Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

I made it back to work today and it went pretty well.

Becky - I am on day 8 after A/C #4 and it has not been as bad as # 3 was.  Of course, I didn't get the sores in my throat until day 9 so I will see what tomorrow holds.

Titch - I get exhausted just reading your post.  How the heck do you have so much energy?

Sukiann - I too get winded walking up a flight of stairs, before chemo, I took 4 flights to work each morning, now I take the elevator just to go DOWN a flight.

Is anyone else having shortness of breath?  I am having a hard time with it, and not just after doing things, just sitting at my desk working today and really had bad shortness of breath.

I know lots of you are going to rads next, but I am among the group that starts weekly taxol then rads, I begin taxol on the 17th of this month. I hope the SE's of taxol are more managable than the A/C has been.  I hate the thoughts of 3 months of the same SE's.

{{{hugs}}} to everyone having treatment this week.

Heloo all, was able to do my 3rd chemo today after having really low wbc yesterday, they gave me the shot, this morning it was 70,000 sky high for just one shot and that ususally means a realy bad infection ectt... but said since i did have the shot they would let me do the chemo today and come back thursday for more blood test. but i have been feeling soooo tired never really felt good this whole last couple of weeks so im worried about how 3 is going to treat me, i feel like what i just said didnt make senseHa! but i wanted to send my hugs to all in case i feel like crap for awhile,,,,,

texasrose- i know you had treastment today to, some one else did too, sorry i cant remember, but sending my love and hugs to you and all of the wonderful woman here

Hi May Marvels!

I want to thank all of you again for your prayers, good wishes and concern.  I get a little stronger each day.  I guage this by how well I hoik myself upstairs.  I'm not relying on the handrail as much. 

I go to my onc on Thrusday for a follow up.  I will see then what happens next.  First, I need to recover.  I'm still not out of the woods and won't be until the infection is gone.  I'm curious as to how we are going to find out the answer to that one.  I guess I'll keep taking my temp every few hours and listen to the pain, if it reoccurs (I'll be grateful when it goes away).   Also, I'm curious as to whether or not I'll be taking Arimidex for the next five years.  I really hope so because I want to do something proactive as other channels have been cut off for me.  It is always in my mind that I have another breast.  Well, I don't need to borrow trouble.  I have enough to deal with right now.  It's all any of us can do.  Face the day, sleep the night, and hope to see the morning's light.  And when we do, we know we have made it one more day.  Hopefully, I can reach the stage that I am living my life and not wondering how much do I have left.

Strenght and courage to all of you.  Anyone know when my hair will look like something more than a " rug rat ?"  Good night to all.  Sleep tight.

Nancy

Me again - had to post to some of you on the prior page.

Susie - you look like a movie star in your new avatar.  I'd sleep in my wig too!

debbie6122 and titch - my leg scrape hurt like the devil.  It is getting a bit better but I suppose healing will go slowly with chemo through Oct.

Lassie- thanks for the luck...I like what your father said.

debbie6122 - did your wbc come up and you have treatment?  I went back a page and may have missed your post today.

Viki - thanks for recon info and the positive encouragement.

Wanted to say thank you to all those participating in trials. It is brave and generous.!

Hi all

I begin 12 week Taxol today and I'm nervous about how its going to go.  My onc doesn't give Benadryl  automatically so I'm hoping I don't have any reaction to it. My DF Debbie is coming with me to make sure everything goes OK and to help me with my hands and feet cold packs.  I'm using them to hopefully reduce the neuropathy and nail problem SE's that Taxol can cause.  I hope it works because it sure is a pain to wear them (literally and figuratively).As for other SE's, I'm worried I'm going to get the joint and bone pain some people describe because I already have bad arthritis.  Not much to do but wait and see.

 Pantufas

I too have you in my prayers.  I hope you recover soon so you'll be able to take the Arimidex if your onc suggests it.

I'm not very good about remembering where everyone is in their treatments but I hope everyone who is having Tx this week that all goes well and for all of us a SE free time!

Well I best get to bed for what little sleep I'll get.

Hello May Marvels-- I just wanted to say hello and wish everyone the best.  I haven't posted much but have kept updated be reading everyones posts.  Iam so jealous some of you are done with your last chemo!  That is wonderful.  I can't wait till I'm done too.  My 3rd tx is tomorrow and I feel so great right now that I don't want to go!  But after that I can say only 1 more time.  It is going by pretty fast.  First I was bumbed having chemo in the summer but it hasn't been to bad.  At least you can go outside, lay in the pool etc.  Time seems to fly by (so does summer, especially in Michigan).

For everyone who finished their last tx  CONGRATULATIONS!  I pray for minimul Se, good health and to bounce back quickly.  Good Luck.  When your done with chemo are you going to still keep in touch with the May Marvels?

For everyone else, the  same prayer and hang in there.  We are almost there too!  It is amazing how much we can all go thru and still live our lives and have a sense of humor too.  Strong women!!  Take Care-Geri

Good morning May Marvels!

I'm doing this a page at a time since we can't go back and forth, and I'm on my laptop. I suck at typing on my laptop!

jabl1252- I rarely go out without my wig either. I feel more odd in the scarves and hats, since I never wore scarves or hats before. If someone comments on my hair and I don't know them all that well I just thank them. If I know them well, I tell them  it's a wig and laugh it off. Most people know what I am going through anyway, so it's not a shock. The hotter it has gotten here (triple digits) the more I am trying out the scarves and hats. The wig can get very hot. I usually start the day in the wig but carry a bag with a scarf and a hat so I can change if necessary.

Viki- Thanks for the info on the DIEP. My hospital won't do recon until treatment is done. I won't be done with chemo until October 6th if all goes as planned. And I would like a few months of nothing!!! Not sure when I will actually talk to the PS but sometime in early 2010 I think. I am still waffling back and forth on even having recon. Every day I change my mind so obviously not ready for it yet. I finally called about a prostethis this week. Can't get in for that until the end of the month. I want to live with one for awhile and see how it goes. The idea of that long surgery and recovery isn't all that appealing, but dang it....I want a boob back!! The good part is that I have already met this PS and my DH and I both really liked him. Some may remember I'm the one who's hubby cut off half his thumb two weeks after my mastectomy. This guy put it back together and did a beautiful job! He was cocky as all get out, but for some reason I liked that. I think cocky is good in a PS!! I don't want one that doesn't give a rat's ass! Anyway, he told me to come see him when I'm ready. He does breasts. He was just the weekend PS on call when DH was in the ER.

Debbie6122- I hope that you are able to have your treatment. Mine went well and AC is behind me now!! Well, except for the SE. Said a prayer that you are able to get yours in. (((hugs)))

Titch- Glad you are doing so great and not having many side effects! You do look adorable rocking the bald. I will never be that brave outside my house! I don't wear anything at home though!

Becky-  WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on getting to the end girlfriend!!! I know what you mean about looking and dreading. I was so ready to get that last AC in yesterday, but also dreading the SE since #3 kicked my butt so badly. I had done so well on the first two. Anyway, I'm thinking of you today. So sweet of you to send me the note on Facebook. Sorry I didn't have time to answer between chemo and my SIL's surgery. It was a long and exhausting day for my family. But you were in my thoughts and prayers as always!!  Don't you even think about leaving here because you are done!

Good afternoon May Marvels! I hope everyone is doing well! Congratulations to all that finished or had their last treatment this week.

Sukiann- I have also experience a lot of GI problems mostly with acid build-up. It has really affected my activity level since I always end up in the same place (bathroom). I am taking Prilosec and will add Zantac today to see if it works better. 

About the bald head: I do not wear a wig since I had trouble finding one that would fit my BIG HEAD. Do not worry you can laugh! I really did not want to wear one so this was my perfect excuse. When I go out I wear a hat to protect from the sun but once I enter the store I take it off.  I find that most people do not really care. I find it that as long as I act normal they look at my like there is nothing wrong. Maybe it is just me!!

Heat Radiation- Sometimes my head feels like it is on FIRE. The only thing that makes it better is ice bag!  At night it can be a problem since you get so hot that it gives me a headache.

Mary-I hope your SIL recovers quickly and that you have few SE from your last treatment.

Take care everyone! Lots of Hugs! Diana

Since everyone else is talking about being bald, I decided to go ahead and put my bald head on here also.  Someone was talking about stubble after being slick.  I have had some stubble all along, some of my stubborn grey hairs are holding on for dear life.

Made it through the day and still no throat sores and only one small sore has developed on my tongue, which is alot better than last treatment.

Hope everyone is doing good.  We are survivors.

OMG.............I am so pissed!  I just typed a huge reply............it was awesome if I do say so my self.  Guess where it is?  Cyberspace Hell!  Damn this stupid thing.........I will post tomorrow I just can't re do it right now I am wiped out after #4 but survived amd wanted to offer congrats on those of you who finished A/C and those who also finished chemo!

Talk to you tomoro............HUGS!

Becky

Hi everyone,

  I just went to my T/C infusion #3 yesterday, and feel terrific today.  I think it's all the decadron that I've been taking--I'm actually a bit hyper.  I went to my local wellness community for a Chi Gung class today, and everyone was amazed that I could do it on day 2.  We'll see how I feel tomorrow, when the decadron is over and the anti-nausea drugs wear off.  

  So, because I will have 6 chemo infusions, I'm at the half-way point.  Hooray!  I'm a bit worried about chemo #4.  I will have chemo on Tuesday, and go on vacation (just 2 hours away) on Saturday.  My main fear is that my anemia will get worse and I'll need a transfusion while I'm away.  I've had an unusual response, getting pretty bad anemia early in the game.  My onc has me on 3x a day iron pills, and so far they've helped quite a bit.

  Enough rambling--I hope everyone has a good night!

Jo Anne 

luvtheocean, you made me laugh!  I needed that.

Good night everyone,

Nancy

zuzee - hi from Bluff.  I just thought back and I think I started chemo in May, 12 weeks of AC for each three weeks - sounds the same as yours.  But when that finished last month, I began a 12 weekly course of Paclitaxcel - tomorrow is another treatment then 7 weeks to go.  The steroids keep me awake all night after treatment, I start to get sore kidneys day 3 and 4, and apart from a bit of sore joints and toenails looking like they are coming off - it all goes along fine.  I have been very lucky.  I wear a wig to work, but then I wear a pink beanie to match my pink jacket any other time I go out.  Dont like showing off my bald head out in public - plus its far too cold down here. Changed my pillowcase to flanelette cause cotton was too cold.  Sook, eh.   Heard from my Oncology dept last week that Herceptin MAY be used to fight Bowel Cancer too...there appears to a common factor in the drug which may be just the thing to use in gastric cancers - what a fabulous breakthrough.  Good luck girl, love to keep in touch.

Hey There,

I know we say this all the time but everyone is different & obviously the doctors too -  My doctor tells me to be careful around day 7-10 but other than that no restrictions.  I do give my self the WBC booster 24/48 hours after chemo.

I'm on the every 3 week plan - so by mid-week of week 2 I feel good.  Food still tastes terrible but I don't have much nauseau and quite a bit of energy.  My Onc even said it was fine for me to go diving as long as I felt up to it -  Of course I dread the next treatment which does become a problem -  It's tomorrow so I'm on the site today looking for some more encouragement.  I'm almost done so I'm trying to focus on that - after tomorrow only 2 more ! 

Hope all of you are doing well ~

Hey May Marvels, just did round 4 with two to go. I have all the usual side effects at a minimal level, however the heart thing just keeps getting worse. Last time they put me on heart medication to stop the Atrial-fibrillation and it only made it worse and lasted longer. This time they're trying something different. Can you say "lab rat"?

Last weekend I went to a yoga/meditation retreat at a natural hot springs resort up in the mountains. No one wears bathing suits in the hot pools so I was a bit uncomfortable about sitting in hot water with strangers and my Frankenstein bilat scars going across my chest, not to mention topping it all off with a bald head...(ain't she hot). I am happy to report that most people would only make a casual positive response like, "it looks like you're in the right place for healing water energy" and even little children had the good grace not to stare and I imagine they got a wee bit of information from their parents about a topic that had never crossed their young minds before. All the yoga and meditation was a great way to stroll into chemo #4. Actually my levels were really high and blood oxygenation was 100%....all that deep breathing, eh? 

Sukiann, I too have discovered this week that I have been catapulted into menopause. My periods have gone AWOL, my emotions are all over the map, and hot flashes any time of the day and night. I too have the heavy weak leg thing. My ONC said it was the build up of the chemo effects in my body and the cells being killed and other good cells trying to rebuild. And, that big brick in the throat....I'm taking zantac and prilosec and it only helps a wee bit. I keep trying to imagine how good we will feel when this treatment is all over!

My heart goes out to all of you doing some form of reconstruction and all the ups and downs that come with it. Good luck to you. I have chosen to keep my boy body and didn't get the prosthetic bra. It's nice especially in this heat to not be constantly pulling and tugging on bra straps. I actually took great pleasure passing off all my favorite Victoria Secret bras to my daughter. I make a lot of my own clothes and created a body double years ago to be able to fit what ever I was making on my dress form instead of always taking on and off the garment I was making. Well, it appears that I will be playing surgeon this week and giving my dummy her own bilateral mastectomy so that I can re fit all my existing clothes. At least she won't have to deal with all those drain tubes!

To all of you that have finished up your last treatment, HOORAAAYYYYY! To everyone else, hang in there, we're on the downhill slide! 

PS. I have had several private messages asking about my photo. This is quite an ironic story. I am an actor with a theater company in my town. Two years ago I played the lead role of Vivian Bearing in the play "WIT" about a woman that is a highly regarded scholar in the poetry of John Donne who's works are all about life death and God. In the play she is dying of stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer and a teaching hospital uses her to test some experimental chemotherapies. This play won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and has also been made into a great film with Emma Thompson in the lead as Vivian. For the play I had to have my head and whole body shaved for three months. People in town that saw me in this show always bring up the irony of now doing this gig for real........ain't it strange.