Chemo June 2010

JFV

sanddinistn-  I have heard mention of corn starch on other boards.  Never used it myself.

Hang in there sand and grneyd-  An hour drive Wow what a hassle. 

Latte-  Don't be hard on yourself for feeling down. I think it is very, very normal.  Cancer treatment is tough physically and emotionally.  And you've just had surgery and you've had pain and you have an infection.  That is alot for a person to handle!  Rest alot and try to do something that will make you happy.  I have to say that I really was miserably depressed during my nine months of active treatment.  About a month after radiation I suddenly realized I was beginning to have energy and be happy without forcing myself.  I still have my moments.  But, I can see that I am much better.  Give yourself time. 

flopsy

For those of you that are still experiencing the joys of rads,  remember to cushion your chest at night because it does help with the soreness and if you get the rads rash that itches like crazy just mix cortisone with you ale or aquafor or whatever cream you are using for your skin.  The rads rash will break the skin down faster than anything else, so try to keep it under control. 

My DH and I are down at Myrtle Beach in SC right now.   We came down on Friday and went to Brookgreen Gardens to see THE NIGHT OF A THOUSAND CANDLES.   It really was awesome and we really enjoyed it but it was pretty cold.  Today we went to the indoor mall and shopped because it was raining and cold.  This evening it had cleared enough to go to the TANGER OUTLET CTR.   There were some prices and we did buy some things.

We are staying at a really nice place here but they have a problem with parking and being rainy and cold has not been the best.   The room is beautiful and very nicely furnished but was not cheap.   We are treating ourselves since we have not been able to do any traveling since my surgery.  My DD and SIL are at our home dogsitting our little pekingese named Moochie.  We have enjoyed our stay but will be glad to get back home tomorrow.  

It's back to work and the real world on monday.  i also need to check on Julia in person.  Sometimes hard to evaluate things over the phone.

Good luck and good wishes to all still in treatment.   Take care all and talk to you soon.

grneyd5600

Gin- enjoy SC.  We are getting snow again!!!! 

I stepped out on the wild side and decided to color my hair tonight.  I hope it doesn't make it fall out and I have to go bald again...LOL.  Hopefully it will look ok. 

DesignerMom

Sherry-  How are you doing lady?  I continue to keep you in my prayers

JFV

grneyd- How did the hair coloring go?  I haven't done it yet.  Not even close to enough hair.

Sherry- I'm wondering about you too!  How are you

Anyone else ready for the Christmas season to be done ?  I am already feeling like Scrooge!

Sherry9316

I'm still hanging on - sometimes I have a knot to hold on to and sometimes it's just a thin thread.  I'm beginning to experience more emotional moments in the past four weeks than I have in the past eight months.  Sometimes that's harder for me to deal with than the physical. And it being the holiday season when all the family activities usually center around our house with me in charge has not been easy on my psyche either. But, I really try to focus on getting better and try not to let myself get to far down in the dark place.

I finished rad tx #10 yesterday and am going for #11 today.  Almost a third of the way there.  Still having significant breathing issues and pain so they have scheduled me for an MRI tomorrow morning.  I am VERY weak and that is troubling me a lot.  I just want to be able to walk into the kitchen without holding onto the wall and make me a bowl of soup or a sandwich without having to sit down and rest two or three times during the process.  Onc has now added a mulitivitamin and a B-complex pill to see if that will help.  If I could just get a little stronger, that would help significantly.

 GRNEY - what color did you do your hair?  Mine is not very long but is thick.  You can now not see any of my scalp.  My husband suggested I dye it some kind of wild color, but I haven't decided which one.  I will have to wait until I finish rads and get stronger - probably the end of January before I'm able to get out and get that done.  I'm going to have my hairdresser do it.  I will probably need a little trim or shape up by then.

DesignerMom

sherry-  Thanks for checking in.  I'm so sorry you continue to struggle.  It sounds like even your doctor thinks you need more nutrition.  I think that miserable chemo has thrown your whole system out of wack.  When your body is so weak, it is hard to stay strong mentally.  I just got the book "Foods to fight Cancer" by Beliveau.  It is written by a research scientist who has studied the effects of highly nutritious, cancer fighting foods.  It is very "user friendly".  I think you might need to build yourself back up with some super nutritious foods and fresh juices.  Also, don't I remember you feeling so weak and then feeling much better after eating some steak??  I'm wondering if you are iron deficient?  Have they checked?  Tell DH you need to go to a good steakhouse!  Praying for you!

mimi9186

BON, thinking of you and wish you smooth sailing with the heart cath tomorrow.

TINA, I like your decision not to go back to work.  I am going back Jan.3 and not sure it was the right choice.  Chemo brain very evident. Are you done with rads?  What is happening with the heart issues and herceptin?

LATTE, Is the infection cleared up and did you start rads?  I think of you often and wonder how you are doing.  I remember my depression got worse after chemo and before rads.  It does get better with time.  Be kind to yourself.

SHERRY, my dear friend, hang in there. We send our love and support from all the gals on this board.

Well, my mood is slowly improving, I have 1/4 inch of hair, eyebrows and a few eyelashes. The lymphedema is better now that rads are over and is managable with the sleeve and glove. I was so NOT in the mood for Christmas.  Then I thought, "what if this is my last Christmas"?  That changed my outlook in a hurry and I went crazy shopping yesterday, bought excessive presents, got the tree up and decided we need all new tree decorations. Going to do it right this year!   I truly hope all of you are doing ok and feeling well enough to enjoy the season.

Love and Hugs, Mimi

cheyenna

sherry, im thinking of you and so sorry you are having so much trouble, i remember you did eat some meat and you said you felt a lot better? as for me im in and outa that dark place, so hard to stay out of it. I guess only time.. i think of you always.

grney, yay! you colored your hair, what color and how long is it now?

gin2ca, wow! a night of a thousands candles, how neat to see! im glad you had a good time, yes its always nice to get back home.

cheyenna

Dmom, i dont think i said yay for you being done with rads? so here it goes YAY!!!!

Tmarina, new babes on the way how exciting for your family, im thrilled for you!!! im glad you took time off, well deserved!!

latte, i pray you are doing better,i still have my other mastectomy to go through, i put it off till january, im not ready yet

kitty, i hope all is well, btw you u great as a blond or brunette!!!

 bon, that was so funny about that song, lol whenever i hear anything like that i always have to laugh and roll my eyes..next year will be better

Well, as for me i go in and out of the dark place, im trying hard, i have put off my other mastectomy and expander's till january, im not ready yet, ill go through christmas with one boob, lol oh well, you all know how i never really liked my ONC? i feel like this whole thing was a "wham bam thank you ma'am" maybe thats why im so up and down, hmm I dont know... Im trying to keep busy by putting up xmas lights everywhere, lol i think of you all every day

love chey

Latte

Hi everyone, thanks for the cheerup posts and wishes. I am doing much better now!

Sherry - I'm thinking of you - i can't believe what you have had to go through, and hope you feel stronger really soon!

my lashes and eyebrows are coming back, and my hair is also slowly starting to grow (my 2.5 yr old says it is getting taller...). I did the rads simulation yesterday - it was really quick, 25 mins, and i got 3 tattoos. i got given my rads start date today - they told me it is jan 9, but I complained that that would be two months after my surgery and 3 months after my last chemo and i think it is too long. So they called me back and I am starting on December 26 (Xmas season is just regular work days here) - unless my lumpectomy infection hasn't managed to heal yet. I'm going back to the BS tomorrow so he can check it and tell me what he thinks.

TMarina

Latte--glad things are moving along for you--hope the infection clears quickly and completely!

Chey--you sound great!  You are a strong woman and you'll get through this.  Enjoy the holidays!

Mimi--Yes--do the holidays right! (if you have the energy lol!)  Good to hear things are improving for you!

Sherry--let us know how the MRI goes, and yes!  Go out for a thick, juicy steak!  Hope you get your strength back soon!

Hi to Bon, JFV, Designermom, grneyed and everyone else!  Some gals that started with us we haven't heard from in a while.  If you're reading this, please check in and let us know how you are doing!!

I finished rads today!!!  Yay!!  I brought in a big bowl of fresh fruit, and some homemade goodies,and I got lots of hugs.  Last year when I finished I told them I never wanted to see them again, and this year they told me that!!  I am very thankful I had such a wonderful team there.  And I shed a few tears once I got to the car!

My hair feels like a really soft plush blanket.  It's starting to show some color (not sure whatt color yet tho).  My eyelashes are long enough to wear mascara, and my eyebrows are back too.  Seems I have hair EVERYWHERE now--like an overabundance!  I guess I always was a hairy person, it's just so light you can't really see it

I am sooo tired lately (from rads).  Tomorrow will be the last day my daughter works, so it will be the last time she'll need me to watch my grandson.  I'll have him 3 days total this week.  That, plus rads, plus Christmas shopping are really wearing me out.  So, I plan on a few days of taking it easy!  My youngest will be home from college Sunday--can't wait to have her home!!

Hope you all are staying warm, and taking time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season!

julia2

Hi Ladies!  Just read all the posts since T'giving. Bon, good luck today, and hugs to you.  Sherry, hang in there.  Today I am 51, made it to another birthday, what a year!  I must say chemo is a dim and distant memory now, and I guess it was worth it, though it didn't feel like it at the time :-)  I have been wig-less for the last 10 days, some people at work still haven't twigged what's going on as they've said 'Oh you got a haircut' so I guess that's good :-)  I seem to have more grey, I'm thinking of going blonde in January.  So far s good on Tamoxifen, 1 month down now.  My only lingering problem is this bloody skin rash on my radiated boob.  It started 3-4 weeks post rads and everytime I try to stop the steroid cream it comes right back.  A minor problem I know, but I feel weird using this cream day after day, it's been 6 weeks now!

Off to the UK on Saturday for the holidays, major long flight, will be wearing my compression sleeve of course:-(  I cannot wait to see my family over there.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Julia 

Julia 

grneyd5600

OK hair color worked nicely.  I used the Revlon Colorsilk and went with Medium Auburn.  Of course it is a bit brighter red than I anticipated but it is growing on me.  I got good coverage (all the gray is covered).  The radiation techs love it!  They said it makes me "shine". 

I had #14 tx today.  Almost half way done.  So far so good.

 Hang in there my friends! 

DesignerMom

julia-  Happy, happy birthday!  Many, many, happy, healthy returns!

TMarina

Julia--Happy birthday!! 

Boy I'm jealous of all of you (yet happy for you  who are able to go out without a head covering already!  I've just got a nice layer of fuzz that is finally getting thicker and showing some color, but still very, very short.  I figure it'll be another 2 months or so before I have enough to look like a short haircut.

MzCaprcorn

Hi Everyone

Have been absent so you may not remember me, also not an active poster. Update here. I spent 6 weeks in hospital from a ruptured bowel caused by Taxol. The first two weeks in a coma at death's door. Survival rate less than 50%, so lucky me. Had to learn to walk all over again and am still a bit weak. Have requested a new oncologist and got one since my old one wasn't paying enough attention to my bad reactions to the first 2 Taxols. Wondering if they want me to do more, less dosage or diff chemo.???    Have double mastectomy ahead when I am strong enough to handle the anaestetic. So glad to see the great progress most everyone is having. Hopefully I can be on that list eventually.

Merry Christmas all, enjoy your loved ones!!!!

lizzyanne

Hi everyone. I have been away from the boards for awhile. I spent 3 weeks in sunny Arizona b/w herceptin treatments and before rads. It was a wonderful escape from CT to be in a nice warm sunny place and also a great place to forget about the BC for a bit. I started my rads on Wednesday and am looking forward to finishing up the last week of January - then it is back to AZ for me until May. I met the onconologist who will administer my herceptin down there and she is very nice. She specializes in breast oncology and the office is decorated just for us girls. Very bright, cheery and colorful.They even have a little chocolate on the pillow in the exam room. My emotions have been better the past few weeks. I am not crying anymore at the drop of the hat or every time someone asks me how I am doing. 

You are all shining examples of what I still have to overcome and I thank you everyday for being there when I have questions or want to make sure I am not going crazy. Thank you again and Merry Christmas to you and your amazing families.

Hugs

Liz 

Latte

mzcaprcorn - oh my goodness, you certainly have been through a lot! glad to hear you made it through everything - I hope you have an easier road ahead of you! Glad to have you back here with us. :-)

DesignerMom

mzcaprcorn-  Oh my!!  I'm glad you will have a new Oncologist.  How awful that you ended up so sick from the chemo!  Glad you are on the mend and hoping that your surgery goes smoothly.  Goodness knows you should get extra credit for what you have been through!

TMarina

mzcaprcorn--It's good to hear from you!  So sorry you had to go through all of that!  Wow!  Hope you continue to get stronger and can enjoy the holidays! 

Lizzyanne--good to hear from you too!  Glad you have been relaxing in AZ!

flopsy

Hi Ladies,  Sorry I have not posted lately but have been extremely busy at work and am so exhausted at night that I fall asleep in my lounger about 7:30 and wake up at 9:30 to go to bed so I can do it all over again the next day.  I think the Femara is making me very tired in the evening because this exhaustion hits about 30 to 60 minutes after I take it.   We have been swamped at work with over 110 procedures a day or more.  Everyone is trying to get that last thing done before Jan deductibles start over.  We have also had a lot of workers out sick which has not helped but thankfully I have not been one of them.

My brother, his wife, and son are coming home for Christmas and they are planning to get Julia out of Assisted Living and take her to her home and stay with her there for several days.  The last two times they came and did that she went back with severe bronchitis that lasted for about 3 weeks.   Her body is getting weaker so I hope she does not get sick this time.  We have asked them to try not to exhaust her this visit because she is not strong enough to keep up with their usual round of whirlwind activities, so we will see.

Her Blood Sugar readings right now are better but I'm sure Christmas and going home will change all of that.

Hello to all of you and glad to hear from some that we have not heard from in a while.  Mz Capricorn I am so sorry to hear of your distress and I hope you will continue to improve and move on with surgery and treatment.  I will be praying for you.

Tmarina , Chey, Bon, DesignerMom, JFV, ssandistn, Latte, Mimi, Jackie, MzCapricorn, Lizzyanne, Sherry, Kittycat, LadyMadonna,and Julia2(if I left anyone out please forgive me and let me know). I am sending you wishes for the best Christmas ever and may the NewYear be a better healthier one for us all.  Love you all,  Ginny

DesignerMom

For everyone feeling the emotional roller coaster during this Christmas season, I can't recommend listening to corny Christmas music enough.  It's just impossible to stay down listening to some of these lyrics.  I am subjecting my poor family to my favorite Hillbilly Holiday cd. "Ho, ho, ho, we were po, po, po" by Bill Anderson and "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa" by Brenda Lee. Hard to stay blue listening to those lyrics!  Merry, merry Christmas my friends!

janny99

Trying to get through the Holidays, physically feeling better, but emotionally I'm a mess!!!  Really having a hard time at work, and sometimes wonder if I should search for a new job.  I work with some people who made me feel lousy that treatment took so long, even though I worked part time throughout this whole ordeal.  I'm looking forward to seeing my grandkids who are coming this week, but I can't sleep and I can't stop crying.  I don't know, maybe it's the Tamoxifin, maybe it's the Holidays...help...I feel so lost

mimi9186

Janny99, My heart goes out to you.  I think we all have, or still do share  your feelings of being lost.  The holidays seem to be really hard this year. We have to grieve our losses and the changes that treatment has (and still does) done to us.  It's tough to struggle through this time.  I am glad your grandchildren are coming.  I find mine to be better than any medicine the doctors give. Try and identify the biggest problem you are experiencing and solve just it.  Is it sleep, anxiety, depression, or work?  Try to find a solution for one and perhaps the others will become managable.  Wishing you the best and I hope you begin to feel better.

Love and Hugs, Mimi

Sherry9316

MzCaprcorn:  what an ordeal you have come through!  I had no idea Taxol could do anything like that.  I had nine tx's of Taxol and experienced severe nausea and dehydration, but nothing worse  than that.  Here's hoping the remainder of your journey is much less traumatic!

DMom - you make me laugh so talking about your hillbilly Christmas CD.  I didn't even know there was such a thing!  I have the Cryptkeeper's Christmas CD from when my kids were younger.  They made me play it all the time.  It has songs like Deck the halls with parts of Charlie . . . We wish you would bury the Missus, etc.  I'm going to go to Amazon and see if I can find the hillbilly CD. 

This afternoon I go for radiation tx #15 and get the results of my MRI. The sun is out and it's supposed to be 60 degrees today.  Should be a good day.

DesignerMom

janny-  Sometimes nothing you do will please employers enough.  I can't believe they would make you feel bad about "missing work" while going through cancer treatment.  Perhaps it's time to look and see if there might be a better fit.  Whatever you do, don't miss spending time with your loved ones.  As we all know too well, life can change suddenly.  On our death beds (hopefully a long time from now) we will never say "I wish I had worked more".  We will say "I wish I had spent more time with my kids, grandkids, friends".  Prayers going up that you will find a job where they truly cherish you!

sherry-  Can't recommend Hillbilly Holiday enough.  It was put out by Rhino Records in 85.  My family will kick me out soon if I keep playing it, so I better switch over to  "Big Band Christmas" with Benny Goodman!  You are sounding great, girl!

JFV

Hey All!  So nice to catch up after a few days away.  MzCaprcorn GOD BLESS YOU and HANG IN THERE BABY!!!!!!!

To those who are struggling emotionally I just want to say go easy on yourself.  I have been reading about the five stages of grief which also apply to major illness.  The stages include denial, anger and depression and acceptance and  bargaining ( I have them in the wrong order).   Common wisdom says that we ladies will feel all of these stages and we must go through them before we can truly deal with our BC and get on with our lives.  What I am reading seems to indicate that we can bounce in and out of these stages and that true emotional healing can take at least a year.  I know no one wants to be depressed and cry for a year.  But, I think if you remember that the bad feelings are normal it helps.  Okay, enough preaching!

I was listening to "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" today.  Cracks me up.  Also, I find if I avoid the sentimental side of Christmas it helps.

toni30

Hi Ladies:

Haven't posted in a while - I have been getting rads (just had tx #6 out of 20). I have to say that compred to chemo it's pretty easy - even with the fatigue. Now I am so ready to ditch my wig - it actually blew off of my head the other day so now I have to wear a scarf, which makes me look like Queen Elizabeth (without the money) 

TMarina - Congrats on being done!

Julia2 - You're going wigless - good for you! How long is your hair?  Mine is maybe 1/4-1/2 inch.

Sherry - sorry it's been so tough. Hang in there - hope the last few days are better.  Be good to yourself.

Hugs to everyone!!!!!

Sherry9316

My good day Monday ended up not so great.  MRI showed suspicious area for cancer in my spine.  My oncologist called me today - never a good sign when he actually calls me instead of his nurse.  He said he wants to schedule a biopsy of the area in my spine because that's the only way we are going to know for sure whether it's cancer or whether it's from an injury I received in a car wreck ten years ago.  Was stopped at a stop light and then rear ended causing a fracture to my spinous process (the boney stickey outie part of your back) and a resulting herniated disk at level T-7.  I must admit that this has thrown me for a loop.  I have managed to stay positive and optimistic for the past 8 months, except for an occasional dip which usually doesn't last too long.  I'm still trying to stay that way - but as my Dr. said today, if it is cancer, this changes everything.  I would like for you guys to pray that we can get the biopsy scheduled before the end of the year because right now, my insurance is paying 100% of all my medical costs.