Starting Chemo in June 2005

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  • danahollis
    danahollis Member Posts: 161
    edited October 2005
    Hi Ladies!!!

    Happy Friday!

    I am actually feeling pretty good after my first week back at work. I liked it! It was so great to do "normal" things. I'm only back half days throughout Rads so I think it's going to work out perfectly.

    Looks like everyone is doing well. I'm so happy that we are getting through this and have stuck together. I just can't say enough how much you all have meant to me.

    HUGS!
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  • bmck
    bmck Member Posts: 28
    edited October 2005
    Hey Jen I was er/pr negative! I guess in that aspect that is a good thing but am so tired of the hot flashes. I really don't miss my period I just want the hot flashes to go away so I am routing for the period to come back ASAP!!!

    Cathi
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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    NS...thanks for reminding us that there is a good reason for us to go through all this! And this train sure is moving along.



    Jo and Michelle...thanks for the info...at least I have a head's up now. Just assumed it would come out the way it went in, but it makes sense that taking it out is just a matter of pulling it...but I have the same question as Scout...what kind of incision do they make..one like when they do the biopsy?



    Jen..that is so great about your daughter and also that your church group is doing the race in your honor. Sleeping, getting your tooth fixed, shopping...sounds like your life is on a good roll!



    Cathi..I can tell you that menopause is not as bad as people make it out to be...but that is from the perspective of going through it at a normal age. Wish I could be of more help. I can imagine that is a toughie on you younger ladies, and I feel for you.



    Scout...sounds like you are doing all that you can...better to be overevaluated than under. It's wonderful that you will finish chemo before Halloween!



    Brenda...my eyebrows are growing in and falling out at the same time! I shaved my head when it started coming out in clumps and I do have a kind of peach fuzz covering at this point. I can feel it, but have to look in the mirror at a particular angle to see the color. It looks light...I prefer to think of it as blonde than white! I had very little gray for my age before, so who knows what color will grow in. Plus I have been highlighting for years. I'll just be glad when it actually gets long enough to pass for hair...whatever color it is. The color can always be changed!



    Kim..the delay stinks...but hope all in your household are feeling better.



    Dana..great news!



    Hope everyone has a good weekend...those with side effects...rest up and the rest of you live it up!



    Hugs,

    Liz
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  • Fi_in_oz
    Fi_in_oz Member Posts: 49
    edited October 2005
    Milestone moment

    Tomorrow I go away again for my weekly radiotherapy sessions, after tomorrows ZAP I will be 1/2 way through all this treatment,

    ZIPPPPEEEEDOOOdarrday, its all down hill running for the next few months.

    Guess I've found the bright side again

    take care ladies

    Fi
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  • Analemma
    Analemma Member Posts: 1,622
    edited October 2005

    Good luck, Fi! Tomorrow I start rads, so it's great to see you so upbeat and half done! I was pretty determined that I would finish up before the week of Thanksgiving, she didn't want to start until next week. Had to get Towanda in there to tell them how it was going to be!

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  • MichelleB39
    MichelleB39 Member Posts: 51
    edited October 2005
    "Jo and Michelle...thanks for the info...at least I have a head's up now. Just assumed it would come out the way it went in, but it makes sense that taking it out is just a matter of pulling it...but I have the same question as Scout...what kind of incision do they make..one like when they do the biopsy?"





    Liz- my incision is directly over my port. It is about an inch long and it comes out kind of like an IV would.
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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    Thanks Micelle...so I guess they make a small incision over the port and just pull it out? Sorry to ask so many questions...but this one confuses me...or I'm just suffering from extreme chemo brain...probably a bit of both

    Liz
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  • MichelleB39
    MichelleB39 Member Posts: 51
    edited October 2005

    They numb the area first and then make a little incision over the top of the port. You will feel tugging. He said mine was in there pretty good. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain but I did say "ouch" a couple of times. It really wasn't bad and it was over pretty quick. I was back in my car in 20 minutes.

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  • bmck
    bmck Member Posts: 28
    edited October 2005
    Hello all, just wanted to post and let everyone know that I have scheduled my exchange surgery! It is on November 29th, I know it is still over a month away but I am so glad to know that my final surgery will be overwith before the first of the year! I am so ready to get this over with and move on to life after breast cancer. I am still waiting patiently to get my port out, I have to go back to the cancer center on Friday to have it flushed, how weird will that be going back there knowing that I don't have to have chemo while I am there. Exciting but don't want to have to see all those other people getting their chemo treatments! anyway....just wanted to post! Hope all you ladies are getting thru radiation okay, I am so glad that I don't have to go thru that! Hopefully it isn't as bad as I think it is!

    Cathi
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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    Michelle...thank you for your patience...I finally get it! I just kept thinking they would put the incision where the insertion site was and couldn't figure out how they would pull it since the port is below that...duh!

    Cathi...that is real progress. You will have a lot to celebrate when 2006 begins.

    Because I am delaying radiation a bit (with approval of both rad/onc and regular onc) in order to take the cruise I booked over a year before I was diagnosed...I won't finish till late January, early Feb. It would be great to have it done before the new year..but I just don't want to miss this cruise since we are going with a whole group of friends. It will be a wonderful break between chemo and rads.

    Fi..that is wonderful that you are half way there!

    Liz
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  • bmck
    bmck Member Posts: 28
    edited October 2005
    Liz, a cruise sounds like a great idea! What a wonderful break that will be for you! I wish I could convince my husband to do something like that down the road, but that will be a cold day in hell, have a wonderful time. When do you leave?

    Cathi
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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    Cathi...the trick is to get him to go on a short one first...then he'll getted hooked. My husband thought he would be bored, but now he loves crusing. We are leaving on the Saturday after Thankgsgiving out of Tampa for 14 days. It has really given me something to hang on to throughtout this whole ordeal.

    Liz
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  • danahollis
    danahollis Member Posts: 161
    edited October 2005
    Everyone's doing so good! Yippeee!

    Well, I managed to singe my plastic hair!
    Last night I couldn't figure out why my bangs looked so AWFUL! I didn't think they looked that bad when I put my wig on yesterday morning. Then it dawned on me.... "Whilst" checking the progress of my chicken baking in the oven.... OOPS!... I must have been WAY TOO CLOSE to the heat. Good thing I do have a spare wig in the same style cause the singed one is beyond repair!

    I had to order a new one this morning... I hope it gets here soon!

    Radiation is going well... I've had 10 treatments! I have some burning under the skin that I can feel but no visible changes yet. My Radiation Oncologist thinks I'll be fine... he's so nice! I think I'll be fine too.

    I'm just happy to be alive!!!! (Ok, I know I am sappy... but I feel I've earned it!)

    ((((HUGS))))
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  • JoMac
    JoMac Member Posts: 192
    edited October 2005
    I was doing fine until last night. I was feeling tired and within an hour I was hot and cold and throwing up. Of course I had thrown out all my compazine because I figured I was done with all that chemo stuff.
    I was miserable and projecting like crazy.
    so I went to radiation today and they say it can't be the cause of my tummy troubles.
    They did give me a prescri[tion for more compazine.
    I came home and had some chicken soup and went to bed.
    I feel O.K. now but I not feeling super confident.
    I don't know what hit me.
    The drive is long and maybe my little body just gave out.
    I have only had about six treatments.
    I'm going back to bed to listen to Fresh Air on the radio and try to take good care of myself.
    Chemo started out rocky and so maybe this will too.
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  • Analemma
    Analemma Member Posts: 1,622
    edited October 2005

    I am hating radiation! Not the treatment, but all the xrays to make sure I am alighned correctly. I have a really hard time staying still for so long! Last night was #1, and they took more than 25 films before they were happy with the way I lined up, then this morning another 8. I was so miserable because my hand was falling asleep and my face was sticking to the plastic of the cradle because I have to turn hard to the right. I kept wiggling my wrist and fingers while I was waiting, and the tech cam out and told me I had to stay still. Tears just started to flow, sideways across the bridge of my nose and onto the plastic to make a nice puddle for my face! Last night it took 2 3/4 hours, and today 1 1/2 hours. Supposedly this is going to be shorter, once they decide that the alignment is right. I know they are being super thorough, and they are dividing the treatment into five fields to avoid "hot spots" supposedly this prevents skin breakdown - but I just want them to hurry the f--- up and be done with it!!!

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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    Brenda...shows how much I don't know as usual. I thought the whole pupose of the simulation was to measure, tatoo, etc. and then the treatments are just going in to get zapped. That sounds like torture to me. I hate when you have to keep still for any length of time...my nose gets itchy the minute they say I can't move...then I start coughing and get itchy all over.

    Dana...bummer about your wig...but good reminder. I usually take mine off as soon as I get home. Today was hot out and then I was getting hot flashes at work. Started getting cold sweats, etc. and decided to come home. When I took off my wig...even with the gel band which was soaking wet...sweat came pouring off my head! The funny thing is that I felt much better. Guess I just got overheated from the flashes and wig!

    Jo, as sick as you felt...it still doesn't sound as bad as when you were having chemo. No point in projecting..what will be will be...good or bad. Just enjoy yourself when you are feeling well.

    Quoting Dana "I'm just happy to be alive!!!! (Ok, I know I am sappy... but I feel I've earned it!)" says it all. We have all earned the right to be as sappy as we want to be! We are all getting through this a bit at a time!

    Liz
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  • Jenster
    Jenster Member Posts: 267
    edited October 2005
    I thought I posted something earlier, but apparently I hit the wrong button.

    Liz - I'm uber-jealous of you and your cruise. But very happy for you just the same. I can't wait to hear all about it.

    Dana - I'm sorry about your wig!! And you just go on and be as sappy as you want. I'll join you.

    Jo - I'm sorry for the rough time you're having. I hope it won't last long and you'll be feeling good soon!

    Brenda - that stinks about how long the radiation is taking. I thought it was supposed to be quick.

    I met with my doctor today and got the okay for taxotere #3 on Thursday. Yay!! Only three weeks left after that and then I'll be done with chemo.

    I've been having a horrible time sleeping, so I tried my husband's Ambien. Worked great, but I'm pretty leary about liking it too much. So my onc gave me some Lunesta samples today. Anyone else use that? After a horrible night of tossing and turning, I'm hoping it will work well.

    I just got bit by a mosquito!! I didn't get a mosquito bite all summer long. Now that it's fall, I get bit. What's up with that??

    It's Band Night at the football stadium tonight. The Middle, Junior and High school bands all perform. And I'm feeling good - only a little tired.

    One more thing. You know how the gray hairs are less ruly than the normal hairs? Last night there was one sticking out so I decided to pull it with the tweezers and measure it. It was nearly an inch long!! If only the rest of my hair was that long. I'm starting to look a bit like a hedgehog. LOL.

    Hope you all have a good evening and a great tomorrow!

    Jen
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  • Analemma
    Analemma Member Posts: 1,622
    edited October 2005
    Jen, is this new hair? I'm so jealous. I just look like I sttod outside by the dryer exhaust and picked up some lint!

    the radiation is supposed to be short!!! They told me that they schedule appts. for 15 minutes each, except with my onc, they have to have 30 minutes. she says this is because of the way she splits the dosage up into more treatments to spread it out more evenly. She's bran new, I think I mentioned, and just trained at MD Anderson, so I think this is probably newer and (supposedly) better. I thinkk that they won't take the extra films after today, since they were happy with my alignment each time, it just took a lot of extra wait time, because they took one before each of the 5 treatment fields, and I had to wait motionless for them to develop and analyze them. (Whine, whine)

    Jo, I wish I could give you a hug and a pat on the back. I know you are kind of remote ( I jsut drove through Vermont). where do you go for radiation? Montpelier? I just keep telling myself that nothing is certain from one moment to the next, and I have to live as though I've got (at least) 50 more years, which still won't be enough to do all I've got planned (I'm 50). You've probably got a little bit of a fall bug. How would you have reacted to this upset stomach BBC?

    I went to Jazzercise on thursday last week and overdid it, my knees and ankle were complaining, then I walked the Race for the Cure on Saturday, and they complained some more. So I'm going to Jzzercise tonight and I'm going to be moderate! Really! I've had some trouble with cording, and I find that the arm swings at Jazzercise really help to stretch it out.
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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    Brenda and Jen...I'm jealous that you have anything on your heads. All I have is some sparse peach fuzz! For a while I only had it in a few spots, but it seems to be coming in all over most of my head now.



    Jen I have had major sleeping problems. My doctor gave me a prescription for Lunesta about 4 or 5 weeks ago. It works well, but for some reason since this last taxotere a week ago tomorrow. I am back to waking up at anywhere from 2;30 to 5:30 in the AM and unable to go back to sleep. I was barely getting any sleep before the Lunesta...have been doing a lot better since, and it doesn't seem to make me groggy or give me any other side effects.



    Sometimes I feel I go into a "fugue" state after chemo and it takes a while to get back to feeling like I am here! I also seem to get a bit paranoid and weepy! Anyone else experience anything like this? Of course, it could be I am just nuts:)



    Liz
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  • Watson
    Watson Member Posts: 1,490
    edited October 2005
    Okay,

    I am soooo laughing about the hedgehog head and the dryer lint head!



    I am right there with ya! I"m about to go to my 2nd taxotere, so all my new 'hair' might be falling out again, but maybe not?



    My white fuzz is about 1/2 inch long and now have dark hair sprouting really well along back of my head and in mohawk fashion on top.



    Not too much on sides in front. I guess I'll have to go around looking like Angelina Jolies' son's head!



    At least with the dark hair coming in I look less like Susan Powter. Remember her? That excercise lady?That's who my husband says I currently resemble. I think it looks like a Q-tip.



    I've heard from several people that this taxotere #2 can be a doozy. Wish me well!
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  • Jenster
    Jenster Member Posts: 267
    edited October 2005
    Yeah Brenda. It's new hair. It kind of snuck up on me. I never did lose all my hair and just had a very thin buzz. But all of a sudden I noticed it was getting thicker. No fuzz to speak of. Just dark hair. It's much softer than my original hair, though. I'm just hoping and praying (and have several friends praying for me - lol) that it stays with me. And I just gotta say - LMAO about the dryer lint!

    I'm impressed that you walked in the Race!! I walked 2 miles this morning and I'm whooped! I'm going to bypass the race this year - mostly because of low WBC - but I AM getting in on the post-race breakfast at my church!! You betcha!! Next year, though, I'll be back to my usual Race for the Cure self. And I keep thinking - how wierd that I get a pink t-shirt this year.

    Liz - I took the Lunesta last night and it worked great. I think I need to take it a little earlier, though, as I didn't want to get up this morning. Not that that's unusual - lol. But my kids had to really pester me so I could get up and take them to school. lol.

    And I don't really get paranoid, but I do get weepy at very odd moments. And I also think really weird things. Which again, for me isn't so unusual. lol. But more off the wall than usual.

    Watson - we'll send each other good vibes that our hair is here to stay!! Good luck with #2. It hardly affected me at all. Tired for the first couple of days and low WBC which caused thrush. But that was all for me. So maybe your #2 will go well, too!!

    "Angelina Jolie's son's head" ROTFL!!! What an image you've created for me!!

    I've been walking this morning and that's all I'm planning on doing today. Well that and laundry because I don't look so good nekkid. Hope you all have a good day!!

    Jen
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  • rmmom
    rmmom Member Posts: 168
    edited October 2005
    I have four more taxol left and finally for the first time since I started all this I didn't need a procit shot:) But know what I feel SO TIRED-funny huh
    I also feel grumpy-is that normal? I think it may all this catching up to me and my husband. He is angry with the neighbor across the street who's mother died from this thing two years ago. As DH was looking at the mess our yard is in he got angry the guy wasn't noticed and said 'hey buddy how you doing, I know this hard, I've been there." Nothing but then again they made sure their daughter stayed away from my daughter too.
    and my MOTHER!! Taking to her on the phone and she said:"are you taking chemo? (YES) Chemo chemo (YEESS) like in cancer chemo(YYYEESSS) You have cancer? Oh that must make you a little tired like me." SHOOT ME
    I am sorry-venting here-told you this stuff is making me grumpy grumpy and I don't like being grumpy.
    I will go put myself in time-out until I can be happy about no procit and only four more taxol.
    Hope everyone else is doing great
    Bev
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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited October 2005
    Grumpy: Yes
    Tired: Yes
    Bald: Yes
    Fuzzy: Yes
    Sick of this sh!t" YES
    Hate Rads: YES
    Periods come back: YES
    Enough Already: YES


    HAPPY TO BE ALIVE: DAMN SKIPPY!!!!!!- Hell Yeah!
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  • Watson
    Watson Member Posts: 1,490
    edited October 2005
    Jenster,

    Yes, just start calling me Maddox. Do you think Brad Pitt would come take me to the park? lol

    I just came from Onc and my counts are good, so it's a go for chemo #6 tomorrow! Drawing blood from my arm is becoming a rodeo event. I had three different lab techs, five pokes and countless under the skin jabs before my vein woke up. I saw one tech looking at my feet and I said "hell no"!

    Just another day in paradise!

    Bev, can I have a time out? Sounds like you need a glass of wine! (or bottle)
    I hope it gets better for you soon!
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  • Analemma
    Analemma Member Posts: 1,622
    edited October 2005
    Today at radiation they told me to situate myself in the cradle the way I thought it fit, I did, they took one film, and it was perfect! So right on to treatment, and I was out of there! Yeah, I can do this!

    DH looked at my head today and assures me there's some dark stuff coming in behind the white! Yippee!! Life is good!

    Today is the first pottery class I'm teaching, looking forward to it. It's only four people, that's a good number for a lot of one-on-one instruction.

    Bev, I know what you mean about people not noticing that cancer is more than an inconvenience. My husband has six siblings, four are married. Not ONE of my inlaws has called or sent a card through all of this!
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  • NancyM
    NancyM Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2005
    Liz, I have also been feeling weepy! It's so annoying! I have no control over what I'll start crying about. Happy things, sad things, just things in general. YEESH.

    Watson, I love the idea of Brad Pitt taking you to the park! Ahh...a girl can dream, anyway!

    NoSurrender, they should make a Mastercard commerical from your post. Tired? Yes! Grumpy? Yes! Alive...Priceless!

    Bev, I'm sorry about your mom having that attitude!! That's got to be frustrating!

    I have my second opinion radiologist appt. tomorrow, so I'll be radiating soon (assuming this one can find the breast with the scar on it....duh!) It's interesting reading what you RADical ladies have been going through. Pretty soon we'll all be there, 'cause I don't think anyone getting chemo has too far to go from this point! YAY!
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  • Watson
    Watson Member Posts: 1,490
    edited October 2005
    Scout,

    Are you out there? I thought maybe you would like to make a small wager with me on the Astro's vs Cardinals series.

    If you aren't too scared, , how about the loser donates $20 to this site's webathon currently underway?

    Let me know! I think it would be fun.

    Gotta go run roll a bunch of pennies, in case your boys whup mine.
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  • Jenster
    Jenster Member Posts: 267
    edited October 2005
    Go Cards!!!

    Jen
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  • Scout
    Scout Member Posts: 76
    edited October 2005
    lol, Watson! I'll betcha the Cards win...no money...just betcha...lol!
    I'm here....having a really rough time with Taxotere. I have 3 to go and the first two were just fine (weekly), but this 3rd one is just like the 3 week one.....bad body aches and pains..so much that I have to take take pain pills...and I'm not a wimp with pain. It started on Sunday and it's not letting up. I have an
    appt with the Onc. before chemo to see what she wants to do...I certainly don't want to feel like this for the next 3 weeks!

    Sorry to moan and groan here....go Cards!
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  • LizFL
    LizFL Member Posts: 377
    edited October 2005
    Scout...I have a bad time with the joint and bone pain too...have had to take pain meds and I have a pretty decent tolerance for pain. I think the pain makes me more fatigued too.

    Glad to hear my "weepy" times are normal. I hate crying..especially when I'm not even sure why I am crying! I guess oversentive is probably a better word than paranoid...take everything to heart as a criticism even when I know the person does not intend to upset me.

    Bev...I get grumpy too. As far as your Mom...kind of leaves you speechless doesn't it? Is she like that for othe things than your cancer. By the way...is chemo chemo the dense dose If it wasn't your Mom, it would sound like a good line for a Seinfeld episode.

    Watson...you and your hairy friend Jen...go girls!

    Brenda...glad the teaching has begun!

    Good news from all makes me feel better..yes we will have good lives after all this!

    Liz
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