Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Corinne, if all goes as planned my last chemo will be Dec. 5.  I'm going to the Look Good Feel better seminar this afternoon.  I'm pretty sure we don't get wigs here but it should be fun.  My sister is coming with me.  Have a great day everybody!

Hey Corinne.  If all goes well and I have figured right I won't end chemo until the week of Christmas.  I start 12 weekly taxol txs on 10/1.  I will be right there with you girl.

Bettelou...I found once I decided to shave it that it was much easier to do than I had thought.  The week up to it was horrible but once it was done I was happy I didn't have to worry about it anymore.  I hope you have an easy time and feel better once you are done with it also.

Stacy...I hope you have a wonderful time in NY.  Enjoy your husband and celebrate that tumor shrinking.  You deserve a good time!!! 

God Bless,

Tonya

Well the hair is GONE, and although it was traumatic the first time I saw my head, I am used to it already and relieved that the mess is over with.

I went to my therapy session tonight wearing a fuchsia turban with a coordinating scarf coiled around it. My therapist said it looked good, and that I had the face to pull it off. the dangly earrings helped the effect.

I came home and treated myself to a bubble bath. Trying to be gentle with myself today. It was a milestone. I'm glad it's over.

What will Tom say when he sees my stubbly head?  He left me a message on my phone to have a good hair day. Wait til he finds out what kind of hair day it actually was.

Tonya and Corinne, I will be ending up December, too. That will put my surgery around Christmas or New Years. Happy holidays to us all!

Bette 

Hey Lashon2008: I am wide awake too. It could be the steroids?? Anyhow, I know how you feel. when I went for my second one I had all those same feelings again BUT you are going to be half way through. oh, how wonderful is that!! My scripture verse for this is Joshua1:9. I keep reciting it over and over. Also if you can look up Psalms139:10 I take that with me whatever test or chemo I have. I hope that it helps.

BetteLou68: My heart is with you. My last day of chemo if everything goes right is on Dec.8th. I then face more surgery because margins showed precancerous cells. Then I have 6 weeks of radiation. My husband saw my balding head yesterday and he is just so kind. I am so greatful for his love and support through all this. He won't even let me look at the bills when they come in to protect me from worry. Isn't that cute!

Does anyone here live near Connecticut? That is where I am.

I want you ALL to know YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS!!!

Corinne

Corinne your pic is beautiful.  Love the wig.  I need to figure out how to do that.  Maybe I will work on that this week once I get my school stuff done (YUCK).

 Bettelou...Tom sounds wonderful.  You are a very lucky lady to have someone that loves you so much.  He will love you hair or no hair he has already shown that.  Just enjoy that beautiful relationship you have and let it give you strength through this horrible process you are going through.

 Lashon...I am so sorry you are having a rough time.  I hope today goes well for you and you have as few se's as possible.  My second tx on EC was my easiest actually so I hope the same for you.  I too get very anxious the day before chemo.  Its like I know what it will start out like but its always an adventure because I do get more and more tired after each one but God has been very good to me and has made this very doable.  I still get tired, constipated, thrush, mouth sores, uti infection, stomach cramps, nausea, hair is gone but again everything has been doable.  We just learn how to deal with each thing as it happens.  The worst for me is the exhaustion.  I feel so like I am being lazy and weak but sometimes I just can't do.  For about 3 days each session I just have to lay around and then it takes me a few more days to almost normal and its time again.  I was so tired yesterday at tx I just wanted to sleep but as I looked around the room to the 8 other people getting tx I couldn't do it.  Everyone in there was in their 50s to 70s and they looked so frail, pitiful and they were all asleep.  It was so sad.  I realized that yes as unfortunate as it is for me to be 36 years old and have cancer there are some that don't have as much fight in them as I do.  I pulled out my ipod and watched tv. No sleep for me.  I have to fight with all I have. and you do to Lashon.  We are young.  We do have more energy and health than some of those that are much older than us.  These people come in there and give it all they have so why shouldn't we.  We MUST BE STRONG.  There will be times its hard for all of us and when it is we are here for each other.  If I can be of any help at all to you please let me know.  Pm me if you like and we can talk.  I don't know how everyone feels but I wouldn't mind having addresses to send some cards to each one of you.  If anyone is interested you can pm me with that info.  If you are not interested I understand that also.  This is the internet afterall. LOL

I hope you all have a wonderful day.  I think I am going to try to look at my online classes for a few and then a nap is in store for me today.  Talk to you all soon.

 God Bless,

Tonya

Monique, I really did enjoy the class but I got kind of depressed when I found out that one lady there in her early 30's had three inopperable brain tumors and a set of 5 year old twins. I have not gotten over that. Nor have I forgotten a lady that was in her early 30's that is in stage 3B of breast cancer that is doing chemo first then bilateral masectomies followed by raidation. Another lady is fighting a second round of chemo - this time she has the rarest form. Inflamatory breast cancer. My heart just aches for these people and each on on this site. I am praying for all of us. The class was great in learning some new makeup techniques and I did get a new funky wig. The biggest part of it all was how very much I love these people and wish that there was something I could do.Got any ideas? I did take all of their addresses and I am going to send notes and cards. I am praying for each one on my list but I feel so inadequate. Perhaps in the future I will become a nurse of some sort to help out. I am at such a loss.  Ifelt so alone when I first got cancer thinking I was going to die. I feel so fortunate to have the stage I am at and the opportunity to reach out to others. Who knows what the future holds for any of us BUT God is the one that holds the future.

Lashon, I am with you all the way today and you are not alone. May you have a day that is filled with blessigs from above  You go girl!!!

Hugs,

Corinne

Roya, you're getting more treatments than I am - I get 3 each of FEC and Taxotere, every 3 weeks.  I guess it depends when you started, and probably on your individual treatment.  I was told they input all of the info from the tumour, pathology etc into a computer program and that determines what drugs, dosage, how often etc for each person.  Wow, halfway - that's fantastic!!!

I thought the Look Good Feel Better workshop was great!!  It was a little different because I've been going to a support group for breast cancer and had already met most of the women there so we didn't really discuss our stories, just had fun and got to be kind of silly without having to worry what we looked like.  My sister came and she said she couldn't believe how great everyone looked great with their bald heads,  when they took off their hats / wigs.  I left my hat on because I've still got the thin on top longer on the sides hair.  I feel like I'm conducting a biology experiment on how long it will take for all of it to fall out!  Anyway, we got a great box of cosmetics and some good info and tips on wigs etc.  No free wig though, that must be a difference between the American and Canadian programs. I also recommend going to an in person support group if you can.  I'm not normally big on that kind of thing, prefer the internet, but it is nice to actually see and get to know some local women that are going through something similar, and exchange tips, complain etc. 

I've notice the reflux / heartburn is worse this time, especially when I first eat in the morning.I'm going to refill the reglan rx and have been taking pepcid ac. other than that I've had very little SE's this time. 

 Corinne, love the blonde wig!!

Tonya, I've also seen a few of the much older (usually men) sleeping with their mouths wide open at the chemo sessions and I feel bad for those that do not have the energy and strength and wish them all the best.  Cancer is just evil, they shouldn't have to go through that at that stage of life. I was able to joke with the nurse and discuss silly magazine articles and help my sister play video games.  Maybe it makes them feel a little better to see some young(er) people going through it, laughing etc, maybe it gives them a little energy to fight.  I also find it kind of entertaining listening to some of the older men talking, telling each other stories...

Well, back to tidying up the house.  Had a nice day, we took our daughter down to the beach here and just relaxed, went for a walk and had ice cream, watched the squirrels and dogs in the park.  It was a beautiful warm sunny day. 

I had my 3rd treatment today and so far it has been much better than the 2nd. I have been guzzling water since Sunday and it has seemed to help. The fog is lighter and no headache! I 'm actually getting sleepy too! I took a frozen italian ice with me in my cooler and ate it during my taxotere drip and my mouth is only warm tonight ...no burning. I hope it keeps going positive, but as you all know tomorrow may be entirely different.

Good luck to all having treatments tomorrow!

Monique-I've read on some of these discussions boards that eating ice (or something cold - slushie, italian ice) during the Taxotere lessens mouth sores.  I had thrush the first time around and my mouth was hot and sore for days after each treatment, plus the tastebuds would we out of whack.  This time, mind you it hasn't even been 24 hours yet, but I have not noticed any mouth changes.  All this water I'm guzzling even tates normal!  It may all change in the morning, but right now I'm celebrating with another drink...of water! 

Good morning everyone, Got some needed rest after having those steriods. I certainly feel less gloomy. I did call all the people that I met last evening from the Look good feel good program and feel much better about contacting them.

Monique/ I never read that either about the ice thing. makes sense though and I will try it on my next one.

Mama Shift/ So how many do you really have left? Wow, that must be so hard for you to go through all of this and try to keep your sanity at the same time. I am so glad you made out well yesterday.  hope you continue in that path.

Lashon/ still waiting to hear how you made out. Hope your getting needed rest.

Still have my eyelashes and eyebrow after 2x. I was told that not everyone looses them and I may not.

Does anyone here use Agave Nectar instead of sugar. I just started it and really like it. My naturopathic doctor told me to use stevia but it has an after taste. Agave is all natural and even diabetics can eat it.

Gotta run but I am with you all in prayers and will check back tonight. My thyroid is a mess so I am going to see my endocrinologist today. The chemo may have had something to do with that so they adjusted my meds.

Wishing you all a beautiful day and for those of you getting treatment- You are in my prayers.

Corinne

Hi, all...  Glad to see everyone seems to be doing well, and congrats to all who have or are completing tx's  this week!  It's wonderful to see that we all are getting through this together!  I had tx #3 yesterday, and so far so good -- except for being up at 5:00 a.m., after a totally wasted night trying to sleep - and also hiccups earlier today (???).

Mamashift... Let us know what you do about a new onc.  Do you have someone in mind?  I can't believe that an onc (of all docs) would keep patients waiting an hour -- seems incredibly inconsiderate + a poorly run office; and be uncertain of your tx schedule to boot!  Who needs that kind of  "care?"

Diedre & Joyce ... Hats and wigs (that's my ACS freebee in the photo) both feel totally weird to me.  Baseball cap visors annoy me, especially when driving.  And I am constantly aware of the wig, not to mention an occasional itch.  The wig also makes my head feel constrained, like I can't think clearly. 

Agnes... I read a comment somewhere else on these boards that neuropathy is a sign of Taxotere toxicity.  I'm going to ask my onc about it today, as I've also had just a touch of neuropathy in my little toes.  I doubt if they'll change anything, but I still want to know if he perceives it as a common SE or toxicity.

Corinne...  Thanks for the tip about Agave Nectar.  I'm going to try it.

Thinking of you all ~   Deanna

Hi Team,

Just got back from TX # 2. Made a couple of pre-drug changes to try & avoid the bad headaches that lasted for days the first time. We eliminated the Aloxi and just did an IV of Kytril with Kytril pills to take if needed. We'll see what this does.

And , yikes, I'm putting on weight which has never happened. Oh, well, halfway through the 4 TX's. YES!

Also, only few wisps of hair on top but the back still looks kinda short & cute, can't seem to let go of it! SOMEBODY PUSH ME OVER THE EDGE TO GET THIS BUZZED! 

 Am pretty wired so will probably be reading this site most of the night.

Love to all, 

~gail 

Gail...  I won't push you over the edge to get your hair buzzed.  I think it's a toss up.  The falling strands or clumps are annoying, but, like you, I sort of liked the wisps that hung on and think that looked better than buzzed if you're wearing a baseball cap or other hat.  Glad you got your pre-meds tweeked.  Let us know if that helps this time.

Deidre...  Your wig looks really nice.  Very natural.  Is that your actual color?  I would love to go red for now if I could find the right shade.

Joyce... How're you doing?  I'm hoping your SE's are much less this time.  There's a post on the TC board about wheat germ oil as a possible help for SE's. 

Hope everyone is up to enjoying the weekend.  My DH went to a family wedding in TX, so I'm riding out the SE's without him this time, which is okay.  Still concerned about Peaches and miss hearing from Stacy, but hope she's having a wonderful time in NYC...      Deanna

HI ladies.. doing okay.. just very tired.. everything taste like dirt.. dont know why.. i so cant wait till this is over..thanks for the words ladies.. will write back when i can..

 Peace and Love

Lashon