Chemo June 2010

Glad it made you giggle!  Hang in there

Bon you give them hell!!

well all bloodwork good i get my last AC friday at 8 am, then i get 3 weeks off and then Taxol x12.

Okay, chemo brain must have kicked in big time.  I just came across this video of a Pug singing the Batman theme and I just can't stop laughing.  We all need an Action Pug to help us fight BC.  Forgive me, I hope it gives someone else a good laugh!

http://www.wimp.com/pugbatman/ 

Oh my STARS!  This video is even funnier when it's 11:00 p.m. at night and your pre-treatment steroids are still hanging on in your body!

Going to bed now.  Zzzzzzzzzz

I'm back!! So much to catch up on while I was gone.

Danielle123 - I hope the Taxol gets rid of your ex for you - I think that's a great idea :-)

i've been really sick - the first week after my last AC was bad, but just regular bad. I never got my good second week after AC :-(

Instead, I had to have surgery on my port, because somehow it twisted around the wrong way. then I had a reaction to the bandages etc. and got these huge painful blisters around the stiches. then I got an infection in the site of the surgery, and had to go to hospital to check whether there was an internal abcess (there wasn't) , so just got antibiotics. then got a bad cold (3 days of coughing, throwing up, sneezing, and ear ache) but the antibiotics seem to be helping with this too. I seem to get every possible complication out there...

now i'm coming out of it - just seems like a regular cold now, not like i am dying...   But i won't be able to use my port for my 1st Taxol on Monday, which is traumatic because it usually takes a couple of hours and many attempts to get a vein - they run away at the sight of a needle!

about hair loss or lack of it - my head hair came out in huge clumps after 2nd AC, so i shaved it very short. but it never all came out, and i feel like a badly plucked chicken! it also seems to be growing again slowly - i have one specific hair in the middle that is getting quite long - like the "zeds"  in Dr Seuss's "One Fish Two Fish"? Leg hair is still growing fast (annoyingly), underarms have stopped, eyebrows and lashes and nether regions are thinning but still hanging in there.

re male/female toilet fun - i was at the onc center the other day, and I know which toilets are male and female because i am there a lot. but when i went to the ladies, i saw a guy coming out looking confused, and then i looked into the mens (the door was open) because I thought maybe i got mixed up and saw a woman in there washing her hands, which explains why the guy was in the ladies looking confused :-)

re diet - i also know that everything everyone is saying re diet it right, but it's just too hard to follow at this point - if i can eat something and keep it down then i do. maybe if the taxol symptoms are better then i will try to eat better too. i do try to eat lots from the brocolli/cabbage family as i know this is good.

re periods - i've had 2 since starting tx - both on their normal dates, but the last one seemed more like i was haemorraging or something - it was so heavy and unusual. But that's TMI! but i remember reading somewhere that this is also a SE so i wasn't worried. Tampon info seems logical, but I'm glad I didn't know about it before :-)

thanks everyone for all the funny stuff you've been posting - it's nice to see we can keep our sense of humor :-)

Cheyenna   Good Luck tomorrow.  It is supposed to be my last FEC before starting the taxol.

Bon, I can identify with how worried you are.  I hope you obtain some relief with the prednisone.

I am headed off to the hospital today.  After a weeks delay because of the gut infection, they will do bloodwork, an EKG and MUGA scan to check for heart damage.  My pulse has been running very high and I am winded all the time.  If all is ok, I will have the LAST FEC tomorrow.  I really hope everything is ok and I can do this last yucky triple chemo and move on to the taxol.  More later.

Hugs and blessings, Mimi

sherry, thank you, im trying i get 3 weeks off so i can regroup and maybe be me for a week or so.

bon im so sorry that rash is still there. i cant believe there is nothing else theycan give you, i pray you get some peace soon,its not fair all the extra crap everyone is going through.im thinking of you.

designermom, you are too funny, how did you find it???

Latte. wow you have been through hell and back! im so sorry, im glad your back.

sounds like your spirts are up? i was just saying its so un fair to have to go through all this extra crap while dealing with the chemo!!! you guys are my hero's, i have had no problems on the AC but emotional, i feel like such a baby and spoiled brat compared to what you all have been through! i dont know how you get through it? your amazing!!!!! i think ive learned im very weak, lol im so trying to stay positive but cant help but cry every couple of days.

ive had two periods in two weeks, i wonder does that mess with your emotions as well.. DR gave me something lite, she said she did not see depression in me just high anxiety cause i worry about everything, it seems to help, i think.lol, maybe we should ask my husband.lol

Cheyenna, You can't 'fail' chemotherapy. We are all going through a terrible thing. Breast cancer is not a walk in the park. Everything is different for everyone and we learn from and help each other to cope. That's the beauty of 'hanging out' on-line with other women going through this mess at the same time.I know you're grateful for lack of serious SE and we're all happy about that for you, too. This is a highly emotionally charged event in your life. I'm sorry that you get weepy but if that's how you can cope with it, then grab a box of tissues and cry it out. Then pick yourself up and move on. Remember, there's nothing wrong with a good cry. Keeps those tear ducts moist and functioning so chemo doesn't mess them up, too. But do take that RX to help with anxiety. This is scary stuff we're dealing with. Whatever can help you through is a blessing. You are probably too young to remember the old Monsanto tag line... Better living through chemistry.

Personally I think I've channeled my 'emotional' stuff into fighting this damn disease and worrying that the treatment will get me before BC ever does. I came to this website about 11 days before I began chemo and started a forum "I'm terrified of chemotherapy". Still am, but I'm trying to work with it now.

About that Pug video.  I swear I don't normally go for silly, internet videos, usually delete them from my inbox.  However, Mom had a Pug and he looked and sounded just like this one.  He hated the garbage man and squirrels and loved oranges.  I have to think my Mom was looking down on me and just wanted me to have a good laugh.

Latte- Aye, yay, yay!!  I am so sorry for your extra suffering.  I am praying that it is smooth sailing from here on out.

Bon- I KNOW you will get to the bottom of this.  The drug company's attentive response makes me wonder if they have had problems with this.  Stay on top of it.  Instead of that "Achey, Breaky, Heart" song, you could come up with a "Itchy, Bitchy, Witch" version!

Julia, Changing oncs was a big step. Good for you. That's not easy to do. And yes, you are right to be concerned, but take a deep breath. Tomorrow you will hopefully be able to speak to the new onc and get some reassurance. She knows of your past experience and reactions and if she's worth her salt, she will be on the lookout for anything and everything during this next infusion.

Try to spend the next 24 hours thinking of the best outcome...completing chemo and being cancer free! That's the goal we all have. We'll all do whatever we can to help you get there.

Well had my first taxol treatment yesterday.  All went well.  Of course felt like I was having an out of body experience from the benedryl!  My dd went with me and after the nurse stayed with me for the first fifteen minutes and monitored me, she left because I was fine.  A little while later my daughter told me I was all blotchy on my chest and neck so she called the nurse over.  The nurse stopped my drip and called the doc to check on it.  The doc said I was fine and to continue.  The rash disappeared and I was fine.  I might add that I felt fine when the rash appeared.  I am at work today and feeling good, of course the ac effects usually didn't hit me till two days after so praying I still feel good tomorrow!!
One strange thing I have had with this chemo business is my eye sight is totally out of whack.  I wear contacts and my vision is blurry even with them in.  It sucks but I don't want to pay for new contacts now on top of all my other bills.  Anyone else have vision problems???

Bon - - - Good for you for being so proactive!!  I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Cheyenna - - Good luck tomorrow, hope all goes well!!  We are all moving closer to the end of chemo, YAY.

Sherry - - Hope your meds help your nauseau again.

Designermom - - Too funny, made me laugh!

I got a card in the mail the other day from a dear friend I met here on the message boards.  It says "chemo sucks" on the front, then you open it and it says something like "But if it sucks the cancer right out of you, Yay chemo" 

Haha they truly have a card for everything!!  Thanks T!!

 Below is most of the text from Foods to Avoid During Chemotherapy on the site www.breastcancerwarrior.net.

It addresses the issue of fresh fruits and veggies as well as soy products for ER+ women. It all makes perfect sense. I never asked my onc about this...heck, he already thinks I'm a crock. Can you imagine if I start questioning him about fruit? He;ll have me in the funny farm pronto. I envy you who have a decent PA or ARNP to deal with. I have Brunhilda.  Actually, this specifice food info was brought to my attention by a classmate who is an anesthesiologist in WV and a former roommate who is an OB/GYN ARNP in PA. Both sent it to me indpendently. So thought it couldn't hurt to keep in mind. Still, I brave the salads since I really can't live without lettuce.

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When you have Estrogen-positive Breast Cancer, Estrogen is your enemy (because it is your cancer's best friend), and any "Psuedo-Estrogen" is also your enemy.  A ‘Pseudo-Estrogen' is easily mistaken by the body for a true Estrogen, and, in fact, your body does a little tap dance with ‘Pseudo-Estrogens' and actually turns them into virtual copies of Estrogen.  Soy is a "Psuedo-Estrogen', as is Licorice. (Oh darn!)
 
According to many researchers, Estrogen-positive Cancer gains strength not only from Estrogen, but from ‘Pseudo-Estrogen' as well.  As a result, many health care professionals advise that Breast Cancer Warriors (BCW's) avoid Soy in its many and varied forms (Soy Beans, Soy Sauce, Tofu, Tempeh) as well as other ‘Pseudo-Estrogens' such as Licorice. 
 

When you have Estrogen-positive Breast Cancer, Estrogen is your enemy (because it is your cancer's best friend), and any "Psuedo-Estrogen" is also your enemy.  A ‘Pseudo-Estrogen' is easily mistaken by the body for a true Estrogen, and, in fact, your body does a little tap dance with ‘Pseudo-Estrogens' and actually turns them into virtual copies of Estrogen.  Soy is a "Psuedo-Estrogen', as is Licorice. (Oh darn!)
 
According to many researchers, Estrogen-positive Cancer gains strength not only from Estrogen, but from ‘Pseudo-Estrogen' as well.  As a result, many health care professionals advise that Breast Cancer Warriors (BCW's) avoid Soy in its many and varied forms (Soy Beans, Soy Sauce, Tofu, Tempeh) as well as other ‘Pseudo-Estrogens' such as Licorice. 
 
Having said that, we should also point out that there are others in the health care field who believe that the potential health benefits of Soy (when eaten in moderation) outweigh the potential harm.  For more on the subject of Soy, click here: www.breastcancer.org/tips/nutrition/ask_expert/2009_10/question_14.jsp
 

The toxic effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation can also decrease a body's supply of natural Digestive Enzymes and healthy bacteria, both of which are used to help us digest food and to deal with many of the common forms of bacteria that typically adhere to virtually all fresh foods.  It is this decrease (or even complete elimination) of healthy bacteria that can open us to a potentially dangerous complication.  
 
When you are undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiation, there are several other foods that can be problematic.  Unpeeled, uncooked fresh fruits and vegetables are chief among them. Raw Eggs are also on that list of ‘no-no's', which means say goodbye to Egg Nog during the Holiday Season. 
 

During Chemotherapy, any uncooked, unpeeled food can pose a significant health hazard to BCW's.  Foods such as Lettuce, tomatoes, celery, apples, peaches, grapes, cherries.....in short, any raw, unpeeled, uncooked food can make a chemo patient very, VERY sick, very suddenly, and very seriously! 
 
We know of dozens of BCW's who, within a few hours of eating a simple green salad, have found themselves suddenly and severely sick -- projectile vomiting, their fever spiking to an alarming 104+.  (More often than not, the culprit turned out to be bacteria on the lettuce).  This is nothing to fool around with.  This can be life-threatening.   While on Chemo, a body temperature in excess of 101 is reason for concern, as your Oncologist should tell you.  If, however, you suddenly find yourself being violently ill, and feverish, you should immediately (and we do me IMMEDIATELY) get to the Emergency Room.  

Our advice:  while on Chemotherapy or Radiation, avoid all uncooked, unpeeled foods.  That means NO LETTUCE.  If you want to eat fresh fruit (apples, peaches, pears), make sure that you scrub them with a professional anti-bacterial food wash, AND PEEL them!  (no kidding!)  If it can't be peeled, don't eat it!  Unless you have mastered the fine art of peeling grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, etc, etc, etc....forget about eating them while you're on Chemotherapy.  In fact, we recommend that you do what many BCW's have done: while on Chemo or Radiation, say goodbye to green salads, as well as all unpeeled fresh fruit or veggies and eat only cooked, or thoroughly, seriously scrubbed and then peeled foods, and if a food can't be peeled and can't be cooked, then don't eat it.   (And, if you're going to eat foods such as melons, oranges, lemons or limes, make absolutely certain that you seriously, thoroughly, severely SCRUB the exteriors of each before you cut into them, so as to get rid of any bacteria that might otherwise move from their skins or rinds, onto your knife, into the sweet, tender insides of the fruit, and from there, into the sweet, tender insides of you!)
 
Other edibles to be wary of while fighting Cancer include Sugar, and Acidic foods.  Extensive scientific research has proven that cancer cells thrive in high Sugar and high-Acid environments.  (To learn more about the dangers of Acid, click on the article entitled: "The Acid Trip".)  Better safe than seriously sick!!   You're a BC Warrior, we know you can handle it.   

Bon-thanks for all the food info....I think!  It got me looking in other places like chemocare.com.  There they refer to the American Cancer Society, suggesting lots of fruits and vegetables, both raw and cooked.  I live on lots of fruits, vegetables and salads too.  I just can't imagine eating less nutritious canned fruits!  Having said that, I do think I have to be more vigilant about washing everything well (and DH barely washes stuff at all).  I stopped buying the pre-washed lettuce, got my good old spinner out again.   I think if your blood counts are very low, it would be wise to avoid raw anything and definitely restaurants too.  There's only so much I can deal with while going through chemo.

On a completely different topic.  Has anyone else had a skin eruption that feels like a big, itchy mosquito bite?  I didn't go out for three days after chemo and WHAM, this big, itchy red bite right on my butt!  I thought it might be a hive, but it did not go away.  Maybe it's just more chemo nonsense.  Maybe a spider bite?  I feel like Forest Gump "somethin' bit me on the A$$"!  I couldn't see it closely, so made DH take a close-up photo with the camera.  Nothing like being way too familiar!

Hey designerMom, I got something sorta like that on the back of my head, first I thought it was sunburn, but it didn't feel like sunburn, it felt like an insect bite and super itchy!  About the size of a quarter.  I got it a week after infusion, it took about 5 days to go away.

Julia

 Well tomorrow is Friday and ill be having my last RED DEVIL cocktail 8 am is a bit early for a drink for me but we do what we need to do! i hope all goes well, everyone have a great Friday and i pray no se for all of us, i shall try and sleep now, Ha!!! no way,lol

love Chey