May 2010 Chemo

Had my 2nd tx today.  I was there for 9 hours.  It took a lot mentally to not freak out.  But 2 tx's down and 2 to go.  I'll be done mid August.  I get tx's every 3 weeks. 

We took the little guy camping overnight at a bluegrass festival on Friday.  It went well.  We slept in our fish house.  It has 2 beds and room for a pack n play.  I had bronchitis and was coughing just terribly so was wondering how it would go all sleeping in the same little space.  But I had a radio going and coughed into a pillow.  Neither baby or bf seemed to be bothered.  We also took the baby fishing for the first time yesterday and caught 27 sunfish.  Then we had pizza with my mom.  She's leaving tomorrow to go back home after being here since april 1st during my mast surgery and 1st tx. 

Now just getting ready to feel crappy for a week and half.  I'm anemic again and might have to start a blood pressure med.  I'm having taxol/carboplastin/avastin for chemo and taxol/avastin raise your blood pressure.  My blood pressure is already bordering on higher than I'd like.  I'm still hopped up on Decadron so we'll see how tonight goes. 

I really, really hate this (as u all know).

Paxton - sorry for the long treatment - but 1/2 way there!    Fishing sounds fun - 27 fish - woohoo!!  The steroids keep me up for a while after treatments, hopefully you can rest.

Last night, I read all the posts and had responded to everyone, and I lost the internet connection in the hotel - so I really apologize for not responding to everyone... I have read all of them and I'm with you - highs and lows... but I have a question tonight... I had my period May 1, before starting chemo (taxol and herceptin) on 5/13, weekly.  Then I had another period on 5/26.. it was pretty normal, about 6 days, but without cramps and boob tenderness (which I do normally get on a monthly basis).  I am now having some bleeding and tenderness down there... does anyone know what that is?  My blood work was status quo last week... platelets ok, rbc not too low, wbc not too low...?? 

Thanks ladies!!!  Hope everyone is having a GREAT week! 

Redbarb804  I have had nosebleeds, I thought it was the Cytoxan, because its has played with my sinuses...not bad they go away fast...my ONC said not a  problem unless it last a loing time..

 So went for my blood check today my WBC has tanked.they put me on antibios for a week... except for the WBC this treatment has been pretty good not bad...the tiredness has started to go away...gong to try for a nice long walk in the morning

good night  

sacphotomom:  Thanks for the nosebleed information.  I was just reading stuff last night and it said about calling the ono if you have nosebleeds, but these aren't even bad or lasting long at all so I really don't want to do another doctors visit.  I love the picture!!

I love all your pictures!!!!

Paxton, sorry your treatment took so long!

Leanna, I've been having kind of crazy period issues too. I got mine the day after my second tx and it was a few days late but now it's off and on. I'll have it for a day and then it seems to go away - only to come back the next day.... My onc told me I'd probably get one more and "It'll probably be a doosy" (sp) those are his words so I'm just waiting for this to get bad but so far it's been really light. So, in the end, I'm not much help! LOL

LauraM:  If you want a shirt let me know your size and I can see if I can order you one.  I can mail it to you then, just PM your address.  What part of NJ is Milford?  I have a brother in law that lives in Little Egg Harbor. 

Irishtess: I can't take a whole lot of credit for the fundraising my boss and co-workers did a lot of it.  I used email to get a lot of funds. I have to say it was sure an amazing experienc.

Absolutely love the picture Barb!  Beautiful smile...thanks Linda for letting us know how to do it.

Day, maybe they will have a day in a month or two.  I would think you can still attend, even if the chemo has stopped.  I hope so, I plan on going in July. 

Laura, that is phenominal fundraising, way to go! 

Nanaof2: Thanks.  It was hard not to smile with all the love and support that surrounded me the day it was taken.  Of course the smiles were between tears of disbelief with how many people were there. 

Has anyone gone to an amusement park since starting treatment?  Are you allowed to ride rides?  Does the chemo effect you as far as motion sickness or not.  We are taking the kids to Hershey Park on the 21st and I love the roller coaster and want to prepare myself if I can't ride. 

Hope everyone had a great day!

I've got my second treatment tomorrow. I'm almost more scared this time even though it wasn't so bad last time and the docs all said it will be simmilar every time. Maybe I wonder if it was worse than my memory of it.

My hair is falling out fast now. I have to pick up my wig that I ordered before it all goes. I had a haircut on Monday, it's now above my ears. It had been well below my shoulders. It feels strange.

RedBarb, I have had nosebleeds since starting, but nothing major (sound like they may be like yours), and also my nose just 'runs' alot now.. it's usually clear, but I do have to check when I feel it running, because sometimes it has been blood, KWIM?  And, the amusement park, I did ride a couple of rides at SeaWorld... none were G-pullers, but none of the roller coaster warnings including chemo!  I would totally go for it as long as your not nauseaous going in!!

Sacphotomom - LOVE the picture - you are beautiful!  Sorry 'bout your WBC... keep handwashing and never touch your face!!!  (ok, that's the nurse in me).  And YAY for energy!  I have treatment tomorrow so time to be jacked up on steroids!

Laura - that's awesome on the fundraising, incredible!!  I hear you on the constipation too, ugh...  I bump up my stool softeners if they don't work after a day.  Also, miralax is incredible, and works gently overnight!  Love it! 

Summer - thanks!!  It has been kind of come and go - so, I know I'm not alone.  I guess it's pointing towards shutting down my ovaries and stopping the cancer, so that's good. 

Hi Irishtess - just curious about the 'Irish' in your signon??  I have a good friend who went to Notre Dame, and my husband and I are a good bit Irish and named our kids accordingly... Meg, Ryan and Nolan (and you may notice another reference in their names too.... ))

Golfergirl - I've gained a few pounds too.  I did recently read an article that pointed toward patients having better outcomes from treatment if they were able to stay within 13 pounds of their pre-treatment weight... I don't know how much validity it had, but maybe it was geared toward the radiation portion?? 

Hi Judy

Daisy - you ARE going to be fine in tretment tomorrow!  I'll be thinking about you while I'm doing mine... we'll both be fine!  My hair is clogging drains all over now.  I have my time to put in at the Air Force Base for the next 2 1/2 weeks... and um, if I have to shave it before I finish I'm not sure I can go in uniform anymore... I don't know what the regs say about a woman being bald... I think that is considered "fad-ish" and not allowed in the military... hmmm, guess that's why they are putting me out on medical leave when this 2 1/2 weeks is done...

Hey Paxton!!  How're you feeling??  I just saw your post on the miralax.. it's great!! 

Good vibes everyone!!!!  (((HUGS)))

SeaWorld was great - perfect weather and not too crowded.  Today, we went to Kennedy Space Center - so, I have some trivia for everyone (I love useless trivia, by the way)... did you know when the space shuttle lands... it takes 45 minutes to get from Australia to Florida.... it only takes 8 minutes to travel from California to Florida... and the landing runway is 15,000 feet long (about 3 miles). 

Don't forget to take off your hat on the roller coasters!!  I lost my favorite pink hat on the Atlantis ride.  I was so bummed, I bought 2 more hats at SeaWorld and 2 at KSC... my favorite is the NASA hat... it says "I need my space!"  HAHA!!

Leanna - your kids names are Nolan and Ryan! That's great!!! I'm a huge baseball fan!

I love that everyone is putting up pictures now! What a good looking bunch we are.

I'm pretty sure I have the anovulatory thing going on too. I got my period a week after my first treatment and it was pretty normal. Then 3 weeks later it started again but very light and without cramps or anything. It's been about 3 days and its pretty much the same - just light. I had lost about 15 lbs. over 4 months from all the stress of waiting for test results (and boy are there lots). I was actually really happy because I needed to lose 10 and the extra 5 was fine too. Right at the same time that I got this 'period' I have felt sooo bloated. I'm sure I've gained at least 5 pounds if not more in the last week. 

Good luck to those getting treatments tomorrow and Friday.

Hi everyone. I have been MIA. There has been a tragedy in my family--my husband's father had a massive stroke out of the blue on Friday and died Monday morning. My kids and husband are devastated. It's been such a rough year for my kids so far. I'm so worried about them.

I had TX #3 today and I'm feeling okay. But my RBC/hemoglobin is down even more (hemoglobin, 9.4; RBC 3.3). Sigh. They are now threatening me with a transfusion if I can't get my RBC up. And I had an abscess in my tooth on Thursday, so I'm on antibiotics and need to get a root canal next week. Yuck.

I had a CT, and my lungs showed a bit of pneumonitis in my left lung, but not enough for them to stop chemo. So that's good...I guess. At least there's no sign of cancer anywhere in that area...

Leanna9, I had a very similar bleeding experience between TX#1 and deep into TX#2. I had a regular period starting about a week after TX#1, then it just...didn't go away. I spotted for about 3 weeks. My once said that if it continued beyond that, he'd do an exam (he's a gynocological onc), but the day after that, it stopped! Strange.

Anyway, I've missed you guys. I have to deal with some family stuff in the next few days, so I don't know how often I'll be able to check in.

 hugs to all!

Jenny: I am so sorry to hear about your father in law.  Try to remember that they say kids are resilent(sp?) Just keep the communication open if you can and let them know that you are there if they need to talk.  I am impressed at how strong you are to be dealing with all of this.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.  Hope your counts come up so that you don't have to have a transfusion.  Make sure you take time to rest so that the lungs clear up!  God Bless

Barb

JennyB - I am soo sorry to hear about your Father in Law, you and your family are in my thoughts & prayers. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

Golfergirl - Thanks for the info, I'll def. google it. I hear ya on the weight gain! It really just seems so unfair to add that into the mix! Ugh

Redbarb - I love Hershey!!! One of my favorite places - we usually take the kids every year on the last day of school. Not going this year because there's just too much going on. Have a great time & absolutely ride the coasters!

Daisy & Leanna - Thinking of you guys today.