Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

It's day 2 from my 2nd TX and I'm feeling fine.  I think the Emend is working wonders!  I haven't had any nausea yet and I'm hoping it continues this way.  My hair is coming out in more stands today.  I was going to buzz it last night but I took an Ativan and by the time my boyfriend came home I couldn't care less about the hair!  I slept great for about 10 hrs.  I have to go get my shot this morning and I'm going to see if I can get it in my stomach.  I'll yet you know how it goes.

Colleen - that is great news about your mom!

Hey CindaD...I was like you in the shower this morning!  Wondering what would be left when I was done!

Yep, read Crazy Sexy Cancer.  I login to her site weekly.  The green juice isn't too bad...although when my husband tried it he thought I was trying to kill him! ROFL  We have been playing with the juicer to see what we like and don't like!  It has been interesting!

I haven't taken my shower yet but like you Cinda, I'm scared to get in there.  I've been washing my hair very gently lately!  And keep checking the drain for the amount of stands in there.  Gosh I hate being so obsessive about this!  I just want it shaved off now.  If I was brave enough to do it myself I would but I'm waiting for my BF to do it tonight. 

I've taken today off from work as a medical day and I'm feeling a little guilty about it because I'm feeling so good.  The Emend is working wonders!

Goldi, I just read your post.  Thank you for your encouragement!  Maybe I won't jump the gun too quickly with shaving!

Good Morning Divas!

Hi Lainey 64 & Firni, yes yesterday was day 14. It was weird how my hair started coming out "right on schedule." 

It wasn't too bad getting it shaved. I think the hairdresser had a worse time of it than I did! At first she didn't want to shave it all, but I told her it's ALL coming out anyway!! She used a "1" so I still have a little fuzz.... but you can also see the bald spots where the hair had already started falling out... It was pretty strange seeing myself with no hair.

 Oh the one thing I wished I would have done was take my camera. I looked hysterical when she shaved the sides but I still had all my spiky hair on top! Flock of Seagulls anyone?? lol My friend did take a picture with her cell phone, but those are not as good as a "real" camera.... 

 Well, got to get back to work. Happy Friday everyone!

Cat

Oh Goldie:

I am so sorry about the postponing of your wedding. My parents have lived in Hawaii for 20 some years. I have spent much time there. I am so grateful that you are taking this time in life to heal. I think that you and you soon DH will have many wonderful years together.

Wow it seems that this is the Dec Diva Hair Loss Club this week. LOL  I will be there soon enough.

Hair today gone tomorrow.

I got my Nuelasta shot this morning.  Goldie, thanks for the tip.  I got the shot in my belly this time and it was 100% better.  Barely any discomfort at all.  Ladies, I recommend you all get it there. 

My hair is shedding...hehe.  I'm not going anywhere else today and going to have my boyfriend take a #1 to it tonight.  It's just on my nerves right now.  I saw the pharmacist this morning at the center and he asked how I was doing on the Emend.  I told him it was a miracle drug! 

I hope everyone's day is going ok. 

Love, Elaine

Elaine you sound well. 

busqueen I wish you a good night.

I went to my internist today and my WBC was up to 4.5 from 1.7 on Monday.  So I should get my chemo on 12/22/08.  I wanted to know what the count was before I started the (nightmare) steroid on Sunday.      Really did not want to take the steroid and then not have chemo.  That would be a major rip!  It will be interesting to see if I have folliculitis again. 

This is such a rollercoaster week for me.  The hair thing was too much!  Anyone else agree?

Hugs to you all

Updated list:

Texas357                1-Dec        FEC+Taxotere

mimiwhite                1-Dec         4xTC

gts                          1- Dec 

meb                        1-Dec         4xAC+4XTaxol 

Colleen1960             2-Dec        CMF

mmliv                      2-Dec        4xTC

msbusdriver             2-Dec        4xTC

LindaBusEd             2-Dec        TAC 

vtmama                   2- Dec       4xTaxol+C 

shan1171                2-Dec        6xTAC 

cindyrellacleans      2-Dec        4xTC 

Brenny                    3-Dec        4xTC

zuffa                        3-Dec        6xTAC

Lindy58                    3-Dec      4xTC  

Catrenae                  4-Dec        4xAC+12xTaxol

Lainey64                  4-Dec        4xAC+4xTaxol

CindaD                     4-Dec        4xTC

BreastCancerDiva      4-Dec        4xFEC+4xTaxotere

lisasayers                 5-Dec        4xTC

simvog                      5-Dec        4xFAC+4xTaxol

cebula                      8 Dec        6xTC

sdavis                      9-Dec        6xTC

berrypatch               9-Dec        6xTC 

ptjen                       9- Dec           4xTC     

ShondaE           #2  9-Dec              AC 

Meg511                   10-Dec            6xTCH

Firni                         10-Dec           6xTC 

Lindy58                     10-Dec       1xTC+3xAC 

Colleen1960             #2 12-Dec        CMF  

ddlatt                       15-Dec            4xTC                              

horsercn                   16-Dec          4xAC+12 Taxol+Herceptin 

apfuentes                 16 Dec             4xTC 

busqueen                 16- Dec           4xAC+4xTaxol 

iktracey                    16-Dec                 4xTC 

chiquita                   16-Dec                  FEC 

Texas357                #2 16/17-Dec        FEC+Taxotere 

Kranie                      17- Dec                6xTC 

Bkokie                     17- Dec                  4xTC  

LisainVA                 #2-17 Dec              4xTCH 

Lainey64                  #2 18-Dec          4xAC+4xTaxol 

momof4stars             18-Dec?           FEC+Taxotere

ENFENETEE            19-Dec             4xTC 

mimiwhite              #2- 22 Dec            4xTC

colleen1960            #3 22-Dec             CMF 

LindaBusEd           #2 23-Dec              TAC  

mmliv                     #2 23-Dec              4xTC 

msbusdriver           #2 23-Dec               4xTC 

cindyrellacleans      #2- 23Dec               4xTC  

Brenny                 #2 - 24-Dec               4xTC 

lisasayers             #2 26-Dec                 4xTC

simvog                  #2 -29 Dec          4xFAC+4xTaxol  

cebula                   #2 - 29 Dec               6xTC 

CindaD                  #2 - 29 Dec               4xTC

Bold                        29- Dec                  6xTCH

DrDecker                 29 Dec                   4xTC

jajebr3                     30 Dec                   4xAC+4xTaxol

Firni                       #2 -30-Dec              6xTC 

berrypatch              #2 30-Dec               6xTC  

sdavis                    #2-30-Dec               6xTC

ptjen                      #2-31-Dec               4xTC

Lindy58                  #2 -31-Dec               4xTC   

Good evening December divas!

What days are considered nadir? Have the family here. Cooking Christmas dinner tomorrow since Tuesday is #2. The hair is shedding (started on Day 16). Still freaking out about it. Having hard time sleeping because my hair hurts but I can't seem to buzz it. I did have a friend cut it shorter.

Have a good weekend! Linda

Simvog I would be so happy for you if you were in the 25%!

Linda my scalp hurts, too.  I wish I had a silky pillow cover. 

I wore my wig over 6 hours yesterday, and had some sore spots on my scalp.  Any suggestions?  I wonder if the nylon cap would help?

Jajebr3 welcome to the board.  Drink plenty of water the day before chemo and the following days after.  The anticipation of chemo is worse than the actual process.  Also, chemo can make you constipted.  Eat your veggies, fruits, and good quality of food.  Also, when you feel like it, move your body with a nice walk.  Keep us posted.

Hi Divas.  

I am battling my insurance company now.  They are refusing to pay for my Onctotype test.  They are also refusing to pay for my reconstruction. ( it isn't medically necessary but yet they would pay for prosthesis and mast. bras.)  I know most states require ins. co. to pay but not CO.  Aren't we progressive!?  They didn't want to pay for my MRI either, but finally did.  In fact, they argued with my doctor about my diagnosis!   So far they have paid every penny of my chemo but that's probably because I've met my deductible.  I'm so bummed.  I'm not having any luck finding a job and now I'm looking at medical bills in the 10s of thousands?????  This is not good.

Also, I think one of my expanders has a slow leak in it.   It's getting mushy and slightly smaller.  My PS isn't 100% convinced it is leaking.  He said that side might be "relaxing" faster than the other side.  Anyway, I have to call him back on Tues, 12/23 to let him know if I've lost more volume.  If I have, I'll have to go in to have it replaced.  

Linda, the nadir for taxotere is days 5-9.  Cytoxin and Adriamycin are both days 10-14.  So, Your days will be from day 5 - 14.  You can find out a whole lot more about the drugs on Chemocare.com.

Mimi, I know TLC has some soft cotton wig caps.  I don't know if that would help or not.  I would think the nylon would be just as irritating as the wig itself.

Lisa, your daughter cracks me up.  That's funny she's buying her future head wear.

Welcome to the Dec. Divas, Jajebr3.   

Day 10 TX 1.  No real SEs any more.  Except my fingertips get tingly if I type too much.  Hair is still all firmly in place. (at least for the next few days)

Firni I'm so sorry about all you are going through in addition to battling this beast!  I can't believe that CO doesn't have to cover reconstruction...there is a federal bill requiring it!  Dr. Christine Horner was the one who was responsible for getting that passed.  Her five year crusade -- the Breast Reconstruction Advocacy Project or BRA Project -- led to the passage of laws in thirty-five states and a federal law. The federal bill was signed into law by President Clinton on October 21, 1998.  The law was unprecedented because it was the first law Congress had ever passed requiring insurance companies to pay for a specific surgical procedure. So how does CO get away with it?????  That just ticks me off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I highly recommend Dr. Horner's book, Waking The Warrior Goddess.  Check out her website too

http://www.drchristinehorner.com/index.html

Cebula is right about the oncotype test, Genomic Health will work with you and appeal it up to three times with your insurance company and if that doesn't work, they will work out something with you.  I just got a letter from them in the mail, but my insurance did cover that.

Yes, my daughter has made this hair thing a bit easier.  I'm shedding so bad today...so it is time for the buzz!

Hugs to all

Lisa

Hair is shedding biiigggg time last nite and today - (first tx was Dec 3) -- wore a black sweater to see the Rockettes last nite -- big mistake for blonde hair!  I am just not touching it -- not sure what my game plan is.  I have my wig....but.....maybe maybe maybe I can make it through Monday and get back to OH Monday night with hair.....I am just not handling this well, not at all.  Oh dear!

Alyssa, I thought about shaving mine off early too but decided to just get a short cut to start off with.  It helped me to get adjusted to having shorter hair so the final "buzzing" wasn't too traumatic.  You are on the same TX as me. I am on dose dense A/C 4x followed by Taxol 4x.  I just had my 2nd TX on Thursday.  I didn't start losing my hair until day 16 after the 1st TX.  So you still have some time.  Unless you really want it all gone now, my suggestion would be to start off with a short, sassy cut and wait.

Hi Alyssa.  I was told the weekly taxol would be easier to deal with as well.  I chose to do my AC every three weeks instead of every 2.  I know you can get comfy caps to wear under wigs to be more comfortable several places.  The first one that comes to mind is TLCdirect.org.  I thought about cutting my hair off already too, just because I don't particularly care for it, but there is always the possibility of being one of the lucky ones who may not lose it.  {although with our chemo, we probably will}  I think Elaine's idea is good to get a short, sassy cut, so you can still get a haircut with your son.:-)  I'm assuming you are on the the clinical trial E5103 with the Avastin.  You may have found it already, but there is a forum here for those of us going through that under the Help Me Get Through Treatment heading.  {it will say Trial E5103}

Lisa, that is a great book by Christine Horner.  I finally ordered my own copy because I had used up all my renewels at the library!:-)  I highly recommend it as well.

Happy weekend. Jingle bells and all that good stuff.