April 2011 chemo

Merilee

,,,goes pretty well. Not sure how the end of my sentence got chopped but here it is anyway.

Anonymous

I'm not really done with chemo, since I still have Herceptin and all those TDM1 doses to go, but this Taxotere (and its attendant pit of deranged discouragement) is going to be a distant, unpleasant memory soon.

 

Anonymous

TAMOXIFEN ROLL CALL

Who is already taking Tamoxifen and how are you doing? Can we get a head count and a symptom count? On a 1-10, where 1 means "It's a total walk in the park, I can't even tell I'm on it," 5 means "it's not great, but I'm managing okay," and 10 means "Just kill me now?" (Or if you're not on Tamoxifen, any other pill-based AI inhibitor.)

Merilee

Tamoxifen was a no go for me 10+

I am now on the generic for arimidex and I am only on a quarter dose 3x a week. I tried moving up to 1/2 dose and I cried for 2 days over anything. I am back to 1/4 dose and I feel it is tolerable. My wellness doc will track my estrogen. I was all ready at less than 25 when I started.

BernieEllen

HOW TO COOK A TURKEY:
First, buy the turkey and a bottle of whiskey. Pour yourself a glass of whiskey and put the turkey in the oven. Take another 2 drinks of whiskey, and set the degree at 375 ovens. Have 3 more whiskeys of drink and turn the oven on. Take 4 whisks of drinky and turk the bastey. Stick a turkey in the thermometer, and glass yourself a pour of whiskey. Bake the whiskey for 4 hours, take the oven out of the turkey, and floor the turkey up off the pick. Pour yourself another glass of turkey. Now just tet the sable, and turk the carvery!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all 

Merilee

LOL! Bernie, I hope I get to meet you one day, you have my sense of humor.

profbee

Hilarious, Bernie.  I needed that.  Boy was up at 5 this morning!  WHAT?!  ugh.  I'm cooking for the 3 of us, but I haven't started a thing...hope all turns out okay.    

Windlass, I picked up my prescription.  That's as far into Tamoxifin I've gotten. I figure I'll start tomorrow.  sigh.  I'll let you know when I start though.   

Sarah246

Hi all. Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving.

Thanks Windlass. It's great to hear from you also. I'm not on Tamoxifin yet, but was told they would put me on it after Herceptin. I'm curious about it also. Good question to know the side effects love.

Kiwimum, congratulations finishing your radiation.

Bernie Ellen, you're lucky you didn't burn. Glad to know that the pain will go away soon.

profbee

Sarah, I wonder why they're waiting for Herceptin to END before they start Tamoxifin.  I'm doing both at the same time.  I'll ask on Monday about it, but maybe you should ask too.    I started my Tamoxifin yesterday...day two and I didn't forget!  wooo hoo!  only 1,823 more days to remember!  Oy.  Herceptin starts Monday! 

Thanksgiving was nice...just the three of us...but I forgot all about the cranberries!  Still way too much food!  We still haven't touched the apple pie.  

Sarah246

Hi Profbee

The oncologist said that it wouldn't be beneficial while I was still on herceptin. He said I would start after that.That was all I remember. Let me know what you find out. Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving,Profbee.

profbee

KNEW there was something I wanted to ask today, dammit.  Well, I didn't see my doc today anyway.  So, I'll have to wait.  That's interesting though.  Thanks for the info!

sarahlou1967

Hi Ladies long time since I posted but saw Windlass asking who was on tami and thought I'd comment. I've been taking it for the past 53 days (and counting) hot flushes are the worst, some pain in my joints, but its the hot flushes that are a real pain, chemo put me in to early menopause after round no 3 and have not had a period since or the ususal hormonal migranne (so there is one perk to taking the tami). Going to the doctors to see about getting an anti depressant to help with the HF and my moods, although mood swings are getting better the HF seem the same I literally sweat and it pours off me makes me feel really ill, especially at night when I get the hot sweats in bed followed by the very painful chills, I shiver and it feels like my whole body is shivering and hurting which is just horrible. I was told that is should settle down after a few months well I've been on it for nearly 2 months and it does not seem to be getting any better so will go to the drs this week. BUT please remember we are all different and some of us dont get the SE as bad as others.

Sending love and light

sarahlousie xx 

profbee

Hi Sarah!!!  Sorry about the hot flashes, but it's so nice to hear from you here!  

KiwiMum

I've been on Tamox for about 6 weeks. On your number scale Windlass I'd give it a 5. It's not foul but not great either. Like Sarah, I find the hot flashes hideous. They occur several times a day and 3-4 times a night. I get woken up sweating and on fire. I also have a few bone aches.



Does anyone know if SEs get cumulatively worse? Will new ones pop up the longer you take it? I hope the 2 month timeframe works for me!

scc218

Sorry I've been kind of "lost" for a week or so.  Just swamped with work and trying to juggle work and radiation.  Plus Thanksgiving was thrown in the mix -- but that was actually really fun -- went to Animal Kingdom with some friends and had a great time.

Today was the halfway mark for radiation.  Starting to show some "burns" on my upper chest, and it's really itchy.  It's nowhere near my former boob -- more towards the neck.  I'll have to ask the radiation onco tomorrow if that's normal.

Merilee -- I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you with any info for your friend.  To be honest, I haven't had time to research it.  I did take a look at one of the websites Profbee sent.  Near as I can tell, you have to fill out some paperwork and prove that you make less than a certain amount of money per year (can't remember the amount now).  I'm probably going to end up going with the local discount pharmacy, but I will definitely let you know anything I find out about the financial assistance if I ever get around to researching it.  Sorry to be such a space cadet.  Work, daily radiation, and "the holiday season" are starting to overwhelm me.  Hopefully it's just temporary.

BernieEllen

Hi scc218, the rad burns can be painful, hope it all goes well for you.

Hi to everyone, hope you are all doing well 

pawprintgirl24

hi all! been away for awhile..working and sleeping!! tired all the time .i think that is my side effect from the tamoxifen. besides that i don't have any se so far.i have been on it since aug 16th.got my periodback and boy is it back!!! flooding!!!horrible cramps!! headaches!!!since they can't give me anything i just have to suffer through! has anyone else got theirs back? she checked my hormone levels before i startedand they wee actually on the high side so she side to expect a big ol period!!

pawprintgirl24

still a little itchy from rads and my last one was oct 10th!! crazy!!

trail2

Hello all of my april chemo warrior sisters.  I am so sorry I haven't been back to check in on everyone.  I was fun to read and catch up on everyone.  For those of you still working on treatment, I hope it will be done soon.  I was reading about several of you on Tamoxifen.  I started in July, and other than the hot flashes and some weight gain ( all in my mid section)  I am doing pretty well.  A month or so after chemo, I lost my eye brows and eye lashes next.  All the while my hair was growing back pretty quick.  I have cute wavy brown hair now.  I used to have dark blonde fine straight hair???  Just this week, I have started to lose my eyelashes again,  not completely, but they are very sparse.  I am almost 6 months out from my last chemo! 

I wish you all a happy holidays.  hugs!

Merilee

Hi Everyone

Trail2- My hair was blonde and wavy before chemo and now it is dark brown and very curly. I have a kind of Betty boop look. Almost long enough for a style. The hairdresser said 1 inch. Parts of it  is one inch and others still needs a bit more time.

Seems like this thread has gone pretty quiet. I am wanting to  hear from Windlass. You doing ok sweetie?

Merilee

Articat- How are you doing?

profbee

Hey friends!  I hear that normally your lashes grow like each day...but since we lost them all together, they come back, then instead of falling out one by one on different days like normal, they all fall out at once.  So, the pattern of losing your lashes can continue for a long time.  ugh.  

Pawprint, sorry about the itch.  Man, when will these SEs end?!  I read a study that reported women feeling fatigued YEARS later....great.  LOL!  I honestly don't think I'd know what not tired feels like anyway.  

Trail, don't say tummy weight gain!  That's my problem area already!  (Do y'all find that everyone expects you to be skinny b/c you had cancer?  Not so much.)

Hi to everyone else!   

BernieEllen

Hi to all, hope you are doing ok.

Employee Christmas Party MEMO
Christmas Party December 1...To All Employees
I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will be held on December 23rd at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. There will be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band will play traditional carols...feel free to sing-along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree.
Exchanging gifts among employees can be done at this time. Please remember to keep gifts to the agreed $10 limit.

Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 2...To All Employees
In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday and often coincides with Christmas (although not this year). However, from now on we're calling this party our Holiday Party. The same policy also applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanzaa at this time. There will be no tree or Christmas carols sung.

Happy holidays to you and yours.
Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
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December 3...To All Employees
Regarding the anonymous note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, I'm happy to accommodate your request but please remember that if I put a sign on the table that reads "AA Only" you won't be anonymous any more.
In addition, we'll no longer be having a gift exchange because union members feel that $10 is too much money.
Patti Lewis, Human Resources Director
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December 7...To All Employees
I have arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest away from the dessert table and for pregnant members to sit closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with gays; each group will have its own table. And, yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the gay men's table.

Happy now?
Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
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December 9...To All Employees
People! People! Nothing sinister was intended by wanting our CEO to play Santa Claus. Even if the anagram for "Santa" does happen to be "Satan." There is no evil connation to our own little "man in a red suit."

Patti Lewis, Human Resources Director
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December 10...To All Employees
Vegetarians! I've had it with you people. We're holding this party at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue whether you like it or not. You can just sit at the table farthest from the "Grill of Death" as you call it, and you'll get salad bar only including hydroponics tomatoes. Tomatoes have feelings too, you know. They scream when you slice them. I can hear them now. I hope you have a rotten holiday. Drive drunk and die, you hear me?

The Bitch from Hell
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December 14...To All Employees
I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness. I'll continue to forward your cards to her at the sanitarium. In the meantime management has decided to cancel the Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

Terri Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director

sarahlou1967

Greetings ladies from across the big pond,

Profbee - Hi hope you are doing ok, and ditto I have the same problem with my tummy roll the rest of me is super skinny (but I've always been thin) and yes it does look odd having a tummy hanging over your jeans especially when your skinny everywhere else including legs,arms. I'm on the green juicing diet ala Kris Carr and I feel great also probably lost some weight although not round the middle. Doh!!!

BernieEllen - LOL thanks for posting that it made me laugh and is totally ridiculous!!

Merilee, windlass, Kiwimum - How's the tamoxifen going? I'm still taking the dam thing and still getting the awful hot flushes/sweats/chills but am going to go on an anti-d to help with these SE, my GP told me to try drinking fig leaf tea but I cant find it anywhere over here in uk, so have asked around to find out if someone has a fig tree in there garden that I can take the leaves from.

Sending you all love and light

sarahsweety xxxxx 

scc218

Hilarious, Bernie Ellen!  Thanks for the good laugh -- I needed one! 

Hope everygone is doing well and not getting too stressed out by the holidays.

I had rads #24 today; 6 more to go.  Can't wait for it to be over.  Have a terrible oozing burn on my upper chest that is really gross.  The onco gave me some silvadene cream for it.  I also now have a rash/burn on my back!  Guess the zappings are going all the way through me!  Eeeeh gads!  I asked the tech about it today, and she said it's normal. 

Hugs to everybody. 

profbee

Hey Sarah!

I'm having a bit of hot flashes on the Tamoxifen, but not too bad.  I mostly blame the wig when I'm feeling hot (had to wear it a few times lately, wedding etc.).  Fig leaf tea?!  It MUST be on the internet somewhere!  

So irritated today.  My son stayed with my mom while we went into NYC for the wedding this past weekend.  She packed our car while we were gone and filled it with all sorts of CRAP.  Like a weeble wobble treehouse and a little people castle...HUGE play things...40 year old play things with missing pieces.  Now there's at my house...and this is 2 weeks before Christmas!  Why couldn't she say that they stayed at Nanny's house?!  Because my brother's kids are grown, and so now I get all the left over CRAP.  I'm just in a foul mood.  MY little angel 5-year-old came off the bus crying AGAIN about these nasty kids up the block being mean to him.  Great, only like 12 more years of dealing with THEM.  

SO aggravated...house is a total MESS.  Husband was supposed to take our son to BJs to get some stuff we need (there's like no food in the house right now), but he's snoring on the couch.  So, now I'm watching Jack AND trying to get this complete mess cleaned up...as usual.  Arrrrgh. 

Anonymous

Hi, Profbee: Yeah, I know the feeling about a house filled with crap. *laugh* My wonderful mom sends us these HUGE boxes filled with love... and lots of stuff. I'm finally getting able to sort it out and give away the things we really don't need. It's very liberating. (Plus she sends tons of useful things we really need, too!

I just did radiation #9 today, and am in excruciating shoulder and neck pain from the horrible position they put me in to hook up the breathing apparatus. I have to be connected to a big snorkel thing in my mouth and wear biofeedback goggles and have my head turned way to the side so I am contorted and looking over my right shoulder. (This is to allow me to breathe in deeply to avoid damage to my heart.)

Since the software is buggy and often has to be rebooted over and over and over, I wind up stuck there, immobilized in that position with a thing jammed in my mouth, unable to talk or move, for up to 45 minutes. My arms fall asleep and my neck cramps up, and I can barely get out of the position when they're done. It's been a low point of this whole awful journey, second only to the waking purgatory of Taxotere.

I hope things are going better for the rest of you. I guess virtually everyone is done now. Is it going to be a ghost town on here?

Anonymous

Suzy: I'm glad you're almost done with rads, and sorry to hear about the burn. Are you surviving without getting lymphedema? I've said a prayer for you.

Sarah: Do you have any friends in California? There are tons of fig trees there everywhere. It would be super easy to grab some leaves, but I'm not sure your Customs would allow them into the UK, since they're plant material. Maybe someone in Italy or Greece or Spain or Portugal?

BernieEllen

Hi everyone, sorry to hear that some of you are having a bad time.  My burns from the rads have healed completely.  It took a while but no scarring or discolouration.  Take things slowly and pamper yourselves.  You all deserve it.

Lots of love 

BernieEllen

Tom had been in business for 25 years and was finally sick of the stress. He quit his job and bought 50 acres of land in Alaska as far from humanity as possible. He saw the postman once a week and got groceries once a month. Otherwise, it was total peace and quiet. After six months or so of total isolation, someone knocked on his door. He opened it and there was a huge, bearded man standing there:
"Name's Lars, your neighbor from forty miles up the road. Having a Christmas party Friday night. Thought you might like to come... about 5:00."
"Great," says Tom, "after six months out here I'm ready to meet some local folks. Thank you!"
As Lars is leaving, he stops. "Gotta warn you ... There's gonna be some drinkin'."
"I can drink with the best of 'em." Again, as he starts to leave, Lars stops.
"More 'n likely gonna be some fightin' too."
Tom says, "Well, I get along with people, I'll be alright. I'll be there. Thanks again."
Once again Lars turns from the door. "More 'n likely be some wild sex, too."
"Now that's really not a problem," says Tom, warming to the idea. "I've been all alone for six months! I'll
definitely be there. By the way, what should I wear?"
Lars stops in the door again and says, "Whatever you want. Just gonna be the two of us."