2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Katie!
I start my chemo on the 28th also, I will be thinking of you that day!

My chemo nurse would not even let me think about coming to my treatments alone. I kind of enjoy my solitude and figured I would read a book or nap while getting my treatments. She made me swear that I would bring someone to each appointment. I guess it is to keep your spirits up, but for me, I just feel like I need to "entertain" someone when I might just want to be quiet or sleep....

Everyone who has started treatments seems to be doing well! I am sorry that a few of you ran across some bumps, but all in all, not bad at all! ((hugs))

just wanted to say good luck to everyone who like me...starts chemo tomorrow!

i'm so nervous, but for some reason, this one image I keep having is really helping me...i picture myself in pink satin boxing shorts with pink boxing gloves and i'm beating the crap out of cancer. it makes me feel energetic, so i'm going to use that one tomorrow.

i picked up all my anti-naseua meds today...kinda creeped me out to see all the prescriptions, but when i think of what they're for... that makes me feel better.

any words of wisdom for us ladies who start tomorrow?

-amy

Nancy,
I sent you a private message. I'm from San Diego too!

Hi everybody,
Just a few ideas for you girls...
When you are at chemo bring water and drink a lot. Keep drinking when you get home for at least the next day or so. You flush out all the chemicals in your digestive tract and kidneys and bladder and it also keeps you hydrated which keeps nausea away. If you are sick of water- cut up a well washed fresh lemon and put it in it. A handy tip is- if you feel a wave of yuckies coming on a bite into a lemon wedge actually stops it cold!

Take ALL your MEDS on a schedule- even if you feel ok. The trick is to PREVENT getting sick- it is very hard to STOP once it is started but it is easy to prevent.

Never have an empty stomach. ALWAYS nibble on something. Crackers, breads, soups- etc. An empty stomach can be a nightmare.

If you get heartburn, you might be getting it from the Decadron (steroid) Always take it with a full stomach and don't lie down immediately after taking it- sit up for a bit so it doesn't dissolve in your espophagus (SP?!) It is ok to take over the counter Zantac or Pepsid- but check with doc first. I lived on the stuff and it really helped the heartburn.

If you get a mouth sore- dry it off and take a Q-tip and dip it in some Milk of Magnesia- put the MOM on the sore like you would calamine lotion on a bug bite- it heals faster and it soothes the pain.

Stay away from all raw foods like fruit and salad...you need cooked things that have had the bacteria cooked off of them. Your immunity is low- don't invite any unwelcome germs to this party!

Keep drinking- take your meds on time- become a grazer- eat constantly- and you should be ok. If you aren't then insist your doc gives you different meds next time- don't let him say "well let's try this again and see if you get sick" NO...get new meds.

If you develop a rash call your doc. Take some Benadryl in the meantime, but some people are allergic to Adriamycin.

The best part?? You have started! Which means you are on the road to the END already. It will be faster than you think! AND you will do GREAT! REALLY!!!

xo

I always have low iron - i swear by dried apricots ( tip given to me by one of my nurses)
Have more iron than spinach and taste nicer too!
Debbie

Hi , Will have my port put in friday kind of scared . Cancer is stage 111 . 16nodes are involved as well as the soft tissue. Right now everything is so new and scary It's good to have some one to talk to that understands.

Welcome, Sistersister!
Are you getting chemo soon? Keep us posted!

Tomorrow is AC #2 for me. Then I'll be 1/4 of the way done! It sure feels easier for me the second time knowing what to expect. THe unknown can be the worst part of all of this.

United we stand...or lie down, as the case may be

-Ruth

My prayers and thoughts are with all of you starting your chemo today. Please let us know how it was and how you are feeling!

Marymelody - I have my first treatment on 10/28--so you are not alone!

hello ladies,

I had my first chemo on Tuesday. It was about two hours. I was in a room full of 70 years plus patients. That felt alittle wierd. I felt alittle dizzy and alittle bit of nausea ,but it was mild. Now on Thursday I threw up but only for a few minutes. So far so good. I was wondering it each treatment is harder on our bodies.? Will some of us feel worse each treatment ? I have been off work since August and last night I decided to not go back until the first of December. Can you believe I feel guilty. I am really working on the guilty thoughts. Because in reality I want to give my body every advantage as l I wage this cancer war through chemo therapy.

Please share all of your symptoms. You are the only people that really understand...

Bless you

Susan
Sacramento, Ca

Well, I made it. I just got home from my first treatment...it took forever because they couldn't get my labs back very fast. the infusion itself wasn't that long...it was the waiting that was the worse. we got a bed instead of a chair to sit on...supposedly it's better because you have more space and i had my group of people, so it was a good thing we were totally by ourselves because most patients were in the area with the recliners.

We played scrabble while i was getting the infusion...the red stuff is crazy...looks like jello...but for some reason, i got really excited that it was in my body...like, it's going to get in there and do it's job. the cytoxan was forever...didn't bother me though. felt a little bit of a sinus headache. Came home and took my meds and felt a little queasy, but I had a baked potato and some green tea and now I'm happier. I'm scared about how I will feel tomorrow...hopefully ok. I have this feeling that I want to throw up, but I don't want to, so I'm not gonna think that further.

i feel very foggy and slow...like i'm drugged, which i guess i am.

I'm very happy overall that one is down. 7 more to go...only 3 more of the AC. I can do that.

brenda....how are you??

-amy

Ok - my first chemo was yesterday and i feel FANDABBYDOZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(ok - it will prob kick in later but at the mo feel fine)
Felt good to slap on the lippy and take the kids to school this morning.
Hope you are all doing as well
Take Care
Debbie

Just checking in. I am set to start my treatments on Oct. 19. 4 treatments of AC at three weeks apart. I'll be going in weekly for bloodwork, and they're giving me neulasta as well. I'll have anti-nausea drugs with the IV as well as two different pills plus suppositories if I'm not able to keep anything down. I'm one of those gals who has to be deathly ill before I can throw up, so I'm hoping that I won't have a problem. I remember being a little nauseated after my lumpectomies but they gave me meds for it and I never did throw up. No nausea at all following the mastectomies.

We did have a glitch with getting my Emend filled - the one you take an hour before treatment and then two more pills on each of days 2 and 3 following treatment. Wal-Mart didn't have it in stock, so the tech didn't even put it in the computer to fill it and then left without telling anyone why she didn't enter it. I refused to leave there until SOMEONE looked it up to find out if my insurance would cover it, what my copay would be, and IF they could get it for me. I told them it was a vital part of my chemotherapy treatments. They finally did let me know that I'd only have a small co-pay and they ordered it. It was supposed to be in the next day. It didn't come in. I could either keep waiting on it (and going round & round with them), or I could let them call around and find another pharmacy that had it. Turned out Walgreens had it, so I got that one filled too. Now I'm good to go.

I got a really short haircut yesterday (my hair was almost shoulder-length) to make things easier once my hair starts "releasing." I bought some hats the other day and am rounding up all my scarves. Got signed up for a Look Good, Feel Better in November. Washed the one wig I have (Benny the muskrat - I wrote about it on another thread) and plan to order one or two more from TLC.

I guess I'm good to go. I see my PS on Tuesday and (fingers crossed) might get my first fill then. He wouldn't do it last week because he said I was still too swollen from the surgery. It's been 3 weeks post-surgery now, so maybe we'll be able to fill-er-up this time!

So many of you starting this week--my thoughts are with all of you. I had an iron IV last week--only takes about 45 minutes--didn't feel anything. Amy, I'm getting my "cut and shave" on the 26th. My grandson is planning to draw a picture using washable markers. We've been talking about it since he is 5 and I didn't want him to think grandma had been replaced by an alien. He's excited about it now. Me too, RIGHT.