Starting Chemo May 2008

Eddie , Sable are you packed for our trip to the Swiss Alps  tomorrow!  My avatar is a sunset in the Alps, so how about enjoying a little wine and cheese  overlooking that view?                              P.S. don't forget your lederhosen and Sable bring your happy face!

 Good luck Gracie and Roxi today and congrats roxi on last Taxol !!

I've been full of mixed emotions today, excitement of tomorrow being the last and and a little nervous, don't know why and just emotional. Heard a song on the radio in the car and had weepy eyes, watching little house on the prairie and crying ( yes ok .....when nothing else is on I do watch it once in awhile )  I'm just not used to the ups and downs I'm experiencing today. I have had my first dose of steroids so i will blame it on that!!

I'm afraid pole dancing is not in my genes so I will do a happy dance instead tomorrow , i will consider myself done with chemo when the SE have passed ! 

Hope everyone has a great day ! ...... 

Just got back from the Swiss Alps, they were amazing. What a fantastic feeling to be done with chemo!!!!! I shaved my head completly last night to make sure and not miss the slighest sprouting of new hair. I've heard it could be as soon as two weeks after your last teatment. I lost my bottom eyelashes last week but the tops and eyebrows hung on. I baked mini cheescakes for the celebration today. The Onc nurses blew bubbles and presented me with a Certificate of Completion and Appreciation. My camera snapped one picture and died. Luckily in the room next to me was a newly diagnosed BC patient taking photos for her scrapbook. She took some photos of the celebration and the pole dance. She said she'll email them to me later. As soon as I get them I'll post. Nothing too exciting compared to all you other hotties.

I'm here.

Noelle-so sorry to hear about your friend's son.  That's a tough one, and it breaks my heart that anyone has to go through it.

Roxi--whoo hooo you are done!  Congratulations!  Anxiously awaiting pole dancing pics!

FEC #5 completed (finally), so I am now to the half way point!  Got there at 9:10am, nurse flushed my port-good-couldn't get any blood return-not good.  Drew labs from hand. Counts good.  Start pre meds-good-still can;t get a blood return-not good-can't give the epirubicin without a blood return.  So, after numerous flushes (and a total of 2 hours later), decide I need to go to the hospital for floroscopy on port, can't so it for an hour & a half --nurse says, go eat-so I left, went and got something to eat and went shopping (looking for shows forclass reunion).  Go to hosp., there stands my DH (Did I tell you that he had to go to Atlanta last night? Sorry-chemo brain)  Wasn;'t expecting to see him.  He was freaked because I wasn;t at the onc office, he wanted me to know that he had gotten in early.  

Test done-everything is in place-but there is a fibrin clot at the tip. Port usable, still no blood return.  Sent me back to onc, borrowed a med from the hosp and dessolved the clot, finally got treatment, left office at 4:45pm.  At one point they ahd been talking about-port may need to be removed & replaced--I don't think so----then onc said that may consider putting in a PICC line for last 2 FEC treatment  (this was before clot dissolved), I don;t think so--Was very thankful that they finally got blood return.  

So, that has been my day------long.  

Went with DD yesterday to take new baby to pediatric urologist yesterday.  Little fellow had to have another ultrasound of his kidneys (no one can seem to get a good shot).  He has a perfectly developed left kidney, but no right kidney.  Looks like it had tried at one time, but just couldn;t do it.  Left kidney is great and fully functional.  (We knew that this was a possibility when DD was 5 months pregnant, but at that time there were several possibilities)   A person can live a very long, healthy life with one kidney--I know this, but it breaks my heart because we can't fix it.  This little guy is my little angel, Nana is supposed to be able to fix it.  DD is trying to be strong, but I can tell it is bothering her, but at the same time, we now know.  She is one tough Mama and all will be fine soon.  

Can you tell I got steroids today????????

Hope that all is well with all of you--my friends!

HELLO!!!!!  Just popping in, have to work early, I will catch up this weekend.  I am taking off early Friday for an echocardiogram.  One piece of good news--some of you may remember my son taking off for Pittsburgh to attend college, and taking his greyhound and miniature husky with him.  His Dad and I knew it would be difficult having the dogs in an apartment, but went along with him.  Well, he called tonight and asked if they could come home.  He said it's just too much, and they are having to spend too much time in their crate.  When he left I told him if he changed his mind about having them with him I would come and get them and wouldn't say, "I told you so."  So, I'm not saying it. But "my" babies are coming home!!! My husband and I will fly to Pittsburgh later this month and get them!!!  I am so happy!!

A greyhound named Lois who is lovely and a miniature husky with ice-blue eyes and the disposition of an angry Latina.

I can't wait.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week with few to no se's.......congrats to those finishing up this week....pictures, please!!

Love,

Sue 

OK...heard this tonight.  One of my favorite songs

Dream Weaver

I've just closed my eyes again
Climbed aboard the dream weaver train
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind

Ooooh, dream weaver
I believe you can get me through the night
Ooooh, dream weaver
I believe we can reach the morning light

Fly me high through the starry skies
Maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of fantasy
Help me to forget todays pain

Ooooh, dream weaver
I believe you can get me through the night
Ooooh, dream weaver
I believe we can reach the morning light

Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side

Ooooh, dream weaver
I believe you can get me through the night
Ooooh, dream weaver
I believe we can reach the morning light

Dream weaver
Dream weaver

I just know that you all now have this song stuck in your heads! My gift for today.

Randie - Love that letter, especially since Aunt Flo is visiting me this week!  And, btw, had to go check my Always.  I don't see anything there, so maybe they got the message?!  And I have to correct myself (chemobrain!!), it was not Kahlua (although that's good too), but Bailey's Irish Cream.  Yuuuuummm.  Can't have any tonight because of the PET scan tomorrow.  Drat.  I wll have to find the raspberry wine at Trader Joe's.  That sounds like it might be more up my alley.

Roxi - Yay for you!!!  We await your pictures!

Gracie - What a day.  Wow - I'm tired just reading it!  Good thoughts going out about your gs...

Sue - Yay for you and for doggies!!!  And for holding your tongue with your son...lol...

Noelle - Thanks for the tips.  I will start using my body scrub more often.  I empathize with your little guy.  My 9 y.o. dd had the opportunity to go to gymnastics camp this summer but declined because it was too far away and she would have been gone for "a whole week?  No way!"  (her  quote, not mine). 

Sable - You are a crack-up!  Chemooooo to you and Eddie and Angels - Yay!  Last One!!!!

good morning and chemooooo to y'all!

 Sue, I know how much you missed those doggies.

Eddie and Jen and Angels, have a peaceful trip to the alps.

 The construction workers on my street seem to have half buried my ar in gravel, it will be an annoying morning.

 I am off  to a long day: A perfume blend in the AM, a funeral home visit and an afternoon with an old friend who has come in from Vermont. I chose to drive into the city (Toronto, about an hour's drive) to see him and meet the BF for drinks and dinner. 

Cheers!

 N 

Roxi - Congraaaaaaats on making it to the other side of the river!!  I will meet you there next week!  Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Eddie, Jen & Angels - Thinking of you and wishing you minimum SEs.

Gracie - I could not believe what I was reading . . . glad that you were able to still take treatment despite the long day. 

Have to run for now, off to lymphedema PT.  Jean

Ok, I am kicking ass all over the boards today. I started with the losing weight board and now I am onto you guys.

 TRY? TRY? to exfoliate?

 Hallo???

 Get a face cloth and a bar of soap and rub yourself down head to toe... exfoliation done.

 How hard is that? Want great skin? Just do it. 

 Ok, ranting over.

 I am done making the perfume... I am off to the funeral home and then to Toronto for my first city jaunt since this BC crap started. I plan to spend money on myself even though I cannot afford to!!!

 chemooo to everyone, you are with me at every turn.

 xoN 

Hey all,

First, Gracie, sorry about the port.  When I started treatment, I was told that a port was the only way to go because it was foolproof...hah!  Turns out like everything else, they tend to leave the bad points out. What's the grandbaby's name?  Told my kds and they want to say a special prayer for him, but Sam says he needs a name!  I am so jealous that you get to hold him, mine is due in 8 weeks and al I will get are pictures of her til the summer.

Rock, move out of the US? Wahhhh, make sure you have high speed internet where ever you go!

 Sue, Dogs, yeah!  Our 21 yo ds and his wife bought a ferret in Germany and with the baby coming, they need to get rid of it.  If there was a way to ship it here, i am sure it would be a part of our menagerie!  Right, now 16 yo dscat is starting to have seizures, she's 16 and is looking a little scraggy, hope she holds out until I am in the clear, because that would be too much for him to handle this year.

Otter (more creative then Rock , I am) Hey THERE!

Noelle, I have always used a washcloth in the shower, so that means I am an exfoliater-yeahhhhhh chemmooooo.  I keep trying to tell my son that a bar of soap does not wash away body smell, you need to rub them dead cells off, maybe now he will listen!

Okay, this is for everyone, put on your white coats and stethoscopes, hands o chin, GOOOO

Last week the chemo onc told me that she was worried that I had weird numbing in my first 3 left  fingers after the 1st taxol.They just feelas if I was either playing the guitar or the Wii too long and te pads are sore-ish.  She thought that I was reacting too quickly and wanted to slow me to evry 3 weeks.  She said that if I got any worsening symptoms after the 2nd tx to call and she would hold off the next one. Here's my dilemma, I have those same weird feelings, not as strong on the sole of my left  foot. It feels like I was walking too long in the sand, not irritating, just kind of on the edge of my awareness. My friends tells me that I should call her up and tell her so that she can postpone the next treatment so I won;t get worse.  I don;t want to, i want to be done wih the last 2 tx on 9/11.  What should do?  I really don't want to stretch this out.  I was thinking of telling her to cancel the last 2 taxol tx since she said the tumor was gone.Whatcha all think????

randie

Randie -- I had virtually the same symptoms (except it was the last 3 fingers of my left hand).  They had started to appear at the end of AC and then got much worse after I started Taxol.  (I also had those horrible foot blisters and the burning feet feeling that was a function of my jumping rope smashing open my capillaries and letting A/C leak into the soles of my feet.  And I still wonder if my finger problems were brought about by playing guitar while I was on AC.)

After 1 DD Taxol, I was backed off to weekly Taxols (w/ lighter dose) for 2 weeks.

At the same time as I switched to Taxol, I started taking 50 mgs of B6, only exposing my skin to cool or lukewarm water, moisturizing my hands and feet a lot (but NOT massaging), keeping my feet up at night, swapping walking and jumping rope as exercise for a stationary bike, protecting my hand, and wearing Crocs 24/7 (well, except to bed, of course!).  Now my hand has completely healed and my feet are in pretty good shape.  Most importantly to me, I was able to resume DD Taxol and finish on schedule.  My podiatrist also gave me some ointment that fortunately, I did not have to use:  Voltaren Gel.

I don't know what to recommend to you, Randie, other than some measures I took that helped alleviate the symptoms or at least, prevented them from getting worse while I was on Taxol.  

If it were ME (and it is not, so feel free to ignore this!), I'd probably try stuff to reduce or halt the worsening of the symptoms and not say anything to the doctor in hopes that I could finish on schedule.  If it were ME, I would not cancel any treatment. 

Them's my two cents. I support whatever you decide to do. 

Randie - did the numbing lesson as you got farther out from treatment?  Say week 2?

I ask because I responded to the Taxol that way.  It wasn't ever bad, just every once in a while the fingers would feel weird/tingly/numby.  It wasn't constant and it did diminish as time went on.  Each tx it was a little bit more of that feeling...but again would diminish with time.  I would feel weirdness like that in my fingers and toes and, oddly enough the skin over my ribs.  Even once on the left side of my face...that was kind of creepy.  Today is day 9 followng my last tx and I still get a little bit of the numbies (I'm sure that isn't a word but you know what I mean) on the fingers and toes.  It has started to diminish and hope it will be completely gone soon!

I don't know if that helps but thought I'd share my experience.  I know others have completely different experiences.

ranD--gs name is Landon.  Thank you for the prayers.  Your kids sound terrific.

DD is doing better now.  I think it's more the getting over the initial shock.   I have to go tomorrow to get my neulasta shot, and I thilnk that I am going to get her to meet me and go shopping.  She needs a little papmering--4 kids, husband who works a full time job and is a preacher, so they are always busy.  

So far, SE's not bad.  I am hoping they aren't too bad this time round.  Hoping this for all my sisters getting treatments this week.

LOL Jen!  Your post just made me chuckle.  YAY! on one more to go.

OK...panic attack...uh Rock...yoohoo...did I miss something?   Will we be seeing less of you?  I know, I know...the road trip and your sisters visit....totally cool for you and I hope you have a blast!  But you'll be back right?

Kind of on the same subject...at the end of my last tx, the nurses gave me a book called After Breast Cancer...Answers to the Questions You're Afraid to Ask.  Has anyone else seen this book?  I hadn't thought much about it until today (1 week later).  I started reading it this afternoon and so far I recommend it for all of us.  Even more, it pounds home how very much we'll continue to need each other as we continue to move past this chapter in our lives.  That while others in our lives think "ok, she's done.  Its time to move on with normal lives"...it just doesn't work that way.  I've found it very comforting so far.

Hey All did manage to get in my first Rad treatment today... After all the problems on Monday with arm falling asleep and being heavy and dead. My Rad onco told me to take 2mg of my Adtivan. Well I did and it worked. Drugs don't usually affect me but this is feeling good. Going to take it one step further and have a beer with it. This is so great, haven't felt like this for a long time. You have to excuse me because ever since last T/C infusion it has been like post partum depression and am so sick of crying for no reason. Feel like partying now just have to be careful I don't fall, lol.

Enjoy the day, Karin