January 2016 Chemo!

LoveMyVizsla

Gave myself my Neulasta shot tonight. I was holding a cotton ball on the injection site and trying to pull back the needle into the injector with the other hand and somehow managed to scratch my pinkie finger with the needle! :-O I cleaned with alcohol, put neosporin and a bandaid on it. It seems to have stopped bleeding, thankfully.

Took two short naps today, and walked around the neighborhood with my husband and dog.

zinny

Jill, looking fab as ever. My lashes are sparse, and I look silly with mascara and sleepy without. I though I saw some short ones I could make darker, but think my eyes were deceiving me. Your eyeliner looks great. Think that'll be my focus going forward. Don't think I can deal with false lashes. We'll see. My ultra bushy brows now look like normal peoples', but a little patchy. Hoping they stay.

I feel like my face looks saggier these days, and don't know it it is just aging or a chemo thing. Hoping these jowlettes aren't here to stay. Might have to ask my PS to look into a few other things while we are at it!!!

Had Taxol #2 yesterday, took advantage of the high energy post day 1 to drive 3 hours to the ski cabin. So worth it to be here with our friends for Easter!

We are getting there, ladies!! The end of chemo is getting closer and closer...

Bdmommy

Good morning all,

Just thought I would share this info in case you were interested. There is an organization that will clean your house for free once a month for up to four months while you are gong thru treatment. Just go to www.cleaningforareason.org and fill out the patient application. It only takes like two minutes then they will send you an email if they can locate a provider in your area that particulates and has an opening

LovesToFly

The eyeliner and eyebrow products are both from a brand called BH cosmetics, which I get on Amazon. It's just the regular liquid eyeliner, and they have a compact for browse that has a dark colour a light colour and a wax

Cathytoo

Bdmommy...OMG...You've really had a hard time. Hopefull, the road ahead will be easy for you. I'm also TN. Come join us on Calling All TN's. It's a great group of women who can offer you help and support. This January group is also wonderful. Just wish we had met over a cold glass of beer instead because of BC.

JEBA

dear all, my third round side effects are almost over, cheers!My wbc is very good to the point that we are reducing the neulasta dosage for my next round, great news for me since I hope to also reduce the Claritin. This week visit with the doctor was great and we cut back ( actually eliminated ) the steroids from my regimen, hopefully I can loose some of the weight I have gained. Today I turn 52 and my 12 year old made me this ribbon, how cute is that? Hope you guys have a great week,

Cathytoo

JEBA...what a wonderful gift from your 12 year old.

LoveMyVizsla

Happy Birthday JEBA

DFWFLYGIRL

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Happy Birthday Jeba and what a special gift from your 12 year old. Glad you are feeling and doing well thru your treatment.

LoveMyVzSla ....I did that too with one of the shots. .....lol lol

zinny

Happy Easter all! Had a surprise fever last night - totally well otherwise- was about 36 hours post Taxol with counts good going into treatment. The MO on call thought it was likely from the Taxol, so fortunately did not have to drive back down the mountain at midnight. All good today, no further fever. Hooray.

Sheri64

Happy Easter to all my chemo friends hears hoping you have a great spring day with family and friends

LovesToFly

here is my picture with my bald brother, I am more bald than him now!

Cathytoo

LovesToFly....what a great photo. You're rocking it, Jill. Beautiful‼️

LovesToFly

Thank you!! Can you tell we are twins??

Cathytoo

JILL...now I cansee that you are twins. How great. ❤️

DFWFLYGIRL

Jill. ..great pic!!!!

ladyhumps

Jill--I thought you two looked so much alike. Sweet pic. You look beautiful and happy.

Cathytoo

Everyone....I'm wondering...there are many times that I just can't believe I have BC. Do any of you feel the same! I usually say that I HAVE breast cancer, but my MO said I HAD breast cancer. That the cancer was cut out and thrown away. It's just semantics, but "HAD" does sound more positive and comforting. Your thoughts

zinny

Cathytoo - so funny. Those semantics are pretty powerful. Like that way of thinking. I often feel like I am in the Twilight Zone and can't believe that this is my life right now.

Cathytoo

zinny...I'm also not liking the word "survivor", even it brings great hope...and I love to read and hear of long time survivor stories. But, the word sounds as though we were EXPECTED to die. How about long term CANCER FREE???

Now that I'm thinking about it...I can't bear to say or hear the word "Cancer". I think "NOT ME". It's definitely living in the Twilight Zone

shiny

hiya Cathytwo.

It is morning here, soooo windy so before making breakfast popped in to BCO and saw you here.

Hope you don't mind if I add my sugestion: i call it NED. No evidence of desease.

It's good news, without sounding like I have a crystal ball and anyway of def knowing if I will have mets one day.

Pictures look awesome LovetoFly!

Jeba, what a touching and beautiful gift from your daughter.

Hang in there all with side effects. Gets better!

Hope you didnt mind me poping in!

Shiny

LovesToFly

Cathy, I too cannot believe that I have or had breast cancer!

I asked my oncologist if I still have it or I can say I had it, and her response was "if I didn't think there were any cancer cells left you wouldn't be doing chemo". Sounds harsh but she didn't say it in a harsh way, she was just being honest because it didn't go into my lymph nodes. But I still hate saying I still have breast cancer (all visible disease has been removed) so I usually say "I am in treatment for breast cancer".

JCS28

Same here! I hate saying "I have breast cancer". Whenever I say it in front of my husband, he quickly says, "HAD, not HAVE". And if I ever say anything about it coming back in front of my mother she says, "it is NOT coming back".

I usually say "I am in treatment for breast cancer".

I was just thinking about it this morning about long term. Will I ever say that I am cancer free? No, I will never know if there is that one cell. But really, can anyone say that?

EmilyJane7505

Cathytoo I hear ya - my oncologist says that my cancer was removed with surgery and that the chemo is preventative to kill any micro-disease that might be left in my body. Also, I will need to do radiation as will most of all of us - to also kill any disease left.

I guess I won't feel comfortable saying that I 'had' cancer until I'm finished with Chemo and radiation. Technically, it's not wiped out until all that is done.

I like what JCS28 says that she is 'In treatment for Breast Cancer'

Also, I do just shake my head sometimes for sure. The chemo treatment is the hardest part for me to 'believe' - never ever thought this could be my path. Who ever does think that though - ha.

Take Care

Wendiwithani

Cathytoo, I have those moments still where I think, "Is this really happening?" The last several months just seem like a blur sometimes. I, too, say "I am in treatment for breast cancer." I don't technically have it anymore I suppose, but I do feel it looming constantly and that is something I am trying to work through. I know in my heart that I can't live my life always worried if it has spread or if it will return. It just sometimes seems impossible.

Valstim52

I so feel all of the same thoughts. I 'had' breast cancer 24 years ago in the other breast. It took at least 3 years for me not to think daily about it. I had young kids, was working, did NOT have chemo, just lumpectomy and radiation. This time with it being later stage (3) and a fight for my life, the idea of it being gone from my immediate thoughts? Probably not for a long time. Also I don't remember being so much concerned with recurrence as the original diagnosis killing me 24 years ago.

Back then a thoughtless or thoughtful Dr (not sure which applies) told me once you have this disease, you are living with it because it can resurface anytime, or be a new cancer, but you are still going to be living with it, whether in 'active' treatment or not. My husband was livid when he told us that, but actually it was true for me. I belonged to support groups back then, and was always amazed that some were diagnosed as a stage 1 or 2, and later were gone or had recurrences 10 years or more later, , and some 3's and 4's are still here. I still communciate with them. So I learned early it's a disease, and you never know how it would progress or not.

Now, i think i'm more aware of living with it, all because of the harshness of chemo. Plus being triple negative, IBC? Makes it hit you directly in the mortality belt. I've said before on another thread, that all the technical advances though they help us, in some ways I personally feel they don't. Tumor type, triple negative, triple positive? a mix, it's all Breast Cancer. Just different approaches. Same with genetic testing, diets etc. I learned early diet for me did not matter. I was a runner, no body fat, supplement taker, semi vegan, no sugar etc, had none of the risk factors other than having breasts.

sorry for the rant. thanks.

Cathytoo

JCS28 and LovesToFly...It's true...you do Chemo to kill any cancer cells that might have escaped. My oncologist told me "You might not die from breast cancer, but you will die WITH breast cancer. I just came across a research paper that said cancer (of all types) stays in our stem cells. My oncologist also told me that every week he sees women who are many many years out from my cancer which is very encouraging ‼️ Right now, we DO NOT have known cancer. Keep that thought.

Here's a funny story...I am a widow and a friend gave my number to one of her male friends. She thought we'd be a perfect match. Met him last night and I felt I should tell him I'm in treatment for breast cancer. His face lit up and said "That's great news. I'm in treatment for liver cancer." By the way...he cycled over in his Harley! Guess he's doing well. Sounds like a match made in heaven ‼️

MissBee123

Note to all of you: be prepared for an adventure if you casually mention to your MO that you have blurry vision. I complained that I've been a bit sensitive to light since I started Taxol and that some things are starting to have "halo" around them. Result? Now I immediately have to have a brain MRI. And here I thought she'd just say, "Oh that's normal with Taxol."

The fun never stops!

Cathytoo, that is the best story!!! A Harley riding, cancer fighting, single and ready to mingle man! My fingers are crossed for you!

shiny

cathytwo!

The image I had of this cool guy coming to meet you on his bike, amd being so ' up front' and positive in sharing the ' cancer" connection. He sounds like he would be up for dancing an evening away at a ball or other event. Thanks for sharing that.

Miss Bee123, that must have been quite an unsetling surprise, with your sharing eye symptoms and having to do mri. Oncs just have to tick those boxes and be cautious. Wishing you quick great results with that.

Dry eyes often happen with chemo btw. Sending you good rest vibes.

Sending you allgood thoughts,

Shiny

Valstim52

So sorry MissBee. I had a similar experience, mentioned blurred vision after my first AC, that landed me in the hospital. After I told the nurse, I was sent for a brain CT. Being so sick, having contrast in my system, at least I was in the hospital, but it was a nightmare. Because I remembered, the PET scan did not cover the brain. It was clear, but another bee in the bonnet.

Please let us know how it goes.