only do so much at a time! Besides, my chemo has me eating nothing but soup, rice (yes, organic) and toast for three weeks of the month. Just can't see how the non organic couldn't have had something to do with bc. I don't think it's the sole reason but I am no longer going to eat something I think may promote it.

Ellen

Alo123

I wish I knew the answer to the whole thing.  I have not eaten meat in forever....never eat much dairy....now I find out  the years of eating soy burgers probabably was not good for me!!!  I have not sprayed with pesticides in over 21 years.....ughhhhh!!!  On the positive side...I am a few days out from Thursday's tx..#2...and feel like it has been so much easier than # 1!!!  I made an effort to walk 3 miles every day btw. #1 and #2...and I think it made a world of difference!!!!.....

2 down.....2 to go!!!!  I think I can do this!!!!!  

PrincessKauai59

Thank you for these posts!  I'm 19 weeks into 24 weeks of chemotherapy, so can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Just got a new book recommended by a woman in my bc support group, "Anti cancer - - a new way of life" byDavid Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD.  http://www.anticancerways.com/

Am just starting to read it but it is helpful to me, so maybe for some of you as well.  -C

YearoftheHat

Lisa1964 - thanks.   My father remarked it to me and I thought it was a good one. 

ddlatt, SweetPam and BerkelyKim, sorry you aren't feeling good.  Hang in there.   

I am 9 days since my last infusion.  I made a chocolate cake from scratch and pulled out my sewing machine today.  I feel normalish.  Tomorrow is my first full day back to work.  I have to be vigilant about not letting them run me into the ground.  They will try but it should be no problem.  I will simply transcend all the BS.  This disease has helped my focus so much, where priorities are concerned.  I'm getting up early to workout.  We'll see how that goes.  I am so wanting to break a major sweat. 

I getting pretty damn good about eating clean.  I am even starting to get acquianted with names of some of the more common carcinogenic additives.  I've even started a campaign to get a localy made buttermilk stocked at my co-op, one without carageenan (nasty stuff).

I had a NY Strip for dinner.  Yum.  

Hope everyone is ready for some good rest tonight.  We are all one day closer to being done.

     

jas_man

I just finished 2 out of my 4 TC treatments and I can say that the 2nd treatment had worst SE than the 1st one. I was nauseous by the 2nd day but nothing would come out! Even when I was asleep, I could feel myself wanting to throw up! I hope the 3rd wouldn't be as bad.

 I finally had my hair really shortened. My stylist didn't want to give me a buzz cut, he instead gave me a Rihanna cut. He wanted to give me "layers" to hide the bald spots so that I could still walk around the house without a scarf/bandanna on.. LOL. I humored him but wished that he cut it a bit shorter because I'm still shedding and I find the strands still too long.

I'm having my wig adjusted tomorrow since I look like Dora the Explorer. My stylist tried to give justice to the wig by giving me a bob cut with layers but it just doesn't fit right! It gets hot and itchy. Sometimes I think I can pull off a bandanna look and just leave the wig at home.

I'm praying the weeks go by quickly. After the 4th treatment, my hair can start growing back. I can't wait! I can't believe I've taken for granted the way we run our hands through our hair, or how we haphazardly tie a ponytail... Hmmm, I truly am obsessed...

I guess this is just my way of coping with BC..  

sweeeeetpam

Happy Monday to everyone,

           I do wish we could just all meet on day we have a great group of women hear and even if we don't remmeber everyones names, we are al in each other's hearts!!! Ok so I have tears in my eyes..................

          I have a GIANT sore on the side of my nose from blowing my nose all the time.........it is pretty scary wonder how long it will take to heal!!

        Thank you for the comment on nails, and someone mentioned leg hair...........I am on my 6th treatment still got my leg hair!!!!!!!

        See you cannot believe everything that you read or hear. I got the job yesterday but it is 130- 730.............right now i am 7-4 I am pretty much in my pj's when I get home so don't think I am going to take it, it is a lot more money..............but I need to get throught these next 6-8 weeks, life will go on money or not Right?? Love Pammie

BevR

Today is day 12 after 2nd Tx---back at work. I only worked 1/2 day last Monday and about 6 hours each on Tuesday and Wed. House bound Thursday-Saturday due to low WBC. Went to church yesterday.

I feel pretty good today, just having trouble focusing! I think we've finished the paperwork for my Sick Leave Bank request and that should give me enough time to get through the treatments and a recovery period. I can request more if I need it.....what a blessing!

Hope everyone has a good week and few side effects! Tx 3 for me is scheduled for Feb. 26....(doing 6 of TAC).

lisalisa

I'm TIRED of breast cancer.  I'm going to go act like I'm "normal" today.  Does anyone else get tired of everyone being worried about you?  seriously.....its nice but annoying at the same time.  I'm still ALIVE.....I don't need everyone to do everything for me!

Yesterday, I was at my son's soccer game.  Between my husband, my inlaws, other parents, etc. people kept asking if I need a drink, shouldn't I sit down, etc. etc.  I don't like feeling like an invalid!!!!

Ugh.  Sorry for the vent!