Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

pepper43

Thanks for the link labscientist! I'll have to get that one. Very cool looking. If you want to check out my yt channel (be warned I'm a bit of a goof): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtNxr1fnP49rneZYZ..

Off to bed soon. This mama's tired.

krekre

NattyB - did you Dr. say why she preferred Alpha lipoic acid over L-Glutamine? And how much of the B6/B12 do you take?

KNardo - My Onc stopped by during Chemo #1. He said to take my anti-nausea meds appropriately but don't go too long. He said, "remember, there's a difference between nerves and nausea." I think I still took them too long. Hate nausea. Just hate it.

lilyp6 - thanks for the rundown. I find it comforting when people outline what they've experienced.

Dollydimples123 - Your bracelet. I saw that saying a few months ago and it didn't resonate with me. Just read it now with your photo and am heading to Amazon Smile to go get me one!

Called my onc after hours last night for first time. Day 6. Tightness in chest. It wasn't unmanageable, but it's on my fridge list of "reasons to call dr." He told me take ibuprofin, saying it's probably just muscle soreness. It helped.

My youngest daughter (9 years old) has been on the mainland for the last month visiting relatives. She came home yesterday. I had to tell her what was happening. She's the very last important person I needed to talk to. Sitting down and explaining this to my 9 and 11 year old girls has been, hands down, the hardest part.

Heathet

off to bed ladies - feeling achy all over - not bad, just achy maybe from the neulasta shot. Was able to do the dishes and now I'm going to crash! Can't wait to sleep !

bbbb

Pepper - Yeah! a Wendy's frosty sounds MUCH better. Everyone in my family has a "Job" to do to and this should be my husband's new "Job" - run to Wendy's, get a frosty, cram some kind of protein shake in it and give it to me! Oldest daughter's "Job" is to make sure I drink four bottles of water every day, younger daughter's "Job" is to make sure I eat something healthy every day (and ignore the Wendy's Frosty), Oldest son's "Job" (he's away at college) is to make sure he doesn't run out of money and I have to send him money eat! Not hopeful about that one! And finally, youngest son's "Job" will now be to drink the coconut water for me! I think we got it all covered!

Welcome to those new to forum and hello to all those consistently posting - I can't tell you how much this forum has helped me! I have NEVER participated in a forum before but I am so thankful to have found this group of wonderful ladies! It is a tremendous blessing to be walking through this journey together, sharing, encouraging and informing each other!

Full of steroids for tomorrow and WIDE awake so going to work on my PICC line covers! This little nuisance thing will NOT defeat me - I have conquered the shower sleeve and going to tweak the covers tonight!

I did see a good suggestion from a poster, heidi16, about keeping track of your meds and SE's on a calendar for predicting future SE and good/not so good days - I am going to try this as my memory is questionable on my best day so I'm afraid that with the coming "chemo brain" I will not even remember my name! Now I just have to remember that I have the calendar and to write things down on it - oh, that's another "Job" but I've run out of family members! We may be doubling up!

Blessings to you all from South Georgia!

labscientistmom

bbbb: I didn't trust my brain either starting from when I had surgery. Naproxen, or ibuprofen, you take another if you still have pain and eh, it really doesn't matter too much what time you took the last one. OH, HO, not so with tylenol and I started a page that lives in the bathroom with date, time and what meds I took. It really helps me not mess up! bad enuf we gotta take poison and a bunch of meds to survive it, oh, what say we don't make ourselves sicker by taking too many other meds?!? Sounds like the jobs of everyone has stuff covered. gnight from west coast too, blessings to all, A

DistrictGirl

Hi ladies! I've been very MIA this week - recovering from the port placement surgery was a bit rough (maybe because I did it without pain meds?), and then my husband and I moved into our new condo this Friday-Saturday-Sunday! We are beyond thrilled with it and it is such a relief to be in a bigger space with THREE BATHROOMS and a guest bedroom while I'm in chemo! My parents and sister are in town helping, and our huge army of friends here are making this as easy as possible for us. We had a brunch at the new place today, and a new friend conducted a cold cap training for about 15 family and friends who have offered to help with it - feel much better about it now. My husband and I were just telling each other this evening that it's CRAZY we feel so happy the day before I start chemo, but it's because we are feeling so much love all around us!

So tomorrow (or I guess today since it's after midnight here!) I start chemo. It is going to be a long ass day. I go in at 8:30 and they said to expect 6-7 hours, but could possibly stay until 4:30 or 5:00 if they need to slow down any infusions due to reactions. I'll be getting pre-meds, then Herceptin (90ish mins), Perjeta (30ish mins), Carboplatin (60-90 mins) and Taxotere (60-90 mins), and will be cold-capping from the end of Herceptin until 4 hours post-Taxotere. I honestly think I'm most anxious about the annoyance/pain/cold of the cold capping... Oh well, if I hate it, I'll stop it - it's worth a try!

I tried to skim through and catch up on a lot of pages of posts that I've missed due to the craziness of this week - will work on that more tomorrow if I'm up to it! Just want to thank all of you for sharing your experiences - it is a special gift to all of us and definitely helps me, even when I'm not super active. It also seems like mostly everyone is doing amazingly well - that's so amazing and encouraging!!!

Here's a Snapchat pic of the results of my big chop (used to be past my shoulders) - so much better for summer and easier for cold capping, since I can't style it or wash it much! Pardon my language - I was really shocked at first

ClarkBlue

DistrictGirl - You got it going on!! Your hair looks adorable... So glad you moved in and are excited... AND that it's done before chemo begins. I totally understand about being happy the day before chemo - such a good sign. Finding peace amongst this crazy storm is hard - but totally possible. I have a peace that I can only attribute to God and the support and love of my family and friends. Glad you are starting in a good place. Yay!!

Labscientist - LOL on the meds... My mind is so fuzzy that I have reminders on my phone to tell me when to take what. Even THEN, I question myself... did I take that already??? LOL.

Lilyp6 - you are adorable... You look very peaceful sitting there.

Moondust - I can't concentrate enough to listen to music - it's really a strange thing. The best I can describe it is that it feels like my brain is a fuzzy tv screen, you know like back in the day when there was no channel and the screen was fuzzy??? That's how everything is for 2-3 days. I can't talk with anyone, watch tv, read, FaceBook, etc. or anything that requires concentration. I find that when I try to do these things they make me HIGHLY irritated, so I think I need to either take something to knock me out, or to help me focus better. I can't wait to talk with my MO on Thursday.

Heathet - How are you doing? That blasted bone pain sucks... I found that Alleve helps, but even then I'm still a little achey and restless due to it. How are your taste buds doing?

Not looking forward to another treatment - but it's #3 of 4 so that gives me some solace. I have my final implants scheduled for "install" next, so I've been perusing the "Exchange" thread. After that it's Radiation for 6 weeks, then Hormone Therapy. Haven't checked out those threads yet - I figure I'll do that during the 4-weeks in-between surgery and radiation.

I started taking B-12 this weekend - I'm making a trip to the vitamin store after work since I'm out of Omega 3, and I'd like to pick up some L-Glutamine and B-6.

Thinking of you all,

-Keely

NattyB

Hi all,

Started typing then my stuff poofed. At work today and so far it's pretty good. Hard to put the pumps back on after I have been wearing flip flops and sneakers for 6 weeks (ouch). People have been nice a lot of "how ARE you" like I'm going to say I'm sore, can't sleep and have the poops:) They all mean well - and tomorrow the grace period will be over and the novelty will have worn off.

Krekre - my onc NP said they have seen better results with the B's and the alpha but who knows really. If I become symptomatic or imagine that I am I will drink unicorn pee if I have to so I will be buying l-glut also. I take the dose on the bottle - I'll double check when I get home what that is. I take it every day - otherwise I would forget. I'm going to ask about adding iron since my last labs showed my hematocrit was trending down and I'm looking more pale (been anemic off and on my whole adult life so I can kinda tell - plus my monster monthly lasted forever (sorry tmi)

Pepper - I will totally check out your Youtube channel, what awesome work that is! I'd stick with that!

Lilyp - those dogs are adorable, I could reach through the computer and steal them!

Moondust - you are too cute!

District girl - you look great - I did a lob as my transition cut and I think it's my 'do after BC. Might be worth asking your team if you can do the H and P after the other stuff so that you can get the icing out of the way earlier while you are just hanging out there. I know with the caps it's a longer process but if you are icing the hands and feet too then you can stop sooner. I had to ask to have my drugs switched and it was nice to be able to just hang out during the Herceptin versus messing with the ice (just hands and feet for me). Awesome to have a team behind you - makes this cancer crap bearable and also let's you affirm who "your people" really are.

Heathet - hope you have a smooth week this week when you do them both together. Sorry about the achiness - it just kind of hangs ever present it seems. Agree on the Advil or Aleve if you can do that.

I can't remember who wrote this and I don't want to scroll and lose my post again - what's up with the restlessness/restless leg business at bedtime? I'm taking an Ambien but that doesn't seem to help.

xoxo

pepper43

Dolly- So hubs has done some research today and given me some links. First here is the breast cancer study which suggests women who took aspirin 2 to 5 or 6 to 7 days per week had a 71% to 64% reduction in the risk of dying from breast cancer. They also had a 60% to 43% decrease in distant recurrence of breast cancer.

So what this implies is that in this study, women who took 2+ aspirin per week saw a pretty substantial benefit. Link here: ttps://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/...

Then he also provided an article that showed the data is mixed. Take a look here: http://www.cancer.org/research/acsresearchupdates/...

On another note, I haven't had a BM since chemo day Thursday. Day 2 of Miralax. Here's hoping to getting things moving.

Anonymous

Hi Ladies,

Gosh this thread is now soooooo huge that I am petrified I am going to miss someone out. I have been tired today and so spent most of the day in my bed. It's not a great way to spend a day but have watched lots of TV and just been lazy.

Wunderlust, I am happy to hear someone else is getting annoyed with their hair. I have to hoover as I move around the house. I have a wee trick though. When I brush my hair, I do it over the bath with eyes closed and then run water tap for 5 mins with eyes STILL closed, that way I can ignore the hair loss. I have no way of knowing how much has or has not come out. I am worried about going out on a windy day hahaha....Jeeez when you really think about it this entire situation is really quite daft and silly. There is a comedy to be written here somehow, I am sure of it.

Pepper, I love the name you have for your wee darling husband. He does have a very sweet, lovely and kind face. You are a lucky, lucky girl. I am hoping he can find out more about this aspirin thing for us all...no pressure there 'baby faced scientist', but we are all relying on you!!!! I hope you enjoyed your sliver of ice-cream cake. You deserved it I am sure. However sugar....I think we all know to try to reduce as much as we can. This is going to be difficult for me as a type 1 diabetic who sometimes needs fast-acting glucose to stay alive. Grrrrr. Thanks for remarks about my wee cottage. I am a wee Victorian sort. I live in a wee Victorian cottage and furnish it from antique shops....haha...well I am a History teacher!

1. This BRCA thing, now I don't know too much about this. Do docs automatically test everyone for this or do we have to request it?

2. ER+ and PR+ - I think it was NattyB that said she might be getting er ovaries out to deal with this. I am curious about this as I was told I was quite heavily led by hormones in my cancer. So my question is, if I got rid of ovaries, could I then not take TAMOXIFEN? I am not keen to take Tamoxifen. Anyone know anything more about this. I thought ovaries made most of estrogen but that other parts of our body also made it too like thyroid? So is an oophorectomy of any use? I would be willing to do this if I could get out of the Tamoxifen bit.

3. Veins - anybody getting slightly sore veins? I have read that FEC can do this and so have been massaging them like silly, but will veins ever repair themselves? I flaming hope so. I need them for future stuff.

4. I am now out of my nasty period after infusion. Not been sick at all which is great but just tired and constipated a bit....so took a great laxative today and ran like Mo Farrell at one point to the bathroom breaking Olympic records on the way! Wooshhhhh....it did the trick!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Heathet - how's it going? You missing school yet? haha

Moondust - you are starting to just look ever so glamorous on this chemo thing...what with the caps and gorgeous blue eyes!

Labscientist, me wee old pal. How are you doing? Hope you are doing well and getting used to being a blonde bombshell. I wish I had got a wig now, I could have gone Irish red or raven black.

Districtgirl, you look amazing. Your hair is absolutely gorgeous. You are cold capping too so that's seems a lovely length for it. I have kept mine too long I think. Good luck with the hair and just keep at it. Even when it starts to fall out in bits, chin up and keep wearing the ice blocks!

Dolly

Joeychen

heading off in a few hours to get my port in, then start chemo Thursday June 30.

After much soul searching, and trying to limit reading stuff online, I've decided to switch chemo to what my MO and my second opinion MO both recommended, and do the TC over an AC-T regimen.

I'm on the younger side, so if the life threatening side effects of AC-T (small chance that it is) show up in a few years, well that would suck! I will only need to do 4 cycles of TC too, so good to get thru this by early Sept, rather than November. Although that does dash my chances of not having to travel for thanksgiving and Xmas as I'll likely be done with the radiation too by then, haha.

I guess for 4 rounds I could probably go without the port, but I've heard good things about them with ease of admin of the chemo etc. While my veins are good, they're not huge, so I'd hate to damage them. With my period apparently hours away from starting, I'm nursing a migraine, and quite looking forward to the sedation, silver linings right! I'll find them wherever I can

Cheers, Jo

Anonymous

Awww Pepper,

It so touches my heart that your lovely, wonderful husband has gone and looked this up for us all. Give him a huge Scottish tartan cuddle from me!

That seems to be pretty astounding stuff on the aspirin front. As I think I said, I had mentioned this to the the nurse seeing me on Friday but she knew little or nothing about it. My feeling is that seeing as it is just an aspirin, what harm can it do? I am up for anything that can reduce the chances of my boobs killing me!

Are you going to ask about this when you next see your oncologist? I will ask my oncologist on the 20th July when I next see him. Will let you know what they are saying at my end of the world. Inflammation seems to be the major thing that is causing cancer then??? What causes inflammation?

On a more positive note, I have been in contact with one of my friends here in Edinburgh. His dad owns several very well-known hair salons in the city. Hairdresser to the stars when they visit Scotland. Anyway, had good long chat with him and he has said, that they will deal with my hair til treatment is over and help me keep it as healthy as possible and cut it as gently as possible. Thanks Districtgirl. After seeing your lovely cut before cold capping, you inspired me to get to grips with my hair too.

Dolly

PS - Pepper -Hope you get a lovely BM soon haha. It is soooooooooooo not nice and makes one rather grumpy, I must say (said in posh accent). I have been living on soups and lollipops until I know things are totally back to normal.

Anonymous

Jo,

Good luck with port. I hope it all goes well today. Thursday is the day when you start to get better!

Dolly

Coffee-lover

Took the plunge yesterday. Here I am needing a haircut:

Here I am feeling like GI Jane.

Weird feeling to put sunscreen on my head!!

LJ2016

CoffeeLover-I love it! Makes your eyes look so pretty!

I am used to my do (or lack of do - LOL!) I still have little short hairs falling out, but I started using the lint roller. I'd rather not have them all over my pillow.

I'm making a list of things I've never said before, so feel free to add yours to it!!

"Hey, bring me my hair, someone's at the door!"

"Has anyone seen my bangs? I thought they were on bathroom counter."

I came home from work with a headache, so I wanted to check in. Praying for you gals, and I'm blessed to read your thoughts and ideas. It always lifts my spirits!

bbbb

First chemo done! Yeah! So far so good! Nurse gave me some hints of when to take meds to keep from having SE's so I am hoping that it works! Infusion was FAST! One hour for taxotere and one hour for cytoxan and I was out of there! Back tomorrow for Neulasta shot and shot to put me into menopause, Yeah - sure that will have consequences (hot flashes!) Oh, nurse gently let me know that taxotere can make you GAIN weight! Yeah about that too. Staying positive and focusing on the fact that these annoying drugs with their side effects WILL kill any cancer cells that escaped before surgery! A little weight gain is a small price to pay for dead cancer cells!

Praying that things continue with no SE's - positive thinking!!

Heathet

feeling pretty low key - still a little achy and I just got back from my PS to get my PICO device removed. Not to be to gross but I hope a poop today! Taking all the right things and just waiting for the action !

bbbb

LJ2016

Thanks for the laughs!

Made my day!

lilyp6

WUnderlust: I'm actually not sure if eating the liver helped, because the lab results aren't in yet. But it did give me the illusion of control, and I know I felt better after I ate it. This weekend I was still struggling, but still throwing iron-rich foods at the anemia. It can't hurt. I know that the meat sources are more readily absorbed by your body, and that vitamin C helps your body absorb it, (I am drinking the dreaded coconut water daily - 100% of your d/v!).

Moondust: A little late to the party here, but I love your avatar and cap. After all of those hairpieces that I bought, the caps that I already HAD are my favorite for the heat. And I can go undercover when I don't want to talk about cancer!

Labscientist: You are really rocking that headgear! Yes, the fighter image really resonates with me. This online sisterhood really has been a lifeline for me for that reason.

Dolly: I think we're at about the same point with the fatigue and the hair everywhere. I slept for 3 hours during the day yesterday. I would shave what I have left, but my scalp is so sore I can't bear it. I don't like the way I look like a sick baby bird. Still, in a good moment, I can remember, it's only hair, it's only hair - hair grows back and we carry on. Or...if that doesn't help, how about just a pic of that gorgeous Star Trek character??

Pepper: You are such a force! I loved all of your pictures, and your video. I couldn't even do a gentle yoga class yesterday, but I'm hoping to get back at it.

NattyB: lol, "...what am I going to tell them...I have the poops?" Exactly. They can't handle the truth! Haha.

DistrictGirl: I hope your chemo is going well. We really are surrounded by so much love. That's the stuff that gets the tears out of me. Love your bob!

lilyp6

Coffeelover: You are gorgeous!!!! Go get em!

lilyp6

Heathet: I get so happy when I have a poop these days, I almost want some applause! I hope you do too. Feel better.

Anonymous

Oh LJ,

You made me laugh there. That was so funny.

I was thinking today off the sorts of things that we have just always done, that now seem to pose a problem...For example I hung a huge patchwork quilt on the washing line today only to have the thing fly back in my face and mess with my hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I screamed! I was soooo annoyed that a piece of bed linen was going to make me lose hair! Also wearing a polo neck jumper is no longer possible. Wearing my glasses on my head, nope no more, as it pulls out wee hairs as I remove the glasses. So many things that just cannot be done just now. I always tie my hair up too...but this is too much strain also. Gosh, we all deserve a good year next year ladies!

Dolly

Anonymous

Oh LJ,

You made me laugh there. That was so funny.

I was thinking today off the sorts of things that we have just always done, that now seem to pose a problem...For example I hung a huge patchwork quilt on the washing line today only to have the thing fly back in my face and mess with my hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I screamed! I was soooo annoyed that a piece of bed linen was going to make me lose hair! Also wearing a polo neck jumper is no longer possible. Wearing my glasses on my head, nope no more, as it pulls out wee hairs as I remove the glasses. So many things that just cannot be done just now. I always tie my hair up too...but this is too much strain also. Gosh, we all deserve a good year next year ladies!

Dolly

Anonymous

OK, so how do I get to watch Pepper on Youtube?

D

Anonymous

Coffeelover - hair is fab. All you ladies are starting to look so great and strong with your short cuts. I am amazed at just how strong women are when faced with trouble or difficulties.

Lilyp6 - I hope you have managed to get over your tiredness? I have been weirdly fighting fit for the first two days since chemo and then now today, a little more under the weather. However I have still not been sick and still had no additional meds after chemo...I am thoroughly impressed with myself managing to stay of additional steroids as those things would kill me with diabetes. How have you managed to get anaemia? What causes that? Is it just a general thing that we can all get? Gosh, so many things that can pop up for each one of us.

Dolly

Anonymous

bbbb,

Well done! You have one done now. There is no taking THAT away. Only a few left to do. I am glad to hear you are feeling OK so far. My advice and what I have learned from my own mistakes are:

• Keep sipping waters or any sort of drink you can manage.
• Eat small regular snacks - do NOT have huge dinner like I did on chemo one and then brought straight back up!
• Get lots of rest in first few days.
• Eat chicken and fish for protein levels
• Be good to yourself and don't get stressed or upset or anxious. It does no good and you need to help boost immune system as much as possible during this time.

I don't want to sound too much like a teacher haha (you know exactly what I mean) but I am soooooo proud of you. You have done well!

D

Moondust

Lj, you had me really laughing with your list of things never said before! Love it! If I can figure out how to do it, I will send you my Excel spreadsheet and you can edit your first post to include the info. That way it will always show at the top of each page.

bbbb, hooray for being done with the first chemo! Sounds like you are doing great so far. I'm having the same chemo cocktail as you and so far no weight gain. I'm trying to be as active as I can. The first week I lost weight, and now I'm back up to my regular weight in time for round #2. You don't have to gain weight in menopause or on the anti-estrogen pills either. It's a matter of monitoring your weight at least once a week or more often. If it goes up a couple of pounds you know it's time to cut back on food a bit, and/or increase activity. I wear a Fitbit to count my steps. It's a good way to measure activity. It's only when you let weight gain get away from you that it becomes a problem.

Coffee-lover, I will be joining you today with the hairstyle as soon as my husband gets home. I might even let the bangs go. Let's put on some cute hats and enjoy the easy care! I have a small head, so most of hubbie's ball caps are too big, but I've been modifying them with safety pins this morning. You have a nice, symmetrical head.

Jo, I got a port for only four rounds, and I'm glad. So many people have trouble with their veins. My radiation oncologist said I should get one because I need my veins for all the high altitude hiking I do. My MO, her typical contrary and nasty self, rolled her eyes because she didn't want to give me one, but she did.

Dolly, I am thrilled to discover that you live in Edinburgh and you are not one of those inferior Glaswegians I read about One of my favorite book series is the 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. I think if they take out your ovaries, you still have to take anti-estrogen pills, because your body is sly and will still find ways to make estrogen. Any extra fat makes estrogen, as well as our adrenal glands. (Now they think your hypothalamus makes estrogen too, and that estrogen may be a neurotransmitter. Bad news for us.) If your ovaries are gone, you can then take an aromatase inhibitor instead of tamoxifen. The AI's cannot overcome all the estrogen from functioning ovaries, but once you are in menopause the AI's work even better than tamoxifen. Of course, they have SE's too. I took arimidex for 5 weeks while I was getting my second opinion about chemo. Now I have stopped until chemo is done. Just by doing five weeks of it I developed deQuervain's syndrome in my right wrist/thumb, which I read was a known SE. Very painful and I might need a cortisone shot if it doesn't resolve on its own. Of course, I'll be back on the steroids tomorrow and I think that will make it feel better temporarily.

Lily, thank you for the nice words, and I love the beautiful Star Trek character. Too bad I won't look like that I like that mandarin collar look with the bald head! Coconut water is loaded with potassium, a very important nutrient which it is hard to get enough of. For the past few days I've been eating some very lean ground beef which will help build more red blood cells.

Heathet, poops are a part of our experience, so chat away! They can certainly be the high point of our day, even though that is sad to think

DistrictGirl, I really do love your hair length. You are beautiful!

Pepper, how neat that you are an online trainer. I am doing live online sessions with a trainer during chemo to keep me motivated so I don't lose muscle. So far it is great. We use google video calls to see each other. I have a few weights and resistance bands at home, but he will work with just body weight if someone has no equipment. I hope you have enough energy to continue training!

NattyB, don't you hate all those How Are You's? I just say okay or fine thanks, and quickly walk on. I always got irritated by the multitude of ritual greetings I was required to do at the office every day even on a normal day. I would rather just say Hi or nod my head and keep walking or working.

LabMom Angela, good idea about the written schedule. I use my phone calendar for most things. Are you burning up near LA, or is the ocean keeping you cooler? We will be 107 or 108 all week here

Last night I stayed up late grabbing hunks of hair off the back of my head. Couldn't help myself - it was so weird I just had to do it! This morning DH agreed that it was time for the buzz, but he had places to go this morning so I'm waiting for his return.

If I left anyone out, I apologize and hope you are having a good day!

Nextyear

bbbb- I teach too, high school. My last chemo is supposed to be two days before school starts. I plan on going back while I do radiation. I was sick most of last year with cancer and went to work as I was able. I would say, if your doctor says it's ok, work when you can. It's really helpful to be helping others to take your mind off things, at least that is how I felt last year. Hope this helps.

Has anyone had neulasta? I have to have that with my second round of chemo Friday (and every other chemo)because my WBC has been so low.

NattyB

lilyp - love that pic you posted. It doubles as a great eyebrow tutorial! Guarantee I will be more Charlie Brown-esque when my hair comes out. Dare I also say I am jealous of you constipated girls....

Dolly - you are pure joy!

LJ - I'll add to your list, "honey can you finish that big bottle of Jack Daniels, I need it for a wig stand" - a stack of solo cups upside down on top of the bottle made the perfect height. Thank you for starting this thread! It's my therapy, entertainment and secret club - you are all such a gift.

NattyB

Oh - Dolly, about the ovaries... so if I am remembering correctly (I kind of put it out of my mind since it won't apply to me until I finish these 12 rounds) my onc wanted me to keep them since the Tamoxifen works well and is easier to tolerate than an Aromatase inhibitor (bone loss potential and some other stuff I can't recall off hand). She said that the (+) aspect makes the hormones a target so losing the ovaries would not make that so to that degree. Essentially if not Tamoxifen then an AI so unless something comes up, I'll try and keep mine. Apparently though with Tamoxifen you can get uterine wall changes and that could be my deal breaker since I have had some issues in that department. I'd love to hear what your onc suggests since you are outside the US. I see mine in 2 weeks and will also revisit that topic.