first chemo done
Comments
-
CINDY, One more.....awesome. Happy that you are taking it a little easy, not much longer now. I keep mom up to date on everyone and have shared the site with my sister. I want them to know the ladies who have made this journey a little more tolerable for all of us either by suggestions, what to expects or just a little note reminding us that mom WILL get through this. You are all so wonderful. Mom had the Nuelesta shot Thursday afternoon following Wednesdays Big treatment. She had a little acid reflux last night and got a fever blister. Other than a few aches and pains that she sometimes has, she is doing pretty well. Two more biggies for her then the herceptin for the year.
Everyone have a good day............Til next time Shannon
-
Hi Ladies...
Shannon - I get acid reflex and bad indigestion I have a large bottle of Zantac and take one every so often. Today I went in for my $4k Nuelasta shot...got really tired as we were trying to run errands today...I am resting now and responding to my computer emails.
I saw my onco doc today and I told him my face was flushed red and that I didn't need to put any blush on...he said it was a reaction to the TC. I also asked if I could be out in the sun and he said NO not until about a week after injection and that not to be out between 11 and 2. I stay covered under our patio cover and market umbrellas and he said that would be fine. Just can't lay out and get that California TAN...there will be time later after my ONE MORE SESSION...yeahhh.
Keep me posted as to Moms SEs and hope she is free of them this time...LOL
Hugs to everyone....
-
CINDY, funny that you mention the flush face. Mom has experienced this both times now. SO much so that she would check her temp once in a while just to make sure it wasnt fever. This SE happens day 2 or 3 and then subsides. I will let her know that she is not alone in this as the nurses didnt really have much input when she mentioned it to them. It seems as long as there is no fever, anything goes with them. She will probably be pretty tired over the weekend she was a little raspy voiced over the phone this evening which is a tell tale sign for her. Also, she was a little off balance today where she would have to lean on something every now and again while standing. Anyone experience this?
I am so happy only one more to go for you and youre right little Cali girl, there will be plenty of time for the sunshine. Having a hard time keeping my Florida girl out of the sun too. I swear mom is coming back as a fish she adores the sun and the water.
Have a great weekend everyone. Shannon
-
hm I would get the red flushed face from the steroids..at least that's what everyone told me it was from....Shoot I loved it, put some color into my face! LOL.......................
WOOOHOOOO ONE MORE SESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm still waiting for ya babe! LOL
HUgs
Deb
-
Hi Ladies...
Shannon...good to hear your mom is doing okay. You know I get a raspy voice too...
Hi Deb...yes, only one more and you will hear me yell it when I am done....all the way from CA....How are you doing?
This board has been really quiet lately...hmmmm
Hope Jill is still having fun...
Have a great rest of your weekend....ladies...
-
Hello, Ladies -
Sorry I have not written in a while. I have been really busy having fun here. While I have managed to stay out of jail, I do have some stories that are just a hoot. But, that would take up a VERY large post. So, I won't bore you with the finer details.
Yesterday, I went on a tour called the "Duck Tour" of Philadelphia. I had no idea what a duck tour was, but it sounded like something my friend and I would do - and it was. It started when they gave us these plastic duck bills called "Wacky Quackers" - those things alone were worth the price of admission. They encouraged us to quack throughout the trip which was both by land and by sea. It was very educational but funny at the same time. Later we ventured to South Street for Cheesesteaks (Hey, it is Philly) and eclectic shopping. I even had a tarot card reading for the hell of it. Turns out the psychic says my cancer is gone... and here I continue to spend all that money on established medicine. Sheesh... All it took was a $20 tarot reading.
Anyway, I leave later today to go back to Cinci. Still got vacation next week, but I think it will be a tad more tame.
Shannon - You tell your Mom to hang in there. While the SEs are not fun, what she is experiencing is relatively typical.
Cindy - You better be taking it easy. I saw Jennifer Hudson on Friday night, and some of the empowered female attitude rubbed off on me (that lady has some major pipes). She sang a song called "Don't Make Me Hit You With my Pocketbook" (not kidding). So... Don't make me come over there and get you to take it easy. I will be on a plane later today and might not stop in Cincinnati... might just keep on flying west.
Well.. I better sign off now to spend some more time with my friend. Hope you ladies have a good rest of your week end.
Quack, Quack !
Jill
-
Hello Ladies -
Quiet these past few days. I am back in Cincinnati now. I can hardly believe it, but there are SNOW flurries here. Argh.... Great day for opening day baseball.
Anyway, how are folks doing ? Quiet does not necessarily mean "good" I have found.
Jill
-
Hello Ladies and the Quacker
Just thought I'd let ya know, my surgery is scheduled for April 21st. Don't know the time yet..They're gonna call me, something bout scheduling the wire localization..She's gonna do a lumpectomy, take out some nodes, (no dye either, says she knows where it's at), wack a mole off and if the onc okays it, take out my port!!!! Just thought I'd let ya know!
Hope all are well and doin gok!
Love and hugs
Deb
-
Hi Ladies...
Deb...that sounds like great news....getting down to a date! We will be there for you...
Jill...welcome home...so glad you had a Quacking good time...I hope you took pictures. I love Jennifer Hudson...there was a message there....and you can come to CA anytime!!!!
I have been out of it since # 5 was put in me...I got really tired and slept way too much. The typical SEs I have experienced are dry mouth, consitpation, slight fever, chills, raspy voice, fatigue....and thought it would be better....today is day 5 after so I am doing a bit better but not much...I hope to be in greater strength by Saturday as we are going to my daughters/grandkids to celebrate Easter. Today I am trying to put some Easter baskets together to surprise the grandkids....hope I get some strength...
Love and hugs...
Cindy
-
Hello Ladies !
Sounds like things are motoring along. Glad your surgery is finally scheduled Deb ! Been a long time getting here.
Cindy - Sounds like same old SE junk. Just remember... only ONE more. Then done, done done ! Have a great time with the Easter baskets and the grand kids.
As for me.. I go in for herceptin number 5 tomorrow. So, tomorrow afternoon will be spent sleeping it off.
I forgot to tell you guys a funny story that hopefully the hair challenged among us will enjoy.
When I was on my trip, I was in the doctor's office my friend who had taken her kid to see a specialist. While I am in the waiting room, I struck up a conversation with a lady there. About half way through the conversation she mentioned to me that she (and I quote) "loved my hair" and "where did I get that pixie cut because it was just so cute". I busted out laughing - which was not exactly the reaction she was expecting. After thanking her, I explained my reaction and said the way you get the hair cut was to let all your hair fall out and let it grow back in.
I have had several people say I have a face for "short hair" with my daughter even saying to wear it this way "on purpose". Makes me wonder what the hell I looked like before. Go figure.
Anyway, at one point my friend decided to use hair molding clay to spike it after I told her that it occurred to me after watching the news that President Obama and I have the same 'do. By the time she was done "spiking" my hair, I looked a little more like Eddie Munster. So.. I think I will stick with the natural thing and the Obama 'do. Anyway, something for the hair challenged among us to look forward to !
Jill
-
Hi Ladies...
Jill...that is great that they love your new look...new to you of course..I am too gray to let it go so I am wondering ..do you have enough hair to get it colored? I love the spikey short look and would go that way if there is enough to cover the gray....I am a princess when it comes to hair...LOL
Shannon...How is mom doing?
I have been sleeping 18+ hours I get up at 7:30 and by 10:00 am I take a nap before lunch and then another nap after lunch. This time has really made me very tired. I hope my last session isn't as hard since I want to get back to my old self...eventually..I know it will take some time...but I had a breakdown on the phone with my daughter yesterday...I am done with chemo...I am so tired of being sick all the time. It is not me...I have always been so healthy and active...it has definitely taken the wind out of my sail....I am trying to stay positive and remind myself that I only have ONE more to go...it's just that some days are harder than others...
Only one more to go......only one more to go.....
Hugs,
Cindy
-
You can do it Cindy...that's the way I was too, slept all the time..just been the past couple of days that I've been able to stay up throughout the day! I too had a breakdown with my daughter on the phone, told her she just didn't really understand what I was going through, that she didn't know what it was like...next trip to oncologist, got put on antidepressants......... :)I'm really amazed at how wore out I get when I go to do anything at all...so out of shape..I ran the sweeper in the living room and hall yesterday and had to sit down for awhile afterwards..so am trying to do more each day, get built back up before surgery knocks it outta me again..............BUT YOU CAN DO IT...ONE MORE HON!!!!!!!!! Wooooooooo Hooooooooooo, still sitting here waiting for ya!
Love and hugs
Deb
-
Hi Deb...
Thanks for the encouragement....I know what you mean...I have stairs and the bathrooms that I can use are up on the second floor...(dog is in the bottom bathroom) so everytime I have to go its a challenge. I do something and then sit to recoup my energy.You have a while before surgery (two weeks) so I am hoping that you get your strength up to speed. Eat lots of protein and drink more water....and hopefully you have someone to help with your housecleaning....uuurrghhh.
-
Well I've been cleaning, afraid my Mother in Law will come over to check on me after surgery....LOL, I've pulled out the stove, fridge, been doing walls, I'm wore out, used the excuse that I was out of Fantastic to stop cleaning....ROTF..........You know how it is, you just don't really feel like cleaning much during chemo, least I never had the energy to. If I had stairs, I'd die......LOL..........Thank the Lord we live in a one story house.
I know how you're feeling though, that last one seemed to take forever to get here, once I was done, I was in disbelief...kept thinking I had to go the next week and get it again...I've got to call my oncologist this week, my BS said she would take my port out if she got his ok, he best ok it!!!!
Hugs
Deb
-
Deb...way cool...I asked and my doc wants to wait 2 months after last chemo and have a PETscan and then if all clear will allow the port to get taken out...I can't wait...
Yes the last one is like the end of nine months of pregnancy...just can't wait to get the baby out!!! LOL
My DH just bought me some prunes...god bless him...I am so tired of being bloated and can't taste a damn thing...you would think I would lose weight...hah!
-
Well I had the catscan and all was clear so don't see why he should argue with me, and I would much rather be sleeping then have a local to get it out..........
ugh, I been cleaning, think I need a painpill, back, shoulders, legs and neck are revolting.....shoulda known better....Am done for the day, probably the week seeing as how I feel
I had no problem with constipation during Taxol, A/C I did..........if anything I had diareah the next day everytime and if I even lost an ounce I got chewed out! Go figger!
Love
Deb
-
Good evening my ladies,
CIndy, Sorry that you are worn out this time. I hope this last treatment comes and ends quickly for you so that you may get back to feeling better. I wish I had something magical to say to get you to the other side of this, but, much like your daughter, all I can do is take it in and keep thinking good thoughts for you. I can never know what you all go through and pray that there will be a cure for all of this soon soon soon.....
Mom is still hanging in there. I can see that she tires easily and try to keep the visits to a minimum. Though she insists that I bring little man around to see her almost daily. As long as she is feeling up to it, I do.....I think he must take her mind off of things a little. She is having lots of stomach issues this go round and still having a little touble with balance. Her head is breaking out in hive like red bumps, not sure what this is about. Herceptin in the morning and we will see how the WBC held up this time with the booster shot. She is also having the joint pains and restless legs which may be the shot???I dont know. This just super sucks!!!
Deb,
Easy on the heavy cleaning. The mother in law will get over it. Take care of yourself and dont over do it.
Jill,
Happy that you are home safe and sound. Sounds like you had a much deserved blast. It is great to have such a girlfriend to cut loose with. Nothing like it in the world.
Anyone heard from Snappy? I wrote to her a week or so ago, no response.
I hope you all have a good night and great rest of the week.
Til next time Shannon
-
Hi Ladies...
Shannon...keep that little guy in your moms lap...he is the best medicine...LOL
I have restless legs too and get little blisters on my hands and they itch.
Today is better...I had some cereal with bananas and could actually taste the banana...I am not sure I want #6 knowing that I will have the same SEs....I just want it to be over with...
Plus my FMLA runs out on May 4th which means I need to make a decision to go back to work on May 1st or pay the consequences if I don't. So much stress now....
Okay SNAP out of it.....I promise to be more positive....
Hugs,
Cindy
-
Shannon.....never got a message from you, hon or I would have responded! Been in and out of here reading. I go Friday for round # 9.. man, this Taxol is kicking my butt big time!! My sinus's are wreaking havoc on me... haven't had a clear head since round 6 but still hanging in there!!
Deb...good luck with your surgery.. glad you are done with chemo!!
Cindy.. positive thoughts for your decision about work Hugs
Jill... funny story about the pixie cut.. had to grin at that one!
I think of all of you ladies often, even if I don't post all of the time.. HUGS
~Belinda~
-
Belinda,
It is good to see a post from you. I wrote a little blurb on the 29th of March asking how you were. You must have just missed it. Anyway, great to hear from you. How may rounds do you have left? My mom is walking around in a bit of a fog herself. Hope you feel better soon. As I am finding out, you all get to feeling a bit better just in time for another go round. Take care of yourself.
Everyone have a good day. Check back in tonight. Shannon
-
Hi Ladies...
Good to hear from you Belinda...thanks for the encouragement...I will wait to see what my doc says...How many more rounds do you have?
Shannon...that is the truth..we just start feeling like sort of our old selves and then we get zapped again...it is very frustrating.
Today I still have flushed mouth and can taste some things but not liking anything. I go in for my LAB this morning and then shopping for Easter feast.
Hope all you gals are doing great...keep us in the loop...we want to cheer and hear...
Cindy
-
Hi gals...I am doing round #9 tomorrow, leaving 3 more. I will be done May 1st and plan on going out to celebrate the end of chemo and also my birthday.!!!
Thanks Shannon and I hope your mom gets through the treatments w/o too many SE.
Happy Easter to all of you! My 2 grandsons are coming over for Easter egg hunt and a grillout.... they are 2 and 3.. just pray I have enough energy to keep up!! LOL
Hugs
~Belinda~
-
GREAT News! I am going to get my port out when I have my lumpectomy!!! woo hooo, oncologists office okayed it....Thank the Lord...
Snappy, I thought you were further along then that..hmmmmmm, guess I will sit here and wait for you too, already waiting on Cindy, she can sit here with me!
Hugs and prayers!
Deb
-
Hi Ladies....TGIF
Good news...Snappy will be done right around the same time as me...We will be celebrating for sure...
Shannon...how's Mom???
Deb...good news on the port confirmation...the lumpectomy is a piece of cake..
Jill...come back and pop in...
We are heading down to Monterey to visit our grandkids for Easter...we will BBQ and have a fun Easter Egg hunt....
Happy Easter Ladies....and have fun with your families...
-
Grrrr... My internet went out just as I clicked to post. Lost it.... figures.
Anyway, got Big News ladies !
Went for my first post treatment mammo today and it was CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN ! They took the pics and the breast surgeon did her exam, and she said she saw or felt nothing funny. The continuing puffiness under my arm is most likely due to after effects of radiation (even a month out). The breast surgeon chastised me for drinking too much caffeine (which she says exacerbates the puffiness) and tried to talk me into taking the Tamoxifen. I am still wavering on that.
But, other than that, it was blissfully routine. This really is a "Good Friday" for me. I go back in six months.
Deb - Great news on the port ! I don't get mine out until next March or so due to the continuing herceptin. But, glad one of us gets the alien out. I am looking forward to that too.
Belinda - Great to hear from you. Sorry the Taxol is treating you mean. That one is a really sneaky drug. Seems to get worse the more you get. But, you are getting close now ! You have a great Easter too. Have a great time with the grand kids.
Cindy - One more, one more... hang in there. As for my hair... hmmm.. well, it came in a whole lot more gray than it fell out. But, still not enough to color it, unless I used something like shoe polish! My husband says that it looks like the dog's hair (short and gray), which is sadly true given we own a schnauzer. But, hubby says that is a compliment (followed by a "hey, I love that dog"). The only upside is that it is REALLY soft. I think I am going to start charging people to pet my head, which everyone seems to want to do. I have never had my head touched by so many people in my life. Today in the doc's office, the mammo tech yelled out to me in the waiting room "Hey, you got hair", to which all the ladies (about 6) congratulated me. What a strange world we live in.
In any case, everyone have a great Easter ! This one will be especially good for me !
Jill
-
Jill...Congratulations on your...CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH....on a GOOD Friday no less...
You give us so much INSPIRATION and HOPE....
So now are you considered a CANCER SURVIVOR?????
HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!
-
Nothing special to report...........just popping in wishing everyone a happy Easter weekend.
Shannon
-
Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!!!! Incase I don't get back here, I was "told" I was spending too much time on here...... snicker.......he doesn't know just how much time I do!
JILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOTALLY AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luv, hugs and prayers
Deb
-
Happy Easter Ladies....and this bunny sends everyone a GET BETTER hug....cause you are all GOOD EGGS....
-
Jill, that is such great news! I haven't posted on here in a long time, actually forgot to mark it as one of my favorites, and have been on two others related to the chemo.
Had my first treatment 4/2, along with every SE known to man last Sunday (ready to quit after one!). Did my bloodwork this Thursday, WBC really low, so got the expensive shot and boy oh boy, feel like someone is shooting me in the hips! Feels a little better after taking some tylenol this morning, and the heating pad. Creeping around like I've had hip replacement surgery.
Wishing everyone a wonderful SE-free Easter. Enjoy the day and not a "peep" about breast cancer! (Sorry, couldn't resist).
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team