**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Janet0527

gramof3 - Thanks, I've decided to stop worrying about the Taxol and just see what happens.  My new approach is to just assume I won't have any problems until I do, and do what I can until I can't.  Understanding the possible SEs is good, but worrying about them is a waste of time and energy.

bwbly - My chemo won't wrap up until August either.  Hang in there - the next few months will pass quickly and soon this will all be behind us, too.

Does anyone have a problem where little injustices to your body just don't heal as quickly as normal?  For example, a small cut will just sit there, or in my case my feet are getting beat up from dancing and not recovering like they usually do.  It makes sense, I guess, that my body's normal defenses are just depleted.

7timewinner

Reeney!

Sorry to hear...mine have thinned quite a bit, so I suspect I am right behind you. Especially since I have 3 more Txs to go!

Am I crazy for being excited about having my next treatment this week????????? I have had a major issue with every treatment, and yet I am still excited about doing them. I just want them DONE!

Good luck to all in Tx this week...

Cheers,

Nadine

reeney77

Treatment #3 has been the worst for me. i just cannot wait for this to be over. it will be almost a year of my life taken from me. i'm not letting this crap take any more time.

i cannot wait for my last treatment

i cannot wait to get these stupid expanders out

i cannot wait to have hair

i cannot wait to not be a patient anymore

7timewinner

Reeney:

I agree with all (except expanders, which I do not have). It's getting old!!

Cheers,

Nadine

Mom_of_boys

I'll add another one...

I cannot wait to be viewed, by others, as something other than a patient.

maidmarion

Reeny.... I agree, I am having same Tx as you and Treatment three has been the worst for me too, Just about back to 60% today day 6. 

I was looking forward to number four, last one.....but bloody hell what is it going to be like? Just have to let the fact that it is the last one carry me through I guess!

Missed a lot of posts while I've been out hard to catch up. Ok back to reading......

Julie

Anonymous

 maidmarion  I am on TCx6 , day 10 out from #4.  It took a couple extra days to recoup this last one.  I was much more stiff and sore in the shoulders and neck .  Just think, you're almost done!

MOB :  Pretty exciting game for you yesterday, pitcher thrown out in the first inning!  As for football, I'm a big Buffalo Bills fan , though we haven't had a decent team since your cowboys kicked our butts in the super bowl years of the 90's.  My alternative team has been the eagles since I love watching Donovan McNabb dating back to his college days at Syracuse.

Wow another crazy ending to a Yankees game.  Walk offs , 3 days in a row.

sakura73

Michelle I am sorry to read of your marriage difficulties. I am sure you know that a crisis time is a bad time to make decisions, so perhaps it is just as well you can't do anything about it now. When you come out the other side of all this chemo crap you'll have a clear head and be able to make the decision that is right for you, whatever that decision is. 

bwbly my last chemo is not  until September, so hang in there - there are some of us who'll be with you all the way!

I totally hear you all about not wanting to be a patient anymore. I am soooo over the looks from people. 

But I have to acknowledge that I am so lucky. Apart from a general queasy feeling (which I did not have after first 2 treatments) AC number 3 has been pretty kind  to me. I had treatment on Tuesday, and by Saturday night I had my mojo back in spades and had a very pleasurable evening with DBF.  My brother (who was ostensibly down here to look after me, but got a cold so I looked after him!) thinks the Adriamycin he saw go into my veins was actually red cordial.   I hope noone thinks I am boasting - I know I'm lucky. I send much love to all of you who are having a rougher time. I think of you all often.

ChrisC433

Hi Ladies,

 I am finished with my second Taxol TX.  All went very smoothly.  Still groggy from the Benydryl.  For those having Taxol...it is much better than AC.  Not everyone has a reaction to it...just the luck of the draw.

Hope everyone is doing well...the board is a bit slow!

Chris

Krista

Reeney77 ~ You are not alone!  It happens to most.  Yes it sucks, yes you may want to scream and it's ok.  The brows will come back!  Don't worry....and believe me they come back like bushman eyebrows too!  And overnight!!!!  I promise, there is a light at the end of that tunnel.  Right now it might just look like a tiny little dot but it will get brighter and brighter after each month passes.  Just keep on keepen on!  One foot in front of the other! You have no other choice but to keep on going! 

Kimmom

Chris: I am so glad it went well, only 2 more to go.

I have hair!! My stubby's are growing. It is multi color My DIL says some is dk brown and some are platinum.....what a contrast,  but it's something.

Krista

Kimmom, my hair is finally back to a "normal" state and it's the complete opposite of what I had.  I used to have straight very fine blonde hair.  Never would hold a curl for nothing!  Now I have brown curly hair. And now I have seen this Pepe Le Peu thing going on right in the front with this little stripe of blonde.  My boss noticed it the other day and said something.  I don't know if the sun is just highlighting that one strip of hair or what but it's kind of funky!  

Dawnmrn1

Krista !  How long after chemo did you hair start coming in, and when could you go out withot a wig, I love all the details?  Thanks, Dawn

ann-idiot

Last TC was last Monday. My hair never completely fell out and I have this baby fine tennis ball head which I believe is gray (too thin and short to tell the color) except for this one plum-sized bald spot where I attempted to shave my head with an electric razor but the sound and feeling tweaked me out so I pulled away the shaver and never got the nerve to try again. Wanted to go to salon, but that never happened either. So, now I'm wondering if this bald spot is going to grow out differently than the rest of my head. Does anyone know if shaving your head makes hair grow back faster, slower, curlier or what? Will the non-shaved part grow back closer to the type of hair I had pre-chemo (which was straight) and the shaved circle be super curly? Yikes. Wondering what to do.

Krista

Oh, I never even wore the wig.  It was just to blame hot for me to deal with.  I always wore a baseball hat.  Let's see...my last treatment was the end of June 07 and by I sometime in Sept I went out to dinner one night w/ out my hat.  I had the military cut look going on.  I really still felt uncomfortable without my hat but everyone kept telling me to leave it off.  So I did for that night but I think it was about Halloween when I was comfortable without the hat totally.  Friends kept telling me to use that Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner (ya know the stuff for horses) and it really makes your hair grow.  So I did.  I don't know if it helped or not really but as of right now (not quite 2 yrs after last chemo yet) it's now very close to shoulder length and all curly.  I guess it would be longer if I straightened it out which I have tried a few times and DON'T recommend the look!!!!  ha ha!  I have NOT had it cut yet.  Been too scared to get back into that chair.  But boy it really needs something....the bangs are driven me nuts.  I am trying to let it all grow out to one length and it's in that weird awkward stage! 

crusader1

 Reeny,..I also loved your list. I do not have expanders but need breast reconstruction.

I also can't wait not to be a patient and to have hair.

I long for the days when I went to a couple of doctors a year not a week.

Krista. Thanks for the hair advice. I am going to be patient about my hair growing back in. It's been two weeks since my last TC. I shaved my fuzz to start anew.I think the same fuzz came back. No I will just wait and see.

NYDeb-- How about those Yankees? Three walk offs in a row. Wow Tonight is another game . Lets keep our fingers crossed.

I have a few eyebrows and eyelashes. But that does not compare with no hair.

May all your SE's be doable.

Hugs,

Francine

didle20Diane

Hi everyone....one week almost since my last chemo....I never lost all my hair, I did have to buzz but it started growing back after first tx.  It is almost half an inch.  It isn't bothering me so I am just going to leave it and hope the rest comes in and evens out.

My girlfriend's last chemo of TC x 4 was April of last year and she has a full head, shoulder length a year out. It started growing very fast after the first few months of ending chemo. Hers came in about the same as it was pre chemo.

We will all be different...........but alas, the hair will come back  

hugs

Diane

buddy1

Hi gals.  i have missed 2 treatments so I am 4 weeks behind.  I am starting to get stubble.  i notice the hair on my legs is also starting to grow.

Dawnmrn1

Hi Buddy!  How are you doing?  It's great to hear from you.  It's amazing that the hair starts so fast!  Dawn

buddy1

Thnaks for asking Dawn. I am doing great.  I go back to Oncologist tomorrow.  He will tell me when I can start chemo again.  Probably, other 2 weeks.  But I will be pleading to start earlier.  I want to get this over with.

How are you?  Anything new? 

Love Buddy

Dawnmrn1

Buddy!  I am well!  Had a great day yesterday, my friends walked the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Boston over this past weekend.My daughter and a friend and I picked them up! What an uplifting experience!  There are so many survivors out there. It was awesome to see people finish!  It was a 39 mile walk,sunny and 70 on Sat, and cool and drizzily on Sunday. My friends did great!  One did the whole 39 miles, she is a marathoner and works out daily, she is a mother, wife and airtraffic controller. My other friend is a little over weight and is a couch potato!  She too is a wife, and mother, president of the PTO, and Daycare provider.  They are true friends who killed themselves this weekend for me. We raised $4000. for the walk and a total of $5.4 million was raised by the 2500 walkers. Of  al the walkers my friends were in the Sunday Boston Globe!  I am so proud of these 2!Don't get discouraged about being behind, let yourself heal well before you start the poison again, this too shall pass!  Keep up the great positive attitude!  hugs, Dawn

marshall2000

Dawn: What an awesome walk to inspire all of us and the money raised is outstanding for the cause.

Michelle: My heart goes out to you over your marriage. My 14 yr marriage fell apart while I was in nursing school, at the time I thought my world was ending, but it turned out to the best thing in the end.

Buddy: i am glad you are doing so well, good luck with restarting chemo soon, you hairy legged girl you.LOL

Funny thing happened to me yesterday: i was at the hospital visiting my mom, i had gone outside to smoke (i know, i know, i am trying to quit) anyway it was sunday, i was dressed in old comfy jeans and a harley davidson t-shirt, didn't feel great and didn't have any type of head covering on, i work there so everyone is already used to my rockin the bald look, so there were these ladies looking at me like was the scum of the earth or something nasty they had stepped in ,they didn't politely quit staring oir look away after a minute like what usually happens, they just kept sneering at me, well it pissed me off and i was in a mood anyway, so instead of saying something about chemo, i walked right up to them,stopped,

 and said a little loudly "ICE CREAM HAS NO BONES"  and then just turned around and kept on walking, the looks on their faces was priceless, and am sure they thought a was truly deranged then and i don't even care, at least it gave them something honest to talk about, LMAO

to everyone i haven't responded to yet, i hope you are blessed with wonderful days, minimum side effects, and peace of mind   Love, Michelle

Janet0527

LMAO at Michelle's story.  I was at Walmart the other day looking at plants in their garden center, outside in the parking lot, wearing jeans, a tank top, and a black bandana.  Some dude walks up to me and asks me what kind of bike I have.  LOL.  I told him I have my motorcycle license (true), but no bike yet (true, too), and just left it at that.  Next time I'll have a better answer.    Michelle, you are one funny girl. 

ann-idiot

Michelle, I hereby dub you my new favorite super-hero of the day 

sakura73

Michelle you totally rock!! Well done for having the nerve to do that.

Francine thank you for the nice comment about my photo. 

ann idiot I was told shaving the weird stray hairs does help the new hair come in faster. But I suspect we are all different.

Dawnmrn1

Michelle!  You are something! I'd love to see those Little Old Ladies!  You are Living your Life! You Go Girl! Dawn

jdeking

Michelle that was a great comeback! It will give those biddies something to talk about for months! lol

 Dawn that was inspirational, thank you for sharing! Your friends are extra special!

MichelleSJ good to see you, and sorry to hear about your marriage. I hope it all works out peacefully for the 2 of you.

Treatment #5 was the worst so far, I hate to say. I vomited for 14+ hours straight, got dehydrated, had to go in for 2 bags of fluids, a bag of steroids, and 2 more anti-nausea IV meds. My poor nurse.... she had an antiseptic smell and every time she came near me I puked. I felt bad for her, but worse for me!  I just have no idea how I am going to make myself go back for #6. I just can't even think about doing it all over again... it makes me queasy just considering it! I wonder if 5 treatments is just as effective.....??? I know it is "just one more" I just don't know if I can do it. Sigh.

 Ladies, I so look forward to the days when all of this is a distant memory. I am so grateful for all of you who can truly understand what it is to go through this battle. You are all my superheroes!

Janine

crusader1

Janine- Sounds like you had a real rough time with TX 5. I guess you will have to talk to your doctor about what suggestions he has to make 6 more tolerable. This will soon be a distant memory but while we are going through it , it just seems so hard. Stay Strong..I guess it is easier said than done..You know this is  the place where we all listen and care about you. Keep complaining..Yes we are all warriors in this battle.

Michelle- You really kicked butt...

Buddy- Hope all goes well at your doctor..I know you are so anxious to get back on the chemo track..

Diane- I shaved my fuzz last week and new fuzz is growing back. I know I will definitely not be one of the first to post pictures of me with hair. Whatever...

I am going to a lecture at my Gilda's Club  this evening on Aromatese Inhibitors.Tomorrow my oncologist will talk about which I should take ..Good timing..

Have a great day all..Easy SE's

Hugs to all..

Francine

Mom_of_boys

Michelle... Way to go, girlfriend!!!

Buddy... Hoping you get back on course SOON!

Janine... Have had you on my mind lately.  I am so sorry for the really bad SEs this time.  14 hours is a very long time.  I hope and pray that each day is better for you. 

ccbaby

I know everyone keeps talking about hair on our thread, but how is everyone's toenails and fingernails holding up? I have read on different threads on here about women having problems the more we get into the treatments. My fingernails are growing really good and I have no problems with them, my toenails are growing too, but I have noticed my big toe on the left is a little sore and I think I have a very small spot of fungus on it. I have been soaking in vinegar/water all week to help it and been putting on some anti-fungal. I don't want it to get bad.