**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009
Comments
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Buddy - it is 1:30pm here...thinking of you now, but also sending you good vibes in exactly 30 minutes. Good luck and bah-bye ovaries!!
Bunny - take everyone's advice if you can. Slow down.
Kim - jeeze. Sorry about the softball, though I can see why everyone freaked out.
Janet - you have a good point about getting out. My chemo nurses always remind me to remember and get a bit of exercise every day...even if you don't feel like it. Getting the blood moving around your body will help speed up recovery time.
MOB - congrats on today's last infusion. I think you and Chicka have done it. I am thinking of something to post in celebration. Come back tonight if you can (oh, and I am PST).
Half-wayers - Yeah!!! I have been doing the math, and I think that is where I am as well. I have had so many stops-and-starts and chemo changes that I don't know what's what anymore. But half way for me means mid June, anyone else getting juiced in June?
Hair - started to grow back on my head, but then stopped at the peach fuzz stage. I left it like that for 2.5 weeks, but broke down yesterday and buzzed if off again. Hair on arm looks normal. No shaving (legs or underarms) since this whole thing started ~ also...dont really need deodorant either...anyone else notice that? Or maybe I do and my family is tooo nice to tell me I stink?? I wont bother to talk about privates...can't decide whether its coming or going. Other stupid SEs...the eye twitching finally stopped (probably with Tax-type drugs) but my eye sight is HORENDOUS. My hands are always cold (ok, its only 50deg outside...AGAIN), heart burn is much worse now on CMF (but that has been easy to fix) as is the constipation...but just another excuse to have that one coffee in the am. I now officially can not stand the taste of WATER. I have to drink ungodly quantities all the time because of the daily cytoxan and I switched this weekend to gatorade because the thought of H2O made me want to gag...or worse.
Gals with small kids - this is so gross. Maybe TMI...but this is your warning. I threw up while changing my little guy's diaper yesterday morning. I missed him and managed to do the deed into a clean diaper; but he was diaper-less and wriggling all around and there was no time to run for the bathroom. It was all I could do to keep him in place and not throw up on him at the same time. My 6 year old was soo grossed out. It made news at school. :-)
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Ginagina: I will get me last Taxol June 15th if everything goes as planned! I too have had hair to start growing. Can feel more stubbles where it has been smooth. Not sure if Taxol will knock it out agaiin. Eyebrows are thin..as well as eyelashes. Had to shave legs
. Can't tell if it is new growth or old stuff showing up again!!I am planning on a cruise to Bermuda in Aug. (3 weeks post op and week before rads start). I'm hoping to have some stubblle. Also, son gets married Oct. 3rd...would love to have some hair!!
Take care!
Chris
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Thank you to all for the good wishes! Yes, I am home from my 4th and final TC chemo. To be perfectly honest, I feel somewhat guilty that I'm one of the lucky ones that had "only" 4 treatments. In about 3 weeks, I begin radiation for 7 weeks. Then, I start Femara for five years minimum. I'll see the onc in a month and every 3 months for a year or so and then see her every 6 months for a while.I am soooo very happy to have found this board. The support, friendships, information and encouragement cannot be measured. I have relied on you all a LOT. Gina.. Thanks for taking over. It is and was appreciated very much.
Kim... We've been in the baseball world now for about 18 years. I used to be called a "ball magnet". Even last year, I got hit by a foul ball that hit the guard rails in the stands first and STILL found its way to me. They should really outlaw those back to back fields. Those were the absolute worst!
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Yay MOB! Congrats!!!
Gina- I'll be getting juiced til June too, my last is June 6th. And I hear you about the water... even thinking about drinking it sometimes makes me want to throw up! Gatorade is just too sweet though. I think I will have to make water/gatorade concoctions to get through all of this.
How about this swine flu? The confirmed cases in Texas are in my town and everyone is going crazy, closing schools, etc. Of course I work at the morgue... so with my luck anyone who dies (God forbid) will end up here, and I will get to be exposed to their bodily fluids. Joy! Just one more thing to worry about, huh?
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Janine... So that's where the case is? The media has only said "Texas" in their reports. BE very careful, girlfriend. I'm being extra careful with using my antibiotic creams now. We all should be...
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MOB - yes, all 3 cases are from just outside of San Antonio, and the one death was in Houston (but the kid was from Mexico and had just come across the border).
I will be super careful.
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jdeking - Have there been any cases you have heard of that weren't directly related to someone that had recently been in Mexico? Seems like that is all I hear, scary stuff though.
MOB -Feel good to be done? One more set of SE's to endure.
Gina - Way to avoid your son.
Forgot to tell you how much I liked the baby monkey pic. I think my hair more resembles the spareness of his back.
I finish up mid june also
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Gina: Nice to see you back. Sorry you puked while changing your little one but the fact that you were the talk of the playground is pretty funny.....it's not easy to gross out a 6 year old! Are you taking oral chemo drugs everyday along with your IV cocktail? Is that making you nauseous on a daily basis...gosh I hope it isn't. I will be joining you in getting juiced in June. My last one is June 1st. I talked to my onco last week and she is suggesting I see the surgeon to have a mastectomy on the other side now. I have 2 types of BC and because one is lobular, she said I have a higher risk of getting it in the other breast.....wish I had them both done at once. I see the surgeon May 12th but nothing will be done until after chemo. I haven't even thought about recon yet but will discuss it with him.
MOB: Congrats....you must be thrilled and it sounds like you have a complete plan in place for follow-up with the onc...that's great because I hear a lot of times people finish chemo/rads and then no follow-up plan is provided except being turned back over to their primary physician. I would be relieved to be under onco care for a year.
Jdeking...The flu has now been declared a pandemic.....I don't want any visitors right now and I have turned my husband into a hand washing fiend! Mexico is a favorite destination for western Canadians so we have thousands of people travelling there everyday in the winter. Yikes!!!!! You have an interesting job and I really admire people who do that type of work (and anyone who works in the medical field). My son originally wanted to work in a morgue....be a medical examiner and I found a couple of his unversity courses to be fascinating. He then decided on a different route because he didn't want to be in school for the years it would require. He has a BSC in Medical Labratory Sciences and works in the hospital's fertility clinic. He will be taking his masters in clinical embriology in the fall....he does invitro fertilization. Talk about the opposite end of the spectrum from what he initially wanted to do.
Water: I am with you gals on the taste of water....tinfoil! I don't like sweet drinks so I started making a jug of ice water with sliced cucumbers and cilantro in the bottom.Make it in the a.m to drink throughout the day. Sometimes I use berries instead. It's really refreshing and disguises the tin taste.
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I'm with you all on the water - gotta drink it, but it tastes awful. I've been using Crystal Light. I keep a 2.5 gallon water dispenser in the fridge and then just mix it by the glass.
As for the juicing schedule, my last AC is next week, but then two weeks after that I start 12 weekly rounds of Taxol, with rounds 11 & 12 pushed back a week when I'm out of town in July, so I won't wrap up until the second week of August.
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As far as the swine flu, several schools closing in the D/FW area. They have even cancelled UIL events in the area... track meets, tennis, AND baseball for two weeks. Pickle, you are correct... a pandemic now. I think cruise lines are considering closing visits to Mexico ports for a while.
Janet0527... I'm using Crystal Light as well.
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Bunny, I hope you get a chance to rest enough. You're dealing with too much
Buddy, you must've gone into surgery about an hour ago. I'm thinking of you.
Kim, OMG, that must've been quite a sight! And a ball clunk is just what you needed. Oy. I'm glad you're okay!
I thoroughly enjoyed subbing the past two days. I was at the same school both days, and the teachers actually treated me well (usually subs are invisible). Yesterday I was in a first grade room, and I came home totally exhausted but also happy. I love first grade! Today I covered meetings, so I spent 20-30 minutes in each classroom. Somehow that was much easier than first grade, and I still have plenty of energy left.
Michelle
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BTW, Michelle... I really liked your blog spot! You obviously have great writing skills.
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Mom of Boys- Thank you so much for the info. I will be seeing a neuologist on Monday because I also have numbness on the left side of my chin and inside my mouth I have had it for about 4 weeks now. Just like I had a shot from the dentist. My chemo doc says it is not chemo related, so he is sending me to the neurologist, this 2nd time hit me a little harder after one week later I am still having rapid heart beat and lots of stange taste...I hope number 3 will be a little better. Have you had round 3 yet? I love this site, you mentioned that there is tc chemo info available on a separate thread within this chemotherapy section. How do I find it? Thanks for all of you help
GMK
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GMK... actually I completed my fourth TC today. Go back to the main chemotherapy thread that you were just on... it says something like "Anyone on just Taxotere and Cytoxan". I think the ladies on the "A" have a harder time with nausea and heart-related issues, BUT taxotere brings with it a toxicity as well and some weird SEs. Honestly, I'm not positive at this time, but my heart racing may have been due to anxiety. Never had that problem before BUT I've never had BC before either. The rads guy is probably going to look into it. Right after my TC treatments, I have a burnt taste on the end of tongue. I use Biotene mouthwash religiously several times a day for the first two weeks after treatment. Hope that helps somewhat.
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Hi,
I was away from the board all day as I went with my husband to the doctor for skin cancer surgery called Mohs. Well we were there from 9 to 5. Time out only for lunch. All went well but a very long day. They cut , look for clean margins as in BC and then cut again.Each cut takes a few hours to be analized. A long long day. They cut him three times. Finally a PS sews him up as it was on his face. He will be fine. No worry.
MOB- Congratulations. You made it. Your doctor seems quite comprehensive. Mine said I will see her much after chemo is over.
Yes that swine flu stuff is all over. There were many cases in NYC at a HS where the students went on a trip to Mexico
Gina- Too bad you are not feeling so well. Hope you can tolerate your next CMF better. How many are you having.
Jdeking- What do you do in the morgue?
Buddy- wishing you good vibes.
My friend returned last Friday from the cruise to the Mexican Rivera. This week the same ship is going to San Diego and Catalina. They are taking no chances.
MOB- Must go look for a hottie. I can't promise you an old one. I can't find any ...
Hugs to all,
Francine( I also have fuzz on my head. )
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MOB-- THIS ONE's FOR YOU.. Congrats!!!!
Peirce Brosnan. James Bond. Now that's an adult Hottie. I always liked him years ago on Moonlighting I think.
Hugs
Francine
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Moborn63- I'm in springfield MO, as is another woman in this group, ccbaby.
Juicing In June- Count me in! my last tx is June 16.
Has anyone noticed their overall energy level going down as treatments wear on? Even once the effects after a Tx wear off- I feel like I just don't bounce back to the same place. I keep shaving my head to skin bc the stubble bothers me. Don't have to shave anywhere else tho! Privates down about 2/3rds. I've lost a few eyelashes but still mostly ok, haven't noticed any eyebrow loss.
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Hi ginagina! Nice to hear from you, poor you and your son, sometimes I have waves of nausea, but I have not vomited! I feel like I did when I was pregnant, and I know about the water, I drink flavored because it tastes like metal. I too will be juicing in June, the 23rd is my last TAC.
mob! Go You, I am so glad you are done, it gives the rest of us hope!
hair is low everywhere, I have long and short stubble but I just keep it covered! Pubes about 1/2 gone armpit and leg hair is gone. I use deodorant, but don't sweat much either! Finally, I think the chemo put me in menopause! One good thing that has come out of this, now that I said something I will get my period tomorrow! Hope you all are doing well!
Francine! My friend has had Mohs Sx several times and is doing fine, I used to work with a plastic surgeon in Boston who did it and what great results he had! good luck to your husband!
kimmom! Funny story, glad the results were ok.
Buddy! Thought about you all Day! Dawn
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Wasn't it Remington Steele? Bruce Willis was Moonlighting. He could join our bald club...
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New Gina - hiya! I haven't posted your info to our class list yet...but thought I should ask first. Do you want me to? Glad to have you on the thread!
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New Gina......here is the thread for TC. I have not posted on it but follow it for useful information. I have one more to go in 2 weeks along with Patti. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/697783?page=166#idx_4973
Diane
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ginggina.......funny you mentioned the diaper change incident.....I about puked a few times the other day changing my kids....It reminded me of when I was pregnant and dry heaved/puked at everything poopy diapers/spit up food. UGH!!!!
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Francine... Somewhat tired, BUT I couldn't go to bed until I peeked in to see if I had a hottie waiting for me. YOU DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! Thank you... I can go to bed now and have very sweet dreams.
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Hi All- Since my 3rd tx, I haven't had more than about 2 hours of sleep for the past 10 nights in a row. My brain is mush. The Ambien I took nearly 3 hours ago has yet to kick in. Can anyone relate or offer advice? Or maybe hit me over the head with a heavy blunt object? Or break Super-Recliner-Man's alarm clock that goes off at 5am, 5:10 and 5:20 every morning? It's midnight at the oasis, I'm sending my ass to bed ('cause I don't have a camel)
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pickle - your son's career choice sounds really awesome! I bet that was a hard course to study as well. I also haven't had many visitors lately, and try to just go to work and home as much as possible.
Francine - I am a forensic toxicologist (drugs, poisons, human performance, etc).
Dayla - I can relate to the energy thing. I'm also on TAC, and this time I feel more zapped than in the past. It seems to take more and more energy to get things done, and my willpower to do things is dwindling rapidly! Gone are the early days when I was remodeling the whole house on weekends... now I just barely manage to get the house cleaned! I can't imagine how it will be by round 6, I think I will be a limp noodle!
Ann-idiot - I have been having trouble sleeping during the week after chemo, then it usually improves. I haven't tried anything to help other than the Ativan, which is ok but not great. I hope someone chimes in with good suggestions!
Thanks to all for the water tips. I am going to have to start adding something to mine or my kidneys will suffer! Cucumber is a great idea!
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Good morning ladies,
Wishing you all great day. Hugs to all with some getting a little extra needed squeeze!!
Chris
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Hi All..
Buddy- Hope all goes well today. Good vibes to you...
Gina- Yes Moonlighting. I guess it is either chemo brain or just my age that got me confused..
Jdeking- That is some great sounding job. Everybody I know is a teacher. When I was young we all became teachers. No choice regardlass of ability .
MOB= great to hear you made it thru the last treatment.it's nice to know how such small things make us sooo happy. LOL
Ladies you can also enjoy the hunk.He has been my favorite for years.
Hugs,
Francine
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Ann-idiot and Jdeking - your sleep problems sound just like mine. It's been my worst SE this 3rd time around. 2-3 hrs a night is a good night and ambien doesn't do a thing. I feel like a zombie the whole day. I took some percecet the other night because my TE where hurting and that worked great. But who wants to take narcotics to sleep?
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Crusader - Well Wishes to your husband.
M o B - Congrats on last TC. What did you mean about the antibiotic creams, I must have must something.
Diane - 2 weeks and we're done!!!
Gina - Feel Better soon!!!
Energy level is definitely lower each time around. 3 days of work and I am exhausted/no energy today. 1 more workday then weekend!!!
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