Has anyone started a forum for Chemo in Dec 2008?

It was a wonderful coffee morning for me too!  It's the simple things, right?

Day #4 after TC3 and I'm definitely sluggish today.  Yesterday I took a nice nap, slept super well last night and plan to take another nap shortly.  I think my cold is running me down too, but so far other SEs have been under control. 

TGIF everyone!

Simvog: I think that the confusion in your path report will most likely come in your adjuvant care. How will they know how to treat you if you are allover the place hormonally. I know that you have already gotten rid of the cancer and you are just taking a bold approach with the chemo that has been recommended. I am just curious on the hormone therapy. I am still trying to figure out what to do about mine as I have only 2% ER and I would like not to treat it but I want to be smart about it too.

The night after tx 3 of 6 and I can't sleep.  I am having hot flashes about every 20 - 30 minutes.  The only benefit to being bald is that I can snatch off the cap I wear to keep my head warm and let the cold in whenever I have a hot flash.

My onc. is wanting me to do the gene testing.  I have a very strong family history for BC also I am younger than expected as well as pre-menopause (up until now).  I just can't seem to get my head around doing it.  I have an 11-year-old daughter and I guess it would be good to know for her.  I think what is bothering me is that he said he would recommend the removal of my ovaries if I an positive.  I already need to have a surgery to place implants and remove my port.  I just can't think about another surgery. Has anyone else had the test?  What was your experience?

Pam

I had tx 3 of TCH Thursday.  So far, it hasn't been too bad.  I've had the usual digestive issues but have been able to control them with medication.  However, last time I really crashed about midday Saturday.   I'm really hoping that doesn't happen today.   I have also suffered terribly with hot flashes at night.  The onco prescribed neurontin for me on Thursday, and it seems to be helping. 

I started having hot flashes about a year ago.  They were so bad there were days when I would have to undress at work and sponge down!!  My GP put me on Wellbutrin for the hot flashes.  It helped quite a bit.  The intensity and frequency when way down.  But now with chemo, they get pretty bad again but mostly in the evening and at night in bed.  I'm hoping that the Tamoxifen will not override the Wellbutrin like chemo is.  I will be taking Tamox or some AI since it will bring my percentage numbers down another 17%.  Well worth the try for me.  

I did some simple grocery shopping yesterday and by the time I came home I was so swollen I could barely walk or do anything.  So I just sat around watching movies and let the new steroids do their job.  This morning I can see my knuckles and ankle bones, so things are looking up.  I'll just have to take it easy till all the swelling is gone.   No wonder nothing fits me.

I'm not doing any genetic testing for CA.  My family has very little history at all.  My dad's dad had lung cancer but he worked for 40 years in a plywood factory with no respiratory protection.  My mom's mom had a little skin cancer.  She was a farmer and there was no sunscreen then.  So, I'm thinking there isn't much genetic disease with me.  Certainly not to warrant testing. Mombos, I would want to want to be tested if  I had a higher family risk for myself and my daughter.  It won't change things but one can be more diligent and find things sooner if it does happen.  

It was good to read that there aren't any devastating SEs going on right now.  Elaine, I hope you continue to feel ok with the Taxol.

rayhope, my SEs in general were easier with Tx 3.  Hope yours will be too. 

simvog, how frustrating to have 3 results that are so different.  That would just drive me nuts.  Each result brings a whole different equation for treatment.  What does your Onc think about all of this?

Apfuentes, sleeping is probably the best thing you can do for yourself right now.  I would imagine the chemo is making it harder for your body to get rid of that cold. 

Good morning divas.  I'm so happy it's Saturday.  I slept in late today.  I just couldn't seem to get myself moving out of bed.  I'm still feeling pretty good.  It's day 3 since Taxol #1.  The only SE I'm noticing at this point are muscle aches.  I feel it in my back and shoulder muscles the most.  It's not intolerable, it just feels like I worked out really hard and I could use a good massage.  My DBF was rubbing my shoulders for me last night and it helped.  So far no nausea.  The pharmacist at my Onc center told me that I probably won't have any nausea like the way I did with the A/C.  I bought some L-Glutamine yesterday and am taking 1000 mg per day to try and help ward off neurapathy.  So far no tingling in my fingers or feet. My mouth still has the crud taste in it so I broke down and bought some lemons yesterday.  I sucked on one last night and was surprised because it wasn't as tart to me as it would have been in the past.  Weird how our taste buds are changing through this!  Coffee is tasting good this morning!

Colleen - Oh my gosh, I'm sorry you had such a terrible day yesterday!  Getting locked out of your house had to be the kicker.  *big hugs*  I'm glad you were able to get the TX though even though you had to go through all that.

I have to go back and catch up on posts so I can post some more.  I was reading already but my chemo brain is preventing me from remembering "who posted what".  Grrrrr.

Hugs, Elaine

Colleen: UGGG what a day. It is surprising to me how many of the onc. have no or little bedside manners. I think it is because they are more chemist than Care givers. I told you that before I had my lumpectomy but after mri ultra sound ect. my surgeon (who is wonderful) told me for sure that I was stage two. I was meeting with the onc. for the first time and told her how relieved to hear that I was stage two and she said OR THREE! Oh my god I could not get those words out of my head even as they wheeled me into surgery. After which I got my path report and was stage 2A. I confronted her because I was sooo hurt and mad. She was not at all cope-able or apologetic. She just said that was before surgery and you never know. Yeah but why say that to someone. Beeatch!

I have since made peace with her. She is not the cheer leading type so I go to all of you for that. And I pray everyday that everyone here is doing well and that this is a bump in the road of happy and health lives.

Bonnie, I'm glad you're feeling better this morning.  It's so nice when we can enjoy the things we like again (coffee).  The little things nowadays make such a difference.  My oncologist is the same way.  He's very caring and I know he has a good heart but he is also a number cruncher.  When I first met with him and asked him about my "chances" he gave me the "numbers".  Oh well.. my BS sugarcoated a lot of things so it was nice to have a straightshooter in an Onc.  I hope the rest of your day and weekend goes well. 

I took some tylenol for my muscle aches and also took a nice warm shower.  The hot water felt like fire on my fingers.  Very strange!  Now I'm in my bathrobe and although I don't feel sick to my stomach or anything, I'm just not in the mood to get dressed and do anything.  I'm going to take it easy and let my body rest.

Divas,

Haven't posted in awhile,however, I have been reading everyone's posts. Have my 4th tx out of 6 on Tuesday. Noticed this morning when washing my hands how sore my fingertips and palms are!

Colleen, what a bummer. Even though I didn't want to be cut again, I opted for a port because my veins are so small and they roll. Glad you have 1 more tx.

If I calculated right, my last tx is March 17; I go for a mammogram on April 1, dr's appt on April 9, and my family physician wants to do an echogram in April since one of the chemo drugs can damage your heart but he said there is medicine for it. Will these doctor appts. ever end? I feel like my mother and my husband's aunt (late 70s) who go to the doctor ALL the time. 

Good luck Monday treatment divas! Linda

My oncologist switched me from Neulasta to Neupogen when I started the taxotere, and my gosh the aches are SO much worse! I have two shots after each treatment.

I found out that I'll need 33 radiation treatments, which puts the end of my treatment sometime in June, if I don't count the 5 years of AI. From now until then, between blood tests, shots, chemo, radiation and other assorted visits, I'll be in the doctor's office at least 4 out of 5 weekdays.

I'm due for all of my annual exams in July ... hoping this time there's no bad news. Plus, I'll be glad to be able to get my teeth cleaned! I was due in November but my dentist stopped carrying my insurance and I didn't have time to find another one before I started chemo.

Texas,  if it makes you feel any better, you are not suppose to get your teeth cleaned during chemo. Too big of a risk for infection. Also when you get a new dentist, be sure to tell him/her of all the treatment you have gone through. Also, I was told not to get pabst either.

God Bless Us All

Lori

I don't think the rads matter too much, but I think I would still wait. After all, what's another month? Having teeth cleaned stirs up alot of bacteria, and with our immune systems down, we are at risk of infection, which we all know, WE DON"T WANT. I did wait until after rads to get mine cleaned and I passed on the X-rays. Figured I had had enough radiation for awhile. I will get them next time if they think it is necessary.

Lori

Yeah, I knew that I had to wait. But my teeth feel so grungy, on top of the funny chemo taste in my mouth. It makes sense to wait until after rads too. Besides, one appointment daily is enough. I'm trying to work full time during all of this.

Funny thing about the wig wearing. I always wear a hat and my wigs or a scarf and my wig. I think that it look totally real that way. I can't bring myself to wear the wigs by themselfs. But I have a long way to go before I will have hair again so we will see. Some times i just want to rip it off and rub my itchie sore head. What a world. I am only going to treatment 3 on monday of 6 and this is already getting old and so am I.  I have a good additude about my out come. Its just this part that sooooo sucks. But in order to be a champion I have to go through this journey of healing. Glad to be in such fine company.

Congratulations on your last Tx coming up, Lisa.  It's great you're celebrating at Zumba.  Your class has pretty much gone the journey with you.

Bold, I find that wearing a wig and a hat or scarf is way too bulky and hot.  I like my wig alone and I like the scarves alone.  I don't like the hats alone.  I ordered a halo so I can have hair with my hats and not be so hot.  

I finally got to the LGFB class.  It was so much fun.  It was a hoot with 4 bald women sitting there. There were 3 that hadn't lost their hair yet.  I felt very over made up tho when we were done.  There is a lady in Denver who just sews pre-tied lined scarves.  They are so great.  She then donates them to the ACS here in the metro area.  The ladies had a huge box of them so we were all able to grab a couple.  I don't know that I learned anything new, but I sure had a lot of fun.