Starting Chemo February 2009?

Hey ladies, I'm 2 days behind & cannot keep up. I'm back to work & life is crazy as always.

webbie & Judy ....hope you're on the mend soon.

Kerry....you have "shoots"???  And I'm dying to know how they're going to wrap up BSG on Friday!!

Michele....I so wish I could do that too. Honestly, I'm so confused about chemical & toxins in our food & everything. I mean, some day it's going to come out that some random ingredient in half our food (lets say High Fructose Corn Syrup for argument's sake) causes cancer. It's so DANG hard to know what to do. I wish we KNEW!!! It's beyond frustrating. I don't know what to change. Is it the deodorant? Microwave radiation? Cell phones? Plastic bottles? All those urban legends you hear about. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Ok, I'm ranting.

calgal....I went from a stage 1 to a 3A. {{{hugs}}} I know how it feels.

I went to the Look Good Feel Better class tonight. The free make up was nice but I was hoping they'd talk a LITTLE about diet & good things to eat/avoid. And how to tie scarves. Oh well, I don't have any scarves anyway.

I ordered a buff today! Can't wait to get it & try it out.

Hang in there ladies! We can do this!!

Gramof3 Sanibel is beautiful -you'll love it. Also visit Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota -the sand there is absolutely amazing. Like sugar. My parents live in Charlotte Harbor, FL during the winter months --I visited them a couple of years ago and went beach hopping/shelling at every opportunity.I wanted to go this Feb/March but thought I'd better put it off until next year when I know I will be feeling good.

Webwriter Tough stuff... thinking of you, wishing you strength ...

All Very busy working full schedule again while I can before next Thursday TX. It was hard to catch up --you've all been busy posting!

I'm not sleeping much either. Seems to be getting worse as I go --last night I went to bed at 10, woke up and 1 and have been up since. sigh...

Gotta go to work...hang in there, ladies. Oh one more thing, stopped by to see my family physician yesterday. He said every woman in the US should refuse to pay taxes until they fully fund BC research. It's been more than 30 years, he said, there should be a blood test...we should be further... he was pretty het up about it on our behalf.  

Just wanted to clarify a couple of things:

1. There's no real "proof" that veganism or eating organic makes a difference.  I don't want anyone here to ever think I'm judging them.  I'm just so fearful that I'm not particularly rational about moderation right now...

2.  Currently, my diet sucks.  I'm gaining weight along with the rest of you guys!  Mac&cheese and PB&J are staples for me.  Plus, the nausea is less severe when I eat every 2 hrs or so... Having something in my stomach ALL THE TIME helps.  I'm planning to work on my diet and to exercise more AFTER chemo is finished... There's no way I could do it now!

Hope everyone has a SE-free day today! 

Michele

just eliminate a few words susan..

 

(that's what i first read).. i am pretty uncomfortable myself with this awful sense of discontent and rage ready to spew forth from my mouth at the slightest provocation.

Lord help my kids.

Hi girls

I'm home from the hospital, although I'm uneasy knowing there is still a clot in my lung.  Kinda scary, but the meds should take care of it.  I take a shot in my tummy twice a day, plus coumadin, another blood thinner. 

Now, there are many reasons I may have gotten the blood clot, but we should all be aware that just having cancer increases our risk, plus chemo on top of it increases it even more.  Plus I have a genetic factor, I'm sure. 

So, now I am wondering if I didn't aggrevate the situation by laying on the couch for 4 or 5 days while I was so sick.  I now plan to get up and move every hour or so, and to wiggle my toes, stretch my feet while laying down to keep circulation moving.  Very worrisome stuff, these embolisms. 

Anyway, I get a week off from chemo, I was supposed to get my 4th and last AC today, but am already so winded from the PE, and the AC has made my breathing/heart so bad they want me to wait.  So one week is probably the best idea, and I hope my last AC will be a bit easier.

It's a gorgeous day, so I am going to go enjoy it.  You gals take care, too.

Judy

Hi gals!

Just checking in, haven't posted much but have been following everyone's lovely adventures. Glad to hear that Spring is on the way in some places. Bring it on! Our yard is still piled with snow, but at least it's shrinking back so we can see some Grass!!

Had AC #4 last Thursday, still pretty low today, but no more AC (yay), next time it will be Taxol.  Puked in the sink as soon as they unhooked my IV,  then rode 2hrs back to Maine with the trash bag open in my lap... just in case. Managed to get home before doing it again. Much better now.

Chemopause:  I'm on watch to see if the Change has occurred. No period since early February and I'm 50. My onc wants to put me in a study but we need to know if I'm Pre or Post.... 

Hope everyone gets stronger and healthier each day!  Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

Anybody wanting a cotton head scarf (giant bandanna) or tying instructions just send me a pm with your address. 

Kerry....is NZ New Zealand?? Are you from New Zealand....like with a cool accent & everything?? Man I've always wanted to go to New Zealand. I wouldn't be surprised if you are right about the pesticides. I'm sure they play a part & I know we've all consumed our share. Yuck.

No worries Michele, I totally admire what you're going for. I need to be better about it. I'm making a consious (why can't I spell that today? it doesn't look right) effort to eat more organic & more healthy. That's one of the reasons I love Costco so much, their selection of organic food is getting better & better!!

Glad you're home from the hospital Judy!!

It's SOOO nice here today, I think they said it's going to hit 80F. Nice. But honestly I'll tell you this....there is NO way I'm going to be able to wear my wig in the summer. It was almost too warm today. I can't imagine what it's going to be like when it hits 110F!!  I felt good today though & even went to the gym. Yay! Finally a good day...well as good as you can get on chemo! Hope you all had one or get one soon!

I have a white film across my tongue.. yuck! I think I remember reading here about that being a sign of thrush, but there is too much info to go back over.. (I wish there was something like a search engine to search through the thread for a key word.) There isn't any sores and it doesn't hurt or anything.. just feels yucky.. I did leave a message at my onco's office, but it was 15 minutes before they closed, so didn't surprise me I didn't get a phone call back yet.  Is there something I can be doing to get rid of this, or is this just something that has to take it's course?

Thanks, in advance!

XO

Kathie, I have been using a tongue scraper to get the yucky white stuff off my tongue. You can get them where they sell toothbrushes. I have not had any lesions, but do have the "burned tongue" feeling after a treatment. My onc prescribed a stomaitis cocktail. It has nystatin in it to help thrush, plus lidociane to numb the mouth and throat.

webwriter - I'd love to get some of your raw foods recipes. I'm a nonfish/nonmeat eater and know of the hazards of the 100 ingredient packed foods. I'm having a hard time staying away from soy. Unfortunately I'm 100% estrogen +. Although I've been reading a couple of doctors including Andrew Weil who are not so condemning of soy for breast cancer patients. Last night I found a discussion board for "Need Vegetarian Advice". There were some great websites on it that I hope to check out soon.

With the tastebud situation everyone has been referring to I developed a tremendous craving for Vietnamese food. There's a restaurant in town that has a great select of veggie items and a hot and sour soup that's unbelievable. My sis-in-law sweats when she eats it and all I can say is, "more please". I'm going out to eat with friends and incorporating Thai food into the diet starting Monday.

Tomorrow is TC tx 3. I'll work half a day then see the PA, do blood work and get the infusion.

After 4 nice days I took out my motor scooter  from its winter hibernation and got it operational. I'll ride it to work tomorrow and decide if I want to ride later to the oncologist.

 I love it that life seems normal most of the time. I had a wonderful experience this evening. I was out with my daughter looking for prom dresses at this very nice boutique. I saw a woman there with a beautiful haircut, very short shaved look. I figured she had come to it through cancer. I complimented her and we got to talking. Turns out her sister had cancer, she just had a great haircut. She told me what she uses and was very informative. She asked me about my cancer and took my hand and told me she knew I would be fine. I just love the kindness of strangers. It was so warm and deep. I got kind of got broken up like I did in the beginning when I was telling people about my cancer for the first time. A very feel good moment.

I don't know if I'll sleep tonight as I'm on the dexmethazone now. So I could go on and on.

KerryMac - how did you manage to make the transition from absolutely beautiful NZ to frigid Canada? Boy if there's one place I'd love to visit, it's the world of down under. My parents visited and raved about it for the longest. Sure wish we could get a dose of your lovely accent.

It's so great to hear from you all and scary when we have to hear about the extreme difficulties some of us deal with. Thanks for sharing and my hopes and wishes for recovery and relief. My best to ya all.

Didn't make page 39.....................   Got my hands slapped on this posting. I was told posts may not be submitted in rapid succession. Now I will slowly send this out and try to get to the next page. Good night even if it doesn't make it.

Kerry, I would so love to hear your accent too! I have yet to hear someone say something "bad" about visiting New Zealand. I'm one of those geeks that loved the scenery in the LOTR trilogy & I actually watch a TV show called Legend of the Seeker that is filmed in New Zealand. It's GORGEOUS!!! I think it's cool that your hubby found you as a "souvenir" but dang.....he should have stayed there!

webbie, yes....please post some recipes!!

Quick Suz....post!! It's going to change soon!! Loved that story BTW....it's great when you can truly feel the human compassion of strangers.

OK, Suzanne, just want to reassure you that your posts got read - don't know if I'll end up with you at the bottom of page 38 or top of 39, but you won't be last! 

I am also heading off for tx tomorrow - AC#4.  Woohoo!  After that, I will be done with AC and then on to Taxol.

Last few days I have been rather down - depressed I guess - started prior to the week-end.  Don't feel like I have any reason to be down - tolerating treatment extremely well, minimal s/e, working full time, doing all my normal stuff.  But - dh went backpacking over the week-end with the Boy Scouts - his second trip Boy Scout week-end trip since I started treatment.  Dear son, the actual Boy Scout, didn't go on either of these trips so it's not like the trips were special dad-son bonding time.  It's great that I didn't NEED dh to stay home, but his going meant I got to handle all the normal week-end "fun" by myself - eight loads of laundry, grocery store, driving and feeding teen-agers.  So I'm feeling like - hey, I'm being treated for cancer and I'm not getting any kind of break from work, chores, hungry teen-agers - the whole week-end came and went and what did I do for me?  I feel like I don't even know what I like to do for me anymore.  Crappy weather didn't help either - changing from rain to snow to sideways hail every five minutes.  I'm sure this sounds crazy to those of you who are laid low by chemo side effects and would probably be glad to do my laundry in exchange for me doing your s/e so I'll quit whining and move on...

Spent a whopping $1 tonite on a pink knit cap with a blingy tiara on it - that made me feel better especially when I put it on and told the family to bow down to the queen. 

I also got a buff but bought a Survivor one from ebay rather than going the Planet Buff route - figured the symbolism was right - outwit, outplay, and outlast this damn bc. 

Although I'm reading along all the time on this thread, I usually don't jump into the fray - be assured I am following all your journeys and wishing the best to those who are having a tough time - and to all of us. 

Tricia in the NW