**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Mom_of_boys.

Thanks for the cocktail...Texas style! 

Wish I was in Texas so I could sit out on my deck and enjoy it with the sunshine but it's too chilly in Calgary for that today......I'll sit by my fireplace instead..LOL

DeemDee - maybe or your energy is the "white dove", more likely decadron.  Hope you continue to feel well

Welcome Beth and Beth.  You have found a great place to gather info , share your thoughts , fears and laughter too.

Is it too late for me to take clariton.  I had my shot wed.  I am just starting to get the pain

Wow Laurie... Hope this is done in that kind of reaction.  I start this protocol T/C,April 8th..makes me wonder if coming in this post is a good idea as it is scary enough.  Sometmes the info before the chemo is overwhelming!!!Just glad you had great support and you are home resting. This is not a easy jounrey but regardless, you are doin it and know this won't be happening each time!!!! How many more do you have?  I do 4 total and pray reactions are not there like this.. try to stay in the future and you are goin to get thru it all soon.

Hugs,

Donna

wow, my internet was down for a couple days and it took me awhile to catch up. Thanks to Gina and MOB for keeping this running- it really does help. I think in a lot of ways this is way better than a monthly inperson support group- its here everyday- you can vent/post whenever you want. I haven't tried any in person support groups, don't feel the need.

when i was diagnosed I couldn't get enuf info, my old slow computer had a virus and I knew I'd be home alot after surgery so I went out and bought the laptop and I love it. Hospital has wifi so DH was able to send updates to everyone while we were there. the wifi in the chemo suite is spotty, but there sometimes.

tx #2 tomorrow. I am taking laxatives/stool softners today and tomorrow and onward. Drinking WAY more water. I got some DGL licorice- herbal supplement supposed to help with digestive tract irritation. It's a chewable- chocolate flavored- they had a tester bottle in the store- pretty tasty actually. i am also going to do sinus flushed regularly since I felt like I got a sinus infection/headache day 5.

I didn't try to work until 10 days after the first tx- this time I'm going to attempt to work on tuesday (day 5)  afternoon. Last time I felt like crap until day 7. we'll see.

My Dh's aunt and her friend who had bc 2 years ago are driving 2 hours to come visit me during treatment. I have been conversing with the friend via email but have not met her,so that will be cool. The friend had never liked her hair- always struggled with it- when she lost in with chemo, everyone told her she looked great- so now she keeps it super short!

going to go out to dinner soon on the last night food tastes decent for a bit.

Hi everyone,

I too am sadly impressed at the number seventy now in the March group. I had first treatment today and it was not too bad. One of my sweet ninth graders said yesterday that I "Mustn't be scared." I told her I would be brave. Who ever said teenagers  only think about themselves? My chemotherapy regimen started with Benadryl and Herceptin for 90 minutes (not actually chemo drugs, of course), followed by Taxotere and Carboplatin. I will take those last two for five more times spread three weeks apart. The Herceptin will continue every week for one full year. The nurse told me that only 30% of may hair will fall out, but the doctor had previously told me that I will lose all my hair. It seems from reading posts here that the doctor is right, but my nurse said "Just wait and see who is right!!"

 What a great idea the buffs are - I ordered three in various colors. I have horses and have to muck out in the broiling sun every day (Southern California - it was at least 80 degrees today). I couldn't imagine being able to do that in a wig. The buffs will be great for outdoor work. I also purchased a hat off ebay- it has a line of hair glued in around the inner brim. It looks like it might really work. My twenty year old son immediately put it on and said he looked like a trendy dude wearing it (he probably said it in much more modern lingo than that though).

Thanks for all the comments about being able to work through treatment. I am inspired to try. I plan on being at work tomorrow and then crashing at the weekend if I have to (hubby will have to do all the mucking out).

As for nausea, I am eating crackers and toast and taking various nausea meds and so far have felt ok. The Taxotere for a moment felt strangely hot and gave a feeling of discomfort across my pelvic area; that feeling passed within five minutes though.

Good luck as everyone soldiers on with their chemo. It does look doable.

Love Linda

Good Luck Bethr and Beth (Pickle)...we will all be pulling for you during your chemo treatments...Remember to count  your 1st session down as "1 down and then (__ ) to go!".... It helps to think countdown till the end of the treatment...

 Hope you all have "Ports"....its the best thing...

MOUTH SORES...I had a cancer sore the size of Texas on my tongue...and my onco doc gave me a prescription for TRIAMCINOLONE...Acetonide - its a dental paste and the darn thing went away in two days...it was a wonderful relief.

 Linda...hope you can continue to work.  I tried it for a week and it was not pleasant - was in the bathroom most of the time and energy level went way down.  In addition, my employees were always coming in with colds and coughs and I didn't want to risk getting sick so I am now out on short term disability. 

One other way to count down is to celebrate by buying a new pair of shoes after each treatment....that helps ease the SE agony. 

As you can tell buying shoes is my therapy....

"It's Doable!".....

Cindy

Hello all - glad to hear that most people are coping well with their most recent treatments or, if not, at least stopping to smell the roses - even if the only rose is that food tastes okay today! You're all amazing.  Special thoughts to those suffering with mouth sores - they are one of my worst fears!

I had my egg retrieval today and it was not a success. There were only 3 eggs, and the likelihood is that they won't all freeze properly. When the doctor told me I just bawled and bawled. I had been telling people that all I wanted for my birthday was a small glass vial full of frozen eggs. And I really meant it! No pony for me, thanks, just bits of me deep frozen. 

I know there are other ways of preserving fertility - and I am doing all of them - but I was really hoping for at least 5 or 6 eggs frozen, and now I might have only one or even none. $3000 not particularly well spent!

Now the fertility stuff is over I am really desperate to get started on treatment. The not-knowing what my reactions to it will be is getting very hard. You're all being really generous in how you are sharing your stories, and I really appreciate it - but the stories also show how differently our bodies can react to the same drugs!  So until I start I can't know what my particular journey is going to be.

I add my thanks to gina and M-o-B for all their hard work here.

Good luck both Beths and welcome!

Good luck to you too Dayla with #2 today! I hope it is better than #1 and you are feeling back to normal sooner!

I'm glad my wig story was good for a laugh Marvil, it was really funny. I am so glad we can all seem to find some humor in all of this!

Mouth sores: I have heard equal parts liquid benadryl and maalox works wonders too.

Sakura - I am really sorry that you didn't have more luck with the fertility harvest! Is chemo/tamoxifen really likely to kill our chances of conceiving? No one told me that, and I haven't had children yet (age 34). I would like to think there may still be hope for us after this is over! I thought we could stop the tamoxifen if we wanted to get pregnant, and then resume it after?? Oh well, I have already started now, so will just have to rely on fate later.

I hope your treatment will treat you well and you have very few SE's! That goes for all!!!

Hello to all and yes we do have a big group this month.  Best of luck and ease to all.

Can someone tell me where to get the buff everyones taking about? I think I must have missed the web site.

Sores in mouth- try ulcerease.  Tags on wigs  priceless.  Women that can brighten a day with a joke, a story and make someone truly laugh.. the women on this site. Thank you all and have a blessed day.

Mallme:  I ordered my buffs from planetbuff.com.  They have a great selection!

Carol

MOB - I have a Claritin question.  Are you taking the 24 hour Claritin twice a day?  I've been wondering about that - the box says don't take more than one in 24 hours.  Taking one kinda helped but two would probably do more.  I know we are all over dosed on all kinds of drugs anyway.

thanks...........................

Hello ladies,

 Day 3 out of 2nd TX.  Feeling a little "crappy".  I didn't take the Claritin this time because I thought it may have upset my stomach last time.  I ache a lot more this time around and my stomach is still upset...so back to Claritin!  I only had a few mouth sores that seemed to go away, but I got a cold sore on my lip that looks gross!  Can anything make you look more sick??

I received a free scarf in the mail from Franceluxe.com.  It is gorgeous.  I opted for a scarf instead of the wrap.  It is reversable, silk, gold and rust tones.  So soft!!  Laurie sent it with a card signed by everyone in her company.  What a  thoughtful gesture!  You should order one...they really are nice.

Hope everyone is feeling O.K. today...and tomorrow...and the next day!

Chris