Starting Chemo March 2015

molly1976

Ha! I finished my chemo this morning and went straight to Trader Joe's and bought 2 kinds of ice cream, cookies, chocolate covered raisins, and stuff for strawberry shortcakes. then I made myself eat some pomegranate seeds for vitamins but I am digging into that ice cream ASAP.

My face is a MESS from the steroids. Worst acne of my life.

Trvler

Good news on the echo, WP!

Italychick

Sitting in the chair, all stabbed up and waiting on bloodwork. So all the discussion of cookies, I am sitting here already eating mine lol. What will I do for the rest of the day? Eek, cookies already gone!

Meme117

Amy glad you made it out - I love the cards too!

I received my F and C charms over the weekend, put them on a bracelet and lost the C, figures. I also got a Hamsa hand charm to ward off the evil cancer and bring me health. When I get my new C I'll take a photo. Off to work for a bit.

Had a chance to read the exercise study article and the chemo fog one on the front page of this site, very interesting.

Trvler

Oh, no!!! Do you have any instant oats at home? The recipe on the container is good.

Italychick

If I get desperate, I will send my husband on a cookie run lol.

SC_Coqui

Sue, yes both tests. My MO said about 5% of patients end up where the tests come up equivicol. I'd rather go the side of caution and if it's still Equivicol get Herceptin.

Enjoying a a strawberry shake from our local grocer that only opens seasonally. It's stawberry season so I picked up a pint of straberries as well. They grow them on their own farm and are phenomenal. "working" from home.

shaz101

hi everyone. I'm busy trying to catch up. So sorry to have missed out on so much.

Katy I'm so sorry to read about the loss of your friend. It sounds like she was in peace with her decision and path.

My headaches have been keeping me away. My MO has altered my pre meds and given my 2 extra days of the dexa. I hope this helps, the worst normally starts tomorrow night. He has also organized for neurology to admit me if I present at hospital again.

I'm up to page 103, so best it do a little more catch up before trying to go back to sleep.. Its now 3:35am here.

Thinking of you all and thank you for your well wishes. I felt you all around me. I thought of you all each day. I hope I won't stay away as much this round xxx

Angiel

Wow, those strawberries look amazing! I bet they'd be good in Molly's shortcakes as well as your shake, SC.

I can't sleep either. I have an Rx for Ambien but it doesn't give me more than 3-4 hours of sleep. Is the Melatonin a pill? Like something you could purchase at Walgreens? I.need.sleep...... DH is out of town for work this week and I am so tried after being a taxi driver for kid's sports in the evening and I still can't sleep.

Italychick

Did anybody slow down the Herceptin drip? Did you feel anything different? I'm thinking of changing it from 30 minutes to 1 hour this time. So nervous about this round 4 today.

wpmoon

I had them slow down my Herceptin drip on number 3 for my cold capping - didn't notice any additional side effects. Go for it!

so-she-did

Theresa - rofl!

Enjoy that ice cream, Molly!

SC - those strawberries look great! Now that I can drive again I might just have to "accidentally" stop by somewhere for a strawberry sundae.

I read that article on chemo brain, too. I get it really bad the first week of chemo to the point I can't drive or even follow a conversation. Then it lessens quite a bit. I really did not enjoy hearing it could be permanent.

SpecialK

For those considering melatonin to assist with sleep - it is recommended for breast cancer patients by reputable sources. My BS said to use doses up to 10mg if I was having trouble sleeping. Studies have shown that many of us with breast cancer are melatonin deficient, as we are with Vit D. Also, shift workers - who potentially don't have enough exposure to darkness, when melatonin is made by the body, have higher rates of breast cancer.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280194.ph...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16647824/?i=2.../22500582/related

Italychick

Mmmm, I want a banana split with nuts and whipped cream from Dairy Queen and a Buster Bar and an ice cream sandwich. And some brittle. And a Mars Almond bar. And some Jordan Almonds. And a piece of cheesecake. I swear right now I could eat everything sweet that was put in front of me.

What is that about? I never eat sweets or carbs like noodles, and now I could live on them if I allowed myself to.

BBwithBC45

Amy - the cards are great, thanks for the link.

Shannon - so nice to hear from you. Hoping the new premeds help you finally.

About the birds - for the past couple of weeks there is a Robin knocking on some of our windows every day. He's flying up and down the windows, sitting on the ledge and knocking!

greenae

Wow! This thread is hard to keep up with!

Molly1976- have ur MO give u an Rx for Cleocin Lotion. Mine did and acne cleared up in a week.

I started decadron this am because I am going to the bar tomorrow. Hmmmm, what will I buy online tonight?

I hope everyone is feeling ok. I am halfway thru chemo today. So feeling good about that, I think?

Next up, have to decide DIEP or implantfor left breast. Reduction/lift for right. Any thoughts, I don't want to be the one to decide. Ugh.

Shaz, its good to hear from you. Tapering my decadron helped with my headaches, I hope it does for you.

May everyones SEs lay low. I stink at keeping up on here, but I read everyday. BC is so time consuming. I had a fill and PT today, for the 3 lovely cords that are now running down my left arm. Just got back from NYU, and will be there all day tomorrow, KILLING CANCER!

Hugs to all, keep up the Good Fight!

Arlene

BBwithBC45

Arlene, the decision about which reconstruction route to take was made for me by my PS, but it coincided with what I was already thinking. He looked at me and said that I didn't have enough fat on me for any flap surgeries, so I am getting an implant. On the other side I had reduction/lift. I am a very impatient person when it comes to healing, so I was very happy that I didn't get a flap surgery - the healing is much longer than after getting a tissue expander.

Jackbirdie

atta girl Molly! Did your car @accidentally@ pull into TJs parking lot

greenae

thank you BB

Are you happy with your results? I am concerned with symetry and cleavage looking ok. I have no issue with scars, just want to look ok in clothes, even tight and/or lowcut, and a bathing suit. A lil vain I Iguess, but I just wAnt it done as well as it can be. I had a left nipple sparing/skin sparing mx, and TE will be at 700cc by 5/22. Then sx in july

Thx for ur help!

Arlene

Meme117

Molly I was just thinking of a trader joe run maybe Friday. I really have a hard time with dairy after chemo so no ice cream but just had a noosa coconut yogurt and it was so delicious.

Joanna those strawberries look awesome just picked up blueberries yesterday. I belong to a community farm and our regular pick ups will begin this month so excited.

Theresa good luck today, I bring so many snacks with me it's like we're having a party. Went out for burgers and fries when I finished, I really crave the salty stuff.

Amy I also feel like I have the foggy brain for the first few days, can't watch too much tv or read.

Sharon so nice to see you, hope the changes make a big difference!

Arlene good luck tomorrow!

Jackbirdie

Shaz- so great to hear from you. Thinking of you for next 24 hoping the new support meds do the trick. We miss you!

Whitney- great news on the echo and that they are unconcerned with liver. Phew!

Theresa-oh no! Out of cookies! Disaster! You accidentally ate them I'm sure. Not your fault dear.

Joanna- those strawberries look awesome. Too early here yet. Mine still look like this:

I bought a coral bark maple and planted it today in Derith's memory.

Yesterday I had the worst chemo brain to date. I opened the gate and forgot to secure Jack and forgot why I'd opened it. I watched him sashay out the door then he looked at me ...... AND RAN OFF. Took over an hour of walking and driving around with no sign of him. Then a lady stopped me and asked if I was looking for a dog. Yes well he's down there (pointing towards the busy street). Oh shit. Still no sign. finally while I was out schreeching out the car window up and down every street, he came to the neighbors and after several attempts they outwitted the little bugger and caught him. By then I was completely hysterical, crying, sure that due to my own stupidity and effing BC I would never see him again.

All is well now. I know he needs more exercise than I can give him right now. And tomorrow round 4. Who knows what fresh new hell that will bring.

So today was my last chance and I took him for s big off leash run at the beach. He runs at full speed for no apparent reason. Just the joy of it! Now he's like this:

Wishing everyone light SEs and a placid mind.

Hugs

SueH58

I took just 3 mg of melatonin 1/2 hour before bed and it worked great. It's found at any store in with the vitamins. MelAtonin is what causes our skin to tan.

molly1976

Your garden is beautiful, Katy!

Arlene - thanks for the rec on the Cleocon lotion. I emailed my doc to see if he will call it in for me. It is seriously demoralizing to be not only bald but zitty.

TerryMarie

My eyes get weepy , but my main gripe at the moment is heartburn or GERD, kills me to swallow stuff and it's driving me nuts. Food sounds appetizing to me but when I go to eat it, it's a problem. Number 5 is done and 6 is in 3 weeks, The taxatore is more manageable this time because of extra steroids and Oxy, anyone experiencing severe joint and muscle pain like I did last treatment, make sure you ask for pain meds, holy crap I was in agony. ( not everyone gets that pain, dont wanna freak anyone out). I finally slept last night, I think for the first time in 2 wks. Praying for another good night. Clean for a reason came by this morning, I'm grateful for that. 3 women breezed in , stayed a little over an hour and did it all. Hope everyone is ok today.

Jackbirdie

TerryMarie- glad it's over for now and hopefully it will all be better this time with proper "SE management".. And glad you slept. That always helps.

Thanks Molly. I love my garden. Here's what it looked like, (pretty much same view as Derith tree pic) in November when I'd just moved in. Little did I know in less than a month I'dbe dxd with BC

Looks different huh?

SpecialK

sueH58 - I think you are thinking of melanin, that is the thing in skin that provides pigmentation, or tanning.

Trvler

Angiel: On the Melatonin, just make sure you buy it from a reputable source and brand. Supplements like that are no regulated by the FDA and there was a study that came out recently that said many of them did either not contain any of the substance advertised or less than advertised.

Sharon: No need to feel like you have to read everything. We are just glad to see you and wish you all the best.

Trvler

Terry; I am glad you got some sleep finally. Makes a huge difference.

Katy: Oh, no, Jack! So happy you found him and all is well.

DavisD

Hi everyone! Been laying low out of exhaustion and work this week. Saw the opthomologist on Monday and said my tearing eyes are actually severely dry eyes and scarring from the Taxotere. Gave me steroid drops to try for four weeks then if they haven't improved he's going to do a procedure in the office to open them up to drain. He said this is the most common SE he sees with Taxotere. Sucks, tearing every time I go outside and a lot inside too.

Katy, your story about Jack running off scared the hell out of me! I'm so sorry the little booger put you through that. I know my dogs need more walks than I'm able to take them on We do the best we can. Hugs-

Theresa-So glad you surfaced! I figured you were just drowning in those headaches and would check in soon. Hope you can sleep.

Got a message from Maryellen and she now has the traveling bracelet! The bed is a little klunky but essential, ha! Enjoy Maryellen

Good luck tomorrow in the chair Katy and I can't remember who else is your chemo buddy. I will play our station and send you tons of positive vibes all day tomorrow!

xoxoDiane

DavisD

Can someone tell me about the card link? Sounds like something I'd be interested in and I can't find it through all the posts.  thanks!