Starting chemo November 2012

Sickofpink

Dakota, so true and I'm glad your sis is fine now . I never second guess my drs - i feel so lucky to live in LA and have great drs so i have to trust them - just still hard to accept all this. But yes, we will win.

Dakota212

It is hard. At times I feel like a robot, go here do this and times I sit for a second and say wow. And yes there are times I cry. But mostly I am grateful I was dx at stage 1 and I can do this. when I look at my kids, I have to do this!!! Hope ur enjoying ur day!!

ltmguy

I have been Away for the week. We took a rip to Crystal River to swim with the manatees.  OH man am I out of shape.  We had a great time. 

I have missed alot we have some wonderful new Gals that have joined.

Those that have started CHemo or done there 2nd round I am glad all is well and I hope it keeps going that way.

I started shedding the same time as all of you.  I have alot of hair so I can shed and be ok I weent weeks with out loosing any.  I only have 4 treatments.

I had my 1st momo scheduled as I just turned 40 and found the lump from the time it was scheduled and the time I had it mine was fast growing.

I am also a caretaker I have a 10 year old that has Aspergers.

I leave Sunday to go back for mt next treatment.  I have look good feel good on Monday (has anyone been) and chemo and fill on Tuesday we will drive home on Wed.  We need to put up  the christmas tree, get unpaked from trip. kids packed. do a science project. get food for lunch boexes ready, and events every night.  Man I thought life was busy before cancer.   We wold like to take the boat out and find our peace of pardiase.

Anonymous

Itmguy~I know it must be very challenging having a child with aspergers. In my experience, they are usually SUPER intelligent! There are doctors, attorneys, etc with aspergers.



I see the onc Monday and I'm hoping to start chemo on the 29th.



How long does it take to get the port in? Have any of you been told about Elma cream?

It numbs the port area especially right before treatment. Ask you onc or nurse/pract. For a script. I hear its inexpensive.



Blessings

Paula

Bren58

Trying to catch up on this thread, it moves fast! I got my port put in on Tuesday and I start Chemo on the 29th. As you can see from my bio, this is my second dance with BC, but my first with chemo. I am so thankful for these boards and all the wonderful women that are part of this sisterhood that none of us want to be in.

txjunebug

Soteria - port surgery took less than an hour.  I was back home before 10:30.  ELMA cream is a must.  Didn't feel a thing during first treatment.

How you doing 5Luvbugs?  I've got some benedryl but I'm so bloody in the nose that I've been afraid to take it.  Guess I should call doctor and ask. 

I made it to work and yes -- there is only a handful of people here.  Borderlines of down right stupidity why the office is open.  All the executives are out in the stores and it's not like one of them is going to need to discuss depreciation or fixed assets with me today.  It is the biggest shopping day of the year after all!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Sorry everyone I'm whiny when I don't feel good.  I do truly feel blessed that my bc was caught at stage 1.  Just a rough day yesterday & today.

Dakota212

Ltmguy -

Regular life doesn't stop when cancer strikes. We have nothing today yeah!!! I am breaking down and shaving my head today. I just got out of the shower and combed my hair. Oh dear god that was definately the worst feeling yet. Stuck my wig on and headed out! Wish me luck!!! Welcome bren sorry for the reoccurrence.

ltmguy

Paula Yes he is very smart he was mutipling at 4 and I know that is why doc have such a bad personallity(no people skills)  The hardest part his he understands.  I avocate for children.  I would not change him for the world He is who he is.  One thing he has tought me is that people are all different or a reason.  I am a supper lucky mom.  He gives me strenght in ways I never thought.

Bren u are right this thred moves really fast. Like you I love it though it means we are all getting something from it.

OK so I just got out of th shower and guess what there was a mouse in the shower well I thought it was no it was hair A done of it.

I told my husband today it comes of he says it it thinner But it is still fine I say no today I will shave my head.... It is power control is some form. Right?????  I will wear my scarves and hats proudly.  I am glad I am in FL and not up north.

Anonymous

Bren~Thanks for the port info. I'm definitely asking for he ELMA. Can you use it to help with the pain of first getting the port in? I see a lot of ladies have pain from that?
You can vent on here all you want. It won't cost you a cent!



Blessings

Paula

Dakota212

Txjune-

Our office should be open but we are told to use out float holiday for today.

Ltmguy-

We are off together. Have to start wearing this thing some time. Ughh this too shall pass !

Dakota212

Soteria

Good luck with the port. I don't have one glad someone good help

ltmguy

Dakota,

My husband is freacking out about this to how does he handle patients at work?  Maybe it is those great personal skills???? Or not.  I do love him and I know that he has alot to deal with also but come on I am sick of everytime there is a major change him beigning the one that freaks out.  When is it my turn oh yea I forgot that is not my role.  Off with the OLD and in NEW.  All this dead hair will be gone before we no it we will have health hair back.

Eleni

Jenifer, you got to have a "f**k everything" attitude. Your mother is not going to change and don't expect that. The neighbour's relative probably didn't know about your situation, so don't worry about it. If your neighbour complains, then give her a broom and thank her for helping you out.

Now it's the time to think of yourself and only yourself. Take good care of you and the people who are important to you. For the rest, it doesn't matter.

Eleni

Port hurt the first days after they put it in. Now I'm two weeks further and I can sleep on my belly. I don't feel it at all.

Anonymous

Jenifer~I like Eleni's idea. Give the neighbor a broom, and tell her she can either help you out, or take the broom and fly home on it!



Eleni~Thanks for port info. I'll be glad to get this all started.



Blessings

Paula

Megan2

Moms... here on this board, so many of us are moms ourselves, and yet it is so hard to have our own moms be the way we need them to be. As a mom, it is hard to imagine the reaction your mom is having Jennifer. I'm sorry she isn't being the mother you need and deserve.

So the blood test after neupogen shot four is fine - my neutrophils went from 70 to almost normal. Had I known that would happen, it sure would have saved me a heck of a lot of stress about the fever (I am a panicker). The ups and downs of this experience are what causes me the stress - I don't deal well with the unknown, and this is all one huge adventure into the land of no planning, no predictions, and no clue what next. This is what I am struggling with the most. Maybe round 2 will be more familiar territory, and while not better, less stressful. Or not:)

My hair is still stuck firmly to my head - sounds like everyone else's started to fall after day 14, so I still have a couple of days left before mice appear in the shower:)

Happy belated thanksgiving everyone, and hope for those who escaped work or SEs or whatever, that the shopping was therapeutic!

marianelizabeth

Soteria, just my opinion but I bought the EMLA cream but first access (a PET scan) and I did not know I would have port accessed so no time for EMLA and it was a piece of cake. Now several accesses later and it is just a prick and way less pain (virtually none) than having a vein poke for blood work. EMLA needs to be applied 45 min. prior and covered with an opsite or saran wrap. My PowerPort surgery took less than 20 minutes with conscious sedation and I was home having dinner soon after and played a board game that night. It was sore for 10 days but since then, no pain at all.

5LuvBugs

Gee Wiz - Everyone has been so busy posting today that I just don't know where to start...   So I won't!!    Tonite I will just enjoy ready...

Dakota212

5luv-

I know right. I couldn't keep up either!!! Haha. Enjoy ur night or day everyone!!

Thankful4mylife

Hi everyone



I hope everyone had a great turkey day!!!! For those that posted how they found their cancer....thanks!!! It's just interesting to me.



Well, the wig made its debut yesterday. I was hoping to make it to the weekend but my hair follicles had a different plan! I got out of the shower and filled a whole wastebasket full of my hair. It was quite emotional but I had to "suck it up" and put it on. My family seemed to like it....its lighter than my own hair but I thought....what the heck, may as well have "fun"with this!!!



I'm gonna talk to my oncologist about this, but in the meantime, does anyone know if the rounds of TC have to exactly at 21 days?? I currently have one scheduled for 12/20 which means my worst side effects will be on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day :-(. Was wondering if I could do it like at day19....



Also, for those of you on TC, are you doing 4 or 6 rounds??

Dakota212

Thankful-

I avoided washing or even wetting my hair yesterday and brought out the wig today. Same thing imager my shower when I tried to comb my hair. It was bad !!! Almost gone now but this too shall pass ladies!!!

Tlym

JeniferMiya-I can totally relate. I have a mom who checks out on me emotionally and usually it's all about her anyway. I was talking about my chemo SE's with her last week and she wouldn't stop comparing it to her own issues. Mind you, she's 70 years old and in perfect health, so I just had to tell her to stop because she has no idea what it's like to go through chemo and I hope she never does. We just have to draw strength and support from positive people who truly care about our feelings.

Thankful-Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm actually going 24 days before tx #2 and then 18 days to tx#3. Of course, everything is dependent on the blood counts, but I'm good to go for #2 on Monday. I will be doing 4 x TC.

For the new ladies worried about appetite, I have to admit, I have been back to my old self after a challenging first week. Eating, sleeping, and resuming all regular activities. I hosted over 20 people for Thanksgivng dinner, ate way too much food, and feel great today. Even got in some Black Friday shopping with my daughter and best friend. I'm pleasantly surprised at how well I feel and enjoying every moment before my next tx and the impending SE's.

Thankful4mylife

Tlym-thanks for the info. I'm gonna talk to the dr next week about an "early" treatment for Christmas!



I also ate wayyyyy too much yesterday and did Black Friday shopping today. Yay for good days!!!



Dakota-yes, this too shall pass. .

txjunebug

Thankful - I'm on TC for 6 rounds.  Seems like a long time.

Finally think antibiotics are starting to kick in for sinus infection.  Tomorrow is day 9 and I'm hoping for some energy. 

Hope side effects are minimal for us ladies!!!! 

JeniferMiya

Eleni- You're right, EFF it!  Thank you all, it helps me not feel so alone... I love these pep talks we have.

I know I read someone asking about the EMLA cream.. I had gone to the pharmacy to pick up my moms meds (go figure) and there was a script waiting for me from the Onc. It was my EMLA cream and Zofran.  If you put the EMLA cream on, apply it thicker. Like icing a cake just not as thick and cover with saran wrap.

As for the port placement, I was awake just under a light anesthesia, I was even talking and joking around but I do that all the time. The pressure from the bandages were very uncomfortable especially when I would laugh, sneeze or cough but I took them off today and it feels better.  Although I don't know what this "dried glue" type of stuff is and I'm afraid to peel it off.  So I'll just leave it for now.  I go in for port education on Monday.  Was supposed to have a pet scan the other day but insurance won't cover it. Then was told I would be doing a ct scan but never heard back from the office so I suppose I'll find out on Monday.

I did pick up an inexpensive ($32) wig today (on a whim) It's not as bad as I thought it would be... Ladies, we can become every fantasy! Blonde, Brunette, Red, Pink, Purple!

We may have been forced into this club but now it's our turn to show BC who's the BAWSE!

Hugs & fist bumps everyone

Sickofpink

Hi thankful, my doc said they don't like to mess with the schedule that works which is one reason i started on the 8th instead of 1st. So #3 will be on the 20th like yours. I figure it ws good so my family saw me be okay for the first holiday, Thanksgiving, (lack of hair was the big deal) because Christmas will be very different and they will be used to it more. Let's first enjoy this week before number 2!

Txjunebug and 5luvbugd hope you are better tomorrow !

6 rounds of tch for me.p>

Dakota212

Txjunebug-

So glad the antibiotics are working for u finally !!!

Jennifer-

It can be hard, but this is about u. U have to be selfish and get thru this. Ask for help, put aside those who are unwilling and perservere.

Sick -

Enjoy is right. !!

DZLassie

Hi everyone. Things feel like they have moved so fast for me after an interminable time of waiting to know what was wrong with me. Originally my breast surgeon felt I had extensive DCIS and warned me there was a 60% chance of microinvasion or IDC. Path report after mastectomy (DCIS waaaaay too extensive to consider lumpectomy plus path on that was grade 3 E/R -, pR-) showed multifocal IDC. Although the largest was only about 8.5 mm, there were enough of them that I was staged Ib. Saw my oncologist last Thursday who wanted me to start chemo ASAP, had a medi port put in on Tues and first chemo on Wed before Thanksgiving. Feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment, primarily due to pain from port procedure. It feels likes there is a poodle sitting on my chest and neck (I don't want to say an elephant because it is not a heart attack - just pain). It still hurts to swallow and breathe and the frustrating thing is I was doing so well post mastectomy surgery.  I was up walking 2-4 miles a day the within a week. But this has me so down. And I hate going back on the pain meds because the chemo/pain med combo has made me constipated. But I really don't know what else to do because the pain is waking me up in the middle of the night. And I am sure the fatigue from the chemo is not helping anything - had to take a 3 hour nap this afternoon after an hour or so of sitting in a wig shop. Sorry for the middle of the night self-pity party but if anyone knows whether the pain from this port procedure will go away quickly, or has advice on that score, I'd love to hear it. Thanks. 

ltmguy

Good morning girls I had the best day Yesterday.... I was taking a shower and guess what showed up yep ur right those mice.  I had a few friends come over a house full of kids and we Shaved MY HEAD.  it is like GI Jane and I have very dark hair and am very tan still from the summer. I always lovedd her hair gut when she did it just never had the balls. I took a shower put on makeup, big earings, high heals and went to dinner at our yacht club.  I did not wear a wig or a scarf just my new do.  We envited people over for drinks and out wih the old and in with new social.  I wanted a big party when I did this would have been 30 dear friends and there kids but my hair would not hold on.  My husband wanted me to wait for family pic day scheduled on th beach for Friday.  It was perfect just the way it was.  I did miss my  best friend as they she out of town She has gone to my appt locally  with me she comes out of town with us her husband takes time off work and she comes for the really big things like surgery and the big appt.  I love her as a sister. 

I felt Empowered.  The strange thing is I still do.

We can do this all of us.

Daisy-Donna

Started TCH on Nov 12. Very fortunate to have very little side effects. I know others were not. Haven't started hair loss yet but sure it's coming. Have pretty thick hair so hoping might just thin? Doc says I will most likely need Neulasta shot next round. Getting worried about side effects from that as well. Anyone not experience them?