Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

Alyssa, we are all trying to figure this out together.  I went back and forth on it too.  Now I'm sitting here in my house with my sleep cap on and afraid to do anything.  I was feeling so brave last night when my boyfriend was here but now that he's gone to work I'm feeling a little alone. My dachshund is helping but all he does is sleep!

Carie, I don't think I'm on the Avastin clinical trial.  I remember my Onc mentioning something about it but I chose not to go that way.  Happy Weekend to you too!

It's done......the hair is gone and it was in my time!!!!!  Watch out GI Jane!

Wow! I don't think we are a group anymore..... more like an organization! Welcome to all the new members, I really don't have much to add except, be sure to give yourselves breaks. I've had good days and bad days. 

Mimiwhite - my WBC is back up too, so I will be able to take my second chemo on the 23rd. After starting this mess I sure want to finish it. I will be taking the Nuelasta shot and so after reading the posts.... thanks to Goldie and Elaine I will take it in the stomach. Will let you know how that goes

Now that I have been hairless for almost a week - I can honestly say that wearing caps has been fine; my family has gotten used to the caps. The wig is soooooo uncomfortable and reading the posts leads me to believe it AINT goin' get better. So it only goes when I have to look professional or need to look more "polished". Forget my thought of trying to buy a more comfortable wig.

Day 19 of TC - Feeling good...... just in time to start all over again.

Mary 

ENFENETEE, I was in a lot of pain too from the port surgery, I wasn't expecting that at all. Took plenty of pain killers. Took me a few days to get use to it and be able to sleep better. I got my port on Wed. and started chemo the following Monday and was fine. The worse thing about it now is that whatever I wear, I have this HUGE lump sticking out. I keep wondering when someone will ask me to get that lump checked! LOL!

Well I am here to report that I lost my nerve and did not take myself to get even a short haircut today, let alone buzz my hair.  My nurse at the onc office had told me many women find it less devistating to just cut it off before it starts falling out(this comming form a young lady with beautiful hair...lol)   Thanks for the advise on cjhats.com, I went immediatley to the web site and ordered what looked to be the most comfy.  I am a little sad that I bought theese wigs now they are sounding like they are going to be miserable and I hate to be uncomfortable. 

I had my port inserted when I had my masses removed, pain meds are good!!!  I slept on my back with a body pillow on both sides of me to make sure I did not roll to my sides for days.  I am happy to report that It has been 3 weeks since its placement and for the last week and a half I do not even notice it in daily activities, untill it is shower time and I see it protruding from my skin.  I am nervous for the port to be used for the first time.

Lisa -- you look wonderful with your new "do"!

Enfenetee -- I'm sorry you've had so much pain after your port procedure, but I do think you will be very glad it's there.  My port was put in during a follow up surgery to correct necrosis after my mast, and the port felt strange and uncomfortable for a couple of weeks.  My first Tx was last Wednesday and the port made it SO much easier than getting poked in the arm about 10 times to find a vein.

Side effects from the Neulasta injection hit me today and I was moving like an ancient person.  The pain is mostly in my hips and knees.  Did anyone besides me have an ongoing headache after chemo?  How about itchy eyebrows that feel like they are burning?  That's my weirdest SE and it started right after my Tx.

-bonnie 

Good morning Divas,

Thanks for the advise on the oncotype test billing.  I did receive a booklet and letter in the mail yesterday with insurance and billing information.  So, I'll give them a call tomorrow.  Also, I called PS office and the woman who does the billing is going to re-submit my claim with additional information.  So, keep your fingers crossed.

Lisa, you have such a lovely head, you could easily go without anything on it.  Except for the fact that it's winter and you live in PA. BRRR

ENENETEE I had my port put in on a Mon and had chemo on Wed.  The port was still pretty sore and I was not happy about someone touching it much less putting a needle in it.  But the nurse sprayed it with that cold stuff and I never felt a thing.  Ask for it.  I never had enough pain with the port to use meds.  By day four I didn't know it was there.  Of course by then I was pre-occupied with chemo SEs.  It is still a little creepy to run my hand over it in the shower tho.

Caroline, I'm happy that its' colder now and easy to layer clothes so that port bump doesn't show.  Poor women who started chemo in summer with little tank tops and such.  Hard to hide a port that way.

Jajeber, just be sure to ask about numbing the port with something.  Either the cold spray or some lidocaine or something.  From what I've read on other threads, pretty much every onc. nurse uses something.  They really don't want to hurt us.

Bonnie, I don't remember a headache after chemo and I know I didn't have itchy brows.  I started keeping a list of the SEs along with questions for the Onc. next time I go.  When I started making the list there were some that I forgot about, like that my face was flushed for two days after.  DH reminded me of that.  Who knows what's significant and what's just run of the mill SEs.  My Neulasta pain was mostly in my hips and legs.  

Now that I've been feeling pretty normal, for about a week, I'm not sure I'm remembering if the SEs were that bad or not.  I know it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I don't have TX 2 until the 30th so I still have some feel good time.  Hair is still tight on my head.

Bonnie I did have an ongoing headache after chemo, but I'm not sure if it was that or the darn weather changing every time we stepped out of the house!  I'm pretty sensitive to weather changes.

Thanks for all the compliments ladies...I'm wishing I hadn't wasted the money on the wig, although daughter will probably use it at some point.  It was a bit chilly sleeping last night, so I'm going to pick up some sleep caps. 

Firni, I think the chemo SE's will be like childbirth...painful during the process, but then we will forget how bad they actually are later...we we are all NED!

December Divas,

Had a wonderful Christmas (Saturday) with the family. I had both children here (21 and 25) along with daugther's fiancee. When I woke up this morning at 3:00, it seems like they were teenagers, both of them sleeping in the den with the TV on. The fiancee was in the bed. Cooking breakfast for all of them bought tears.

My hair is shedding more and more but not ready to shave the head.

My port was put in on a Monday and had my first treatment on that Tuesday. Actually the port surgery was more painful than the lumpectomy and Mammosite caterer surgery. I actually didn't feel anything when the nurse put the needle in. In fact, they had another nurse look at my port area to make sure it was there because I was no swollen. I still have some pain when I sleep a certain way but I had no choice with the port because of my veins. I was kinda nervous the first time because I didn't know what to expect.

I did have a little nagging headache after the first tx but I attributed to caffeine withdrawal because I couldn't look at coffee (a favorite of mine). However, I have been able to drink it during my good week with is this week.

My Neulasta pain was mainly in my legs below my knees and in my feet but nothing I couldn't stand.

2nd tx is Tuesday.  Thinking of all of you. Linda

Linda - 

  Smiled when I read your post - I would be afraid to cook for anyone right now the way my hair is shedding!  If I had a hair net, I would wear one!  I am using the lint roller like mad but every time I move (or maybe just breathe) there is another hair on my shirt!  I'm even afraid to eat my own cooking!  *smile*  You are a day before me, so I am thinking I can get through Tuesday if it doesn't drive me crazy!! I think I am not going to chance washing it in the am -- better to have dirty hair at work on Monday (last day in the office) than no hair at all???? 

Brenda

Lainey, hope your day is going better today and hope the dog is not so sleepy, little dogs can be so entertaining, my family has 2.  Thinking of you.

Divas, is the Nuelasta shot the shot I have to go back to the onc office for the day after tx to help bring my wbc count back up, I start tx the 30th and the 29th is when I go in for the complete rundown of everything and how it works.  I had the abriviated version while I was in the office last time when I was signing papers for the Avastin clinical trial. 

Hope all is well with each of you.

Hail December Divas!    Just wanted to add that I joined the ranks of the buzzed heads yesterday... 2 days after tx #2.    I had already cut it short and bought a couple of wigs that I'd started wearing, but it started dropping out on Friday night.   So Saturday morning I tied a scarf around my head, went to my latin aerobics class and then trotted over the the nearby Great Clips and had them clip it all off.   I didn't want to deal with the mess!   Still have a little buzz, but if it doesn't drop soon, I think I'll take the electric razor to it.   

I had my Neulasta shot on Friday and I have been feeling the bone pain in my lower back and hips.   My onc ok'd Advil and that helps a lot.   I have taken the Neulasta shot in my belly instead of my arm, and put the lidocaine cream they gave me to use on my port before chemo on my tummy and I never felt a thing.  

Lisa and Cebula - you both look great!    I haven't taken any pictures without hair.... I did however buy a couple of scarves from www.tznius.com and might consider recording those looks!   Lucky for me my wigs are pretty comfortable and they look much better than my real hair.   

Bonnie - I do get a headache after chemo, but it's one of the side effects of the anti-nausea med.   Hits right in the middle of my forehead.  

Take care, divas.  

Robyn

Wow, well, I'm glad for you it turned out negative, saves you a year of Herceptin! Sorry about the hair, looks like you're really 2 days behind me aren't you? I had to buzz, I think I was driving my hubby crazy by pulling my hair all day long! My head feels so much better now, the hair aren't pulling anymore.

Bkokie: 

I had headaches for about 10-12 days after treatment, not strong enough to take meds but annoying.

My onc told me that she will check my WBC and if the count is too low, she will reduce the dosage next treatment and extend the treatment to 5 or 6 sessions instead of 4. She said that as long as I am taking the dosage in total it doesn't matter how I take it. She said she would not give me Neulasta only if I really need it. Anybody else heard about this before?