Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?

rjbaby69

Rae:  I am so sorry for your loss.  Know that we all care about you and don't hesitate to lean on us for support.  We are here for you.  May the Lord wrap his loving arms around you and give you the strength to get through this difficult time as only He can.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Hugs!

Kimberly1961

Shit, never had a foot sore, now see a black spot on the side of the bottom of my foot. WTF,right under the area of the baby toe. It's black spot, 1x1 cm What now? I expected maybe some nail disease, what the hell is this black spot disease?

Anonymous

Rae, so sorry for your loss and may prayers be with you!

♥ Sara ♥ 

Kimberly1961

I am sorry, I am really freaking out on this black spot.

Kimberly1961

Rae, I can't know your pain to lose a child.  There is no greater grief.  There is nothing greater than that. I have had no children but my sister lost her son when he was only 30.  His mother and his father and his sister remember probably him every day, and it hurts like a son of bitch every time they have the strength to think about it.  Can I tell you are not the only one?  She lost her child too and she made a pact with god, it's OK that I have cancer as long as I go before my kids.  I remember her telling me that when she was diagnosed.  Then her son died before she did.  It was like God didn't listen to her reasonable plea.  My sister, my brother-in-law, and my niece are broken inside since then and there is nothing in this world to fix it. God I wish I could take away some of their pain, but I can't.

PinkShirtNow

Rae - words cannot express how sorry I am for your loss.  None of this cancer stuff is fair but having to deal with the loss of a child on top of it has to be unbelievably devastating.  Our hearts go out to you and your family.

Sheypres - I just had my 8th weekly taxol out of 12.  So far, my SEs have been petty managable.  I get a bit fatigued and I have nosebleeds and constipation  and hardly any sense of taste.  It's "easier" than I expected although none of this is easy.  I try really hard to get in some walking as exercise everyday.  It seems counter intuitive to me somedays but I think it really does help.

sarasowise - I still have some of my hair after 8 weeks.  I had the hair avalanche about 3 weeks in but then it slowed to  a trickle,   The funny this is that all my dark hair fell out and left just the gray stuff.  I look like little old man with wisps of gray hair on my head.  Not exactly a good look.

 Take care, everyone!

mags20487

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}} Rae...I am so sorry that you must endure this.  It would be enormously difficult without dealing with BC.  My heart goes out to you and your family and we will be here for you.  My nephew died 3 yrs ago in Dec and his light still shines in my heart.  You are a strong and special woman and have brought joy to us during this advanture we are on.  Love to you and your family.

Maggie

mags20487

sheypres....I started with Taxol...my SE's start on the second day following the treatment with swollen neck glands on the front and back side of the neck that extend down into my upper back and shoulders that lasts for a couple of days.3  days after tx pain sets into my legs.  I also get a Neulasta shot the day after chemo but take the claritin and ibuprophen to fight the pain from that.  My legs ache for a few days following tx and after the last tx (#3) I have slight neuropathy on my feet but nothing that affects my daily life.1 more Taxol to go then on to AC

Maggie

Jerseylicious

Oh Rae, so sorry for your loss....and so sorry you have to be suffering from chemo side effects while going thru it.  thinking about you and sending hugs....

khegidio

Rae...I had to reread what you wrote to make sure I read it right.  That is horrible and I am so sorry for your loss.  Seems so unfair for this to happen period, but especially when you are physically just beat down.  I am hoping that you are finding some comfort through your family friends and your church to even make it through. I only have one son but your post really made me cringe at the thought and pain of what you must be experiencing.  My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.  May he rest in peace. 

Please use us as a sounding board for whatever feelings you have right now... rage, hatred, disbelief, depression, whatever.  We are here for you. Much Love & Hugs....

cooka

Rae, I am so sorry. I can't imagine what you must be going through. 

belleeast

oh rae, i am so sorry for your loss, you and your family are in my prayers. there are no words to take away your pain , just know we are here for you to vent,cry,rant, to let go whatever you need.

ccjj

Rae, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. 

bluejay58

Rae, I am so sorry. 

 Kimberly -- is it possible your black spot is a manifestation of hand-foot syndrome?  That's the name of the pain/soreness/swelling you can get in your feet (and hands, I guess, although I only had it in my feet) from docetaxol (like taxotere).  I've read it can also progress to blisters.  Just throwing out a guess here. 

Sheypres

Rae- So sorry for your loss.  I can not even imagine what you are going though.  My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Rockym

Rae, Not fair!  I can't imagine what you are going through.  Losing a child on top of this chemo/cancer bullshit... my thoughts and prayers are with you and hope you have the same strength in handling this as I have seen you have in handing your cancer.

SCPMadi

Rae- so sorry to hear of the tragedy that ha befallen your family. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

Kimberly-Sorry to hear about the spot. As if anyone need another symptom to deal with. I hope it clears up fast. I am also dreading #3, partially because of the cold that seems never ending. I know the Chemo will kick the cancers ass but it also kicks my immune system allowing the cold to take a firmer hold each time. Plus it is Halloween and I just want to be able to enjoy the festivities with my kids without feeling so exhausted. 

Did some running around today, picked up my blood vials from the lab had to wait in line for almost an hour just to get the vials. Picked up all the Halloween goodies for the kids at school. I wanted to get everything in order before Fridays treatment. Visited my Grandmother which is difficult right now, she is an avid smoker and the smoke smell just gets to me right now. Also she is experiencing some memory issues and bless her asks me the same questions about my treatment and diagnosis over and over. I have a hard time turning off my professional training to just enjoy ur visits ( I am a Alzheimer and dementia counsellor). She had BC in her 30s and told noone in the family until I got diagnosed, than she just spontaneously announces it to me when I tell her how shocked I am about my diagnosis. Not one of her 11 children or 23 grandchildren knew. Sort of a key medical history piece.She is 83 now so I think she is inspiring as if she could beat it back then we can all beat it now.

Hope you are are feeling better today then yesterday, 

Take Care

Kayrem

Rae - I am so sorry for your loss.  I cannot imagine what you are going through.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

Suz39

Rae, I just read your post.  I know I haven't ever said this, but I have silently admired you and your humor and strength.  You seem like an all around amazing woman.  I am praying that your faith will lead you out of the despair that you must be feeling.  My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

Shawna77

Rae, I am so sorry to hear what you're going through.  You are in my thoughts and prayers. 

Kimberly1961

Good morning ladies,

Round 3 done for me. I don't feel too bad until the steroids wear off and the Neulasta side effects kick in, and then crash, crash, crash.  I got a prescription for possible water retention this round but I haven't had to use it.  No 14-pound water retention this time either.  I also picked up the Aveeno anti-itching lotion for my scalp.  Maybe I'll get lucky and won't need that either but it does seem worst the weekend after chemo.  C'mon Thanksgiving. 

I hope all of you with young children enjoy Halloween weekend.  Send costume pictures.  We love pictures.  I also love hearing about the vacation plans that some of you have made.

I did ask the MO to examine a lump in the cording on my arm.  I think it is just scar tissue reaction from when I stretched the cording because it showed up right at the time I got full overhead extension back in that arm.  Did any of the rest of you with cording and/or LE get a lump on the cording?  He thought the lump was rather superficial to be lymph node which he said are usually deeper and wants the surgeon to look at it, maybe need an excision.  I think the tight cording brings those vessels closer to the surface, that's why the cord is visible so close to the surface. The lump I think is scar forming where maybe I tore it a little when it finally stretched.  MO says "Now I don't want you to get all worked up about this."  I said "What should I get worked up about?  I already know I have cancer."  It's not like when you think you are well and find out you are sick.

I did find some more foods that I can still taste when the tastebuds are burned off.  Canteloupe, green melon, and (kind of) grapes.  I can't believe I can't taste my own spaghetti.  Nope, that was about as appealing as eating dirty tennis shoes.

khegidio

CJRT: So I had my consultation with one of the plastic surgeons.  I have a consultation with another next wednesday.  So I LOVE LOVE LOVE this man.  He was so thorough and had such a good bedside manner.  Plus he was recommended by ladies in the local cancer support community.  Plus - I ran into a friend in the waiting room (ha ha - was embarassing for her).  She said this dr. did her boobs and she was back for something else (she wouldn't disclose - lol). She recommended him too.  Anyway he was fantastic and even though I have an appt next week with another plastic surgeon for another consultation I feel like I will go with this guy (Dr. Beegle with Atlanta Plastic Surgery).  I am going to go with the bilateral mastectomy with FreeTRAM reconstruction.  They will be doing a skin sparing mastectomy so my scars will be a line under my nipple down to the crease and then around my nipple.  I left there feeling so good about what my new boobs will look like.  His work (from pics) looks so good.  I was really very pleasantly surprised.  I had no idea what my scars would look like but it will be just like the scars from a breast enhancement surgery.  Plus the tummy tuck is an added bonus.  Also - despite what I have read online about this surgery being 10-14 hours, he said that it is only 4 hours because he will be working on me at the same time as my breast surgeon. That made me feel better that I would not be sedated for 14 hours.  The thought of that scared me. I will have a hospital stay of 3-5 days.  My surgery date (unless I decide to go with another plastic surgeon) is February 8th - 4 weeks from the day of my last chemo. 

It feels so good to have an end in site. 

Kayrem

Hi everyone



Kimberly - I had bumps (more than one, I think 3) on my cord in the bicep area. They were so prominant that when I layed my arm down with the cord facing up I could see them through my skin and they were painful to touch. They went away over time (about 2 weeks). You are done treatment number 3. You are almost done! Soon everything will taste better.



Kate - glad you found a plastic surgeon you are comfortable with. Funny about your friend she must have thought "oh no busted" - pardon the pun - when you caught her in the office.





I have been frustrated lately. Had my monthly oncology appointment and brought up the zinc supplement and what the pharmacist said and the oncologist said "don't take it". I am so annoyed. I asked about it once while I was receiving chemical infusion (so the pharmacist working knew I was on Chemo!) and phoned later agin to confirm ( with another pharmacist at CancerCare). And then I

get a third answer. I keep saying to myself only 2 more months to go (last treatment is Jan 2).



Time to go get my daughter from kindergarten. We are doing homework and Halloween treat bags for the class this afternoon. I think would go mental if I did not have her to distract me. She makes me smile.

CJRT

Kate- Thank you so much for all the info! I have been leaning toward the bilateral mastectomy route too (if not for any other reason than my sanity) but was taken aback by my oncologist's shock when I mentioned it. The other doctors on my team had not reacted very surprised. I had another MRI yesterday to see how much the tumor has decreased to discuss sandwiching the surgery in the middle of the chemo. I am not sure if this will be the case if I opt mast. or if it is just if I do the lump. I will meet with the onc. on Tuesday to go over the results and revise the treatment plan, Depending on what she says, I then might be doing the surgical consults at this point rather than towards the end of the chemo. I love my breast surgeon, so I am hoping I feel the way you do about the PS you met with one of the two plastic surgeons my breast surgeon usually recommends. It must feel so good to have plans for the final steps.

belleeast

hi all,

kimberly,maybe your dr is like mine she keeps saying you are a cancer survivor the cancer is gone. WTH,i want to say then why am i doing chemo and radiation.  i like her otherwise just gets on my nerves when she says that. i don't have any cording.

khedigio, i'm glad you found a surgeon you like awesome!

kayrem, the little ones always make me smile.

rae, thinking of you,anytime you want to talk about your son please do so if not here, you can pm me. i know sometimes it helps to talk and remember the good times and memories.

ok, have a question i buzzed my hair with a no. 1 blade,still have stubbies less each day but when do they all fall out. i am 23 days from 1st treatment. my head is sore.

today i have a massive headache,too. last nite i woke up feeling like i had a 10lb or more rock in my belly,took a compazine seemed to help,wonder if headache is from the compazine,never caused one before. or just se from chemo.

got my scarves from tlc, today,yeeeahh. going to #2 daughters halloween party tomorrow, will get to see all the grandkids, costume optional any suggestions?

belleeast

cjrt,someone on this site suggested meeting with a plastic surgeon to look at all your options before deciding on lumpectomy or masectomy or bilateral. i wish i had seen that before doing my lumpectomy. i think it is good advice then you have all the information and can make the best decision. do what is right for you. 

khegidio

belleeast: My hair started falling out on day 15 after my first treatment - so I buzzed it.  The stubble started to come out, especially on the sides but it was hanging on on the top and back of my head.  I finally shaved my head with a razor because I was over the splotchy look.  Plus - I figured it might be like my legs and underarms.  I shaved those the day I buzzed my hair and the hair has never grown back.  That was 3-4 weeks ago. 

So now I am bald as a cue ball - and I was almost right.  My hair is growing VERY SLOWLY in some spots.  But it hasn't even grown back enough to shave it again.  That's how slow.  I've had to shave my husbands twice since i shaved mine and have not had to reshave. 

I was scared about cutting my head with the razor but that never happened.  Overall very easy to do.  I did it in the shower by myself. 

As far as halloween - my son will be going as a little vampire.  I'll be sure to post pics. 

I took my wig to my own real hairdresser and she showed me how to curl it and straight iron it, etc.  She also cut it a little and didn't charge me a cent.  Love her for that.  She is very compassionate since her mother is also battling breast cancer. 

Kate

Jerseylicious

Got my 3rd infusion done today and all I can think is just 1 more to go!!! Feel pretty good now, it's definitely the steroids, but I'm wondering if everyone sees a lot of water weight gain?  I don't actually see swollen ankles but my hands feel tight and I definitely feel bloated.  What can we do about it? Do we just have to wait until we are done with this chemo? ughhhhhhhhh

 I asked my Onc about vitamin supplements today and he feels very strongly about not doing any thru chemo. He says that it is unknown what some of them do and how they affect chemo and he would prefer that I wait until I'm done. I was always  a vitamin girl before and stopped immediately when Iwas diagnosed (kinda like...well THAT helped!) So I'm kinda on the fence about the whole thing now.  He is going to hook me up with a dietician though so I can make some lifestyle changes tomy eating habits....but after chemo. I guess that's good.

mags20487

Met with a LE therapist today and now will be going for physical therapy 2x a week til these cording symptoms in my arms and trunk go away.  Ouch.  It is the one thing my insurance is allowing without a fight go figure.  Going to spend a weekend away at a great friends house who moved 4 hrs north a few months ago.  Can't wait to just get away from my house for a little bit and then its back to getting hit by the bus on Wed--at least then I will be halfway thru chemo and moving on to radiation for next year followed by foobies!!  Just found out that my store will be getting another award for this yr for % increase over last yr--2 yrs in a row for double digit increase so I am taking my management staff (my son and daughter and DIL) to Vegas to get that award!  Another something to look forward to for sure...

Rae--still thinking of you every minute and praying for you to have the strength you need to cope with all you have on your plate right now...HUGS!

Maggie

belleeast

jersey, did u ask your dr about diaretics( sp)? limit salt, drink lots of water. i don't have any water weight gain,i only get steroids on day of chemo thru port, premeds.

maggie, enjoy your weekend away,glad you are getting pt,nip it in the bud.