Starting Chemo February 2009?

apple

just a bit of day in the life...

i've had multiple makeovers and manicures by my Mexican (i guess they are cousins) female relatives.. my eyes are stunning. my fingernails will probably come off now.

there sure are a ton of relatives here. 5 siblings of Beth and their spouses. 5 kids and their spouses and their 14 offspring.. 6 brothers and sisters of her dad, my father in law.. 3 sundry friends of the family in from wherever, about 10 neices and nephews (daughters and sons of her siblings)..

in my house i have one family of 5 from Mexico and one family of four from Denver... still sleeping. i had a dinner for everyone last nite. .. 40 or so people.  Fortunately my neighbor had just smoked some meat for us (already planned and wonderfully timely) .. we made 'tacos' with grilled hot peppers, pico de gallo, the meat and home made tomatillo sauce... as well as many sides.

today is the funeral and wake.. i bet 500 people will come.. Beth was so remarkable..


one thing that Beth did that was uber remarkable was go down to Mexico and find the illegitimite boys her sons fathered and make them adopt them legally - one of their mothers died about 8 years ago and the other abandoned the son because he was too white... they both lived in Vera Cruz or nearby. It was remarkable that Beth found them - she made several trips. they are in my house as i speak.. Billito (little Bill) and Emiliano.. she was a very cool woman

MRSROCKYTOP55

Annette and Judy, thanks for all the information.  Here is Costa Rica they do the labs two day before treatment so I won't have to add that time on, but it still sounds like it will take longer than A/C did.  Hope things go well with you all.  God Bless, Kathy

susan13

Nana-Thank you for the info on carbs.

Kerry-I didn't think nausea was a SE from rads either, but supposedly it can be. And low and behold I got it.  I even had to take my Zofran last nite.  Today I'm ok so far.  As far as swimming and rads and being out in the sun, I was told during rads and for an entire year afterwards do not have the skin that was radiated exposed to rads cause you can get a very VERY bad burn! So I'll be on the beach this summer with a t-shirt on, and hopefuly NOT a wig!  My hair is coming in, but it's very thin.  It's coming in entirely different then it did when I lost it on the AC.  Darn Taxotere... stuff was toxic!  My nails are now more discolored then the last time I mentioned, and some of them now seem to be lifting from the nailbed.

Apple-sounds like you are surrounded by great people.  I'm sure you are all comforted to know that so many people loved your sisinlaw, she sounds like she was a wonderful woman.

Sue

Jaimieh

Susan~ Hang in there I think within the next couple weeks you will have enough hair and you will be talking about going topless   It's coming.  BTW, I here you on the taxotere being toxic.

Apple~ I am hoping that you are taking care of yourself today ((Bighugs))

KerryMac

Well, I'm a bit pissed off, as my Rads mapping has been put off a week. The machine is down for servicing apparently. So, it's next Thursday. I hope it doesn't put my start day off. I want to get going as fast as I can. But, at least if it is delayed, I get some more "nothing" time in the next few weeks.

Sue - yah for your hair growing! I think I have some fuzz actually, i think it started growing on the Taxatore. But you are right, it is toxic stuff. As long as it is being toxic to cancer, I won't complain! I am still so achey. That might be the neupogen too maybe. 

I've just been around to a friends house, we had the kids running around outside. Felt nice and normal. Here's to more of that! 

gcpommom

Kerry:  I'm just the opposite, maybe because I live in Michigan, but I like lakes (the ones with sandy bottom, not seaweedy/mucky).  I am nervous in the ocean (been there once), because of the things I can't see that can bite me!  Sorry your rads mapping is put on hold; hopefully you won't have to delay tx. 

Jaimie:  oh no, not mouth sores   I can totally relate, and hope the maalox helps.  I've read about adding an equal amount of liquid benedryl to the maalox (that's also in the 'magic mouthwash').  Not sure what the benedryl does to help, though.  All I know is that after using my magic mouthwash all day yesterday and today, my sore hurts more!  Go figure.

Apple:  hope you are doing ok

I'm subbing all day tomorrow, and am nervous about all those germ-filled kids!  I forgot to get my bloodwork report yesterday, so I have no idea where my counts are right now.  I know my WBC has been dropping each week.

Grace4me

YEA Yippy I am done with chemo!!!   My DH  and I dressed up and brought goodies for the iv staff, had planned on going out for dinner, but I just am not up to it today. My h&h and potassium is low again, but I'm so happy inside for my hope is that when I get my strength back after this one, I will just keep getting stronger and hopefully my life back! I don't have to see my Onc until the end of June to discuss hormone therapy.....my exchange surgery is June 2nd.....I am so glad to be over chemo....my onc said that I fell into the 1% of people who have the worst of the side effects....but i was strong enough to survive, (yea I am crying again). Hang in there we are all almost over this.

Jaimieh

WHOOOO Grace!!!  Onward to feeling better and your exchange surgery is right around the corner.....   Now concentrate on getting well after this round   I am soooo happy for you. 

Okay so who ends next ?? 

datadrudge

Kerry - so sorry about your sister-in-law and your friend. I listened to his music --he was very talented. While your family sounds wonderful, I don't know how in the world you are handling house guests while going through chemo! Sometimes drooling was my high-energy accomplishment...just kidding, but the hole is no joke. I hope you were able to sneak away and take naps!

All - Hot flashes were waking me up every night and I was taking 1/2 ativan at night to get any sleep. I started taking Tamoxifen last week right before I go to bed and I have been sleeping through the night. Positive SE or coincidence? -I don't even care which! Still lots of hot flashes, but apparently I am sleeping through them.

Got a what I think is a good book from the library: Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schrieber, MD, Phd A well-researched, well-written book by a physician (Clinical psychiatry) who has been dealing with brain cancer for some time and decided to share his research and personal experience.

Hugs to all! Starting to feel better ... fuzz is coming in...

gcpommom

My MIL just called in hysterics....my BIL died in her basement tonight (that's where he lived).  Don't know what happened  yet; my husband is on his way to her house.  The poor woman, this is her second son to die in her house.  He was 56 yrs old, I've known him since he was 28.   

2009 has been the worst year ever.  I used to say that it can't get any worse, but fate keeps proving me wrong, so I'm not gonna say it anymore. 

Judy

jrgolomb

I am so sorry you are having a difficult time , Judy. 

KerryMac

Oh no Judy, that is just terrible news. Let us know what happened and how everyone is once you know more. Is it your Husbands brother? You are right - it seems like terrible things just keep happening to your family. Hope you are all holding up OK.

KerryMac

Grace - yah for you! Enjoy getting your strength back. It was a long haul but you did it! Take it easy for the next few weeks, then you can enjot your summer! Well done!

MicheleS

{{{{{{Judy}}}}}}

{{{{{{Apple}}}}}}

I've been really, really busy (and really, really tired) so I havent posted in a few days.  Congrats to those ending and lots of thoughts and prayers for those still trudging along.  I'm off to chemo this morning (and I''ve already barfed once while packing up my bag... uggghhh...).

Jaimieh

((bighugs)) Judy~ I am so sorry to hear about your loss :

 Michele~ No more puking (bighugs).  I hope chemo is kind to you and you don't puke anymore. 

My mouth is just one big sore my tongue has a huge ulcer in the middle of it   This is the second time that the mouth sores have reared their ugly head.  It seems to be caused by fevers that I keep running.  grrrr...

MicheleS

Jaimeih~ Thanks... It is a conditioned response now... not really nauseated but these triggers just cause gagging and barfing.  It is more annoying than anything esle at this point.  Thaks for reminding me about mouth sores.  I had them with "AC" and my mom (a rad onc nurse!) mixed up a mouth rinse with equal parts salt and baking soda in warm water.  I think you put in as much as will disolve.  There's also a perscription called Caphasol (sp?) which she brought me samples of.  They use it on people getting radiation to their mouths (ouch!).  That helped a lot too.  Mouth sores suck.  I have a smll one right now but after what happened to Judy, I'm not showing it to anyone before my chemo!!!

Jaimieh

I am doing my best to get rid of them before May 18 because they will not tell me no because of a mouth sore.  They haven't in the past but I keep telling them they only have one more shot a getting TC in me.  My PA just give me the magic mouthwash RX which was expensive and it only works at numbing the area for a short period of time.  This is only the second time that I have had them but I woke up this morning and they are bad.  11 days to get rid of them and hopefully have a couple of feeling normal days so I am ready for TC. 

I had a breakdown last night on my poor DH.  I was complaining because it's not like you get your last treatmet and then you are done you still have to get thru the SE's afterwards.  I was sobbing and I know that everyone goes thru it but I was in a pity party for me again   Needless to say I am thinking about getting the effexor filled because these pity parties are horrible. 

I gotta get the kids to school and then maybe the retail therapy that I will be doing will make me feel better.  The best part is it's retail therapy that needs to be done so guilt free

gcpommom

thanks, ladies....Right now it appears that my BIL had a heart attack.  He lived with my MIL, who is now 82 yrs old....I hate the thought of her living alone at her age.  This is the second time one of her sons has died in her house, in the same room, and she is the one to find them, that must have been soo terribly hard for her.  I cannot even imagine.   

lol, Michele, that's how I feel now, too.  Like I'm not going to tell them anything unless it is really important.  Although, the sore actually got worse even with no chemo this week, and honestly I would NOT want any more of them.

Grace:  congratulations on being done!!!!! 

Judy

susan13

Judy-Sorry about your BIL.

Kerry-I hear about equipment problems alot.  I had it happen once so far, but thankfully they were able to resume my treatment on that day.  When is your scheduled start date and how many will you be having?  Sounds like you are back on the normal train... wohoooooo!

Grace-Big congrats on being done. Now you need to take the next few weeks and really rest!

So my med. onc. told me this morning the nausea I'm experiencing now during rad. treatments is because I am coming off of the chemo on top of having the radiation.  So I am taking a Zofran half an hour before my rad treatments and we'll hope that does the trick.  I don't think this will happen to everyone... just the unlucky ones!   My WBC is starting to dip a little also, but right now nothing too major, not as low as chemo got it.

Hang in everyone.
Sue

Artemis

Hi, Furies ~
It's taken me awhile to get caught up, and wow!  Sounds as if most of you are really going through it!  Big, big hugs to those who've lost family members and friends, are having nausea/pain/cancelled treatments and for just whatever.  *group hug*

Tuesday was my last day of chemo ~ hurrah!!  I didn't take any pictures, but I did take a big tin of mini candy bars for the nurses and a basket of candy for the other patients.  It was such a relief to be finished!

I have an appointment with the surgeon next week, and I am dreading it like anything.  I do not, do not, DO NOT want my boobs cut off.   Plus, I'm undecided about reconstruction, and I know I'll have to make that decision very soon.  I really hate all this junk.  I really do.

Oh, and my onc told me that I'll have rads after surgery.  He'd never mentioned that before, and I was hoping I wouldn't be invited to that party, but alas...

Hugs to all,
Artemis

KerryMac

Hey there Artemis - I had just been thinking of you! So happy you are done, it is a big relief for me knowing I am not having to go back in, in a couple of weeks.

When is your surgery planned for? I couldn't imagine having to go through that right now, I hope you get a bit of a break. It was easier for me chopping off my boob when I hated it and I could feel the cancer. I couldn't bear to look at it, so it wasn't too hard to get rid of it!  I only had one off, but I have no reconstruction. You can always do it later if you are undecided. My Surgeon thought it would be easier on me just to concentrate on getting through treatment, and if I want recon later I can always do that.

It doesn't look so bad gone, it is just flat. The Surgery was quite easy to recover from too. I was operated on at 8:00am, was home for lunch (really!) I was up the next day, and my husband took me out to the Mall two days later (I was going stir-crazy!)

I will be at the Rads party too! I think a few of us are going on to that new joy. I would rather not do it either, but I guess I gotta do everything I possibly can.

xpectmiracles

Judy, I'm sorry for your loss. Remember we are all here if you need friends.

congrats on finishing chemo Grace and Artemis!

I told my onc about my fatigue yesterday and I had blood work done. It came back just fine-no anemia. So, I asked if what I was experiencing could be peripheral neuropathy. She said maybe it is and prescribed neurontin to see if it would help. I'll let you know if it makes a difference.

I saw my PS today and they are checking on OR availability for my TE exchange!!! New and improved boobies!

MRSROCKYTOP55

Judy, So sorry for your loss.  Hang in there.  Blessings, Kathy

sue50

Hi Furies!!  Woohoo, I had my last Chemo today. Tonight I'm zooming on steroids.

I didn't get pictures but here's Pomp & Circumstance for myself, Artemis, Grace, Kerry and other recent Grads:

http://www.songsforteaching.com/benstiefel2/s/02pompandcircumstancemedium.mp3 

Just imagine it's Apple playing a beautiful organ instead of a lame mp3 clip.... 

Datadrudge:  glad you got a solid second opinion; that's a good feeling. 

Apple, and Judy, so sorry to hear of the loss your SIL and BIL. ((hugs))  <<prayers>> - 

Jaimieh  Sorry you have mouth sores, I used frequent warm salt water gargles and ate a Stonyfield yogurt everyday and that seemed to help. 

Webbie: have you checked into the Lebed Method exercises for Axillary Web/Lymphedema risks? It's a ballet style class with lots of arm/shoulder work; they promote it at Dana Farber for us post mastectomites. I can't make the class but borrowed the video called Focus On Healing/The Lebed Method. Maybe your hospital offers a class? or DVD is available at Amazon.  I still have axillary web cording under my arm and have been lifting light weights a couple times a week, might be helpful;  and want to try this method also.

At this point any moving around I do is a good thing....I must have added 8 pounds during Taxol, ARGGGH!  My jeans are Creaking.

KerryMac

Suye - great to hear you are done. Hope the crash is not too bad. Are you joining the rads train too??

Jaimieh

Sue- Whoooo for being finished I hope your SE are gentle this time.

The sun is finally out here in Maryland and even though I am not feeling well I am getting out today.  I am going to go try and get some more of my gardening done today   I will wear my gloves which drive me bonkers but it's for safety reasons. 

Does anyone have any good remedies for hemroids (I can't even spell it) ??  I have one stinking little hemroid that I can not get to go away.  I just keep reminding my wonderful husband how Hot I am, mouth sores and a sore backside to boot. 

Okay I am making a shirt for my last Chemo and I want to know opinions:  Which should I put on the front:

1. I deserve a lifetime

OR

2. We deserve a lifetime

apple

Jamieh -

"Okay I am making a shirt for my last Chemo and I want to know opinions:  Which should I put on the front:

1. I deserve a lifetime

OR

2. We deserve a lifetime"

how bout f**k cancer?

(just kidding, tres rude..... i suggest 'we'  for the others in your lab)

sue50

Hi again,

Haven't crashed yet, but it's coming. I'm going back to work full time on May 20.

Kerry- I'm starting rads June 1 for 33 sessions, I think you said you start on June 8? Are you staying here or switching to the June Rads group? My appointments are set up for 8 am so I can get to work almost on time, and I can put deodorant on after the appointment. Yay for that, say my co workers..! If I'm coming in a bit late at least I won't be stinky. I was told to get Radiacare gel and Aquaphor for my skin care. How about you?

Also starting on Tamoxifen in coupla weeks. Doc says we gotta keep them hot flashes going, they are so fun (not). 

Jaimieh I vote WE DESERVE A LIFETIME to include your chemo neighbors! great idea.

I sneezed all day yesterday (lots of pollen) and my chemo neighbors kept blessing me. 2 of us were on our last treatments, we were pretty happy. I stood up when my IV monitor said COMPLETE and I couldn't sit down again even though the nurse gave me 15 more minutes to get the last dregs out of the bag. I was So Outta There.   

KerryMac

Sue - I don't know my start date yet because my Mapping was delayed yesterday. I am hoping it hasn't been put off either. I want to get started as soon as possible. I think I will look at joining a rads group as well and still hang out here with my Chemo Buddies, I am always up for a chat!! I am starting tamoxifen too soon, I haven't heard from my Onc, I think I may be seeing her next week. I am getting Hot Flashes, but trying to enjoy them! It means the estrogen is leaving my body, which is a good thing!

Funniest shirt I saw was one that said "You bet they are fake. My real ones tried to kill me" 

susan13

Kerry-I'm starting tamoxifen also. Onc. wanted me to start when I started rads but I asked if I could wait till I am done with one thing to start on another side effect train. He agreed and I'll start in a little over 2 weeks.  I sure hope it doesn't cause my hot flashes to get worse, cause they are pretty bad right now, especially when I am "trying" to sleep.

Happy Mother's Day to all mom's!