Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!

Sloan15

614 - You're a good mom, daughter, and educator. You're doing the right thing. Your kids know that what makes them compassionate hard workers is that you are one, too.

MJS1266

614, Exactly what Sloan says.  You are a kind person to change your event to support a student who needs you.  If more people cared like you, the world would be a better place. 

Sloan15

Let's put together chemo kit ideas for Moondust and others who are heading that direction. Here's what I'd take:

Big bag or purse for your chemo kit

Tablet or smart phone

Book or brain games

Big water glass with screw top and straw

Light blanket

Later on dirch the wig and wear only a comfy hat

Healthy snacks and take lunch

Rooms are often bright, so take a sleep mask or sun glasses when you want to rest

Eye drops and chapstick

Wear Slip on shoes or sandals

If you write letters or make lists, take paper and pen

ID, insurance card, phone calendar for acheduling next app

Ask tons of question in chemo edication, and go out and buy a new thermometer!

MJS1266

I would add two small pillows.  I used one for my lower back and one for my neck.

LovesToFly

614 I think it is wonderful that you are supporting your student, and I'm sure your family all admires you for it!

I'm actually doing 25 sessions, a bit more than the regular Canadian protocol because of the lymph node involvement, but still less than the 33 I could be doing in the US. So, I am one third of the way done!

octogirl

At my first chemo I was given a Teddy Bear by the staff....I named him Gabe, and he has stayed my loyal friend and companion for everything since (He now even goes on business trips with me!) He has lots of personality, but even if he didn't, it was good to have something furry to hug, and just looking at him makes me smile. Don't underestimate the importance of adding a 'lovey' to that excellent list.

I worked all through chemo and was very productive till the steroids wore off, so I actually took a full laptop, not just a tablet. Don't forget the charger, there should be plenty of places to plug it in.

Headphones or plugs if you want to listen to music or block out sounds in the room. Most chemo infusion centers are not very private.

Hugs, Moonstone! You've got this!

614: The real issue is that the student had to bring a paid companion in order to get the scholarship: WTH? Kudos to you for accompanying her; you will have made a big difference in her life. and your family gets it, so please enjoy your lunch guilt-free.

Molly: yay! Glad you have a date and all is falling into place. Will be thinking of you!

Peggy: hope the packing is going well! If it isn't, just take deep breathes and keep going! Gabe and I are thinking of you!

xoxo and hugs to all!

Octogirl

LovesToFly

When I went to chemo I took whatever was normally in my purse, plus my iPad and a protein bar ( they gave out cookies but I'm gluten intolerant so I had to bring my own snack) and water bottle. I kept it prett simple.

Chemo Clinic gave me a pillow and blanket, didn't always need the blanket but usually like the pillow behind my back to make me more comfortable.

1step

For the chemo care kit: when you buy that new thermometer, pick up a pack of probe covers, too. When I was feeling blech enough to check my temp, I didn't want to have to clean the thermometer right away. Someone got me a barf bag- I've never had to use it, but it was nice knowing it was there just in case. I created a Pandora station that plays music that makes me happy, and I got a small adult coloring book with colored pencils (don't forget a sharpener if you pack this). Turns out my chemo nurse had been looking at coloring books, but hadn't liked any she found. I got her one like mine for Nurse's Appreciation Week.

My biggest lesson learned was that I could not follow my normal 3 meals eating schedule. If I went more than 3-4 hours without eating I would get nauseous. I tried to include protein in most of my snacks as well.

Heathet

this is good info for the chemo kit! I start Thursday - yikes! Another friend told me to take baggies for ice to put on my hands and feet. She recommended for my feet to go to the dollar store and get a little tub. She put one bag on the bottom of the tub then her feet and one more bag on top. Hopefully this helps! Any other suggestions for preventing neuropathy.

614

Dear Heathet and Moondust:  I heard that the ice is important to prevent neuropathy.  LTF painted her nails black.  I think that helps too.  Good luck next week with chemo.  Sloan:  Thanks for the list and for everyone else who added.

Dear LTF:  Good luck with completing rads.

Dear Octogirl, LTF, MJS, and Sloan:  Thank you so much for the kind words and the support.  I really appreciate it.  I always feel that I don't do enough for my kids because I spend so much time at work.  Octogirl:  I agree that it is ridiculous that the scholarship recipients are required to bring someone who has to pay. It costs $50.00 plus a $3.75 fee for registering online.  The recipient goes for free.  Since this is a scholarship, I believe that everyone should go for free.  However, the girls will be getting a dorm refrigerator, sheets, blankets, maybe a microwave oven, and many other supplies for a dorm room.  The scholarships are worth either $1000.00 or $500.00 (I do not know how much each girl is receiving).  I think that the scholarship committee wants to make sure that someone can bring the merchandise home for the girls and that is why they are requiring someone to attend with the girls.  I am lucky because my high school paid for me to go.  Yay!

 

 

Italychick

I took two basins, put the ice in, and added water because an emergency room nurse told me iced water was better than ice. I think I did I 10-15 minutes in, took my feet and hands out for a bit, then put them back in. Also sucked down ice water and ice cubes during infusions. I definitely agree on the eating small amounts every 3-4 hours. I did that, and never had nausea nor did I have to take anti nausea medication, other than what I got during chemo infusions.

One area I fell short on wastaking probiotics or Pepcid ac, and round 5 left me with burning guts, but Pepcid ac still helped at that point.

LovesToFly

I painted my fingernails and toenails dark throughout, also ice my fingernails. I did not ice my feet. I had no nail damage or neuropathy

PontiacPeggy

I'm finding it interesting that some of you gals found ice water (to drink) was helpful. My DIL couldn't tolerate anything cold during her colon cancer chemo.

It sounds like there are lots of good suggestions for everyone starting chemo. That's invaluable. I would guess that each experience is slightly different but with many different approaches, something will work!

Pets are now set to travel. I still have to get brave and give the cat a trial tranquilizer and trip (yuck). I've gotten the "I'm Moving" flyers mailed and emailed. And I've even done packing today. Time to relax. At least my progress today is visible. Less than two weeks till the movers come! Thanks Octogirl!

614 I'm glad you were able to make it work to go with your student. You must be a fantastic teacher! We can tell how much you care.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

HUGS!

mustlovepoodles

I didn't ice my hands and feet, not did I paint the nails dark colors. I didn't get gel polish during chemo, but I did continue to get manicures and pedicures, no digging or cuticle cutting. I have no neuropathy and didnt have any nail changes.

Katzpjays

Heathet and Moondust - Do you have crock pots? An odd appliance to use during summer, but my best friend went through chemo and swears that hers "saved her" when it came to having small meals readily available.She cooked brown rice in it and added rotisserie chicken from Costco or other protein tidbits and vegetables that appealed to her. She kept food warmand available on the days after treatment she found it most difficult to prepare meals and/or eat.

april25

Chemo is going to be wildly different for individuals. And the clinic will handle things differently, too. Some actually offer icing for hands and feet and sometimes heads... others won't be friendly for that. I didn't do any icing. I think my MO was of the "chemo needs to go through the whole body to be effective and kill the cancer cells and icing can inhibit that" school of thought. I did have some neuropathy and nail issues, but the neuropathy went away after chemo and my nails healed up just fine (a month or so after chemo they separated about 1/3 the way down, but never farther than that, and everything looks healthy now--a year later).

My clinic had juice and hot and cold water available, and pillows, heated blankets and reclining chairs. I was fine with just sitting with my legs up, against their pillows. I'd bring snacks and my phone and kindle and maybe headset for music, and that's it. If you have someone there for company, then you won't need so much since you'll probably just be chatting. There were others there getting treated who were sometimes talkative and interesting to chat to.

Different chemos will be different too (I had TCHP--6 cycles, every 3 weeks. Had a port placed for the chemo). There are threads for specific chemos, as well as general chemo threads for those starting during a certain time/month. I found those helpful. I think the number and length of infusions and SEs will vary because of that. But basically, you're sitting around plugging into an IV line for hours, so just plan accordingly!

Oh, and first treatment can be a loading dose-- which means more than the rest. So, a bit longer in time, too. Usually it can be busy since the nurses may use the time to go over info with you.

B-complex vitamins are usually recommended for neuropathy.

Peggy -- What a production! But looks like you're getting ready to go! Much luck with it all! and with the tranqed cat!

Sloan -- Your hair, short or shorter, always looked great. Mine looked kind of awful even BEFORE chemo!

LTF -- Hope your hair fills in. I was taking Biotin. Now I'm using shampoos for thinning hair... But that was because even before chemo my hair was thinning and I could see my scalp! UGH. --so I just went back to using the same shampoo and conditioners that I had! Got to say that I wasn't as worried about losing my hair during chemo because my hair was already NOT cooperating! Because mine is still short, it's covering my scalp better. Might start showing scalp again when it's longer and gravity pulls on it, though... *sigh*

Sandy-- Oh, that's annoying that they weren't giving you 6mo mammos for your affected breast because of insurance/medicare reasons. My insurance would pay for the 6mo only in affected breast. I only get bilateral mammos once a year. Kind of scary when doctors recommend something but then stop and say--"oh, we'll have to wait because insurance won't cover it until X-amount of time later"!

1step

My MO's office also recommend B-complex for to help prevent neuropathy. Be careful and check the bottles though, because for some reason a lot of them include vitamin C. I also saw that with some probiotics.

PontiacPeggy

April, it is a very screwy time around here. I also was losing hair before BC. My stylist mentioned it a couple months ago and I tried a shampoo and conditioner (relatively inexpensive at $50 for both). I couldn't stand how it made my hair feel. All sticky like after you've used hair spray and your hair gets wet. So I just went back to my L'Oreal shampoo/conditioner. I like long hair so I'll just put up with the scalp showing. We all cope with hair loss the way it works best for us.

HUGS!

Lovinggrouches

Goodness gracious, not keeping up every day has me lost as a goose on this thread lol! Glad to see all doing so well! I can't chime in on the chemo talk since I didn't have to do chemo. There have been so many updates on everyone! I've been working so many hours preparing to be out of work for a few weeks for my surgery Thursday and I've been making myself go to the gym every day after work, no matter how tired I may be. I've been lucky to get home by 8 every evening. I have to get my house ready too since I won't be able to do much for a while. Hugs to all!!!!!!

PontiacPeggy

Grouches, it IS hard to keep up. I'm thinking of you!

HUGS!

LovesToFly

thinking of you forThursday LG.

614

Dear LovingGrouches:  I am so impressed that you have been working out so much especially since you have a harrowing work schedule.  Good luck with your surgery.  I will be in your pocket.

Dear LTF:  I hope that your hair grows back quickly.

Dear April:  Your hair comments had me literally laughing out loud ("my hair didn't cooperate before chemo...").

Dear Peggy:  Good luck with your move.  Were you able to close on your house? - did everything turn out ok with your garage?  I am glad that you seem more relaxed and that you will be off to another chapter of your life in Spokane.  I wish you the best.

Dear 1Step:  Excellent advice.  I wonder why they put vitamin C in with the B complex vitamins???

Dear Katz:  Crock pots are phenomenal.

Dear Poodles:  At least one thing went well for you during your tx!!  You have really been through the "wringer".  You have such a positive attitude.

Dear ItalyChick:  Probiotics are a great idea for everybody.  Thanks.

Dear Sandy:  I cannot believe that your insurance company does not approve mammograms every 6 months after a breast cancer dx.  That stinks.  I am praying for good news for you with your biopsy - re-excision.  Good luck and feel well.

Thanks again to all of you for your support and kind words.  I really appreciate it.  The scholarship event last night was wonderful.  Four scholarships (total) were given out to students from Palm Beach County, FL and 2  out of the 4 scholarships were awarded to students from my high school.  I am so glad that I was able to attend the event.  (My students have had EXTREMELY difficult lives and have done well in high school - Ranked #1 and #3.  They are inspirations to me.  They are truly amazing girls.) The student who I accompanied thanked me because the committee informed her that she only got the scholarship because I really fought for her to get the scholarship.  They were going to give it to someone else.  I knew that I helped her but I did not tell her what I did.  I did not realize that they told her.  Regardless, I am so glad that she earned the scholarship. 

Unfortunately, the scholarship committee announced incorrect information regarding a student from another high school and her parents (both parents were in attendance at the event) were furious.  It was awful and very uncomfortable.  I felt so bad for this student.  She went from being happy to being completely anxiety ridden.  The announcer stated, "Student x had such a hard life.  Her dad was not in her life and her mother abandonded her due to drug abuse when student x was 15 years old.  Student x was raised by her sister..."  Her dad left the room and her mom was so angry.  She said to her daughter, "because I have breast cancer, you feel that I abandonded you..."  Clearly, the story was incorrect and the announcer must have read excerpts from another application and not from this students "story".  Needless to say, I went over to the lady and I tried to diffuse the situation.  (I knew that they transposed some information because my letter of recommendation was cut and pasted.)  The mom told me that she is going through her bc journey now and that she has not started tx yet due to extremely high blood pressure.  I told her about the bc support group that I attend and I gave her my # so that she can call me if she needs anything.  I felt so bad for this lady.

I just drove my daughter to the airport.  She is on her way to NYC for her internship.  I am so proud of her.  I am so glad that my son is finished with his junior year now.  Yay.  I don't have his final grades yet but I think that he did extraordinarily well despite the fact that he was/is so sick for almost. the entire 2nd semester.

PontiacPeggy

614, still waiting to hear the FHA appraisal and (hopefully not) any repairs that might be required. Maybe tomorrow. Once that hurdle is crossed all should be smooth sailing. I am much more relaxed even though I have a lot of packing that I want to do. And now to figure out how much I can cram in the minivan (along with both pet crates). It would be easier if I knew when the moving van was going to arrive - I have a 10 day window.

BTW, I found this really nifty device recommended by an Australian friend. I ordered it and it is neat. Now I have my emergency information in an obvious place and no passwords needed to access my phone ICE info. The cost is less in US dollars. Take a look - it may be something you want. ICEmergency "Key"

HUGS!

Molly50

(((614))) sorry it was so uncomfortable for the student. What a horrible mistake! You must be an incredible blessing and inspiration to your students.

ChiSandy

614, it's not my insurance company that wouldn't cover a 6-mo. diagnostic mammo for a bc patient--it's Medicare. Could very well be that BCBS, which is my supplement carrier, will cover it. It covered twice as many LE PT/OT visits as Medicare alone would have. Sometimes providers see “Medicare" as the patient's insurer and don't read any further. I might have my MO (if she agrees) write an appeal letter to Humana Enhanced (my Part D carrier) that Prolia is a better choice for me than Zometa, because Prolia is an injection (thus Part D, but not on Humana's formulary) but Zometa is an IV (Part B, thus covered)--and there is documented evidence in my chart going back to 2013 that I have had numerous difficulties getting IVs started due to small “rolling" veins, and that was with both arms available to tap. (I had a temporary arrhythmia--probably from a Z-Pak--one night in 2011 that sent me to the local ER, per Bob's insistence, and the nurses couldn't get an IV started to draw blood--and by the third unsuccessful try my heartbeat was once again regular as clockwork). I will also have had blood drawn the day before--Vit. D, estrogen, lipids, CBC, glucose & a1c--and my veins might not have had the chance to recover--and I have only one arm to safely work with. Evanston Hospital has an infrared “vein finder" lamp, but I think the only one is in the surgical wing, not at the Kellogg Center (the Zometa would be administered in the chemo suits, most of whose patients have ports, for which I had no need).

Moondust

Sloan, thank you for starting the chemo checklist! I already spotted a dozen things I hadn't thought of! I'll be putting together my little bag today and tomorrow.

Thank you so much, everyone, for your great chemo ideas! I hope I can be as successful as some of you at preventing neuropathy and the metal taste. You have given me a wonderful list to work from!

Grouches, I'll be thinking of you Thursday! I know you'll come through with flying colors! You are doing the right thing by going to the gym now, while you can. I did that right before my surgery, too, because I knew I wouldn't be able to do much for 6 weeks afterwards.

Sherri, (and I can't remember if you spell your name with a y or i, so please remind me): You did the absolute right thing by going to the scholarship event instead of dinner with your relatives. You can always send your mom flowers to say thanks for being so understanding, and maybe get some little gifts for your kids. The mix up with the narrative for the other girl was really terrible! The school should send the girl's mother and official letter of apology! After all, it was a public insult to the poor woman. It was fortunate that you made a connection with her regarding breast cancer. You and all the other dedicated teachers I know probably make more difference to people's lives than anyone else I know.

Sue, I have at least three crockpots. I will start making some meals today that I can freeze! Thanks for the idea!

Peggy, good luck with the final move preparations. I hope the tranquilizers do their job and you can enjoy a quiet trip!

This port looks like a giant tadpole crawled under my skin! I went hiking yesterday and it did fine. My right (port side) shoulder got tired a couple of times, but I simply slid that strap off and carried the pack with one shoulder for a while. I was sick for two weeks after I got back from San Francisco, and the weight loss finally caught up with me. I'm trying to gain at least two pounds back before I start chemo. It's the first time in my life I have wanted to gain weight

PontiacPeggy

Moondust, isn't it wonderful to have the great resources of this forum so you can be prepared for chemo? I have 2 crockpots. Even for a person living alone they are wonderful. Hopefully you'll find lots of recipes that appeal to you during chemo - I understand that can be a challenge.

Got the hand truck out to move filled boxes around and out of the way. Lordy some of them are heavy. Glad I don't have to lift them! Progress is being made. Tomorrow I meet with my financial adviser and Tuesday with my MO. That should be the last of the appointments.

HUGS!!!

MJS1266

Moondust, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but many women gain weight on chemo due to the steroids.  I gained 15 lbs mostly while on Taxol during the winter.  I caught a cold was afraid to go to the gym for fear of germs and needless to say the weather kept me indoors.  Some days on steroids, I was hungry no matter what I ate.  Others I know also gained weight.  It is counter intuitive but with the anti-nausea meds today, you don't necessarily lose weight, although some women do have a harder time with nausea and lose weight.  Best, MJS

Italychick

Moondust, I gained 20 pounds during chemo, after losing 50 pounds before that happened. The steroids made me crazy hungry. It didn't matter that food tasted like cardboard, I ate it anyways. A year later, I still have 10 of the 20 pounds to lose.

LovesToFly

I remember when I was talking to my oncologist before I started chemo, and she said "it's not like it used to be, where you get all sick and skinny. Some women even end up gaining weight on chemotherapy, because of the steroids and because the nausea is so well-managed"

I said "umm...can I please do the old school sick and skinny treatment?"