MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

JeanH

Not afraid- I can related to the not being able to make any long term plans. It seems to be the status quo for the first 6 months of this disease at least, first the wait for surgery and recovery and it's impact, then the wait for chemo and it's impact, the rads then....I am accepting every meeting fromfebruary until may as tentative, it is making me crazy. I am trying accept that I will not be able to do it all will need to slow down and concentrate on healing, great advice but still hard to register and come to terms with.



Meece, not getting a port because MO says they prefer to start without one and only use when medically necessary. I have good veins now, worried what they will be like by the 8th infusion.



Sherry I am glad you found an MO you are comfortable with, I am not 100% sure on mine yet, know he is good, but felt rushed on first visit, asked me how many questions I had. Will see how next visit goes, everyone has a bad day so maybe that was it. Other than that I liked him, but that was a big question for me. It was what people warned about with big cancer centers but have not experienced it before this.



That challenger image was heartbreaking at the time, we we all so excited to see a teacher going up in space and then to watch the explosion...Numbing.



Good luck Carol.



Jo keeping fingers crossed for good results. Glad scans were not too bad.



Wig shopping tomorrow, should have booked a friend earlier for a second opinion but may be better on my own.



Hugs to all.



Jean

Eph3_12

JeanH-just for FYI the Amercian Cancer Society in your area should have wigs free of charge.  I went in there and tried on a bunch & came home with one very similar to hair at the time.  I never ended up using it, but then again, I wasn't out any $$ for a brand new wig.  Granted it wasn't real hair, etc., but if nothing else, maybe you could try on wigs at ACS and get an idea of what you might like before you spend $$ on one.

JeanH

Thanks Joni, I have been torn on the wig but decided since I am going to try and go to office thru this will need one, especially for meetings with people that do not know. I figure it will let me escape for a little while. I have scarves and hats at the ready as well. Will see what ACS has as well.

Sandeeonherown

Jo - Can you bring someone with you who will keep you supplied in kleenex and hugs? I brought my mp3 player with me and played it loudly when I had to lie still for radiation...it could work for your tests too. Put inspirational music on or send me an address and I will send you a copy of my 'radiated mama's' cd I put together for radiation days....Tell them you are afraid of ivs and they will give you something...think about which veins work best and start there. They can never get an iv in my arm or take blood out from there so I say immediately "just put it in the top pf my hand where you have a usable, big vein!)...

Jean H, Notafraid - I understad the waiting game...clipped my wings for awhile...stopped me from going to San Deigo for a week at December because I was not sure if radiation would be finished on time....I plan on going away for a few weeks in April because I know I have a radiologist appointment in March and then my 6 month mammogram and check in in June....but I feel like my life is completely on hold...live it fully until June when I will know if I can continue to live it fully or have to go through this W$$#^^ again!...I have decided ot make a conscious decision every single day to enjoy the next 6 months fully, to eat well, exercize, lose some weight, deal with my lopsidedness and be grateful as much as possible....and to try not to worry....and when I do worry, I have promised myself that I will not wallow alone,,,,,I will come to breastcancer.org and let it out instead. Seems to be working for me as I feel stronger in the past 3 weeks since I joined this site than I have in all the months previously combined!

jo1955

sandeeonherown - Once the IV was done and I calmed down the rest was easy.  I was surprised that I slept through most of it.  The CT scan was so quick I did not have time to do anything - which was good.  I did get warm blankets in both places - I swear the people working there must be Eskimos - the rooms are so cold.  Now just waiting for test results on Friday.

heartnsoul76

sandee - another great plan from you! I love the way you think all this stuff out, because I am so ADD - I try to think things through and then I get lost in my thoughts, so I use your stuff! Not only is cancer a complicated subject, it is quite a complication in our lives!

Jean - I was surprised how much the chemo slowed me down, but the younger ladies (I'm 55) seemed to be able to make it to important functions when they were going through it. I feel like I barely survived it, but I'm probably a little over-dramatic (or so some say - haha).

But no matter what, if you are getting Taxotere or Taxol, make sure you keep bags of ice or frozen peas on your fingernails and toenails. Some places accommodate you nicely when you're bringing in that extra stuff and some make you feel like you're a burden on them (the 2nd was mine, but I did it anyway). I never had any problems with my toenails or fingernails! It was worth the trouble to me because the thought of my nail raising up off the bed just grossed me out too much. I figured I would feel bad enough without having to deal with anything that I could actually prevent. And those 2 chemos can cause neuropathy in your extremities, so I took acetyl-l-carnitine supplements (2 500 mg daily) and never had trouble with that, either. Plus, I continued the supplements for about 2 months after I was through. And that's all I know about that!

Elimar - what a GREAT picture, but WTH? I wonder what that was all about - a photo shoot? the weather was hot? It's hilarious!

Oh, HAHA! Never mind - I get it! I've seen that before and it fooled me again. What does Gomer say? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! 

Sandeeonherown

Jo1955...we will be awaiting with you to hear of your results..in the meantime, since there is nothing else ot be done for now, keep your mind out of 'waste thoughts" (ie. the stuff we have no control over that just sucks the life out of us) and plan something good for you..a massage? facial? dinner with a good friend?...Thursday sounds like the perfect time to distract yourself!

heartsoul76...yeah, I am a fixer....and it is often sooo much easier to see solutions to problems hat are not our own, hmm? that objective viewpoint...my nails have become quite brittle...went for a manicure last Saturday and htat helped me feel better..but think some gelatin or this glycerine stuff I am taking for sleep will help...what is with the nail bed thing???EEEH!

barbe1958

Those are the STOOLS they are sitting on! Too funny!

JeanH

Hearts,

Thank you I'll check on both suggestions, I'm 52 and already feel achy at times so a bit worried about all the Se from treatment. Looking at the January 2011 chemo board the range of reactions is quite wide. I am going to a nutritionist on Monday to see what she suggests changing to make this easier to deal with.



Jean

jo1955

Sandeeonherown -Work right now is busy so that is a good distraction.  I have been doing some hand quilting on a quilt for someone who has been my angel during this journey.  She keeps me focused and on track.  I plan on giving it to her on my one year cancerversary.  That won't be until Aug but I have a lot of detail on it to do.  I live and work in a 55+ "snowbird" park and there is a dance on Wed night that I am looking forward to.  My DH does not dance - has 2 left feet and stays home.  That is okay - the music is country and I love to line dance.  Great exercise.  So, I don't think I will have too much trouble getting through this week.  Of course, the blasted pain in there all the time to remind me but I try my best to ignore it and go on.

Will post results when I get them. 

jo1955

Elimar - OMG!  Just noticed the pic at the top - how funny.

Sandeeonherown

Jo1955...sounds like you have a good plan for the week...stay busy, stay focused and distract your thoughts so that they do not go 'there' this week. The line dance sounds like a hoot (kind of like the community dances we have in cape breton which I take our sudents to whenever we are on school trips)...I did some dancing when I was in Dallas....fascinating!

marlegal

Eph, that was hysterical    I hardly ever send "blast" emails, but I sent that link to my whole BCO chat group!

heartnsoul76

Jean - that's a great idea to talk to a nutritionist. The only thing my onc emphasized was to get plenty of protein and drink lots of water. The range of reactions is SO different, but so are the oncs and their treatment plans. Ask your nutritionist what she thinks about eating foods high in antioxidants, too. Some oncs don't like that because they think it may interfere with the effect the chemo has on the cancer cells.

sandee - we're lucky to have a fixer here! I, for one, do not have enough fixers in my life - I think they're ALL ADD! 

marlegal

Jean, about not getting a port .. how do YOU feel about that? It's your decision, and I for one think a port is the best way to go. We all have to make our own choices, but I felt so bad when I was doing chemo and would see many others in the infusion room having trouble with the iv's. It is in the end your choice, not the doctor's ... and I just hope you got all the info you need to make that choice.  I was 50 when doing chemo, and I was able to work through it.  I had my tx's on Thursdays and my se's hit Sat/Sun.  So I'd have that one day every 2 weeks out for the actual infusion, but didn't miss time otherwise.  Once I got to rads, I was very, very fortunate that they let me work from home, quite feasible for my job, and I had my tx's at 9:00 in the morning, was home by 9:30 and worked the rest of the day from home.  Toward the end of rads, I worked a short schedule because I did have fatigue issues, but was back to work full time within a month of ending rads.  I'm not saying this is normal, or what you should aim for ... only saying that it's possible, and that it's up to you, not articles or hearsay or anyone else, to decide how you react to treatment.  All my very best wishes and vibes for an easy course.

marlegal

Sandee, I love your attitude   And you're right - come here and let it out whenever and however often you need to.  This site, both on the boards and in the chat rooms, was my sanity 5 yrs ago. Nails - mine still are crappy unfortunately. I console myself by thinking that the chemo that left so many reminders...the nails, the uneven eyelashes one eye to the other, the memory issues .... I figure if it was powerful enough to do all that and have it last 5 yrs later, then it must have kicked the shit out of any remaining cancer cells in my body

Eph3_12

marlegal-Now, THAT'S a great way to look at it.  Adopting effective now!

marlegal

re: comments about food during treatment - my oncologist was the head of the research department at a teaching hospital and was very specific about NOT eating anti-oxidant foods because of their interaction with chemo, so yes - anyone getting ready for chemo - please talk with your docs or nutritionists about that issue and make sure they have latest info available.

marlegal

Joni, if a post of mine helps you, that makes me happy, cause I've been loving your posts for a very long time

jo1955

                                     

Sandeeonherown

Marlegal...thanks for the kudos!! Attitude is 90% or reco very from anything I think...can't always stay in the moment but doing my best to fill those moments with things  like to do and people I like to do them with.

Marlegal , I was also told very firmly by the radiation and oncology nurses NOT To take and supplements that work as anti-oxidants (like vit C, Vit A, vit E...what else was I not allowed to take...my adrenal gland support?) the idea is for the rads to break things apart and zap the $%$%& out of those cancer cells...antioxidants anre trying to repair the damage so...its counter productive. So leave the carrot juice in the fridge for ano hour ...it'll be there where you are finished rads and ready to fight from the inside again afterwards...I also avoided them for the two weeks post rads since I was told  the work in your body carries on for a couple of weeks.

In my mind, I see a little hollywood set up of gamers...all sitting in theatre rows zapping cancer cells as they go by and spraying my innards with 'just in case' ammo...I am not a violent person and rarely watch stuff like that on tv...never play games..but this image it sowkrin gfor me.. I figure raditaion needs a bit of internal helpers to get 'er done!

BarbaraA

Howdy gals, I'm back! What an experience. It was exceptional. Here are a few pix.

barbe1958

Georgeous!! Well done!!

jo1955

The dress is gorgeous - so glad you had a good time.  I'm jealous - my cruise sets sail in 76 days but who is counting.

BarbaraA

HooRay for you Jo! I counted the hours, too.

jo1955

Gotta start planing the shore excursions.  I definitely want to snorkel in Cozumel.  We have done that before and it is so much fun.  This will be cruise #7 so it will be a no brainer when it comes to packing.

Paula66

Thanks Marle I was going to search www for some tips, but I will for sure talk with doc first.

barbe1958

I've heard: Pack your suitcase with what you think you need. Now take out 1/2!!! I've never had the guts to try, but still would always come home with un-worn clothes, so it must be right.

jo1955

barbe - Even though I consider myself an experienced cruiser, I always come home with unworn clothes.  You really should give it a try - it is loads of fun.  The best part is no housework, cooking, dishes - they do everything.  All you gotta do is have fun.

NativeMainer

I am so envious!  Maybe someday I'll get myself dug out of the financial hole the beast dug me into and I can go on vacation again.  I went on some cruises and loved them, need to look into doing that again some day.