Starting Chemo in December 2013

WifeWBC

I called the OM for some new meds and they called in a scrip for stemetil.  Wife took some yesterday (Monday) around 4 pm.  She was up and about after about an hour, then back to bed.  She slept for a few hours, which is good (she tells me) because half the time she is just lying there unable to sleep or do eff all.  She seemed to be improving later in the night, and able to chat with the kids.  Snow day today, so we let the kids stay up and watch Captain America.  LOL wife could use one of them injections he got.

Wife has slept well.  Woke up this AM around 6, but had good sleep hours again, she says.  Feels better.  Less nausea. She rubbed my back.  Felt great.  I rubbed hers too.  Hoping she may have turned a corner.  Says she won't take another stemetil unless she has to.  Our young daughter just popped into bed with us.  My boys are fighting over a blanket because I have the heat turned down.  Kids are off as school is closed, so it sort of feels nice to have everyone around.  

When wife is better it just feels right.

Early days yet, so fingers crossed this is the slow improvement happening.

WifeWBC

someone had a black "fuck cancer" tshirt picture that I was trying to find.  Think it was DJJ.  Can someone post a link?  I wanted to show the wife.  It's awesome.  Also love the "hey cancer - fuck you" signature.  Awesome.  Yeah I agree, fuck cancer.  Sorry for the expletives, but sure you all feel this way.

Saw the pro photo session someone did - missy and Kimmie and they looked great.  I might try get Jackie to do that (the wife), or maybe I'll just take some nice pics when she's up and about.

Lots of beautiful women on here. So proud of my wife and you lot.

DJJ

WifeWBC, I got the black shirt at http://www.fuckcancerfoundation.org/ all proceeds go to the fight against cancer.  My sister got the pink Rosie the Riveter T-shirt at cafepress.com.

Leealice

It felt great to have my last chemo yesterday! The night before 20 friends came over and we had a little party and then all prayed that this chemo worked to make me cancer free. Will start rads next month. Felt a little foggy yesterday. After I hit a curb, I let my sister drive. Feeling ok today. When I came home from infusion yesterday, some friends had decorated my bedroom in pink streamers and balloons. I was so surprised

Holli-how scary for you

Joan-Congrats. From what I hear it takes about 2 months for hair to grow back

Lisa-Love your wigs. I have 5 myself and like to mix it up

wifewbc- I just finished 6 rounds of TAC. The first was my hardest by far. Afterwards I knew what to expect and prepared for it. Don't let your wife be scared to take the meds. Whatever gives her a good nights sleep will only make her feel better the next day. My onc prescibed zofran, phengran and ativan. I took phengran or ativan at night the first few days to help sleep since I was on steriods. The neulasta shot knocked me down for 2-3 days. Slept alot with alot of muscle pain.

Keepthefaith-where are you doing rads?

Kimie-Thanks for the article about TNBC

keepthefaith

leealice, doing rads at Austin Cancer Center  on MLK in Austin. Leaving for my first one in a sec!:)

YIKES!

WifeWBC

Well done LeeAlice.  My wife will do the bloody happy dance when this is all over.  Just 4 more sessions to do.  

Looks like we'll try the Stemetil after the next round instead of Zofran & Mazeran.  Crap, I am becoming a pharmacist.  

Wife still not great but a large improvement from last 3 days.  Stemetil knocks her out after a while, and I think she's better off sleeping through as much as she can.  Now if the pain from the Neulasta keeps at bay, she might be OK.

Jodi040812

just finished 2 AC.  Dr said if I get those mouth sores again that they will lower my dose!!!  Nooooo!  I can deal with it.  Please don't lower the dose.  Hit those cells with everything you got.  It is only 6 more weeks any way!  Lost a dear friend today:(. One of my friends' moms.  She was the light of our school. Amazing woman that now is an amazing angel.  Her cancer was different, but the end was shocking.  I had no clue.  A little blue.  But, I had to go to chemo and thought of her.  She would say- deal with it Jodi and get better for your kids.  And so I did..2 more to go!  

missy6758703

Hi everybody.....I'm just having a crappy day and thought I would check in.  Taxol treatment number 9 was on Monday and everything went well....felt fantastic yesterday, today i'm just tired and achy, and to top it off, my bottom is terrible today.  I swear, this hemorrhoid issue from back in December which resulted in surgery in February has been the absolute worst thing ever to deal with!! It's a constant pain in my ass!!! literally!!! Some days, no pain, others...ugh.  Just seems like it is never going to fully heal and I'm going to be like this forever......

Four sitz baths later and now on an ice pack......i'm just tired of it all.  Praying for a better day tomorrow! 

Hope everybody else is doing well........I'm going to some sort of "beauty" class tomorrow at the cancer center, supposed to be giving out lots of free products! then after that have to go to the office....even through everything that has been going on since I was diagnosed in October, I was still able to keep working and made it into  the top sales for the year for my company and its being announced tomorrow.  We are going on an incentive trip on April 27th to the Hard Rock Resort in Punta Cana.....i'm excited but nervous, it will be one week after my last chemo treatment! eek.  Not sure how this will all play out with starting radiation, when i'm supposed to get my implant in instead of the expander etc etc, but i guess no sense in worrying about it, it will all work out! 

g'nite all! God Bless us all! 

Michelle 

kjfromca

Jodi - Hang in there and sorry to hear about your friend's mother.  Cancer sucks.  You are a trooper, AC is a tough one.  Tough on us and tough on any rogue cancer cells!  

Thinking about all you ladies getting to the end of your chemo.  I will be praying for you and celebrating with you all when you finish up.

Kimie - Fleetwood Mac coming to Sacramento in Nov., I am going.  Did you get your tickets?

Michelle - You hang in there too.  Those last douses of chemo just wear you out, it's so frustrating.  Congrats on the sales, and Punta Cana sounds great.  Laying on the beach, listening to the waves, breathing the fresh ocean air.... Can I go?  The Real Housewives of New Jersey went to that resort a couple of seasons ago...  I think.  I would try to get your appt. setup with your RO before you go, so you can get the ball rolling with the rads when you get back.  

Take care ladies,

Kim

Jodi040812

I am hanging!  Finished round two of AC yesterday.  Dr wasn't happy about mouth sores since it can led to bacteria hence infection. Looked like regular pain in the arse mouth sores to me. Ridiculous ones it still. They said if it happens again they will lower the dose. Which I so as no I want the whole thing. She said she would remember that but they have to keep me safe.  WBC were 5,4.  No shot. I guess they don't give one until your numbers get low?  All in all ok visit. Then I got back to my room and the strays were falling out so 

bad. I just went ahead at cut them! Here I am now ladies!

Good luck everyone this week!!!

RHGSR

your shirt is awesome Jodi!! You look beautiful. 

Everyone of you are gorgeous bald!! 

Lisaj514

yes beautiful Jodi!

How are you holli? Coming around since your last episode? When is your next treatment? Wishing you luck {{{hugs}}}

Lisaj514

you girls are all look so young, Jodi, holli, DJ, Kim, Michelle, wifewbc. I wonder if there are more young(ish lol) people on here because younger people are more used to technology as a way to connect. I'm in my 50's and although I see some, there are so many more with young kids and people who look like they are in their 20's 30's

kimie06

Missy - that's a friggin sin that you are dealing with those issues.... I hope it resolves itself for you, but on another note congrats on the upcoming award, that is a HUGE accomplishment while doing chemo, I couldn't work.. I am a hairstylist, and between feeling like shit and having numb fingers and feet... booooo...

Jodi - so proud of your strength....keep swimming ... Hopefully the mouth sores have taken a hike and don't be scared if they lower your dose they lowered mine and it was still ok they wouldn't do it if they thought it was lessening anything.

Lisa - I am 37 2 little guys at home .. 6 and 8

KJ - I DID GET MY TICKETS TO FLEETWOOD MAC IM SCREAMING IT I AM SO EXCITED !!!!!!!! road trip to Boston with the girls.. I better check my passport and make sure its not expired....

oranje_mama

Today's the day - last chemo!  So happy to have reached this point, but for some reason, couldn't sleep last night.  I will get my genetics test results before chemo today, maybe that's why.  

It's spring finally and birds are chirping.  Feeling good

Lisaj514

orange m- woohoo on last chemo! Understandable not to be able to sleep. excitement, worry etc. and results of genetics will probably determine future surgery. But enjoy your day. Realize how far you've come, what you've overcome, tolerated. We are amazing women! Let us know how you celebrated your last day and your results.

keepthefaith

oranje-mama, YAY for your last chemo. Happy Dance for you!

I hope the rest of you are doing well.

Great photo Jodi!

missy, congrats on your award!

kimie, yay for the tickets.

Lisa, I am 58 yrs old.:)

You young women amaze me with how you handle yourr busy lives, families, kids, etc. I can focus on me. I get it that you don't really have a choice, but you can chose how you deal with your situation. Great job, ladies! 

Do you all watch the "Little Couple ? Bill says, "Jen makes Navy seals look like little girls"....that's what you all do!!!

 

 

 

jackieak

Jodi...bald is beautiful!  I shaved last week and it looks and feels better than the ugly white fuzz.

Congrats to last chemo orange...hope genetic test is good news.

Love the little people...that little gal Jen is my hero!

Lisa, I'm 51, and we do have allot of young women here, and as you said full of courage and duty to their children...too young to have this crap.

BGC here I come for #8... 4 to go

Crazywabbit

just got home from Taxol #8. Got the MO to drop the benedryl to 25 mg from 50 but he would not lower the steroids this time. Next week he will decrease from5 to 4 mg decadron, the lowest he will go. Amazing how much better I feel with less benedryl. Not groggy and fighting sleep. My neuropathy is stable and may actually be a bit better. MO feels confident it will reverse after all this poison is done. CBC was all  WNL. SO happy, 27 more days to the end. We discussed a bone density test when finished and starting AIs before RT started.  Also discussed IV  zometa and will talk more about it later. He is not convinced the benefits are all that great and there as some potential risks.

 Congrates to OranjeMama on completing chemo.  Best to those getting infusions today and tomorrow. 

Jodi that wig looks so natural, You are half way done the the nasty stuff.

Barbara

RobinLK

thought I would get taxol again this week, nope...just Herceptin again. Will try to get one more in next week. So this counts as #10 even though it isn't...just as 7 and 8 did. Should finish up with at least 8 or 9 of 12. 

No break for rads. Echo at end of April. Should be due for mammo/MRI during rads. Not sure how that goes. Will ask PCP and BS...have follow ups with them in the next few weeks. Holy juggling dr appts. .....

Congrats on finishing oranje!

Jodi, so sorry about your loss. Hope your mouth sores stay away. 

Michelle- congrats on the tix!

49 here and I love the Little Couple!

If I missed things, I am sorry. Getting better at this, but still room for improvement. 

Mikesgirl17

Orange m, Congrats!!!!!  There is nothing like the feeling you get after your LAST chemo.  Very happy for you.  Lisa, I'm 40.

oranje_mama

drip, drip, drip last drops of chemo & I'm done !!!!! 

No BRAC mutation, so it will be a lumpectomy. Also, such good news that I can't pass a mutation to my girls. 

Feeling so happy today:). 

I'm 42. At first it seemed so hard to be going through this with young girls. But on the plus side they are quite the daily reminder of why we are fighting. And being strong for them actually makes me feel strong somehow.

RHGSR

Thanks for asking about me Lisa. 

Congrats Orange!! That has to feel surreal to get that last one under your belt. Did you celebrate? 

I'm really struggling emotionally this time around. Which is why I haven't been on here as much. I have 2 DD Taxol left. Tired of being sick and tired. The fatigue is killing me. Especially with the 3 little ones. The youngest 2 go to MDO twice a week. So that helps a lot. I try to get school done with my oldest and rest on those days as much as I can. I'm 37. 

Nausea hit me hard yesterday (day 7 out from last infusion).  Had to ask my hubby to come home from work. Then spent like 13 hours in bed. Not sure why. Maybe I over did it. I just get frustrated with not being able to do as much. I can in my "head " but my body is limiting me. My stomach feels like it is in knots and on fire. I'm so over all of this already. 

I'm soooo wanting to work in my garden. My hubby and kiddos planted potatoes,radishes, snow peas, and lettuce about a month ago. We are harvesting some of our lettuce. They planted carrots too but I don't think they planted them deep enough and the wind carried them. Ha ha - there are random carrots popping up all over the place. I'm hoping to get some tomato and pepper transplants tomorrow. Maybe I can get them in the ground if I have my hubby rake the rows for me.  :0) tomatoes make me happy 

Crazywabbit

way too early to think of gardens up here yet, still a lot of freezing weather, last frost date is May 15.  Watching a garden grow and produce gives you a good feeling. So starry to hear you are still having a rough time Holli, would your MO consider changing to the weekly low dose taxol. I just had #8 and actually feeling better over the past two weeks,my WBC, 4.1, has stayed up and hg is 11+. I think it is just easier on the body.  Do not know how you do it with 3 small children. 

Oranje mama, so wonderful to hear the BRACA testing was neg. big relief. 

Robin, are you getting neupogen shots to get your WBCs up?  Frustrating to miss treatments. I told my MO I wanted the full dose each week even if I have to have with numb feet. 

Lisaj514

well I'm 53, 54 in may. It's just a number but you young women with kids at home....YOU ROCK!! Kids are a nice distraction though and a natural source of energy and laughter.

Will have to try little couple. 

My last chemo is 4/21. Who's with me on that week?

oranje_mama

Holli, so sorry to hear how you've been feeling. I've had days like that too. Understand completely the "in your head" feeling v reality. I'm sure I have more of those days yet to come. 

If any consolation, my hg are back up to 10 after dropping to 9 last week. Our NP says that after 3/3.5 months some if the cells first killed off are finally regenerating so sometimes it gets better. Hope that's the case for you Holli.

Jodi040812

orange- Whoo hooo!!  Done!

Wabbit- the tech thing might have a slight advantage!  Never thought of that.  39 here with my 3 girls (10,5, and 15 mths)

I will keep the wig on unless at treatment. My girls don't like bald outside of the house lol!  

Hope everyone is doing well.  On way back from yesterday's treatment.  Driving back now:(. Not a fun 6 hours!!

RHGSR

thanks everyone!! I so appreciate the encouraging words. 

Lisa - I'm scheduled for 4/10 and 4/24. So we are right there together. 

Just walked out back with my 9 year old. I have some fruit trees we planted last spring. Not much fruit on them as they are still young but we counted 7 baby peaches on one. So excited. Hope they all stay on and avoid the hungry bugs. 

Holli

RHGSR

wabbit- planting here usually begins about the 2nd weekend in april. My grandmother was an avid gardener. She passed away a year to the day before my first child was born (9 years ago). Gardening makes me feel close to her. You're right. Watching things grow brings such joy. 

RobinLK

I am skipping because of the neuropathy symptoms and the heavy legs and arms. My counts are great actually. Trying to avoid permanent  neuropathy. Had to go down my stairs on my bottom last night because of the lack of felling and shakiness in legs. It is not just my hands and feet that are involved. MO will not go past the original 12 weekly dose mark. Does not want to switch to taxotere, he said to far in to just trade one set of side effects for new ones. Will try to get in one more dose on or before April 17th. That is my chemo end date whether I get any more doses or not. I will still be going in every three weeks for my Herceptin until the end of January. So not done with the BGC by a long shot.