**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Hey everyone - AC #3 for me tomorrow, and I'm a little concerned because I have been so low on energy the last couple of days and especially today.  Last time around (which would have only been tx #1), I felt pretty good the whole second week, so by tx #2 day it was like starting from a good high energy point to crash from, but if I crash from here, well, I may just have to crawl into a cave and hide for a few days.  Boo-hoo.  Then again, looking back at what I've done lately, between taxes, dance practice, a very late night out Saturday, getting up at 5:30 to metro in to work, and being woken up last night by my poor dog every time there was lightning or thunder (he's scared of both so he wakes up and starts walking around on the bed), maybe it's not chemo kicking my butt, but just life.  *sigh*  On a positive note, my not-quite-ex-husband came over today and did the lawn for me (no small feat - we have 2 acres).  And, since tomorrow is tx day, it's also my day of rest - no work - sleep in - aaaaahhh.

Thank you so much for the cappucino.  It looks more delicious than the one I got at Sheetz!

The Emend is working so far...first time I didn't get sick night of infusion...yeah!

 As far as 4 vs. 6 treatments.  I am on dose dense so I get 4 TX in a shorter period of time than the girls on the 3 week model.  We both get the same amounts total, just divided it up differently.  I would ask if you are getting the standard care in 4 vs. 6 since the decision wasn't made in advance.  Just my thoughts.  I would opt for the most only because, well... I've already lost my hair so why not go all out.  That is just me and I don't know recurrence/survival rates difference b/w 4 or 6 when no nodes are involved.  I had one (so far, no surgery yet but looked like one on pet scan) so I am taking whatever they are willing to inject in me...maybe cappucino in premeds next time!  Again, just my thoughts...no medical reasoning behind it!

Take care ladies...off to bed!

Chris

Hi All, Hope everyone had a good day of treatments.  Back from #5 of 12 of taxol and it went well.  All counts were as good  or almost the same as last week and a couple were better.  We are watching the tingling toes.  Next week see the onc before treatment.  He will probably check it out and maybe adjust dosage or give me a prescription for neurotin or have something else to suggest.  Who knows?  a busy week at work with physical inventory of parts dept.  I need to get to bed a soon as steroids wear off enough to sleep.  I saw gastro doc yesterday.  They want to do a colonoscopy after chemo is done in june just to make sure the near anemia is being caused by my hernia rubing against diaphram causing an occasionally small bleed  and not something in my colon although it has only been 4 years since last one.  I guess with BC you  can't be too careful and with a husband who was found with early stage colon cancer 9 years ago and found it so early he did not need radiation or chemo I will willing do a colonoscopy any time.  Any of you  over 50 who have never had one done.  Please consider it when you are done your treatments.  Doc said the prep for a colonoscopy did not mix very well with chemo so waiting until June was a good idea and would not make any difference in his opinion.  Best wishes to all who have Tx tomorrow.  Annette

Good Luck Diane!  Hope the cold is better!

Robin!  the flowers are beautiful thanks!

luvtosing! glad to hear you have cancer it doesn't have you, sing and live your life!! You sound like fun!!!

kellerka!  Take care of yourself, I hope your Tx schedule works out, and your friend comes to grips with her DCIS!  My neighbor is doing well with that DX, lumpectomy with rads. She is almost done!!!

francine!  Good luck with your meeting, you will make the right decision!!

Good Luck to all having TX, No SE, please! Dawn

Well, it took me a while, but I'm finally caught up.  Good luck to everyone who is about to... or just had a tx. 

Thanks to everyone for your responses about the weight gain.  I'm also thinking it might have something to do with menopause as well.  BLAH!  Weather is pretty now, so I'm thinking I can start walking.

EVERYONE... has anyone started losing their eyelashes?  Mine have thinned out considerably.  Wondering if I should even try false eyelashes...

MOB: You mentioned menopause so here's my question....I am er/pr positive and will be going on Tamoxifen or AI depending on my hormone levels to determine my state of menopause. I have been dealing with hot flashes and night sweats not to mention mood swings and lack of energy/sex drive for two years. I just saw the bit on Dr PHil the other day where his wife is promoting bioidentical hormones similar to Suazanne Sommers. Sommers had breast cancer (not sure of her type, stage er/pr staus etc) These women all swear by this stuff and say it has made a difference in their lives in just a few days. I know the chemo and then Tamoxifen with really throw menopuase into high gear. Does anyone know anything about this especially when dealing with breast cancer women? I would love to find out more so if anyone has any input or sites I could research please chime in.

Had blood draw again this morning in an effort to stay on schedule for #3 today. Trying to get up from 2.4 and it was 1.7  I am prepared to beg.

Just checking in after Monday's treatment (#3).  The bone trial sounds interesting, I will definitely ask about it.  I'm going to trust the Tamoxifen.  I love the graphics   I'm exhausted, barely got my k'er out the door for school this afternoon.  Yesterday I took him with me to Penn for my neulasta shot, and the minute we walked in the front door of the house he threw up everywhere.  Fun cleanup for me.  At least none got on the carpet, just the pergo floor.  The gym I joined opened.  I went yesterday, and hope to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes today (it's raining).  But first, a nap.  Oh, yesterday when I went to the gym it was so empty, I exercised bald.  First time I wore nothing in public.

kellerka... My WBC went from less than 1.0 on a Friday to 8.something on that Monday morning AFTER I got the neulasta shot.  Hope everything turns out okay for you!

Michelle... Oh boy!  Cleaning up vomit is always on everyone's Top 10 list.  BLAH!  How did it go for you exercising bald?  Were you comfortable?  Now that my busy time is over at work, I'm wanting to get back to the gym and can't imagine wearing my wig for that!

kellerka!  hope you can keep on schedule! Good idea about the neulasta! Nadine

Janet !you are too funny, I know how you feel with the hat, last week I went to walmart with a hat and my velcroed hair (HALO) inside and somehow the velcroe was digging in my head!  I grabbed a pair of pants went into the fitting room and ripped that puppy offf. I was in there a good five minutes readjusting!  It is amazing what we are going thru!

Michelle! Good for you going bald!! Sorry your little one threw up, that's the last thing you needed!

Have a Good night! Dawn

I had a little misadventure monday that all started with a quest to get some frozen custard. it being monday,off work post chemo, and a supremely nice day, DH and I decided to go to the local state forest and hike on the west side- which most days of the week a venture made un-nice by a shooting range (which is closed on mondays- we usually hike on the east side and avoid it)

so we hiked up the hill as far as I could manage - maybe half a mile, I was pretty proud of myself for pushing through all the chemo fatigue (day 6) , so we decided some frozen custard is in order.

The nearest Andy's is about 30 mi RT from our house- so we settled for trying another place closer to home- the exit off the highway to get there is closed, so we took a back way through the country that took us by big spillway over a rain-swollen river.

We're out in the middle of nowhere, very little traffic, we stopped and got out for a just a moment to admire this big waterfall and just then a Missouri State Trooper comes by. Ok- we're not doing anything wrong- lets just get back in and go- but, he's out of his car and coming up to my husband. I realize he's not just making chit chat and go back around to the truck and see what's up. oh yeah , expired plates. my fault. I tilt my sunhat back enough to show my bald head and explain what i'm going through hoping he'll just drop it.

nope- we are breaking 3 laws! we are parked illegal- he has us pull forward about 50ft and off to the side- still totally on the road- which is not busy at all- no vision hazards- out in the country on a monday afternoon, 2 cars went by in the 20 min we ended up being there. Since my husband was driving I didn't have any of the insurance info with me (yes I know I should). So expired plates and no insurance- we're obviously criminals.

I know the guy was just doing his job but he was a total jerk and then when he did just write us up for the lack of insurance ( i know he could have done more) he acted like he did us a big ol favor and was being compassionate and all that.

so I need to get my plates renewed...

we did go get the custard afterwards and it was so mediocre compared to Andy's! We should have just driven the 30 miles and not gotten mixed up with Officer Stupid McNupid!

Alyad - You just reminded me that I used this unfortunate circumstance to get out of a speeding ticket, way back in January before I had been diagnosed.  My husband had taken me to pick up my mammogram and sonogram films to bring to my first appointment with my surgeon, pre-biopsy.  We got pulled over for speeding - big trap, they were just sitting there waiting and waving people over.  My husband apologized and said he was distracted because we were talking about my mammogram results, which I suppose was actually true, and the guy let us off with a warning.  I was sure it was going to be benign, and I remember thinking, we really shouldn't use this to get out of a ticket, especially when I'm really fine (which I really was sure of at the time, but obviously I was wrong).  I had forgotten all about that.  Hmmm.

I had AC #3 today.  I also talked to my onc about trying to do my Taxol #11 out of town somehow, so I can go to a ballroom dance camp the last week of July (it's an annual thing that I really hate to miss).  I'm also in a clinical trial, so trying to do that complicates things, and he really thinks it's going to be a logistical nightmare, but, he said it's really not going to matter at all if I just skip that week and then do #11 the week after and #12 the week after that, and I'll still be within the trial protocol.  Woo-hoo!  I can go to dance camp!  I am very happy, because now I can go *and* I don't have to take a day away from dance activities for tx.  Of course I'm banking on feeling up to the whole travel and dance all day for 5 days concept, but I think I can do it.  Am I crazy?  Trying a little too hard not to let this affect my life?  Hmmm.

Thanks for all the good thoughts. I went for #3 today and was shocked I was able to talk my onc into it with a 1.7 WBC. He said no at first. Mostly because I ended up in ER with Neutopenic fever the last 2 times.He gave in at the very end. So I'm going to be a recluse and stay away from people. And I'm really going to take it easy. I don't want two weeks from hell like last time.

I asked why they couldn't give me a neupogen (same as neulesta) shot for a few days and he said you can't have them right before chemo because it stimulates your bone marrow and that would make your count drop even more. I don't really get it but I guess it's only for after chemo.

I'm on schedule and very happy about that! And 3/4 done!

Hope everyone is doin good after there chemo today.

Kathy

Thanks Diane! I will be doing Nuepogen shots starting tomorrow for 7 days. It's gotta help! Yeah for 3/4!

Kathy