April 2010 starting chemo

Emme  - hope everything goes ok for you - prayers sent your way!

Well I am now done with Taxol # 9!! 3 more!

I seem to be getting really itchy on my feet and legs - anyone else? Yesterday it took me an hour to get to sleep because my foot was itching so bad!! Eek!

Thanks to everyone who wishes me luck at school - I am excited and will try to take it easy!!

Kelli

Hi Ladies - We just got back on Sunday from a week at the Jersey Shore.  I have dear friends that have parents that own a house there and they invited us to join them for the week.  We had such a nice relaxing time, I forgot how much I love the ocean.   I finally heard back from all my doctors and they have agreed that I need radiation.  It has been a mess with these doctors since it looks like the doctor I saw at Sloane never read my whole chart and after my surgeon called her, she changed her radiation recommendation.   It was a definite waste of time to go to Sloane this time.  Now I just have to figure out what Rad Onc to use.  My surgeon is pointing me to one doctor and my Onc is telling me to go to a different doc.  It is never easy.   It seems that I will be getting it on my new breast, above my breast on the chest and under my arm.  Is anyone else getting rads under their arm?  I had two small tumors there that were removed in March so that is why along with 3 lymph nodes positive.   I meet with one of the Rad Onc tomorrow and the other next Friday and depending which I like better I will use.

It seems like I have missed so much since I have been gone. 

Congrats to every one who has finished Chemo, what a great milestone.  I am almost three weeks since my last Taxol and I am feeling stronger everyday, my biggest issue like the rest of you is the hot flashes.  I am not looking forward to starting Tamoxifen.

Emme - My heart goes out to you.   I am glad that you and your kids are out of that bad situation.  I will keep praying for you, I know it is hard, but please stay strong.  I hope that the infection gets under control soon and you get back on your feet!. 

I am wishing good thoughts to all!

I am 6 weeks PFC and had Herceptin #8 today-only 9 to go!  My hair is between 1/4" and 1/2" long and I have had red hair my whole life, but it is coming back dark brown!!!  I am the only one in my family with red hair and they all have brown hair so I know where it's coming from.  Maybe it will change back to red eventually...

I have lost about 4 of the 12 pounds I gained during chemo, working out four days a week.  Have my implant exchange surgery on 9/13 and will be SO happy to get rid of these tissue expanders!  I never thought I would look forward to a surgery, but that one I am.  It is outpatient and I will go home the same afternoon.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and (HUGS) to all.

Jennifer

Hey Mel, that's exactly when I lost the rest of my bottom lashes.  I'm almost 12 weeks PFC and they have grown back but still very short.  I hear that we might lose them again....sigh.

Toughmom - way to go on losing some of the chemo weight.  That is excellent.  Although I didn't put on any weight during chemo, I'd still like to lose during rads before the dreaded tamoxifen.  I hope September is a spa-like month.....but it won't happen on its own.....darn!

Have a great long weekend everyone.

I have 3 more Taxols to go and although the hair on my head is really growing in, my eyebrows and eyelashes are really falling out now. I can count the number of eyebrow hairs I have!  I am surprised that this is happening so close to the end.  I try to draw on some eyebrows, but I don't do a very good job of it.

Jen - Congratulations on being halfway done. Enjoy the fair! It is quite cool here tonight after an incrediably hot week. 

DancerMel28 - You rant away!! Why do mother 'n laws have to be sooo.... Well anyways I think it is really nice what you are doing and plus doesn't she realize that you just went through 6+ months from hell!? You shouldn't have to worry about cooking - uggg! You sound like money if fine and she shouldn't butt in but that's what any mothers do! So have fun planning and don't worry she'll get over it.

Well after 3 days with the kiddos at school I feel like sh**! My throat and head are throbbing! Took two slepping pills (that 's a first for me) last night thinking that would help - still was up twice and today still feel awful. At least I have a three day weekend!!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Dancermel - you go right ahead and throw whatever type of party you want.  He is your husband and if he mother in law does not like it she can throw him a separate one at her house and do all the work:)  I am doing kinda the same thing this year in October with my sons 6th birthday.  I usually set up the whole thing at the house, make the cake (always charater cakes) etc.  This year I am paying for him and 8 friends to go to space center (an arcade with party space) and they handle everything.  Costs a little  more that I would pay but oh well, I dont have it in me this year.  You relax and do what you feel is right. 

Jen

DancerMel, your MIL is right, it would be cheaper to buy your own roast and cook it yourself.  But, that's not the point.  You need to look after yourself, and if that means having your husband's party catered, she should respect that and keep her opinions to herself.  I could understand her position if you and your DH were asking them for money while you go through treatment, but it sounds like you have a handle on the finances.  It isn't a trivial thing, your DH will only turn 30 once, and if you want to help him celebrate with a party, that is your right.  Besides, I think it is worth the money just to have someone else clean up afterward.  BTW, how is radiation going?  I start on Tuesday...

Kad22, I hope that you are sleeping right now and feeling better.  It sounds like you had a busy first week.  This long weekend couldn't have come at a better time for you.

Marcy, your house will seem really quiet on Tuesday.  I hope that you enjoyed your little getaway.  Did you go to Stratford? 

Jen, I don't blame you for having your son's birthday party at an arcade.  You certainly don't need the stress of 9 six year olds running through the house.  Those boys have energy to burn.

Have a good long weekend everyone.  Karin

Thanks everyone for your comments - I just had to get it out.  I can't say anything negative to my DH about her as he gets all defensive adn they've been a few 'little' things building up lately and that was just the last straw!

Keli - I hope you're feeling better after your 3 day weekend. It must be such a big adjustment for you.  I'm counting down until I'm back at school - thankfully as it's near the end of our school year I will just be 'filling in' where needed when I go back in Oct so won't have to write reports or anything which will take the pressure right off.

Marcy - Glad to hear you had a lovely weekend away.  It's so nice to go away and 'forget' for a while.

JenC - I'm sure you're son is going to love the party no matter what - space theme does sound like fun!

Dutchgirl - Rads are a breeze - except for the travelling for me which is a pain.  I've just had #13 and will hit the halfway mark on Wednesday. Skin is a bit pink but the cream they've given me is soothing things so far.  They keep a very close eye on the skin (between the rads techs, nurses and my rads onc) and apparently I'm 'pinking up right on schedule' according to my doc. Sounded like he was cooking haha! Good luck on Tuesday hope it's as easy for you also.

raerae - my hair is really coming back in force now (8 weeks from day of last infusion).  Have multiple colours coming thorugh so will be interesting to see what it's like in few weeks.  I think I saw someone on here describing the regrowth as salt and pepper - quite apt!

Hi April chemo group,

Hope you don't mind me popping in here. I'm from the June chemo group, but because i am having neoadjuvant chemo, my group doesn't have the answers to some of my questions, so maybe you can help me?

1.  How long did you wait after chemo before surgery? my onc says no more than 2 weeks, but my surgeon says he wants to wait 5 weeks. i'm not sure what to do...

2. How long did you need to wait after surgery before starting rads?

If you also did neoadj chemo, any input would be greatfully accepted!

Thanks :-)

Also, Kelli    ~ Hope you enjoyed your weekend and that this "short" week will not be too hard on you.  Hopefully, things will get better with time.  I too have been working a lot more and though it's not easy there is some comfort in the "normalcy" if you know what I mean.

And on HairWatch 2010 as I call it, I have about 1/4-1/2 inch of hair. Looks like it is going to be a "mousy" blond, similar to my former color, maybe a little darker.  It's still depressing because it is growing SO slow........................ My sister in law, who always has something to say, told me this weekend that i "look like a dike"  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!    how rude... and hurtful... :(:(  

arubajan - Sorry that your sister in law was so hurtful.  But a good comback is that your hair will grow back to be beautiful but she cant change her face or attitude:)  Just a little humor.

Way to go shygal!  It is a brave step.  I have been feeling more adventurous too.  Last night when I took the dog for her walk, I went without a wig/hat/scarf.  It was dark, but it's a start.  It was windy and cool also, so I did put up my hood for some of the time, but you're right, it was liberating.  I wish that I could leave the wig off for my rad treatment, but I wore it for the simulation, and I was told that I would have to wear it all the way through.  I guess that those measurements are pretty darn precise!

I just wanted to say hi, and let all of you April sisters who are still doing chemo that I am thinking of you.  There are still a lot of names without smiley faces, won't it be nice when everyone has one!

Have a good weekend everyone.

Just had Taxol #7 yesterday 5 more to go YEA...   PS started inflation last week also so that it can be done prior to radiation.  Got 220cc's next fill in 1 1/2 weeks so fills will be done and my surgion said he would remove my port before I start radiation so three things will be done chemo, inlfation and port removal.  Starting to feel like there is an end to all this madness.  Hope you all have an SE free and wonderful weekend.

Jen

Kelli, you're on Taxol...right?  Well her evil twin sister Taxotere causes the same mouth sores and I had one on my tongue after my first chemo round.  Call the Onco's office and they can prescribe something to get rid of it.  Do it first thing on Monday so you can get some relief.  In the meantime...keep on the salt and warm water rinse.  I'm sorry you're not feeling well and since you're back at school, I'm sure those germs are going to be tough to fight off.  Take it easy this weekend and hopefully you can get some rest....thinking of you.....and sending you hugs....