Starting chemo January 2009?

sweetpam and plutz - ok Pam, I think I know who Adam is.. the jet black hair?  He's really good, can't wait to see him this week... yes, Danny is the whose wife passed away.. he looks like Robert Downey Jr... I was surprised his friend didn't make it through considering the really bad ones that did.  YES, Tatiana.. go home with your drama... !!  Plutz, that is incredible news about the mass that is virtually disappearing... way to go girl (btw, I am a buckeye like you, born and raised in Cincinnati)!

I am enjoying a snowy day here in Indiana.  I have to say I have bounced back quicker this round than round 1.  I am not experiencing that "cumulative effect" everybody talks about, knock on wood.  I hope everybody has a SE-free weekend!!!  Thanks to those that responded about the clinical trial.. I'm leaning toward doing it.  

I am going pretty well here in Boston.  My back is still hurting alot, though if I take  motrin it is much much better.  I have to remember to keep taking it.  I don;t think it is related to the chemo or the nuelasta but maybe they make it worse?  I also still have that chest cold but I don't feel feverish and refuse to take my temp just to take it.  I am not coughing up green stuff.  This is the day last cycle that I was hospitalized with low blood counts that were discovered because I felt feverish with a cold and checked to find out I was running a very low grade temp and thus was sent for a blood count.  I don't want to do that again, even if I did have a lovely room.

We went to a friends house for dinner last night. I baked another loaf of bread and it came out great again.  I also make a cake that uses chick peas instead of flour which came out pretty good as well. It has an unsual texture and was not the kind of cake that everyone keep going back for another piece of but everyone finished what was on their plate and I and one other did have seconds.  I am intreged by the idea of making a cake that has enough fiber into that I can consider it a positve part of my diet, even if I have to pay attention to the sugar.  Today I am baking another loaf of bread, devils food cupcakes made with kidney beans instead  flour and maybe a phylo roll cake with a filling made with swiss chard.  

 Warning - TMI again- ie sex and the bald chemo chick, sort of...

DH and I had a little nookie time this morning.  I was not feeling "in the mood" but we have had a whole week kid free and yet between ours colds and the fun of chemo have not connected at all in a married way.  I decided to make a point of seeing that we had at least a little time being "a married couple."  I really wish is was not in the last hour of a week of freedom but better than not at all.   I really want to try my darnest to make that connection at least once a chemo cycle.  More if I can find the energy.  Is it in the for front of my mind with all the fun of chemo?  No. I am tired, I am baldish, I am the heaviest I have been absent preganancy.  I could very easily and in some ways happily forgo all sexual stuff for the duration.  These chomo related things do not make me feel like jumping DH's bones (or anyone elses bones for that matter). And he too looks tired and bothered much of the time, which does not make him the most attactive piece of action in my  eyes either.  But, one can just decided to make it happen.  And that makes the other stuff better.  It will help my marrage survive this tough year. Anyway, I wanted to share in case anyone else is either worrying about this stuff or just giving up on it for the duration because they feel too tired or too "ugly."  Different things work for different people.  My way may not be your way.  But if you want or wonder what others are doing, you now have one more little bit of info.

 That if for now. It is 1pm and I still need to shower and dress. 

Renrel... I think that's a great idea.  Because personally, since this started, I have bought so many hats, wigs, scarves, hair "halos" that ended up not working and they are sitting all over my house.... and surprise.. during chemo you really don't have the energy to bounce around town returning stuff.. so they sit there.. so much money wasted.  Your idea is great.. also...someone should start a website for all that slightly used stuff that could be traded or just given away to cancer patients nationwide.  Maybe there is one, I don't know.. but if there isn't.. there should be. 

On that note... the thing that I'm most comfortable in is a $12 piece of  fake hair (from TLC).... you wear it under a hat or scarf.  It's much more comfortable than a full wig.  I've been wearing it with a scrub-type bandanna thing... so I kind of look like a hippie-chick but that's okay most days and I figure the "look" will be cuter in the spring and summer.   Maybe I'll get my nose and tongue pierced so it can be more believeable...lol....for $12 it's worth it just to have for wearing around the house...just an idea if other people hate the feeling of a full wig like I do...

http://www.tlcdirect.org/products/sku-7961__dept-91.html

Holtbolt....I too snapped back much faster...I'm so happy!!!

Lisa....I have not been using the biotene...but my Dr. gave me the same advise to floss carfully.

Rerel....sorry that your feeling  a back ache ....but I'm glad you got some sex!!!  That's always nice!!!! 

PLUTZ....what amazing positive news!!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!!!

I have bought way too as far as hats and halo's etc.. we have a place in the chemo room where pople leave that kind of stuff....I also have a support group I go to that I was thinking of bringing the stuff too.

When I attended the Look Good Feel Better class sponsored by the Amer Cancer Society, the had a large basket of scarves and hats that had been donated.  The gal said they had washed/cleaned them all and they were free to anyone there.  That's what I will do with mine.  The ACS also takes used wigs and then recycles those to patients who cannot afford a wig.

PrincessKauai: Thanks for the feedback on the Taxol txs. sounds doable!

kim

I called the cancer centre and they told me I can get AC #3 on Monday after that 1 week delay, I am very happy.....but now of course, dreading going.  Oh well.  After Monday, I will have 1 more chemo and be done with it.  (Then onto the Tamoxifen).  It was a gorgeous day here today so we went for a walk with the kids and sledding.  We found a huge hill with just enough snow.  I was so scared to go down, I never do anything like that, and my hubby finally said "you are fighting cancer, you only live once, so get down that hill". I got on the sled and oh my god, I nearly died lol.  It was a lot of fun, but really steep and fast.  My 6 year old was so proud of me, he said "you did it mom!".  I guess I was proud too, I'm usually the biggest wimp.

Berkleykim - they were canned beans- can't get much easier than that, and the whole thing was blended in the food processer.  PM me if you want the recipe. I am not saying it is an awesome cake, but it is easy, high fiber and tasty. 

Hi: I'm Eva and jumping in a bit late to the game, but think this may be where I belong. Ist round of A/C late Jan and just had my 3rd on Friday - dose dense. Then I'll switch to weekly Taxol x 12.

I'm flossing with no problem and using Tom's of ME toothpaste, hated the biotene. Using Tom's mouthwash ok too.

About to get my neulasta shot and trying claritin as I read it here. Take it before? How many does? I was just told 10mg plain Claritin. 

Thx, Eva

EvaPerone - my med onc recommended claritin the morning of the neulasta shot and that evening, then 2x/day for a week.  i have not had any bone pain so far and i've had three neulasta shots. be sure you get the plain claritin, not claritinD.   i'm also on AC, have my last one this week, then four sessions of taxol.

my chemo nurses have a list of things they always ask me, and one is, "you're not flossing, are you?" because of the risk of bacteria and infection. but i do floss, every day, very gently. if my gums become tender, i will stop, but i cannot imagine going to the dentist for a cleaning after four months of chemo and not having flossed.  i don't use biotene mouthwash or any other kind. have not had any mouth problems. thought i was getting mouth sores at one point, but it was one sore  for one day. 

this week will be my last AC!  i never want to see the color red again!!!  i'll be halfway through chemo - four treatments of taxols to go.  the end of april can't come soon enough. 

good wishes for everyone this week!

Hi, The dental care discussion is interesting to me.  I was only told that I couldn't have dental work during chemo (perhaps the difference is that I did not have "dose dense" AC/T), but that usual dental care and flossing were fine.  I made a point of going in for an off-schedule cleaning before starting AC.  Then, I broke a tooth mid AC-cycles and actually needed some urgent dental work.  I was able to wait until just before the next cycle so my WBC counts were up and then take a dose of antibiotics before the procedure.  It was a "patch" so I'll still need the crown after chemo and radiation.

Your stories are inspiring to me.  My relationship with my husband has been pretty bad and I'm not certain it will weather this challenge or if it's good for me in the long run. I'm finding the length of chemo (24 weeks) challenging even if I only have four more to go.

Renrel, I'd love to get your bean cake recipe!

Hi All

        Congrats on your last A/c, My second taxol is this Thursday going to call and see  if I can do something different thatn the 10 pills the night before, kept me awake all night and for the four hours in the CHAIR.............much rather sleep thou all of that.

           I had a horrible depressing weekend after the first taxol wonder if that is a side effect........and if it is I do not want to go thou that again, hey I got a jury summmors....think I can use caner as a excuse, If it was not for the money you lose I would love to be on a trial!!!!!

              Everyone have a great weekend and let me know what your getting please before taxol so I can tell my oco!! Thanks Pamela

      My toe does not seem to be getting better she did call in a pres for infection!! 

How's every one doing today?  I'm gonna vent for just one second....I am going to work today....first time since I'm bald...I am realtor and I'm going to sit an "Open House".  I can not bring myself to wear my wig....it's hot, itchy. blah,blah,blah....

I can not bring myself to wear a "scarf"..iof makes me feel like I "look sick".  I typically wear a bandana or ball cap and feel fine...since I have a good amoount of stubble left. (and everyon who knows me...knows)

So I'm wearing a cute hat I have and like to wear......but I feel like all these strangers that will come in will wonder what's up.....so I'm stressing!!

That's my rant for the day.....other than that I feel better than 100%......just sick of the hair thing...

Aha, I have a name already!  It's going to be Saving Grace because my 3 year old daughter is Grace and I don't ever want her to have to go through what I have gone through.  I think it's very fitting. 

I find I am drawn to more "out there " headwear - scarves tied into turbans and hats with some flare.  People may realize I am bald and guess at why, but they are also distracted by the hat. They may think I am nuts to wear something like that or that I have style. But it give them an openning to start a conversation and build connection and community and I like that.  I am a strange bird. I can be very conserative and quiet in my demenor in some setting and quite outlandish in other.  This cancer thing is bring out more of my outlandish self.  But I am not sure what I will wear to work once I go back, which could be this week.  I conduct hearings.  I need to look like a judge.  if it were warming I might be OK shaving my head and just going bald but it is too cold.  I don't have a good wig yet, but I may get one this week.  I may have to do with my velor, tannis pre tied scarf.  It is fairly conserative but the fabric gives it some interest.