Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Hi Everyone,

I'm tired and grouchy but can't sleep. Kind of irritated w/the family now. Just because I'm not frail and feeble looking they think I'm still able to handle everything! Ugh. Had Back to School Night, chores, homework and made dinner 3 X's this week.I was pooped and still am. DH forgot to pick up our son today and was 1/2 hour late. AND My nails are also turning purple. Ewww.

Enough of me venting.. So happy for you Bettylou and your upcoming wedding.  Sounds like you've met a wonderful guy. 

LaShon:  So nice to hear from you too!  Hope you're feeling better. I know what you mean about the "dirt taste"  I barely got my taste buds back.

Corrine:  That is truly sad to hear about the young women you've encountered.  I met a young lady one year older than me w/Stage IV and she is so frightened.  I've been praying for her too.

Roya:  Congratulations on finishing your final round of A/C! 

Stacy:  Have a great time in the Big Apple.  I've been dying to go.

Deanna & Corrine: You look great in your wigs.  I've received nice compliments too. Today the man @ the Smog check told me he could only assist me "because I was beautiful" How about that? If he only knew..

 Have a great SE free weekend all,

Jeannine

Jeannine... You may have to have some heart-to-heart communication with your family, and explain to them how exhausted you sometimes feel, even though they can't see it.  As mothers, we're all used to being the caregivers, and this is one time we really have to force ourselves to step back and let others do for us.  Feel free to vent away here -- we totally understand!  But, I also think you need to recognize that your #1 priority for you and your family is getting well, and overdoing it and feeling resentful aren't good for you.

Corinne... I am absolutely amazed at what you are planning for the week!  Without going back through several pages to see where you are in your tx's, are you sure it's not a steroid high that's talking?  Your planned schedule sounds a bit overwhelming just reading it!   I hope you can maintain the energy to enjoy it all, especially your daughter's wedding.

Thinking of you all ~  Deanna

Hi Everyone!  This is Day 5 for me following tx#3 of TC and SEs seem just like dlb823!  I did drink lots more H2O this time and my mouth is fine.  I have been more nauseous but have  decided to take the additional meds for it which I hadn't done before. 

Monique the Look Good Feel Better program was OK since I got a free bag of cosmetics with  some that I will actually use!  It was a little disappointing in that the lady that does the wigs wasn't there and we would have to come back again to meet with her.  I doubt seriously I'll do that.  I have a wig already that I don't like wearing.  But it was good to get out and meet people.  The Pink Ladies were recruiting.  October is breast cancer awareness month and they are having special events locally and invited me to attend. I work every day that I can but Friday I was too tired to go in.

MamaKaren-I'm still thinking about you!  Hope all is well!  I'm going with my daughter to a Bridal Show this evening!

Thanks Monique & Deanna. I let EVERYONE in the house know to get off their tails and help! I do have this inclination to overdo things to the point of exhaustion.  I have to force myself to take my mini-breaks and rest. I also have to overlook the chores that don't need immediate attention.

We went to the L.A. County Fair yesterday and had a blast.  Wore my wig w/out the wig cap. (Feels much better). Don't think anyone noticed. Was worried it might fly off though. Ate too much and I'm pooped today. Just taking it easy.

Bettelou: You look marvelous!  I love the color.  I have some pretty scarves too.  Now I want to experiment w/ some hats and falls for the winter.

Monique: My hubby said the same thing and they don't understand how hot we get in the wig. (Not to mention the hot flashes ) Have you tried wearing it w/out a cap? It's a lot cooler. I pin mine to the little hairs I have left.  Don't use double sided tape.  Ouch!

Take care everyone,

Jeannine

I'm soooooo glad to be done with A/C. I got sick just thinking about getting it and when the nurse brought it in to hook up, I vomited just from looking at it!  I can't stand the taste that I get in my mouth when they flush the port either.  OMG  I hope Taxol is easier to tolerate. !!!!!!!  Thank God I am half way through with these chemicals!!   Alibug, I was together with you on the nausea over the weekend.  We will get through this!  

Jeanine, good for  you!...Everyone in the household should help.  I agree that we should take care of ourselves as best we can......and we can only do so much under these circumstances.  After you have gotten through all of this, they will have become accustomed to helping out more and should  continue to do so. 

Bette, I luv that scarf that you are wearing.

Best wishes all,

Roya

Stacy... Glad to see you're back safely and have tx #3 down!  That's a shame about your photos.  Darn!

Jeannine... Did your family take your pleas to heart and start pitching in more?  Hope so!

Roya...  Well, I guess your onc's office knows what you think of their chemo!  I hope I don't do the same next time; the image you painted was very strong, and I have been super queasy this whole time after tx #3.  I really hope your SE's are better this time.  Interestingly, I read on the TC board that in Europe, if you don't have severe SE's, they up your dose, thinking you need more to be effective.  Don't know if you've heard that, but I thought of you when I read it, and wondered if you might be getting a higher dose there.

Bette...  I like you in a scarf!  Maybe looks more youthful than the wig (?), although I know these little photos don't totally capture our true selves.

Alibug... Hope you're feeling better.   Tonya, Monique, Lashon, Gail... How're you all doing?  Joyce... Are you also more nauseous this time than previously?  Just curious b'cuz our other SE's seemed to parallel one another.   Peaches... Where are you???   Impossible to address everyone individually, but thinking of you all ~    Deanna 

Hi all - feeling a little bit better but still not as good as I felt on tx#2.  That really sucks - I was kinda spoiling myself on only feeling crappy for a couple of days - now with this tx #3 it stinks!!!!! Stacy I am sooooooo glad you had a great time - Bettelou68 I am with you - even with the se's getting worse I am still in the game - so we will keep moving ahead.  Roya I hate that you didn't feel well all weekend either and even though I still feel a little sick I will keep shoving on.  g94u67 if my family hadn't been helping all this time I would have CRASHED and BURNED!!!  LOL  My husband works swingswift so he can only do so much but he has been a TOTAL champ!!!!  My kids who are only 13 and 10 have been champs too - they know when I don't feel good and immediately know not to ask me for ANYTHING!!!! LOL  They go ask their dad!!!!  LOL  But when he can't help they don't complain at all and just roll with it - as a matter of fact I am going to give them BOTH big hugs and kisses tonight and tell them how proud I am of them!!!!!!! Thanks for the reminder!!!!  dlb823  when are you up for your next one??/ Hope we haven't scared you with all of our #3 side effects!!!!!!  Loves to all!!!

Good Morning Girls,

Just checking in with everyone.  Wow-it seems like many of us have now gotten past #3.  I think I see October just around the corner.  That should make us all feel like time is going by now.

Stacy-thinking about you all weekend with your trip-I know you had great weather.  Glad Monday is over for you.  What is the update on the size?  How many more treatments will you do before surgery?

Hood and Alibug-Way to go for finishing #3. 

BetteLou-you look GREAT in your picture.  Congrats on the wedding plans.

Roya-good for you-getting through what sounds like the worst part of your TX.

To all others, have a great day!!

I am starting to see an end in sight.  I go for #4 (last) TCH next Tuesday.  Then, I will just continue with Herceptin.  I saw my PS the other day for another fill.  He said I could probably get the implant exchange surgery done before T'Giving!!  Woo-hoo.  This will give me time to recover and "settle in " before my DH and I take a trip at the end of January.  My tastes are about 80% back-I keep thinking a month from now, I will enjoy food again.  Can't wait!!

~Misty

Corinne, is a vitamin mixer the same as a juicer?

Tx # 3 is behind me. I was feeling pretty crappy as I was getting my Cytoxan and had to stay for awhile a get checked out. Have done nothing today, and I had brought home a pile of work.

My port did not work today! I have to go get it checked out tomorrow. Bummer. My hand hurts from where they infused the AC through an IV.

Don't know if I will be able to work tomorrow or what the repercussions will be from not getting the work done . I may not be in this job much longer. I have missed so much time with my BC. They need people who can produce, and I am just taking up space. I talked with a social worker today about financial options if I am let go.

I guess I am sort of down tonight. 

Bette 

Sorry BetteLou.  If I could get fired as a mother, well...

I was super sick yesterday.  Strange since my tx was last Tue.  Today it's just the usual fatigue, runny nose, never-ending diarrhea and sore throat.  This sore throat keeps showing up the second week after tx, then disappears by the time the next tx comes up.  But tonight it feels deeper and I had quite a hard time swallowing my food. I suppose I should call the hotline.  Why don't I do that, I wonder.

Well, tx #5 on Tuesday!  Can't wait.  Har.

Still feeling ill today. Started the day at the hospital to have my port checked out. It worked fine for them! Came home and tried to work, but my head is swimming, can't focus. All I seem to do is stay in bed moaning, Went to the clinic for my Neulasta shot and they kept me awhile because I looked so bad. Consulted my onc, and she said it was the cumulative effects of the chemo. It caught up with me on #3. Don't know about work tomorrow. Will see how my night goes and take it from there.

I guess my coworkers will have to help out. when I called my boss, I told her I felt bad that I couldn't help , it being the end of the quarter with tons to get done by Saturday. She told me , "Bette, you didn't ask for this." so maybe she understands a little.

Back to bed.

Bette 

Lashon..   I've just PM'd you.   Deanna

Lashon,

I really want you to celebrate the cancer getting smaller. Take one thing at a time, girl. That's' the most important thing happening for us - that we are surviving and doing all we can. So the sure thing is the good news today. The discussion on the possibility of removing ovaries - "that they might want me to have my ovaries removed" might be open to other options!  Stay with us - yes, you did everything right and you still are!

Deanna - So glad you are high energy after #3! I'm wiped and ready to try the B6, or anything. Thanks!

~  Gail

Hello everyone!

It has been so long since I've been online that I'm nearly exhausted just reading the last 13 pages.  LOL  I guess the good news is that we are all getting through it.  In the beginning of this, for me, everyone said "It's doable."  Well... it seems like everyone else is adjusting.  That's encouraging to me.

I guess I'm online tonight for 2 reasons. 

One, because I really do find hope here.

Two, because this is the only place where I can say what I really want to say.  That is, "I'm miserable, my body aches, I feel useless and I hate being sick all the time!"  Instead, I tell them that I'm okay or that I'm just a little tired.  At night, I often cry myself to sleep.  I really wish my family and friends could be comforting instead of being afraid for me.   

My family (both sides), from the grandparents down, is/was only 11 people.  Of the 11 we had 4 with various types of cancer and all 4 died.  My DH lost both parents to cancer.  I understand that they are sad and afraid so I try really hard to keep them believing that I'm doing well.  BUT, it's killing me that I can't just tell someone how I really feel and let them hug me or do something to comfort me.  I'm ssssooooo tired of being the one who has to comfort THEM!

Okay, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. 
Does anyone else feel this way?  Is this just a chemo depression?

Anyway, I've been reading through this topic to see if anyone else feels like quiting.  Anyone? 

My 3rd tx was on the 18th.  Each time the SE's are worse.  Today, 8 days after treatment, was the first day I didn't vomit and the first day that I had enough energy to actually cook my can of soup before eating it.  (DH is a train conductor so he's out of town 4-5 days a week - translation, he's useless and I have to feed myself.)

The 1st tx only slowed me down for the first couple days.  The 2nd had bad effects for 5 days.  This time is 8 days!?!

I'm scheduled for 4 rounds of AC.  I called the doc to tell him that I quit.  He told me to wait at least a week before I make this decission but that he wouldn't recommend it.

How does this chemo stuff work?  Is it that we need a certain amount of the drugs but it has to be spread out in order for our bodies to tollerate it?  If so, I can see that I would need the last one in order to have enough drugs built up to finally kill the cancer.  Or, is this like killing fleas... you exterminate every week for a few weeks so that you break the cycle?  In that case, since my nodes were clear then would it be similar to catching the fleas as soon as they enter the house... no eggs to hatch means there isn't as much need for the extra extermination... no need for the last round. 

If I don't take the last round I could tell the family that I was so good that I didn't need it.  It would help them breath a sigh of relief.  I'm so afraid of getting even sicker next time.  I think quiting would be good for all of us.

Any thoughts on this?

Sorry to be such a downer today but this is the only place where I can talk.

Kym