November 2009-Starting Chemo

HOLY COW TOYAH,  that must be a huge shock...I think I would have fainted dead away...This is almost like some crazy soap opera from the 80s...be sure to keep us tuned into ""The Young and the Breastless"

LOL Michele. Y&R was my fav soap back in the day. Young & the Breastless is our lives now, isn't it!

Oh wow, Toyah! Children are definitely a miracle, but pregnancy and chemo don't mix. I'm hoping for the best!! Good luck! and here's hoping you are not mommy2three. Damn, I can't even get my DH to touch me. Didn't you know I'm made of fine china?! According to him, he may break me!

My first TH treatment went kinda OK. Had trouble accessing my port. The nurse came short from jumping up and down on it. Took three nurses to get it working. No allergic reactions, but I did sleep the whole time. Freakin' Benadryl knocked me out. My poor mom sat for 4 hours watching me sleep. Poor girl! I love my Mama!!!!! I got done at 1:30 and slept from 2-5. Now I'll be up all night... Love to all!

Cafelovr - My DH feels the same as yours.  It was only one time back when I first started chemo but you know what they say....it only takes once!  

I had an exam and another blood test at my gyn's office.  Also have another blood test scheduled for Friday.  Won't know the outcome of the first one till in the morning.  The physician's assistant said that if it came back positive then we are definitely dealing with an ectopic pregnancy.  Geez...that would mean another surgical procedure.  When does the madness end????

I also had my blood work done at my onc's office today.  Counts are very low but my onc was out of the office so his PA said instead of getting the shot, I need to come back Friday for another blood test to see if my counts have risen.  WTF???  I'm a human pin cushion these days.

Michele - Thanks for the laugh!

Hugs to all 

Toyah

Alicia - fingers are crossed for you and your husband

Toya - Its just got to be a false positive! Have you been to the drugstore to see what "the stick" says? I'd be going crazy!

SLV - sorry, I don't have any info on rads/surgery timing. I've got an appointment with a radiation oncologist on Jan 25th. Hopefully I'll find out then if they want me to have rads or not. From what I remember, my ps said that if I need rads, I would have to wait 6 months after to have my exchange surgery.  

Alicia and Mouse - my ps filled me to 400cc in one go immediately after the mastectomies. I've never heard of anyone having this done - but she seemed to think it was normal. I woke up after my mastectomies with fairly big foobs. I was in horrendous pain for about a month, taking mega pain killers every 4 hours. I've only had 2 fills since then (40cc and 60cc) and so am now up to 500cc total. 

The kids' stomach flus have passed and so have my SEs! Yippee. I'm going shopping with a friend tomorrow - I'm looking forward to some retail therapy!

Toyah -- There are a few articles out there that say increased levels of HCG caused by breast cancer can produce false-positive pregancy tests. Hope that's what it turns out to be!

http://ezinearticles.com/?False-Positive-Pregnancy-Test&id=1080612

GREAT NEWS Alicia !!!!!! My DH has a colonoscopy scheduled for next month. They have never found another polyp since the one that was cancerous. Not a pleasant experience to go through so good luck to your hubby.

Sue

Hey hey, I haven't been on the site since Jan. 5th.  Just spent an hour catching up. Have either been busy or not feeling well at all.  Finished A/C on Dec. 15th, but the SE's just kept rolling in.  Have had 3 Taxol TX and, though I have no pain at all, have absolutely zero energy.  Am anemic and low hemoglobin, causing shortness of breath and racing heart if I try to do anything as simple as climbing a flight of stairs.  I use to so look forward to going to bed at night, however, that is just not fun anymore.  Am either sweating or freezing, and seem to be awake more than asleep.  I read one of BrendaSharon's postings around Jan. 6th when she was so down and I could have written it myself.  I hate all this.  I want my life back.  I thought the Taxol was supposed to be so much easier.  I always feel great on TX day, little energy the next, even less the next, no taste buds at all, so nothing tastes good.  Finally start feeling half-way decently the day before the next TX, just in time to start the whole sucky process all over again.  And then I read about Alicia's DH, sick kids, DH's out of town and I am ashamed that I even complain.  I know I should be grateful to be able to just get out of bed.

5 more Taxol TX's and then radiation for me.  Just found out that I have to wait 2 weeks after my last Taxol before I can get the port out, so haven't met with the rad. onc. yet since that wouldn't start until into March.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Melinda: You are ALMOST there. Hang in there, girl. #4 AC nearly tore me down...it took a while to get over the SE. But I did, and normalcy will return. I'm now doing 12 weeks of Taxol/Herceptin, and all I can say is so far, so good! A little heart burn and crampy tummy, but no pain, no nausea. The Benadryl they give you in your pre-chemo cocktail will knock you out!

Nette: Are you doing DD Taxol or weekly? Do you think the steroids are keeping you awake? Talk to your onc. You cannot go without sleep!!! Be happy for the little blessings. You get your port out soon. Mine will have to stay for AT LEAST a year! UGH.

One minute I'm hot and one minute I'm cold. I was wondering if the hot flashes were starting. Our lows in NC are in the upper teens/lower 20s. I froze my DH to death the other night because I had to sleep with the window open. I may soon get my own room...

Does anyone know  does your hair on head start to grow back while onTaxol ??? When I cut my medium length hair after 2 week of A/C treatment,  I saved it, NOw I have my girlfriend wanting to cut her long hair and donate for me to make a real hair wig .....I hate to have her do this if my hair will grow over the next months...(just has mascetomy Tuesday) will start Taxol beginning Feb.......Just wanted to see if you girls were told what to expect , I didnt discuss with my Oncologist last time I saw her..I appreciate any insight

Alicis, Yah, new foobies...how exciting..you should go out a hoist a couple..beers that is.

What a relief Toyah, I am so glad you got a negative and don't have to worry about an ectopic.

As people finish chemo are they going to be leaving us, I don't want anyone to go! I still have at least three more months of chemo before I graduate to rads.

Melinda, I have chemo until March 31. Then surgery. Then rads. I ain't going no where!!! I'm just happy to be done with the AC! My year is pretty much screwed...

Toyah, I'm glad for the good news.

BrendaShar:  my onc said that  I can get radiation right after the port is out. (My last Taxol is Feb. 16th)  I found out that the port removal involves numbing the area, freezing the surrounding tissue, taking out the port, and you leave the office with a band aid.  (Surgeon's nurse told me this.)

Cafelovr: I'm doing the Taxol weekly.  Not sure if it is the steroids keeping me awake or not.  I do have Ativan I think I need to take.  Can't believe you have to keep the port in for a year.  ugh.

cat60:  I was told that if you haven't lost your hair before Taxol, you will loose it during those TX.  I still have stubble all over, but it isn't growing at all.

mommy2two:  soooooo glad you get to stay "mommy2two!!!!!" 

Psalm121:  happy shopping! 

And I ain't going anywhere anytime soon either!  I need you, guys!