Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group

Palameda

Oh Quirky, sorry to hear you're back in the recliner. After sitting in one today for a few hours I can't imagine having to sleep in one too...sucks.

Lisa, glad you had a good day. I had a few of those, I think, it's hard to remember cause my brain isn't working so well tonight. Your friend sounds a lot like my husband's cousin, doesn't think before speaking.

Veronica, this morning I would have given anything to get to delay today's tx, so I popped myself an Ativan, and didn't mind so much anymore.

Oh oh good news. My MO office said, although I'm scheduled for #3 to fall on Christmas, and 3 weeks ago they told me I would therefore have it on Christmas Eve, today they told me that I could have it instead on Thursday or Friday after! That means I'll feel decent for Christmas. I'm so happy. The prospect of hiding in my bed for the holiday wasn't really appealing. We have it here so I wasn't going to need to go anywhere at least, but whew!

Audra, I doubt any of us can get addicted to anything right now, I could mainline heroin and STILL not feel great (or so I assume. I'm not confident enough in my prediction to do THAT science experiment.)

Jab, write away, as well as you can. This place keeps me sane. I find out so much here. My MO is a woman of few words. When I went today I'd carefully printed out a day by day listing of symptoms. She had no interest in seeing it, just replied "yes, that happens" and "drink more water" to everything I said.

Inks &Wally, I finish chemo hopefully mid-January, then have a month of rads. Few of us are going away anytime soon! You can't actually think your Nov/chem friends are going to abandon you anyways, do you?

Paulette, how are you doing?

Fairydog, what exactly is your dog job? As the owner of 2 newfs, I'm a dog fiend. I may not have more dogs that many people, but I have 280 pounds of 'em. My Onc nurse did say today, after cat-bite-hospitalization to not change their boxes. I'm being pretty good about that. What I didn't ask was what was her suggestion for when a cat gets mad or sick (people who dislike cats, don't read the rest) and poops or vomits on your bed in the middle of the day. Leave it there, open all the windows, and relocate??? Or put on gloves and a mask and cope?

Things I wish for: to have experienced cancer as a requirement for becoming an oncologist. Also spoke with a 3 year BC veteran today who developed shingles. Right, once we are recovering from surgery and going to start chemo it's too late to get the shot. So, just a suggestion folks, why not when you give the bad biopsy news, give a shingles shot? Surgery takes a while to schedule and chemo is down the road. Why should we be left wondering if we are going to get something else that's painful from the physical stress of chemo? Of course, for the young'uns who are still within spitting distance of their vaccine, no. But for everyone else, give them the shot! It doesn't really matter if you're going to have chemo or not, you probably already know you'd rather not have shingles, even if we are talking a risk in a more distant future.

For those of you in cold climates, go ahead and laugh all you want. California is having a major cold spell. I had to wear a coat yesterday and today. My husband is sleeping in another bed and crashed from his cold. I tiptoed in and put another blanket on his bed (there was only one). We are supposed to get down to 32 tonight. Brrr for us. Cue laughter for Canadiennes, north easterners, Midwesterners, pacific northwesterners, mountain westerners, and those in parts of the south where shorts and sleeveless tops aren't worn year round! We don't have storm doors or windows, basements to insulate our houses, or even own much really warm clothing that isn't designed for ski slopes only.

lisa137

Do they give shingles shots to people who never had chickenpox in the first place? I never did...nor mumps, nor measles, nor anything except colds and flus and strep throat....and cancer lol.

Veronica37

special and pompom and all others who commented, thanks for the info, after a night of rest( at least a couple of hours) I'm trying to relax. I'm just tired of all the bumps, just when I think everything is fine my body says different. Oh well at least I get to wait a week, chemo was sched for this Friday and its my birthday, at least I will enjoy cake! Thanks again for all your support!

BigT16

Round #3 for me this morning. I didn't sleep well last night due to my PS adding more fluid to me TE. I ended up taking a pain pill. I'm going to try doing yoga before treatment today. I'm hoping the relaxation will help decrease the symptoms from chemo. I'll let you know how it works out.

Good luck ladies with chemo today.

inks

PatAlameda - look on the bright side, next year during a cold spell you will not be needing your coat - hot flashes will keep you warm!BC a gift that keeps on giving!

wallymama

Good morning all.

Pat- cold is so relative. Even though it can get below zero here (not often, but it can) when it hits 40 degrees I want to hibernate. And we're predicted to get ice and 4"-7" of snow this weekend. Yuck. On the cat, if it's your cat and you know it's healthy, glove up and deal with it. As a person formally owned by a cat, I know that they will do exactly what you don't want. And leaving cat puke somewhere is so not an option. I wanted to get a shingle shot, but at just three weeks before chemo they said no.

Quirky- Sorry about your bed. Nothing is quite as comforting as your own bed.

Lisa- No on the shingles shot. If you never had chickenpox, you can not get shingles. I find the term 'chemopause' so funny. One day 4 or 5 years ago I realized that that had stopped. No symptoms, no hot flashes, no mood swings. Just stopped. Now I've learned that the hormone therapy I'll need may cause all that anyway. Crap. If any of you ever get a chance to see 'Menopause The Musical' do so. It is truly the funniest thing I have EVER seen. One of my sisters laughed so hard she actually peed herself. But DO NOT take a man. Thy just won't get it.

Veronica- A few yeas ago I had to take levaquin for 8 weeks because of peritonitis. It took about a month after for the liver levels to fall.

BigT-Good luck today

Going to try to get some shopping in today. If the weather cooperates. Right now it's pouring.

Here's hoping everyone has a good day. Or at least a not too sucky day.

QuirkyGirl

So good to catch up with everyone and wishing all of you a feel good day. I was just thinking about all the things I hope never to take for granted again after treatment is done: sleep in a bed AND on my stomach, wear a bra, exercise, lift my arms up and stretch, be dehydrated if I so choose!, feel healthy and strong, walk faster than a snail's pace and several miles at that... just for starters.

How about you all?

ellischestnutgirl

I guess we will be getting your rain later. Right now it is just foggy her in PA. I hope all are safe and feeling better today. Wishing all good thoughts for chemo today. I go on Monday and have been prepared by all of you wonderful people expressing what honestly happens , the good and the bad.

I just wanted to hit my DH today. He asked me if I really wanted to go thru with the TCH as the surgeon who placed my port told him that the only reason I was getting my port was that I insisted on getting the TCH. She told him that both MO and she did not recommend it, but that they were doing what I wanted.

HUH?

He wanted to know (again) why I wanted to go thru the SE and lose my hair and be unable to work at a job I love for 4 more months. I really just wanted to clobber him, then I wanted to cry. I have tried to explain to him several times what being HER2++ means and that many doctors treat the pathology based on other factors besides size and that I wanted to give myself every available chance to have no recurrence or mets. My tumor was 11cm of DCIS with 0.2cm of IDC and it was HER2++ and Ki67 50%. Chemo was not offered to me.

I researched these boards and read most of the current research being done and found that Herceptin is only recommened for HER2++ tumors larger than 0.5cm according the current guidelines. I also found that current research is leaning toward treating all HER2++ tumors with Herceptin. MD anderson and Farber always treat HER2++ tumors with Herceptin. Why should I not treat my tumor now and receive the Herceptin as a possible preventative instead of waiting untiI need more treatment for a mets or recurrence?

I understand the SE are not going to be fun to deal with. I have already prepared for losing my hair and I hope to be able to return to my nursing career, but right now I am fighting to do what I feel gives me the best chance to completely rid my body of BC for life.

I have already had a BMX, been genetically tested, ( neg BRACA) and had a DIEP scheduled. He has been wonderful thru most of this, but is stuck on why I am having chemo and Herceptin. UHHH! I am getting "chemo light" according the the MO. 4 courses of TC and a year of Herceptin. I want to be done with it all too, but I want to do all I can to be proactive and I need to have him on my side. Why did my surgeon tell him she did not know why I was getting a port when the chemo wasn;t really necessary right now?

Thanks for allowing me to vent.

Gayle

VirginiaNJ

Hugs Gayle - you are TOTALLY making the right decision! My first cancer was Her2+ and my tumor was 4 millimeters...I saw a MO at Sloan Kettering and my local MO In NJ and they BOTH reco'd chemo and Herceptin. I had AC chemo (no T as they did think at the time it was not necessary given the size of the tumor). I then had the Herceptin for 1 year. Mind you, this was 7 years ago, so the protocols, I know, have changed.

My recurrence was triple negative which meant that all of the hormone therapies worked.......

So sorry for everyone who is suffering with SE's.

I had my first chemo 2.5 weeks ago and am only going for my first blood work today in preparation for Monday's chemo. It certainly us fascinating to me how differently we are all treated/ monitored.

Super warm here in NJ today but rainy....bummed as it would have been nice to walk.

Will decorate the tree which is currently nekked.

Oh, and it have decided to stop pulling my hair out by the handsful and will shave my head today after I see my onc!

Happy day all.

audra67

Pompom-

Yes , good luck to us today! We will be just fine and maybe tolerate it better now that we know what it does??? hoping.

I have just felt better the last week as well and HATE that it's time again to go back down...wahhhhh.....we are warriors and need to look at it as battle we are fighting, get pumped up and change your mindset to we are killing those minute little possible cancer cells anywhere else in body and actively getting to do something to kill this!!! Yay us! People that die in car accidents or heart attacks do not have this choice or option...we are truly lucky to have this...say that today...I will too...as I need reminded constantly...:)

I am bad at mentioning everyone by name but just LOVE reading all posts!

Quirkygirl- sorry about your bed but sleep wherever you can...beds are overrated right?

Lisa137- You are hilarious and I relate to all you say...and you are so concise and mention all by name...I don't have that much patience to scroll back and get all names of who said what...but I admire your skills...especially after chemo...

1. Veronica- don't worry unless you need to, easier said than done, I freak out about little things now too...but tons of meds can cause spikes in blood values and could be different daily...really...try to relax and enjoy a week off track...you might feel great doing so...

Hope you are doing ok patalameda..

ellenkc

Wow! Billy Joel's hairdo is exactly like mine right now! -- Ellen

Amazonwarrior

My hair is going and fast. I am left with tuffs of hair here and there and of course a lot of bald patches. I started to permanently wear a scarf / hat/ wig, so that I could hide my ugly scalp now and not have to look at myself in the mirror.

As far as the wig goes, my husband and my sister seem to hate it. Me and my mom are the only ones that like the wig. My sister even suggested to send me one in mail. I said sure, why not.

My armpit area is still swollen and tender.

I wonder when and if it will go away. I am beginning to be rather impatient with it, as my chemo was delayed because of this. I am starting to question: Will I be ready in a week's time for my next round? Will this be resolved by then?

To help my body heal faster, I decided to make myself a homemade, freshly squeezed juice: red beets, carrots and ginger. If you want to try this, you can also add some apples if you have them.

As far as meds: I try to minimize them as much as possible. I take them only when I feel the benefits outweigh the risks.

I've been sleeping on my back ever since my mastectomy. That took some time getting used to because prior to my surgery I would only sleep on my side. I try to compensate the lack of comfort with tons of fluffy pillows. That seems to help.

Audra: You are absolutely right that we are the lucky ones who are getting treated for this. My MO said that this is a preventative treatment. I try to periodically remind myself of that fact.

Cheers

lisa137

@Audra: I do it by opening TWO tabs of this page. Type in one as I scroll down to read the other. In other words, I cheat....kind of. :P

Bec65

Good morning everyone!

Wallymama, cold mashed potatoes on bread with butter? Yum! I wish I hadn't eaten them all yesterday! I'll be around for a long time, btw. My last chemo is Feb. 5, then radiation after that. Even when that's all done, I'm not leaving here! Never! (BTW, are the dates in your treatment info correct? Did you mean 2014 for the January dates?)

Ellen, I can't believe what you had to put up with! I used to be one of those doofuses who said nothing in a difficult situation because I was too afraid to say the wrong thing. I guess that can be a good thing sometimes!

Northwinds, please rant at will!

Jab, I love watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with my kids b/c occasionally I impress them!

Veronica, my fingers and toes are crossed for nothing-to-worry-about news!

QuirkyGirl & Lisa, I still can't sleep on my stomach, which is a bummer b/c that's how I always used to get relaxed in bed enough to fall asleep. But, I can put a shirt on over my head now...go me! It gets better. I haven't done anything more than stretching everyday, but it works for me.

Tonilee, I hope today is better.

Audra and Lisa, I haven't gotten my period since 9/26, which is fabulous! I'm 48 and took the pill right up until 9/24, so I'm assuming this is chemopause, but I love it. Finally, one good SE.

Pat, I'll go right out and say it, it's %$#@$%& freezing! Literally! I think we're colder here in Sacramento than you probably are. I can't wait to see what our heating bill will be this month. Today is the first day since Sunday that I've felt like going for my daily walk, and now I have to wear far too many clothes.

BigT16 & Audra, good luck today!

Gayle, I would do EXACTLY what you are doing. My husband tried to have a conversation with me a few weeks ago about measuring the dangerous SEs against the percentage improvement in the recurrence stats. I immediately went on a ballistic you-don't-know-what-this-feels-like rant! I did calm down and reminded him that I am 48, our youngest child is 13, and other than having cancer (ha!), I'm really healthy. I told him, as I have from the beginning, that I will do everything my body can take toward making sure this doesn't come back. Everything. Period. When I dip back into the bargaining stage of grief, my line is set at making sure I'm here to see my kids out of school and on to their happy lives, but I really want more. Whatever it takes, percentage point by percentage point.

Re HGTV, as much of an HGTV addict as I am, I CAN'T STAND the wife on Flip or Flop, and I see there's a run of that show today. Arrrrgggg...

I did get a call back about my light-headedness/dizziness...apparently it's nothing to worry about between it being a common SE of everything and my freakish low blood pressure. The nurse said to take my BP regularly to show to the MO on Monday (is it normal to just have one of those things around the house?), and -- let's all say it together -- drinks lots of water.

Did anyone else get prescribed a compression sleeve to prevent lymphedema? I got the authorization yesterday, so I guess I'll set up that fitting appointment. Let's see, my list of must-have accessories now includes a wig and foobs for a decent mirror reflection, night guard and retainer so my teeth don't fall out, arm brace for tendinitis, orthotics for my feet, and compression sleeve for lymphedema. I think I'm 48 in my mind only.

I hope everyone has a relatively good day!

Bec65

Amazon, you've been through the wringer! I'm hoping with you that the swelling doesn't prevent treatment.

Lisa, two tabs....brilliant!

Palameda

Amazon, my story was surgery at end of July, infection from sentinel node dissection site broke through the skin 3-1/2 weeks later. Abscess #1 was treated with a succession of oral antibiotics, and tri-weekly visits to BS to drain it and pack it. I felt really weak and too sick to work. This continued until we felt we'd cleared the beast, I went into surgery 10/1 for my port, instead what I'd thought was lymphedema was instead a new abscess in my lumpectomy site. They surgically cleaned it out. I had to have it packed by a visiting nurse for 3 weeks, more oral antibiotics, into the BS office twice a week for her to follow it. Cellulitis developed, had to go on daily iv antibiotics for 2 weeks. Felt sick as a dog and lots of pain until a week into the iv stuff, when I saw the sun come out a little, and had the strength to walk a block. I've worked probably a total of 8 hours since my surgery.

I recount all this to say you're not alone, if I'd had a chemo treatment before my infection, with the body's impaired ability to heal, Lord knows how I'd be doing now. My areas of infection are still tender, but not painful. I'm full of scar tissue that has filled in where useful things like muscle and connective tissue used to grow. Eventually I'll be able to work out again and rebuild back, but that's down the road. My infection was life-threatening, it's finally gone. It was hard to face that my chemo was delayed so long, but the infection was a here and now, not possible life threat. Yours will soon be a distant event on the horizon as you rebuild your body from all the indignities. Which you will.

I'm guessing you are, as a friend called me before starting chemo, weak as a kitten. Realize that, and accept it. You deserve to be weak after everything your body has gone through. Take this extra week to gather strength. It's amazing how much better we can feel day to day. Focus on where you want to be: I want to watch my sons marry and cuddle grandchildren. We can gather strength from visualizing our positive futures. The now sucks. Big time...

QuirkyGirl

I swear there should be a thread somewhere for people whose treatment has been screwed up and stopped due to infection. It's a comfort to me to know I'm not the only one but wish it wasn't so common. People have asked me if the oncoplastic breast reduction/lumpectomy was worth it and I want to smack them. The infection could have happened to anyone with any surgery. They don't seem to get that at all and it's extremely irritating as they seem to think this was all about smaller breasts and not removing cancer and also creating a better scenario for radiation. Duh!!

Kristinaj_29

Hi Ellen. From the date, I think you are starting on your third treatment this week. Good luck this week and keep the positive attitude! One thing that helped me was not listening to co-workers stories...I would just frankly tell them to please not tell me. We are all different! Every one of us has side effects and its different for everyone. I also had 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart. It wasn't horribly bad. I got all the same side effects as everyone is mentioning. The few things that I think helped me were; eating fruit everyday (never got constipated), drinking lots of apple & orange juice (its the only thing that didn't taste horrible), having extra fluids the day after chemo when I got my neulasta shot (at my request..kept me hydrated and no leg pains), getting massages & taking everything my Dr. ordered for nausia. I am now 10 weeks out from my last chemo session. The only side effect that I still have is muscle aches in my legs and arms, which the Dr. says will eventually go away. Lots of time to recover, but knowing that we made it through makes it all worth it! Hang in there and keep a positive attitude

ellenkc

Thanks, Kristina. You are close -- my 3rd infusion is next Tuesday, 12/10 then last one on 12/31. I have lots of little side effects, but really not major. Felt crummy this morning, and have stayed in bed for the day more because I can than because I have to. Spent part of the day working things out to get my Neulasta from a mail order, which my insurer suddenly decided is necessary. Seems to be worked out now for delivery tomorrow.

BTW, has anyone seen a picture of Billy Joel recently? Don't know about you, but his hairdo is exactly like mine these days. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel

Ellen

BigT16

Quirkygirl - I couldn't say it any better.

audra67

Ellen- We must be twins as I look like Billy Joel too and more and more daily! ha!

Lisa137- brilliant about two screens, I NEVER would have thought of that - duh

Bec- You are too funny! I am 46 but feel 90 these days too with all of the extras to do...I am using dental trays at night with fluoride in them per my dentist so my teeth won't get damaged...annoying. At least after the implants I can go braless! That's pretty weird but awesome!

Had chemo #2 today and was actually not as nervous and happy to get it done....LOVED the port! OH MY Goodness! With the vein last time it burned whole time through and then got infected, that arm is still discolored and sore with a lump in my wrist! I used the Emla cream and I didn't feel a thing and then it was in and we were going...unreal! VERY much LOVE the port! and I love my oncologist, he stayed in room for 30 minutes talking about my questions and long life I will have...he is in the right profession!

Supposed to possibly close office tomorrow related to ice storm so that will delay my 1st neulasta shot...but they said I could come on Monday if they are closed. We will see...

And I wore a scarf tied today and it is SOOOO soft and comfy, I think I like it better than a hat...it might be my new look..

I'm pretty excited to be halfway done!!!

smrlvr

Felt really icky for the past two days and pretty much stayed in pjs and bed. I feel lucky to be able to do that. SEs are just nausea and fatigue. If this round follows,the last, I should be feeling well by tomorrow.

My hair started falling out in major clumps today, so I am glad I have the Ativan. I can't decide if I should see what happens with it or just shave it off. I am not as emotional as I thought I would be. Basically because I don't have the energy.

I will be on chemo until the end of February, so will be here for a while.

Lisa, live your posts.

Bec, you are like me. I am 50. I now have to maintain my teeth with the night guard, the foobs and now the hair/wig. I am also getting fitted for a lymphedema sleeve. I feel like Wonder Woman with the fake parts!

I haven't gotten a period since I started chemo. Do any of you know how soon the menopause symptoms start to present themselves.?

Bec65

Audra, woo hoo for being halfway done! And I'm so glad for you about your port, especially after the trouble you had. Mine serves me well for chemo, I just it weren't EXACTLY where a bra strap goes. Oh, well.

Smrlvr, I'm sorry you're feeling lousy. I agree, though, it makes it a bit easier to sort of "know" it's going to be better soon. Our schedules sound similar. Are you doing dose dense AC? I am, then 4 cycles of Taxol every other week which will end in February. Re menopause symptoms, I don't know how to tell what's a menopause symptom and what's a SE. I have had random night sweats, sudden feelings of being really hot that don't last long, and quick feelings of being flushed since my last period before surgery.

I know it may be silly, but I can't wait for the Sound of Music tonight! I loved watching that every year when I was growing up, so I'm curious to see how this group does.

Lissy2304

SMRLVR - I haven't gotten a period since I started chemo either and I am having nightly hot flashes which wake me up 2-3 times a night

Woohoo for those half way done, so am I! Eyebrows and lashes still hanging in there.

Very, very tired today, slept ALL morning. Good thing I was not scheduled to go to work. Managed to put 1 Christmas tree up and another halfway done.

lisa137

I get the sudden feelings of being intensely overheated, often when I'm just waking up from a nap--or maybe that overheated feeling is what wakes me up, I don't know.

I'd like to think these are hot flashes or chemopause/menopase related, but the logical side of me says that they could also be the simple result of falling asleep under a fluffy comforter, wearing sweatpants, fuzzy socks, and having one dog snuggled up to me under the comforter and another dog snuggled up to me on top of the comforter. Like...how could I NOT get really hot under all that?

So I don't know. Whatever it is, I was already getting it before chemo, before diagnosis, even. It's just become much more frequent.

Being driven crazy by my own mouth tonight; sore tongue off and on (though no visible signs of thrush.) Additionally, during the month (September) when I had my two biopsies and finally was diagnosed, I *also* had two seperate unexpected trips to the dentist to have teeth pulled; one just hurt a heck of a lot, and the other had a lot of of infection and had me on penicillin for a little while. ONE of those spots---I can't remember which of those teeth went first, how sad is that?---feels really raw and uncomfortable tonight. Don't know if it never was as healed as it might have been and chemo is now doing a number on it, OR, if it's simply the result of the fact that the wire from my partial denture goes right across it and irritates it sometimes. End result: Tonight I'm walking around toothless (lol) and drinking ice water (to minimize irritation) and taking ibuprofen (for pain and inflammation,) and hoping for the best.

Tell you what, once I'm done with this chemo stuff and can do all the dental work I want, I'm seriously going to have the remainder of my teeth out and (for the first time in my life) get myself a nice pretty set of perfectly straight, white, and non-painful teeth. I wasn't using my boobs for anything useful anyway and I'm not even considering reconstruction, but teeth are *USEFUL* and I'm about sick of all these years of first one problem and then another with mine. My dentist is gonna try and argue the point with me, as he has before, but this time I can be like "Dude. I have no boobs." I think that will shut him up.

Palameda

Well Lisa you may not have boobs, and don't want teeth, but I don't have hair! Today is day 23 of the great hairfall experiment. I've taken to using my lint roller every couple hours or so. Ellen, you said you're looking like Billy Joel, well I'm not there, I'm a Bruce Willis. But it's the eyelashes that freak me out. Mine are so long and thick I rarely wear mascara and when I do people think they're false. Sigh, I'm finding loose ones on my face. It's a little thing, but still. Why can't I at least keep them???

Gayle, I hear you. I think we all have our own doubts about setting off on this course. You just want the dang man to back you up, not question you. Sigh. He probably just doesn't want to see you suffer, and he can't possibly be "inside" this disease and understand the terror, and our desire to make the best decision and have the longest bestest life we can. It's hard enough to decide, then to have him question your hard decision. I get it.

Yeah Audra, the port is pretty cool. Except tonight when I've got the "chemo aches" and both port incisions are killing me along with my boob and my head. I asked my onco nurse yesterday why the ER nurse refused to use my port at the hospital, and the ON said the one at the hospital didn't know how to use it so was embarrassed. Argh! If I go in again I'm not putting up with that. They can bring a nurse down from the onco floor.

Yes Lisa, those are hot flashes/night sweats. I was through the other side of menopause with my symptoms happily controlled with estrogen. Whoops! My infection made the sweats worse, then last chemo round they seemed better. Not last night! PCNYM (pre-cancer not-yet-menopausal) ladies you will know you're there when you wake up with your pj's soaked through and you're so hot you throw the covers off, then you're freezing because you're wet with sweat. Repeat. Repeat. I'm remembering with acid clarity why I went on estrogen in the first place. I'm guessing the tamoxifen will bring years of pleasure.

I'm cranky tonight. Just on schedule the nausea is hitting me same as last time on the evening of day 2. But other symptoms are better because I'm hydrating, hydrating!

Phebe38

hi everyone first time here. I had my modified radical mastectomy with all my underarm lymph nodes taken. They left one lymph node close to the rib which they think it had a small cancer there. Then on Nov. 12/13 I had my first chemo infusion. On nov. 19/13 I had port implant. On Dec. 2nd they tried to take the stitches which were underneath my skin. Wow! Did that ever hurt worse thank surgery. The one who will be doing blood work tried to do it again only a small portion came off. She told me to go to the one who put the port implant on my right upper arm. I went on Dec. 3/13 se day as my 2nd chemo infusion. Omg! Worst mistake. I ask him if he could freeze it. He said no because it might ruin my port implant. I ask him to be gentle. As he pulled it I felt like a knife went through where the stitches are. I ask him if he's done and he said he's a 1/4 done. I said Omg! Then he pulled he took 1/2 of it out again I screamed, it hurt so bad.my daughter who was holding my hand scolded him and said that's enough. I guess he was going to use both hands to take the last one. I guess he said ok I will cut it where I left off. Then he explained the reason why it hurt is because the stitches where underneath the skin and the stitches were zigzag. He told me you will be happy you got this done. At 1:15 pm I went for my 2nd chemo. When they put the needle there it hurts a little. Not enough to scream but say ouch. The nurse said it will get better. Thanks for listening. My hair is pretty well all gone. I don't like it but will tolerate that. Not much side effects from chemo. Done

Paulette23

Wow...gotta lot of reading to catch up.....will do in next day.....rough week since my major run off.. ..lol...chemo plus nulaata...yesterday.....been down for the count. Keep praying!  Will be back with more OMG  ....funnies! Hope yall well!

Paulette23

lisa...look into the look good thing...just for a fun thing to do and free makeup! I went the other day! They have all high level stuff they give you! I was surprised! I am makeup ok and was a cosmotologist before an optician and found it just a neat thing to do! It is worth the time!!!! The one lady next to me NEVER wore makeup and was made WONDERFUL!!!! she was surprised!!!

I am rocking my naked head pretty much always and find that I get some odd looks but overall people find it cool! It is actually FREEING NOT to have to deal with scarfs, hair and whatnot! I put glitter spray and lotion onto my head to make it festive!!! What a COOL feeling....if I get cool...I put something on for a minute then feel like...dratts! this is HOT!

I LOVE my CHROME DOME!!

Never be embarressassed!!!!!

It is actually FUN!!!!

T're!!!

Paulette23

Hopefully tomorrow I will feel more up to posting! Been down for a few days...Chemo then neulasta....soooooo...on the way up! Next stop...Chemo 3! Four down and one to go! The easiest thing...no...but let me tell you ....life has had some radically worse things! At least in my situation....we got all the cancer detected OUT! and this is just to make sure the blasted thing has the smallest chance of coming back and biting me on the butt! Id rather go thruough this for a few months than worring for years that ....WHAT IF!!!!!"""""

Hoping everyone is getting ready for the holidays! I sure hope to have strength to go tree shopping tomorrow!!!

Huggs to All!!!