2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Tracy (in my favorite city of Seattle),

Thinking of you today - prayers and a hug. You can do it - hang in there!

Hi MJ,
Thanks for asking. I am doing okay. Not great, not horrible. I have pretty bad body aches, and a headache. Was in bed yesterday most of the day. The port area (put in last Monday) is still very painful. Stitches come out this Monday. Good luck to you with round 2 next week! Please let us know how it goes. I'm trailing behind you by just 1 week, Dose Dense also.

Tracy,

You don't know for sure that you're not going to feel good for several months...you might end up feeling better than you think. chemo might not be that bad. it's all individual. even if you feel bad...probably tired.. you will feel better some other days. i think the uncertainity of how your body will react is the worst. just remember...this is the biggest part of you fighting the cancer back. you're kicking it straight in the butt. those chemo drugs are going nuts in your body and getting anything that is shady and not supposed to be there. feel powerful.

i had my 2nd ac treatment yesterday and it was a million times better than the first...i feel good and i expected to feel worse. you never know with this chemo. i'm wishing you lots of luck from here...pleae let me know how you do....like it says under your name...you're a warrior queen!!!

-amy

Hello, gals. I also had the first A/C treatment yesterday. No problems so far. I was just coming off a bad chest cold and wondered if they would go ahead and do it. Yup, they did. I guess being on antibiotics and getting better every day made the difference. I am taking Kytril, Decadron, and Emend. Also have a supply of compazine to take if needed. So far, feeling just a little extra awareness of the stomach area, not even pain or nausea. Been drinking lots of liquid and keeping something in my stomach so it is never completely empty, even though last night I didn't have much of an appetite. Today, off work, have had the energy to clean up the kitchen and do some other light housework.

Also been knitting a pink cotton triangle to use when I go bare-headed. I'm planning to donate my 35" long hair to Locks of Love during next week. Lucky, the volunteeer organization at my hospital, where I also work, has just received a donation of wigs, turbans, scarves, etc. from cancer survivors (I suppose). I stopped in there yesterday to see what was in the shop that they run and the very nice volunteer that was there showed me the 5 wigs they received and she said I could have one at no charge. My husband was waiting on me so I didn't stay to let her fuss over it with me, but I'll go pick it up when I reteurn to work on Monday. How is that for an amazing blessing on the first day of treatment. My insurance also covers wigs so I may just end up with two of them for a change of look from time to time. I am the secretary for a department in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry so when I am at work I will probably use a wig most of the time. Sometimes I might go with a pretety scarf, but all in all, considering our patients are children and adolescents, I think I should look as "normal" as possible. When they come to use for treatment the focus should be on them and not on the lady with no hair behind the desk.

Well, I've got to go change out of my sweats and put on public clothes. Got an appointment at 4 pm for the first Neulasta shot. yesterday the nurse had trouble getting my vein raised for the chemo and so she is going to tell my onc that I need a port. I thought it would come to that and so don't mind. That will keep both hands free for knitting during the infusions.

Thanks for all the information, sisterhood, and encourgement to be found here. I love the pumpkin logo. Good luck to everyone. So far, so good.
marymelodi
Rochester, NY

Hi Mary, I am glad to hear you are feeling so good after your first treatment...I hope they all go as well for you...So far I think you live the closest to me.....I live in Buffalo, NY.......

Hi guys!!

It's been 9 days since my first A/C treatment and I'm still going strong I think! I guess I heard all the ugly rumors of how sick one gets and determined I was NOT gonna do that! *lol* I haven't...not one time.

However made a trip into Atlanta today and out to lunch with a close friend. That's where I discovered that I have a sore throat. Just got in and have gargled with salt water...YUCK! Still have my tonsils, so have to be careful. No fever though...

hugs,
kate

Go Tracy Go!!!!!! Yay!!! Only 5 more to go!!!

lots of hugs,
kate

Thank you Grayce.....

I am soooo relieved that I haven't gotten sick. It's taught me a HUGE lesson really. I guess I've always kind of taken it for granted, but I rarely do get sick. Now, every morning when I wake and I'm not, I am soooooo grateful.

Thanks for the suggestion about the throat. I have kind of been sniffly this week and was chalking it up to allergies with all the ragweed around. But it just may be that I have out and about too much...crowded stores and church, etc.

I think it's way too early to be down on my WBC, but am having bloodwork done on Mon. for the Onc. so we'll see...

Peace & hugs,
kate

I don't know where you live but I have been sniffly too and I am chalking mine up to the weather and allergies .....I live in NY state and the weather here stinks......

MJ,
Same here...until chemo I always bragged about never getting headaches. Funny how things come back to haunt you. The nausea set in yesterday afternoon. Started taking the pills to combat that. They're helping but not eliminating it. This morning it's a little better. And, Thurs. & Fri. I did nothing but sleep (and take all the anti-this 'n that meds). Did you have the body aches and severe exhaustion? I hope you're feeling better than me at this point.

Hi Laura, I hope you feel better soon......Been there with the nausea,headaches and tiredness.....It does get better but unforunately once it does it is time to start again with the next treatment.....10/31 is treatment #2 for me. Not looking forward to it, infact I am already feeling a little panicky thinking about it but it will be one more out of way.

To the OCP's having a rough time, hang in there. It will be over soon. Really. To the OCP's waiting their turn, keep away from germs!! You do not need an infection right now. To those who are on their way to get the dreaded A in the A/C cocktail, suck on a popsicle while they are manually infusing you. I did this and did not get mouth sores. NoSurrender said something about this, and so did the author of the book called Just Get Me Through This, which is, by the way, a perfect book for all of us here and even more perfect for anyone who was just diagnosed.

so far so good on my second AC...the stubble on my head is falling out....like little eyelashes everywhere, so my husband razored my head again. it's like all of a sudden, every focile for every hair on my body decided to let go...even little hairs are falling out of my nose! this is such a bizarre experience. so bizarre.

if anyone feels like being cheesy, but feeling empowered...my new favorite "pink power" song (i made a mix for chemo) is "invincible" by pat benatar. it can be downloaded on itunes and it definitely pumps me up when i get scared or overwhelmed

glad everyone is doing okay!

-amy

Well - just when you think you are the only one feeling one way or the other! It is amazing to go back through all the posts and read about this or that side effect. I have not been sick at all - and this is Day 10 out. Chemo #2 is next Wednesday. But the headache, the acid reflux (which for me is more like my whole esphogus just hurts but a Tum or two helps), the sore throat. And this morning I woke up with more energy than I knew what to do with, so I cleaned and waxed all the kitchen cupboards! Really felt jangly and hyper - so I tried to work it off!

This is Day 10 and I woke up and pulled on my hair - it is still there, but for how long is the question???????

Hubby is taking me out for dinner tonight and shopping for some hats since it is getting pretty cold here and I don't have faith that the hair will be here much longer to insulate my head!

Everyone - have a great, great weekend!