**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009

Patti... Bad choice of words on my part.  Gee... go figure!  I'm using the instant hand sanitizers religiously.  Here in Texas, entire school districts are closing down for two weeks due to the swine flu.

Since being diagnosed with BC, many friends and family send me all sorts of info.  When I opened this email, I thought it was just another well meaning, ho-um, friend.

IMPORTANT WOMENS HEALTH ISSUES
 
Do you have feelings of inadequacy?

Do you suffer from shyness?

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident
about yourself and your actions.

Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the
world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a
regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you
from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will
discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start
living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or
nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind
nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:
Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration
Erotic lustfulness
Loss of motor control
Loss of clothing
Loss of money
Table dancing
Headache
Dehydration
Dry mouth
And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNING:
The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when
you are not.

WARNING:
The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over
and over again that you love them.

WARNING:
The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to
think you can sing.

WARNING:
The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically
converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting

Please share this with other women who may need Margaritas. Thank you.

Deb... OMG!  How in the world did my little poem get into the e-mail circuit???

Nadine. Glad you are all right..

Wow that sounds like some experience...

I guess you will know for the next time.

How scary.

Sounds like a real competent office...

Well go and rest ...

Stay strong.

Hugs,

Francine

Gosh, Nadine, sorry about your reaction.....wow, I thought we all got benadryl at every tx....... I am not sure how much they give me but I have never been very tired from it.  I know that they reduced my decadron to only 12mg in the IV and no oral decadron for me.  I have one more to go and you are right, each time could be different.

Deb, great email......

Very quiet week on the chemo board....I hope that means that good weather is keeping us away from our computers for some much needed DOWN time from BC.

Wishing everyone a SE free weekend and congrats to those this week that had chemo and are one more session away from finishing.

I went to my first public event this evening.....my daughters school spring sing and I went with a buff I am proud to say!  Definitely got a few stares but hey, I just couldn't do the wig.

hugs

Diane

Ladies had Taxol #6 of 12 weekly on Tuesday, and am having some neuropathy in hands and feet, so don't know if I will make it thru all 12 , doc may change to something else, but I  hope for him to decide I can just do the herceptin for rest of year and skip the rest of the taxol.  It may be wishful thinking, but being a stage one with no nodes involved, the only reason for the chemo was to get the herceptin with reduces my reoccurance rate by 50% off the top.  The don't give herceptin to start without chemo, but you continue it for the rest of the year after chemo is over.  I am actually getting a second opinion from a onc at another local breast cancer clinic on Monday to see what her opinion is.  A friend has gone to her with a similar BC  that was a stage one just a little smaller than mine, both of us node negative and both of us HER2+.  She did not recommend chemo for her just radiation.  So I know she does not go overboard with the chemo recommendations.  I promised my Dad that if my Dr wanted to change or add things to his original recommendation I  would get another opinion.  My onc is talking about switching to taxotere which he calls a sister to taxol but supposedly not as neuropathic.  We will see what happens.  I must admit I would love to be done with chemo, the herceptin every 3 weeks would be plenty, plus rads still to come.  Feet are also swollen from the neuropathy? who knows, maybe just from the chemo or steroids.  Every day seems to bring on something new.  

Buddy wishing you all the best and a quick recovery!  Annette 

NY Deb - Love the Post!

Mom of Boys - Thanks, I just started need Neosporin Antiseptic cream and was wondering what was going on.  The new just announced a case of a swine flu in a boro in our school district. 

Everyone else - Have a great SE free/minimal weekend.

Buddy - Continued thoughts, prayers,  and well wishes.

ChrisC433 - I too am having issues with the bottom of my feet.  Also on the pads of my fingertips.  And under my nails a little.  I do not think it is neuropathy.  I think it is just one of the SE's of the AC.  It is better today in both my fingers and my feet.  We are on the same schedule and this is my "off" week of chemo.  I think the neuropathy associated with taxol is more of a tingling/numbness and there may be a problem with holding things in your hands. 

Please correct me if I am wrong about the neuropathy.  This is just what my onc nurse told me to look out for next week with the taxol.

NYDeb48 -  I remember that health plan that prescribed Margaritas.  It was the same years ago when my husband and I  had our fishing boat.  It seems that whenever we were at the dock or out on the boat, someone asked if we could fill their prescription for Margaritas.  Of course you can never fill it for just one person. We had a constant supply going during those summers. 

Buddy - I hope you are recovering nicely.  Take care of yourself! 

5timewinner - What a scare!  Glad you made it thru your tx.  

Kimmom - I am also sorry to hear of your delay and am glad things went well the next day.  As with Chris, I am watching your posts because taxol #1 is next tuesday for me.  You get used to one routine and the SE's but now I'm on to the next drug and a new set of SE's.  It makes me nervous.

DonnaDio - Get some rest and take care of yourself.  I hope you feel better soon!!

NanaA -  Good luck with the second opinion.  Hopefully it will all work out the best for you.  It would be great if you could be done with the chemo.  It's amazing to me how many choices there are for BC treatment and how differently the oncologists are with those choices.

My daughter is having her final gymnastics competition tomorrow.  It is the regional final event.  She has been practicing well all week and I am hoping she just goes out there and has fun.  I will update late tomorrow with a BRAG moment if that is okay.  I am really excited for her and hope she does well. 

I am having problems with comfort with my baldness.  I can't seem to get myself to go out of the house with nothing on my head.  I also am not really comfortable with any of the hats/scarves/wig that I purchased.  I want to not care how I look to others but can't seem to get past it.  Anyone else feeling the same way?

Hugs to all and wishes of few or no SE's today!!

Cyndi  

NYDeb - Thanks for the poem.  I've been wanting a Margarita since this started.  My onc gave me the okay just not within 4 days of chemo.  I'm just woried I might got overboard.

Gymmom8 - I consider myself to be a pretty confident person but, sometimes when I am out with the wig I feel like people are staring when they probably aren't. I finally shaved my head two weeks ago and the only person that has seen it is my boyfriend because he did it.  I haven't even shown my mom who is in town to help.  So, I think this is all a part of the process for some of us and as they say...this too shall pass.

 Have a great weekend Ladies!!!!

Gymmom:  Thanks for the info.  I was hoping it wasn't neuopathy because I figured it would be awful adding Taxol to the mix! The pads on my fingertips feel tender too.  It just came on about 9 days after last AC.  The new SE;s never cease to amaze me!!  I agree with you on the head thing.  I hate my scarves and hats and wig.  I hate having to cover my head, but NO ONE has seen my bald head and I'm hoping they won't!  I am not comfortable with the baldness.  Sometimes I just stay home because I hate going out in public.  I wear baseball hats with a scarf band underneath to hide the sides and back of my head.  The tails on the scarf band hang down in the back like my hair did!  That seems to be the only thing I am comfortable with.

Kimmom:  Hope you are feeling well after first Taxol.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Buddy1 and Bunny:  Hoping things are well with you.  You've both had your hands full and a rest from all this is in order!

Take care,

Chris

Good Morning Warriors

Hope everyone is doing well and ready for the weekend.

Buddy: Thinking of you and hope everything went well for you.

Luv2sing: How are you doing?

Gymmom: Good luck to your daughter this weekend. Be sure to update us on her competition.

Cyndi  - I hear you on all the head gear.  I have been back to work for over a week now and I just hate to wear the wig.  I last about 2/3 of the day then switch to hats or wraps.  I don't know what's worse, all the inquiries or the squirrel on my head.  My co-workers know my situation, but the 350 patients don't, or didn't.  It's like , yes I have cancer and ( please don't give me that look) no I'm not going to die. Just have to remind myself that  I'm more than half way through.

Good Luck to your daughter!!

Hey Y'all!  I hate the wig, hat, scarf, buff, or anything else to put on your head, when this is over I will not put anything on my head again, except a hood for the rain! My husband an d daughter are the only people who have seen my bald head.  the people I work with saw it when they shaved it but not since!

Cindi!  Good luck to your daughter! Dawn

Yes Cyndi! I feel like a puzzle! A bunch of pieces,put together to sort of look like me!  My DH is great!  He had cancer 6 years ago, and knows the drill, but as far as sex goes I have no desire, my self image is so poor and I feel like I look like a little old lady, but everyone tells me I look great, I think it is the scares, double mastectomy and the bald head, and dealing with chemo. Hopefully this will pass, if it doesn't, I don't know what to say!!!!!! good Luck! Dawn

Hi Cyndi,

Thanks for putting that out there....I've been wondering if it was just me. Too tired and sooooo not interested in sex at the moment. DH is great and I agree with Dawn...my self image is taking a bit of a beating too! We were going for a drive with my brother and SIL to the mountains on Sunday and when I got out of the shower I just cried. I felt like I was getting ready for a costume party. Put on my prosthetic, pencil in thinned out eyebrows, extra make-up to put color in my face and then put on my hair......I feel like I'm just not the same. I know  my scar and bald head don't bother my DH but I just don't feel sexy anymore. He is very understanding and says I shouldn't feel bad about it or guilty but it's hard not to. It really reassures me when we talk about it.  I think (hope) that once we get through the effects of chemo, breast/hair loss etc we will get back to normal.

Beth P