Anyone In Phoenix, AZ Area?

Hi AZ girls!

I've been visiting my Son in your wonderful, Sunny State for a week....................sure is going to be hard to hit MI tomorrow with cold temps and snow flying!

Sending the best of wishes to all of you....................hopefully I'll get to meet some if not all of you on my next trip out here!

Neesie

Hi Jerri;

So sorry to hear that your energy has been down. I do know how that is. I am being treated with chemo and radiation. The combo is something else. On Sunday I slept all day and during the week I sleep most of the afternoons. Get up occassionally here and there to check BCO out. Other than that I do my best with my day however I spend it.  Will it does sound like you are getting everything ready for chemo. I do recall going through all those tests.  Do you know what cocktails they will  be using?  I am doing Taxol/Carboplatin right now. I am praying that I will be done in January. That is the goal anyways.

Jerri, send me a list of prayers that are needed and I will be sure to lift you up in prayer. Friendship are good to have and it is nice when you can have other women who can relate. I do hope you can join us. If not know that we are thinking of you. I am your friend and that is just for starters.

In God's Grace;  Elizabeth

Hi Pamela,

You came to right Place for support. Lots of great ladies here. I live in Ahwatukee not close but I do know there are support groups and get togethers here on this site. I believe Elizabeth is planning a get together soon for everyone.

How are doing?? What kind of radiation and do you know if you need Chemo?? I see you were diagnosed the same day as me. We have to bond together to help each other out.

Let me know how you are doing.

Jerri

Hi All,

Just curious where everyone lives in the Valley??

Jerri

Hi Jerri;

Here is the run down where everyone lives in the Valley.

Elizabeth: Glendale

Armia: Buckeye

Teena: El Mirage

Karen: Chandler

Sue: Phx (Ahwatukee)

Melody: Tempe

Jerri: NW Phx

Hope this helps you out. I am not sure where Tamara is. I have not heard from her since her last message letting me know she was interested. Everyone please check your email for your evite. I know some of you can not respond until later. I will post the information for our meetup here as well. I will keep everyone posted.

Sue:

I am doing alright. Very tired doing radiation and chemo  together. My side effects are mild so far. The one thing is constipated though I believe I have that under control now with SenKotS.  It works wonders. So glad bourschild told me about it. Thank you for the offer Sue in helping. Right now I do have everything covered so far. Though I may need help in future gatherings.

Amira:

I do know someone on this site named Sue/Susan13. She takes care of her daughter who is 2 yrs old. I do not have a little one anymore. I do pray that your will not have to experience vomiting/nausea. The medications for that are pretty strong. Which is great. I will PM you a site Susan13 started and you can either PM her or discuss it on the discussion board. Maybe you can start a topic and I am sure that other women have young children. I wish I could be more helpful to you.

Pam:

Welcome to our group. We are so happy to have you. I look forward to getting to know you as well. We are having a get together on December 1st, 2008.

In God's Grace; Elizabeth

Welcome to Our 1st Phx BCO Sisters Meetup

What perfect timing. Just in time for the holidays. For this special meetup please bring a ornament wrapped for under $10. Meals vary in price. $8-$15. They also have a glutten free menu. Here is their website if you would like to check them out. http://www.osf.com/  I look forward to meeting up with everyone.

Please bring a friend, ask them if they would like to participate in the ornament exchange as well. Please check your email for your evite. Please list rather you are bringing a friend or not so I can plan accordingly. If you did not receive an evite in your email please PM me with your email address so that I can send you one.

Host: Elizabeth Fugate

Location: The Old Spagetti Factory 1418 N. Central Ave. Phx, AZ 85004

When: Monday December 1st, 2008

Time: 6:30pm

Looking forward to many more get togethers.

Hi Ladies...

I live in the NW valley, Peoria/Glendale border.  I won't be  able to join you this time, but  do hope to keep up with this thread. 

I hope you all have a wonderful visit.

Looks like I have a change in plans for my Chemo treatment etc so I just might be there after all! Amira

Hi Amira: I am so excited that you maybe able to come after all. Is the change in chemo treatment a good thing? 

Hi Karen: Your welcome Karen...I love doing this kind of stuff. If I had it my way I would be planning events and organizing things. It is a lot of fun. I am so sorry to hear that you have a skin infection and may need to have your expanders out. It actually sounds painful.

Okay here is a list of ladies that have joined our group so far!

Elizabeth - ebann

Tracy- friend 

Sue - suemed8749

Teena -TNT

Jerri - PinkLaddy

Karen - KinAZ

Pamela - sweeeeetpam

Amira - proudafwife00

Kath - azsun

Melody - MelodyinAZ

Neesie - Neesie (when she is visiting in AZ)

Well back from my Medical Oncologist and having my Port put in on Thursday and start Chemo next Tuesday. Ready to get it done and over with. Will be looking for CUTE wigs soon. I think I have heard of a place called Susie's Wigs so might have to check them out.

Has anyone here had the Cytoxin and taxotrene??

Jerri

Hi Sue,

Thank You for the Encouraging Words! I'm having the port put in at Chandler Reg. Hosp. then have have my Treatments at the Doctors office in Chandler. He alreay gave me Zofran for the Nausea. Hope I won't need it. He stated to have my Hubby take me the first time to make sure about possibly be drowsy a then go back the next day for the Shot to boost mt immune system. I hope you were asking where to have the Port if not it will be on my Left Clavicle.

I thought on the Wigs I might try the Pink (HA) since Samatha did on Sex and the City. I do have a few cute hats and scarfs. Oh, also have a warm soft sleeper to wear. Did you need that Sue??

Thank You Again,

Jerri

Hi all!  Can't wait to meet you soon.

I also went to Classy Sisters Wigs.  Even though I didn't buy anything (I got a free wig from ACS instead), they were far and away the best shop I visited and if I can ever afford to buy something, that's where I'm going.  Stay FAR AWAY from Wigs Amore on Tatum and T-bird - they have a big sign posted that if you want to try on more than 1 wig, you are subject to a charge of $5 for each one you try on. 

Thinking of all the things there are to be thankful for...my daughter is here visiting from Toronto and is pregnant with my first grandchild, so we're excited!

Hope everyone is doing okay with their treatments.  You're in my prayers.

Love,

Teena

Jerri, I'm doing taxotere and cytoxan.  Not going too badly; I've finished 3 of 4 tx.  How's your arm?  Hope the port insertion isn't too bad.

Hi Jerri,

They give me premeds in the IV before the chemo of decadron in case of allergy to taxotere, and emend for nausea.  If you're not allergic to anything, there shouldn't be any problem and you'll do fine. And the nurses are very experienced in counteracting allergic reactions.  I was so anxious beforehand, but it was really okay.  Just be sure to take your anti-nausea meds, and if they give you a neulasta shot the next day, be sure to take your Claritin nondrowsy 24 hour plus Aleve for 3 days (the day of, and 2 days after).  My worst days are 4-5 (I get the chemo on Thursday and Sunday-Monday are the worst), and after that, it's slowly uphill. 

Also, I like to take Miralax in juice or Crystal Lite the evening before chemo, and for 3 days after to be sure to keep everything moving.  Then, on day 6 or 7, I always get a little bit of diarrhea for 2 days.  But really, it hasn't been bad, and I've worked full time throughout, only taking off a few hours the afternoon of chemo.

I hope you're feeling better, and I will think all positive thoughts for Tuesday!  Hope you consider joining us in December.

Teena

Jerri, they recommend the Claritin and Aleve to counteract bone pain from the Neulasta shot, and it seems to work, because I haven't had any.  But if you're allergic, of course you wouldn't want to do that. 

They prescribed Emend for nausea, but I don't take that one because it costs $50 for 2 pills.  I filled it the first chemo, but I didn't for the second or third, and was fine just taking the compazine and the kytril (2 other anti nausea meds).  I do take those, starting the day after chemo, for 3 days, and I also seem to get a little acid indigestion, so I eat Tums.  Some people like Nexium.