May 2010 Chemo

Thank you for your votes Drim, Summer38 and Xray Girl. I am in third place right now and I think tomorrow is the last day.

Jenn I was given Silverdine cream to use on my nails twice a day.  They told me not to use polish during chemo.  I guess everyone has their own set of ideas.

Some of you mentioned mouth problems.  During the first 2 chemos when I lost my taste buds, my tongue felt like it had a fuzzy growth on it.  Once I started keeping ice in my mouth during treatment, I didn't have any more mouth problems.  It saved my taste buds and no more fuzzy tongue.

Day My tumor markers hit 41 before they ordered the PET/CT scan but it still came back negative.

I had a wonderful weekend with my 89 year old Mom and now back to reality and chemo on Thursday.

Day - great news on the PET!!  Can't wait to see your new hair too!  I have a cyst on one of my ovaries also, but I think it has been there for a while, because it seems I remember them finding it during my last ultrasound when I was pregnant with my youngest. 

Patricia - hope that cough gets better soon!  I will be praying for you!  As always, you are such an inspiration and motivation for me!

I have my treatment tomorrow, and I am in tears just thinking about it!  I just told my DH not to be surprised if I break down and cry during infusion tomorrow because I am so emotional over having to go through this again.  I pray that my reaction this time is not near as bad as the first!  On a high note - the Cleaning for a Reason people are coming tomorrow.  I also am excited because I redid our bathroom, sort of... got new towels and curtains... what a difference!  We went with a brown/tan/gray pattern and I got 2 different color curtains... beige and dark taupe... hung the beige on the inside and pulled them back with ties... looks really cool!  Small change - but cheers me up everytime I go in our bathroom.    Still need to paint alot, but not sure if I will ever feel well enough to get it done on this AC!   ((HUGS)) to everyone... I know I didn't go all the way back again... chemo is killing my OCD!  haha

Wellsey - I voted - but that drag-racer has you beat!  Darn!!!!!!

wellsey66 - I voted for you too!

KimLovesDachshunds - I am sorry you had a nasty cold... glad you are feeling better.

Summer38/NJ - The Taxol causes a lot of bone pain for me too.  Just like you said, it is worse at night.  I find that during my worst couple of days the only thing that helps me at night is heavy duty pain killers.  During the day, I end up taking 3 or 4 advil when it gets too bad.  Since my last Taxol was last Thursday, they did not give me a neulasta shot and my bone pain was less this time then the last three tx.  It was still there, but I did not have one of the really bad nights that I had had in the past.  I hope the overall bone pain doesn't last as long this time, last tx the bone pain came and went almost the whole time.  Not really bad, but enough for it to be annoying.

Patricia48 - Glad you hemoglobin was up and you didn't need a transfusion!

Daiva - I agree.. Go to Paris.  Sounds like so much fun!

LibraryJenn - I am sending you extra prayers that your tumor starts to shrink!  Keep up the positive attitude!

Have a great night!

westly66 ...just voted for you hope it helps...

Leanna9   I remember that with each AC the SE got a little better and the 3rd one was the easiest of all on me...just trying to ease you mind a little...I do remember not wanting to go back each time because I wanted more good days............your bathroom sound great ..I have been wanting  to redo ours forever.. but I want all new cabinets and flooring....I  just might as well say it I want a a whole new bathroom..my DH would like to redo it too, just he wants to make it smaller so we haven't done anything till he sees it my way...lol .. We have a very large bathroom that had just been added on before we bought this house...so its new but not in my taste..so I have been living with it for 5 yrs now..

Kimloves.... hope your feeling better....  that pic is crazy funny....

Day...... Wonderful news on your scans....What is an ALND? 

Thank you all for your votes.  I just moved into second place!!!

Hi again ~ just wanted to mention for those of you with CFK cookbook - I made the commonwealth tea - AMAZING for the gut!  My onc's office offers free reiki once a wk - tried it last wk and couldn't believe how wonderful it felt.  Talk about reducing stress!  Am still going to acupuncture once or twice a wk - love it.  Re: tongue, it's getting better.  I used the Biotene mouthwash my dentist gave me.  She also gave me Fluoridex toothpaste (I bought it from her) and it's got extra fluoride to protect the teeth.  Just wanted to share that.  Hope you all have a good day....  hugs to all, Daiva

X-ray Girl - I make half size ice cubes. I measures 2 teaspoons of water in each cube.  I use the Tupperware ice tray, but if you have an ice maker you can buy ice trays at Dollar Tree.  I keep ice in my mouth during the entire drip.  I start 15 min before the T starts and when the ice cube get small I add another.  I never let my mouth warm up.  I make sure my entire mouth is cold by swishing the ice all around my mouth and tongue and gums.  I just keep adding ice the entire time and I keep adding ice for 15 minutes after the C drip is over just like they do for the ice caps for your head.  Try different size ice cubes at home.  I found that a full size ice cube was too big.  I couldn't close my mouth and I would drool!!  Crushed ice didn't work because it melted too fast.  They let me put my ice and Elasto-gel gloves in the freezer in the room so I don't have to carry dry ice.  I have a big Tupperware tumbler that I put a frozen wine cooler thing around to keep the cubes from melting while I am eating them.  The wine cooler thing also helps me pick up the tumbler with my gloves on.  This week I am also wearing a sinus mask from Elasto-gel to see if I can save what is left of my eyebrows.  I am quite the sight at chemo.

Sacphotomom ~ I guess your bone marrow is working hard to produce more WBC.  Man oh man, I can't wait to say good riddance to the Neulasta.  For now, I'm grateful it's doing what it should be doing.  Hang in there!    ` Daiva

Hi Warrior Women  I have been kind of low today. My bone/joint pain is the worst I have had. My yoga teacher came over, and during the stretching, it felt great.  I often think of all the people who are treating each of us, and how they have devoted their energy so that we can get well.  My yoga teacher is Stephanie and she is a very beautiful soul. Daiva, I am glad you are visiting your dad!  How great to get a break like this.  Wellsey, wish I had another computer to vote twice!  I really hope you win.  Sacphotomom I am glad the lymphedema therapy is relaxing for you.  You are an awesome woman and I know you will be so happy when your two rounds are finished. Did you get any tomatoes?  I had some this weekend, and I could taste them!  Yeah! Laura and Kim- I am praying for a smooth return to work for both of you.  You are my sheros.  We have such an opportunity to influence other people, and each other.  I feel so touched by the love, warmth and courage  I feel from each of you. Leanna- I am glad about your house cleaning and the redecorating you have done.  What a lift these  small things give us.  I bought a new duvet and shams for my bed.  It is dove grey.  I have a very modern house, and it is hard to find things that work. My Sweetie helped me. It is nice that  we have similar taste.  We are planning to move in together, at my house, after my treatment is over.  After three years and a half years, it is time.  I feel so blessed that our relationship has been solidified during this difficult time.  I continue to send love, prayers and healing energy to each of you.  Patricia     

Haha ~ have been wearing Lola, my blonde wig.  Yes, my conclusion is that blondes have more fun!  They certainly get more attention.  Will have to post a picture soon.  Funny... I got turned around in the parking lot at the airport and told the driver to the airport I was having a "blonde moment".  Haha... no, I don't have blonde hair.  I cracked up and laughed and told the driver I was bald and really wasn't a ditsy blonde.  He really enjoyed that and enjoyed the humor. I need a red one now.  Leanna ~ hope the next week is better than last time.  Patricia ~ sorry you've been low.  Your sweetie is one lucky guy!  Hugs to all of you!  ~ Daiva

Leanna ~ I was just going to send you the recipe with the kudzu and apple cider.  I made it this week as well.  So sorry to hear about your pain... sending big big hugs and hope you get some relief.~ Daiva

Day ~ We'll be thinking of you on Friday!  Hope it's uneventful, followed by good good news! 

Paxton -- Good for you for sticking to it.  You can do this.  Just one more.

Day -- On Friday morning I will look at the sky, smile and say "Angels on your body, Day.  Angels on your body".  I had all my friends and relatives do that for me on the day of my surgery and everything went well.

 For those of you suffering from neuropathy and/or chemo brain, I'll throw this out there again.  My onc offered to put me on a clinical trial of Acetyl-L-Carnitine to see if it would help deter the development of neuropathy.  I chose not to do the clinical trial but instead bought the stuff myself (health food store, or cheaper on the internet) and took it (almost) every day during my chemo (I had 4 rounds of TC).  I don't know if it was the Carnitine or not, but I got no neuropathy and no chemo brain.  At one point during my treatment I stopped taking it for about 3 days and found myself wandering around asking,"What the heck was I just doing? Oh, that's right, steaming carrots.  I guess I need a pot.  Why did I get this pot?  Oh, that's right, steaming carrots." etc., etc.  Then I got back on the Carnitine and that fog went away. 

I started school again yesterday.  I had started classes back in January to begin the process to become a court reporter.  Then I was diagnosed and that threw a monkey wrench into the whole thing.  So I withdrew from my classes in March and am just now going back.  I will only take 4.5 units, because that's all I can handle right now.  The class I took yesterday was with one of my favorite teachers and I was so glad to be back in his class.  His wife was diagnosed w/BC when she was 47 (my age) and she had a mx and went through chemo.  She is now 70 years old and has had no cancer since!  As it turned out she volunteers in the surgical waiting room where I got my surgery, so I got to meet her the day of my mx.  Small world.

Anyway, yesterday I took the girls to camp, went grocery shopping, came home for lunch, went to school for 3 hours and came home so tired I went to bed before my kids.  7:30 and I was out.  Thank goodness for my DH who cooked and took kid duty.  I hope my energy comes back soon. I am 5 weeks past my final TC!

Big news -- this weekend is my Casting for Recovery trip.  It seems I am always the Field Trip Coordinator (I have done this job for both of my twins' classes for the past 3 years).  I am driving 4 other participants up to the retreat -- about a 5 hour drive.  I am so excited about this trip.  I hope I have the energy to fully enjoy it.  I really hope I see another bald woman this weekend.  Can you believe that I have not seen one bald woman the whole time I have been walking around bald?  We're talking 3 months and no other baldies (except the photos of you lovely ladies)!  I have had a few women come up to me and say they had my same hairstyle last year.  But, come on now,  I can't be the only one to bare it all around here.

Anyway, I need to go get the oil changed in the van to prepare.  Oh yeah, I gotta get all the kid crumbs and cr*p out of there too.

Jen

I'm behind again!!!! Don't remember if I ever posted about the reflexology... it was so wonderful and relaxing BUT it didn't help the pain. That didn't stop me from purchasing a 5 session package though!  I rationalized the $250 by telling DH that I haven't had a haircut or color or bought a single hair product (I'm a bit of a "product girl") so he's actually SAVING a lot money! LOL

Kim, I hope you're feeling better and your return to work went smoothly. Day - so glad your scans and markers came back good!!! Good luck on Friday, we'll all be thinking of you. Patricia - Hope you're feeling better today. I lost my Dad 4 1/2 years ago (suddenly, at 56) and I too often think that he would be devastated if he were here to see me go through this. My kids don't go back to school till Sept. 7th so we're in "get ready mode"! My DD is starting middle school this year so she's very excited to get all the cool locker stuff, LOL I remember being excited about that stuff too, it's fun! Daiva - I have Hydrocodone for the pain but I have to take 2 for it to really do anything - I only do that on the REALLY bad nights. Leanna - I hope you are hanging in there, I'm thinking of you! Sacphotomom - UGH! sorry you have pain again. Did I miss you being diagnosed with Lymphadema??? I'm confused. LibraryJenn - I'm sorry you're having pain now too! But, I'm glad the herbs are helping the Crohns. PackJen - Have a great time fishing!!!!!

Love ALL you ladies, thanks for keeping me sane!

Hi Everyone   It is another rough day for me emotionally and physically.  Let me complain.(Ha) I have a UTI, constipation and bone pain, in spite of all the drugs, herbs and things I have been doing. ( Whine, Whine)   Tomorrow is Taxol number 6 (half way there).  I wish I could go into treatment feeling  more upbeat.  I am angry with myself for feeling  low. Send a little prayer that my mood will shift.  LibraryJenn, Thank you for letting me know that I made a difference on one of your bad days.   You certainly made my day  brighter by sharing that. I am glad your Crohne's symptoms are better. Daiva and Leanna  I appreciate the congratulations regarding my BF and living together. I hope I will be good for him.  He has been very dedicated to me.  Packjen  I am happy you are getting to return to school.  My sister was a court reporter for 20 years, adopted a baby at 40, and went to  law school at age 50!  We can  all make our dreams a reality!  I know what you mean about needing to see some bald heads.  In my small town, that is not likely.  I hope you enjoy  casting for recovery! Paxton I am praying your cancer will be gone and you will be finished with treatment next week. Summer Enjoy the reflexology and any good thing you can do for yourself.  Enjoy your kids.  These years with your daughter are so precious. (middle school). My daughter and I were alone during that time, and we had so much fun together. I hope you will be well soon, and able to fully enjoy your kids. Day Can you give the web site where we can see your sculpture? Hope you are able to write more soon. Sending love to all of you. Patricia