Starting Chemo March 2015

DavisD

Thanks Shaz and thanks for the new word "fodder" had to look it up! Good luck In the chair tomorrow, you're getting there!
Avmom-Not much tastes good to me either and I've lost about 10 lbs. That's good because I gained over 2 lbs. in the past year going through menopause!

Anyone else have their period stop completely since starting chemo? My last one was Jan and I started chemo in March. I was going evey 2-4 months for the past year prior. I hope it's done for good!

Oh and cheers all, I had a small glass of white wine yesterday and I'm still alive. thanks for the feedback!

Trvler

My period stopped but so did my ability to have sex so I am pretty unhappy about that. I will take the period any day.

I haven't changed my diet much. But I have lost about 4-5 pounds because I am not snacking at all and my appetite is pretty dead. Food doesn't taste bad all the time and I am not nauseous. I think my loss of appetite is also stress related. My kids are driving me crazy and my husband and I have been fighting a lot lately over the kids, mostly.

Starting Taxol tomorrow (hopefully). Hopefully this will work better than the AC seems to have.

molly1976

My period also stopped, but I was on the pill for twenty years before diagnosis so I don't really know how much of it is the chemo and how much is just my cycle being irregular. It used to be all over the place and I would sometimes go months in between; that's the reason I started on the pill to begin with.

My MO says alcohol in moderation is fine but I've read all the stuff you guys likely have about how it raises estrogen levels and my tumor was 95% estrogen positive. I have had one glass of red wine since I was diagnosed and even that stressed me out. I just see it as poison right now. Maybe I will feel better about it once I start tamoxifen.

shaz101

You period has stopped to. I had my last one the week before chemo. Sex has also stopped in my house. The lack of a sex drive and the concerns of no contraception and transfer of chemo through fluid has turned us both off.

Jackbirdie

Sharon- Wishing you smooth sailing in the chair today. I never can figure the time but you might even be done by now?

My little Tanager friend was back this morning. Just one. He was singing outside my window persistently until I got up to see if it was him. As soon as I saw him, and he saw me, he flew off. My orange sections that I put out for them appear untouched. They eat insects mostly. Their color, interestingly, is not produced by their own bodies, nor does it come from the insects they eat. It comes from the colors in the flowers that the insects eat.

It is a marvelous world

Trvler

Good luck today, Sharon!

DavisD

Trvler-I understand the stress young kids put on a marriage. We always fought about the "right" way to do things or money. I'm sorry you're having to deal with that on top of everything else. No action going on in this house either but my kids are grown and those problems started several years ago. When you lose trust and move away from each other emotionally, it's hard to ever go back. I don't think I would want to be sexually active even if that area had been fine...too many SE's and problem areas. If you ever need to talk privately I'm available. Hang tight lady!

Sharon-transfer of chemo through fluids, ugh! Hadn't heard that before but what a turn off. I'm 54 and have been irregular for several years so I think this is finally "it" for me. One positive SE! Good luck in the chair today and I'll be hoping for no migraines and smooth sailing.

Molly-Thanks for the info about estrogen. My tumor was only 5% ER positive so I'm going to have a glass once in awhile. As Katy said, I will not let BC rule/ruin my life! If I had as much positive ER as you I'd stay away though.

Katy-The birds know where to go to get what they need! Heaven for them with you.  Hugs

eheinrich

My last period was before chemo 2. That one was just really weird for me. Lasted longer & was heavier than usual. Nothing since. I guess w starting tamoxifen next month that will be the end of that.

Katy - no clear plans to travel I just let my passport expire. Last July through now has been stressful - separation, moving twice, other health crap now this - never did it. I meant to before I lost my hair. My sister wants to go on a 3-4 day cruise to Mexico in August. I've never been on a cruise - never seemed like something I'd like. She has & loved it. So we might do that. Or she will just visit me. I guess I like the freedom in just having a passport though - I could go anywhere (aside from money, tx, time, etc).

eheinrich

Just came across this. http://www.thescarproject.org/ This photographer took portraits of women and their mastectomy scars. It's really pretty cool.

Jackbirdie

Eileen: I agree there is a sense of freedom in just knowing you "can". And I always swore I'd never do a cruise either, but I think our tastes can change over time. There is something nice about the idea of seeing several places without having to pack and unpack every time.

I think I would struggle with the allyoucaneat thing. And worse, if it's allucandrink. Haha.

I have traveled quite extensively in Mexico, but it was many MANY years ago. One of my favorite places is San Miguel de Allende. Kind of an artists colony. It's in the interior. Got to be more Americans than locals eventually. Not sure I approve of that. But I have lasting memories, down to details of the room I stayed in. It was pouring with rain when I arrived. They had lit a fire in my fireplace and brought a pot, not just a cup, of Mexican hot chocolate, which has a unique and wonderful flavor. There were built-in adobe bookshelves on either side of the fireplace, lined with books in English and Spanish.

I felt I had truly escaped the world, and felt I could be happy in that room forever.

Jackbirdie

E- A big WOW from me on the Scar Project. Beautiful but haunting photos.

I had the weird sensation of being both an insider and an outsider, looking at them.

My scar is among the most hideous I've ever seen. I hate looking at myself. These pictures somehow allowed inner beauty, as well as other emotions, to show through.

Thank you

eheinrich

I'm glad you liked it! There's also a link to a documentary on the home page. I also liked Turning Heads - it's a book with pics and statements from women going through chemo. They are featured in beautiful photos with their lovely bald heads. They had a copy in my MO office & of course I had to get one for myself.

SpecialK

There is another similar site - the Grace Project.  Here is the link:

http://the-grace-project.org/

Also, since it is Memorial Day there is this project, which is an offshoot.  There are several former military women from BCO who plan to travel to Washington, D.C. for this photo shoot and participate.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SUBJECTS NEEDED: MILITARY WOMEN
  Photographer Isis Charise is recruiting military women affected by breast cancer to be photographed for The Athena Project, a subset of The Grace Project at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC June 14-16, 2015. 100 images of these military women will be on display at the 2016 exhibition at the Women's Memorial.
  The Athena Project will create awareness for the 2009 Do...D study that found military women are 20 percent to 40 percent more likely to get breast cancer than civilian women.
  If you have served and are a survivor or previvor, please email Donna Guinn Kaufman at kaufmandg@lobby4good.com. You will receive a questionnaire to return and will be scheduled to be photographed.
  Women's Memorial Page on FB: https://www.facebook.com/womensmemorial
  Join our Group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/680669862054268/
  The Grace Project Page on FB: https://www.facebook.com/graceproject
  The Grace Project Website: http://the-grace-project.org/
http://www.usatoday.com/…/…/02/breast-cancer-troops/1608293/
http://archive.armytimes.com/…/Alarming-breast-cancer-rates…

See More

Women In Military Service For America Memorial

 

Jackbirdie

Thanks Special- how very scary about the increased risk. I wonder if it is additional stress-do they have any idea why?

It really bugs me that the people who sacrifice for us always seem to get the short end of the stick. I will certainly follow this project.

Once again, feeling gratitude and thanks to all military families today.

eheinrich

I'm starting my first assignment for the life science analyst job. It's a trial one to see if I'm competent at this sort of thing. It's tricky, I feel like I haven't had to think hard in a long time. Keep getting totally distracted. - which I guess is obvious since I'm on here - oooopsie!

SpecialK

jackbirdie - several risk factors - exposure to chemicals, night shift work (documented for non-military also), and stress.

shaz101

Eileen, I hope you have been able to concentrate. Just give yourself small achievable goals. I try to work for 2 hours a day. I also try to have a break after 1 hour otherwise I allow myself to get distracted. Which is not good when your making decisions that cost a few million dollars.

I'm just waiting for the mo and then I'm off to the chair. Feeling very thankful that I now have a picc.

shaz101

Here I am!

Meme117

Best wishes Sharon! Hope the day is uneventful, you look great!

I just took my steroids getting ready for #4 tomorrow. Congrats yo all who have finished! I've decided for my last spa day I'm bringing a nice cake for all and wearing a party hat because I believe it is truly something.to celebrate, chemo is frickin hard.

My period stopped after the 2nd chemo and I was always very regular. I've had wine spritzers a few times but can't seem to finish one glass and I'm a bottle type of girl😊

Diane those kitties are precious!!

shaz101

diane i forgot to add that yes both spinning and weaving are very relaxing. I think its like mediation. The more relaxed I am the better the end result is. You must get yourself a wheel 😊

eheinrich

Maryellen - Hi from another bottle type gal (oops). I'm also steroiding for #4 (thanks for reminding me to take it)

Yay Sharon!

Italychick

Number 5 for me Wednesday, steroids tomorrow. ugh!

Jackbirdie

Sharon, great picture! I hope it's SE free for at least a couple if days.

Maryellen, good luck tomorrow. I love the cake and party hat idea!

🎉🎉🎉🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

Eileen, you finish tomorrow, right? Ready to ring the bell? So very excited for you. Such a milestone!

Allison, good luck with the start of your Taxol tomorrow. I hope it goes fairly easy on you.

Jackbirdie

Theresa- Watch your incoming mail tomorrow!

Maybe you'll have a little extra sumpin sumpin for Wednesday!

wpmoon

Spa day for me today. As always, don't want to go, but I will. The weather is gloomy - seems to be a theme with my spa days.

Congrats to everyone who has finished! So excited for you all (and also a little jealous ).

eheinrich

All checked in for my last round. Yay!

Good luck at the spa today Whitney :

ninjamary

Whitney,

I get nauseous just walking in the infusion room anymore. I'm doing chemo through July so I am nowhere near done.

so-she-did

Nearing the surface of the rabbit hole from this last round of chemo so I figured I would check in and say congrats to those who finished or are finishing up chemo! Yay!!!!!!

Let's see if I am coherent enough to chime in on some of the conversations that have been happening.

My MO wants me to start tamoxifen a month out from chemo. I have an appointment on the 30th to go over the results of the scans I requested (brain MRI and full body bone scan) so he will also go over the tamoxifen side effects and I'll get my rx. So nervous to start that treatment. The SEs scare me more than they did for chemo for some reason.

Someone brought up missing periods - I, too, am in chemopause. I had my last period during the time between chemo 2 and 3 and it was a doozy! High volume and lasted a long time. No cramps, for some odd reason, though, and I always have cramps. Definitely didn't miss them! I haven't noticed any other signs of chemopause like hot flashes so I'm hoping that by starting on tamoxifen in a month I'll stay status quo and won't have too many side effects of tamoxifen-induced menopause. I'm wondering if I'll start up with regular periods again after the 5 years since I am 42 now. I am hoping that at least I can be done with periods for the rest of my life after going through all of this shit. If the tamoxifen doesn't treat me too badly I wonder if my MO will recommend the 10 year plan. Anyone else's MO bring up going 10 years? I'm almost 100% ER and PR positive so that may be the reason he brought it up.

Wine/beer - This was one of my first questions when I went to chemo school - lol! My MO said everything was allowed in moderation (food and drink-wise) as long as all my levels stayed in the good range. I have had wine and beer during chemo but it is usually during the 3rd week when I am feeling my best and chemo is pretty much out of my system. During the other 2 weeks it just didn't even sound good. Being so ER positive I will definitely drink in moderation but the research findings aren't showing a strong enough correlation to keep me away entirely.

How did I do? Did I make any sense? So ready to be done with these SEs!

molly1976

Amy, my MO has said tamoxifen for 5 years but I am only 38. I brought it up at the last appointment and said, "but I'll only be 43 in 5 years!" and he said in his usual laid back, amused sort of way, "Well, I'll still be here when you're 43 and we can talk about it again then." He did end up saying that if I want to continue for another 5, he would think that was okay.

I am definitely having hot flashes with chemopause. Only a few a day, though, and mostly in the evening/nighttime. Hot flashes are extremely sexy coupled with the baldness; out of nowhere I will have a super sweaty scalp.

acmoore

i just join today. I I'll be starting my first round of chemo on this friday. How did your first one go an what to expect