April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

Addie29

littleblueflowers congrats! No mo chemo!!! Steph damn infections- why can't our bodies just love us?! Here's to fast healing and getting better. Taxol is treating me decent. Had my 5th taxol on Tuesday. Feeling good. The first night is always tough but I make it though. Hope everyone is doing well and resting up

Rpayton

Littleblue: HOORAY!!!!!

Steph: hang in there and praying those antibiotics work really fast!

Other thoughts for care packages, some of these might have been mentioned: ACT mouthwash for sensitive mouths, biotene mouth wetting drops or mint tic tacs, a gentle, rich, hypoallergenic body cream like cerave or vanicream, nail oil, any type of motivational, positive booklet, pamphlet for local cancer groups and services, a fun treat coupon from a local or national chain: ice cream cone, donut, or cookie, or a redbox movie ticket.

Another rainy day here in IL Geesshhh. I guess I'm not missing the summer I thought l would. But I would really love to go raspberry picking and either the rain or the mosquitoes are messing that up and we have Westest Nile virus present in the area.

A good day to clean out a cabinet or two....or just get lost in a good suspenseful book. ;-)

Have a positive day, be well, take care of you everyone.

ksusan

Woo, Blue!

lovlilynne

Hi everyone. Having a rough day today, I haven't felt this lousy since last AC. It must be the Neulasta. I am weak, and achy, and just want to lay down and cry.

And even with that, I have to put it into perspective that at least I am not in the hospital fighting sepsis! Steph, you are in my thoughts constantly. I know that they are taking care of you, but make sure you follow your instinct if you feel you are getting any worse - make sure health proxy knows what you want to do (i.e., move to critical care/better hospital) in case you cannot advocate for yourself. I don't have to tell you that you don't want to mess around with sepsis, and you have to be careful of getting staph or msra, etc.

Jen, congrats on last chemo!!!!

Thanks for the anniversary wishes. DH didn't say anything yet today, not sure if he remembers.

I had hoped to get a bunch of stuff done today, but every effort is leaving me short of breath and moaning and groaning. It's the perfect weather to get out and do some yard clean up that I need to do. I don't think I mentioned, but in the midst of everything else, our 19+ year old above ground pool finally fell apart. DH did not want to get another one, but I did. I found one on craigslist and bought it and paid to have it moved and installed. They did it last week when I was still in Maine. It came out great, but still have a log of clean up and organizing to do. DH said if I got one, he wouldn't help with any of the maintenance, so it's all on me and kids - which is fine - when he was in the hospital all last year, we managed without him, so I know I can do it. Just hard right now.

I also had to call the insurance company covering my MLOA - I realized last paycheck that they had put me out on leave back in April before my first treatment, but I worked all that time, it should be June 12 as last worked day. Due to the mix up, I was only getting paid 80%. I called and was told it would be corrected, but I saw the amount that got deposited today, and I can tell that they still have not corrected it. Argh! I'd like to take 20% of that rep's pay on top of getting my pay back.

So many bills this month - auto insurance, son's tuition, DH's car has been in the shop 4+ times in the last 6 weeks which has added up to thousands of dollars of repairs, the house needs to be painted, so we have to pay for that in August . . . way more going out than coming in . . .

Anyone else have a work benefit where a nurse calls and follows up with you? (Not the work nurse, we don't have those, but this is an outside company) We have that, and I've had a couple calls and found them totally useless. You guys have filled me in on what to expect and what to do about SE way before or better than these nurses. I told her she could call me back in 2 weeks, but I don't see the point.

Ok, too many typos with numb fingers, so I'll spare you anymore ramblings . . .

KBeee

Lynne, Sorry you are feeling so rotten and have so much on your plate. I hope you start to turn the corner and feel better soon and that things turn around for you.

Jen, I hope you can celebrate in style as you dance your way out of the chemo lounge for the last time!!!

Addie, Glad Taxol is still treating you well, and glad that next week at this time you'll be halfway done with the Taxol part. For me, it always seems less overwhelming when I hit the second half!

Alibeths, Calling the RO is on my to-do list. I think my plan was 30 or 33...something like that. 6 weeks worth.

Katy, Glad there's progress in the right direction!

mysunshine, Last chemo today for you too???!!! Yahoo!!! Congrats!

Steph, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. That's just awful. Please keep us posted on your progress as you're able. Thinking of you!!!!!

Bluedog, welcome! I'm glad you found us. There are definitely days where I want to hop off the cancer train and say "done now"...soooo wish we could do that!

GingerChi

Sorry you're feeling so rough, Lynne! You've got alot on your plate right now. Sometimes I feel surprised at all the "normal" things that still need to be done.. and I don't feel like I have the energy or $$ to keep on top of everything. How dare the grass grow and the screen door break! Don't they know what an imposition that is? The new pool sounds so nice..hope you feel up to enjoying it soon!!

Welcome bluedog! Glad to hear treatment has gone well for you. Yes, I would love to walk away from all this. lol Going from bi-weekly AC to weekly Taxol is messing with my mind a little.....Taxol is easier, but facing the chair every week is stressing me out more...would love to just be done with it!

This is day 3 post Taxol #2. I walked the doggies early this morning, but am feeling really fatigued now. Maybe time for a nap.

For those talking L glutamine and B6, when/how long do you take them?

ankledolphin

have about 4 pages of posts to read!

Been in waiting room for over am hour do far waiting for my major last chemo treatment. #6 outta 6!!

Then surgery and only need herceptin and radation mo said. Still happy with things and told me to ring the bell but i told him i want to ring it when the port comes out since he knows how much i hate it!

GingerChi

Congrats ankledolpin!! YAY!!! Hope you dont have to wait much longer so you can get that last treatment in the books!!! )

KBeee

Congrats Ankledolphin!!!!! Yahoo! Very happy for you ladies finishing today! Let the healing begin!

ksusan

Thinking about you, Stephmoen and Lynne.

Off to radiation, followed perhaps by 15 minutes on the rowing machine at my PT's and a continuing education for an hour at noon. My radiation office has patients wear a gown backward. The gowns my size rub my throat and don't tie closed well when worn this way; the other size is enormous and billows open. I'm going to ask today if I can wear my own garment instead--a scrub vest with big arm holes that buttons in the front, which I got to hold the surgical drain bulbs. Might as well get more use out of it while I can.

lovlilynne

Melissa, YEAH on last chemo!!!

Cherie, LOL, yes - that's how I feel, how dare real life need to get done. I take l-glut 3x a day for 3 days 10g mixed into ice tea. I just started with the b6 - 100mg 2x a day, and I'm just going to take that every day from now on, my MO and the nurse didn't say how long to take it.

Lynne

littleblueflowers

littleblueflowers

ksusan

YAY!!!! Excellent bunny ears, too.

ksusan

Here you go: A chemo/radiation diet/exercise/well being thread: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/833450

KBeee

Little Blue, Yahooooooooo!!! So very happy for you! Make the side effects be few, be gone quickly, and may recovery begin!!! I love the pictures!!!

My polly's pony finally came!!! I trimmed it up so it's shorter. Here's a picture...

Jackbirdie

LittleBlue- you look happy and adorable. Sincerest congratulations.

Lynne- so sorry you are feeling down. I certainly can see why. Sending a hug. Hope you can enjoy your new pool. Soon.

Ankle- congrats to you too. I hate my port too and it's coming out soon. But celebrate all of your victories! Today is one of them. Cheers to you!

KSusan- thanks for the new thread. I'm in! Officially!

Mysunshine- congrats and home everything went well for your last one today! You're 3 hours ahead so I'm thinking ITS OVER! Yay! But as we discussed, it's not completely over quite yet. Such an important day anyway, though!

Wishing everyone else a great day

Jackbirdie

And Kbee, just saw your pony! Really cute from the front AND the back! Yay! How fun!

SueH58

Kbee - the pony is adorable! You look so great in it!!!!

gkodad

Back from my DD Taxol infusion, where my oncologist was on vacation. The consulting oncologist freaked out about my neuropathy and asked another oncologist to join her for extended discussion whether to do full infusion, half infusion or no infusion. They settled on half-infusion, monitor symptoms when I come in for blood counts and then let my regular oncologist decide what to recommend next (I think that's called CYA). So I won't see my doctor until Aug 3 and won't have another infusion until we meet - just 4 days later than the regular schedule. On a good note, I got a hand and foot massage during infusion and instruction on ways to reduce pain with massage.

I'm not upset by this delay. My father is wheel-chair bound due to peripheral neuropathy and has been an invalid for years as a result. I said at infusion 1, I would not accept permanent disability as an outcome for Taxol treatment, as it adds too little to my overall survival for such a negative outcome, and my oncologist agreed my treatment would be guided by my neuropathy symptoms. I will be 65 in August, and for me, quality of life is just as important as quantity of life. Maybe more important.

Doctors always recommend the standard of treatment they believe works best, which likely does works for many people. But not everything works for everyone, and not every doctor agrees on what's best. And sometimes we don't share symptoms because we think it sounds like complaining, and that we're not being good BC warriors. For anyone who believes their treatment may be hurting more than helping or you have an SE that really worries you, you should definitely speak up. That's not complaining - that's being proactive about your health.

End of the sermon for today from one of this group's senior participants. Hope everyone has minor SEs and major good days! (I won't mention how long it took my numb fingers to type this - mostly from correcting mistakes!!).

ankledolphin

slept through entire threatment. Now have hiccups from hell!

Found the bell MO said to ring along with a friend of mine..

Rpayton

Kbeee: LOVE the pony! Wherever did you find? That is awesome!

KBeee

Yahoo Ankle dophin, I hope you rung it loud! Thrilled for you!

I've had a lingering cold/bronchitis/sinus infection thing going on for about 5 weeks now. I finally said enough is enough. Call into the MO. Hoping he'll just call something in. He said at the beginning he would if something like this came up, so I am hoping he'll do as he said.

ksusan

Yah! Good to be done!

ankledolphin

no one around to hear. Will ring that sucker big time once my port is out.

Thats what i told mo... he knows how much i hate it

AndreaC

Congrats ankledolphin and littleblue, you both look fabulous! Nothing like the last day of chemo!

I love the pony, Kbeee! I have had a cough ever since starting chemo. It's better than it was but it's still there. I have had four chest X-rays in three months and they are always clear.

Lynne, hope things turn around for you soon. You don't need all the crap life has been handing you lately.

Welcome bluedog! I know what you mean about wanting to walk away...I have been dealing with cancers almost two years and I am getting fed up with it. I am so done! I used to be upbeat and am starting to be a bit depressed about the whole thing. CANCER SUCKS.

I saw my RO yesterday and she has started me on an antibiotic...my right side is a bit swollen and sore. That could explain the fever I had on the weekend, but it does not look abscessed. I am going to have an ultrasound. Not too worried, I am pretty sure I can't have grown any tumours while on chemo!

I had my CT mapping too...it went well. I have four little tattoos now. I start rads on the 28th and will have 28 sessions.

Andre

littleblueflowers

Congrats ankledolphin! I'm so very proud of you and of all of us! I'm just finishing up my last bag of saline, then I'm out! I could not do this without you sisters!

Kbbeee your ponytail looks so real!!!!! I'm stoked to get mine.

Yrrrf...lynne! How frustraiting! Sorry you have to deal with this shizzz...

oh so loopy on benadryl...

ksusan

Woo! BLUE! BLUE! BLUE!

GingerChi

littleblue, Love your pics...you were sure rockin those bunny ears! The cake looks yummy! CONGRATS!

Ankledolphin, I know you're looking forward to deportation and ringing that bell big time! YAY that the worst is behind you now!

Kbee, you look so young and cute in your pony!!! Is it comfortable??

gkodad, glad the MO's were looking out for you....neuropathy has to be the worst...glad they gave you the massages!! So sorry to hear about your dad!!

Andrea, hope the antibiotic takes care of your fever and there's no abscess!!

ksusan, glad you have another rad in the books!!!

jackbirdie, glad you're starting to feel better!!

ksusan

I see your bunny ears and reply with a blue fascinator.