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

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited April 2015

    Yah hair loss! Yup....starting to shed. Nice to know the chemo is working! After being sick and grumpy for some reason this is oddly reasuring. Our 55,000$ trip to the spa....

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2015

    Yay, back from #1 trip to spa - I survived, and so far feel ok - slightly like I'm on something, head is a little fuzzy, but I wouldn't call it woozy or drowsy, it's not that strong. Just got back from a 2+ mile walk. The whole thing took 4.5 hours, but 1 hour of that was waiting for the doctor to see me. So, apparently, she runs behind.

    No one warned me that my first pee would already be red! I expected it because I had read about the red pee here, but not literally out the door of the center and stop to p, and bowl full of red.

    Allibeths, oops, for some reason I had you down as 4/23 on cheat sheet, so are you 4/24?

    You all will be proud of me, I'm just finishing 23.7 ounces of water.

    I forgot my popsicles and Italian ice in the fridge - they didn't have a freezer, so I put in the fridge with my ice pack, I hope someone finds it before it leaks all over the place. I'll be back tomorrow at 3 PM to get shot - they couldn't get the one for home in time.

    MO still did not say anything about what to not eat or drink, neither did nurse, so I didn't ask. MO did say (many times) to call with anything, 24/7, they are always there - even if you want to talk, but don't call at 2 AM to talk. She goes on to say she can tell that those callers have had 3 glasses of wine already. And, she didn't say not to drink wine.

    Question - is wearing gloves and a mask an "overabundance" of caution when working on my port? Or is it a must? No reason :-)

    Lynne



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  • Karen30
    Karen30 Member Posts: 135
    edited April 2015

    Thanks Fran- I'm drinking and drinking but I'm wondering if maybe my electrolytes are off - like you patience is not one of my strong suits nor is being needy- I had my daughter come home today because I felt so strange and I was scared to be alone- now that's s first

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  • God1st
    God1st Member Posts: 20
    edited April 2015

    Good Afternoon Ladies,

    I hope all of you are doing well. It is hard for me to keep up with the posting. I do go in and read all of your comments. Thanks for all the feedback it is helping so much. My 3rd round of Taxol was last Friday I also had my port put in the same day. I have to say it was the hardest round for me so far. I don't know if it was the chemo or the actual port surgery. I woke up from surgery vomiting and out of it for a good 2 hours. Today is my first day feeling like my self again. I have a little redness and it gets a little itchy every now and then. It is day 21 after my first treatment and I am starting to find some hair on my pillow and my sink is covered in hair by the time I untangle it in the morning. Yesterday was my wedding anniversary I was feeling a little tired and almost told my husband to cancel our dinner reservations, but I decided cancer was not going to ruin my day. It turned out to be a great anniversary dinner :).

    I have all of you ladies in my prayers thank you for sharing your journeys. Have a great evening.

    Margarita

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  • Rpayton
    Rpayton Member Posts: 235
    edited April 2015

    Margarita: Happy Anniversary! My husband and I just had our 29th Sun. Was so glad I was well enough GH for dinner. It was the last good meal that tasted right. So I will have great memories! We will kick cancer's butt.

    Love reading all the posts here. So helpful! My oncology has a cancer support group but it is 30mins away for me to go and so far not well enough. But I sure hope to volunteer and join soon.

    I actually did a little exercise and felt better too. Nothing heavy, light, slow elliptical. Up here in Northern IL I'm appreciating the trees budding, and grass turning green. Even though it is cold and windy.

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited April 2015

    Had my mo apt signed the papers and start chemo tomorrow. Yea. I'm getting cisplatin and Gemcitabine which apparently is used to treat metastatic but the tumour board felt this is what I need. For some reason I'm not feeling great about this. Thinking I had beat this and now having to go through this again has taken my confidence away I think. Hopefully I'll feel better with one txt behind me,

    Hope everyone is feeling as well as you can! Ok, Lafies make room for me at the chemo bar!

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2015

    Shari, you are up with Gingee - best wishes! I know it's disheartening, but it sounds like you are relieved to get the info you did? I know that the waiting to find out is so hard, but I also tried to enjoy the "not knowing" - once you hear what they have to say, you have to deal with that - good or bad (but, in my case, it was a string of bad).

    I think the #2 for tomorrow (if on DD) are jat017 and crossmom - best wishes!

    Melanie - where are you? Haven't seen a post in a while . . .

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Lynne, congrats on finishing #1 and having minimal SE! The red pee started immediately for me too, and lasts for about 12 hours. I guess drinking more fluids help get it out faster.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Karen30, if you are light-headed, probably better not to drive. I found that taking a walk and breathing fresh air helps. Is your RBC low? Mine is lower than normal this round and I have been feeling quite light-headed. Hope you will feel better soon.

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  • lovlilynne
    lovlilynne Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2015

    lemonadehk - it only lasted for 1 pee, now color is back to normal. Not sure what to make of it, but I really don't care.


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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    eheinrich, Thank you for visiting us! Are you close to finishing your chemo?

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Lynne, I think it's because you drank a lot of water, so you could get it out of your system sooner. I probably should do that too!

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    wrmbrownie, congrats on finishing Taxol! How was it?

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    ThePrincess: I didn't ask my MO about green tea. I read from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that green tea should be avoided during chemo. http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/green-tea. But apparently, everyone has a different opinion on this.

    mamajencoz: Congrats on finishing AC#2. Half way through the red devil!

    slv58: I am so sorry that you are feeling down about the recurrence. I was going through a thread of success stories and it lifted me up. Hope it will cheer you up too: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/23/topic/....



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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2015

    slv58, I do understand your frustrTions with having to do this again...really I do. What keeps me going is knowing tha normalcy and energy really do return. I think once it starts is easier than the anticipation of itstarting. You can do this!

    Karen, Glad you made it through round 1; hope the head clears soon.

    Lynne, Glad you made it through #1 too!

    Fran, The Make a Wish made me laugh!!!! We usually go to Disney every 6 years. This was to be our year for that. Doing weekly Taxol all summer, that is not happening. Instead, each kid gets to plan a 4 day weekend anywhere within 8 hours of here. They are having a ball planning and we get to see new places. They are thrilled. I am relieved.

    mamajencoz, hope round 2 treats you better than round 1.

    rpayton, it's crazy windy here in Iowa too...has been for 2 days!

    God1st, Happy anniversary!

    ksusan, Sorry about the anniversary of your friend's death. Those dates always sting, no matter how many years pass.

    Gingeel, Great news on scan results!

    Littleblue, never apologize for venting...we are here for each other in the good times and the bad. We celebrate successes and milestones and lift each other up in the valleys.

    If you have seen Peanuts cartoons, picture Pigpen. If I walked out in my sandbox and threw some sand, the wind would blow it all over me, and I would look just like Pigpen. I have just enough stubble sticking out at odd places to look just like him. I wish the rest of the stubble would go already! I take tape and a lint roller to it every day

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited April 2015

    lemonadehk, thank you, I will read it tomorrow when I'm in the chair!

    Kbee, I think it's a lack of confidence I'm feeling. I just don't feel my chemo is aggressive enough. I've read that Gemcitabine response rate for metastatic is 20-40% and if there is a response it lasts average of 8 months. I just don't understand how a chemo used for metastatic cancer to maintain progression will be enough to put me in NED. Plus my MO said there is no way of knowing if it is working. I apologize, I'm just feeling defeated which is really not my normal disposition. Plus I'm getting a sore throat tonight! My luck I won't get chemo tomorrow! Time I put myself to bed! Good night ladies

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  • LRGinger
    LRGinger Member Posts: 30
    edited April 2015

    Hello ladies! Can I join? I'm starting TCx4 tomorrow. I think I was in denial until I started the steroids today! Thank you for sharing your experiences. It really helps demystify the process.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited April 2015

    And here goes the hair. It began falling in earnest while I was on the treadmill this evening. I'd just as soon it all fell at once so I'm not itching and shedding at work.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi ladies, just came back from MO. He said my shortness of breath and fatigue is due to anemia. Will have blood transfusion tomorrow. He said I will feel much better afterwards. Will keep you posted.

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited April 2015

    Good luck everyone headed to get meds today, and I hope everyone that went yesterday had a good night!! Hoping for no SE for you gals!!!!

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited April 2015

    Also, lemonadehk hope the transfusion goes well and you feel better!!

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  • gingeel
    gingeel Member Posts: 102
    edited April 2015

    Hello ladies! Getting my first AC today. Feeling just fine. Good luck, Shari, and anyone else hitting up the Chemo bar today.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited April 2015


    slv, That has to be frustrating.  It is hard not knowing if the chemo is working.  My tumors are all out (at least the ones I know about ... they never showed on imaging) so I have to assume blindly that chemo is working too, which is hard when it did not seem to do too much last time; mine was apparently resistant to my chemo last time (and I am on some of the same drugs this time) and to Tamoxifen.  I know there are some places that are testing tumors for responsiveness to chemo, but it usually is expensive and out of pocket.  I wish that technology was more readily available now.  Are you able to get a second opinion anywhere or look into any research studies?  Even if you have already started, a second opinion may help. 

    LRGinger, welcome!  Hope all goes well today!

    ksusan, I am with you.  Once it starts to go, I want it gone too!

    lemonade, sorry you need a transfusion, but glad you have answers and that it is something temporary...blood cells versus cardiac.  I hop ethe transfusion has you feeling much better.

    Gingeel, Hope all goes well today!  Be sure to suck on ice or popsicles 10 minutes before, during, and 10 minutes after the Adriamycin push.

    Best of luck to anyone else headed to the chemo bar for your cocktail today...one more in your rearview mirror!

    I am spending the day in my garage prepping for neighborhood garage sale.  House is so much easier to keep clean (cleaner anyway...it is never totally clean with 3 kids, a husband and a dog) without all of the excess clutter!  Just thankful that I feel good enough to participate in the garage sale this year; I was not sure I'd be able to!

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  • Karen30
    Karen30 Member Posts: 135
    edited April 2015

    hello ladies- I m hoping I'm over the hump- my MO had me take a small dose of decadron last night to see if that helped - I'm not sure if it was that or just the day on the couch but I'm definitely more myself today - plan to stay home but actually get some work done so let's hope- hope everyone else is doing ok

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  • JustDiagnosedToday
    JustDiagnosedToday Member Posts: 24
    edited April 2015

    I just completed 2 of my chemotherapy treatments yesterday. It seems like I'm hit with every side effect. It's been horrible for me :(

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  • greenae
    greenae Member Posts: 540
    edited April 2015

    Hi All

    I am on the March and April threads because I started TC on 03/26/15. I get myself all mixed up with my posts...and have accidentally deleted favorite threads. ugh.

    Anyway, I can just say, please drink As Much as You Can. I am going through 64-80 oz a day of water and diet ginger ale, and I have felt so much better this second infusion. And I have tried to get in 30 minutes of exercise each day...it seems to be working. Maybe it's getting the chemo to do it's job and move out quickly?

    I wish all the SES would just Get Up and GO!

    I am sending Hugs,

    arlene

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  • Supernannymom
    Supernannymom Member Posts: 50
    edited April 2015

    Hi All!

    I am so out of if after infusion - and then I come back to 5 pages of posts!! Oh how I miss you ladies when I can't log in! So since my infusion last week - they gave me a drug called Aloxi, which kept me from puking - I still have break through nausea but i have dissolveable ativan and zofran to handle that. I feel like I have perpetual morning sickness...

    Last time I felt good about day 10, only to go back and do it again on day 14...

    I want to exercise but i am sooo stinking tired - and I am also bald now too! Yesterday I had a bit of a meltdown, I sat in my bed and cried as I perceived the normalcy of life which I could only watch....but then I got over myself and got up, took a shower and felt better!

    So with a zofran dissolving on my tongue- I am thinking will my kids have frozen waffles or cereal today...but no matter because they are happy and well!

    I am bald...my hair was falling out everywhere - so my stylist came over and shaved it. Now when I take a shower I have lots of little hairs falling out- which is better than big chunks I suppose. My hubby took me out for some ice cream yesterday (an outing that was fun, but I was exhausted within 45 minutes). It was my first time out with no hair - I had a hat and cute earrings on, but it was really different to know I was bald under that cap!!!

    I am going to relax this morning and go back through the 5 pages of posts, and catch up with my girls - and see how each and every one of you are doing! Happy Wednesday to you all!!!

    Julie


    image

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited April 2015

    Hi ladies, hope everyone is feeling minimal SE's this week! Day 13 and I'm feeling so normal I might try to run instead of my usual hour slow chemo slug hike. Of course, tomorrow is infusion number 2, so back to square one with the SEs. What do you all do to prep your systems the day before treatment? My nurses didn't really recommend anything specific except to hydrate. Last time I was radically nauseous for 9 days, zofran and compazine didn't helP much.

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  • Supernannymom
    Supernannymom Member Posts: 50
    edited April 2015

    little blue...chemo slug hike!!! lol!!! That is how I feel constantly!!!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited April 2015

    Good morning to all, and good luck with today's treatments. Hoping for lower SEs all around as we figure out out individual strategies for managing them.

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