Starting Chemo Aug 09

Hi Bootie,

My advice when people offer help go ahead and give them a chore.  I have the hardest time asking for help and actually made out a list yesterday of what I feel like cancer is taking away from me and first on that list was my independence.  But it will get better once its over and we'll look back and will be able to be proud of all the battles and steps we had to take to get back to our real lives.  

I don't have children so all I can do is try to understand how taxing that must be. I know you want to be yourself and be normal for them and not let their lives go into any upheaval.  Its got to be hard.  I get on here every few days so I'll look for you, private message me too if you want.  

I've had lots of complications along the way and just this past Sunday I had to have my PICC line pulled the day before I even started chemo, I had it for less than a week.  Going to get a mediport before the next round.  

This is a good place to be because there are so many of us going through this and can share our experience...I'm on the Susan Komen site also and post there a lot.  I've started a taxotere/cytoxan thread and post on the chemo threads a lot now...

Hugs,

Paula 

Jenn I am AC DDx4 followed by Taxol DDx4!! You are not alone!!

This is day 7 after tx2 and  my hair has been coming out in handfuls, but I still have some. It is very short and pretty thin now. But I can still go out with it looking at least ok if not great! Perhaps it will be all gone when I get up tomorrow. I am ready whatever happens. It is just hair.

Jenn - I'll be starting AC in about 2 or 3 weeks and scared shitless.  Met with my onc. today and spent about an hour talking about everything.  Bonus is that my husband is a dr. and we both researched and could talk the lingo with her.  She gave me a ton of scripts to get filled and I know I will be proned to nausea/vomiting, so not looking forward to that.  Oh well, guess it's my journey for the next few months.  I guess I'll post on here and let you know how I'm doing.  My first step is to get my port in place and get a base line for blood work, and continue in my job and prep. my boss for some leave time. 

Vicki

Vicki

MCKitty, Yay!  Glad your first day is over with now.  Will be hoping for the best for the SE's.  Remember, you're an Amazon and this is only for a little while.

Tx#3 for me tomorrow and had the MUGA scan today.  Also got my bone scan moved up to Sunday this week so things are progressing.  I think there is no one here who started with 12xTaxol, I am a little backwards overall.  I too am feeling the itchy scalp with a few bunches of hairs coming out together.  Tomorrow will probably push them over the edge.  I guess we will see.

Hugs to everyone and have a good day tomorrow!

Well the WBC's went too low this week.  Not only did I have a couple of infections but they went so low the emergency room had me admitted to the hospital Monday night and I just got out this evening.  I ended up having 3 doctors involved (my oncologist, and infectious disease doctor and the admitting doctor).  It felt very strange to have everyone coming in room to have to wear gloves and masks and if they were getting real close to me they had to put on a gown.  I even had my own stethoscope that was kept in my room.  I will be finding out either Thursday or Friday if the rash is actual chicken pox (they did a culture and the resullts aren't back yet).  My oncologist did not give me the Neulasta short with my first round of Chemo on July 31.  He has now added it to my remaining Chemo's.  The doctor agreed with me that I should work from home these next two days just to be safe.

 When I go back into the office on Monday I will be wearing my wig.  I'm starting to get a tingly feeling on my head and I know day 14 is fast approaching.  I have arranged to get a buzz cut on Saturday.  I just can't bring myself to shave my head.

The one bright spot in all of this is that Monday night is my Look Good..Feel Good meeting.

Hi Bootie, your post was so touching, we all have to learn to say YES for help! I have my own business, 2 kids, no family around (I'm french and my husband's family is from Chicago) and I'm learning to accept help... not easy when you are independant! But the people who are really caring for you are going to be there. Big, big hug to you, Manue.

Good morning everyone,

Day 7 and I started off a bit weak this morning.  Donna - it looks like I'm with you . . . what goes in is coming out pretty darn fast.  Sometimes leaves me feeling a bit weak, but I'm stocking up on the Gatorade with electrolytes!  Yesterday was a great day for me, felt well most of the day and kept improving so I'm a bit surprised by the weakness this morning.  Oh well, take it as it comes, eh?

Donna - have you ever used Skype?  You could take your HP mini with you and we could watch and be there for you!

MCKitty - I am glad to hear that your first day went smoothly.  Hope that you slept well.  Be prepared for ups and downs but it's great that you're starting with an "up"!

Linda - good luck tomorrow - we're thinking of you! 

Navy - it must feel pretty liberating to be free of work, probably a bit scary at the same time.  What a big life change for you . . . make the most of it!

Jenn, Gill, Donna, Yoyo - say good-bye to bad-hair days!  A friend of mine just got me a cute book called "Not now . . . I'm Having a No-Hair Day" - very cute.

Vicki - trust us, the anticipation is the worst.  You will be fine and can take comfort from all of us - we have a lot of it to give (and take!).

Yasmin - welcome to the group.  What are the T and the C?  I'm on Taxotere and Carboplatin, but there are other Ts and Cs out there. I am working through my chemo and not planning on any time off unless really needed.  So far, I'm feeling good about my chances for remaining at work.

Hope everyone has a great day!

K

Ok ladies...I'm worried.  Is it normal to feel this good after your body sucking up all these mege-toxic drugs? 

I slept like a baby last night, ate a big breakfast, just had lunch...and i don't even feel the least bit tired.  Do you think they forgot to put the drugs in the IV's and gave me plain saline instead?

 Just kidding...but so far, not a single problem.  I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but so far, nothing.  I'm almost disappointed!  

Maine, be glad to be feeling good, I too am feeling pretty normal just a little tired...hoping it stays this way for all of us!!!!

 Hugs,

Paula 

Hey All - thanks for the support, and yes, the waiting and anticipation is the worst!  Just want to get it started a done.  This is a great group.  I made a huge decision today and will be taking a leave of absence from my position as an elementary principal.  That was a huge step for me.  I'll be working until my first treatment, but I a blessed and have saved up lots of sick time over my 22 years of being in education.  Still haven't heard from my surgeon to make an appointment for port placement, but did send 5 prescriptions for all the before and after chemo medication anti nausea pills, etc, etc. 

 Yasmin, you crack me up with the black skulls.  Have a good night everyone.

Vicki

Maine Coon Kitty - don't question the good days!    We deserve them! 

Yasmin - your pup is so cute!

Jen - sorry you aren't feeling so good!  I hope the doctor was able to help.

Something great happened to me today - I went out for groceries and on the way back I found a straw cat and took it in!  She's really sweet.  I put ads on Kijiji and tomorrow I'm going to call the animal shelter here and maybe put up some flyers in the other apartment buildings around here.  I hope I can't find her owner. LOL!  I was watching tv twice tonight and she came and curled right up on top of me and kept nudging my face and purring.  Best thing that has happened to me in months. 

I'm feeling pretty good but I did have some bad diarrhea this afternoon.  I finally took some Immodium because my bottom was hurting so bad.  Hope that isn't TMI!  Sorry!

PamsPromise,

I'm on CMF, also.  I started on 7/27 and will have my 2nd treatment on 8/17.  Almost three weeks in and I have not lost any hair, and have not noticed any thinning, yet.  I was told that I probably won't lose my hair, but that there might be between 25-50% thinning.  I have long, thin hair and with diabetes and very dry skin, prior to BC, I experienced some hair loss on a regular basis - mostly from brushing and in the shower.  I shed almost as much as my long-haired cat...LOL! However, I haven't noticed any hair loss since I started chemo...go figure!

The only SEs I've had, so far, are occasional constipation (resolved with Correctol), and one small mouth sore that really doesn't bother me.  I use Biotene mouthwash morning and night, and it hasn't gotten any worse.  So far, no nausea...Yay!  I know that chemo is cumulative, so it might get worse.  My chemo nurse said that maybe after the 2nd treatment I will notice more SEs, but then again, I might not.  Everyone is different.

We are hoping I won't need a port, but it took a few tries to get the IV going.  It just seems silly when I only have it every three weeks.

I'm a bit surprised that you need chemo, given that you are node negative and have a low Oncotype score.  However, CMF isn't so bad and it's probably worth it if it gives you more peace of mind.

P.S.  There are several threads where you can check out posts by people on CMF.  They have been very helpful to me.  Just search for CMF.  A couple of CMF threads that I added to my favorites are:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topic/243424?page=121#top

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/738485?page=1#top

Take care.

Hi all,

Today is d7 for me and this is the best day yet.  I was pretty weak yesterday but woke up after a good night's sleep feeling well.  Hopefully, the next two weeks will progress similarly until my next tx and then I'll take it as it comes.  Oh . . . one side note . . . my head started itching a bit yesterday - is that the first sign?  Still nothing coming out.

Jenn - I hope that your sore throat is on the mend.  I would almost rather have anything than a bad sore throat.  Thanks for the kind words about "pushing forward" - I'm convinced that such an attitude is helping me along.

MCKitty - I am soooooo glad that you're feeling well.  I know that we can probably expect harder times to come as the treatments pile up, but let's enjoy the time that we're feeling well while we can!  I was joking that I needed to call my oncologist and make sure that she didn't sign me up for a clinical trial where I got the placebo!

Yasmin - glad that you're feeling well also.  I've been at work this whole week after my treatment last Friday . . . you can do it . . . it will be a good distraction.

Vicki - it sounds like you're happy to take the time off of work.  For me, work has been a great distraction and has shown me how strong I can really be - people are constantly amazed to see me here and it helps me feel even stronger.  Be sure to stay active so that your mind doesn't have too much time to wander. 

Reni - I am on taxotere/carboplatin as well and experienced the same as you, especially with respect to tongue and taste.  I can say, however, that d4 was pretty much the worst for me and my taste has gone almost back to normal, although my tongue still feels pretty dry.  I rinse with Biotene about 5 times a day and that seems to help.  The soreness in my mouth has totally disappeared.

Karen - looks like we're on the same schedule for our bodies as well.  Immodium has become my friend!

Manue - I know what you mean about health care.  Those of us that have good insurance are very fortunate.  I read that a primary cause of bankruptcy is medical debt.  It's very sad that, on top of this horrible disease, people have to deal with outrageous medical bills.  We reached our max out of pocket pretty quickly and haven't received any bills since, thank goodness.

Donna - PM me if you want to Skype tomorrow!

I can safely say that I am feeling 98% normal today so I am looking forward to a great weekend.  I hope that all of you have the same. 

K