Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

Hello, I think I got some good news yesterday...my onc said my neck node tumor was softer which implies shrinkage has begun!! I'll take any good news at this point! I do my second CMF next Friday (It was easier than AC at least for me). He is also going to add Zometa for my spine "spot"...We're not calling it a met yet ...mostly for my sanity...

Tkone... I will want to hear about Wanda Miles too ...she was my other option besides Isik!

Tracy - people tell me all the time that I remind them of someone they know.  But hey! we are practically neighbors, so you never know!

Don't you all just love it? High School athletes starting their "Spring Sports" season... playing tennis, running track, playing baseball ...  the sun is shining the sky is blue  and  there is snow still on the ground in March!!!! I do love Seattle in the springtime!!!

Oh yeah and I add Zometa to my CMF on Friday the 13th...ugh...already suffering from anticpatory nausea...

Good morning Seattle women!  I am just checking in..had my 10th CMF yesterday.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  The snow was a shock, but the sunny weather that showcases the snowcapped mountains is so beautiful.

I have been going to SCCA for 10 weeks now and have not yet had a visit with rain.  Isn't that weird? One of my concerns with commuting to chemo was dealing with the weather (I take a ferry and a bus) and I am happy that has not been an issue.  

Tracy - I had my SNB on 12/1 and initially had pain/tightness, but it is gone now. What does your surgeon say about that?  I can imagine the surgeon is hard to talk to - they seem to do the surgery and move on.  I can't remember if you had chemo - maybe your oncologist would have a suggestion.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Susan

Swimfan - I have not noticed my hair shedding any more than normal.  I have seriously thick hair, and it sheds a fair amount daily - and it seems to be about the same.

No kidding on the $85 color.  I started coloring my own hair while waiting for the oncotype verdict - why spend the $ if it is going to come out?!  My oncologist told me I can NOT color my hair while doing CMF as that will increase the odds of thinning and she has had patients lose their hair on CMF due to coloring....I was skeptical, but not willing to test that so I am sporting a cruella de ville look currently.

Hope your tx went well today!

I went to a place near Phinney-Seattle Ballard...that was great..got the wig...$150 ish....waited for the hair to fall...hey best advice ever given by a friend survivor...cut your hair short ASAP...the falling out will be much more pleasant and not as messy. My hair dresser cut it short and then when it really was coming out he trimmed it to about 1/4 in. and put in swirls...the hs students loved it...I wore a baseball cap and  NEVER wore the wig from May 07-.January 08..except for one time at school in early Jan. for spirit day it was Crazy Hat & Hair Day...kids thought they had a sub...didnt recognize me, it was hilarious...by February I went commando. If you want, I'll get you the address for the shop.

And so far so good with theCMF # 2 plus Z

Gina - when I first started in the BC world two women I know recommended Anton - Anton Hair Company - www.antonshair.com.  I think he is in Bellevue.

I never saw him as I ended up on CMF.  I don't know if this is one of the places you tried.

One friend had an Anton wig which was pricey and a baseball cap with fake pony  that she could just put on quickly in a hurry.

Susan

Susan - I actually went to visit Anton last week...the day I was getting my hair chopped. He is a very nice man, but he only does custom wigs with real hair. For BC/chemo clients that means your own hair. He said you wait until it is starting to come out (like mine is now), go see him at 9am in the morning for a CLOSE cut and by 4pm your custom wig is ready. Its a small fortune $1400, but I am sure he is worth every penny.  Perhaps if I was working in an office and it was important to me, I might have done it.  But....I really dont think I am a wig person. So there is no way I can justify that kind of expense. So, I guess I am looking for a regular plain-jane/back-up-plan wig. If it is $150 and I never wear it, I wont feel guilty. $1400 would make me feel VERY guilty.

You know, in an alternate universe, I can see it being a "better version of me". All styled and sleek and ready to go. The pics in his show-and-tell book were good. But again....STICKER SHOCK.

I actually didn't realize he was a custom wig shop. I probably wouldn't have gone if I had known. that being said, he was very nice and clearly knows what he is doing. He will just have to help out other folks. :-)

Yes, TC is going well so far (well, just one tx under my belt. #2 is a week from today). How about the CMF with you? SCCA, right?

oh swimfan - that story of the great hair escape - too much!

Gina - yes, SCCA 10 down, 14 to go.  I really have minimal side effects, but take compazine just in case the day of and the next day or two.  I have noticed that i am starting to get smell sensitive - even things like my shampoo and moisturizer which have minimal scents are bugging me. These smells make me feel slightly sick - so I think that is a side effect as it is not usually a problem.

My blood counts are much lower - not dangerous but much lower then I started at which is what they expect and makes me feel like the chemo is doing it's job.

I have really enjoyed the last couple of sunny afternoons! This BC stuff still seems surreal to me. Wonder when it will feel normal? 

OM - too funny! I am not talking about my scent/smell/taste issues. They are really, really minor and I just have this sense (no pun) that they will get worse, maybe much worse next go around.  So far, I've just had a crazy rash on the back of my hands (blame Taxotere confirmed) that has calmed down now, but makes my hands look really, really old. Like my granny old. And terrible cotton mouth which no amount of mouth wash, tooth brushing can fix.

I find this whole thing very surreal. The surgery is a gentle reminder but really the SE from chemo have been fine. Now, the hair thing. I think that will make it much more real. 

Susan - with CMF, I suppose your body never gets a chance to recover and start building your WBC count back up, does it? I hadn't thought of that. Mine did come down (just to 2000) but still has time to recover before we go at it again.

Swimfan - thanks so much for the wig shop info! Invaluable (after my wasted road trip today!!) I knew I should have come here first! 

Sweet Dreams!!

gina

Tracy - I hear you. There doesn't always have to be a lesson. Have you seen the book by Shelley Lewis "Five Lessons I didn't learn from Breast Cancer"? I haven't read it, but I love the title (and premise).   When in doubt, hug your kids. 

And thanks for the wig shop info. If anyone is listening... their phone will be ringing at 11:30pm! Oops. 

 Happy Birthday!

Hi Susan...are you getting blood boosters? Like Neupogen, Neulasta or Epogen? I recieved Neupogen at the followup lab draw at day 11-12 during my 3wk AC. Neupogen  the day of my weekly Taxol a few times...and 1 Epogen during Taxol.

I managed to avoid the Neup last nadir time on the CMF 2wks ago...but he is going to boost me most likley on the 23rd...I know part of it is because of my job...teaching 7hrs a day around all those students...and this time because I leave for a school trip to Europe at the end of the month.

Happy rainy day all...guess its a good day to lounge and be a good chemo patient...i hate chemo weekends...(my furry child however loves them ya know the "quality time napping with mommy"ahhh the life of a cat)....and i know i must be good or monday at work will be awful.