Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Graceokinawa: Congratulations, you're done??? What a wonderful feeling.  I'm going to use your advice.  Walk through the pain and elevate.  I found that when my feet are elevated and I move them a lot, circles, back and forth, they drain faster.  Potassium is making mine worse but I need it for next week's surgery.  I can't believe I'm saying 'next week'!

What's next for you?

I had a funny experience today.  I went through the McDonald drive-thru (I feel so guilty even admitting to doing this).  When I drove up to the window to get my food, the guy working there said "I like your haircut".  I was so surprised.  I almost said "I got it thanks to chemo" but then I thought "why?".  I just made me realize that I am getting close to be able to going "topless".

Summer is so to start in the Pacific NW.  We are supposed to have warmer weather this weekend. 

Bubbalu - I had surgery first, tumor was just too big.  I have herceptin until at least April of next year.  Trying to get a scan to check the spot on my lung and the ones on my collar bone before I leave.  No radiation unless the two spots on my collar bone are still there.  The decision for radiation will most likely wait until I go to CC.

Wren22 - excited about Cleveland Clinic.  Also, excited that it is someone who speaks english!  The main campus will be a bit of a drive, but they have several places where I can get infusions closer to where we will be living.  I love the fall in the midwest!  Looking forward to seasons again!  It has been many years.

One thing I found most helpful during chemo was a box of unscented  baby wipes - sat it beside the toilet - y'all know why!!!  Seems the direction of the "water spout" changes when you pee...and the baby wipes are great to keep you clean and refreshed.

Bubbalu - no itching here. Have you tried benedryl? My first thought was that it was the hair follicles pushing thru - but you mention all over so probably not that. My head did itch for about a week when the hair started to push thru the scalp. I just put moisturizer up there, and it went away.

Had Herceptin #9 out of 18 yesterday, so 1/2 of the way thru that treatment now. They did a blood draw first and low and behold I am still slightly anemic. Liver enzymes are still elevated as well, and they told me that was because of the chemo and/or anesthesia. Finally starting to feel better from last weeks surgeries, and making it longer and longer between pain meds. I got a card in the mail today from my work - signed by several of the departments all wishing me a speedy recovery - so that made me feel good.

My mom went home yesterday after being here for 1 week, so it was just me and the dog puttering around the house today. Kind of lonely. DH called around noon today to check up on me so that was nice.

Was trying to do some laundry - we have a front load washer. So I bent down to a squat kneeling position and trying hard not to move my arms to much gradually started to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Well of course I lost my balance and started to fall backward. Of course the first thing I did was grab on with my arm, then felt the pain in my chest, which caused me to let go real quick and I landed on my back. Not to smart I know. I am ok, but will not be doing laundry again for a while. I just feel so helpless being at home all day, knowing there is stuff that needs to be done, and not being able to do it because most of it requires me to use my arms!

Oh well, this to will pass.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Thank you for your welcomes!  However, I am still in Okinawa.  We leave on September 3.  I think Wren was saying that Fall is great in Ohio!  Something I really am looking forward to this year!  Also, cooler weather.

Today is my bad intestinal beginning day!  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  oh well.

mslrg- so glad you got some sleep.  It is so necessary!

Happy 4th of July everyone! I will also be celebrating mine and hubby's 17th anniversary and our youngest son's 10th birthday!

Hi ladies, it has been quite a while since I was on the boards. Have been keeping busy with the kids home for the summer and trying to get some things done before my bi-lat mx and flap reconstruction surgery next Monday. DH & I decided that since we wouldn't be able to take a vacation this summer we took the kids on day trips all last week. had a wonderful time but was completely worn out. Definitely felt more tired after walking than usual. We took them to an amusement park and my poor DH had to ride all of the roller coasters with each of the boys b/c I was too chicken to take my scarf off in public. Ridiculous I know and believe me after the day was over I was kicking myself and was very disappointed that I didn't just take off the scarf, not give a crap about what other people thought, and just enjoyed my time with the kids. I beat myself up about this for quite a few days last week.

Hair has continued to grow on my head and in the center of my scalp I probably have at least an inch. The weird thing is that the middle of my scalp is growing much faster and thicker than around my head so I almost look like someone put a bowl on top of my head and then cut my hair. Very stylish. haha. I wore my wig for the first time in probably at least 3 weeks and it sucked! I have been wearing scarves or a hat all summer and when I am at home I am happy to have nothing on my head. It is way too hot for stuff on my head and I can't stand it. Eyebrows are looking pretty good and eyelashes are making a comeback although they are still very short. 

So my surgery is next week and i am trying to mentally prepare myself for it and the lengthy recovery. I am having a free tram flap done and the surgery could be anywhere from 10-15 hours long which completely freaks me out. And then there is the recovery which the doctors claim is 6-8 weeks so I'm hoping they are correct b/c I am supposed to start work again at the end of August. Had to talk with the boys tonight and explain that i would be in the hospital for a week and that afterwards I would be very sore and not able to do a whole lot for quite a few weeks. Their sad and worried little faces just broke my heart. I've cried twice today so that is pretty good for me. I cried when I gave my little girl a bath and then when I put her down for her nap. She was snuggling up on my shoulder while I rocked her and all I could think of was that in another week I wouldn't be able to do these things and that for many,many weeks I wouldn't able to hold her and cuddle with her the way I want to. I am so going to  miss my kids while I'm in the hospital and I'm going to miss their hugs and snuggles while I am recovering. I just keep praying that i will get through all of this without complications and that I will heal quickly b/c I can't wait to get back to my like.

Can't remember if I already posted this but my last MRI showed that my initial lump was still there and was actually larger in size. Both onc and surgeon said it could be made up of dead cancer cells, scar tissue, or actual cancer cells and they won't know for sure until my surgery so needless to say i have been very anxious and am constantly feeling the lump to see if it has gotten bigger or if there are any new lumps. I swear I'm not sure how much more I can handle. I really need for this surgery to be over and to show that all of the chemo i did beforehand worked and got rid of the cancer. I am so ready to be done with cancer!

best wishes to those of you recovering from surgery and try to take it easy which I know is not easy. mslrg: happy anniversary and happy b-day to your son. Hope all of you are doing well and I'm sure I'll be on the boards alot more once I am lying in bed for the next several weeks. 

1marmalade: thank you so much for sharing your experience. You have just helped me breathe a little easier. I have been completely freaking out about the idea that there is still cancer growing in my body and that I am done chemo and just waiting for surgery. I hope that your experience will be my experience as well. At least it gives me a little hope. My lump definitely feels different from the beginning. Thanks again.

youngmomof3 - TCH also smashed my tumor as well. Nothing left when I had my surgery. Path report showed where the tumor used to be was just fatty tissue. I am sure you will have the same thing. Best of luck with your surgery!

Happy news for me - final two drains removed today. First fill in two weeks - let the rebuilding begin! 

It's the day before the day before surgery.  Working my way back to getting my life back.  Rads still to go.  Best to all...................

bubbalu:  Well, you're almost there - all the best to you for tomorrow - you'll do great!  Yes, come and join us on the surgery thread.  Each of our stories helps the next gal along on this great trip!  Let us know how you're doing as soon as you can.  We'll be thinking of you!

stlcardsfan:  So happy to hear "no rads"!  I'm still waiting for a 4th opinion - #1 said no, #2 was sitting on the fence, #3 said definitely yes...I guess I'll have to go with #4, whatever he's going to say!

Hi ladies!  I haven't been on this thread in a while, but I have been keeping up from time to time!

Good to hear more of you finishing and moving onto rads!  I have had 12 rads of 33 thus far and so far so good, been moisturizing alot and drinking lots of water!  Feeling a wee bit tired, but don't know if it is from the rads or my crazy schedule.

I have dark hair coming in, but not enough to go without a hat.  The hardest thing lately was going to the pool with my kids.   I felt very self conscious for the first time, since it is too hot for a wig, but need a hat to cover my baldness:)  I also can't go in the water and should avoide the sun, due to rads!  With the 100 degree weather, I would much rather hide in my air conditioned office or home, but I don't want to disappoint my kids:)  They are just too darn cute and can talk me into almost anything

Good catching up on here, you are all amazing ladies and all of you have helped me tremendously through these last 6+ months!!!  Keep on living strong, you are all in my thoughts!

Leta

Bubbalu I hope your suregery went well today. Stlcardsfan, so very happy that you don't need rads. and thx for the positive thoughts re:my existing lump. To both you and Marmalade, I am glad to hear that your lumps turned out to be nothing and I pray that is the case with me although marm, my lump isn't squishy but instead very firm but flatter. who knows, can't figure it all out and everytime i feel it, it just stresses me out. I'm dreading surgery but so ready to have the lump out and pray that all cancer cells are dead. Leta, I'm with you on the pool. we have one in our yard and i so want to go "topless" but am worried about the neighbors seeing me or if my kids have friends over i still wear a hat or scarf but as soon as i get in the house i rip off the scarf b/c my head is sweating. 

so i finally got a period yesterday. haven't had one since Feb. so glad it happened this week and not next since i will be recovering from surgery and think it would totally suck to have to deal with that on top of recovery.