Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Deanna - Yeah, I reported it to my oncologist who didn't seem very concerned.  I also searched for it on the YSC board, and was relieved to find that it's not as uncommon as one might think.  Actually it seems fairly common during taxotere.  I'm using artificial tears, but my eyes are still driving me nuts!!!

Hi, everyone.

DFOnt-thanks for the advice. Started my FEC this week.They put a pump on me Tues and took it off Thurs.

The depression is a lot worse with this chemo.  Thank God this site is here.  It really helps to know others know how it is and understand.

Corrine6- I'm right there with you on the nausea.  Not sure if my anti-nausea pill had time to absorb before I hurled this morning. Prayers right back at you!:) 

I didn't have these SEs with my Abraxane txs, so this is awful.  My family has been great, but they still rely on me so much for everything.  They keep calling to ask what the plans are for Thanksgiving, and I don't know if I will be better by then or not.  They're not used to me being out of it like this, and they don't know how to handle it.  I love them all and I hope I'll feel better by then.

I get my first Neulasta shot today.  I have been taking Neupogen, but I've heard awful things about Neulasta and the bone pain.  Anyone have any good experience with it?  I've read enough bad stuff.  Thanks again and I pray everyone feels better.  Deen

Deen

 I'm in Canada so we already had our Thanksgiving last month.  I chose to skip it this year.  Mainly to avoid germs.  Our family tends to share sicknesses at big family get togethers.  My husband and I had a small turkey dinner at home, we did invite my mom over but that was it.  Everybody else completely understood.  I said I should be good for Christmas and will probably host that here. My main thing throughout chemo has been to avoid getting sick or ending up in the hospital, that would make it much more difficult to get through it.  This is just temporary and right now our health is the most important thing.

Hey Girls,

I am feeling good two days after the implants surgery.  I took off the special bra that I have had on since leaving the surgery.  I got my first real look at the "new girls."  I can't believe how good they look.  I don't feel like I look fake at all, probably because I chose to be on the smaller size.  They have a nice shape and should be pretty comfortable and perky for the next 40-50 years-haha!!  I am still taking the pain meds and just laying around the house.  I love this!!  Once again, my DH has been there every step of the way.  He is wonderful.

Hope everyone is doing well.  Hood, how are you doing with the new expander in?  It probably feels uncomfortable now, but you will get used to it. 

How are all of the rads girls doing?  Who is left on the chemo?

So happy to see T'Giving next week on the calendar.  Who would have thought we all would have made it to this point back in August?!  I am going to my aunt's house that day, so I won't have to cook.

~Misty

I got a call from my surgeon's office today, and surgery is now January 20, with pre-op appointments on January 6 and 7. I sure hope it is not snowing in Baltimore on those days! Due to the change in date, the head of plastic surgery will now be putting in my expander. He looks friendly on the website; I need a consult with him as well before the surgery.

This coming Wednesday is my first Tx of Taxotere. I am hoping and praying that I will not be sick over the holidays. I want to cook our first Thanksgiving dinner, not be a basket case on the couch!

Today I got my first disability check in the mail. It is already in the bank, even though I had to clean 4" of snow off my car to get there. I talked with my boss and HR , and they sound as if they want me back. This is encouraging!

My fingers fell as if they are "waking up"! I got some Christmas knitting in today. 

All in all, things are looking up. I feel blessed and very thankful today. And the extra week off from chemo has been great. Tom is scheduled to visit tomorrow, so I have him to look forward to! We are both hug-deprived right now, but that will change as soon as he arrives!

Love to all and a great weekend!

Bette 

Stacy, thank you for reminding me that getting those tatoos for rads are just as doable as getting the chemo was. Having 3 new 'freckles' is really nothing to be worried about.   Thanks for the encouragement.

Misty, congrats on the "New Girls!"  Did you decide on the saline?

Bette, how long after your last Taxol did your fingers start to feel as if they were 'waking up?'

Thanks for letting me know Bette,  My toes are still very numb.  Makes me feel so strange when I am walking.  I have almost fallen a couple of times because my toes can't feel me walking on them and I have stumbled. 

There is no Thanksgiving here but  many in the expat community still celebrate.  I will host a small dinner for family and friends.  I celebrate both French and American holidays so my kids will know both traditions.

Hi Girls,  It's makes me feel so good to read all of your posts!  Thank you so much for being there!  I had my tissue expander with alloderm + 250 cc saline put in on Wed (3 days ago) and it has been pretty sore and uncomfortable.  I was finally able to get comfortable enough to sleep last night and feel much better today.  I go back to the ps on Monday & hoping to get a look at it then!  I'm so happy yours turned out so well Misty!  I hope mine does too. 

Misty, I am so glad that you went with the silicone.  The salines are very hard and unnatural feeling.  Silicone is soft and natural.  Silicone feels more like you were born with them.

Me too, Misty!  Dark sprouts/fuzz!  More like a serious 5 o'clock shadow!  LOL!

I started growing fuzz during chemo.  It almost made me regret shaving my hair, but at the rate it was falling out, I had no choice.  My head is all fuzzy, and like Stacy, I have a FEW that are over 1/2" long.

My biggest pain right now is my eyes.  They're still running like mad!!  My eyelashes (all three of them!!)/eyelids are stuck together when I wake up, my entire eyelid, side of my eye and under my eye are red and irritated, and I'M GOING CRAZY!!  Is no one else having eye problems?  My onco said use artificial tears... uh, not working.  Please help.

I've had whitish fuzz on my head for a while now.  Finally shaved off most of the rest of it a few weeks ago.  Didn't shave it right to the scalp though, so those ones are still a bit longer and stiffer.  Doesn't seem to be growing too fast!  My eyebrows have been slowly coming out and I seem to have less eyelashes, but not completely gone.  My eyes do water more now too.

It is discouraging that I have to look forward to losing my brows and lashes as well as my breast. I f they are slow to grow back, my wedding pictures should be really interesting!

I ordered my invitations  today. No turning back now. the wedding is really going to happen on March 28, 2009

Bette