Starting Chemo March 2015

Carrie37

Congrats BB!! So happy you are done...gives me hope!

TerryMarie

WP ....number 4 was tough for me also but number 5 was much better, the doc gave me extra steroids to take for an extra 3 days, this did make a big difference in the pain I previously had in my bones and joints. It does affect your sleeping but its a trade off. She also prescribed Oxy which I took and will not again , the constipation was ridiculous. I switched to extra strength tylenol and I was ok.

As far as radiation is concerned, I'm starting that prob the beginning of July, my mother went through it and had no issue at all, she said it was fine and a lot easier to go through than chemo. Don't worry!

Hope everyone is doing well today, I'm on the countdown to Friday and my last session. Ye haw.

IndyGal35

Nothing thrills me more than to see you gals starting to "ring out" on your last chemo. I cheer so much with you, and it gives me encouragement that there is an end in sight for me. Please continue to check in as you begin your surgeries, radiation, and even survivorship!!!!!

Hope Katy is doing better.

Sharon, my goal is to make my way to your beautiful country one day!

Good luck in the chair today, Diane. 2 more to go. 42 days until your last dose!

Bekah, love the cuddle buddy! My iron studies came back fine, but my hgb continues to drop about a half a point each chemo. I was holding steady at 9 last week. I'm trying to take sublingual B12, I hope that gets me through to the end.

molly1976

I have #11 tomorrow, which means in 8 days I will be DONE. I do feel like the last week has been tougher with fatigue. And I am so tired of having a bloody nose every second of my life. And of being bald.

Oh, also, I have to get a suspicious mole removed on Thursday. Fun! My body really seems like it's trying to kill me.

SueH58

Hi guys

1) I'm worried about Katy. Haven't heard from her since Sunday night. I sure hope they didn't put her in the hospital when she finally was able to talk to someone Monday morning...

2) Is it typical that certain chemos are easier or harder than previous ones?

3) Zofran vs. Compozine - I have #2 tomorrow. I had issues with a nagging headache after #1 and now think it was due to Zofran vs. the chemo. Does Compozine work just as well for nausea?

Thanks, all, and have a great Tuesday.

Trvler

BB: NO WAY does it seem like you are bragging. I am going for my first Taxol today and I am beyond thrilled for you.

Trvler

Anyone heard from Katy? I hope she is ok.

Jackbirdie

BB I am thrilled for you! Congratulations on your graduation! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉💓💓💓

Diane and Allison- hope you both have good days in the chair.

For those going tomorrow and also finishing soon, (Molly, TerryMarie) I also wish you proud congratulations. I still can't believe it's been less than 3 months and how close we've all become and helped each other through this and to have people actually finishing is just amazing!

I am doing marginally better. I didn't really get a quick and thorough response from antibiotics, and got worse before I got better. I have tried to stay up with reading posts, but didn't feel sharp enough to provide anything useful. Today seems a bit better, but I've learned not to read to much into how I feel in the morning. I usually feel much worse as the day wears on.

Jack has been here at my side, patiently. How I love this dog! Please don't worry, I feel I am on the mend now, just so slowly. I am resting again today, but do move around so as not to let the "crud" settle. I can't believe I'm due back in the chair a week from Thursday.. But I really don't want any delays either. Ugh

Jackbirdie

Bracelet Update: Maryellen (Meme) has finished her tour of duty with the bracelet and will be sending it along to the next person this week!

Originally, Sharon in Australia was to get it next, but has deferred her turn a bit so more people can enjoy it while they are undergoing treatment. (It takes forever to mail back and forth from Australia)

So we are going to run it up the "Left Coast" next, where there are several ladies living in closer proximity than 10,000 miles away.

So Italychick, keep an eye on your incoming mail! I hope the bracelet can make one of those famous quarter century bike rides with you! And we will be needing pictures!

Best to all..... I always get excited when the bracelet is on the move!

Katy

ninjamary

I finally got around to my a blurb about me. I'd take that bracelet, but I forgot to add (see below) that my home is a black hole. I also lost a charm of my F bracelet (it was a dangly charm pendent) I'm not going to take the chance to mess up the March girl's bracelet. I also spill food whenever I wear white. All.The.Time. #klutz.

Me. Married. I met my husband in a bar (because that's how we did it in the 90s). We've been married for 18 years this Saturday. Damn that's a long time! We have three great children. A daughter who is 16 and two sons 14 and 11. My kids are hysterical and very independent.

I'm an only child. My mom passed away from breast cancer when I was 20. Mets to the bone and liver..she never had chemo and I don't carry the BRAC1 or 2 gene. Go figure. It's just me and my father. We have traveled the world together (Europe, Middle East and New Zealand) when I was in my 20s. I have great memories of those times.

I'm an accountant/controller for a small company. My boss passed away this past April. He was pill popping/porn watching/sending money to some whore in Malaysia addict. I can't make this shit up. It was BAD. He died in his sleep (probably an overdose) The Company is hanging on by a thread. I may be out of a job in the next month or we may be bought out and my job will survive. I can't really stress about that anymore.

For fun….Joe and I would go on Thursday night date nights. That consisted of shooting trap at the local gun club and going out for cocktails afterwards. I think having cocktails before would have improved my aim, but that behavior is frowned upon.

I have one dog, a Chesapeake Retriever. She was a great hunting dog (ducks) but is older now and is not as fast on her feet anymore. Two cats and some fish. I do not hunt. My husband is the hunter and eats what he kills. Did I mention I hate duck meat?

I'm a Netflix addict, love to read books, huge Star Trek, Star Wars nerd fan and dream of winning the lottery but I never play said lottery. I hate crowds of people and especially hate people in their cars. If I could I would never leave my house. That sounds like I'm some hermit weirdo.

Joe and I plan on retiring to Chincoteague Island VA. Which is weird as I hate the direct sun and heat, but I love the ocean and beach.

Trvler

Katy: Glad to hear from you. Take it easy and get better!

Ninja: lol , you can't make that stuff up like about your boss. Thanks for sharing your story. My sister is a huge trekkie.

Haven't had the energy to write mine yet. I am boring.

Bad day at the chair. My platelets were low and they decided to hold off a week. Had to take a bunch of extra blood. Asked for experienced person due to veins but got amateur first. Got stuck a bunch of extra times. Got chastised by nurse after apologizing profusely for messing up the appointment time. SHE's is the one who put me with the inexperienced blood drawer. Just all in all a sucky time. Met with social worker to discuss stress and other issues which was good. She got all my issues in like 10 minutes and I am going to meet with her regularly.

so-she-did

Jackbirdie

Oh AMY!!! I didn't realize!

How wonderful. Congratulations!

I am doing the happy dance for you!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🐳🐳🐳🐳🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

And a big 👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏💞💞💞💞💞💞

Jackbirdie

Allison, what a bummer what happened today. All around. How long will they delay/postpone, do you know yet? So sorry. Gentle hug and a bit of mojo coming your way.

Katy

SpecialK

sueh - chemo side effects can, and usually do, become cumulative.  Things like blood counts usually get incrementally worse the farther you go.  I did not tolerate Zofran, it gave me a wicked headache and did not prevent nausea or vomiting, all was well once I switched to Compazine - I liked it much better.  Whether it works or not for you is an individual thing.

trvler - low platelets are pretty common, but know that platelets are very mercurial - they are the shortest lived blood cells in the body.  You can have low platelets one day, and normal the next, as they only have a five day lifespan. They can transfuse platelets also - an easy 20 minute procedure, that only requires a blood type - no crossmatch..

Congrats to all who are finishing, finishing and moving on to the next drug, or getting close!  Those are all accomplishments!

eheinrich

Hooray Amy! I am exactly one week behind you!

SueH58

Congrats, Amy! I'm jealous, but thrilled for you!!!!!

Trvler

Congratulations, Amy!

neverthought

Very glad to hear from Katy. I worry about everyone who doesn't make a post.

And congratulations to everyone finishing up this week!

I am being a big baby today.  I've had my head in the sand about a prosthesis and have been hiding with loose clothing but with 90 degree weather thought I better do something.  So today 2 pocket bras, some sew in pockets for my old bras and a couple of foam boobs arrived in the mail. It is seriously bumming me out that I have to worry about that every day for the rest of my life. And do all mastectomy bras have to be so heavy?  Sorry, I know this is nothing compared to bc itself and chemo, surgery, radiation. But for some reason it was like a slap in the face to open that package. 

 

eheinrich

Neverthought - check out knitted knockers. It sounds weird to have a knitted boob, but I've been really frustrated with the prosthesis and how heavy and uncomfortable it is. My friend made me a knitted boob - it's lightweight, soft, fits in my regular bras and is a better match to my remaining boob then the prosthetic one. www.knittedknockers.org has patterns and you can also request a free one.

Trvler

Never: Do not feel like your issues are any less valid. Everyone has something to deal with and we are all going through grieving over loss of our former self. I hope Eileen's solution works for you.

Jackbirdie

Neverthought- as often happens, Trvler took the words right out of my mouth. What you are going through has everything to do with everything. Please "neverthink" that way ok? I must be feeling a bit better. I made a wee joke Har.

SueH58

Alright Katy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IndyGal35

YES, Amy!!!!

I swear seeing your beautiful smile with that sign has been the highlight of my day. Every time one of "our" gals rings out on chemo, it's a cause to celebrate

slothabouttown

I second the knitted boobs. If you don't have a knitting talent or a friend who knits the group will make them for you. Also lots of women use the genie bra (that's the as seen on tv bra you can get at Walgreens) they are really lightweight and have pockets sewn in.

slothabouttown

and congrats Amy, bravo!!

I had my "fitting" and tattooing today for 25 doses of radiation starting next week. It was painless and only a little anxiety-making but no needle pokes (well except for the tattoos)

Katy I'm glad you're slowly on the mend, and Travler I'm so sorry for your setback. Dang it.

Carrie37

Congrats Amy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a relief!!

Carrie37

I'm sorry for what you went through today Allison. Thinking of you...

Carrie37

I realized today that my drivers license expired on my birthday. I had gotten a letter in the mail that since I was considered a safe driver I could renew online. I got that letter around the time of my diagnosis. Now it is nowhere to be found. I was/am frustrated over something so stupid and it made me cry. I hate being so damn emotional over silly things. Now I have to call the Secretary of State to see if they will send me a new online code. Probably not so then I have to go to the DMV. Just another annoying thing I have to deal with. Nothing compared to BC so why I am in so upset? It should be time for my period but I am late. I still got it while on the AC. Would starting the Taxol do that? I'll probably get my period on spa day this week. Murphy's Law.

Jackbirdie

Carrie- a dmv issue is never stress-less.

I think it points out the hugeness of BC and your dx that is could be completely forgotten about. The scariest thing of your whole life. Could you cut yourself a teensy break?

Instead of calling, perhaps you could look online and find a supervisor email address. Then you can compose a letter when you are calm, explaining your situation. Being put on hold etc might upset you again and you won't come across as clearly and say the things you need to say. Pull the cancer card in the classiest, most meaningful way. Like I know you can.

I feel sure a written email letter would be better than getting transferred around on the phone. Much less stress on you.