November 2009-Starting Chemo

Good luck to you ladies having a TX tomorrow...

My DH and son (I have 3 sons too - 18, 23, 27) went to a movie this afternoon. I almost forgot that normal entertainment still existed and that I could participate!

Thursday is my next tx (takes about 4 hrs) and my personal deadline to be ready for Christmas.

Good luck to everyone this week!

 Becca

Ah, here we go....another week. Another dozen medications going in like a lamb and coming out like a lion. Plus my hair is on schedule to go down the drain. My son says "don't call it hair and you won't be so attached to it. Call it "clairol-drenched dead nerve endings". Looking at it that way he thinks I'll be happy to see it go.
3rd TX is tomorrow already and my daughter is going with me this time instead of my son. He is so nervous. I heard him in the other room, preparing my daughter for the day, quizzing her and sounding like a drill sergeant:
"Remember to stand on her right side at first, and before you let them touch her port, tell them what happened last time. Make sure there is forcefulness in your voice!"
"Read the labels on the stuff they are giving her. They usually get the Decadron right but make sure they give her only TAXOL. They will tell you that you are wrong and they will look at their paperwork and show it to you. If it doesn't say TAXOL, tell them that it's wrong and stand your ground. You might have to put your hand over her port and threaten to call the police".
"If that nurse who looks like Robin Williams comes around, don't make conversation because she'll never shut up, and she'll touch mom's face with her germy hands. She's trying to be nice but think of her as a germ-spreading dirt machine and avoid at all costs".
"Ask for a printout of her blood draw and bring it home for me. Check at the top to make sure that mom's name is on the top, last time they tried to give me some DUDE's paperwork. A dude named George. I said to them, ' DOES SHE LOOK LIKE A GEORGE to you???".
Oh my kids, bless their hearts, they shouldn't have to be worrying about all this. Wish I could just send them away to a tropic island for a year and be healthy-mom again when they return. On the other hand, it's so comforting to know that they are all grown up, can take charge, and are learning the ropes as it will, I'm sure, come in handy for them through the years. We older girls tend to be so trusting of anyone in the medical field and we don't question things enough. I am learning right along with my children.

Hello Ladies!  Hope everyone is experiencing little to no SEs today.

Mommy2two - I hope you are feeling better today and that you are able to take it easy.

Brenda - I have had two ECHOs now.  One before TX#1 and one before #3 because I am on the AC cocktail.  #1 came out normal, but my onc. has another one done midway through to make sure my heart is handling it ok.  Demand your ECHO!!

SharaD - So happy you have your kids by your side - they sound like amazing advocates and really on top of it.  Although it is sad that mixups keep happening to you.  Hope all goes well this time and that your dau. doesn't have to step in.

JustmeAlicia - hanging out having a lazy day bonding with the kids sounds heavenly.  Good for you for taking a day with them in pjs. 

BeccaS - Sending your all kinds of good shopping and decorating vibes for getting ready for Christmas.  I hope it is full of joy and happiness.  Nothing like retail therapy!

Mabelle - I loved your story of the dinner party.  Just the light-hearted fun that we all need.  Lovely friends, laughter and good memories.  I don't think I will be getting out this season, but your story helped me live vicariously through you, so thank you.

HUGS to all.

HI girls ~ I am home from my #4 and last DD AC ~ woo HOO no more red devil for me.  Next 4 treatments are Taxol.  I feel ok, she told me to really not let myself get nauseous... to take the compazine or zofran.  Last treatment I threw up on day 3, not FUN.  Hoping everyone that had TX today is feeling good, as well as all of YOU having a SE free day.

Brenda ~ I had a Mugga scan of my heart before starting chemo.  I would ask the dr.

OH... and I might need RADIATION... grrrr they are setting up an appt.  Due to me having 2 tumors that together totalled 5 cms.  It may be necessary, even though I  had a bl max?!  weird, but I'll do whatever I'm told to fight this beast. 

I got poked twice, first time my vein blew out.  ouch. 

Hugs girls !

Alicia

I have had my period 3 times on AC ~ it was a bit heavier then  usual.  I didn't call the dr, just figured it was normal.  I think the chemo just really messes with our bodies.  But, I would mention it to your onc office just to be sure all is ok.

Good luck.

Back to the couch for me ~

Alicia: Congrats on finishing the AC Woo Hoo!!! Do they start the Taxol in two weeks? I hope that the Taxol is easier than the AC. I will be having rads too, but I still have that darn lymph node that glows. Sorry you have to do rads.

Cathy: I have only had one period on chemo and it was weird. No bleeding in between periods though.

SharaD: Good job raising those great kids!

I went out shopping commando today, the weather was nice so I was rockin my bad-ass baldness!

Hope everyone gets a good nights rest and an easy day tomorrow.

I've had 2 chemo treatments so far and #3 is planned for Dec. 23rd.  Today I had a follow-up visit with my surgeon (clip placement last week) and he says that my tumor has now shrunk from 3.5cm X 5cm DOWN to 1.5cm!  So, what I'm wondering is...since it has shrunk and that's the point of chemo BEFORE surgery, does anyone think that my oncologist might let me just have these 3 chemo treatments and forget #4 in January since it's already doing what it's supposed to be doing?  I'd love to have #3 then skip on to surgery & radiation.  Getting this over would be good!

Well, I'm just sitting here at work getting ready for #3 at 1 o'clock today. I think I've just fretted myself into a stomach ache. I'm ready to be done! My last AC is 12/29. I have a breast MRI on Jan 4 and set my appts for THZ on the 5th.

Alicia/Mabelle: I'm set to have 33 rad treatments after my spring surgery. I was told no implants for me, since rads can really mess up the skin. If I do have recon, it will be a TRAM flap procedure.

Brenda: I had an ECHO also. Same time as the PET/CT/Bone Scans. I feel like I glow in the dark anymore.

Sherri: Congrats on the shrinkage! That's what we all want to hear. Have they ordered any MRIs or anything? They just need to make sure the margins are clear and it's in a good location. Gotta make the surgeons job as easy as possible. Good luck!

I am just so ready for the spring. Warm air and sunshine. I tired of these foggy, dreary NC days. I'm just as gloomy as the weather today...Weep  Weep

Brenda ~ The BRCA test is a genetic blood test they do.  To see if I carry a gene for BREAST cancer, if so that makes my daughter most likely a carrier as well.  She will have the answers and be able to get tested and make a decision if she wanted to before she ever GETS breast cancer.  God just the thought sickens me... Not my child !

Cafe ~ Good luck with # 3 today.  Hoping all goes smoothly.  I already have tissue expanders in place so not sure what to expect with the radiation.  Either way eventually I will hopefully have the switch to permanent implants either before or after rads.  IF I need them for sure.  ugh.... so overwhelming.

Wishing everyone a SE free day. and Smooth TREATMENT day for those receiving it.

Alicia

Sherri  I also did chemo neoadjuvant to shrink my tumor.  I was told that when we started chemo, if there was significant shrinkage, we could do surgery part way through and finish the rest after surgery.  Although the immediate goal in your case, (chemo first) is to shrink the tumor down to a size that is lumpectomy friendly, the real purpose of chemo is to zap any of those stray cancer cells that may be floating around your body. 

Alicia  I am curious, why do they say you need rads after a bilat MX ?  I went through lump. and reincision, without clear margins and have since had a bilat also.  My BS put it infront of the " tumor board" to ask their advice on whether I indeed needed radiation.  They came back with a  you should CONSULT with a radiation oncologist.  I meet with her next week.  As my PS said, they will indeed tell you that " it could help".  I'm definitely not sold on that idea.  If I land in a gray area, it ain't happening !!  I would suppose it depends on your pathology, node involvement and how close to the chest wall your tumor was.

Brenda Sharon  You do such a great job with this thread!!  thanks

Happy Tuesday! I'm up and enjoying my delicious veggie juice with juicy bits of shiny hubcap. My toast went down very well this morning, I am using the calcium enriched butter spread on it and it's delightful, I can almost taste the calcium in it...(or is that iron and steel and RUSTY NAILS that I am tasting?)

Right now I'm trying to decide on an outfit to wear for my afternoon Taxol. It's at 3pm so I'm hoping they have a happy hour. Maybe I'll get a two for one deal on the Decadron and the Zofran.



I've got a sleek little black cocktail number that one of the security guards always enjoys. I was thinking of wearing that with my new heels. But because of the color, if my hair starts to drop today it'll be very noticeable. Plus I don't know if I should wear these new heels if I can't even feel my feet. I'm leaning more towards a beige sundress instead, I'm thinking I could breeze into the joint with a parasol and really be NOTICED. Like a grand entrance.



Aw, what the hell, I think I'll just go in this damn housecoat. Barefoot. Might not even take a shower beforehand since even the shower water, which I don't get in my mouth, somehow tastes like an old hammer these days.

I'll check in with y'all tomorrow to let you know how things go....hopefully they don't send me to the wrong wing of the hospital where I end up getting a kidney transplant by mistake. Because I'd hate for the real kidney transplant patient to have to get my Taxol. I'm sure she's got enuff problems without having to worry about peeing flames from the depths of hell.