**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

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  • buddy1
    buddy1 Member Posts: 750
    edited March 2009

    Yeah for you didle.  I noticed that some of you get your blood count back measured differently.  He told me I should have been around 10,000 and it was 600.  Does that sound right?

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  • pickle
    pickle Member Posts: 1,409
    edited March 2009
    That's great news Diane! Yeah for youSmile
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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited March 2009

    Hello Ladies...good Monday to you all.

    Mom of Boys...YOU ASKED....below...and I responded...

    •  
      •  
        • Cruise4life -- Yes, I'm one lucky woman!  Cool  I'm using the Tea Tree Oil on my fingernails and toenails in hopes of keeping them.  We'll see.  Also, on the peeling hands........ what's up with that?  On Friday, the palms of my hands primarily (although a few other places) started showing what appeared to be like a burn.  Looks like a burn... feels like a burn.  I was told by a friend to start using Aquaphor and maybe a cortisone cream.  Any suggestions on your end?

     Mom of Boys

    The only thing that I have tried is Vaseline after every hand washing.  I layer it on and also put Vaseline on my feet and then put socks on...it will help with the cracking of your skin.  Your hands will darken and you will notice your moons on your fingers to get darker.  I have acrylic nails and it still shows through them.. Not bad though...

    pickle141....Best of luck today..I am holding your cyber hand....and I responded to your PM.

    Those of you going in this week...KICK CANCERS A$$......

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  • kellerka
    kellerka Member Posts: 49
    edited March 2009
    didle20Diane- YEAH! I was 2.3 last thurs and they said that wasn't high enough. So I exercised all weekend and now it 3.9 which means I'm on for Wed too! Insane to be so glad to get poisoned! But I can't handle any more delays. I got another 85 cc's in each TE today and I think I'm almost looking female. Well, with the wig...
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  • BellydancerinNJ
    BellydancerinNJ Member Posts: 60
    edited March 2009

    Thanks for the drink gina!  It's perfect!  I hope everyone's doing well.  My first tx on Fri. was ok.  I had the port placement in the morning, then chemo after so that took a toll on me but by Saturday my appetite was back.  Had my Neulasta shot that day too.  I even went to work today.  Feeling very fatigued and sore from surgery.

    Good luck to everyone this week!

    Caroline 

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  • Dawnmrn1
    Dawnmrn1 Member Posts: 446
    edited March 2009

    Diane!  Way to go!  You'll be in my thoughts and prayers!

    Michelle; Keep feeding that good wolf, I'm giving mine pasta for supper tonite,Tx 2 in the am!  I'm a nurse too,OR, back to work on Thurs.

    gymmom8!  Hang in there this to shall pass! Have fun with the kids!!!

    mob!  Hang in there you are doing a great job, I don't know how you keep up with all of us. Sorry about the SE.

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  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 556
    edited March 2009

    didle20Diane... IowaDiva already used my punch line!  Dadgumit.

    buddy1... I think (the way that I understand it) that 10,000 translates into 10.0.  A score of 600 would be very low.  Mine was, before the Neulasta shot, below 1.0 or below 1,000.

    cruise4life... My palms are much, much better today.  I had heard that they might even start peeling...

    kellerka... Am I understanding you correctly?  Does exercising raise your WBCs?  I've never heard that before.

    Caroline... WOW.  Day 4 and you're already back at work?  That's wonderful!

    Dawn... The credit goes to gina not to me.  But, thanks!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    So, it look s like many of us have or are soon encountering our 2nd TX.  Gotta say, I'm more fatigued than last time, but hanging in there.

    MOB - Okay, now you've given us that hot shot of your "pool boy", how about a real family pic?

    Sakura - All those presents, better hang on to that one.  Not many out there would be so thoughtful.

    Gina-  You must be superwoman, 25,  6 year olds.  You must have lots of room for them to roar around.

    Crusader -  you look even better in this wig.  I just look silly in mine, mostly sits on my dresser .

    gymmom -  It's so great that your kids are helping out.  They will remember this special time that you all worked through this together

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  • reeney77
    reeney77 Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2009

    Well i'm finally cleared for CHEMO! who gets excited over that except people like all of us. I will start this thurs and be finished June 4th!! glad to finally stop dreading this and get started and finished and just move on.

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  • Cruise4life
    Cruise4life Member Posts: 394
    edited March 2009

    Good luck on Thursday reeny77 look forward to seeing your countdowns...

    Mom of boys...yes they will peel...keep them moistened.  You may experience some numbing as well...I have not as yet.  KNOCK ON WOOD...

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  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 556
    edited March 2009

    Whaddya mean, NYDeb?  I told you... I'm a cougar... I like the young ones! 

    I just told a co-worker that if my door is shut and locked... it means I'm sitting in here sans wig!  This thing is ITCHY!

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  • buddy1
    buddy1 Member Posts: 750
    edited March 2009

    Mom of boys  you make me laugh.  Thanks for explaining the numbers to me.  Maybe that is why I was out of it.  Did someone say exercise helps raise your numbers.  Is there anything else I can do?

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  • IowaDiva
    IowaDiva Member Posts: 76
    edited March 2009
    Jan: You crack me up!  I actually saw a book in a shop at Grand Central Station, when I was in NYC, that was called "Porn for Women."  It was full of gorgeous men (like your "hubby") doing housework, cooking, etc.  Sigh...
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  • IowaDiva
    IowaDiva Member Posts: 76
    edited March 2009

    So I just posted a "Hair Today" picture, as my "Gone Tomorrow" should be coming any day now...this is the pixie cut I got before leaving for New York, though the pic was taken yesterday. 

    I just HATE looking at pictures of myself.  I keep forgetting that I'm as old as I am...shoot!  

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  • maidmarion
    maidmarion Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2009

    Pickle, I went to see my onc today, she had my down for TAC tomorrow...not what we agreed in my phone call with her two weeks ago! The plan was for TC4,then she had not arranged for my Anti nausea meds to be given in the IV tomorrow and I had to go and pick up another prescript for it to take by mouth tomorrow instead, she told me to take it one hour before my treatment which is at 11:00 tomorrow, the pharmacy told me to wait til I got to the hospital appointment and then take it!! Don't know what to do now! Confident or what??!! 17 hours and counting! Hope all went well for you...

    cheers

    Julie

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  • NanaA
    NanaA Member Posts: 293
    edited March 2009

    Computer down part of day at work, so I went to lunch and shopping for scarfs and hats.  Tried on wigs,  but at $410 price tag discouraged me.  I found several of the newboys type caps that I liked. found a black and white stripe and a lilac one at target on sale for $6.98.  More my speed.  Also found a white one at Gordmans and red cap and pink hat at Kohls.  Found a light blue, and a navy one at the wig place on clearance.  $13 and $15.  I also got my free francelux in the mail today.  It was really nice and a card signed by the whole staff.  I like the caps with the bills kind of hides the  forehead.    Husband likes some better than others.  Said he did not care if I had a wig or not. Tomorrow is # 2 and already the scalp itches.  The insides of my ears itch too.  Nose is running today.  I don't know if it is a cold or just another SE.  Tomorrow will be my first blood work since 1st chemo.  Hope everything is a go.  I don't want to push the 12 weeks of chemo out any farther.  Good wishes to all who are getting treatments tomorrow . Annette

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  • kellerka
    kellerka Member Posts: 49
    edited March 2009
    MOB - When my WBC count was so low I asked what I could do to get it up they said exercise helped. I also took Echinacea, a natural herb that is suppose to stimulate your immune system. Whenever I have been around someone sick or feel something coming on I take it for a few days. Haven't even had a cold in years. I swear it works. My daughter (4th yr med student) laughs at me and says I may as well take a sugar pill. Whatever, I went from 1.5 to 3.9 in 3 days. The explanation above about the WBC counts is correct. I was a lab tech in another life.
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  • buddy1
    buddy1 Member Posts: 750
    edited March 2009

    OH CRAP   that means I gotta start exercising.   Got any more good news for me.?  Just kiding.  I really appreciate you telling me.  I had not heard that,  and my counts gotta come up.  So I will start. (tomorrow)....  Tomorrow is my second RED DEVIL AC.  I am getting ready for it mentally.

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  • ginagina
    ginagina Member Posts: 327
    edited March 2009

    MOB - what the dickens happened to your avatar?

    Kellerka - Love your avatar! As for WBC, thanks to both of you on the explanation. I was wondering the same thing myself.  I think it is interesting that some give the neul. shot day after no matter what, some test a couple days out and give a shot. My onco doesn't want to see me again until Tx #3. Go figure.

    Any idea if you can *feel* like your WBC is low? Is that the fatigue or something else? They also recommended some daily activity...but becuase you are more likely to feel better and recover faster if you are up and about at least every day, rather than sleeping every day away in bed. Not that bed doesn't sound good. After taking kids to school, I came home and crawled back into mine until 1:30 this afternoon. I am functional, but I feel like I have a hangover. 

    Maidmarion - sorry about the date (let me fix that!) Maybe all the good ju-ju got your health care professionals all screwed up. What's with the mixed messages and the confusion? Doesn't help when you are going at this for the first time. All I can think of is: Don't worry. Its not the end of the world. You wont poison yourself and adjustments can be made to your IV if needed.

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  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 1,222
    edited March 2009

    Hi All,

    This is me with a head covering I wear in the house. Everytime I wear it and look into the mirror I think of the Seven Dwarfs and that I look like Dopey with the big ears.

    Anyone see the  resemblance?

    Photobucket"

    Good luck to MaidMarion and others starting chemo tomorrow. Yes it is frustrating when the oncs change what they say.

    Gina you are really a supermom. I guess all those cocktails don't hurt..LOL

    MOB-- Too bad about your side effects. Only two more treatments  to go and all this will be just a memory..

    Hugs to all..

    Francine

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  • buddy1
    buddy1 Member Posts: 750
    edited March 2009

    Crusader  your funny.   I like it.  My favorite color is blue.  I love the ties that come down. 

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  • MichelleinSJ
    MichelleinSJ Member Posts: 133
    edited March 2009

    Hi everyone :)

    Just caught up again.  I slept almost all day today, and much of yesterday, and now I feel like I'm just starting to come out of my stupor a bit.  Yesterday I hosted my 11-year-old's book club meeting sans husband, but a couple of the moms helped me get ready.  Also, they ended the meeting after just two hours, and the meetings usually go 3-4 hours.  I was fine, because the boys are all good kids and they were just playing basketball in the driveway after lunch, but I did need the nap.

    To all the first-timers, good luck.  Hopefully it's an advantage that you're starting at the end of the month, and can benefit from the experience of everyone else here. 

    My husband is in Vegas for the week, for a reluctant work thing.  My mom came today and took care of everything, thank goodness.  My 6yo would not have made it to school, would not have had food, etc!  Tomorrow I'm on my own, though.  I think it will be okay.  And I took a subbing assignment for Wednesday.  It will be my first time back in a classroom since my surgery in January, and I'm going to a middle school special ed. room.  I think that will be a good place to start.  We really need me to have some income, even just the pittance I make subbing after taxes and daycare.

    Does anyone have a good planetbuff coupon code?  My mom wants to buy me another buff, and I'd like her to not have to pay shipping.

    Oh yeah, Jan, love your "hubby."  And Rachel ... your boyfriend sounds like such a sweetie.  I hope it's going well for you with your treatment.  You might be just finished?

    Michelle

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited March 2009

    Gina,

    No feeling if your WBC are low, got that one answered when mine was uhhh 1600 then a week later 1500.  Woops :)  Today though as I reported it was 4.5 as in 4500 which is my norm.  Our WBC's basically get wiped out by the chemo pretty bad and the pain in our joints and bones is actually our bone marrow trying to play catch up.  My youngest fought 102 fever from Wednesday to Sunday and I didn't catch anything from her thank goodnees.

    Diane

    ps still haven't figured out the picture posting with my disfunctional computers BUT tomorrow night will be steriod HIGH for Diane so we should be in business Smile

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  • didle20Diane
    didle20Diane Member Posts: 404
    edited March 2009

    Michelle,

    CURESEARCH is the current coupon code for planetbuff.  I love the 2 I bought!  I also got my scarf from Franceneluxe today AND a knitted hat from a really good friend of mine.  No idea where she got it but I love it!  Again, will post some pix when I get it together.

    Diane

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  • michele54
    michele54 Member Posts: 152
    edited March 2009

    Hi all,

    Had my 2nd Taxol treatment today and thankfully it was as uneventful as the first.   Blood presure was a little high going in but they assumed it was nerves and the steroids so they gave me a little more Benedryl and it came down.

    Did get some good news from my oncologist.  My bloodwork was back and all my numbers were in the high normal range including my wbc.  The other good thing is they said my tumor had "shrunk considerably" and after only one treatment. So I guess poisoning our bodies really does pay off.

    How did everyone else's tx go today?  Hopefully they were uneventful also.

    Good luck to all the warriors having their first tx tomorrow.  As many of us have said on here, the anticipation is much worse than the tx.  S/E can be a little sucky but they will pass.  Make sure you tell your doctor about them - there are drugs for everything.

    MOB - all I can say is WOW.

    Okay off to bed - as uneventful as today was, I'm still worn out.

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  • Janet0527
    Janet0527 Member Posts: 141
    edited March 2009

    Today was Day 6 of tx 1 (AC) and I felt like shit.  In part, I can blame my possibly misdirected refusal to yield to the fatigue monster last night - I went to a party and danced until 10pm.  Normally, this would be no big deal - I'm a night owl, but after rising at 5:30am to commute for an hour and a half downtown to be on site as required by my not-very-understanding client, so I could meet with absolutely nobody and spend my day alone at my desk, I gave up and came back home at 1pm and took a nap with my dog.  He was happy to see me.  Tomorrow I get to do it all again, but I'm off to bed early this time, for 8.5 hours of sleep on top of the 4 that I napped through the afternoon, in hopes of feeling reasonably normal tomorrow.  

    About a week ago I cut my hair short, so I could enjoy it for a bit before it's gone gone gone.  I've had long hair all my life, and go figure - everybody freakin' loves it short.  It's drastically different, and it's cute, but all of the compliments are starting to bug me. 

    I'm starting to realize that I'm at the very beginning of a long journey, and it's mostly gonna suck.  Okay, sorry, that's enough self-pity for one day. 

    Someone wrote that they actually make FUCK CANCER t-shirts with a ribbon in place of one of the letters - any idea where to find those?

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  • MichelleinSJ
    MichelleinSJ Member Posts: 133
    edited March 2009

    Thanks, Diane!  Just ordered another buff :)

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  • jenniferb
    jenniferb Member Posts: 24
    edited March 2009

    I started Chemo March 26, 2009! feel free to follow my blog @ http://3nbreastcancer.blogspot.com/

    Dx June 08, IDC, 1 cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 4/9 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-

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  • Mom_of_boys
    Mom_of_boys Member Posts: 556
    edited March 2009

    EVERYONE...

    I've been doing some heavy duty reading these days.  The last book I read was entitled I'd Rather Do Chemo Than Clean Out the Garage (Choosing Laughter over Tears) by Fran Di Giacomo (a member of the Chemo Club).  An excerpt from her book:

    Chapter 2 (Milking It for All It's Worth):

    We've all been to those New Year's Eve parties that cease to be fun by 11 PM, at which point everyone just stands around getting drunk and trying desperately to appear as though they're having a good time.  You need a Class "A" Emergency to leave early.  Chemo Clubbers, no longer do you have to sneak off to another room and activate the fire alarm when you're ready to escape.  You simply stand up and yawn.  Everyone thinks you are so brave for even coming that they promise to drop off all kinds of goodies the next day.  Chemo Clubbers, you are free at last!

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  • PattiB
    PattiB Member Posts: 421
    edited March 2009

    GinaGina - I was thinking the same.  I had a blood test before my 1st chemo, neulasta the next day from my fridge, then and nothing since, just the instructions to call if I had ?? or temp above 100.4. Blood count will be checked just before my appt for the 2nd round. I did notice on my report that my WBC prior to 1st chemo was over the high number in the range.  Now I will be interested to see what it is Wednesday.

    MichelleinSJ - Good luck at work tomorrow!

    Sakura and Maidmarion - Good luck tomorrow!!

    as well as anyone with repeat performances - good luck!!

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