Ohio Chemo Sisters

Eileenohio

GI doc called-good news-biopsy of colon ulcer shows nothing.Dr says I do not need a colonoscopy for 5 years. He says the ulcer will resolve itself,he thinks the ulcer was caused from antibiotic meds that I took for a month.  

Tomorrow will be treatment #2 so ofcourse I am getting very anxious. Treatment one was not bad at all,praying that #2 goes as well.. 

Got another wig that I like a lot better,but it still itches after a couple hours.guess I will have to get used to it. Any suggestions to stop the itching?   Hope everyone is doing well..

sewingnut

Kelloggs

When my hair started to grow it came in clear, then white, then the colored hair started. Have fun with it. I went topless at 6 weeks. I didnt care what people thought =:0)

OneToughCookie

Hello Ohio Ladies-

Glad to report that I got my power port yesterday - absolutely no pain, didn't even have to take a Tylenol afterwards. (needed the port because veins are shot & many more months of Herceptin)



Had LAST TCH today!! Wish I could celebrate with a gourmet meal and some fine wine, but will postpone that celebration for a few weeks ( when the food and drink will actually taste normal.)



Good luck to all Buckeye ladies, whether you are currently receiving treatment or are done. The chemo WAS doable. (but I certainly don't want to do it again!!)

Eileenohio

Fran, So happy that you had your last chemo today. I am  having #2 tomorrow. Hope we both do well with little to no side effects.  Hope you celebrate with the best gourmet you can find when you can.    Hugs  Eileen

GirlPowerDebbie

Kelly, sorry #5 sucked.  You are almost there sweetie.  I just kept telling myself "when the spring flowers bloom, so will I." 

Had the last rads tx today - LOL, they gave me a certificate congratulating me on finishing!  I told DH I felt like I got a certificate for finishing an elective class.  I do not know whether to dance around it, or burn it!!!!!!!!  (And my armpit hurts like a bitch.)

Well I am leaving here at 5a tomorrow morning, talk to you BEAUTIFUL STRONG WOMEN next week!

Debbie

TonLee

OTC,

You'll love having the port...I did.  And it's a solid milestone when you get it removed.

Supposed to be beautiful here today....I'm holding the weatherman's feet to the fire on this one.  I want to be OUTSIDE!

Kelloggs

Good morning ladies!  OTC - YAY!!!! Congrats on your last TCH.  I will be there on the 22nd....although I'm not looking forward to it cuz #5 kicked my ass!  I hope Herceptin is a breeze for you.  I agree with everyone, you will love having the port.  I've had mine from the beginning.  Get some EMLA cream from your MO and slather it on and cover it about 45 minutes before...you won't feel the stick at all.  And of course, as soon as those taste buds return, celebrate!!!!

 Debbi - Have a wonderful time on your trip...you deserve it!  A chance to get away and forget about BC for a while would be heaven!

sewingnut - I guess you could say my fuzz has been growing sporadically since it fell out.  It's not filling in anywhere so I just look like a crazy scientist!  It is grey (but I like your description of clear).  I can't wait to see how it turns out.  I am really tired of being bald and looking like my father.  I wear hats or go commando at home but don't have the guts to go without a wig outside my home.  I'm nearing the finish line..........I can see the checkered flag!

Eileen - good luck on #2 today, you will do fine.  Keep us posted on how you are feeling!

I hope everyone has a beautiful, spring (Tonya - YAY!) day in Ohio!

OneToughCookie

Eileen -

Thinking of you today as you get #2 TCH. Since your side effects were minimal from the first chemo, chances are you will tolerate the second one just as well.

Good luck! Make sure to let the Ohio ladies know how you are doing.

Denise-G

Hi ladies, Denise from Toledo - just finished #2 of 12 Taxol.  Taxol has been 85% better for me than A/C.  HOORAY.  Having Herceptin every 3 weeks as well.  So far so good.

Wanted to share this amazing video with you called "Wildest Ride on Earth" done by a Breast Cancer Survivor.  It is absolutely amazing.  It is the first thing I've seen or read that adequately describes my feelings through diagnosis, surgery and treatment.   Just make sure when you watch if you have time to shed some healing tears.  I've watched it about 10 times now.  The song behind it says it all as well.

I posted it on my blog -  please watch - you won't be sorry

 http://denise4health.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/breast-cancer-is-a-crazy-lonely-roller-coaster-ride/

Eileenohio

Good afternoon ladies,  I just got home from TCH treatment #2.  Ate a big dish of Gnocchi and drinking lots of water.  So far I feel good. My white counts were way up so I did not need Neulasta-whew!! happy for that. Boy chemo day is a long day.. Got there at 9:30 am left at 3PM. I am a little sleepy partly because  I did not sleep last nite worried about today. Also happy to know that my wig looks good.  Many compliments. Many of the staff could not believe it is a wig.. I only have 4 more to go then another 10 months of herceptin and 33 radiation treatments.  Don't know how this old body is going to handle all this,so I am trying to learn to take one day at a time.

Hope the next 3 to 4 days are kind to me  Thanks for thinking of me.  Hugs to all   Eileen 

OneToughCookie

Great news Eileen!!! You are tough! Keep taking it one step at a time.

Titan

Kellogs...are you having the Neulasta shot?  I had ac and taxol but it was the nuelasta that always did me in...I hated that shot...

Kelloggs

Yes Titan I do get the Neulasta shot.  I am taking my Claritin also so I don't know if the pain in my legs, hips and back are from the Taxotere or the Neulasta shot.  Either way the whole deal sucks!

Kelloggs

Eileen - glad #2 went well for you.  I'll be thinking of you this weekend and wishing you minimal SE's!  I remember how scared you were before starting, I think you are a tower of strength, you just didn't know it.  You kick cancer's butt!

TonLee

Kelloggs,

I gave myself the Neulasta shot the day after chemo.  I know some women say the bone pain lessened for them after #1, but it never lessened for me.  I take claritin everyday anyway...so your pain is likely from the Neulasta still.

Eileen,

1-4 imo, weren't too bad.  I didn't have a minute of down time.  #5 and # 6 were hardest for me because all those pesky SEs increased and would no longer be ignored.  But still doable.  One more and you are half way!

Hang in there.

Kelloggs

Tonya - I am at day 7 after my 5th TCH and I still have the pain to an extent.  It has gotten progressively worse and lasted a little longer each time.  It feels like little electrical pulses of pain through my legs, hips and lower back.  You think this is the Neulasta?  I also have heavy legs and they burn in my thigh muscles when I walk or especially climb stairs.

sewingnut

Kelli,

My guess its the Taxoterrible that is giving you the hurt. The gumby legs really hit me hard after #6.

Kelloggs

sewingnut - that's what I figured, that it's due to the taxoterrible!  I guess I should just brace myself for #6.  Thank God it will be the last one!

Jaytee

Hello everyone-----------hope you are all having a good day today and hanging in there.  Do you all have a beautiful sunny day today in your part of the state? The sky is just brilliant blue here----Looking forward to lots of those kind of days as spring gets ever closer.

Kelly, you are almost done with chemo!  Cheering you on to the finish line!  Sounds like the taxotere is pretty rough.  I only had neulasta shots after the 4 A/C treatments and that was enough for me.

Denise, I saw the video when it was on the thread on here called 'The Rollercoaster Song'.   It is very powerful.  I cried and cried while watching it.  What is so nice about BCO though is that you don't feel like you are on the roller coaster alone when you are here.  

It was a landmark week for me, my scans looked good and my Onc said I could have my port removed.  I was not expecting that.  It helped when my surgeon told me that he knows my Onc and that she is a very cautious Dr and would not recommend that unless she felt very good about the decision.   Had the surgery on Thurs morning and am now port-less.   Feel like I lost a part of myself----have had that power port since Sept 2010.    Be encouraged ladies----you will get there.  I know at times that it doesn't feel like it.   All my thoughts and prayers are with you-----judy

TonLee

Kelloggs,

I had really sore thighs, that were the worst about 4 weeks after #6.  That's taxoterrible for sure.

I think the zings you are feeling might be neuropathy.  But I'm not sure...

You have one more to go!  Hang in there!  You have one more hill to climb, one more period of ickishness, and then, it's over.  One day you wake up and feel, if not great, better...and then it starts from there and grows until most of your days are good ones.  Almost like chemo in reverse!

Make sure you mention all your SEs to your Onc.  Every single one.

TonLee

I've got to get back on my quilt but it's been SO NICE OUTSIDE...lol...my house is a wreck.  I just sit in the sun and read

leslie612

Kelly -- I had 4 DD A/C and 4 DD Taxol with a Neulasta shot after each tx. I experienced the wobbly/rubbery/weak leg feeling from the Neulasta but did not have the electric pulse feeling (actually, it was pretty excruciating)  until after my first Taxol treatment. You are the only other person I've heard describe the pain as electrical -- thought maybe I was nutty.  So glad that you are almost done!  My last chemo was 1/23 and I now have only 8 rads to go -- hang in there, there is an end to this.

Kelloggs

Thanks ladies - I swear sometimes knowing that I am not crazy and that you have all been there is the only thing that gets me through!  Leslie - it's good to know some one else experienced the same sensation so I know Im not nuts too!

Judy - congrats on being de-ported!

Yesterday my oldest DD and I went to Cleveland to pick up my youngest DD from college and bring her home for spring break.  We went to dinner and did some shopping in Coventry.  It was a wonderful evening, just me and my girls.  Today was a good day, too.  I have felt pretty good today.  The weather is supposed to be absolutely beautiful tomorrow!

Tonya - my DH and I have always enjoyed "porch coffee" together.  It's our time on the weekend to spend an hour or so together, outside on the porch enjoying all the nature in our yard.  I am happy to report that we had our first poch coffee of the season today and it made me smile.  I hope spring has come to Ohio to stay so we can have porch coffee every day!

Jaytee

Porch coffee sounds wonderful     So glad you had a nice day, enjoy your time with your DD during spring break!  

carberry

Kelloggs  Today my son comes home from Ohio for spring break....cant wait I have not seen him since Christmas. Glad you and us are having good weather today for his travels. Taking the dog for a walk at the state park today...yeah for mood boosting sunshine!

Judy congrats on being de-ported.....one more step towards getting past all of this.

Love deck coffee and reading in the sun.....hey we have earned it!

Lumpynme

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i want a porch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

ok now i have to something to b*&%V about!!!! i just took the dog out- when i go out i have been wrapping my winter scarf around my wig cap cuz it really looks nasty in "public" and i put my winter coat on--nobody told me it is freaking gorgeous out so there i am dressed like nanuck of the north!

now-here's my b*&%V--i want a porch or a deck so i can sit and enjoy!!!!!! read !!! coffee!!!!! nap !!!! whatever...

ok- resume what you were doing..................

Kelloggs

Lumpy - I am sorry you don't have a porch to enjoy...is there a park nearby?  You have every right to whine away,...I would whine if I didn't have my porch! Today was absolutely beautiful!  Tomorrow we are getting 57 and rain but the rest of the week looks wonderful - mid to upper 60's all week and sunshine!  It felt so good to get out and get some fresh warm air in my lungs.

carberry - enjoy your son during spring break!  Mine is only an hour away so she comes home just about every other weekend....but I still miss her.

Tonya - how is the swelly belly coming along?  

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

TonLee

It's getting better every day K, thanks for asking!

Today during my 5 miler I engaged my abs off and on....they're sore, but I think I'm on the mend.

Except, I have a swollen lymph node in my neck.  I just keep waiting for it to go away.  But its not.  I'm going to have to go in and have it looked at I guess...dang it!

Kelloggs

Damn swollen lymph nodes!  UGH...  Glad the belly is on the mend.  I saw the pics you posted on another thread and seriously, you are in shape girl and I am jealous!  I haven't looked that good since I was a teenager.  I can't wait for chemo to be done (one more) so I can put my gym membership back to work!

We are in for some beautiful weather after today ladies!  Enjoy!

Kelloggs

I know the weather is too beautiful to be inside on the computer, just checking to make sure everyone is doing well.  Eileen.....how are you?