January 2013 chemo group

cancernoway

Walk a cat made ma laugh out loud.  I'm sure Miss Lucy would choke herself if I attempted to put a harness on her.  She would turn into a full grown cougar.  Now Mr. Tux has been on a harness before, but only after surgery and he was intoxicated still and didn't know better.  I felt bad for him and wanted to take him out in the yard for some fresh air so we made one out of some rope. 

Skigirl - Love Chocolate Labs, or just Labs in general.  My friend has 3 Yellows that he hunts and they are the most well trained and well behaved pups in I've ever seen.  He runs them in the trials and has reached Master Level with them.  They are quite beautiful and very sweet.  Their personalities are hilarious.  I have 2 Texas Heelers and they are cattle dogs.  Very smart, loyal and I can't move without the female being right at my side.  The male has something else mixed in him and isn't the brightest guy, but I love him just the same.  I think he has Jack Russell in him somewhere along the line which makes him a little more hyper, but a little less useful.  We had horses up until 2 years ago and would send the female out to get them and she would bring them straight up to the barn and put them in the correct stalls.  The male would stop to smell their piles of manure.  Again, not the brighest little guy. 

Rhonda - How are you feeling?  I forgot to eat on Tuesday and felt nauseaous on Wednesday morning until I figured out what I did.  Nothing sounded or tasted good so I just forgot to eat and that was not the smartest thing to do.  Once I started eating, I was okay within a couple hours.  Have fun at Disney!  Sounds like a great time!!!!

Shannon - Awesome job on that bike!  You rock!

Zorina - Your walk sounds so nice!  I can't wait for nice weather here so I can exercise outside.  And GREAT job on the 5lbs!!!!

I think we all have that fear, but we are all so strong and, in my case, stubborn, that we don't let it come to the front very often.  I agree it is a good motivator to do things right and to help promote wellness in the people that we care about around us. 

Rhonda2

Hi Cancernoway,



I'm feeling better everyday. Day 3 I began with terrible body aches. So bad that I could sleep so I took Tylenol. It helped but the pain lasted a few days. I'm much better today so it was yard work time. Beautiful weather in California right now so I took advantage of it. I also have problems eating. I forgot to chew ice chips or gum during Taxotere so I'm paying the price with yuck mouth. Can't taste much until its almost down my throat. I am forcing myself so I don't get sick.

kingboo

SherylB and Hope49: congratulations! 

I don't have twitching eyes, but my eyes weep so much now.  I will have to ask the doc if this is a SE of chemo. 

ywheels22

hi ALL

Been missing a couple of days and skimmed through the posts. Walking a cat..that was funny! I exercise every chance I get. I just do it. I am not where I was before this but I am making sure I don't get too far behind. I do spin on my off weekends and will have my second session with my personal trainer on Monday. I do jump ropes, weights, weight machines. I wipe everything before and after, wash my hands before I leave and wear bandanas like a bad ass biker chick kicking breast cancers ass! My spin instructor dedicated one of her classes to me. Everyone wore pink and she made bibs with numbers on them for everyone that said Team Wheels! It was incredible and brough tears to my eyes. Exercise makes me feel like I am winning through this treatment. I already beat the cancer. It is gone. Now it's time to beat the treatment and the nasty SE's. Yes I have about 5 days when I can't do much of anything, but I have the other days! Today was the first day I was too tired to go. I started back to work part time, working about 5 hours a day. Just couldn't do it today, but I will everyday until treatment #4AC on Wednesday. The last AC!!!

I did get thrush in my throat. Yuck. I thought I just had a longer SE of sour stomach yucky taste, so of course I whined to my NP and being the smart woman she is, she looked in my mouth and said "Yup, thrush." GROSS! There is a pill for that! Well a milky, chaulking substance called Nistatin (RX) that I swish and swallow. GROSS! But it is working and it should be gone in a day or two.

Hope: congrats! I can't wait to be you!

Nicole503

ywheels22 ~ I ended up needing Nystatin after AC #3 too.  I only had to use it until my tongue returned to normal.  You might want to hang onto it. I ended up using it again after AC#4.  Fortunately the stuff DOES work!

LisaMM

kingboo-I only have one eyelid that twitches, so far, & that eye has also been watering alot along with my contact bothers me too.  Also on my list for Q & A with my MO next Wednesday.

The mental picture of you all walking your cats has made my day!  I really needed that today!

KATRS

Hi Ladies,

New to this board; posted once somewhere else. I started in January, port in 1/9 and first chemo 1/17 (Tax & Cy). I have round four next week, 4th of 6; some days are just fine, others blindside me emotionally. When done with this, radiation, then Est blocker for 5 years.

During chemo I drink 32 oz of water, I try to enjoy it while I can because day two after chemo and for about another 3 to 4 days I have lousey taste buds. For the mouth issues, I brush several times a day with biotene, there's a mouthwash too. It seems to be helping. I have to stay on top of the constipation ~

That Tuesday before each infusion, when I know what's coming I get cranky and sad; then the day before I start with the low dosing of Decadron (sp) every 12 hours and by the time I start the infusion I am feeling pretty strong and able-bodied. After the Neulasta shot on Friday afternoon I start to fade and have to rely on a little chart I make for each session reminding me to take the anti-nausea, the Claritin (off-sets the side effects of the Neulasta shot), something perscribed to 'take the edge off' <-- low dose but it does help.

I am experiencing sharp pain in my left breast and by the sentinel node removal incision; sometimes in my right which is clear - Onc says its normal but I was wondering today if the cancer can be spreading while I am in treatment?!? When my brain is idle, it just loves to stir up trouble!

Well, thanks for letting me 'share' here; I know everyone around me loves me and wants nothing but the best for me but sometimes I don't think they really understand how angry and sad I can get for no apparent reason.

Hugs Hugs Hugs,

kathy

LeeA

Welcome, Kathy.  Thanks for joining us and thanks as well for sharing your tips.  

I can really relate to this: "When my brain is idle, it just loves to stir up trouble!" 

In case you are interested there's a Facebook group as well.  

Wishing you well as you move through your treatments.  I had number four on March 6 and it has been a doozy.  I was hoping it would be like number three.  It wasn't.  

SherylB

Welcome Kathy,

If you have problems with your mouth we have had good luck with rinsing with baking soda/salt/water about 4 times a day. I like your comment about the idle brain. My brain is a dangerous neighborhood I have to stay away from when it starts doing the "what if".

Look forward to seeing you here on the boards.

Hugs, Sheryl

Anonymous

KATRS~More than likely, the pain you're feeling in the incision area is the nerves regenerating. It will go away on its own. I had sudden shooting pains in that area. Mine was almost like little electric shocks.



I hope that goes away really quickly for you. Of course, when in doubt, always consult your oncology team.



Blessings

Paula

Fighter69

Hello Ladies , 

Hope all is well . Just been taking it easy and resting every chance I get to. Walking an hour or so everyday of the week . Looking forward to my last AC on Monday doc took blood work today . 

I noticed my tongue has turned a nasty color , eyes and nose constantly run like a Marathon and my hands are looking like monkey feet . What is a girl to do ? Nothing but be patient and keep hope alive that the storm is almost over.  I am happy that my hair is coming in now soon wont need the wig anymore . Have had a few aches and pains but other than that I am doing fine. 

Take care 

Fighter

KATRS

Thanks Lee, Sheryl, and Paula~

I am going to try the baking soda, salt, water rinse for my mouth - I just know I don't want to be taking any more meds than I HAVE to!

I went to work today and left almost as quickly as I arrived; taking a vacation day instead. I need some space and next Thursday I get back on the Chemo ride.

Each session has progressed to a slightly longer and tougher recovery. I need to exercise more, I see many folks on here are walking and it seems to help them a lot. (Some of you are real warriors doing Spin, jogging, weights - sigh!) I am generally content to be lying on the sofa, under a quilt, remote in hand, head to pillow and just being a total zoid! I don't think that is working so much; starting today and after my next treatment I am going to try and get fresh air in the neighborhood. Fortunately the weather here in So Cal has just turned the corner toward Spring and it is lovely outside.

Hugs all around - be kind to yourselves and have a wonderful weekend!

Kathy

kiwikid

Kathy I too have been having intermittent pain in my breast and armpit. I'm not too worried about it, I think it's just everything reorganising itself. I understand snb pain can last up to a year.

I too have been walking about 45mins to an hour each day this week, it has made the world of difference to my ability to think while I'm at work, and this chemo round has been easier in general and I assume the walking, and it being my last, has something to do with that.

My mum is on her way round now and we are going to take the dog for a walk.

Hope you are all well.

Xx Holly

ywheels22

Nicole: The thrush spread up to my tongue so I got yet another RX for flucolosone (spelling?). It's a pill. I still drink the Nystatin too. They want this cleared up before AC#4 on Wednesday. Ugh!!!!

Kathy: welcome. Since we all, unfortunately have to go through this crap, this is the best place to be for information, laughs, venting, swearing, sighing and just plain sharing. Good luck to you in your tx's!

LeeA

This came up on my Twitterfeed and, well, it amused me - considering the recent conversations about pet walking.

LisaMM

LeeA-I just watched a show this past week that had those 2 "friends" on it!!!

Nicole503

LeeA ~ A ((hug)) for you as you work your way out of the chemo cave from #4.  You are not a complainer so I am guessing that a "doozy" for you is not a fun time.  Hope the worst of the SEs are over soon.  Rest, rest and treat yourself well.

Sooooooo glad it is Friday.  I am tired and have been cranky at my kids this afternoon, which is what I always want to avoid.  So glad that I have 2 days with no alarm clock, and some opportunity for both exercise and rest.  I'm thinking about you Bryona and hoping you survived your first week back at school with a smile on your face!

duckiedee

Lee - Sorry to hear that #4 treated you so badly. I am doing the same cocktails as you, and my #4 knocked me flat on my butt, too. For what it's worth, though, I had #5 on Monday and it has been significantly easier! Not fun, of course, but not nearly as crippling as that awful #4 was. I still have some issues going on, of course. But my tummy problems were easier this time around, and I can almost smell the end in sight. Just one more round to go! Hang in there, sweetie. We will get through this. I pray that your SEs will ease up soon and that you can rest and recover quickly.

LeeA

duckiedee, thanks so much for sharing that.  I just copied it and sent it to my husband.  You are the second person on our cocktail who has told me that no. four was a hard one.  

I'm so glad to hear that you're doing better on no. five and yes, I bet you can just about smell the end!! 

Do you know if your hemoglobin is done - or was done - with the fourth?  That might be the underlying problem - anemia.  

Again, thanks for your thoughts and insight!  It is truly appreciated! 

--

nicole503, thanks so much for your comments.  Just the other night my husband said "the only way out of the chemo valley is through the chemo valley" (I'm laughing as I type this for some reason - probably because at the time I kind of rolled my eyes at him).  

--

LisaMM, I'm not surprised that photo has gone viral.  I would have liked to have seen that program. 

Zorina

Dark topic alert.  Do not read on if today has been a challenging day. DH just thinks I am working myself up needlessly.  So, I don't think anyone but this group can possibly understand. I am writing it to soothe my soul and to express a topic that I suspect all of us have in the back of our minds.

--------------------------------------------------

I met J in the chemo lounge, and she was several weeks ahead of me. She coached me a lot through my A/C treatments. I cannot say we were close friends, but we had a bond that only can occur amongst BC sisters.

She completed her taxol rounds at the end of February had a BMX a week ago.  The doctor knew there was lymph node involvement, and everything had good margins, except they found some nodes that they either did know were cancerous or had grown despite the chemo regime.  (She is triple negative. ) She will have to go through another round of chemo with different drugs, and our MO is getting consult from a broad range of oncologists to evaluate other options.  I know they are doing everything possible. 

The worst part is that I get caught up in my own self-centered anger rather than trying to be positive:  Why should she have to go through all this again?  She could see the light at the end of the tunnel for cripes sake.  It's just not fair.  The roller coaster of..it's going to turn out ok, and then slam, it is not ok.

And then there are the self-centered, narcissistic games that I play on myself:  I have a different type, I've already had my surgeries, and this cannot happen to me.  And then I flip and start wondering, What if I did have to go through all of this again?

Thank you, and once again, I apologize for bringing up a dark topic.

Zorina

On a positive note: 

My WBC has stabilized, and I got to go into the office for work.  Tears of joy all day, and so many people were so supportive--someone washed down my desk with Clorox wipes, a balloon bouquet was delivered and even a cook in the cafeteria came out and welomed me back.   My boss gave me lots of really interesting assignments that aren't just time-killers.  I think she understands how I need to feel valued, busy and integrated into the fabric of the world. I think this will take my mind off SEs, too.  I was probably the only person in the company that was thrilled to be in the office on Friday

p.s. I'll try to get a picture of Clyde taking his walk so everyone has a real image to laugh about.

SherylB

Zorina,

While your story of the woman you met at the center is sad, what I read demonstrates empathy and compassion. IMHO there is nothing wrong with being grateful to dodge a bullet. We all are given the challenges we need, they just come at different times.

Hugs, Sheryl

ywheels22

Zorina: it's not a dark topic, but, unfortunately reality for some. I have thought at times what would I do if it came back, even though I feel I've done everything right for me ( surgery first, breasts, nodes and cancer all taken out followed by preventative chemo). I tell myself day in and day out it won't come back. That is sad about your friend. I wish there were easy answers but I guess our journeys through this are our own and the best we can do is hold hands along the way. Chin up!

martha323

Greetings all - from my cozy couch! AC#4 on Thursday, Neulasta on Friday, steroid starting to wear off, morphing toward the stranger in my body feeling and today it's colder outside than what I ordered , so I decided to skip the walk and enjoy some R&R. As far as SEs, my puffy flush face is now a familiar sight about 24 hrs. after tx. The flush leaves, but I don't think my face deflates to it's usual size. My MO said that I may be a little puffed during Taxol as well. Does AC#4, like AC#3, have more pronounced SEs for some people? Slept through the Zofran dose last night. Oops. Glad it works fast. Sheryl, I've remembered to let Tums dissolve in my mouth to soothe my sore tongue - I rinse with the salt and soda as well. LeeA, thanks for the photo! Zorina, Happy to hear about your great day at work and all of the wonderful gestures of support from your colleagues - especially after feeling vulnerable and unnerved re: the news of your friend.

The exercise discussion has inspired me to order the treadmill I've been thinking about for the last month! Any recommendations re:brand? Rain will follow snow and I want to keep up despite the weather! By the way, I'm happy that you're all 'here' when I arrive home from tx.

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and comfortable weekend and minimal SEs. Hugs and prayers, Martha

KATRS

Zorina:

I am sorry for your friend; I agree with Wheels our spinner, and Sheryl - it is a journey for each of us and we do what we can to marshall through it. Since all of this started for me <gosh - almost 5 months ago!> I have only shared my true feelings with a few other women, two survivors and the sister of a survivor who is back for her third round of care.  I realized we each have a different story and I know now, as I wonder about my own Lymph Nodes and spread, that if I have to do another round I have to do another round!

I work for a company that loves to create acronyms for everything from projects to processes to team names to identifying internal organizations, etc.; I wanted to create one for myself and this whole *(&^%$ process. The word I use is GRACE.

G is for God, he is with me and within me on this journey.

R is for Rage, the total rage I have for my diagnose and how it has altered my life!

A is for Absolutely Amazing, the absolutely amazing people in my life, (family, friends, co-workers), they have provided support, patience, love, kindness, and a wide path when I need it!

C is for Courage, the courage of those who fought and won/lost before me; who fight with me now; who will fight in the future; and the courage of my surgeon, ONC nurse, ONC doc and on and on and on...

E is for Everyday, every day I get to wake-up and Embrace my life right now

It doesn't seem like much but this is what I try to remember, sometimes I DO fail but when I repeat it to myself and remember what it means to me it actually helps ~~ so to all of you I say: GRACE!

Kathy

LeeA

I like that, Kathy.  Thanks for posting it. 

LisaMM

Thank you Kathy, I think we could all live by GRACE!

Nicole503

Kathy ~ Love your GRACE!

Anonymous

Hi all! I have some catching up to do, but wanted to pop in with a tip for those of you that like to wear buffs and scarfs. On an off chance today I found these Ganz tube scarf at a local shop - not even a place where you would expect to find scarves. The look and feel of these are identical to the buff, but for a fraction of the cost. I bought mine for $5 and $6 each. After googling it when I got home, here is what I found:

http://uniktings.com/shop/accessories/black-with-fushia-pattern-tube-scarf-gzer24791/

Perhaps there are other sites where you can buy these. The pattern in the link above is exactly what I bought today, and I will tell you the picture doesn't do it justice. I'm so elated over my new find. Anyway, just wanted to share with everyone. It is so worth the buy.

Keke713

Hi ladies! I'm from March 2013 Chemo group...I'm 27 yrs old and was diagnosed on Jan 23rd with IDC grade 3, stage 2, triple negative . I underwent a bilateral mastectomy on March 1st...I go in on the 22nd to have my port placed, and my chemo treatments start on the 25th. Oncologist ordered 4 rounds is AC followed by 4 rounds of Taxol...I am so nervous to start this chemo and would love if you ladies could give me detailed realistic information on how it affected each of you...and also information on the port placement. I have this obsession with knowing everything possible whether its good or bad...knowing what to expect has helped me so much! I read the good, bad, and ugly about my surgery before having it, and I'm thankful I did because this whole process ended up being a lot easier that I expected...I'm healing well, and doing a lot more than I thought I'd be able to...but please , as much info, good or bad, I'd love to hear all your stories!! Thank you!!!!