Starting Chemo October 2009

Good luck to those going back to work tomorrow.  I've been going in one day a week since I started...(I only work part time, and this is a slow time of year for us, so they don't need me all of the time anyhow.) 

Juanelle, cool that you have your own stall.  My office is small and restroom is a one-holer for ladies, one-holer for men.  Guess it wouldn't be fair for me to ask for that, huh?   And glad you've got a pit bull that is nice enough to tell people to keep their distance for you.

When I go into work, I always start by wiping down my desk, keyboard, phone with antibiotic wipe.  And I keep hand sanitizer that I re-use whenever I have been to the copier or whatever.  I also try not to touch my mouth, eyes, nose.  Then as long as I don't get too face to face with anyone, I feel like I'm reasonably protected. 

I have my appointment to get the henna tattoo put on my skull at 1200 tomorrow!  I am actually excited about it.  Maybe people will think I'm just into crazy fashion and not crazy chemo.  

I also do the blood work thing again tomorrow.  If this is like the first time, my WBCs are probably around 40,000.  Take that, Disease!!

And to all of you who may be thinking of just letting the bald shine - it definitely looks better with makeup.  No makeup looks like chemo.  Lots of makeup looks like you mean business!  And big earrings!  I would add puffy shirt here as well, but I'm not sure we want to take it completely into the pirate realm.

Have a good night, Ladies!

Laura 

@Laura: Great idea the tattoo; it completes the "rock star" look! In fact, I'm waiting for my 1mm hair to fall to get it done. The initials of my two daughters ME.... yes "me". First time in my life that I'm focusing on me.... this is a point!

Good news (?) to share: I'm getting neo adjuvant chemo such that we are hoping to reduce tumor size and do a lumpectomy. Initially, there was this lump under my armpit (no biopsy on it but just clinical exam). This morning, no more lump.... I tried to find it for a whole 30 minutes... it is gone... and I REALLY worked hard to find it... I almost digged into my skin to feel something

 Is that possible that the lump was not cancer but just a reaction of my immune system? Or that my 2x FEC 100 worked to reduce the thing on my axillary lymph node?

 Any thoughts?

Jean hope you have a really positive day at your job and I'll be praying for your protection from germs and viruses.  Its gotta feel good to get back into the routine....willl boost you confidence.  You can do this chemo thing AND take on your world. 

I have round # 3 tomorrow and am looking forward to being half way done.  I've had a great, energizing week so I feel blessed and ready to go again.  Who else has chemo on Tue? I've been  full of energy this week and even mowed and raked the yard.  I like my wigs and always work in them but they're a bit breezy.  WHere have others purchased wigs that are thick?...I had really thick hair and the wigs feel like light caps!  I'm really happy for you gals who are navigating the haircut, wig donning stage so well.  You can look good and like what you see in the mirror.  take care. goodnight all ,arby

Hi Arby I'm up for 2morrrow also which is why I am up 2night- steroids at 8p don't make a lot of sense but computer games do.....

Txstardust  Good luck on Weds- will pray to the chemo gods tomorrow that u go smooth and thanks for the morale booster!(thanks 2 you also Juanelle-did u realize your pun?)

Thanks for kind thoughts Jean I swear all that anti-b stuff saved me from flu! Good luck 2 u and enjoy the kids - they seem so precious 2 me these days!

Hopefully goodnight-Valerie 

Dear Arby,



I didn't think that a wig could have that problem. I bought one locally and one at tlcdirect.org. Compared to my hair, they both have too much hair on top and towards the back. But I guess depending on how much hair you have the wig could fall short.



Try a wig salon. If they don't have a wig with enough hair maybe they could style your wig so it would look like it does.

Good luck to all going to work. I am off to work as well. It is a teacher work day so there will not be kids at school. We have to enter report cards. I do feel a bit unfocused. I hope that gets better.  Does anyone have any suggestions for contact lenses? Mine seem to bother me so I am wearing my glasses, but would love to be able to switch between the two. I wear monthly disposapal bifocal lenses.

Hope all who is feeling bad get better.!!!!

My daugher is coming in from Grad school on Friday night to go with me and hubby to do the wig thing. They will buzz me at the wig shop. It will be day 9 from first treatment and I want to be in control of the hair isuues. She emailed dad and told him she had to be here for me. She is the best daughter in the world and has been an amazing support  for me through all of this. My son as well. Thank god for good friend, families and this forum to express.

A good day to all. Hope I make it through the day.  Tomorrow will be the real test when the kids are back at school. 

Dear Mary,



My onco does not do decadron oral at all. Appatently studies have shown it is equally effective when given only 1 dose by IV. Ask your onco about that.



Tlcdirect sells wigs starting at 40 dollars. I didn't see any hand made ones but they may have some in the higher price range.



Ask your eye doctor if there are other more permeable lenses that are right for you. Chances are that you will like glasses more than lenses during chemo esp on taxol/taxpotere.

Hey Onty, Do you have any more info about the decadron studies?  I would love to not take the steroids if there is no added benefit.  The less medication, the better in my opinion.

Lainieo, it's so great that your daughter is such a source of support for you.  I've come to realize how important family is.

Joanne, I'm with you on the change in opinion about what's "important" when it comes to the kids. While I wish this change was due to anything other than BC, at least something positive is coming out of it. 

Peace... 

Mary, TLC does have some microfilament wigs that are hand tied.  I didn't buy from TLC, but I have one machine made wig that is very light and airy.  I don't think they are all heavy.  I don't think I could handle a heavy one, especially when the hot flashes hit.

Laineo, sweet of your daughter to come in.  I have just guys around here, and they never helped me with hair grooming issues before and would not want to start now!  They do what they can other ways, but wig choice would have been WAYYYYY outside their comfort level.  They are still in denial about all of that, and want to stay that way.

And I don't need steroids with my chemo, but I've had them before with asthma.  Some people are more sensitive than others.  I had a terrible time with them, and it seemed to take forever to get them out of my body.  In the meantime, I was exhausted but couldn't sleep and consequently didn't think straight for days.  Hope you figure out something suitable.

Diagnosis: 8/13/2009, IDC, ER-/PR-, HER2+

I have the same reaction to Decadron that MarieK does.  It didn't keep me up, so I never crashed.  I guess I'm lucky for that. 

My 2nd tx is on Friday and I'm kind of an emotional wreck but I'm not entirely sure why. The hair, definitely, but I'm also afraid that I got off easy with SEs on the first go (though I was distracted by the injuries from the van accident) and that this tx will hit me hard.  I keep crying and hating my body for doing this to me.  All my life I've had large breasts (B cup by age 10, DD for most of my adult life) and right now they disgust me.  In fact, I've never liked having large breasts.  Grown men leered at me when I was an adolescent, and even my best friend referred to me as "the one with the tits" when talking to other people. I know I should feel lucky that I was able to get by with a lumpectomy, but I feel revolted and angry whenever my arm brushes against my breasts.  I wish they had cut them off.  I took the BRCA test and I almost hope its positive so I can have an excuse to have them removed.  My husband loves my breasts, and it hurts him to know how I feel.  I keep crying and feel powerless over what is happening to me.

Luckily I have an appointment to see my counselor at the cancer center this afternoon so I can maybe get over this before I have to teach tonight.

Thanks for letting me whine.

Love to all, Sido

Dear Sido, Marie,

See the clinical study that I posted about using Decadron for Taxol. 

Thank you Onty for the information.  I am not having a hard time on Decadron with FEC so I will continue to use it as the onc prescribed.

Sido I'm sorry that you are having a hard time with your breasts.  I think the resentment of them is only natural - they are afterall trying to kill you!

I only had a left mastectomy and do not trust my right breast at all.  It will be removed when I have my reconstruction/deconstruction next year. 

I hope that the counsellor will be able to help you...

Having a bit of lower back & hip pain tonight - probably from the Neupogen injection.

Took the Clariton but will have to supplement with some Extra Strength Tylenol and early to bed.

Michelle - I had to go to the hospital last night because my PICC line bled out.  The iv nurse told me I must have worked my arm too hard or carried something too heavy yesterday.  Has that happened you before?

I was trying to remember what I did yesterday that might have caused this to happen....I'm convinced that it was from taking my daughter driving yesterday (she is just learning).  I swear my blood pressure went through the roof!  Especially when she rolled through a stop sign and or maybe it was when she "forgot" she was in reverse and gunned it BACKWARDS!!!

Yes tonight it will be early to bed....

I hope everyone has a good night!

Marie