March 2010 Chemo Start

LillyC: Linda, your Lilly story brought me to tears. Dogs do know when we're sick. The heartbreak of losing her while you were hospitalized is too, too sad. I'm glad you have a new dog to deal with this again! Where in Virginia are you? I grew up in Alexandria and went to William and Mary in Williamsburg before moving to New England, and now on to Seattle.  My family's been in VA for forever (Jamestown Society, etc), and my sibs are still living there. I'm glad you like my idea for celebration! Can't wait - our light at the end of the tunnel. xxoo

 Frosty: I live in Columbia City, just up the hill from Tutta Bella resaturant. Not far from you at all! Crazy sexy, eh? Do they let bald bilateral-mastectomy people in? Wouldn't that ruin the image? I'm going to google it - it sounds like a place to laugh, and I'm needing that! There are a few laughing clubs here in Seattle - my internist wrote me a prescription to attend! I haven't been yet but plan to give it a try. Laughing has therapeutic effects, you know. There's a laughing yoga group in Greenwood I'm going to try to join next month.

Cheryl: You're not too far from us up there in Vancouver, another beautiful city. Maybe I'll have you both over for "cocktails" on the deck once the weather finishes teasing us, and spring really comes. Of course, nowadays, cocktails are cranberry juice, sparkling water and lime. I do miss my martini...

I'm on day 4 and still feel pretty good, at least compared to what I was expecting. I had A/C and neulasta, and Emend before and after for nausea. There's a correlation between nausea in pregnancy and chemo nausea, so when I told my nurse I was nauseated for 9 months (the reason I had only one child!) she added it last minute. It is the gold standard for nausea-prevention, so if you've had problems, ask about it. Anyway, I don't feel normal - but I'm carrying on, dealing with -oh, you all know - constipation, sleeplessness, anxiety, slight aches, and on and on. Small price to pay to get healthy. No doubt I'll get sicker as it goes on and hope I'll still see the value of the discomfort.

Keep your stories coming. I read you with interest and compassion each day. We all struggle together but somehow keep positive energy flowing. Remember that the Buddhists believe that if 10% of the population is meditating, we all benefit. I believe that if we send positive energy to each other it has the same effect!

Sandiek9:   I live in Richmond and guess what - I went to William and Mary also.I graduated in 1969 .  Wouldn't it be something if we really already know each other?  Although I feel like in so many ways, we already do.  I am going to the river today, but had to stop and check again on all of my c-sisters before heading out the door.  I feel such an incredible connection to each of you already - a real heartfelt and emotional connection, knowing we are all struggling together and helping each other along. Technology is wonderful and so is the human spirit!  And so are each of you!!!!!

Hi everyone:)

 I just want you all to know how much I appreciate all your posts:) I am not staring chemo. until the 31st, so I have been mostly lurking. However, I thought I would share a bit about myself:)

I am 35 y/o nursing student. I am married to a wonderful man and the proud mama to 3 beautiful daughters, ages: 14, 8, and 5:) I found a mass in my right breast in October, but decided to watch it rather than run to my doctor. I had a mass a few years ago that was benign and I have absolutely no family history so I figured this was nothing too. However, after a couple of months I noticed it had gotten bigger, so I thought I should have my gynecologist check it out. After several ultrasounds, mammograms, 2 breast MRI's, 1 u/s guided biopsy, and 1 MRI guided biopsy, it was discovered that I had 2 areas of cancer in my right breast (IDC and DCIS) and an area of suspicion (sp.?) in my left breast. I had a bilateral mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy with immediate reconstruction done on Feb. 23rd. My final path. showed my nodes to be clear of cancer, unfortunately my margins were not, so I will be having radiation after the 6 rounds of chemo. I am ER+, PR+, and HER-2+++, and will be having Herceptin for a year and Tamoxifan for 5 years. I am going in for port placement on Wednesday and starting chemo. on the 31st. I may also have an oophrectomy if I am BRCA 1 and 2 positive, but not until after chemo.I pray I am not positve since I have 3 girls!! So that is a bit about me.

 I look forward to getting to know you all:) I just wish it was under different circumstances!

It's great to get to know one another better but for your own protection everybody please remember this forum is accessible to the world via the web so be careful with your personal info.

BTW you can see members profile by clicking on their username, here's mine:

Personal: I am 50 years old, married, no children, and live in Wisconsin.  My mom, who turns 80 this year, is a survivor, having lost both breasts to cancer, the 1st in 1980 and the 2nd in 1994. 

Timeline: routine mammo in Oct. 2009 was followed by stereotactic biopsy in Nov. 2009 and surgical biopsy in Dec. 2009.  Diagnosed with IDC w/extensive areas of DCIS in R breast and ADH in L breast. Opted for a BMX due to family history. Surgery was 2/2/2010 (Groundhog Day).

If you need a short name for me how about GH

I have a goal to walk 500 miles in a year and will be counting down in my signature line.  I walked 2.2 miles this afternoon, inspired by this song by the Proclaimers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM0sTNtWDiI

yes I also have had lots of positive comments about my short hair.  (I don't think everyone is lying.)

One person added "you should have gotten it cut short sooner."  So of course then I felt like I have been going around looking frumpy for a long time.

GH-good for you and your walking!  I love that song btw. 

TC x 4 March 10 (1 ea 3 weeks)

Started my treatment recently and have been working regularly thus far with no MAJOR problems...I have read a LOT and know possible SEs so I'm prepared. Biggest issue thus far has been a couple days of aches and pains from the neulasta shot; meds have helped avoid big problems with other SEs (nausea, etc.)...still have my hair but ready to see changes any day. I already have a short haircut so I'm just waiting for it to start coming out, then a fun hairdo just prior to the very short buzz cut.

Good morning ladies! Hopefully everyone is coping well today. I usually feel my best in the morning, so waiting to see what the afternoon holds.

LillyC- our Diag sounds very similar. As for the sunshine...you have to wear the sunscreen. It's not warm enough to put on a bathing suit and soak up the sun, so staying covered up hasn't been much of a problem. I simply use a face moisturizer every morning before heading out.

I still consider myself very luck as I read through the side effects others are having. I know nothing is for sure and next treatment could be worse, but I'm counting my blessings. I don't have a lot of energy, bit of a funny taste in my mouth, finally went potty after 3 days, so that has helped A LOT...lol. I think worst of all at this point is my mind isn't as sharp as usual. I have a quick witt under normal circumstances, but can't find the right words at the right time...I believe this is called "chemo brain". Again, still counting my blessings.

I hope you are all able to enjoy a beautiful Spring Sunday. Hugs to all.

Hi Stacey  - thanks for the suggestion on getting to know each other better.  I am 49 years old, live in Vegas, have a 16 year old daughter and have been married to the most wonderful man on earth for the last 5 1/2 years.

I went in for my annual digital mammogram on December 16, 2009 and shortly after received a letter from the radiologist stating "no changes were noted" go on with your life like everything is o.k. (paraphrasing that last part).  Since I have fibroid cysts in my breasts I see a breast speciliast every year and luckily this wasn't the year I decided to skip because on January 7th she noticed something she didn't like and decided to do a fine needle biopsy.  She called the next day with the news that it was breast cancer.  After PETs, etc. discovered 1 met on my spine.  I am ER, PR positive and HER2 negative.  I qualified for a clinical trail at MD Anderson so I am starting chemo tomorrow the 22nd.  MD Anderson is working with the local docs so I will have me chemo in Vegas but will travel to Houston for additional surgery and radiation.

I think I am as ready as possible for tomorrow.  My best friend is flying in to be here with me for the next 10 days or so.  We are excited to see each other but bummed about the reason.

Thanks to everybody for sharing your experience and tips.

Hey all, thinking of things I'll do differently for tx #2, can you add?

plan to take off tx day and the day after tx day (or at least work from home)

day of tx: take anti-nausea pills every 4 hours at 2, 6 & 10 for at least 4 days

night before tx: take a stool softener and then another the next night with 6pm pill

while chemo affects us all differently, someone on another thread phrased it great about docs prefering prevention of constipation because it's hard to get things moving once the concrete sets in.

yes drink lots of water but remember electrolytes. 

My goal of a gallon of water (8-16 oz glasses) a day the days before, of, and after infusion was OK but in hindsight and with benefit of lovemygarden's experience, I am remembering something.  Weds, the day I worked from home, I drank a lot of water and was peeing a lot but then stopped around 4 pm (when Oprah started lol).  Didn't go again until the middle of the night when I had to go mightily and at length (sorry if TMI).  I think my body was holding onto the water for the salts etc.

Anyway, hope you all have a restful night, 60 minutes is just ending so the Amazing Race will be starting.  I like to watch that Sunday nights and see them going all over the world.  {{hugs}}

Hello to all the new ladies and good luck to all this weeks starts.  Also, some of us are going for round #2 this week...lets hope for an easy round, we know what to expect and we are ready!

Must say that I had a psychologically rough day today.  The hair is no more.  I didn't shave it in advance, maybe I should have. It was rough to see it coming out.  Didn't think it would bother me, it was so predicable/expected and it will grow back, but still, it hurt me to see it go.  I have to move past this part of the chemo trauma and buck up for the next treatment on 3/23.  Starting the Decadron tomorrow (bring on the buzzys) and here we go again!

Lets hope for a good week for all of us,,,easy infusions and minimal s/e's, not too much to ask for, right?  Love to all.  Be well.

hi you wonderfull ladies

hope everyone is getting through treatment just fine

just thought i would post to say i am on day 5 after first cycle very few se yeahhhhh

still on anti sickness meds as i am to frightend to not take them after wednesday nights experiance of being up all night over the loo.

hope your all doing well and speak with you all soon

frosty you make me laugh about the hair!!!!!!!! its going bottom up i hope thats the way mine goes xxxxxxx

Hello March Sisters,

Just checking in - Welcome to all the Sisters just joining, and Hope all is going well for all the others.  I, like you that have had your first "cocktail", finally felt back to my old self this past week, so yesterday(Sun) was a little bummed knowing that I get to do it all over again on Tues.  But the up side is that after Tues. I will be half way there !! 

Minor melt down this morning as I was showering for work.  I had my head shaved last week and yesterday my head started feeling like it did when I had hair (sore).  While rinsing my stubble this morning it started to come out - needless to say - little melt down but then I said to myself - "looks like I'm going to need those raspberry tootsie roll lollipops sooner than I thought"

EZH - Check your PM's

To those who are going for treatments this week whether it be 1st or 2nd, I am thinking and praying for you all.  Sending hugs, kisses and good vibes!!!! - Stacey