Sept 2012 chemo

jojo2373

Doin ok Amy! You know I was in such a positive frame of mind then started reading the threads of the July chemo group. So many sounded exhausted and depressed by cycle 4. Lets keep supporting each other and get through this together! Bear - my chemo starts Friday. I got my port last week. Hugs to all.

Camillia

Peace of mind is priceless, I am glad for the ones who could find it by getting scans. My onco said we could do one after chemo if it is going to make me feel more reassured, I agreed. But it does scare me. I have no real reason to worry, but it's just scary to me

I have heard how rare it is to carry the BRCA gene, phew! I still feel a little sad that my daughter will now have to be checked at an earlier age because of my history. How is you daughter dealing with all of this, Bearcup?

Anyone else with children? HOw are they doing? My 3 are doing good, thankfully. We were honest with them and when they have questions, they ask. My 6 y/o still struggle with the perspective of my hair loss. We tried my hat and scarves on together. All 3 kids were playing with them this afternoon, they were playing "cancer" I guess that's their way of dealing with the emotions. They were laughing.

I too am quite nervous about chemo and how my body will handle it. In a way, I want to get it done so I at least know what to expect the next time. We can do this! Ithink a few of us are starting this week, right?

Neta, how have you been?

This port thing is really sounding annoying. Not holding your little one must be hard. 2 little weeks and it will be done... hang in there little guy ;-)

amylovesbubby

)yea port not so good but better everyday. Does ur 3 yr old go to school. Bubby stays home with me. Glad ur kids are doing ok. I am worried about my son's reaction to hair loss. Going to buy him a bandanna to wear with me. I just don't want to be too sick to not be there for him



Camillia....good luck Friday! Wondering how beta is doing.

amylovesbubby

Neta* not beta,......sorry

firestorm531

My chemo will NOT be starting this week after all...I'm incredibly bummed and worry that the delay will push me further into being sick at Christmas time But my MO want another look at my breast healing and wants to see first hand how my port is healing along. I offered to email her pics, but noooo she wants to see me in person. WTF?!?!? LOLOL Doctors can be such downers lolol

Camillia

Thinking of her as well.

I am glad you are feeling better.

I have 3 kids (I just edited my post, I misspelled, oops!); 6 year old twins and a 9 y/o. They are all in school and go back on Wednesday. Chemo starts the next day. It is good timing, it will keep them busy and their mind will be occupied elsewhere :-)

jojo2373

Sorry to hear of the delay Fire, I know how mentally challenging that is. I have 2 kids but they are in college. Just as hard on them regardless of age.

Camillia

Firestorm, sorry to hear about the delay too :-( Better safe than sorry, right? So when are you going to see your dr?

Jojo, are your kids at colleges near home?

jojo2373

Yes - Camillia they both commute and live at home (which in the upcoming months will be a really good thing)!

chitown3

jojo and firestorm---you are lucky ladies----the wig thing has been more sressful than the double mx or the chemo for me!!!.

 I have to work in an office and have a huge weeklong event the  week my hair is likley to go. Went to one old school wig place and I sewar I was in a "Saturday night Live sketch!!!!!"

I bought one but think it still looks a little to "fake" to use with people who don't know my story.  I am looking forwrd to being able to try some new styles with friends though. I guess I will break out my inner Beyonce and just change it up day by day eventually when i get comfortable.

I start chemo today and might let me teen girls play hairdresser this weekend......

Camillia

Jojo, that's great that your kids will be near you during this journey :-)

Chitown, I will be thinking of you today. I hope everything goes as smoothly as possible. Have you looked at hats and scarfs that have hair attached to it? Some look really pretty and maybe it would feel and look more natural?

jojo2373

Good luck  Chitown!  Please let us know how it went and your SE's.  What chemo's are you taking?  I have ordered a few hats/scarfs from Headcovers.com.  What I have received is very nice and I have been practicing my "knots".  There are great instructional video's on YouTube.

Camillia

I really like the items I got from them as well! Soft and comfy :-) I'll have to check YouTube. What did you type to get to the good videos?

jojo2373

I enjoyed these - "How to tie a headscarf - Dana Farber Cancer Institute" with Kelley Tuthill.  Kelley also has some great video's of her cancer journey on YouTube.  Also "The easiest way to tie a headscarf - without knots" by "EyelineHer Videos".

Camillia

Jojo, I just looked at them both and loved the one without knots. Thanks for sharing :-)

patriciahurtado

Hi, im getting mine the 10 of september so nervous!!!

patriciahurtado

Jojo, Camillia, firestorm and chinatown.........im so scare about all this i start chemo on the 15 and port on the 10th....i will get some wigs and hats tomorrow...i have a 18year daughter and it has been hard on her..She started college today ....i wish everyone good luck and with your support we will get throught this  

jojo2373

Patricia - we are all nervous too. I start Friday. What a way to spend the Labor Day weekend huh?

patriciahurtado

Jojo......not as i plan it!!! .... Did you get your port already...

amylovesbubby

Port doing much better. Just feels like heart burn. Muggap scan Thursday morning. Can anyone tell me what they do and how long it took?



Jojo. ....you ready?



Patricia........so freaked

jojo2373

Patricia i have had my port for a week. Feels fine except when i first get out of bed, then i get the "oh no" there's a thing in my chest reality. Amy - I am ready to start! Scared but I want to start killing this thing that has changed my life forever.

amylovesbubby

Jojo......please let me know how your doing, will be praying u have little se 's! I will be right behind u on Tuesday!

laura_g

PET scan was today. Even though the rational part of me knows the results will be fine, I'm still so nervous about getting the call from my doctor tomorrow. This one test could mean the difference between stage 1 and stage 4 cancer. I'm hyper aware of every ache, pain and cough.

Neta69

Hi everyone! Day 4 after first TC and today I'm exhausted. Couldn't do anything but sit around today. Sore, muscle and bone pain, foggy brain and pretty anxious. Suddenly I felt very small and scared. Took an Ativan for that tonight. I'm not nauseaus though and haven't been sick or anything yet but I do have an upset tummy and a slightly fuzzy tongue as well. And there is this strange slightly numb feeling I have in my face, lips and fingers on occasion.



Hope you are all well and wishing you minimal sie effects.

laura_g

Thanks for sharing, Neta. I'm getting the same chemo starting Thursday if all goes well with today's scan. Even though it may affect me a little differently, it's nice to have an idea what to expect.

jojo2373

Laura the pet results will eliminate the wondering for you. Mine gave me peace of mind to know where i was starting from. However I will add this about my experience - my pet result said 1 pos lymph node and it was enlarged. MRI i had the following week showed the 1 large was actually 4 pos. Praying you get good news!

bearcub

Oh my goodness I have had company for the last few days and I feel like I am falling behind.

Hang in there Neta, thanks for the heads up, I don't start until the 5th. Hoping you have few SE.

Camilla I have two daughters, the oldest is 35, my BS said they won't need a mammogram until they are 40. She says in the 30's the breasts are too dence. I sure see a lot of 30 year olds on this forum with BC...my daughters are going to get a referral to have one done anyway.

I am still waiting for news about my mugga scan, and port....I am going to call my cancer coordinator tomorrow and see if she can find out when!..Amy I am not looking forward to the port, sounds like it will be a pain in the butt to get used to.

My 5 year old granddaughter was upset that I had cut my hair. I gave her a big cuddle and let her know it was still her GMA. I will definitely wear something on my head when she is visiting.

Jojo you have beautiful long hair, did you cut it off yet? Good luck Friday.

Anyway I just want to get on with this treatment, praying to be done by the end of Nov....should be the beginning of Nov but I am tacking on a few weeks so I won't be disappointed with blood count delays if that happens!...

Headcovers has some great stuff, if anyone is considering a wig there is also Paula Young.

May everyone have minimum SE, and we will and can do this together!

jojo2373

Yes bear that pic was taken the month before my DX (July 27) at my youngest's graduation. I have since cut it to chin length and will buzz it at the first clump. I look at all pics before 7/27 as "precancer" now.

Camillia

Neta, it is good to hear from you. I have heard from another lady when I went to the "Look good, Feel good" session that at right around day 3-4, she would cry A LOT, for no obvious reason. She was a nurse and said that she thought it had to do with the steroids that they mix with the chemo wearing off. Maybe it can explain the sudden anxiety?

Bearcub, I just ordered an easy on, easy off cotton hat for my head as my 6y/o mention that she was scared of seeing my with my bald head in the morning. I know she will get used to it, but much like you, I just feel better wearing something if it's going to be a bad imagine that will stick with her.

Any of you having bad nighmares? I sleep horribly, I wake up all the time and often with bad dreams. I do well during the day, maybe that's my brain's way of coping? Iam starting chemo tomorrow... I am very nervous but ready to just get it done. 

Laura, hang in there. In the end, it will bring you great peace of mind as Jojo said. Let us know how things go.

Well, I have a few things I want to get done before tomorrow; batches of food, cleaning, changing shower curtains. Have to keep my mind occupied ;-)

Cherioo

Good Afternoon ,

I am new to cancer and this site. I aaas diagnosed July had a double mastectomy Aug 2nd and now I will be starting chemo sept 6th. My doctor has chosen sfor me 8 rounds every two weeks , then radiation after . I feel like everything is going so fast . I really am glad I fou d you all to help me through all this