Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

Roya - It is possible to start seeing some hair growth during Taxol, but don't be surprised to lose the eyebrows, eyelashes and nose hairs (if you still have them or haven't lost all of them yet) during or even after you finish with Taxol.  The good news, I am 3 weeks out from my last Taxol tx and I have hair growth!  Its kind of like a downy coat coming in (or I've been known to compare it to that of a baby cockatiel...but its getting better than that each day).  I've continued to lose most of my eyelashes and eyebrows but I understand that they will start to come back quickly.  I'm excited about my hair growth.  DH says he can't believe how much it grows each day.

Adrienne -- Hi there, nice to meet you! Yes, I'm Eddie's friend... I went to her final Taxol today and took her pics (you girls are crazy!!) ... it was pretty emotional for me just walking into the Infusion Center at Swedish... I finished my chemo almost 20 months ago but walking through that gi-normous center with those chairs and poles looked just like my little 8-chair center in Auburn. Got me a bit teary... 

Tracy, Rickster -- Get out and walk when you can. During treatment the roller-coaster of SE's, emotions and family commitments makes it really hard. I also golf as often as I can, and have two other BC survivors in my golf club. In fact, many of our girls have cancer connections so they are very supportive too.

Jule -- you're only a few hours from us, but cyber-wise you are here walking with us! I can feel your energy!

Kati, Ruth, Roya, Rover, Debbie -- Hope the rest of you get through your chemo with flying colors ... the "new normal" life is different but even with the lingering aches, pains and chemo brain, every day is a gift to be lived to the fullest. Geez, I sound like a motivational speaker!!

Judie -- older than dirt ... you're funny. Good luck with Femara.... Tamoxifen has a lot of the same SE's, but my doc will switch me to Femara next year -- oy!  You've had a tough year, but hang in there.

oh, Roya -- I've heard about Harmony Hill too and it sounds fabulous... it would be a GREAT retreat for all of us.....  Hugzz to all, Dottie

 Dear Friends, I felt the the ugly duckling in Ptherapy today, My cancer Dr sent me to get help cause my swelling is up. I went in and when she rubbed she would ask as I jumped if that hurts. Then I brought and my wrapping cause my garments a worn out, She wrapped over my garment and no cotton. Who do I take my garments off at night. I will be wrapping them again. I am very sadden how they treat people on some insurances. Where is there other help that cares. I might have to change. Thanks for caring, Dottie nice to meet you, I did my chemo at Auburn too.Familyroks welcome too, Well I need to rest , I have CTscan Monday they did the wrong spot on my biopsy and so Dr will see if any color differences is in that test.To everyone here my prays are with you. Debbie

Hi all -

    Wow - busy site this last week!  Haven't made it on myself - feeling a little out of it since last tx on  the 27th.  Pretty normal  - achy, punky, tired - nothing worse, except again I got an infection on day 6 again.  Didn't need IV antibiotics, only pills, but what a drag.  Seems my wbc takes awhile to bounce back.  Just before that, my onc said I was a 'model' patient.  Guess I lost that status!  Oh well - at least I'm half way through - yea!

     Roya - I just noticed my nails are looking just like yours.  Thanks for the Tea Tree Oil info - I'm going to start it right away.  Hope it helps. 

     I recently had an interesting discussion with a rad onc that I thought I'd pass along.  This doc at Overlake, who is a personal friend, is going to try to help me get my rads set up to be done in Tucson, AZ where we normally spend our winters.  Anyway, he wants me to wait 8 full weeks after chemo (I'm on TAC) before rads because the Adriamycin can make the rads more difficult (skin problems I guess) and he wants it completely out of my system before I start rads.  Don't know if anyone else had heard that, so wanted to share.

      I'm going to the 9/22 Feel Good, Look Better class at Overlake - hope I see some of you there.  Hopefully we'll be able to figure out who each other is so we can connect! 

      Good luck with everything this week, everyone.

Kati

Thanks for the reminder to walk, Dottie.  BTW, I am an occasional golfer, too, and have not played all summer, but might enjoy a (non-competivite) round somewhere near Maple Valley before the weather turns.  Dottie - Have you ever played at Ocean Shores - your profile sounds very similar to someone my ddp and I played with there several years ago.

 Yes, I had my first T/C cocktail at the chemo lounge at Overlake on Thursday (no problems besides a reaction when they first started the taxotere that was quickly fixed with an injection of benedryl). . . . so far, so good (and, my dear sister was kind enough to let me beat her at a game of Scrabble as we waited!!.  Walked about a mile last night, and hope to get out for another walk this afternoon (will be at the Whidbey on the water for another day, so hope that 'three in a row' will establish a 'habit' that I will find hard to break as I move toward more difficult times).

Tracy and Katirob - I just called the number for 'Feeling Better' and left a message to reserve a spot (also asked to save one for 'my friend, Tracy' so please let me know if you already got in).

 Hope you are all enjoying a bit of the sunny afternoon in the beautiful Northwest.  Rickster

Tracy, et a;,

Since I had not heard from you, I went ahead and reg'd for 'the looking good' in Renton on 9/15, I think; but they have not confirmed.  I'd rather go to Overlake where I am getting treated, so if you hear there is still space, please let me know. 

Sunday was a pretty tough day and today I am still pretty achey from my first infusion on Thursday and still 'sleepless in Seattle' . . . What should I be expecting next (on Taxotere and Cytoxan)?  I feel my mouth going south, as well.  Just for clarification, the day of tx / infusion is considered 'day # 1' correct?

Best to you all - running out to pickup my ddp and about 100 lbs of fresh Alaskan salmon - Yahoo!!!   Rickster

Welcome, Randi - best of luck with your upcoming procedures!

Good Luck tomorrow Tracy on reaching #4 . . I am a little jealous, having just one under my belt!  I am working today in the office, but just taking it one day at a time.

Good Health to you, Amigas - don't be afraid to take the time you need or show the strength you are made of.

 All the best!!!  Rickster

Hi all -

    Tracy - yes, I'm signed up for the session on the 22nd at Overlake.  Hope I'm up to it - my next tx is Wed the 17th, and last time I got an infection the week after.  Oh well, if I get a fever, I'll just stop by the onc on the way to the seminar and get some drugs :-)    Also, I wouldn't worry about getting sick - I'm told the se's from all this are cumulative, so your mouth (like mine) may just be tasting yucky because your saliva glands have gone into hiding.  I find it affects how my stomach feels for about 10 days after treatment, and I'm thinking it's because my stomach isn't getting it's normal allotment of the digestive juices it's supposed to get from my saliva.  Not scientific, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

     Can't wait to meet everyone on the 22nd.  Despite this board, I still feel a little like I'm dealing with this alone.  My dh is a wonderful support, but sometimes when he says to someone 'we are dealing with chemotherapy" I want to ask him if he has a mouse in his pocket or something - like  ''who is we?".  Kind of like "we're pregnant" - yeah, right.  

      Have a great night all -

K ati

Greetings from the ocean - I was feeling well enough Friday to get away from town for a relaxing  weekend at the shores! 

I am now on day 10 of my first T/C cycle and found that days 4 thru 8 were the hardest for me (so far) with a mixed bag of S/E's from 'the Mac Truck' aches and pains, ongoing bloody nose / mucous, scary pain in chest, thighs and hips, some soreness in my mouth, headaches, burning / itching membranes (you can guess where!), etc.  Thanks to all the tips from this site, I was able to combat most of them and went into work for some long full days on days 6,7,& 8 (working at home on the other days).  Had my first blood check yesterday, and although my white cells were down (as expected), they were not so low as to be of concern. 

So, all that said, I think I am doing pretty well for my first cycle; the one ongoing complaint is inability to sleep;  my onc gave me a RX, but I keep trying to avoid it but often end up getting up in the wee hours out of frustration to take one . . . does this component ever die out?

Tracy and Kati - I got switched over to to the Look Good session at Overlake, so look forward to seeing you both there!   Anyone else here going to that one?

Wishing you all a restful, sunny and S/E free weekend!!!  Rickster

I hope you ladies attending the Overlake LGFB class will share your experience.  I attended one over here in Bremerton and it was just horrible.  I've completed 2 surveys expressing my displeasure with this class and heard nothing more from ACS.  It would seem they don't care, as they have so many successful classes..  I know the class has been awesome for others.  I'm thinking Bremerton just didn't get the same care.  I'm thinking just being Bellevue...it will be an awesome class for all of you.

Debbie-Im sorry you are having such a tough time!!!! I wish there were something I could do......try talking to the social worker at the doctors office while you are there....they are loaded with info on places that will help you....

Judie-I call me anytime!!!! I look forward to meeting you too....I got your pm and will reply to that in a few mintues too...

All you ladies going to the Look Good session are soooooo lucky.....you are going to have a blast even if the things turns out to be a dud!!!!! Just meeting each other will make your day.

As I said in my earlier post....I read here each day to see how all of you are doing but work is absolutely nuts right now and not ending soon...my poor boss was just dx'd with prostrate cancer last week and is playing the waiting game...they got his bone scan back this morning and unfortuanately they found something they are calling suspicious so he is going in for more tests.

I feel so bad for he and his wife.....they are wonderful people.

Hope all is well with everyone

Jule

Towhee,

 I sure wish you could find a way to join us on Monday at the Feel Good seminar in Bellevue.  Your positive attitude may do far more for us than any makeup lesson ever did!! 

 Please stay positive and continue to share your wealth!!!   All the best in your recovery!  Rickster