MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

firework1068

Amrdbit,

I took Biotin before my cancer dx......didn't notice any huge difference. After chemo when I could resume taking 15,000 mgs a day, I did notice a fuller head of hair. Nothing on the nails.....1 year out from chemo and my large toenail has turned black again!!

If you start Biotin, stick with it. It takes a while to make any difference!

Good Luck and Welcome!

Lorraine

elimar86861

I don't have my city listed, out of privacy for ME, but I am not going to a cancer center that anyone on here is going to, just F.Y.I.

mar,  Please tell me you got 10% off rads treatment for doing your techs work.

BooBeeNone, welcome!  Lumpectomy here, but a few should be by that can comment on your situation.  Keep at the weight loss.  Taking it off slowly is the way to go anyway...more likely to stay off that way.  Eat less, move more.  Boobeedobeedo!   

p.s.  Ooops, I didn't see this page, and you got a couple replies already. 

Also, welcome, Beatmon!  I like that you can wisecrack about your "cleavage."  Laughing ruefully is better than not laughing at all. 

Sherryc

Deb welcome--I did not do chemo but when I started tamoxifen my hair started thinning really badly.  It took a few months before I started noticing a difference.

Eli I sure hope that is correct about what we do on New Year's day is what we do the rest of the year.  I sleep most of the day!!!  I had a bad pancreatitis attach and spent most of the night up.  Learned a lesson in not taking my meds especially when I had fatty foods for dinner. 

Eph so glad your back and that you had a good time.  Too bad all the work on your house is not finished, and kitty getting under the house!

Kathy welcome

Anonymous

Happy New year everyone!......and welcome to the newbies!



Eli, your ratio of competent health care " professionals" sounds about right. I learned when my brother was in the hospital for 7 months with a pancreatic pseudocyst there are Excellent nurses, mediocre nurses, and a few really bad ones.......problem being you can't always count on getting the good ones all the time and you HAVE TO be your own advocate! I have been pretty lucky with my team.....but it's sometimes the luck of the draw.



Speaking of luck.....I'm hoping 2013 is a better year for all of us!

Valjean

Had a wonderful time with the Grandkids for Christmas.

They are such joys....

I sure hope the way I have felt the past two days does not predict my future for this new year. I had a horrible headache. I think it was some cookies I made, baking powder/baking soda one needs for baking but I react to them negatively if too much is in what I eat. The headaches can be excruciating.

Welcome to the new sisters. 

Best wishes to everyone for 2013!

P.S. A couple of years ago after my yearly mamm, the report I received a copy of stated radiation changes on the left breast. Yes, there were radiation changes but on the right breast, NOT the left. Had to notify the office & made sure an addendum was put through & every time since, I make sure it is correct. I had the feeling when I told them the error, they thought I was wrong! This could have been carried through my entire file for years if I had not caught the error.    

Kd6blk

Question, is it just me or does it upset you when you have to wait for the diagnosis and if you call and your report is in a nurse might say, "Your report just came in and the results are troublesome...you can talk to the Doctor tomorrow about a plan." Why do they caudle us? That was what my friend heard today when she called...why not say, yes you have cancer or stage X cancer and we will provide you with all the details tomorrow. I just don't like being treated like I cannot handle it. Any thoughts?

elimar86861

Kd6blk,  Well, you have (maybe) just read that I feel there is a lot of ineptness in healthcare (which somehow seems more tragic than the garden variety that appears in other occupational fields,) so it is hard to tell if that is just one nurse sadistically creating suspense or whether it is some kind of bogus office policy that they handle the calls that way.  I think that by throwing out the tantalizing tidbit that something is "troublesome" and then letting it hang, they are unecessarily torturing your friend.  Either they should have kept it MORE vague, just saying that the results were in and the doctor would go over everything the following day OR they should have told her whether it definitely was or wasn't cancer.

But then from the clinician's point of view, maybe it is damned if they do and damned if they don't...while I would be fine with hearing yay or nay on having cancer over the phone (and I have been given the news that way once, and once was in person,) some people just don't want the cancer bombshell dropped over the phone.  But it's not like it's a guy breaking up with you, now is it?

elimar86861

I hate my saga.  I hate chemo.  I hate my life.  No wait, I love my life.  I want to fight hard for my life.  It's too hard tho'.  I am a wimp.  Or not.

My chemo is stopped.  My rads are stopped.  Not mouth sores.  All troubles are on the other end, troubles that feel like like ground glass and razorblades.  Just because I am descriptive does not mean I am exaggerating (this time.)   I am HUNGRY, but ick, who can eat?  After I lost the first 5 lbs., I was a cancer supermodel; but now after 10 lbs. it's leaning toward the labor camp look.  My doctor (not Mengele, the other one) was of the opinion that it would be a far worse setback to allow me to continue and have me be hospitalized before I finished than it would be to go off treatment for a week a second time.

I had such mixed emotions that, although I feel I MUST stop to get some relief (and some FOOD,) I started to get tearful with a nurse when I also felt that this might let cancer get the upper hand over me.  The doctor (he of the quotable quotes,) said, "We want to kill cancer, we don't want to kill you."

I hate cancer so much. 

luvmygoats

Oh Elimar, I hate it too.  See you've changed the topper to reflect that. (((HUGS)))

sheila888

♥HUGS♥ and more ♥HUGS♥

♥

staynsane

Eli,

Do you ever wonder why a funny, clever, caring person such as yourself has to go through this?  Not that there is an acceptable answer, but I agree with many posters that whomever is in charge should limit this BS to one experience in a lifetime, not multiple.  One experience causes enough character-building for a lifetime, I think.

Sorry to hear of your latest setback.  I cried after I had my cesarean for my first baby and they served me some awful crap for dinner that I didn't order!  Hormones were flowing then, and even with those diminishing I don't know what I would be doing in your situation.  Crying, screaming, punching...

May tomorrow be a better day.  Hugs...

barbe1958

elimar, cancer SUX. You got that right. Gentle hugs to you, sweetie!! Does a liquid diet help you at the other end? More gentle when it leaves??

kd6blk I don't think a nurse is qualified to give a cancer diagnosis over the phone. What if she did and then someone went and jumped off a bridge? That's why we have follow-up appointments. It was STUPID of her to say troublesome, but my own doctor used that very word when he called me. He said - and I felt like he was reading a quote - that the results were "troublesome for cancer". Interesting use of her word compared to my docs own word, so I think it's a technical useage. Hold your friend tight!! They should also get her an appointment ASAP!!!!!!! She should have said, "The results are in and I know you want the answer quick, can you come in tomorrow?" Wouldn't that have been perfect?? I judge how bad the results are by how fast I get in to see the doc. So a quick apointment isn't good news. So by putting the quick appointment back onto your friends needs, it takes the direness out of it. Am I making sense of ANY of this?????

marlegal

Eli, your comment about me getting 10% off my rads was worth a good chuckle and that's about it As for your latest "I didn't ask for a break" break from chemo, I hate that you have to do that, but I'm glad your doctor (not Mengele...liked that too) is at least paying attention to you and trying to keep you comfortable while killing the cancer. I don't envy the good docs having to make those decisions. I just hope the break doesn't go on too long, and that once you and the fiend bag are reunited, the remaining course of your treatment concludes without incident. Gotta keep crossing those days off the magic calendar till it's time to look at all this in the rear-view mirror.

Since I don't know where you live, I couldn't give this guy the address. He was so hoping he could come over and show you his pet. I'll stop now

butterfly14

elimar - I hope that you feel better soon. Sorry that you are going through this again.

Eph3_12

Here's E's new theme song!  Doesn't she have amazing moves?????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmc8bQoL-J0

elimar86861

Thanks everyone.

After a few days and a couple good meals, I'll be singing another tune, and it'll be more like an anti-cancer anthem than the emo song I'm singing today.

George is looking good in that pic.  (I'm a marginal fan because he sometimes has a hard look, as in dour, not as in HARD you twisted middie minds.)

I am allowed to eat most foods, not high fat or spicy, but basically any small amounts I can shovel in.  Liquids or solids don't seem to make that much difference because my lower half won't like ANY of it, so it's kind of about appealing to my taste buds and I like a nice "presentation."  I'm serious about that.  I had a toasted cheese sandwich and a dill spear tonight.  It's churning in there right now but it was yummy.  If cream of wheat was any gentler, I'd stick to that, but it churns just the same.  I have a lingering taste of metal + mothballs in my mouth.  Why is it always mothballs with me?*

staynsane,  In an email to friends I said something like, I was tired of  "whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" type challenges.  I'm perfectly happy to stay at my existing strength level and just have life go EASY on me for a while.

(*)  Remember when we were kids and there was a candy that looked like a mothball?  It was white and the same size as one.  Inside was a hazel nut (before I liked those.)  If you knew any psychos, they would take the empty pack of that candy and put some mothballs inside before offering you one.  I don't think it happened to me, but maybe a repressed memory is coming out now.

                                 (Looked them up.  they are called Creamed Filberts)

Sherryc

Eli sorry for your newest delima.  I hope the food intake or output gets better in the next couple of days

elimar86861

Ha!  Eph!  Is that a video from your trip?  When do we get to hear about that? 

Anonymous

You are NO wimp Eli! I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time! I hope your doctor can KILL THE BEAST!

Amrdbit

Lorraine, 

Thanks so much!! I SO appreciate your info!! I'll ask about the biotin for sure! (I've already written it down so I don't forget.

Tomorrow I am having my first "fill" with my PS for my expanders. I'm 3 weeks post op. 

Friday my port is going back in. (sigh) Thought I was done with that dumb device 18 years ago. 

Tuesday I've got a teeth cleaning apt. (yay!)

And... wednesday starts chemo. My regiment will be Taxotere and Cytoxan. 

I'm looking into te cold caps and am waiting for the dallas area rep to call me back. Any thoughts? Any words of wisdom? Any advice? Hugs and love to y'all! Hope everyone is resting well right now and that the worries of the day are slip sliding away. Hugs!

Eph3_12

patience, my friends, patience.

Valjean

Aw, E, I just don't know what to say, gal......

You're getting through it, albeit, with a few breaks here & there.

You're strong...........you're doing it.

{{{ E }}} 

Momine

Eli, sorry to hear of the setback. Someone mentioned caesarian and food, after mine they refused me food for 5 days. Well, technically 4, but they forgot to change the order the last day. That was on top of two days of labor without any food. Not nice!

I recently sported the labor camp look too, according to my onc. Apparently it is not a good look. I really hope you feel better soon. Can't they feed you intravenously for a bit if necessary. I know it is horrid, but if it could get your strength up?

barsco1963

Eli - I hope this break helps you gain your strength back so that you can reunite with your bag buddy and finish off that damn cancer once and for all.

Sending ((hugs)) and good wishes for you.

elimar86861

Going off the chemo and the rads must have been so liberating to my brain that last night, in my second sleep cycle, I had a vivid, cinematic dream.  I won't go into it here, but it took me an hour and five notebook pages to get it all down.  It was science fiction-y, so I will read it to my kids later. 

We've talked a lot about slepp on here (especially the lack thereof) but have we talked about dreaming?  I know Tamox. made my dreams more vivid (that was a plus for me.)  Chemo, on the other hand, seemed to block my dreams, but I was able to sleep o.k. on it.  Anyone have interesting dream effects?

I'm having tea this morning for the first time in over a week. 

Forgot to welcome you on the other page, Ardbit!  Good Luck tomorrow with port surgery.  Sounds like you remember some of the tips from your first experience.  I think the first time thru' cancer is definitely more fearful, but having to do it a second time can get emotionally debilitating at times.  I struggle against that but it has been touch and go.  Lots of support here for you though.

Momine

Eli, I hadn't thought of it before you asked, but chemo killed my dreams too. They started coming back a few months ago and with the dreams came way better memory and cognitive function as well. Things that make you go hmmmm ...

elimar86861

Even tho' I had only been off chemo that afternoon, my chemo (5-FU) has a half-life of only 5 hours, so a lot was already out of my system even the first night.  The 5-FU is the same as the fluorouracil that you took, Momine.

Momine

OK, good to know. I thought I was great post-chemo once I go about 3-4 months past the last one. Now though, a year later, I realize that my brains only started coming back a few months ago. Since I had 4 different chemos, I don't know which one to blame for what.

marlegal

Amrdbit, I personally did not look into the caps, but read many posts on this thread and others saying they simply weren't worth it. Some claimed that it helped marginally, but in no instance did it truly stop hair loss altogether. If I remember correctly (ha - why do I even say that?) you had to wear before and after the treatments for a considerable time - can't wear during the infusion itself. I seem to recall (again, I crack myself up!) lots of headache complaints too. Those things combined with marginal results seemed to equal not worth it. I hated losing my hair, but decided to go the proactive route - not always my strong point - and had it buzzed before I even started chemo. I had my wigs ready (two different colors and lengths just to mess with people) and started wearing a week before chemo! Once I started tx, and the first short hairs fell out two weeks later, I had husband shave my head. Only the overwhelming rally call of "it grows again, we promise" from all my bco buddies kept me going Hugs to you for whatever decision you reach about the caps.

heartnsoul76

Elimar, I remember with chemo I had no dreams.  I would just sleep out of exhaustion and wake up.  It was the same way when my father died, too.  I was just completely fatigued from grief and I would lay down to sleep and wake up 8 hours later in the exact same position.  It might have something to do with being completely exhausted.

I also enjoy my vivid dreams on Tamoxifen.  I had one about 2 months ago, wrote it down in the Notes app on my iPhone as soon as I woke up and forgot about it.  I came across the title the other night.  I named it "Shipwrecked" and I thought what is this?  Then the dream came back to me and I shivered - it was scary.  My dream would be more like a Stephen King novel

I hate this ordeal you're going through, Eli.  I imagine chemo and rads at the same time would be extremely hard on your body so I can see why you would need a break or two. My brother's MIL couldn't even finish chemo for colon cancer - it must be so hard.  She's still alive & kicking 10 years later, though.

I just had my brothers and nephew over last night for drinks and video games.  I fixed some yummy spicy chicken nachos in the crock pot (I'm getting more into my crockpot again these days).  My younger brother almost started a fight with me via email a few hours before the party, but being the mature one I just ignored it, although I had a good response typed out.  So we had a great time in spite of him trying to egg me on.  My nephew is in the navy, stationed in the flight school in Pensacola, and I was so happy to see him.

Sherry, hope your test went okay Monday.  It's hard to get test results during the holidays. I scheduled a bone scan on Dec. 20th and I'm still waiting to find out the results (my onc has been out of town).  Also, I saw a recipe you had posted for a corn casserole somewhere else - I fixed that over Christmas and it was a hit, just like you said!  I'm not much of a cook, but that was so easy!

I don't know about you gals, but I'm exhausted from all the holiday festivities!