Starting Chemo May 2008

Sable, ah yes, a new avatar, you look great!

Sue, I use a frozen bag of peas or corn applied right on top of my ankles. It feels so good and helps my swollen cankles. Trust me, it's the chemo. My calves and ankles looked like I did when I was pregnant carrying all that water weight.

I was told that breast cancer is the fat cancer, a lot of people gain weight from the meds. 

Rock, love the group shot!

Me, I'm 47. 

Sue, remember I was a vet and not a "real" doc...

Is foot-and-ankle swelling the only serious problem you're having right now (that might be heart-related)?  CHF certainly causes fluid accumulation, but it also causes coughing and exercise intolerance and other bad stuff.  Other than possibly being tired from chemoooooo, do you have any other cardiac symptoms?

Oh, and the on-call onco was worried the Adriamycin had affected your heart function, and said a follow-up echocardiogram might be warranted.  Do you know what your "LVEF" (left ventricular ejection fraction) was before you started chemo?  I'm just wondering whether it was A-okay or borderline or what.

Yes, I think the on-call onco might have given you a worst-case scenario.   You said in an earlier post, "My ankles are swollen again tonight, too--and interestingly enough, it's the same exact day in the chemo cycle that I had problems with them swelling last time."  That's not typical of CHF.  It's a lot more like what I saw with Taxotere.  Your regimen is TAC--is that Taxotere, or Taxol?  In either case, I'll bet it's the taxane that's causing your fluid retention.

I've typed this last paragraph 3 times and I keep erasing it because I don't know what I want to say.  I guess mostly I want to send everyone healing thoughts.  Heal ... heal!   Rock does it so much better.

otter 

Sue if I had known you were waiting for me to call you daulin.. I woulda called you that sooner daulin LOL

edit :can somebody explain to me why I was so posessed at sam's club that I bought a HUGE flippin box of tampons the last time I was there????? I guess if/when it ever comes back I am ready. Spent the day cleaning out my laundry closet. I didn't realize how much hair crap that I have... sheesh. I did walk around for a bit wearing a headband for the giggles of it. I tossed out all the cheaper hair goo and kept my expensive stuff... I just can't part with it knowing that somewhere in the distant future I might have more than one hair on my head. And I can't help but wonder...... when it does come in, is it all gonna stand straight up on my head like it is now? Oye!

I'd be happy to have all of ya'll as sisters. I'm the middle kiddle of 3 girls.... not that either of the other 2 have made an effort to call/visit/support or any of that stuff. I'd better stop there before I get bent over it. *grumble grumble*

edit part deux:Thanx for the compliments on my av.... hubs came in and saw that I was the only one with something on my head in the avs.... said I needed a new pic. I may have to fix that once I put makeup on.... eventually.

Lordy Lordy, Kristy!!  Unbelievable.  You just focus on getting better.  I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that you are better and out of there by Monday!

Roxi - on the apple/tree issue...the rad onc said that there is no guarantee that the whole apple has been removed from the tree.  Since the apple is primarily fat tissue, they can't say "well this is just regular fat tissue, not apple tissue."  Does that make sense?  I"m not sure it even does to me...sheesh.

On the whole weight thing - Between steroids, water retention and all the other crap we're dealt...weight gain is completely normal.  I haven't gained weight because I'm too damn stubborn.  I've worked hard to lose the 64 lbs I lost between Oct - May.  I'm damned if I'm going to let this crap put any of it back on! 

One of the things my Onc mentioned last week was that my blood sugar was up and that the steroids will cause that.  When your blood sugar is elevated, you body tells you that you are hungry.  He indicated that often that contributes to weight gain during chemoooooooo.  Has anyone noticed elevated blood sugars?

Sue - I'd personally like to slap the On-Call Onc upside the head with a smelly trout.  Seriously.   Lets just scare this woman half to death and make her sit the whole weekend and worry away until Monday when she can be seen.  You just sit back, put those feet up, drink plenty of fluids ( I know odd) and watch some good movies.   

Me?  I'm 44 ... ugh

Sue-sending you vibes to make the edema go away.  I am in agreement with otter-you would be having other sympthoms if it was CHF.  Just kick back and put your feel up! 

Kristy-hope you are doing better and so sorry that you are having to stay in the hospital.  They best be treating you good

Weight gain--so far, I've lost about 10 pounds, but I haven't started the Taxotere yet!  Steroids will make your blood sugar go up, and will also elevate your WBC.  There are times when I feel like the Goodyear Blimp.

Love the Sister thing.  I have 2 "real" sisters, only one actually keeps in touch and she questions any decision I make--finally told her that I am an adult now!  So very glad that I have all of you as "sisters".

Feeling better today, have slept off and on all day.  Got to have a long conversation with my old childhood friend, which I really enjoyed.   DH has been gone all day, so it has been quiet around here--just psycho dog and me!   

Age?  I just turned 48 in July.

Oh my gawd.....Rock....what are you drinking?   Excellent!  HunkyD

• Glad I wasn't drinking anything now--my new laptop would have been ruined!  I love your sense of humor Rock!

Yes, after Roxi mentioning cleanup....I am not certain that one of the maxies might fit nicely on my wet jet swiffer sweeper too.  HunkyD

Well shoot!  My photo won't post....oh well, that just means that Rock is the queen of kotex fashion   Thanks for the laugh

Deb C

OMG Rock, you definitely rule for cheering up. Who knew tapon earrings could look so cool?

Kristy,Prayers out to you

Me, 48  (49 in october) and I have no sisters, just bros, until now!

Justa small whine, I hate this steroid feeling.  I want to sleep , but my brain is on and won't shut off.  Whre the freak is the off switch people?????? 

On an up note, went to the farmer's market and brought back tons of squash and fixed it with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella...ouch my hips feel bigger.  If its a veggie, doesn't that mean negative calories?

love ya! randie

Um... does this make me the baby of the group???

You can take the photo down, but it lives on in our memories!  (Including, I have to tell you, that of my 15-year-old daughter, who laughed even harder than I did.  Which was *hard*.)

Hope you're doing better, soon, Rock.  Post about the phone call when you're ready - we're here for you.

I had a feeling that you were going to be the youngest, Sable! 

Interesting, though, that we're all in a fairly narrow age range - and all of us on the young side for bc.

Linda

Okay, So is ths feeling like someone is hitting me in all different areas with a bat considered an SE? Crap, it made for an interesting night, how long will this last? I was even feeling the pain in my  dreams and it would wake me. I took an Alleve before the neupogen shot and it did nothing. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Plus, all I can think about is making blueberry pancakes, all night long I was dreaming about cooking them and eating piles of them.lol.

randie

Linda,

Thanks for visiting my blog. It is a pleasure to have a bc sister pipe in. My cancer bully (survivors who tell me what to do) are on, but it is very cool to have you pop in from time to time. 

Everyone else,

It just took me half an hour to check in. We are a very literary (okay, prolific if not literary) gang. I love you women. I have lots to say, but will wait as I am usually one who rambles and rambles. Quick health report: Meds are good. Wrists are braced (what a relief) and am into ibuprof tradng off with tylenol. I am wearing edima socks for my swollen ankles. They feel good. Plus, of course, my crocs. We are downing the steroid dose for next taxol on Thursday then herceptin (first one) on Friday. They do it separate the first time to be able to detect allergies. I am scared for taxol 2, but I WILL get through these next three no matter what it takes. Like Sue (I think) I finish first week of September if all goes well....except for the year of heceptin. Yes, I have been gaining weight...I am 47 and a half yesterday.

Otter and Roc,

Hope both of your moms are better. Loved the "Hair" image. Wish I could have been there dancing with you.

All of you,

Please go see Mama Mia. I know I told you before, but this is an escape that will make you laugh and cry and sing. It's a winner and it is going to be a cult classic. How do I know? People sing along in the theatre AND Abba is making a great come back. How do I know? Because at last night's Mariners game, the song the fans requested was Dancing Queen. 

Sable, LOVE your new avatar.

Roxi, you and I are the same sage...woo hoo....let's celebrate 87 together, okay?

Our fifteen-year-old comes home from camp today. Haven't seen Max since June 28. It is time. Our younger one, Adam, departs for camp on Tuesday. I will miss him. My dh, Marty, will fly down with him so he will be gone during taxol 2 day and back by the end of herceptin day. We have suite (sweet, too) tix for a Mariners game on Friday night. Shall I try to go for it? Everything is different when not in chronic pain.

Kristy Ann, hope you are feeling better and home by now...but not until they take full and good care of you. 

 May Sunday be kind for you....

RanD-I'm right there with you where the baseball bat is concerned-alternating Tylenol & ibuprofen gives some relief.  At least the nausea is not bad today.  But when I find the person with the bat, I think that I am going to take a shovel to it. 

I wanted regular pancakes a couple days ago, right now, it's chocolate chip cookies!

Sue, love the song--I could even sing along.

Hope taht everyone is having a good Sunday!