Chemo June 2010

DesignerMom, Thankyou.Yes I am almost finished.I will start 6 weeks of radation.I come to this site every day several times a day and read post old a new.I have wanted to talk but not sure what to say..I  feel like i know so many of you just reading your post.

My docter seems so positive things are goig to be ok..my friends told me to get get my pathology report,well in reading that i learn about scores and grades and lympnode involvment and the word metastic..though nothing has been said about that unless it refers to the lymp node. So I am just trusting in what i am told followoing my treatment plan,praying and doing everything i can.I stop smoking(not easy) My chemo treeatments have went fairly well 1st corse infection and mouthsores but got threw it..hair loss yikes..but as soon as we shaved it off was smilling again.Had right breast removed  and ovaries.All happened real fast.Any how you ladies are great.

i know they did some blood work on my CA 27.29 and it was in normal range so banking thats a good sign..All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.I feel better now better than i have in a long time..kinda strange

renee-Good for you to stop smoking.  I have had several friends quit.  One said it was harder than giving up booze or anything else.  They say tobacco is more addicting than heroin, so I know it is a struggle.  You can do it!!  I hear it gets easier the longer you stay off it.  My friend actually joined a 12 step program to help her.  Anything that works.  My BS said positive nodes did NOT mean mets.  I think it has to travel to another organ or bone to be mets, nodes don't count.

JFV- don't get me started about the hot flashes!  OMG!  My guys think I am stark raving nuts as I seem to be practically stripping every few minutes and asking them if they are hot!  They just look bewildered and say "no"!  Poor DH usually moves to the living room in the night because I am flipping covers on and off all night waking him up.I think it is payback for putting up with his snoring all these years!  I don't care where anyone sleeps in my house as long as they let ME sleep!

Hey everyone, just checking in- Had a UTI and started antibiotic, luckily it won't interrupt my treatment, but gave me a scare!! I'm still paranoid that it will interfere with the chemo, but the PA said not to worry.

<raising hand>  May I have a moment to vent?

I think a variety tray of baked things would be great!    I would wrap each individually though.     I dunno ....  I'm a little reluctant to eat things made by some people & especially if on a tray where others are grabbing items.     Might be fooling myself but if cookies or muffins are individually wrapped I'd feel better  {shrug}   Great idea though!

Oh my Stars, Gingersfav - I just saw your pic and I LOVE it!  I haven't wanted to post mine because not all my hair came out.  I have little stubbles here, there and yonder! 

For all - nevah mind about the vent, LOL!

julia-I agree about the individually wrapped goodies.  I know people who just throw things away, because it's too weird if it isn't wrapped.  I think you can get cookie assortments, individually wrapped at Costco and other places.

ginger- I don't know what you looked like before, but you look stunning now, great photo, great smile!

RS711-  sorry about the UTI, they are no fun.  Remember to drink your cranberry juice!

sherry-I am doing the happy dance for you!  Given your miserable first few weeks, you have plenty of extra credit to sail right through the rest of your treatments.

All you sleepless ladies.  Do you think it might be your steroids that are keeping you up?  I asked my Onc and now I just get a little in my infusion.  I know every chemo requires different doses of steroids, but it would be worth asking if you need all the steroids or if you might be able to cut back a bit, especially if it would help you sleep.  Rest is SO important to heal.

JFV - after I thought about it, it just seems so trivial compared to what all of us are going through.  It was a comment one of the counselors at school said about me looking good when I went back on Monday, and then she proceeded to take me to the office of other co-workers and said, "Look at Sherry, doesn't she look good!"  Actually I thought I looked like c-r-a-p and that's what made it worse.  I felt like I was on parade!  Okay - there's my vent and now I'm over it. 

DesignerMom - thanks for cheering me on.  And you are SO right about rest and healing.  I can tell a big difference on days I only get 3-5 hours sleep, which thankfully, is not a common occurrence.  I think you're right about the steroids playing a big part in that.  I also take an oral steroid the first three days after chemo and on those days, I take an Ativan at night to help with sleep.  I don't take anything on the days I don't take the Decadron and I do okay.  So it might be something to talk about with onc to get suggestions about sleep aids if you don't have something already, girls.  I hadn't thought about asking about lowering the IV dose of Decadron on tx days. 

HUGS to all of you for the week.   

OMG - the cancer drama never ends!  So, I went to see my onco today to start Taxol.  I said about 3 times - no Benadryl.  They gave me steroids the day before and to take in the morning and had it in my drip, along with Ativan.  So, after discussing my breakdown and how hard it has been to work and do chemo.  My onco said she'll write me any note I need for work and fill out FMLA paperwork.  After all this discussion and finding out that I had pain with Neulasta shot, my onco made the decision to give me weekly Taxol shots for 12 weeks (and not dose dense). 

How has everyone been handling the weekly Taxol?  How many days are you down.  My onco said if I don't like it, I can switch back to the dose dense.  Also, I don't need the Neulasta shot. 

Oh, with all the drama, I completely forgot to take my Emend (until after I left the doctor's office).  I called the nurse and asked her if I should take it.  She said no, it was not necessary and not to take it!  She told me just to use my regular anti-nausea meds.  Great - I spent good money on that Emend prescription!!! 

Hi JFV  I have had alot of hot flashes my secound chemo treatment they where crazy but got better...sounds crazy but some one told me to drink root beer which i do not like and i have and it has seemed to help crazy 

Thanks everyone for your ideas and support.  I am joining Bon in the no sleeping worls.  One ambien didn't work last night.  Will try two tonight.

Good morning to all...I've stayed off the boards for days now because I am 'zombiesque' and sleep is still elusive. I've been reading your posts and my heart aches for all of you suffering the SEs of chemo.  I haven't written for awhile because I'm just not with it. I am not functioning normally and keep trying to readjust my focus. I am now a week post tx so the heavy steroids for the rash and then by mouth and IV with treatment should be worked out of my system by now. Sure hope so. This is undermining my spirit...I feel duller than dull.

JFV...last night I drank a glass of skim milk and got back in bed. I swear it helped me finally catch a couple hours sleep. I've been taking niacin, calcium and magnesium at bedtime, too. Not certain that does anything but it is recommended,

And, my suggestion for hot flashes is twofold...1) suck crushed ice; 2) roll a cold can of Pepsi (or any unopened cold aluminum can) on your wrists and up your arms to the inside of your elbow, and along your cheeks, neck and chest. It really helps to cut the heat and short circuit the 'power surge'. 

Kittycat...I'm old enough to be your mother so here goes...TAKE THAT LEAVE! You have been through too much and have a lot to go...you can't risk your health for a job. I hope you are relaxing on your sofa, taking a much needed and deserved break. Sometimes being an overachiever is overrated.

Am crawling back into my hole for another day. Hope to resurface soon, Wishing you all time in the NO SE zone.

Jenweg & Latte - thanks for the feedback. I got the tree tea oil. I was going to rub it in daily.  I was only going to do that on treatment days.  I found it at Walgreens for $11.99.  Have you found it in other places that are cheaper, in case I run out?  I haven't picked up the glutamine yet.  I saw that GNC sells it in the powder form. 

I am resting today.  I might call the wig shop to see if they have the other wigs I ordered still at the store. I found some online last night that were really inexpensive. 

kitty, hmm not sure, I will have to check what mine is when I get home from work.  I think mine might be l glutamine though and I think it is 30mg, but I will check on that when I get home from work.  I bought both my tea tree oil and glutamine at a local store called Everything Natural.  I believe they were around 10.00 each.  Another nice thing about getting the weekly taxol is it is quicker too!  It takes about an hour and a half or less total with the taxol and premeds.