**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

OMG!!  Miss a minute, miss a lot!!! (LOL)

Hello Everyone,

Let me see if I can play catch up ....

Pickle141 - You are beautiful and I love all the pictures, especially the kissy face. Happy Birthday!!

liven42day - Your name says it all.

nasharayne - Enjoy the feelings while you can  and hope your test comes out good.

janet0527 - You can borrow my hubby for a hug and always remember, beauty comes from within ... it's a poor attitude which makes us unattractive.

arnie - Absolutely gorgeous!!

MOB - I talk about this board so much, I have to remind myself that my friends and co-workers have no clue when I launch into a conversation as if they should know who and what I'm talking about (LOL)!

Deb6563 - Will think good thoughts of you as you begin your journey.

kellerka - Sorry to hear you were having a rough time, but without realizing it, you are taking it one day at a time.  I know for me, each day is a new experience.

NYDeb48 - I do enjoy the posts on this board and I also belong to one other online support group specifically for Triple Negative folks.

Marshall2000 - A BIG HUG FOR YOU!!!

crusader 1 - I have grown enough to learn never to waste my energy on negative things.  Life is too short and I have too many things to accomplish  while on this earth.  I hope you feel better soon.

ginagina - The recipe sounds great and I'm going to try it as soon as I can get my hubby to fix them (LOL).

Thank you all for the sweet compliments!  I really mean it.  By now, everyone knows I believed my looks were in my hair and without I would be less attractive.  As a full-figured woman, I've always made an extra special effort to go out looking my best.  It took me minute (weeks) to get over losing my hair, but now I kinda have fun with it.  Everyone tries to guess what my head is going to look like when I come to work (LOL). 

Now on to my latest adventure that I would like to call The Lace-front Fiasco (violin playing in the background).  I was so looking forward to having this thing put on and saved it for this weekend, because I was going to a banquet (last night) and my birthday is Monday, so I figured 'kill two birds with one stone' I'd be sporting a new look for a few weeks.  Anyhoo ... the store at which the wig was purchased "claimed" to also have people who specialized in applying the lace-front (HAH!).  I knew it wasn't going to be good when I pointed out where my hairline is and she placed the lace behind it instead of in front???  I normally have a very small forehead and I'm including the pictures so everyone can see I NOW HAVE A FOREHEAD????  Needless to say, I'm going to make the best of the situation and next week see if I can get a professional to re-apply it or just take it off and go back to wraps and the natural look.  My hubby swears it looks fine, but he's my hubby and he knows I can still punch with my left (LOL)! 

Here are the pics:

      The Close Up

My Sexy Pose (hee hee)                                         Leaving for the banquet

Soooooo .... word to the wise, if you're going to invest in a lace-front wig, please be sure the person who's putting it on knows what they are doing!!

Hugs and Kissess to everyone and Diane, get some rest!

Hi All,

Luv2sing..Your hair really did look real. I can not even imagine it not being so..I am sure you were the envy of the banquet

MOB- I have not put on any weight sonce my diagnosis.  We were trying so hard to get a cruise in before my chemo began but things just did not work out. I can't wait to go on one as soon as I finish my chemo. My husband and I just love cruises.

Janet- Glad you had a good day..Thanks for the birthday wishes.

Gina- What great rainbow cookies! You are as good of a wife as you are a leader of this board. I know your hubby had a great birthday ..

Trying to post some photos. Maybe later.

Hugs to all,

Francine

"

I have heard it is "average" to gain a little weight during chemo. A lot of times we have this image of people wasting away while on chemo, and some do- but I read somewhere it is actually more common to gain a little. I find myself craving certain things almost like I do when I am hiking for weeks at a time. I crave protein and sugar mostly. First round I had a hard time eating things, but now by round 3 I have realized what things I want and somehow I seem to feel better if I keep the belly full. I lost about 10lbs after my TRAM surgery and between that and the tummy tuck I was REALLY happy to have a bunch of clothes in the closet I could wear again. I really don't want to gain it back. It seems like the scale at the oncs was lying to me this week, maybe I was just wearing heavier clothes- naked on the scale at home says about the same.

I worry about what I'm eating and gaining weight, but for the most part I am just focused on making it through this one day at a time and eating whatever sounds good. Dh cut up a pineapple today and my body was like "hell yeah- give me some more of that!" And then some friends came over and I ate four pieces of pizza.

I have taken less anti-nausea meds this round. and I have felt woozy some, but a lot less constipated. and more hungry. who knows. I sorta feel like round 3 is perhaps going better than round two- I have heard the effects are cumulative but so far I seem to be dealing with each a little better. 

ask me again in a couple days. It still takes me a week to pull out of the fog- I guess I'm just more used to the fog and accept it I guess. day 4 round 3.

Janet... at least you control the reomote! 

Luv2sing...thanks!  I thing you look great, beautiful & sexy :-)  It looks absolutely natural to me.

Crusader1... Happy birthday to you!

Allyad...Lol about the pineapple.  I found the same thing, craving

protein and ice cream!  Never ate ice cream before this...now calling dh at work and asking him to stop and get more...

HAVE A BLESSED DAY LADIES

Gina - I bought a pan that makes 4 individual loafs.  So I made 3 batches of batter, while baking, I started the next.  I was on the decadron so I stayed up until 2 that morning so it wasn't a problem.  I gave a loaf to the receptionist, a girl that checks you out and schedules., then on to the finger sticker for the pre-chemo blood work, this is a sweet caring lady in a back room, she always has really kind words and was sooo appreciative (many hugs from her). Then onto my NP, Onc, and her secretary, whom I've only talked to on the phone.  I had the loaves in a bag and passed them out as they came in the chemo room and I watched for the nurse from the week prior, also a sweet older women who is a volunteer, she gets you blankets, juice and crackers from the kitchen area.  I'm sure I missed a few people but covered all I've been in direct contact to.  I'm thinking for this time I will make a couple different kinds of cookies and bar type recipes and make 3 plates with an assortment for each area.  That's if I'm organized with a list for groceries and baking time by Tuesday night to get them done.  I guess I'm just using the brown nosing skills I learned 35 years ago in HS. (lol), I really do appreciate their skill and compassion and they really did seem to like getting the treats. When I printed the recipe I glanced at the ingredients and time, when I saw 10 1/2 hours, I did think it was a mistake, but you explained that.   

Francine: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANCINE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.



Luv2sing: Your lace wig looks really good, i can't tell that it isn't real, try not to be hard on it, i think it looks great.



Happy

Sunday to everyone.

I am also starting taxol soon and am wondering if it is going to be better or worse. The DD AC is starting to catch up with me and I get fatigued more quickly.



Pickle where is our funny thought for the day?

Happy Birthday Francine...Glad to see you are able to Celebrate...love the photos...your son son looks very dapper in his suit!

I lost a little weight when first diagnosed, didn't have much of an appetite, then seemed to stay at the same weight even though I think I am eating better now since starting Tx I have remained the same surprisingly, as I like many have craved certain things, most of which I shouldn't of course like Chocolate and cookies. Gina those photos of the cookies made my mouth water! :-)I do a lot of walking at work though and try as often as I can to go walking with the Dog.

Luv2sing  your lace front looks AB Fab!

 So...I took the plunge yesterday and got buzzed, was not as bad as I thought. Now my hair is shorter than my sons

" This is a photo of us at my Birthday celebration last month on his surprise visit.

"  Me in my work scrubs yesterday.

" Today in my Buff..i love these things!

" This is 'new do' I wore this for the first time yesterday at work and was surprised I managed to keep it on all afternoon! Everyone was really sweet and said how real it looked and that it suited me, even clients that know what I am going through were complimentary. My children have yet to see the new look, have not had chance to skype them yet.

Hope you all have a great day.....

Julie

I have to jot down notes to keep up with everyone....I'll blame it on chemo brain...lol

Kellerka: How was the wedding?

Crusader: Happy Birthday Francine. Your pictures are amazing..handsome son.....are you really 62? You look great! Enjoy your special day

Chris: I haven't craved Big Macs but when I was nauseous one day I sent my husband out to get me a Wendy's burger...plain...dry...nothing on it. It settled my stomach. I don't know why but I learned that trick years ago after a night of too much fun! Those were the days!

MOB: I have been maintaining my weight so far but I've only had 1 treatment so not as many steroids as others have had. One of the classes that I went to at the cancer center said that the higher calorie/ higher fat diets are mainly for other cancers and not breast cancer. They told me only to add higher calories/fat if I was unable to eat regular from nausea etc. Alyad is right that we picture cancer people losing weight and it's true for alot of cancers but not typical for breast cancers. As far as gaining some extra pounds during this whole process, I don't think I would worry about it. Steroids have a lot to do with it I'm sure the stress of this journey is a factor too. You did mention a cruise and Christmas too since your dx.....all factors in a few extra pounds...no big deal. I haven't been doing much in the way of exercise either. I will take the dogs for a short walk today but I tire out so easily. Wish I would feel like doing it everyday but I don't and I'm not going to beat myself up for it. We are all different and when tx is all over with we can get back to a regular routine. Nothing about this disease makes me feel like my old self but I do believe I'll be back to "normal" when all this is done.

Arnie: Love the cartoons/graphics. Keep them coming

Gina: Glad your husband's birthday wishes were granted. Boys and their Toys,,,but hey they deserve something special through all this too. I love to cook but I am not much of a baker but bravo to you...that's a long process for cookies....bet well worth it in the long run. Your family is lucky.

Geri: Thanks for dropping by and good luck to you with your tx. Let us know how everything is going.

Buddy1: How are you feeling today?

Diane: Take care of your cold....fluids...rest. I was told not to take Vit C supplements just get it from natural foods. They said some supplements like Vit C and antioxidants can interfere with the chemo drugs. Not sure if anyone else has heard the same thing or not.

Patti: How was your night out? Did you like your friend's new man?

Dawn: Happy belated 20th Anniversary.

Janet: Loved the story that you got to keep the big screen......was your dog part of the package as well. If so, you won big time with him. He's adorable!

Luv2Sing: The lace front looks incredible....so natural. Happy Birthday to you tomorrow. I'm sure that wonderful hubby of yours will pamper you like a Princess Warrior should be pampered.

MaidMarion: Love the pictures. You look great! You also have a handsome son. Thanks for sharing your photos.

I am hanging close to home today. Drinking lots of water and hoping that my counts have come up so I can get tx tomorrow. My hair is making me a bit sad today....It is really patchy. Some areas are completely bald and some are not. Scalp is really tender in the areas that I still have hair. I loked in the mirror and it's the first time I thought I look like a sick canacer person......but I don't feel like that. It just threw me off a little I guess. Ok...I've vented...I'm over it. That's what I love about coming here. Just getting it out...good or bad....re-energizes me.

Silly thought of the day: I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting
clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Hugs

Beth P

NanaA:

Thanks for the info.  I am on dose dense which is every 2 weeks for 4 sessions.  That doesn't make sense since a lot of people get it every week.  Maybe I get the amount of 12 sessions in 4???

Does the dex make it difficult to sleep??  If so, only day before, day of, and 2 days after?  Is there anything you can do to reduce chance of neuropathy?  Does tingling happen all the time or just a few days and then goes away?

 Thanks for taking the time to explain the treatment.  The AC kicked my butt and I am actually looking forward to Taxol.

Chris

Beth P - thanks for asking. My DD's wedding  isn't until May 16th. I'm just doing some early obsessing. I can't imagine feeling like I did after #2 and hosting this thing for 200+ people. I'm not a real social butterfly on good days! I just found out my WBC is too low right now for a fill or my chemo this week. So I have a few days to get it up or I'll lose a week before the wedding. Why aren't there any magic pills to get our WBC counts up??

Went out golfing yesterday and going back today. First time since all this began. Felt great. That's gotta do something positive for me!

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating!

Denise: I thought UTI's would burn or sting too. Did you have a fever?  So sorry this happened to you but thank goodness you got checked out and looked after. Glad to hear you are feeling somewhat better...antibiotics will have you back on track.

Kellerka: Even with my note taking I screwed the wedding date up...once again I shall blame chemo brain. It's my excuse for so many things lately. Don't even think I have it but I have hubby convinced...lol. I had low wbc as well so I go back tomorrow a.m. to see if I can get chemo at 10:30. Glad you are enjoying golfing...not quite warm enough here yet.

Take Care

Beth P

Happy Birthday!!!!! Francine and luvtosing!!!! Both of you lookgreat with your wigs, and Francine your son is handsome!!!

As far as weight goes I am putting on a few of the ten I lost during my 3 surgeries in 6 weeks!  I think I am so blessed with not having nausea, I am loving the taste of food, I'll eat anything!  I've put on 5lbs since the 10th of March!!!boo!

Youall are such an ispiration, even by friends ask me how you are all doing!

Buddy1!  So glad you are doing well!! Dawn

I lost about 7 pounds during treatment # 1 because it hit me pretty hard.  Now when I go I'm back and forth a pound or two.  I have heard that you should gain weight during this process because of the steroids.  I already have a pretty healthy sweet tooth but, this has made it worse.  I will just lie in bed eating sweets until I make my stomach hurt.  My boyfriend has to literally take it away because I just cant stop.

luv2sing - the wig looks good.

When my white count was zero I was given nuepogen  to boost it.  I'm not sure if this is something you only get when hospitalized or if it only drops to a certain number.  My white count was back to normal in 48 hours. My onc was hesitant about giving it at first.  Forgot to ask why.

Hope everyone has a great well managed SE week!!!

Chrisc433 - The abdominal pains seem to be from lots of gas and loose bowels about day 5,  They don't seem to be affected earlier in the week.  Just evening of day 4 into day 5.  Steroids do keep me up until earlier hours of morning on Monday night when I take 5 pills at 10 - 11 pm  and the next night I am awake until midnight or so when the breakfast and IV steroids finally wear off.  The ones the next two days are not enough to bother my sleep.  As far as the toes.  Worst on the weekends when everything else hits too.  They are keeping a watch on it.  There is a drug called neurotin they can prescribe if they need to I guess.  I have not gotten that far yet.  They don't want the neuropathy to spread back into the foot.  The weekly taxol is supposed to be easier.  Yours is the equivalent of 3 of mine I imagine.  I was willing to do the every week for 12 weeks the onc recommended  and I get the herceptin 4 times during this too.  Fortunately for me I only live about 10 - 15 minutes from the clinic where I get my chemo.  I just take Tuesdays off work to do the chemo.That was a regular day off before this all started, so it has worked out ok.  No neulasta or neupogen with this.  It will be your red counts they are watching and your liver function.  They have me taking iron pills  to make sure red counts stay high.  If they drop too low it could mean a transfusion, which I had to do a couple years ago when I got a bleeding ulcer from taking aleve.  The only pain meds I can take right now are tylenol or vicodin  and not too much of those because they are processed by the liver just like the taxol, so I am trying to put no extra stress on the liver.  They expect the count to be up but he had to adjust my dosage of taxol the 2nd week due to liver function.  The next week they were improved.  Each treatment brings something new up.  Each day is a new adventure, but I will be glad when it is over.  At going to #5 this week the next will be half way, which means I can finally be on the downhill side of this.  I will be doing some rads when I am done with the taxol.  Have not seen the rad onc yet so don't know how many.  If I had not been Her2 positive would not have needed chemo at all just the rads.  I you have more questions I will be glad to answer.  Annette

Jan, I refer to you guys all the time, my family and friends are used to it already.

Yesterday I signed up for the Mother's Day Komen Walk in Philly.  You know how people put little tags on their backs saying who they're honoring?  I want to put the March Warrior Princesses on my back.  And I want to make the tag in advance, but I'm a horrible artist.  I'm hoping to get one of my kids' friends to make something nice, and I'll pay them for it.  My son has a friend who's won all kinds of art contests.

Michelle