2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Jane,

You will get better. Take deep breaths and imagine the headaches and pains going away. If this doesn't work take some Vicodin. This was the only thing that made my aches go away. Hope this works for you too.

I agree with MrsBee - whatever edge we can get on this monster, we should take it. I'm gray area too - 1.6 cm, but I ask my oncologist if it were his mother (I'm 52)or wife, what would he recommend. He said chemo. End of story for me. Chemo is do-able - not fun, but I definitly feel I'm really attacking this thing. I don't EVER want to hear the words "you have a lump and it's cancer" again.

God Bless.
Lynn

Hi ladies, I am in this group, too. An exclusive club that we wish we didn't have to join! I am a single mom or a 4 year old ---- and working full time like some of you.

I am going to get my 2nd round of chemo tomorrow. I am hoping I will have enough energy to take my daughter out Trick or Treating. Last time, 3 weeks ago, I was ok for a few hours afterwards. I never did get sick, just tired, had a lot of 'heart burn' and a minor sore throat.

I cut my hair real short last week and about ready to shave it off. Its really falling out. I feel like a dog who is shedding. But I have hats and 2 wigs. One of the wigs looks cute and I can't stand the other one I bought now.

So, after tomorrow, 2 rounds done, 2 rounds to go and then on to Herceptin and Taxol.

I have read many of the pages for the October gals but not all 19 pages!! I am so happy that you girls are so supportive and honest about what you are going thru, I hope I can add support to you, too. Thanks for being here.

Welcome terynsmom,
Sorry that you have had to join us but welcome to the madhouse!
Debbie XX

Heading out for chemo #1. I will think of all the angels on this site. I will suck on popsicles. I will read Louise Hayes' You Can Heal Your Life. I will tell my husband all about those chemo cowboys kicking cancer butt for me. I am psyched!

Anna

AnnaM, I thought you said your chemo was being delayed? Well, for you, I am glad you are getting on with it!! The sooner you start, the sooner you are done with treatment!!

I am off to chemo right after lunch. I have my "chemo bag" all ready. Last time when I was there, I had wished I had my daughter's diaper bag from when she was little. Well, now those Gucci and Prada "diaper" bags my Dad spent too much money on are going to get a second life. I've got cd's, Walkman, a book, magazine, blanket and water.

A friend of mine sent me a CD with bioryhthms on it, so I should be able to relax. Another made a CD with soft music, much of it Indian flute music....the songs are supposed to induce feelings of wellness, healing and health. At least I will be thinking of the chemo now as a cleanser, healer and 'chemo-kickin' cowboys'!!

I got one of those headbands, too. My hair hasn't fallen out yet, but it will and I'm ready. A woman I work with is using the band with a wig, and she really likes it, thought it was money well spent.

Welcome! Lots of support and great suggestions here. Good luck on your first chemo. I thought the process itself (getting the stuff in your veins) was no big deal. The first things they gave me were medicines to deal with nausea.

Tracy - did they prescribe any ativan? Not only does it help my nausea, it helps with the anxiety and not sleeping.

Lynn

Yesterday was chemo #!. I thought of all of you. I sucked on my three fruit popsicles during the A. I didn't have time to read my book because there was too much talking to do. The nurse was fun and very very helpful. He answered every single question I had, and I sure didn't hold back (thank you for the encouragement, Amy). Since it was Halloween there were treats and goodies at the nurse's station right across from my room, and my husband kept bringing me Fritos. (Can you believe I have never before tasted a Frito! Yum!) I had been so worried about the port, but it worked fine. My red blood count was already low before we started (32%), so the nurse said the doctor will probably put me on Procrit. I got Decadron and Aloxi through the drip, A, then C, and came home with Compazine and Ativan, but haven't had to take them yet. I have two more days of Emend. I did take an Extra Strength Tylenol, because I had a headache when we got home. I listened to my new guided imagery tape (Belleruth Naparstek: Chemotherapy) and that really put me in a wonderful zone. I will listen to it as often as I can during the coming days. I feel really good this morning but keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. I think I will stay close to home.

Amy: you are so very right when you say that the uncertainty about how your body will react is the worst. How are you doing today? I have never downloaded from itunes, but will try. After all, with a Mac it shouldn't be that hard, right? A friend gave me Olivia Newton Johns' CD and I had to stop listening to it right after track 2 because it put me in a very soppy state.

Terynsmom: no, I wasn't the one whose chemo got delayed. You and I are on the same regimen, I believe, A/C x 4 @ 3 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin, right? Then Herceptin for, well, pretty long, I guess. If I am right we'll get some hair back in April. I am getting my head shaved down to the velcro mark this Friday. The way I figure it is this: no more bad hair days for a good long time. Then again, my worst hair days are in the summer, so I'll be back in place for that.

Hanging in here,

Anna

hi ladies,

well, i'm 5 days out of my 2nd chemo...so far so good. i felt fine all weekend and even went out a bit with my husband just to get out of the house.

so, i'm crossing my fingers that i don't have the icky steroid withdrawal that i did last time...my doctor weaned me off this time, so hopefully it's not too bad.

all hair is definitely coming out...i realized today that i hadn't shaved my armpits in 5 days and there is not any stubble...it's actually kinda cool. my eyebrows are thinner though and that makes me sad.

is anyone having dizziness though a couple of days after chemo? everytime i close my eyes, i have the spins. i can't stand it. i don;t know if it's the decadron or what. anyone else dizzy?

-amy

Anna, that's right! We have the same the treatment planned. I have heard that the herceptin won't make us so tired. And like you said, our hair will grow back. Glad I have someone to hold hands with for at least the next year and a half! We'll be strong together with all the other OCPs.

-----
Ake, no dizziness for me...just waves of my tummy doing summersaults but not sick. Minor headaches that last for a short time. Not hungry in the least. I ate but it was a waste, I couldn't tell if it was mush --- and it was a nice salad .. Oh well.

I have that same low-grade gut ache one week after chemo. It's getting a little better, though. I started to get mouth sores, and hit the Biotene mouthwash with a vengence! The sores are not as bad this morning. My mistake was not taking the Biotene to work to use every few hours. Whew, this takes a lot of energy just to figure out how to get through the day! Well make it, though.

Susan

Yesterday was my chemo and I called in 'sick' to work this morning. My boss said, "Maybe you should just take Monday and Tuesday off work next time instead of Sunday and Monday."



I wanted to scream but instead said, "I have no day care for Sunday and besides, I go for labs on Sunday before work."



What an insensitive remark!! He's lucky I don't call in sick for several days!

Well, he can go f___ himself!