Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

Hi gals.

My eyebrows and lashes have thinned heaps but not lost.  I haven't had to maintain them my whole session of chemo, been nice not to shave legs and arms too. 

I am doing good, counting down to surgery.... a week tomorrow. 

My fourth session really did knock me for a while.  But even then it was still minimal side effects, I have not had nausea once thru all the treatments.  No probs with immunity, bloods etc.  If I do have more chemo....I will never muck around with the steroids again. 

Zuzee....I think it is amazing you been playing golf, I know our courses are big to walk around. 

I was talking to a work mate today and I was talking about my kids.... they don't really help out at home, even doing their chores.  I feel like I am arguing and battling them all the time to just do the simple things.  She was horrified, that they were like that when I had "cancer" and she said they thought they would be more helpful.  I explained it hard, cause whilst I am sick, I don't feel sick, and I don't act sick..  so to them I am not sick.  I said if I was very sick, nausea, in bed, they probably would be more helpful and pleasant and just do it....cause then I am sick. 

Hi Titch, You have been so lucky with your treatments!  Just wanted to say good luck with surgery.  Hope it all goes well.

I just noticed yesterday that my eyebrows have thinned out too!  I have a couple of bald patches.  I can't wait to get back to normal.

My kids are the same.  Everything (housework) is left up to me.  And I keep wondering when my maid is going to show up.  I haven't seen her for weeks.   She hasn't done a good job since I got 'sick' so if she shows her face, she's fired!  Oh well, it's only dirt - right.

To all the May Marvels - hope you are staying well.

Anji x

luv4my5girls-So sorry you are dealing with all of this!

Hi everyone,

  I'm so glad that other families are experiencing the same things.  Although my family is wonderful, there has been no special treatment extended my way.  Like TITCH, I haven't been sick with nausea, just fatigue, so it's hard for my teenage daughters (15 and 19) to view me as sick or needing help.   It's an especially difficult summer as my 19 year old daughter returned home after her first year of college and we are dealing with all of those issues in addition to cancer.  (Anyone who is a parent of college-aged children can tell you that it's challenging when they return home.)  I want to pull everyone together and stay close, and they, naturally, want to "grow up" and do their own thing.  I agree with LUV4MY5GIRLS, it's hard to deal with the everyday "crap" on top of the cancer "crap". 

Janet

Hello May Marvels--- Iam back home with my camper. It has been a hectic, fun and sometimes relaxing week! Camping is alot of work and I had alot of friends coming by, but for the most part it was nice to be able to get away from the housework!! Now Iam back and everything needs to be cleaned so it looks like I will be cleaning for the next 2 days before my 4th and last chemo on Thursday!! Yeah!! I dread it but at the same time can't wait to get it behind me!!

Most of you's are done with chemo-congratulations for making it thru!! Some of us are close to being done-Yeah!! And the rest of you's , good luck getting thru yours! What a journey! Also best to all of you's who are moving on to other forms of treatment. Time has gone by pretty fast and I pray for all of us for healing and strenght to continue on.

I have not posted much but have been keeping up on everyone's progress. Glad to see most of us moving on. I feel pretty good now and Iam hoping that my 4th tx is not to bad. It seems the se get a little more each tx or at least last takes a little longer to bounce back.

Iam going to try the Latrisse for my eyelashs and Iam going to even put it on my brows. They are pretty sparse. Has anyone tried it? It is suppose to help your lashes grow longer, thicker and faster. I hope it works.

Take Care Everyone-Geri

luv4my5girls -- So sorry you are having to deal with stress on top of treatments.  Hang in there!  I too have our everyday problems and cranky husband.  But I let him know how hard that was for me and that seemed to help for the time being anyway. 

jabl1252 -- I also am on tx #5 this week.  Good luck!  Do you have 6 treatments total?  My last one is Aug. 21.

Hang in there everyone!  We are having hot weather here in Seattle, hope it's pleasant everywhere else.

Blondie45-My mom is doing 12 weekly Taxol and is coming up on #8.  She has 5 more weeks of Taxol to do and then 15 weeks of Adriomycin and Cytoxin, so don't feel like you're left behind.  I'll be here lurking and posting for many weeks to come! 

Although it may seem like it's taking forever, especially as others are finishing up, just know that you are getting better and each week is bringing you closer to a pathalogically complete response (hopefully). 

Everyone else, sorry I haven't posted individually but there are so many people to keep track of now.  I am reading your posts and cheering for your victories, feeling for your sorrows and praying for your cure.  For those of you who are done with chemo, congratulations!  I am so happy for you.  For those of you who are close to finishing, I know you are tired, but you're almost there and we're all rooting for you.  For those of you who still have a ways to go, like my mom, keep your spirits up!

Anyone have any tips to help the awful taste in the mouth that comes?  My mom is at the point where she can't taste anything, except an awful sour, bitter taste as though she has medicine in her mouth.  She already uses plastic cutlery instead of metal to try to prevent the metallic taste. Also any foods that you guys can taste and recommend?  

Also any of you experiencing choking problems?  My mom's esophagus appears to be problematic.  She chokes on foods that seem to get stuck mid way down her esophagus (sometimes even hours later).  Anyone else have this problem?

As always thanks for your support!

Hi all,

  Just came home from chemo #4 out of 6.  I dunno if I mentioned it before, but I have a friend who goes to my onc and also has the same chemo I do.  We have "chemo playdates."  She drove me to chemo today, brought me popsicles and lunch, and went to my onc with me.  We talked the whole time.  Actually had fun.  

  A bit concerned about this chemo, as I have a lot going on.  My MIL is coming in from New York for our annual trip to the family camp at UC Santa Barbara.  She is 92 but in good shape.  My husband told me this weekend that he is going to cancel out of the trip due to work commitments.  I don't want to cancel the whole family due to financial loss and the fact that my almost-14-year-old would be terribly upset.  Plus I enjoy going to Santa Barbara--staying by the ocean is very healing.  

  Anyway, it means that I'll be doing all the driving--plus watching over my daughter and MIL for the two weeks (actually my MIL is staying only one of the two weeks).  Because it's a family camp, it should work out fine.  If any one of us needs help or a trip to the hospital, whatever--there are tons of people who can drive us.  I've been tolerating chemo quite well, so it should be okay.  But it is a little nerve-wracking to think about what MIGHT go wrong.

  Worst of is that my husband has absolutely no sympathy for my situation.  It would be much better if he said "I'm so sorry, honey, I need to stay at work rather than go on vacation.  I know it will place a burden on you.  There's nothing I can do about work, but I'll do what I can to help you."  Instead, he very crabbily said "I gotta stay at work--no choice.  You have no reason to complain--I'm the one staying back."  Under ordinary circumstances I would be delighted, as my husband is a difficult person to travel with.  I'm more fearful, of course, because of the treatments.  I think it's understandable, don't you?

Jo Anne 

taj72 -  I had that awful taste thing too. The best part was that it only lasted for a few days. Water tasted bad! Other people have said the same thing and I thought that would never happen to me. It did. A friend coincidentally dropped off a selection of caffeine free fruit teas  - they tasted all right hot or cold. Pepper on whatever I am eating seems to help a bit too. Nothing completely made it go away except time. No doubt it will happen with my next two taxotere treatments as well - at least this time I will be ready for it.

Hey to all - I am trying to keep up with everyone but just too hard.  Just a couple of things.  I was told by another chemo patient that if you suck on mints while getting chemo it eliminates the metal taste.  I didn't get to try it but thought I would pass it on-  I keep saying that we will all figure all this out at the same time that we are done. 

Is everyone still planning on staying here thru rads?  I am -

As for the hubbys and kids - mine too don't think a thing of letting me be normal (at least that is what I jokingly call it to them).  They let me do all the house work, they get crabby and have attitudes and forget about all I am going thru.  I guess half of me likes being normal and not being treated like a poor cancer patient but I agree too that every once in awhile it would be nice for them to say - hey prop your feet up and let me take care of things.   

take care and stay strong everyone

Hey all,

Yes, I am on the 12 weekly Taxol schedule also. I had #2 today. They had me take a Xanax and gave me a Benadryl, so I came home and slept for three solid hours. I was zonked!!

I am so sorry that some of you are having family problems on top of this. I don't have any kids, but my husband and my family have been so helpful and so wonderful. I am very blessed to have them. Friends help out also and keep my spirits up. I also have chemo angels. I love getting mail from them. It makes me so sad that so many of you aren't getting the support you need from your loved ones. Maybe it is time you sit them down and tell them. Hugs to all of you. You know you can always vent here and we understand and support you.

I'm going to rest some more. You are all in my prayers.

One more thing, after reading some of your posts i couldnt resist this joke hope it puts a smile on your face

                     Womans ass size study

                     There is a

                      new study out about woman and how they

                      feel about there

                      Asses

                      I thought the results were pretty

                      interesting

                      10% think there ass is too little

                       85%

                       of woman think there ass is to big

                       the other 5% say they dont

                       care, they love

                       him, hes a good man, and

                       they would of married him

                      anyway

                

                    

Deb6563

Blondie 45 and Deb6563

Make that five.  I am also on the weekly Taxol.  I go for my 4th tx tomorrow.  I will be getting rads after that so i will be around for awhle too.

Congrats to all who have finished chemo!  Wish I could say the same but I'm getting there.

jaeslne

I'm so sorry you are not getting the support and consideration from your husband.  Here's hoping that your time there is uneventful and the rest of the family pitches in to make your stay restful not stressful. 

Well good night all.  May tomorrow be an se free day for everyone!

I think I'll get my dh to a sleep study to.  He is so stressed over the economy and me that he sleep walks every night!  Eats doughnuts in his sleep and sleeps standing up or on the toilet!  And he talks in his sleep too-  most of the time he is working!  He is driving me crazy!  Doc put him on some medicine and it is a little better.  At least he is sleeping thru the night and in bed again.  Geri

Oh I wish I could say I am one of the people who has finished - how did some of  you do it so quickly?! I have two more taxotere treatments, one Tuesday coming and the last (ta da!!) three weeks later, then radiation in the fall, and Herceptin continuing since my last treatment for the best part of a year - not to mention some hormone suppressant for however many years after that. I'm here for the long run May Marvels!!