Starting Chemo Aug 09

Hello Ladies,

Our August group is getting bigger!  I am glad to be in such good company.  Thank you ladies who are further on in your journey for the reassurance and moral support.  Faith, thanks for making it seem doable and good luck with your new battle.

I didn't mean to drop out of sight, but this week has been tiring. Chemo went well, it is Taxol weekly so not too harsh (1 down 11 to go).  Love how everything is described as flu-like symptoms.  So doing fine just a little off overall.  My insides are not happy with me but manageable, although I am not in a rush to eat as I can't taste very well and and insides are gurgly.  As I said, not bad in the big scheme. Can't tell when the menopause symptoms will kick in but I can hardly wait!

1st chemo day was long with delayed blood work so was tired from that and then second day prob just still tired from the stress. Had a friend with me all day, made all the difference. I am still working so trying to get in the hours (I work a lot from home).  But this week has been a crazy week at work and I am still telling people about my situation too (I was seemingly fine before I went on vacation 2 weeks ago). Once I tell all the immediate people (still a long list) that part will be easier. I found a wig for now, not sure if it is good or not, still deciding.  But going in for a haircut today.  I have shoulder length blonde hair that I love to hate so it is ironic being so emtional at the prospect of losing it.  Go figure. Everyday I start off a litle sad then I pick up and get into my positive groove and at the end of the day  I am tired and sad again. As I tell everyone, it's a big mental battle and at the end of this I will be the greatest glass-half-full person there is!  .

Jenn-hope your sleeping improves.  I don't sleep as well anymore so I try to go bed earlier since when I wake up is when I am up now, can get back to sleep. There is a lot to worry about.

MKK-I hope you start feeling a bit better.  Hang in there. I cannot imagine with the kids how you are hangining in.  I have one son (7 yrs) and we told him about the bug inside me and the medicine that will make me sick and lose my hair. He doesn't like the bald thing and he is a little out of sorts with the news but overall ok with it.  Knows about the germs and hand washing from sick grand parents and shockingly had heard of breast cancer on TV.

Manue-Sorry to hear about your situation with your mom. You must be so sad.  Your boys sound like they are as curious as my son.  Funny guys.

Linda-Hang in there.  You have already been through a lot and you can make it fine.  We have this lot of ladies to keep us all going.  Everyone here has the same goal and we are all living parts of the same story so it is reassuring to know we are not alone. I liken the avoidance of thinking of these things as  a little of whistling in then dark.  As soon as my mind strays to something depressing or scary I give my self a shake and try to go somewhere else.  It has nothing to do with being positive or brave, just know that I don't want to end up in that hole and need to keep out of it. The worrying and waiting is the worst!

Donna-glad it went well.  I know what you mean about the shedding.  I lose a lot of hair too normally so have wondered...

Take care everyone and I hope you are able to have a good if not wonderful weekend.  All you working ladies, build up your reserves and we'll go another week!  Hugs to all!!

Hi everybody,

Well the port operation went well on Thursday and the surgeon even put in the needle that the would use for the chemo treatment the next day.  When I went in for the chemo on Firday and mentioned that my port was just put in the day before they said they couldn't stick it with a needle for at least two weeks.  Once I told then that the surgeon had already put one in they said they could use it.  No way was I having them stick my arm after getting the port.  Just 3 more treatments to go.  So far I have not had a major problem with nasua.  At the first sign I take my Prochlorper (generic for Compazine) like the nurse said.

Krisitn09 - If you do go looking for a wig again I found that taking a friend along can help make it a more fun experience. 

Jenn3 - I know what you mean about having a normal day feeling.  How long have you lived in New Orleans.  I lived there from 80--87 and went to UNO.

When I went in last Wednesday for my first treatment the nurse said I had bad veins-and I have 11 more taxol to go and who knows what else.  So silly me (I always want to know and always ask-although sometimes I don't like what I hear-I am a scientist too) I said, do you think I will need a port at some time and she said yes.  Ick!  I try to be really tough and I have a high pain tolerance and am usually well informed but I am really squeamish. So I will just put it out of my mind now until the happy moment they tell me they will install it.

Just back from my haircut and going back to my happy denial place.  Good evening ladies!

yoyo - I agree with Gillyone.  Get the port.  I had a little soreness in the neck for a day but that was all.

Tara, Try taking some Benedryl at bedtime it has worked on me up until tonight. Are you sleeping with your arm elevated that really helps my arm pain, put it up on pillows when I am busy roaming around all day I notice my arm feels full and huge but is the same size as the other one, I sit on the sofa and put it up on pillows for alittle bit and it seems to help.  I am having the worst lower back and thigh pain ever. I am assuming it is from the Neulasta shot I got on Friday. I have tried Advil but no relief! I think the chemo was fine TAC, I felt pretty good until today, my lower back feels like I'm in labor and my thighs feel like really bad monthly cramps, any suggestions from anyone???

Hi Ladies,

 Thanks for the pep talk about the port. I know I will do it at some point but I will no longer think about it. It is inevitable and as you say "a good thing" (hee hee hee-silly)

Tara, I haven't had any surgery yet so the chemo and Zoladex are my beginning so I don't have any other reminders but I have the same mental racing and worry.  It will drive you insane.  When I first was certain it was cancer (after much personal research and the intial doctor's referral to the mamogram actually) I mentally went off a cliff for a day.  I couldn't sleep and all I thought about was the possibilities with cancer.  I talked to my self and tried to peel it back to what I was really afraid of and for me it was the unknown.  After that I decided I couldn't go there any more and I try to keep busy, go to bed early so I get some sleep and don't let my mind wander into dangerous territory.  The SE's freak me out too and I am now telling myself thousands have gone there before and will go after so I will too.  And i am not researching it anymore once I have committed. Lots of women have very little SE's-we just don't hear about them. It is like the news, you only hear about the more spectacular. This disease is so much about the mental battle that you have to find your own hot buttons and tools to combat it.  It is all easier said than done but it is so important to fnd a place you can be strong from.  I finally told my mom yesterday that yes I need to stay positive but just her telling me that every day isn't helping me any and she had better quit saying it because it was making me angry!  (think I can blame the zoladex? )

The great thing about this forum is that I think everyone undertsands and can sympathise.  For anyone not in this boat this can all seem a little highstrung and dramatic I think but for those of us in the middle of it we all understand and it is real.  Hang in ther and I hope you find some distractions to keep you going.

I have a practical question that I will ask the nurse about but maybe someone hear has some info too.  What happens if you get a cold on chemo?  What is the concern and what do you do?  My son ( as all kids) gets cold all the time.  Last night he had a high fever again (gets them evey now and again) so I am not sure how/if I can care for him.  I was up for a while and I finally said to my husband you need to take over.  Today he is fine, with some sniffles, which is sometimes what happens.

We are going to go buy hockey equipment for my son now and off to see Gforce after so that guarantees a few hours of bliss at least for today.

Hi Ladies,

Well, we are approaching the night time, which is usually the worst for me, but today was a pretty good day actually. YoYo thank you so much, I appreciate your advice. This is why I love to come here and read and express my concerns because I feel you all understand so much better than my family and friends what I am feeling and am going through. Sometimes I think my family just wants to see me smile and be like my old self again, which only puts pressure on me. Anyways, will appreciate my good day today and smile at the fact my daughter can't wait to have her birthday party, aah to be a kid again !!!!! Have a great night everyone. Tara.

Hello Janet.

I am day 11 from first tx and today I have a sore mouth. I got some Biotine mouthwash which I have seen recommended on various threads. My care sheet has only suggested a salt water rinse. It will be interesting to see what you use and how effective it is. What kind of  chemo treatment are you on?

Good Morning Everyone,

I just wanted to say thank you for your replies and all of your posts. It's so comforting to read your stories and have the support of other women actually going through it all. I will try to come on more often as I start on my treatments to share how I am doing with you, because I know you will understand and be here to help when needed.  I'll stop back for sure on the weekend and let you know how my port placement goes.  Have a good day everyone!

Hi Ladies,

How is everyone doing today?

Karen- I had a Left mastecomy with with my lymph nodes removed and was told to not shave, especially since we are in the summertime. If you should perspire it would be like putting salt water in a wound which would cause it to burn, OUCH !!!  The sad thing is I want to shave so badly, it is driving me crazy.

Ladies- My dentist told me to get Biotene or Oasis mouthwash to rinse with which you can get at a Target or a Walmart. If that does not work, check with your Onc. for a Rx. I won't start Chemo until next Monday, but I am trying so hard to get everything ready to go. I am quite sure I will miss something !! Besides I am so scared, hoping to feel better once I get started and feel like I am doing something to fight this !!

Thanks again, good to hear from all of you, have a good day. Tara.

Hi ladies,

Good luck tomorrow Jenn.  I hope it goes smoothly.

Kristin-I am still working but my job is based from home and I spend a lot of time at our head office too.  So I am lucky that way.  My employer is being very accomodating and we are taking a wait and see approach.  But I am also currently on a pretty tame chemo (12 x Taxol).  I find the mental part more challenging for now. I am supposed to be focused on budget and scheduling and I am finally able to start focussing after last week.

I do my second chemo this Thursday and I am wondering how that will be.  Was happy to get the first under way and will be happy to have the seond over with as well.

All the best everyone!

Hi Ladies, I'm just popping in to say hello and wish you all the best during your journey. Come on over and check out the information in the "Starting Chemo in July" topic. My mother and I are both under Chemo. treatment starting in July. There are some great programs out there that I mention in the opening post there. You really need to check them out. I think everyone's favorite is Look Good Feel Better. Also recommend Hevenly Hats.org, and ChemoAngles.com 

You sound like a great group. It is kind of a custom to come up with a name for your group. So get busy with some witty ideas. We are the July Jedi Jug-a-nauts AKA Triple J's. I love my ladies but hate that we all have to be going through this.

Hang Tough and remembe Smile and Laugh, you CAN do this.