**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

BandanaGirl:

It sounds like you are about a month ahead of me.  I get my last AC on 4/21 and then start 4 Taxol.  How did you manage the AC?  I don't do well from the day of until about 7 days later.  Nausea is awful.  I force myself to eat something about day 5-6.  I am tired, but feel better when I am busy.  I take Claritin for a few days and the neulasta shot hasn't been too bad...hurts like a son of gun when I get sick though!!

You mentioned you feel O.K. by day 4.  Do you get an upset stomach or just achy and tired?  Did you have any reaction to the TX?  What med changes did you make between the different treatments?  Sorry so many quetions, but I am really hoping it is better than the AC...not sure I can handle 5 more TX's like this!

I like the new name...seems like it befits all of us!!  Glad things are going O.K.  Enjoy the good days!

Chris

I've been catching up on all the posts.  Wow!  Lots of activity.  I've been very achy and somewhat nausaus again.  Had tx#3 last tuesday.  I am looking forward to 4/21 when I can finally say I am half over.  I have one more AC treatment then switch to Taxol.  I hear the SE's are quite different. 

NYDeb48 -   I think it was you who asked how my daughter did at her gymnastics competition earlier this month.  I was very proud of her even though she did not have her best meet.  She DID however finish FIRST on the balance beam for her age group.  I am proud to say she is the level 8, junior B, balance beam champion for the state of Maryland.  Unfortunately, she tried too hard in the other events to win and she ended up having some falls.  Oh well.  She did however, qualify for the regional competition that is next month so I will be able to cheer for her once more.  I wore my wig for the first time that day and received many compliments.  Also, I love your lap dog!! 

Once again I am too many posts behind to respond individually.  I do hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.  We took the younger two kids to the Museum of Natural History on Saturday.  It was very crowded and rainy but it was fun to get out and about.  I came home exhausted and very achy and proceeded to sleep the afternoon away.  It was worth it to get the kids out of the house.

I LOVE all the pets pics!!  My goldfish won't stay still for the camera so I am unable to send a good picture of her.  I will keep trying though.  LOL.

ChrisC433 - I am also hoping that the T is better than the AC.  I hear it is just different SE's though.  I have heard that we won't feel nausea but will be more fatigued.  I think I could handle that.  I am not looking forward to one more AC but I am looking forward to being half over after the next treatment.  I hope you are doing better today!

Luv2sing - This may be too late but I love the idea of the red dress, red wrap and hoop earrings.  You will knock them out!!  Happy early birthday!! (I'll probably forget by next week - chemo brain!)

Janet0527 - It's amazing how much better you feel once the hair is gone, especially when it is on your terms.  I still have little spiky (metal like) hair.  I am not sure why it hasn't all fallen out.  I think I look like a baby monkey but everyone else says I look beautiful.  It's weird when I walk in from of a mirror.  I still think it's not me. 

PattiB - I never really liked my hair either but I am really curious now how it will look when it grows back.  I may wish for my old style again.  I think I will have some fun with short and sassy hairstyles for a while.  Curly, straight, dark, light, only time will tell!

MichelleinSJ - I don't know if I am being treated any differently but today in the grocery store I was asked if I wanted to make a donation to a cancer fund.  I was wearing a baseball hat and I took my hat off and said I've made a lot of donations in the last few months.  It was kind of nice to know I wasn't being treated any differently right then.  I'll have to pay closer attention when I go out for dinner.  Sorry to hear about your cat. 

Pickle141 - Loved your jokes!!  Keep them coming!!  Laughter is the best medicine!!

I am finally going to physical therapy for my ALND'd arm at the end of the month.  It has been feeling worse lately.  It feels very fatigued and I am not able to stretch it as much as I was.  I am concerned about lympodema but at the same time I know I have been overcautious with it.  Will I ever be able to do all the things I used to do with my arm/hand?  I am nervous about that. 

The kids go back to school tomorrow and I am looking forward to trying to organize the house.  I am hoping to have more energy this week since it is my "bye" week.  You all are a great source of information and support.  Thanks for being there for me!!

Cyndi

Hey ladies.....my chemo didn't go as planned today. They first had a hard time finding a vein. I have small veins, so I was stuck 6 times before they got one. One nurse said something about a port and I said keep jabbbing. They the drugs got going and went well until the Taxotere, I felt pressure on my chest and my lower back was hurting. They even gave me benadryl before they started the chemo. They stopped and talked to the doc and it was decided that I would need to try something else. What a bummer. I was so looking forward to being almost done. When I go back in 3 weeks I'll find out what will happen next. At least I got the Cytoxan in. This really sucks.

Laurie  

Laurie,

Sorry to hear about your problems at chemo today. I was lucky. All went well. I spent a lot of time with a heating pad yesterday and this morning to get the veins to bulge. I also used a squeeze ball at the same time. The nurse was pleased with my hard work.

THanks Kim for the imformative article. Lets all pray for a cure.

At this point I am feeling fine . But I know that means little . My Se always come in a few days. I will just keep my fingers crossed.

Hugs to all.

Francine

Laurie - Wow, that so stinks.  And they won't do anything for 3 weeks?

Cyndi - Sounds like your daughter did fabulous. I love to live vicariously through others kids now that my boys are done with sports.

I loved the baseball cap thing.  That would have been worth the price of admission just to see the look on that cashiers face.

Chic -  Hope the chlortrimeton works for you.

gymmom - Congrats to your daughter!! That is quite an accomplishment.  Good luck to her next month.

Jdeking and Gymmom:

Thanks!  I know they say Taxol is a different set of SE's, they have to be better than this!  I think I can handle achiness as long as I can take a pill to help.  Right now, I can't keep anything down to help!

I've read about the reactions some are having to Taxotere...can we expect the same on Taxol or doesn't one react the same???

Hope all is well with the warriors tonight!

Chris

Patti - We live on a lake half the year and really didn't want a dog that was always soaked.

We just ordered a new grooming tool that the Vet showed us. It's called the Furminator, coming in the mail by Wednesday.  I'll get back to you on how well it works.

Here are new photos of me and Murphy.

The sweetheart cat.She just loves attention..

"

Francine,

what a sweetie pie......love your look, too!

hugs,

Diane

crusader  musphy has such a cute little white moustache.  i love his face.  so precious.

Nydeb.  I was looking at the furminator also.  please let me know if you like it. 

janet   Thank you for the wishes.  Every treatment is scary.

Oh yes I read a mention fo the aritcle mentioned by Kim from Nova Scotia while reading the premier cancer site in the USA..the NCCN . I guess they must really have something.

Thanks Kim for sharing .

Hugs to all,

Francine

Here is my lab a few days before she left us......and my JRT Duncan who is 13 1/2.  I will try and get a better pic of his cute little brindle face sometime this week....he is camera phobic.

thanks for the info  on how to add a picture crusader1. Going to try it out now. Here is a picture of one of my dogs Rocky. And here is a current picture of me in my car. scarf on because I have very little hair left

Robin,

Love Rocky!  I could just go through my computer and plant a big kiss on him!  What a cutie.

As for the mastectomy bra.....I only had one breast removed and my other is so big yet that I still have to put it on every day especially since spring/summer are around the corner.  Wow would I love to go boobless

Hope everyone has a good treatment today for those who are going.....those recovering from yesterday hope your SE's are all minimal.  Remember hydration, meds, rest and excercise if you can.

hugs,

Diane