**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Thanks Diane

Okay ... for the bridal shower ... after everyone has socialized, pair them off back to back and have them tell you specific things about the person they are partner with ... eye color, hair color, what are they wearing ... it's a fun observation game.  Of course there's always Pictionary!!!!

Hair Loss - Found ths wonderful website thru TNBC that provides a free silk scarf to those who are going thru hair loss ... http://www.franceluxe.org .  Look for the Best wishes link. 

I've always had thick long hair (you can view my photos at www.myspace.com/bessix) and my husband has always said it was one of best assets.  I got iit cut short hoping that would lessen the impact of the hair loss and now every day I touch my hair (literally) more strands come out.  I can't even run my fingers thru my hair ... I end up with quite a bit in my hands.  It's very depression and I just want to shave it and throw on a wig or scarf, but my husband is adamant about letting it go on its own.  He was already livid when I cut it, so I'm trying to be nice and just watch it s-l-o-w-l-y d-a--y -b-y-d-a-y fall out.

Recovery - I had my first tx on March 5 and I'm still exhausted, nauseated and can't even walk thru Wal-mart without sitting down!  My next tx is scheduled for April 3rd and if it doesn't get better I'll probably drive my husband crazy and then myself!  I have managed to go back to work for half days hoping that would help, but now I just come home and fall asleep on the couch.   

Ok ladies, I'm back.  I'm on day seven of TCH and I'm still feeling kind of tired. 

Thanks everyone for the support.  It's been pretty tough but, I think I'm starting the upswing.

Marvil - It looks like we are on the same schedule and treatment.  I'm glad you said you were just able to read the posts today because I've been like that also. NO ENERGY!!! I had another experience similar to yours, I didn't pass out but I felt every other symptom possible. I will definitely try the stool softners sooner than later.  I think regardless of how many times you hear it you just don't really expect it until it hits you.  I just wish it didn't hit sooooooooooo hard.

 Ann-Idiot - I was hoping to avoid chemo until my her2 was highly amplified but, they did tell me regardless because of my age (31) they would have recommended it anyway.  However, I do consider my Onc my partner and I must feel completely comfortable in the fact that we are working toward the same goals.  The first Onc I went to just seemed a bit off.  Which I think I may have been right because she actually called me and asked why I chose a different doctor.

Sessna1 - I love your posts.  Even if you are talking to someone else I take a little bit of it for me.  Thank you.

Hoping we all have well managed SEs this week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

Well I had my second TC today. I am half thru. It was a long day but I am okay.

Who knows what SE's are looming down the road but I will treat each one as they come.

This is doable and the great future we will have down the road is why we do it.

Be strong..

Hugs,

Francine

Way to go Francine...I am 12 days out from my first and feel really good.  Drink as much water as you can the first week...I know this really helped me.  I also think that the zantac worked well for my stomach and also take the compazine even if you aren't completely nauseous.  I didn't do this and know for round 2 to make sure I take it the first week a couple of times a day.

Ditto on all of our futures!  This is why we do it!

Thank you to all for nice hair comments. Diane you should definitely try a cute cut on the way to bald. I am so glad I did, and I have loved seeing others' cuts too. Luv2sing I am sorry your husband has not wanted you to shave your head. It is a shame he did not like your short cut. I am very lucky -  boyfriend was totally delighted when I showed up at his place last night with my new 'do. Indeed he said it made him feel a bit odd because I looked so much younger that he felt a bit of a dirty old man (he is 36 I am 35!). 

When I was at the hairdressers' and she was beginning to do serious cutting the radio was playing "the end of the world as we know it" by REM. It cured me of any risk of crying because it was so melodramatically right that I just laughed.

 Great work  Francine on getting through - and much respect to all who are coping with SEs today.

Iowa  Diva: I too have had muscle and bone pain since the first treatment. I discovered that if I walk just a little a few times per day that it seems to help. I also stumbled on the fact that caffeine seems to ease it a bit.

My onc says absolutely no Claritin or natural remedies because it can bind with the chemo drugs and make them less effective. Her theory is why go through it and then do something that might interfere with it's purpose. I guess I can see her point. She is great with trying to keep nausea at bay though. I have a huge regimen of anti-emetics to try to keep the nausea at bay this time. Keeping my fingers crossed for Wednesday!

didle20Diane: I love your avatar as well. Wonder Woman was my childhood hero and I always wished for a golden lasso!

Luv2Sing: You will still be beautiful, with or without hair. This is a battle for your life and most battles leave scars. Wear your scars with pride and confidence and just remember this may be the hardest battle you will ever fight. When your crowning glory returns, you and your DH will appreciate it even more. Stand tall and proud.

Diane, I agree!

jdeking - thanks for posting the topic of soy, sugar and coffee.  it's amazing how doctors' opinions will vary.  sounds like you're doing well with Tx #2.  You sound like the Energizer Bunny.......LOL!

gymmom8 - That is truly amazing how your daughter has contributed to help the homeless.  It's one thing when we (as adults) get involved, but to have our children understand, appreciate and offer to help is truly a blessing.  Yes, you should be so proud of her!  Hey tomorrow's my second tx as well.  I'll be thinking of you.  Hope all goes well for you.

marvil - So sorry you had a terrible experience with constipation.  It's weird how some have SEs like that and others haven't.  During my first tx I didn't have constipation, but the evening of my Herceptin treatment......bouts of diarrhea most of the night.  I know it's advised to take something in advance but what if your body decides to go in the opposite direction?   Oh well.

chick717 - I have the same reaction with my wig too.  Wtf!  When I wear it to work, I feel like tearing it off my head and beatin' the crap out of it.  But of course I don't because I spent too much on mine to toss it out.  Soooo, the moment I walk into my house, it comes off. 

ginagina - I just asked my Onco about reactions to Taxotere because I have Tx #2 tomorrow.  He said that he doesn't believe I will have a reaction, but that's what the Benadryl and Decadron in my IV drip is for.  He said he's heard a lot of people have reactions to Taxol, but with him, not many with Taxotere.  I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow's tx.  It's enough as it is that the Benadryl makes me very 'loopy'.  Maybe I'll have them give me Ativan as well.  I'll already feel loopy, so what's another few milligrams?  LOL

Alyad - OMG that is so awesome your best friend came to support you like that.  What a true friend!  And btw, you look absolutely beautiful!  What a gorgeous smile.  You go girl!  I still have to post my pics which I didn't get to do yet but hopefully I'll get to it this week.

BellydancerinNJ - You came to the right forum!  These ladies are truly awesome!  And ginagina will have your flavor of cocktail mixed up in a jiffy.  She's pretty quick with the bottle (if you know what I'm sayin').  LOL!  Good luck with your first tx and please keep us posted on it.

NYDeb48 - Truly beautiful!  And your son buzzing his hair as well?  Looks like your little boy (yes they will always be considered our babies) looks so cool with his buzz cut as well.  But to be 12 again means no cocktails for you.  But reverse those numbers and those cocktails could keep coming for all we care.  Haha!

Mary

nasharayne - Sounds like you're managing the SEs okay, despite the exhaustion.  Btw, where are you getting treated?  My Onco is affiliated with CMC.  I'm on TCH as well and my Her2 is amplified as well.  My Onco has been fantastic.  He recommended I get a second opinion which we did (we went to Duke University) and he even said to me that he'll support me if we choose to transfer to Duke.  But in the meantime, he offered to reach out to the Onco at Duke to talk about my case.  He's a blessing to have and a wonderful, wonderful personality to go with it. 

malleme - I'm on TCH but I started on 3/2.  On 3/14 I chopped my hair really short and about 2 days later it started to thin out a lot.  I still have hair but it's coming out in thicker strands.  I would assume that most will start thinning between day 14 and 21.  But I will say that your scalp will become more sensitive to the touch.  What a pain, but I heard that once the hair is gone, it'll feel a lot better.

crusader1  - I'm so glad to hear that your tx was tolerable.  We all need to take it one day at a time.  Rock on girl!

Mary

Well I just spent the last 6 hrs in the emergency room. Woke up with a fever this morning 101.5 Not too bad but they said to call in over 101. They made me go have blood counts done. By the time I got home from that I had a message to go to the emergency room immediately because it was a life threating situation. That seemed a bit dramatic. I felt OK. Bad part was they called both my daughters who are my emergency contacts before I could call her back. They proceeded to freak out. So after 6 hours they could find no infection of any kind but with a white count of 1.5 they sent me home with 2 antibiotics. I sure hope my counts go up by 4/1 which is tx#2. I'm on a tight schedule with DD wedding in May. Geez when it rains it pours!

kellerka - what a drama!  hope the antibiotics take effect soon.

laurie41  - hope  treatment number 2 treats you better than last time.

mmdj43 - no, he is not freezing embryos with me as we have not known each other quite long enough. Major dramas in the recent  past over that matter, and I think he feels residual guilt over not wanting to do it,  but I am now comfortable with freezing eggs and just hope there are a few decent ones.  Can always fertilize them with him later if I need them, but I am hoping I can conceive naturally - with him - in a couple of years at the latest. Yes, I got increased attention with my new hair too - apart from anything else he was not having to constantly brush  hair out of my face when kissing me. 

Good luck Annette - hope you have an easy time of it. Or at  least, as easy as is possible.

NanaA:  Good Luck today. Where are you from in IL? I grew up in southern Illinois and still visit relatives and friends every few months.

cakelady; Yeah!! I hope you are feeling good. Enjoy your martini.

kellekra: Sorry about the white counts and er visit, I am glad though that this was caught early enough before you got extremely ill and had to be hospitalized.

lauri41: I hope all goes well with you today. I also get my second tx this week but i am on AC for now, so far any SE have been manageable,but like you I am worried that tx #2 will be worse and i will start having cumulative effects. I am sending bad mojo hexes to the SE buggers for you, I hope it works.LOL

ginagina: Yes! LMAO. I live in a very small rural town, and word spreads like wildfire, wonderful community to live in, there are just some very uneducated people. I guess the same everywhere, just seems very prevalent in the rural areas of tennessee. Good thing about small town though is that people I don't even know have me on their prayer lists, stop by the ER and bring me individual servings of frozen foods for when I don't feel good, mow my yard, etc. Earlier this year several churches chipped in along with my co=workers and bought me an electric hoyer lift to help me get my paralyzed mom up and down from bed, talk about a god send. Back to the pt, I and another nurse tried to educate her on cancer, but to no avail, it doesn't bother me at all though, I half expected it. There are still people around here that think if they look at a person with pink eye they will get hexed. I lived in Louisiana for awhile in my 20's and there were a lot of strange beliefs and customs and voodoo stuff down there too. It's all good, I didn't take it personal, but I sure am wondering how people are going to react to a bald nurse ha ha. I know damn well that it will be too hot in the middle of summer to wear a wig, maybe I will wear surgical scrub hats. Actually should be pretty amusing when I have one of our regular drug seekers i am triaging, how are they going to tell me their pain is 10 on a scale of 1-10 when I am sitting there with a bald chemo induced head. We all can't wait, we are definately trying to make this a fun experience at work, well as fun as possible. Thank goodness for all of you, my wonderful family, and my awesome co-workers. Gotta run, meeting at 730 at work and then i work 11am-11pm, whew gonna be along one.

LADIES: I hope everyone has a beautiful day, i hope the weather wherever you are is as pretty as is here, my tulip poplar bloomed it is soo pretty, and hope no one has any SE at all today, I am praying for SE free day for all.

Love to all, Michelle