Starting Chemo February 2009?

Suzmarks:  Well, I definitely freaked out in the shower before work yesterday; lost soooo much hair, and hadn't really played with my wigs yet.  I had an hour before my ride picked me up for work, so I was panicking.  I ended up gently blowdrying what was left (I have thick hair, so more than I had imagined), and putting it up in a clip, so it looked good enough, used tons of hairspray.  Just needed to buy that one more day.

I tutor 4 different classes, and decided to tell 2 classes, and didn't tell the other 2 classes, an experiment in how this goes.  So far, the class that knows doesn't really say much about it, a student or two asks how I am doing, no big deal.  I am wondering how they will react to the wigs, however, since I have yet to find one exactly like my own hair.

And YES, my reading vision has gotten worse, but not all the time, if that makes sense.  Sometimes it is just worse than usual, sometimes it's not.  Strange. 

Michele:  I am soooo glad you are having a better time with tx 2, and I hope that holds true for you.  My hair was coming out like crazy, but not "clumps" yet, just tons of loose strands whenever I would gently pull.  So after work last night, I took scissors to it to shorten it, kinda a Dorothy Hamill, like I had back in 8th grade!  Anyway, it is so itchy at this point, I will probably use the clippers today and just be done with it.  I can feel it down my jammies all night, and it's driving me nuts.

LisaBarr:  isn't it crazy how long we're there for?  I am glad my DH can take me and hang out with me all day, although I am bummed he is laid off right now.  I don't know how I'd make it to chemo, though, if he was at work, so....for now, it's working out ok.

Regarding food issues, green tea is good for cancer patients, just NOT during chemo.  You can drink it again afterwards, though, it's just that the antioxidants could interfere somehow.  Sugar, on the other hand, is fine in moderation, since even if you avoid sugar, your body will change starches into the sugar that it needs.  It's not just cancer cells that feed off sugar, all cells in your body do.  So just eat in moderation, like usual.

I have found that the steroids are hitting me harder this time, but by interrupting my sleep.  I keep waking up really early, and I'm wide awake.  Then I need to nap later.  Ugh.  I was up at 3 am this morning, and didn't even go to bed until midnight last night.  Then on and off sleep til 5am, then lay awake and get up at 6.  So not me, especially on son's week off from school!

See you Fab Feb Furies later

Judy

Well, that was one of my "silver linings",,,,mmmmm, just have to wait for the hormones I guess.

OMG Kerry! I thought I was not going to have any painful, messy period during chemo. Oh well. I hope you're not gettiing a lot of cramping.

I know, it sucks! Anyhow, could have been worse and got it next week when I am doing round # 3! I am not sure about the tampon thing - I will have to look around the Internet. I know I read it somewhere before I started treatment, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to worry about it.

Sue - sorry the Taxotere took a long time to recover from. My last round of FEC took me 8 days for me to feel normal again. Glad your blood work was good though. I have heard such conflicting responses to Taxotere - some find it easy, some terrible. Guess I will find out in 4 weeks time. Still, nothing we can't handle, eh!!

I just found something on chemocare.com that said not to use tampons if you have a low blood count or are prone to infection. I guess that means no tampons... yuck!!

I need a follow-up Ovarian ultrasound to check on a cyst, and my Onc  scheduled it for after chemo, as it is internal and she said during chemo there is too high a risk of infection. I guess it is the same for Tampons.  Better to be safe than sorry.

It's always something!

I too have a cyst or a fibroid that I need to have followed-up after chemo.  I think from now on if we get a pimple on our nose they're going to want to "follow-up" on it.

Kerry-Don't worry about the Taxotere, for me it's not horrible.   I read horror stories on these boards from some women on Tax. and I totally freaked myself out, for nothing!  We all react differently to our poisons.

Thaks gpd, I guess I'll hang on and wait and see what happens with my vision when chemo is done. I think enough money has been spent on wigs!

Sue

just wanted to mention what my then 8 year old daughter said when i told her i had breast cancer, that i'd have to do chemo and would probably be bald soon....

she looked me square in the eye and said "you better wear a hat or something.  we don't want your hair all falling out all over the house".  this is my biological daughter... the one who rearranges her closet weekly and will scold me for the crumbs in the silverware drawer,

(son #2 didn't take it so well.. running outside to puke)

kind of off topic..

no one wants to be bald.. it's just awful.

i have to tell you about my Catholic hurch community.. it's large, 1500 families or so and i play for services.. pretty prominently - right in the middle.

when i first lost my hair, i was sooo self conscious.  i wore scarves artfully tied or a hat.. i had not yet found my look.  I have a tenor, a 64 yr. old, sometimes tipsy, Irish tenor who has a wild streak.  I was playing during communion on the organ.. people walk past me (just a foot a way from my back) on the way back to their pews.  Pat (that's his real name) stole my cap and scarf and kept walking.  i had to keep playing and pretend that he had not only broken a pledge of solemn propriety by stealing it during Communion, but endure the stares of like 400 people,  all craning to get a look.   One of the more responsible men got the hat from Pat and stuck it back on my head.  i was just appalled   i mean really appalled.. close to tears and flaming red.  no one had seen my head yet up till then, and of course everyone was dying for a peak.. i tried to sneak out after Mass but i was engulfed by kids and friends who wanted to see me bald.  .sooo i took off my hat and chatted for a while then went home and had a good cry.

It kind of became a tradition or standing gag to steal my hat at church functions. i bet it happened 10 times.

after a while i adjusted..... rolling my eyes, saying not again, trying to get my hat off before some stupid kids (or Pat) took it.  it was the weirdest thing..

in retrospect kind of cool tho, because people were interacting with me in a very abnormal way and that is kind of what i needed at the time.  I'm not one for hugs and such.

i really don't know what to make of it. .. i live in Kansas.

apple, you are a bigger person than me! I think I would have turned around & HIT that fool! Even if I were at church. That's just not right.

jancie...hope you are able to rest.

I had my first Herceptin only txtment today. The IV drip was only about 30 minutes! And the best part is I feel pretty good. Let's hope it continues!

I'm off to the airport to pick up my best friend from HS. I haven't seen her since my wedding 7.5 years ago! She's coming in for a quick visit & tomorrow we're going wig shopping!  I don't really know how much I'll wear a wig, especially once it gets hot here, but I do want to at least have one (well....one that's NOT pink!).

&*(%^$#  ^&*#$%# ##@ %$ # #$%@!

my hair is falling out.. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!    

i really wanted to keep it this time.  waaah

Hi all!

I have purchased my wigs. My insurance covered the cost of 2 so I have 2 different looks. Neither are like my real hair. I also went online a purchased some head scarves and a sleep cap. Reading one after another posts about us loosing our hair is getting me scared!!! I feel such a bond with you all and I am glad we are going through this together, but I still want to cry! I am scared about the experience of seeing my hair fall out. Not knowing when it will happen for me is driving me crazy! I need to go get a tissue...

welcome, denali. sorry you need to be here, but also glad you found us. i like your fun perspective.

i hope i find my fun-okay-with-being-bald soon. i've lost quite a bit of hair since thursday, tho i can still get by. i knew this was coming, i know it's a small price to pay, but i can't deny that i'm heartbroken.

i'm off to my Wig Angel in a few. she's going to give me a good shampooing and scalp massage ... i guess most of it might fall out then. i'll just feel safer when i have my wig styled and ready to go. i bought a fun shortie strawberry blonde wig from TLC, and it's soooo uncomfortable, even with my remaining hair to cushion it. it's going back.

fyi: second treatment so far is fine. i'm way more relaxed about it this time. maybe because i'm not freaking out over whether every little thing is a possible side effect. and i can't remember who suggested the metamucil and miralax combo, but i think this is working for me. so thank you! 

judy, i hope you're mom's doing ok, and michele i hope you're feeling much better this time around.

sorry i don't have it in me for more individual shout-outs today. please know that i send my best feel-good wishes and strength & coping vibes continually.

(((everyone))) 

Hi girls:

I am having a good weekend and enjoying it since TC herceptin #2 is Wednesday and the dreaded Neulasta shot on Thursday.  I'm going to try the Claritin this time and hopefully the bone and joint pain won't be so bad.  All taxotere people I was told green tea oil was good to put on your nails to help prevent the blackening and nail loss.  I put it on at night and sure hope it works.  I'm going to ask about the dark nail polish this week.  I havn't lost any hair yet and am getting use to my buzz cut.  I am waiting for the morning I wake up and my pillow is covered.  I have two wigs, but the one that is suppose to be my natural color is too grey.  I have a cute brunnette bob I'm going with for work tomorrow.  I'm waiting to see if security stops me on my way into work.  It looks nothing like my old hair or my ID badge. Have a good weekend ladies!

Cheri