**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009
Comments
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moborn Rocky has a sweet little face
Gina you have the best kind of pets not nearly as demanding and a lot less work. They really are beautiful. They say it is healthy,relaxing to watch fish. You have a very nice tank. Well off I go. Love to you all
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Good luck today Buddy!
Chris - the reactions from Taxotere are more from the reagent that it is kept in than the drug itself. There is much much much less chance of having these reactions with Taxol. You should be ok!
Francine - love the bald, you look great!
Gina - I hope the CMF works out better for you! The good thing is your hair should start growing back, woohoo!
Best wishes to all having treatment today.
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Gina: I never wanted a tattoo before all this happened either. My daughter has 2 but I was never a big fan of them....now I have reconsidered. Even if you don't want one it would still be fun to come along for the trip. There are other ladies on here that don't want one either but may want to join the trip. It would be fun to meet everyone in person when we are all done treatment. Celebrate! I hope your new treatment plan goes well. Thank goodness there are options if something doesn't agree with us. Love your fish and as far as the bird goes...I'd need on with an on/off switch too.
Francine: Beautiful
Buddy: Best of luck today
Hugs and best wishes to all having tx today.
Silly Thought of the Day: If something is the "best thing since sliced bread"...what was the best thing before sliced bread?
Beth P
Have a good day Ladies.
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OMG I just posted the longest post i have ever done and lost the friggin thing urgghhh
haven't been on in awhile and was playing catch-up. that just pisses me off.
love anyway,michelle
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Marshall - ugh! I hate it when that happens!
Pickle - absoultely love the idea of gettng together and celebrate! I am 100% behind that. Plus, I live in WA, so a trip to Miami would be a HUGE vacation from my family! Dont tell them I said that!
Moborn - oh, Rocky is so cute. I it looks like he wants to lick someone!I haven't worn my masectomy bra yet....I go completely boobless all the time. It is sooo comfortable, but I have found that I slouch more (obviously bad for my back and posture) so it will probably be a good thing to get some girls back.
Janine - actually think my hair is trying to grow back now! Just wish it would do so ALL over my head and not just in crazy patches!!
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I finally figured out how to do this so I thought I would add my pups too! The two dogs on my lap are mine (Lola and Rumour) and the other one is my brother's dog Porter. I was dog sitting!
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Pickle,
What a great family picture..The dogs are so cute. Glad you learned to post.
No joke today.I am dissapointed
Glad all liked my new look.
Ladies feeling pretty crappy from the decatron.
Gina..I do think the CMF is the most tolerable. You should do fine.
Buddy..Hope you did well today.
Hugs to all.
Francine
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Francine: Thanks . I do love my pups and they are great company.
I hope you feel better soon.
I posted my silly joke earlier but here it is again
Silly Thought of the Day: If something is the "best thing since sliced bread"...what was the best thing before sliced bread?
Have a good one
Beth
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Here's a tip on itchy rashes...I really think NO ONE ELSE will have weird hives, but just in case. Gina told me about the Chlortrimeton for itching and it does wonders. Ice packs on angry skin help cool it too.
I have developed the best concoction and am sharing just in case ... I mix Calamine lotion, Aveeno bath oil, Aveeno colloidal oatmeal powder, cornstartch and baking soda in a paste. Cool it in fridge then smear on really angry itchy places. It makes a mess, but it beats wanting to scrape your skin off with a hairbrush (which I haven't seen in weeks anyway)
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What does claritin do -does it help with that neulasta shot?
Best wishes to all
Anna
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The Taxotere took out my hair,
That was a great and sad side effect.
The nausea is caused by taking does of ... uh ...
Oh, blame it on pharmaceuticals of the stomach acid elect.
My veins are smart, arteries lead to my heart,
They don't want to be injected.
They roll and hide
Collapse and slide,
As if they know they don't want us affected.
I lean back in my chair,
With my drip over there,
My onco nurse, Leah, checks to see if I'm fine.
The hours seem now to go faster,
Tomorrow's shot of Neulasta
Will tell my white blood cells to do over time.
So many ladies, of all walks of life,
Sit in these chairs and get treated.
We really don't know why mutated cells grow,
So we fight and we won't be defeated.
It's a nerve-racking strife that cuts into your life,
When there are so many other things you would do -
Each day is no different unless you put something special in it -
Start with yourself, that's how we each can begin it.
annadou - http://forums.lymphoma.com/showthread.php?t=20475. Claritin is to help with bone pain as your white blood cells are put into overdrive.
Love in Christ,
Sessna1
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I'm not feeling to good today....queasy stomach, back hurts, head hurts, feel warm and my tongue feels furry. I was hoping with just half of my treatment I would feel good. I just assumed to much. I think I'll take a nap with my dachshunds. They like to cuddle.
Laurie
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Jdeking:
You said exactly what I wanted to hear!! One more of the nasty's and then onto the next 4 rounds (the easier ones!) I got some Kytril today for nausea. I get a different drug in my premeds next time followed by a pill for 2 days (I think it is Emend). I lost 8 pounds since last Wed. I told the nurse that is typical for me and then I have my rebound week and eat ANYTHING that looks good. I can usually put at least 5 of it back on!
Hugs to all having treatments this week. Hang in there...the light at the end of the tunnel is our lives!! We are paying our dues now for decades of good times later! And the plus side...we will be stronger because of it! We will appreciate things more. We won't waste time on the small stuff anymore....
Chris
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GIna - Love the fish and the parrot, really made me smile. Good luck with your new treatment schedule. As for the tattoo - I want one and hopefully won't chicken out either.
NYDEB and Buddy - Thanks, I am interested in the furminator, I'll have to look it up on-line or something, this is the first I'm hearing of it. Buddy - your golden steals food, mine steals anything he thinks will get my attention, so far he has only eaten 1 loaf of banana bread from the counter, we have been pretty good about keeping things clear. He really likes soft, fabric type stuff, socks, underwear, etc.
1st day back to work in 12 days, and the fatigue seems to be a bit more after the 2nd treatment. I still have the weird L shaped red mark on the back of my hand/wrist area, it looks like I burned myself on the oven or iron
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Chris: I, like you, am hoping the taxol is easier, A/C number 3 wiped me out...hospitalized 3 days with low blood pressure, bladder infection and dehydrated. I couldn't stand up by myself...I also have been losing 8 - 10 lbs the first week and gain half back when I can eat, except this time I couldn't eat until day 10. The last dose my onc said he was increasing it, when I was in the hospital I asked him if he would go back to the lower amount and he said no...as I long as my heart was ok, we were sticking to it. I felt so good yesterday though that I swam laps for an hour. I am dreading Wednesday but it will be worth all of it in the long run, so we just have to tough it out.
On the port: I didn't get mine until between chemo's 2 and 3 but it was so worth it especially when I was in the hospital no pokes every time I turned around!
Hoping everyone's next cocktail is easy,
Kim
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Patti
On the weird shapes: After my second chemo, I noticed a weird circle on my stomach. It too looked like I had burnt it with a curling iron. It's been almost 6 weeks and its still there. After I got out of the hospital last week I had 4 more. I finally figured out what mine were, they were from the echocardiograms pads they put on me. I had an echo just before my second chemo and one while in the hospital. Why they don't go away or why they look like burns is beyond me...
Kim
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Kimmom: Sorry to hear that you are taking it tough too. They wanted to hook me up for fluids today and I opted to try new med and promised to drink more. The thought of more needles is....well, I'm sure you know. I hope our next one goes more smoothly and then NO MORE AC!!!
Take care,
Chris
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Whew! Just finished 12 pages! My sisters, ya know how to chatter! Okay, well I too did the buzz action this weekend. With my 13yo son making sure he did the mohawk right! I too have to show off my furry freinds. White cocker is chelsea, found her about 4 yrs ago, and Tan cocker, named him Charlie found 4 mos ago. Someone litterally placed him in my yard!!! Blinded with cateracts poor ole fella! (and with my wiggie-doo too!)
And my funny of the day is this! .... oh how hair makes a difference in how we look! Now its my Dad starring back at me in the mirror!
(SORRY about the sizing, first time I have ever used photobucket or added pics)
oh well,
Denise
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Denise....great pictures...keep em all coming. I love those cockers. My kids and I are walking my neighbors 2 cockers this week while she is in FL. Great dogs.....so sweet.
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Didle20Diane - 13 1/2, how old does a JRT get. They are pretty "wired" for sound eh? Do they calm down with age?
Moborn - What kind of dog is Rocky? He looks like he wants to come right off my computer and play.
Pickle - Now , those are what lap dogs are supposed to look like. Enjoy your silly thoughts of the day
Gina- Love your silent pets. We nicknamed our bloodhound "obby" .......as in obnoxious. Still looking for that on /off switch.
Francine - My family has adjusted to the bald. By evening I can no longer stand anything on my head.
Deemdee- Great mohawk. Charlie and Chelsea are toooo cute. I guess someone knew the right doorstep to drop him off at.
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Deb, Jack's can live a long life 15-20 years maybe............mine is sweet, very calm compared to most Jack's. I thank the breeder and my lab for raising him. He doesn't obsess about things or chase little rodents which he is bread to do. He has a very good temperament and is so patient with my kids, too thank goodness. I think his hearing is going a bit which is a good thing for him because fireworks, thunder and lightening used to scare the dickens out of him. I have tranquilizers in house if needed to calm him down. I haven't had to give him one in a couple of years now.
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Man that fatigue monster has grabbed hold of me but good this time around. My AC #2 was last Wednesday - by now with round 1, I was fine, but I think if I put my head down, I'd be out until tomorrow, and that's after a nice 1/2 hour nap on the metro coming home from work, lol. Love those metro naps. Note to self - finish your taxes, *then* put your head down.
Kim - Sorry you had such a rough time with tx #3. Hang in there!
Sessna - Love the poem.
Beth - Love the funny thoughts each day.
Denise - Nice mohawk.
Tonight I plan to go out dancing (after taxes and a nap, if I make it off the couch) for the first time since buzzing my head. This will be interesting. I'm a regular in this salsa club, and I'm curious whether I'll get questions or what. I think if I wear a hat, people may not even realize anything is up and will just say "nice hat" (which is what happened to me over the weekend). Okay, off to finally finish this tax chore.
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Kimmom - I HAVE THE SAME MARKS!!!! My husband was in the bathroom with me (don't ask, don't tell
) and he noticed them. I looked in the mirror and I immediately realized they were from the pads used during the EKGs. I've gotten them before I was diagnosed though and always thought it was just a reaction to the gel they used. But these haven't gone away. -
Home from 4th weekly taxol/herceptin .... dry mouth, metallic taste, and tired this afternoon. my hair started going last thursday. hair on head (buzzed really, really close) is patchy and the brazilian wax is coming along nicely.
Potassium levels are up for some reason 2 weeks now. So we're going to start playing with meds (i currently take 17 scripts) to try to bring it down. Have to see primary care next week.
Pets .. i love seeing everybody's pets. i like all kinds of animals. used to have a yellow lab who also though she was a lap dog at 120 lbs. besides my 2 dogs, there are also 3 fish tanks here that belong to my son ... 2 fresh water and 1 salt water.
Tattoos ... a little bit of info for those of you who think you may want your first, but are maybe afraid. i know you've all heard horror stories about how much it hurts, blah, blah, blah. Just know that WHERE you get your tat determines how much pain there is. Muscular areas hurt MUCH less and I mean very minimal pain. Bony areas hurt A LOT. So if you're thinking of getting your first tat across your lower back (just below the waist area), you'll probably never get another. The pain factor is why I chose the locations I did.
As to the needle phobias, not a problem. You don't see the needle really and it's not like a needle poke for a blood draw or IV. No veins to find or collapse or roll.
Smaller / simpler is better for your 1st go-round.
Personally, I prefer a male tattoo artist. The females I have used have a much heavier hand.
Bunny
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Im home from my 3rd AC. I dont feel anything. I had a different girl mix my meds. I sure hope she did it right, because i felt nothing this treatment. I know its early and it will robably kick my butt worse than ever. he Onc sent me right to the Hospitol for an ultrasound. I am lucky it is a bloodclott but its not deep, So I dont have to start blood thinners, Its more surface I am to apply te heating pad to disolve it. Its about the size of a marble.
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AC Ladies: I am getting my second round next Monday. Round one I was feeling pretty crappy especially day 4-7. I didn't have any vomiting but did have nausea for a week. The last 5 days I have felt really good. More energy, no napping. I don't think I realized how icky I felt until I really started to feel good. I am getting a little worried now that I hear how much worse everyone feels after each treatment. Has anyone finished their AC that can chime in here? How many rounds is everyone getting? I see alot of gals are getting T after they're done their AC. I am getting four round them Tamoxifen. I sometimes worry that 4 rounds isn't going to get the job done. I don't know why I am freaking myself out today...but I am
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Beth P
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I had my 3rd AC treatment today. I find that I feel OK Wend-Friday morning. And then from Friday afternoon through Monday afternoon I feel totally wiped, no appetite, and some nausea. The MO has tweaked my nausea meds and the second round was better than the first. By the Wednesday after chemo my appetite is back with a vengence and I start to feel better. I expcet the 3rd and 4th rounds to follow the same schedule. After my 4th round I am finished with chemo and will move on to radiation and an AI as I am postmenopausal. My nodes were negative, but my Oncotype was 26. It looks like those with positive nodes often get a more aggressive therapy. Your nodes were negative and you are HER2- and ER+. You could ask your MO why they suggested 4 rounds.
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Beth - I'm on dose dense AC and will do 12 rounds of Taxol after. I had the same type of response as you on Round 1 - days 4-7 were to worst in terms of fatigue and just blah, but generally I felt okay, and then I started to improve to feel almost really normal before going in again. So, I was also anticipating round 2 and wondering how I would fare. For me, that tx #2 was last Wednesday, and it was generally the same drill, but I do have to say the fatigue has stuck with me a bit longer. I also have some nausea this time around, which really I didn't have at all on round 1. So, I guess yeah, it's a bit worse this time than the first, but I'm still working full time, dancing, doing my taxes, and trying to just ignore it all as best I can. You'll be fine, but I totally understand the anticipation. Relaaaax.
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Thanks Gals for your responses.
Janet my dx is similar to yours with the exception of tumor size (mine was 4cm) plus I had more than one tumor, multifocal. My grade is 2 where yours is 3. Do you think it's the grade that is making the difference in treatment I did not have an onco test. I won't be having Taxol after and I am curious why some people do and some don't. Also some people have 4 rounds of AC and some 6. Some are DD, some not. I just want to make sure they knock this all out of me. I think I am a bit freaked today because I went to the "Look Good Feel Better thing today and there were a couple of ladies with mets and recurrence. I guess it gave me the jitters....so much for the "feel better" part of the program...lol
Thanks
Beth
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Kimmom & Luv2Sing - Thanks for the info on the red marks. My friend though my mark was where they used tape to hold the IV line in place so that seems to make sense. Kimmom sorry to here of your SE's and what you have gone through with the treatment, hope it will be better ongoing.
Deemdee - you look great both ways and the dogs a really cute too. Looks like they found a great home.
Bwbly - thanks for the tattoo info. it's good to know.
Buddy1 - Glad the lump you felt was something that is an easy fix.
Diane - We used to have an Australian Shepherd and they can be very high strung. She was a pup along with our 1st Golden, he was 10 when we got her. She was a very nice, calm Aussie, and I always said it was because she mirrored our old lazy golden (he had a great disposition too). So I'm sure that you are correct when you say your lab had a lot to do with your Jack's temperment.
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