For those starting chemo in June

Glad to hear everyones fine. I haven't heard from my heart sono yet. It's no doubt sitting on someones desk. My hair is such a sight. I would of never been seen with bozo hair before but I am not the old me and this me is just damn glad to have hair, even if its pretty goofey looking. People probably think what the hell is that and I hope she didn't pay for it....Oh I paid alright and I am still paying but its hair and I'll take brillo anyday. The top is straight as a board and the sides and back are soooo curley. This is like a perm gone bad and I just go on about my business like I intend for it to look like this. I never had short hair before because I look bad cause I have a long face and everyone says my hair looks so cute. Do they know I can still see? my eyes aren't bad and I can look in the mirror. My neighbors are new and they have small kids. They have a gym set and its tall so we get these little faces glaring over the privicy fence from the tree house on top of the gym. I get out of my car and hear "hey mister" boy I tell ya girls that just makes my day. These kids are brain dead cause I correct them at least 2 times a day and I still hear "hey mister". Oh well, outta the mouths of babes. Gotta go girls, hey snow??? Bummer, We had a cold front move through and a town 8 miles away had hail so bad they had to get the snow plows out to clear the road. We just got small hail and it cooled off. I hope it warms up again. Night ladies, Mary

Janie, hope you get more good news from the surgeon, and congrats on going hatless! Do you feel great about it? For me, it was wonderful not having to remember to put the damn wig on my head every morning. I'm especially glad I won't be having to wear the thing this summer! (Like you, we're already sweltering in Texas)

Mary, keep us up to date on everything.

My son hates my "new" hair. In fact, a few weeks ago he suggested I start wearing my wig again. Guess he doesn't like curly. He also balked at me putting on a dress I bought to maybe wear to a wedding on Friday. He's never seen me in one!

Janie--I bet the kids really did like your hair because the kids at my daycare center all asked if they could "feel" my hair cuz it looked so Soft and IT IS. Like fuzzy wuzzy. OMG--I have to tell you guys about the day I had today--I drove up for my Herceptin, but I had been sick over the weekend and ended up having an exam by my PCP who had just started rounds up in the hospital when I showed up for my treatment. He did this major all over exam mainly to make sure that the infection I seem to have gathered didn't have anything to do with my port. It didn't and he thinks I got it from the kids at daycare probably cuz my WBC has been running a little on the low side. Anyway the CBC from Saturday AM in the ER showed that I needed to be on an antibiotic and I'm allergic to most types so they gave me IV Cipro and then I got 10 days worth of pills to take twice a day. Cipro makes me a little dizzy so I guess I'm not supposed to drive. ANYWAYS--after the exam and a quick call to my oncolgist in the big city, they decided that I should go ahead and have my Herceptin with the addition of a shot of my friend Aranesp cuz my REDS are now low too. Yay! After my H treatment, I got the Aranesp shot and also had to take my Cipro and THEY wouldn't allow me to drive home. So I had to call my friend who works for me at the daycare and she called in a replacement at work and drove the 85 miles up to rescue me and bring me back home in my more than dizzy state. When she got there, her vehicle was running hot so we went to a filling station and she bought some antifreeze and we poured it in. NOW for the good part--the sweet smell of the antifreeze must have attracted a honeybee. The little devil joined us in the vehicle unbeknownst to us. We started back home--I got bitten on the neck!!!! We were only about 2 miles from the hospital. I have extreme problems with insect bites and usually carry an epi-pen. It's back at the hospital with MY vehicle and also a bunch of bendryl for just this reason. So my friend does this illegal turnaround in the center of the interstate and we head back to the hospital. We just went to the ER and soon we had them pretty much in stitches laughing because sometimes "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have NO luck at all". So I got a major shot of benedryl in the arm just down from the Arnaesp shot and since they can't give shots in my right arm, I got the Epinephrine shot in the rear end. We had to sit in the ER for 45 minutes while they waited for my hives and the major portion of the rash to die down. WOW!! What fun. So my jeep is still up in the parking lot 85 miles away and I'm just going to Scarlett O'Hara the whole thing and "think about it tomorrow". Sometimes I think that I should just stay in bed and avoid the silliness that invades my life, but I have too much fun going to work so I shall be at the daycare tomorrow armed with my medications and bolstered by my goofy best friend. She's an angel--What a DAY. Smiles--NancyLee

Nancy, I'm amazed you can be so, well, upbeat about a heck of a day like that.

A woman at work who's been clear for 5 years just had a biopsy today. It's rather sobering. I'm pulling for her to have good results. She was very supportive during my own diagnosis/treatment.

Things are growing gangbusters here. I have about 25 tomatoes growing, and the weather's been great. Hope things are going well for all you guys.

Hey ladies,
don't know whether you will remember me.
I stopped coming here after my 4th chemo. I had a hard time with the new board, couldn't log on, and then I needed some time away from "Cancer" if that makes any sense.
After all my problems with the PICC line the 5th and 6th chemo was great. Actually went back to work right after Nr. 5. But had to come to realize that waitressing was not gonna happen while on chemo. After three full days I just collapsed. My last chemo on October 8th was extra special. A friend of mine whom I met on this board, had sent me a chemo party pack and we certainly did celebrate. We had balloons, streamers, happy face, you name it. The nurses were great, participated in the fun and when all was set and done, gave me a round of applause. I will treasure this forever.
I had no problems with the 25 radiation. Burnt a little and blistered but they never opened.
About 4 weeks passed radiation, the fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks. And bone and muscle pain started to happen.
I have gotten over the fatigue but still am not 100% to were I was before my dx last March. I just had a hysterectomy with ovary removal and hope this will give me another chance of beating this disease. Had a mammogram in march and all was find. But i find I don't trust any of the results any longer.
My hair has come back gray and curly and I haven't had the heart yet to cut it. Funny, considering I went bald most of the time LOL
I hope that you all are doing well and that you have gone ahead with your "normal" life.
I will try to come here more often. I know that I was so happy when I found this board and was relieved that someone was out there going through this same thing and that someone was out there with a helping hand.
So, even so I haven't made it here in a while, I haven't forgotten you and you have been in my prayers.

Hugs to you all

Christine

Hey girls, Tine what a nice surprise and yes I remember you and very glad to hear from you. Sorry you had such a rough time but your back and thats great. Well girls I called about my echo of my heart today and its "O.K. on the low side". What the hattie??? My onky is in Chicago teaching again so I will see him the first Thursday in June. He will be back the 25th and I leave for San Fran that day so....I waited this long. Janie did they say how your heart was going into hercept? Where is the low side of o.k.? is it a place? don't sound like anywhere I want to be.WOW, I thought I had a good heart. That kinda sucks. It kinda matches my low side of o.k. body since chemo. Oh well, another little surprise from chemo. Well, gotta go, maybe I will do something healthy today like exercise or something.......and maybe not. That pretty much requires me actually using energy. (Its the thought that counts.)Hugs, Mary

It's good to read you ladies haven't lost your sense of humor! I've been doing exciting things like weeding the garden. It is so overgrown with junk since last year! At least #2 son is home and helping me. Maybe we'll get some plants in today- tomatoes, peppers,squash, cukes, onions-Ok It's making me hungry- might have to get some triple chocolate layer cake left over from the graduation party for breakfast! YEAH! #1 son done- 2 to go and he did it in 4 years.
I wake up stiff and walk the Herman Munster every morning,but after an hour or so I feel pretty good. Exercising helps and I am getting used to it- never thought I would be running but I did 1 1/2 miles yesterday- WOO HOO-of course if #1 son hadn't been there chearing me on, I would have stopped alot sooner. I did run/walk the 1 1/2 mile back as he went on the his 5 mile run.
Renee

Hi Girls, Well, well,well, Renee....I am inpressed. I can't run 2 feet, it seems my feet hurt and joints and muscles get sooo tight I feel like when I walk my legs are stretching like a rubber band and could snap and really hurt someone or me even. Congrads on your sons grad. You get on that cake girl! Yea; somewhere its written if you have had chemo, you need sweets. I got regestered to be in the cancer walk/run finally, It's June 10. I am walking as I couldn't run if I had a hundred dollar bill waving in my face or a big sale at the the mall. I called to get my thyroid checked again as I am just really wore out and maybe its cause I hurt and don't sleep well but anyhow I am getting it checked. My legs just dance all over the bed at night when I lay down. I have been getting tremors in my right arm. Thank goodness I had chemo or I would probably be worried. Well better go, got stuff to make for our craft show Sat. Its a big community craft deal called the "Anything goes fair" and its all hand crafted items people sell uptown. Lots of good food. We are selling my husbands wood stuff and my braclets. Hope we sell something. I was in one once and sold a lot of my kids bracelets. We are having a birthday party for my grandson and a neice on Sunday and we have the pool open but it stormed all night so the water will no doubt turn green. I will have to clorine it good. Later girls. Hugs, Mary

Yeah Renee! Congrats on getting one through college. As Bill Cosby says, there's nothing wrong with cake for breakfast. It has milk and eggs in it.

Tine, you and Renee are so industrious. I can empathize with the limited lifting. My lymphedema limits mine. I have learned to compensate with luggage carts etc.

Mary, don't let your hair turn green, but you are not a blonde so maybe you are safe with all the clorine. Do you take Benedyrl? It causes dancing legs.

Nancy, love your quote. I am also an insomiac. I can get to sleeping good about the time it is to get up.

PJ, Hope all is well with you and Flowergirl.

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie

Good Sunday Morning Girls, P.J. good to hear from you. You keep us informed about your tests. I sure hope it all comes back fine. Well; let me tell you, exercise is a kind word for exertion. I played baseball lastnight thinking I was burning up callories. I got beaned in the ear/head, saw stars then in the shoulder. I bet I look like I have been beat up today. I was so wore out I could hardly run. The bottoms of my feet hurt so bad. I was limping around the front yard like a dog been hit by a truck. I was half consious after the head crack. We played with a soft ball but going about 100 miles an hour it hurts. My grandson was throwing the ball past me to give me a chance and pretending he was overthrowing it. What a sweety, but it sure makes me feel old!!! I was however down to 148 lbs. today. I don't like exercise!!! It hurts and makes me tired. I am telling you P.J. don't try it at home, try it at a hospital where they have oxygen, muscle relaxers and demerol. Well, we didn't have much of a turnout yesterday. I sold $40.00 of my kids bracelets and my hubby sold $6.00. Hes ready to stop trying to sell his wood crafts. There were a lot of venders and no one was selling. The couple next to us only sold 1 necklace and her stuff was beautiful. People here don't want to pay for craftmanship around here. Thats why I think we could do good in Scottsdale. They are very into art type stuff. Oops, gotta go later , hi all. Hugs, Mary

Hi All--I've got a SUNBURN!! I actually got my strawberries planted--finally. Poor things were tired of living in my porch. The sun finally decided to shine and it got up to 72 degrees here. So I got up this morning and decided to do yardwork--hence the sunburn. I'll have to hide my arms from my chemo nurse tomorrow morning when I drive up for my Herceptin, but tomorrow is my no Aranesp Monday so I should be able to wear a long sleeved shirt!! She lectured me to stay out of the sun and I try to, but I kinda forgot today. HMM!! Oh so-I went to start my jeep this AM to drive to town and get the Sunday paper and there was NO GAS in my jeep!! Someone had come into the yard last night and siphoned away the half a tank of gas that I had!! Wow!! I called a friend when I saw that I had no gas and he came and checked to see if I had a hole in my gas tank or line and he found the evidence of the theft. I was in a semi-panic cuz I need the jeep to drive up for my treatment in the morning. Wow--I know that gas is expensive now, but COME ON--I have enough problems w/o someone stealing my gasoline. SIGH!! PJB--I know what you mean about needles. I hate 'em too. My sister actually faints when she sees a needle coming at her. I'm glad I don't have it that bad or I'd be unconscious half the time these days!! Mary--Good Lord--Baseball!! The closest I get to baseball is watching it on TV. BE CAREFUL. I don't think that getting "Clocked" on the head by a baseball is the best thing that can happen to a person. Janie--You'd think that with my insomnia, I'd have heard the person stealing my gas-HUH?? I probably had my TV on too loud. I was watching "The Princess Bride" and doing my doze, wake up, doze, wake up....... thing that I do almost every nite and it must have happened during one of the doze cycles. Gosh, you'd think insomnia should be good for something. SIGH!! Hope all you ladies in Canada enjoy your Monday off. I'm gonna go take a COOL shower. Smiles--NancyLee

Hi Girls, Tine hope everything is o.k. with your boob.That has to be scarry. Nancy I hear ya on the sunburn, I sat out and watched a grandson play baseball today and I got a little red. Thats kinda scary getting your gas stolen. Janie glad to hear your good news, I am very happy for you. I am trying to pack for San Francisco but don't know how. I got warm clothes and cool clothes. I hate to take too much but I know it will be warm in the day and really cool at night especially right on the water. I think Alcatraz will be great at night. I love scary stuff. We are going to the Winchester mansion too, another haunted place. I'll see for myself if they are haunted. I am really loooking foward to this trip. My husband and I have been to my daughters and gone places with the kids and grandkids but this will be our first vacation all alone. To be honest...I am sooo glad I am working while he is off, sorta speak. This will be 5 days together, just us all alone..... O.K. it don't sound so good now that I have put it like that.Theres a lot he does that gets on my nerves after 35 years and it could all come to an end when he gets accidentally left on "The Rock". We shall see just how irritating he can get before I snap. Man it sucks to be him because at times I can't take his childish crap and I just blow and other times I laught at his dumb crap. He just never knows from one minute to the next what to expect and he is so brain dead he just keeps doing it and digs that hole deeper. I call it my explosive harmone factor. I get hot flashes so bad but can't take harmones even though I was harmone neg. Man; I don't even want to be around me when I get harmonal and it just comes and goes whenever, without a notice. My (and I would say poor but when I get harmonal he deserves everything he gets)husband just takes it and goes on. I think he tunes me out and has no idea whats going on. Maybe he is smarter than I give him credit for and knows its to his best intrest for survival to just "go on". Gotta go. Hi P.J. Hugs, Mary

Hi Girls, Well we are gettig up at 2a.m. to get ready and drive to St Louie by 6 a.m. My hubby thinks that will be better than staying in St. Louie overnight and getting a good nights sleep. He is just cheap!!! We too are staying at Fishermans Warf. I don't need the chocolate but will try a little(or a lot) just because its the right thing to do. Well if they have a puter there I will check in otherwise I will be back on Sunday eve. You girls behave and I will talk to yas Sunday night.Hugs, Mary

Hi Gang,

Hope all is well with everybody and Nance has quit burning. Mary, have a good trip.

PJ - The surgeon concurred with the local oncologist that he does not think it is a concern. He told me to take the film to Mayo when I go in July. Today, I received a letter from him stating that it is necessary to inform me that he cannot be involved in my follow-up care since I had my surgery at Mayo and suggested they do the follow-up care. The local oncologist, who is a real sweetheart, had referred me over there for the surgeon to take a look to be on the safe side. Initially, this local surgeon was set to do my surgery. It was taking forever to coordinate with the pastic surgoen and come up with a surgery date. The office staff were not very nice when I called to inquire about it. I only called a couple of times. I was not happy with the PS when I asked her about risk factos and she said, they were not all that concerned about risk factors for people my age. I was the ripe old age of 57 almost 58 at the time. Meanwhile I learned to read my own path report and learned about HER2 and the clinical trials at Mayo. I called them and the rest is history. After rads, I transferred my treatment here and the oncologist and staff are wonderful. I still go to Mayo as required per trial protocol.

Hope everybody has a good weekend. We are not off Monday.

Fuzzies and hugs,

Janie

Hi BMCK and welcome,

Everybody is scared silly the first chemo. It becomes routine after that and we usually watch tv or read or chat. Only a very very small percentage of people have any immediate allergic reaction. I don't think I've read about anyone on this board having a severe reaction. I am very prone to reactions and I did not have one. It does not hurt. You will probably not feel anything other than the wonderful premeds that make you groggy. They will watch you very carefully the first time. Someone will educate you on what to expect and be sure to ask any questions you may have.

It is believed that it is more beneficial to have the treatments closer together. You will lose your hair. You may be nauseous with AC but there are wonderful drugs out there to combat that. They will watch your counts closely and if you start to lose immunity or become really tired, there ate shots for that. You may have some bone/joint pain with Taxol, but Tylenol or something else will usually help. It is not a picnic but it could be much worse.

God bless you and sending hugs your way for next week. By this time next year, you will be like most of here on this thread, a year out and lot of it behind us.

Warm Fuzzies,

Janie