Starting Chemo in June 2005

Magsandmattsmom...I guess that would sure ruin your taste for the chips! Will stock up on some hard candy...thanks for the tip!

Liz

Good morning. I tried a new recipe for sleep that seemed to work better. I took .05 ativan at bed time and then 1/2 of a .05 ativan when I woke up at four.
I got a better quality of sleep and wasn't up at 6 for a change so I will try that again tonight.
Dana....your first chemo and mine sound exactly the same. It wasn't bad at all and as a matter of fact it was relaxing and I felt really good until later that night.
I like how the technitions talk you through everyting. They say what they are doing and then right before you feel it they may say ..."you might feel a slight warmth here" and even before they finish the sentence ....you are feeling what they described.
It is amazing how well they know this stuff. I find it comforting. It clearly not their first rodeo .

Kim....I enjoyed your hair nub story. She had a lot of guts.
Liz....thanks for the link to the quotes. I have some ancient calligraphy skills I can call forth today. I will keep it simple and I should be able to make a meaningful presentation . I have a basket...the books are coming....I ordered a candy box in the shape of a graduation hat from Sees candy and I will have peonies from my own garden for her.
It should work out O.K.
I do have a hair question. Everyone says it will fall out on the 14th or 18th day after your first chemo. this will be a week from now. I was planning on shaving it this weekend when I feel physically and emotionally well instead of waiting until after my next chemo when I will not be doing as well.
In other words....should I wait until it starts falling out (when I will probably feel kind of lousy and sad) or be proactive and just do it when I feel well and have time to get used to it.
Friends and family are giving me mixed opinions.
so what would you do?
I had one other food question.....I am finding heartburn a pretty common companion in the last couple of days. Is this the chemo effect or is it the delicious rigatoni a friend kindly delivered.?

JoMac-you and I are on the same schedule-so here is what I am planning on doing-waiting probably til next weekend-Chemo on the 16th and see how it goes. I see your point about feeling good, but am thinking if I have plans to deal with my hair I won't loose it, so am just going to wait. I do have thick-thick hair and have lost a lot my entire adult life but don't seem to notice any decrease-but will keep you posted...am at work so this is short-talk to you tonight.
KimB

Nancy.....I am trying to not be affected by the reoccurance statistics. I sort of hear the information and then in my own mind say "O.K. but that's not me" .
I know this is pure denial on my part but it makes me happier.
I actually have my own weird theory about how this cancer is going to save my life.
My grandmother died at 52 of uterine cancer. I never met her. She is always referred to as a lovely lady who was never well.
Anyway I am convinced that if I didn't get this "do-able" cancer I would have ended up with a more difficult cancer later.
This one was detected and can be treated.
I know it is a lot of rationalization here and maybe I will turn out to be totally wrong but each day I say "This cancer is going to save my life" and it makes me feel better.
After all the outcome will be the same no matter what me interior voice says.
Let us know about the second opinion.

Nancy..enjoy that drink and don't even think about the statistics. There is no way of knowing how things will turn out, so no point in wasting time thinking about the bad possibilities. We are all scared, but we can and will come out of this.

Isn't it kind of funny that when we are not worrying about longevity we are worrying about how our hair, boobs, etc. look. I have dark brows and don't wear much makeup and was trying to think of ways to do my brows! Hoping to get some tips at the Look Good Feel Better class.

Dana...thanks so much for taking the time to give us a good idea of what is going on...sure is making me feel prepared!

Liz

What a busy day ladies-thought I'd pop on quick-"chips and drips", "eyebrows and boobs" and wonderful ideas for JoMac's daughter (promise this week end I will think of some ideas for you!). I had not even thought about eyebrows until I went to Look Good/Feel Better-and the gal showed me how to do them and there are step-by-step directions of how to "feather" them on----I am thinking with my abilities I may be better off finding some new prescription glasses-my lenses in the rims/nose/brows that you can buy at Party Universe. Better go-did not get my laundry done last night....what a great day everyone seemed to have! I had the possibility of having chemo weekly-and today am actually thankful I have a week in between.
Talk to you tomorrow....have a great weekend!
KimB

Nancy..so glad you are feeling better and that onc # 2 was so helpful. My surgeon was very difficult to communicate with and now the onc seems like a chatterbox compared to him! Had my PET/CT scan today but they had to put off my MUGA until Monday. Wednesday is port insertion day. What a life

Has anyone tried those temporary brow tatoos that wash off with water. I don't think the glued on ones would work for me. Once I tried glue on nails and glued my fingers together. I can just picture going to work with my finger stuck to my brow.

I just checked with my insurance company and they do reimburse the cost of wigs. Anyone not aware of that may want to check their insurance coverage.

I know Dana gave a good description of her port insertion experience, but wouldn't mind hearing others!

Hugs to all,
Liz

HI Poppy,
welcome. I will be shaving my head this weekend so I am sure that as soon as I do that I will value my eyebrows to a higher degree.
Everything is relative to something else isn't it?
eyebrows! I never gave them a second thought before and now as my teenager would say ...I "heart" my eyebrows.

We have a woman who runs a wig business here who sells the eyebrows and of course the eyelashes too.
I have always been hopeless with make up or any hair styling.
I doubt I will magically get some skills in those areas now.
I am lucky that my husband couldn't care less.
I never realized that I would appreciate the fact that he never has seemed to notice my appearance (or lack of it). Once he asked if I was wearing a new skirt and it must have been five years old.

I know if it was happening to him I wouldn't care. I would just be so glad to still have him with me. I think that is what he must be thinking too.
I do think my daughter is going to have a much harder time with it.
My husband says I shouldn't worry and that her teenage self centeredness (is that a word) will protect her.

Thanks JoMac...just what I wanted to hear I was more concerned how it would feel afterwards...and you have calmed my fears. Does it require any special care...cleaning, etc? How high do they put it...just wondering if it will show. I should have asked the doctor these questions, but wasn't thinking that far ahead.

Glad you have the basket to keep you busy ... but that power outtage does not sound like fun. I live in Florida and with all the hurricanes last year...did not like the times we were without power. I was going through a different kind of stressful situation at that time and it made things worse. We were very lucky to have minimal damage and not be without power for very long. Lots of people had no power for weeks!

Your husband sounds like mine. If I have a new outfit I'll ask him if he notices anything different...and he always answers "I hate that question". He has also asked me if something was new when I've had it for quite a while!

Liz

Getting the port put in was no big deal-I am the type who has "2 sticks" per tech and often have 3 or so techs try so welcomed the port. Had it in a week ago yesterday and looked at it in the mirror so I could tell you-if you wore a narrow tank top you could see it-just a tiny scar and a little swollen area (actually when I looked I thought-looks like an 11 year old girl growing a breast in the wrong site) mine is on the right-but would be about where you put your hand over your heart for the US flag. Had a CBC done yesterday-and my neutraphils were very low so have to take levequan(sp?)for 7 days....up until then I felt great today-then suddenly tired and not up to par....
KimB

Joining in,

I start chemo on the 16th of June, am going for every three weeks to start with, as oncologist thinks it would be better on my 9 year old but we might up it to every 2 weeks if I handle it well. Am looking at slipping the radio therapy in between the A/C and the T, so that I'm home over xmas and new year, I have to travel approx 6 hours away for radio and the traffic would be hellish over the break not to mention not being with my family.

As a single mum I'm finding some moments rather challenging, but its more from not having that special someone to give me a soul warming hug than anything else, my solution has been to go to town a fair bit and interact ( I live in a small rural area so will always run into someone I know), being social is a compromise and keeps me smiling.

Its great to be no longer living hour to hour and be onto day by day ..soon it will be week by week.. month by month.. right.

best wishes to all..

Fi

Liz, I have done nothing with the port. Two days after it was put in they had me come into the office to have it flushed. I thought that sounded dreadful but I felt nothing when they did it.
The port is on the opposite side of where the cancer was found. It can be hidden by a tank top and is as small an opening as a regular circular bandaid will fit over.
I thought it would be an open hole with a spout like a tea cup.
It is not noticable at all.
Fi....
I wondered if they have caner coaches where you are located.
My oncologist has one in his office. She comes to everyone of my chemo therapy appointments.
It is provided as a free service.
we have met in her office and also talk on the phone on an as needed basis.
She is an amazing woman. She is my age. Her husband developed a rare blood cancer seven years ago. He died within the year.
She then developed the same cancer and has survived for over five years.
She has had extensive treatment. You would never know it. She looks great, and is a wonderful role model.
Whenever I think I can't do this I remember what she has been through.

Liz..I really think they would have called you if they saw something really scary on the CD before giving it to you.
Really...they would have.
Don't worry ......not hearing from them right away is probably a good thing.
I know you won't really be able to accept this until they tell you in person on Monday.
But believe me .......it is O.K.
In the meantime enjoy the xanax.

I have been thinking about you today.
I hope you can concentrate enough to read.
I watched a lot of BBC comedy's during my diagnosis period. I bought a series of DVD collections so I would have control over what I watched and when I watched it.
It was very hot here today. My husband went out and got us an air conditioner for the bedroom. As the British say BRILLIANT!
That will make sleeping so much easier tonight.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Jo